MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL - 23/04/2024

TUESDAY - 23RD APRIL, 2024

MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL  - Olusola ADEJUMO

RISING UP IS AN EXCEEDING VAST ARMY (A)! - The Essence & Value of Life Series 007

Read Ezekiel 37:1-10

Ezekiel 37:10, KJV 

"So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army."

We don't sharpen a sword just to leave it in the scabbard. Nay! Just like I said yesterday, every resurrection, reviving and restoring is unto a purpose - that you may do what you've been afore doing - live in purpose. When Jesus heals Peter's mother-in-law, she immediately rises to minister to their need (Matt.8:14-15). I suspect that woman had been in that habit before. So, the reviving, resurrection and restoring of any human vessel from death or anything that is hindering his purposefulness is to an end that he might be useful again, give his ministration and live out his purpose once more. 

Today, we have travelled and where have we travelled to? Ezekiel 37! That's the valley of dry bones. God takes Ezekiel for a view and then asks him if those bones could live. He gives an answer saying, "only Thou knows." He throws back the ball in God's court. Why would he do that? Humanly speaking and being in one's physical senses, one couldn't have agreed those bones could live. As in, these are numerous wasted bones. They are not only scattered but are as dry as the Egyptian bricks. No traces of life in them at all. If they were slain bodies that had not even decayed, probably Ezekiel could have seen a possibility in their living yet again. However, the Bible comments, "they were very dry" (v.2). Seeing all these, he concluded that, "only God would know." This shows the limitedness of man and the unlimitedness of God as we shall see. 

However, God chooses to still flow through this same vessel that couldn't boldly register the possibility of those dry bones living again. He tells him to prophesy His sovereign message to them - that dry bones will live again, be once more beautiful and presentable after He might have covered them with flesh, muscles and skin (v.6). 

First of all, we're seeing again that undebatable truth that when the breath is lacking in any living thing, life ceases to be. As a matter of fact, the importance of the breath in any living thing hits a crescendo and height of heights when all these wasted bones are coupled together and covered but couldn't still live or take being (by exercising characteristics of a living thing) until God through the mouth of His prophet ordered the wind (significance of breath or spirit) to enter into them. So, we are seeing the foolishness that may be in giving the greatest treatment, attention and time to the human body. It is what will fall and get eaten by worms. Yet, a person's spirit may not be regenerated let alone his mind being constantly renewed with the Word to resemble Christ's so that he might live to give value and display character (morals) in his society. Your body is just a carcass. It would one day fall to the ground like those carcasses of bones. However, it is given you to contact this sense realm so that your spirit and your soul would find expressions. So, you ought not to be living from the body out but from the inside out. Your regenerated human spirit (downloading into your mind) ought to take the lead or give the instruction that your body would now be seen doing by everybody. Imagine if your spirit is regenerated and alive to pick what God would have you do per term. How could you miss your way or be caught in error or what would cause you or the society harm? Never! 

Anyway, the man of God prophesies and God lives up to His previous confession. The bones (particular to each slain warrior) travels to find, join and form the original person it belongs to. Then, God lays flesh, muscle and skin on the bony structure. However, no life until it was gathered from the four winds. Until then, no sign or traces of life could be traced to all these slain yet dressed up warriors. Despite having been dressed, the importance of the breath proved itself because they neither could perform any human action let alone live for the purpose they were previously known for. Just then however, we have a record that "the breath came into them and they lived and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army." Standing upon their feet is an act consequent upon having received the breath just the same way Adam could blink and exercise other human rights when He received the breath of life from God. 

What was shocking after the repair and the bringing back of these dead dry bones to usefulness is that they eventually numbered into an army or array of people and stood up as one. We could have been denied seeing this experience. We might have not experienced their vastness, resourcefulness and mightiness as an army if they were never treated or called back. But, thank God for His treat. The adjective "vast" describes them as a horde and also reveals their joint strength. A vast army would have a vast strength. 

You see, that's what I'm saying, you can't underscore what would happen to you at your revival. You don't know your vastness and might yet until God grants you hope to do once more what you've afore done. That's when you'll see or taste your glory yet to come. Those of you who once lived in purpose but whose heads have been shaven, the Spirit has come to sweep and scoop you to your feet so that you will stand a vast army at your rising. You will be shocked also that you could stand up to outperform your beginning or deliver yet impactfully. Who knows that Samson could still stand "a vast army" - bringing down many at his death than he did during his early years of purpose? (Judges 16:30). People, I see a new day. A rising that will scare the enemy. A rising that'll make you yourself cry, weep and give glory to the Lord. Your rising is that of a "vast army" and an "exceeding vast army." It will strike fear in the devil who thought you have been ended. All demons sent to hamper you will run helter skelter but to no avail. Why? You have risen with no chain or bound. You're loosed and set free. You're declared righteous and whole again before the Father. You're justified and re-glorified. I see a vast army whose havoc would be deadlier than when he once lived. Hmmm, Satan fears the new thing you have risen to become but I praise this new thing. A vast army on his feet! One ready to charge and do as instructed. One ready to be motivated by the motivations of his Creator. One who won't back down until he has eaten God's will and finished it. One fully dressed and equipped to live and discharge purpose. An exceeding vast army!

PRAYER: Lord, I am revisited, re-empowered, re-engaged and redeployed. I am not useless but active and in the here and now.

BIBLE IN A YEAR: Joshua 24:1-33, Luke 21:1-28, Psalm 89:38-52, Proverbs 13:20-23

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MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL - 22/04/2024

MONDAY - 22ND APRIL, 2024

MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL  - Olusola ADEJUMO

YOUR TENDER BRANCH WILL NOT CEASE - The Essence & Value Of Life Series 006

Job 14:7, KJV 

"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."

You're welcome to a new day. This new day brings with it a new opportunity and what God is saying is, "your tender branch will not cease."

It means many things. One, God is giving you the assurance of ever being present and productive still. When that place says, "your tender branch will not cease", it does emphatically and with all assurance that as long as you're still alive - taking being on the earth, what shall be consequent of your life is productivity. The fact that your tender branch will not cease. So, we'll always hear from you. So, we'll always see the product of your calling and purposeful living. 

So far, we have seen what life should be spent on or given to. Meanwhile, today's ministration is targeting many who are down or cut down by some happenings and forces beyond them. It is appealing to those who have been broken and are in a state where they couldn't live life to the fullest or give the products of their calling anymore. Why? They are already suppressed. They therefore need help. They need a revival. They need to be awoken! What God is saying to you is that He'll recover you. The devil has made the horrible mistake of still letting you live. The fact that you still have the breath of life means you could still experience a bounce back and then a bounce back to a purposeful and productive life like before. You're just like a tree that is cut down but whose stump and root is still in the soil. It's just a matter of time, it will revive. The purpose for which God revives anyone is not for them to go on just being a matter - occupying space and exhibiting M-movement, R-respiration,  N-nutrition, I-irritation or sensibility, G-growth, E-excretion, R-reproduction, D- death (one day), A-adaptability and then C-competition which are all the characteristics of living things. No! Anybody that died that was resurrected in the Bible was resurrected for a purpose and to the intent that they'll live on to fulfill the mandate on them. God doesn't give life or spare life or reserve it for purposelessness. Rather, the major reason for such is to live life and continue to use it to make impact like before and better than before. Resurrection of life or revival of life is to live life more abundantly again in purpose. So, for those of you who have been pressed down hitherto, depressed, discouraged or hindered till now, an assistance will come your way. In any form you need encouragement, God shall support you and you shall be revived to bring forth new branches. If you need men to come your way to raise you up, God is supplying such helper. 

Note what you'll bring forth. It's a new branch. As we know, when a tree is cut off, it has no branches or leaves any longer for that is severed from the stump. Such tree would only be left with a stump and the roots in the soil. But after awhile, when it begins to sprout up, it will bring forth new branches that'll bring forth new leaves. Consequently also, there will be new fruits. New wine shall come from you. That's what the Lord is saying. At this your restoration this morning, you will live purpose like you used to live once more but in newness of life. 

We saw you yesterday, we'll see you today and contact you tomorrow as well. The declaration of the Lord is that, "your tender branch will not cease." It doesn't matter how many people are fighting you to shut down, close up or shut off. You will inherit all of them. They'll fall for your sake. As for you, we'll keep seeing you and your handiwork. The enemy might delay its bubbling or manifesting but it will sure sprout out in newness. Put this word of faith in your mouth. Let it become your confession. Say, "my tender branch will not cease. I shall bring forth new branches and new wine. I occur and I will reoccur. Always!"

PRAYER: Thank you Lord for the word of faith and declarations that have become flesh.

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 - 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

Powered by Morning Wings Ministries. Enquire or counsel through +234 80 77 63 85 50 or +234 8137 04 68 12 II morningwingministry@gmail.com & Blog @ www.morningwingsministry.blogspot.com