Bible In One Year-Day 246 (Tuesday, September 3, 2013)

Commentary: Job7-9. There are two basic lessons worth learning from Job’s plight so far read.

1. The boasting of God over His own is not in the mass of material wealth but in the faithfulness of such in trials and righteousness in wealth. Job was tried, yet did not sin; he remained faithful to God. Instead of blaming God for his predicament, he looked at himself as a mortal person who cannot be righteous before God and a shame to God for his iniquity which he couldn’t figure out;

Job 6:24 “Teach me, and I will hold my tongue: and cause me to understand wherein I have erred.”

Job 9:2 “I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God?”

2.  We also learnt that sin is not necessarily the reason for all afflictions. Afflictions come in the form of trials sometimes but this leads to a better state if one endures to the end.

Job was afflicted on all sides and in every aspect you could think of.

i.            Materially, he was devoured

ii.            Financially, he was squeezed to the bone

iii.            Bodily, he was tormented, i.e. assumedly decaying; his mouth could not taste food

iv.            Family wise, he was reduced to a nagging wife.

v.            Death was preferred to what he was going through; not denying God in his words but probably there would be some relieves from the suffering. The devil was very hard on him

vi.            His dream was full of fear to the point that he was afraid of his bed

Job 7:13-15 “When I say, My bed shall comfort me, my couch shall ease my complaint; Then thou scarest me with dreams, and terrifiest me through visions: So that my soul chooseth strangling, and death rather than my life.”

Beloved, the greatest asset a man could ever have is JEHOVAH; not as confessed in the mouth but as regarded in the heart. Job’s totality was Jehovah God in his heart. It was very hard for him to deny and forget God even in his affliction and at the advice of his dear wife. He trusted God for His righteousness and faithfulness. Job’s attitude in his trial marked Satan as a liar and God the truth. His friends tried to convince him out of his conviction, he remained adamant against their counsels. Job needed to know what was going on; he trusted God for the right answer and not what his friends uttered. Studying the comments of his friends, we could see that they were actually helping Satan to condemn Job. Their statements praised God out rightly but they were to make him to deny his God. This was the same tactics Satan used to fall man in the Garden of Eden and to test Jesus in the wilderness. His responses were outstanding just as Jesus knocked out Satan in the wilderness.

Job 9:1-4 “Then Job answered and said, I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God? If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand. He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered?”

He still honored God in his trials as read in chapter9. He refused to trust in his righteousness, good works, sacrifices, ability and strength.

Beloved, the righteous do suffer but it ends well and better than what he was before the trial for as long as he is faithful.

Jesus came to die and pay the price for our sin. Satan is there to make believers remain ever guilty (not forgiving themselves) for their shortcomings. Many Christians don’t even know much about their salvation not to talk of their rights as children of God.

Romans 8:1-2 “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.”

Salvation is absolutely a gift to sinners and not to the righteous. You don’t need to fast for it, nor pray for it. You need not be a good person before you obtain it. It is a gift not of works.

Ephesians 2:8 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:”

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

It is not by the works of righteousness either.

Titus 3:5 “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Spirit;”

All you need is to confess and accept Him as your Lord and Savior. The only thing He asks from us is to believe (inter-changeably used as FAITH) in Him.

However, this is not to mean that you will automatically make heaven; rather your FAITHFULNESS to the salvation you receive is what earns you the reward of the KINGDOM of HEAVEN. That is to say you obtain salvation by FAITH and make heaven by being FAITHFUL. Only the faithful will God usher into His glory (Matthew25). Kingdom of heaven is a REWARD (not a gift) to the righteous (not for sinners). You don’t work for a gift but you work to earn a reward. In essence, SALVATION is a GIFT to all SINNERS but the KINGDOM OF HEAVEN is a REWARD to the FAITHFUL (righteous)

Matthew 4:17 “From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Without REPENTANCE no sinner shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven as the scripture says.

Matthew 5:20 “For I say to you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.”

The ‘faithful’ aspect is being consistent with God’s will in all areas of life, i.e. observing or doing His will. To preach His word or confess His name is not the yardstick but living a life of Christ. Ministering in the gift is not the pathway but for the fruit of the Spirit in you to preach Christ to others. The summary of the New Testament is for us to be Christ-like; this is the works of the Holy Spirit

Matthew 7:21 “Not every one that saith to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven.”

Job went through satanic persecution, condemnation, ruin and woe, yet he never denied God. He was a righteous man yet suffered for that.

Matthew 5:10 “Blessed are they who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Matthew 10:22 “And ye will be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.”

Job was faithful to God in his predicament. Christians that will miss it are the unfaithful ones who compromise trials and practice lawlessness as Christians. Faithfulness is the only price you will have to pay to earn the reward of the kingdom of heaven. Job acknowledges his righteousness could not help him before God, but trusted in God’s mercy. Jesus is our righteousness without which we cannot make heaven. Whatever you are going through, NEVER compromise Jesus for anything.

Let us seek for the old path where we could find rest. Let us listen to the trumpet’s sound, wherewith we could escape the calamity to come. Our reading for today is Job10-12. Keep the fire of burning and alive.

Pastor Supo Abayode

+1-302-230-6792

Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries

Delaware, USA

Bible In One Year-Day 245 (Monday, September 2, 2013)

Commentary: Job4-6. Surely, Job was a succor and an asset to his friends before his predicament.

In chapter 3, Job cursed the day he was born. His wordings were so hard and quite uncomfortable for his friends bear. The friends then made the statements in chapter4 referring to how Job was there for them when they were in their predicaments.

Job 4:3-6 “Behold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands. Thy words have upholden him that was falling, and thou hast strengthened the feeble knees. But now it is come upon thee, and thou faintest; it toucheth thee, and thou art troubled. Is not this thy fear, thy confidence, thy hope, and the uprightness of thy ways?”

Job’s plight is a message to us that difficulties are not necessarily because of sin. No sin was recorded against Job for him to experience this woe; rather it was God’s pride over him. The plight was God’s way of boasting over Job to Satan. There are some truths in what his friends said in chapter 5, but these truths were said out of ignorance and so may not be appropriate for Job’s case. For instance, they believed that Job must have done something terrible for God to unleash such punishment on him. It is true that such problem could be as a result of sin, but not in the case of Job. Any Christian going through difficult times should not opt for an alternative outside God’s word but TRUST God for help. Whatever He allows in our lives as His children is to shame the devil and encourage others for as long as we do not disappoint Him.

James 1:12 “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.”

Job loved the Lord and this helped him to overcome the trying period. We are made to understand that in his trying time, he did not sin against God. One of the promises of God to His genuine children is that no temptation will overcome them for as long as they remain in the boundary He has provided for them.

1 Corinthians 10:13 “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it”.

To understand the principle of spiritual warfare, we must know what the rules are, and to know the rules, we must read, study and meditate the word of God. And our hearts must be soft enough to let the word take root.

Luke 8:13 “They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.”

We can make use of our trying times to our own advantage by getting closer to God in prayer and the study of His word. His response to such attitude is always awesome.

Ezekiel 36:26 “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.”

Let us seek for the old path where we could find rest. Let us listen to the trumpet’s sound, wherewith we could escape the calamity to come. Our reading for today is Job7-9. Keep the fire of burning and alive.

Pastor Supo Abayode

+1-302-230-6792

Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries

Delaware, USA

Bible In One Year-Day 243 (Saturday, August 31, 2013).

Commentary: Book of Malachi. God was dissatisfied with the priests, rulers and leaders of the nation of Israel due to the plague of wickedness, corruption and falsehood. These were conspicuously evident in their socio-political lives of the people. It posed a great problem to their relationship with God. Marital treachery leading to divorce was prevalent, hypocrisy in worship in which the priest offered sick animals contrary to what God ordained in Deuteronomy 15:21.

Malachi 1:13 “Ye said also, Behold, what a weariness is it! and ye have snuffed at it, saith the LORD of hosts; and ye brought that which was torn, and the lame, and the sick; thus ye brought an offering: should I accept this of your hand? saith the LORD.”

The priests have lost the grace on their lips to the demon of lies, deceits and perversion. People were being led astray and the good offerings were being stolen.

\Malachi 2:7-8 “For the priest’s lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts. But ye are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith the LORD of hosts.”

God has a special covenant with the priests but this was defiled.

It was in this infamous situation that God sent Prophet Malachi to give the message His judgment to the corrupt nation. Malachi (meaning ‘My messenger’) was a prophet in the days of Nehemiah, the man who led the building of the broken wall. Through the message of Malachi, the prophet of John the Baptist was given.

Malachi 3:1 “Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.”

From the book of Malachi, we could learn some lessons:

1. Blessings can be cursed
2. There is a covenant God has with the priests
3. Disrespect and dishonor for God can make Him reject our offering
4. The type of offering you bring to the house of God matters. Stealing or cheating to offer impressively to man is not accepted to God, i.e. the source of your income weighs more than a million applauses of men.
5. Marriage is the Lord’s ‘holy institution’ according to Mal2:11and He loves it dearly. He hates divorce
6. The priests are to teach the people the statues of the law and this must be seen in their own lives.
7. Malachi3:3 makes to us to understand that Christians experience trials for them to be refined and be purged so that they could offer in righteousness. This means that when you give your life to Jesus, God will allow you to go through some trying times during which worldliness will be shaken out of your life and you learn to worship Him is truth and in Spirit.
8. Backsliding is sin, Mal3:14
9. He defends His interest in those who fear Him, Mal3:16

Many lessons are this book for us to learn.

Let us seek for the old path where we could find rest. Let us listen to the trumpet’s sound, wherewith we could escape the calamity to come. Our reading for today is Job1-3. Keep the fire of burning and alive.

Pastor Supo Abayode

+1-302-230-6792

Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries

Delaware, USA

Bible In One Year-Day 242 (Friday, August 30, 2013)

Commentary: Zephaniah1-3. The days of Zephaniah were during the time of religious, political and social imbalance in the land of Judah. The major theme in his message to the people was “The Day of The Lord” Prophet Zephaniah gave a perfect definition of that day which sent his reforming message deeper into the hearers.

Zephaniah 1:15-16 “That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness, A day of the trumpet and alarm against the fenced cities, and against the high towers.”

The covenant relationship with God never exempted them from His judgment because their unfaithfulness called for it. Zephaniah’s message was a call for repentance; whoever repents and walks righteously and in humility will be hidden from the judgment to come. However, whoever walks wickedly will have a taste of God’s anger. The truth is that if God releases His anger, where can a man run to? Here is the Psalmist experience;

Psalms 139:7-10 “Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.”

We may have that covenant relationship with God, our faithfulness is what makes us enjoy the benefits and grace attached to it; this is what we call real-time relationship and it is what God desires from us. In case this relationship flaws, Zephaniah suggested repentance, Zeph2:1-2.

Zephaniah 2:1-3 “Gather yourselves together, yea, gather together, O nation not desired; Before the decree bring forth, before the day pass as the chaff, before the fierce anger of the LORD come upon you, before the day of the LORD’S anger come upon you. Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD’S anger.”

We may not understand this repentance. Repentance is not just confession with the mouth but a thing that is reflected in our attitude and way of life. Zephaniah mentioned three things in his suggestion that must be the pursuit of a genuinely repentant heart;

1. Seek the Lord: this is a show of your Love for Him in appreciation of His graciousness. It is a show of your love for Him; you want to be in His presence above all other things. Matt6:33
2. Seek righteousness: this is making sure His will is done.
3. Seek humility: this is total reliance on God’s grace, i.e. not being boastful of your input or ability but just grace. John15:5 says “without me ye can do nothing” When you get to this point you become a servant who waits on God with fear to hear His instructions. You don’t attribute any achievement to yourself but to the Giver of life, Jesus.
4. Soberness: this is feeling ashamed of your past deeds. You realize your filthiness and demand for cleansing. No pride is attached to your past sinful acts.

In 2Chron7:14, we notice also that God demanded humility from us as part of repentance.

2 Chronicles 7:14 “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

This means that repentance must be accompanied with some evidences which we call virtues; righteousness, faith in God, humility, honesty and truth. John the Baptist called these virtues FRUITS OF REPENTANCE just as we have fruit of the Spirit from those who have Him.

Luke 3:8 “Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say to you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children to Abraham.”

John the Baptist made them to know that the covenant relationship established through Abraham is not a platform for unfaithfulness but exhibiting the virtues of repentance.

Prophet Zephaniah further made it known to them that if anyone has these virtues, such would be saved from the wrath to come and, of course, will enjoy a promissory splendor as relayed in chapter 3.

Zephaniah 3:17 “The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.”

God is mercy and gracious to those who are meek. May His grace hide calamity from us in the name of Jesus. May the Lord hide pride from us also in the name of Jesus Christ.

Let us seek for the old path where we could find rest. Let us listen to the trumpet’s sound, wherewith we could escape the calamity to come. Our reading for today is the book of Malachi. Keep the fire of burning and alive.

Pastor Supo Abayode

+1-302-230-6792

Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries

Delaware, USA

Bible In One Year-Day 241 (Thursday, August 29, 2013)

Commentary: Habakkuk1-3. In the days of Habakkuk, crime and violence were the order of the day. Judah was deep in atrocities, yet God was silent. This posed a concern to Prophet Habakkuk which made him to remain on his knees to seek God’s intervention.

Habakkuk 1:1 “The burden which Habakkuk the prophet did see.”

God responded in a vision to him. God’s response started with the description of the nature of the instrument of correction, Babylon, He was going to use, Habakkuk 1:5-11. This was another ponder to the prophet. The prophet threw some questions to God based on the way He wanted to use the weapon in correcting His people. In chapter2, God told the prophet to write the vision down for it was not an instant one but for the future; even if it slows, it was the duty of the Prophet to be patient in waiting for its manifestation. This is a great lesson to us. There is a slow vision, i.e. takes more time to come to pass. Such vision demands our patience if is favorable; all we need to do in such cases is to write it down and read it constantly so that our faith can be built up. If the vision is not a good one, it only shows that God is giving time for man to go through the process of repentance.

Joel 2:13 “And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.”

Vision is the greatest virtue of a good Christian. It sustains their heart in being faithful to God in the midst of troubles. This is the meaning of the prophet’s statement;

Habakkuk 2:4 “Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.”

The Apostle used this phrase severally to encourage Christians going through difficult times; Romans1:17, Gal3:11 and Heb10:38. To be a Christian isn’t an exemption from trials and hard times. But the righteousness and faithfulness of God is revealed in it if we remain faithful to Him. The situation could be so bad as for us to draw back; we should not.

Hebrews 10:38 “Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.”

The Christian, hereby referred to as the just, should be steadfast in trusting God in tribulations. The things that has happened or is happening in the spirit realm should be what matters to a child of God because that is where the reality holds. Habakkuk never relented in pressing God for answer to the problem that was on ground; the righteous being oppressed by the wicked and goes free, the law was so weak to the point of open perversion of justice. The crooked was increasing in wealth, innocent blood was shed to gain properties and rape became the usual phenomenon. God’s ways aren’t our ways. We should embrace His will and plan in getting problems solved even if the manner is alien, i.e. unfamiliar, to us. Habakkuk was concerned about the unruly behavior of his countrymen and how the innocent was being put to death and molested. When He contacted God on this issue, the manner God wanted to correct the menace was shocking to him; God was to use a more horrible people to correct that. Habakkuk regarded God’s way as wisdom. He embraced God’s option and concluded by praising Him in chapter 3. The evidence of a believer being faithful is to take delight in God’s will and embrace His response to all situations. The just shall live by faith. The glorious life of a believer is more evident in difficult circumstances. Habakkuk showed us how to praise God in such situations. After seeing the vision, he praised God acknowledging His mightiness. His description of God’s mightiness could have been what He saw in the vision and fear came upon him. Believers need to strive in prayer to see more of God, then worldliness becomes vanity to them. Apostle Paul saw the vision and revelation of the Lord; he submitted his brain power, i.e. acquired knowledge to the feet of Jesus for use. May the Lord unlock our understanding in the name of Jesus.

Let us seek for the old path where we could find rest. Let us listen to the trumpet’s sound, wherewith we could escape the calamity to come. Our reading for today is the book of Zephaniah Keep the fire of burning and alive.

Pastor Supo Abayode

+1-302-230-6792

Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries

Delaware, USA