MIRACLE NOT MAGIC

LIGHT FOR THE WAY
(Daily Devotional)

Wednesday 13th January 2016

TOPIC: MIRACLE NOT MAGIC

TEXT: John 10:38

"Though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and believe that the father is in me, and I in Him"

Did Jesus really walked in water or simply use some nearby sand bar? Did he actually multiply bread and fish to feed 5,000 or just hypnotize the crowd into thinking He did? Was it miracle or magic?
A christian illusionist once explored those questions for a BBC television program he set aside his personal beliefs to examine the biblical miracles with an open mind. The program was concluded that Jesus could not have tricked people into believing they had witnessed a miracle. In other words, it wasn't magic but real miracles.

But many who actually saw Jesus miracles refused to believe that He was the Messiah. They were ready to execute Him for claiming to be the son of God(John10:30-31).
Jesus told them, "if I do not the works of my father, do not believe me; but if I do, though you not believe me, believe (the miracles), that you may know and believe that the father is in me and I in Him"(v:37-38).
The miracles of Jesus identified Him as the son of God, the Saviour who had come to give His life for the sins of the world. His works and resurrection were not magic tricks, but miracles of love and grace. So believe in God and you will believe in miracles, believe in His Son and you will experience miracles today

PRAYER POINT
Father God I believe that you are a miracle worker, do amazing things in my life today in Jesus name.

1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN

Genesis 21-23; Matthew 8: 23-34; Matthew 9:1-13; Psalm 7:10-17

THE PROPHETIC WORD FOR TODAY

The Sovereign Lord says today that there is strength in you
because I AM on the inside of you. There is
strength in you that has yet to be measured. You
have a resilience in you that you do not always give
credence to. Don’t be intimidated or fearful. Refuse
to fret or wonder what tomorrow holds. My strength
and My courage in you is rising up to meet the day
before you ever open your eyes. You may feel at
times you are too assertive or too opinionated or
too sharp but this is not a character flaw but it
flows from a place within that I have prepared in
you to carry the authority inherent in the jurisdiction
I have given you.
At times you may feel that your words are brash
but I have formed and fashioned you in such a
way unvarnished truth can flow out almost
without thinking. This has gotten you in difficulty
at times and you have tried to “study to be
quiet”. But the Father says this is your hour and
this is your time. The fire is in your bones and
you will have to speak. You have a gifting and an
anointing and a word of wisdom. The word of
wisdom flows strongly in you. The visionary seer
gifting will begin to flow more freely in you now.
Do not allow yourself to be held back or stifled
but open your mouth and allow My wisdom to
bless others in a timely way and make room for
you by the gifting I have deposited in your life for
this hour.

THE PROPHETIC WORD FOR TODAY

THE PROPHETIC WORD FOR TODAY

The Sovereign Lord says today that obstacles are being
removed. You will walk unhampered in My promise
and in My process this day. Do not be discouraged
when confronted by time and happenstance to get
things done. You do not need to wait for some
magic moment. I am the God of time and eternity
and I declare to you that your time is now. Today is
your now time and tomorrow will be your now time
and a 100 years from now you will still be walking
in the now that I have ordained for you to walk in.
Rejoice in My now says the Father for now is all I
have to give you. Yesterday is gone and Tomorrow
is a figment of fallen man’s imagination. Bask in
My now and know it as the pallet upon which the
pigments of My promise are painting your life in the
bright colors of My joy and My rejoicing.
Suffering and trouble are being overcome. Put
them under your feet. Walk out and walk away. I
will enlarge your steps and I will show you the
exit strategy. The direction of life that tends to
destruction is being barred and I am become
your way, truth and life. You are coming out.
This is coming out time. This is renewal time.
Believest thou this? If you can believe then all
things are possible. Step into possibility. Rise up
in faith. No more rationalizing away My promise.
No more imprisonment or failure. This is your
time because it is My time. Time is at My feet
and therefore your blessing time is at hand – so
rejoice!

RE--IGNITE YOUR PASSION

LIGHT FOR THE WAY
(Daily Devotional)

Monday 11 January 2016

TOPIC : RE-IGNITE YOUR PASSION

TEXT:  "I have this against you that you have left your first love"(Revelation 2:4)

Why does spiritual passion fade so easily? when we first experience God's love we spent hours thinking about Him, studying His word, and telling others about how much He means to us. Then it happens, our busy schedules, and other things we care about slowly dampens our passion and our longing for Jesus and our study of His word now becomes an occasional glance. Surely the object of our affection has changed.
The Church of Ephesus wrestled with maintaining its spiritual passion. Jesus through John wanted to help them re-ignite and restore there love for Him. Though He commended this Church for their works, Jesus saw that they have left their first love--Him.(Revelation 2:4).
The Ephesians had lost their first love and their spiritual passion for Jesus. It had become a cold and mechanical religious practice. I wonder if they had allowed the stealthy culprit of religion and busyness of religion to enter into their hearts. Whatever it was something has stolen the affection they once had for the Lord.
Have you allowed something to steal your passion ? if so it can be re-ignited, restored, and maintained when you consistently do the following: a) Remember His amazing love demonstrated at calvary. b) Repent of your sinful, unloving attitudes c) And out of love for Jesus repeat your "first works". like: spending time to study His word, spending time with Him prayer, spending time for Him in evangelising. simply put--caring about what He cares about. Devotion to Jesus is the key that re-ignites our spiritual passion.

Father God, thank you for your mercy and grace at work in my life.
Today, set my heart on fire anew for your glory in Jesus name

1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN

  Genesis 17-18; Matthew 6:25-34; Matthew 7:1-23; Proverbs 1:8-19

A HEART OF FIRE

LIGHT FOR THE WAY
(Daily Devotional)

Saturday 9th January 2016

TOPIC: A HEART OF FIRE

TEXT:  Luke 24:32

"Did not our hearts burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and He opened the scriptures to us?"

In the book of Acts 17, Apostle Paul went to Mars Hill to declare the truth of Christ's resurrection. Many listeners gathered there were not spiritual seekers. Luke who wrote the book of Acts records that they spent their days simply wanting to discuss the latest news ideas with little interest in acting on what they learned (v:21).
Too much information can be dangerous. All the ideas can blur together and become incoherent, leaving us unchanged by what we know.
Centuries ago, the  historian Plutarch warned of the danger on living on a purely informational level. He widely said " The mind is not a vessel to be stirred but a fire to be kindled."
The followers of Christ on the way to Emmaus would have agreed( Luke 24). As the grieved the death of Jesus, the risen Christ Himself joined them but hid His identity. He began instructing them on the ancient prophecies of those events found throughout the old testament. Later that day, Christ revealed Himself to them and then departed.
After Jesus' departure they marvelled at what they had heard. The things He taught were not sterile facts but fire that kindled their hearts with devotion for Him. May we likewise trust the Shepherd of our soul to kindle our hearts as we grow in His word.

PRAYER POINT
Father God, revive me to start living in the reality of the finished works of Christ in Jesus name.

DAILY BIBLE READING

Genesis 14--16
Matthew 5:43-48
Matthew 6:1-24
Psalm 6

THE GOD WHO SEES ME

LIGHT FOR THE WAY
(Daily Devotional)

Friday 8th January 2016

TOPIC: THE LORD WHO SEES ME

TEXT Genesis 16:13

"(Hagar called the the name the name of the Lord who spoke to her, You are the God who sees; for she said, " have I also here seen Him who sees me?"

There are many Locators and tracking devises in the market today that promise to help us keep track of elderly parents, children, wallets, pets, parolees, even potential kidnapping victims.
As useful as these gadgets are they would have done Hagar no good. No one seem to care enough about Hagar and her unborn child to monitor their well being in the desert. No one but El ROI--Hebrew for "you are the God who sees"(Genesis 16:13).
Hagar served Sarai, Abraham's wife. Sarai felt like a weak link in the chain of God's promise to bless Abram with many descendants. She was barren so she told Abram to sleep with her maid servant and build a family through her. This ill advised suggestion-born amid intense cultural pressure to provide an heir led to nothing but trouble. When Hagar became pregnant, she despised Sarai for her inability to have children. Then Sarai treated Hagar so badly that she ran away. There in the desert feeling the misery of her past and the uncertainty of her future, Hagar met God, who saw her and took care of her.
Jehovah(El ROI) sees your past miseries, your present pain and your uncertain future. He is watching over you, He is so watchful that He knows when a strand of hair falls from your head, He knows when the smallest sparrow perishes (Matthew 10:28-31). And He is the God who sees and cares for you today. You can entrust an unknown future to a known God. So keep your eyes upon the Lord, because He never takes His eyes off you.

PRAYER POINT
Father, thank you for your care over my life. I present my past, present and future to you build my life for your glory in Jesus name

DAILY BIBLE READING

Genesis 12-13; Matthew 5:21-42; Psalm 5

ENJOYING EVERYDAY LIFE

LIGHT FOR THE WAY
(Daily Devotional)

Thursday 7th January 2015

TOPIC: ENJOYING EVERYDAY LIFE

REXT: Proverbs 15:15

"All the days of the afflicted are evil, but he who is of a merry heart has a continual feast."

A woman who lived to be 104 years was asked the secret to her longevity, she credited  " Laughter, the Lord and the little things" as things that kept her going. She still found enjoyment each day in talking with people, taking a walk and reading the Bible as  she has done since childhood.
Some of us might not live to be up to 104 years but we can learn from Tamer Lee, how to enjoy each day we are given:
1) Laughter- "A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance, but by a sorrowful heart the spirit is broken."(Pro. 15:13). True happiness happens deep inside and emerges on our faces.
2) The Lord-- "The fear of the Lord, is the instruction of wisdom, and before honour is humility."(v:33). When God become the central focus of our lives, He can teach us His way through every experience of life.
3) The little things-- "Better is dinner of herbs where love is, than a fatted calf with with hatred."(v:17). Maintaining loving relationships and enjoying the basic things of life are most important than wealth and success.
Not all of us will live up to be 104 years old, but we all can live well each day, with laughter, the Lord and the little things of life. The world is filled with so much good--little things that bring us pleasure--But Christ can fill our lives with joy beyond all earthly treasure.
So, happiness is not a destination but a day to day journey.

PRAYER POINT
Father God, I present my heart to you today, fill me heart with joy beyond every earthly treasure in Jesus name

DAILY BIBLE READING
Genesis 8-11; Matthew 4:22-25; Matthew 5:1-20; Psalm 4