[ebankole]

:)

You Can Break the Cycle (2)


'...He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva;
and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay.'
John 9:6 NKJV
Dr. Samuel Rodriguez, president of the National Hispanic
Christian Leadership Conference, points out that your DNA
is in your saliva and that when Jesus spat, this blind man
received a divine DNA transfer. The fact of the matter is
that sin is in our DNA and that’s why Jesus goes back to
the root of our problem! Understand this: God doesn’t
merely treat your symptoms; He goes back to the source
of your problem in order to set you free from it. To change
the fruit, He changes the root. This man never had the
ability to see; he was born blind and needed a creative
miracle—and that’s exactly what he got. Physical miracle
and spiritual miracle—a total transformation. Our God is
awesome, isn’t He?
Do you know why Jesus came? ‘…To bind up the bro-
kenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and
release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the
year of the Lord’s favour…to comfort all who mourn…to
bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the
oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of de-spair…’ (Isaiah 61:1–3 NIV) It
doesn’t matter whether your parents contributed to your
problem or you simply made bad choices in life, Jesus can
set you free, make you whole, and give you a new life.
Jesus didn’t blame this man or his parents. That’s
because God has no desire for your condemna-tion; His
desire is for your transformation.
SoulFood: Ezek 34-36, Matt 19:1-14, Ps 73:1-16, Prov
15:18-21
This is The Word For Today

:)

[ebankole]

:)


You Can Break the Cycle (3)



'...One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see.'
John 9:25 NKJV
When Jesus restored this blind man’s sight, the Pharisees
tried to engage him in a theological debate about who
Jesus was and where His power came from, but he
refused to argue with them. He simply said, ‘…One thing I
know: that though I was blind, now I see,’ and the same
arguments still continue today. Some people say, ‘The
day of miracles is past.’ The truth is that there is no day
of miracles; there’s only a God of miracles Who says, ‘…I
am the Lord, I do not change.’ (Malachi 3:6 NKJV) The
Bible says, ‘Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today,
and forever.’ (Hebrews 13:8 KJV) That means what He
was, He still is. What He did, He still does. What He said,
He still says.
Whatever your problem may be, you have two choices:
live with it and try to adjust to it, or believe God to set you
free from it. Certain things like alco-holism, addiction,
and abuse may run in your family, but by the grace of God
you can break the cycle! Please hear this: God’s power is
greater than your habit! Not only can He set you free from
the thing that holds you captive, He can deliver you from
its lingering effects. His Word to you is: ‘Forget the former
things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new
thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am
making a way…’ (Isaiah 43:18–19 NIV) So turn to God
today. Give Him a chance. You’ve tried other things, now
try Him. He will not fail you!
SoulFood: Ezek 37:1-40:9, Matt 19:15-30, Ps 73:17-28,
Prov 15:22-24
This is The Word For Today

:)

[ebankole]

:)


You Can Break the Cycle (4)



'...he went and washed, and came back seeing.' John 9:7
NKJV
Sometimes Jesus healed sick people by speaking to them,
other times He laid His hands on them. But this blind
man’s healing was not the work of a moment; it was the
result of a process. ‘…He said to him, “Go, wash in the
pool of Siloam”…So he went and washed, and came back
seeing.’ (John 9:7 NKJV) Question: How far away was the
pool of Siloam? For a blind man, any journey is a long
one. Picture this man with mud in his eyes, trying to
navigate his way to the pool of Siloam. There’s an
important lesson here. Even when God touches us,
sometimes we’ve got to walk with our mess until we get
to the place of healing, freedom and deliverance.
Here’s another thought. Whoever told this man about
Jesus, and brought him to Jesus, had to keep walking with
him until he got his sight back and could walk on his own.
You can’t say to someone who’s struggling with a
problem, ‘I told you about Jesus, and I even brought you
to church but you’re still stumbling around in darkness
bound by the same problems, so I give up.’ God never
gives up on people, and we must not give up on them
either. When someone continues to struggle with an old
habit, some Christians say they mustn’t really be saved.
Question: How often do you give in to resentment, pride,
lust, greed, gossip, etc.? The list is endless, yet God
doesn’t give up on you. Sometimes people have to ‘walk
out’ their deliverance and healing until it fully comes to
pass. That’s how long you need to love them, believe in
them, pray for them, and keep working with them.
SoulFood: Ezek 40:10-42:20, Matt 20:1-16, Ps 139:1-6,
Prov 15:25-27
This is The Word For Today

[ebankole]

:)


You Can Break the Cycle (5)
Thursday, 18 June 2015
'...Go to the pool...and wash...' John 9:11 NKJ
Jesus told this blind man to go to the pool of Siloam and
wash the dirt from his eyes. So here’s the question: What
do you need to remove from your life today in order to see
what God wants you to see and do what He wants you to
do? Whether it’s a destructive habit, a toxic relationship,
or a bad atti-tude, you must get rid of it. James writes:
‘Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee
from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.
Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts,
you double–minded.’ (James 4:7–8 NKJV) God will do
His part, but you must do yours. God will extend grace to
you, but you must act on it. It’s said that the water which
flowed into the pool of Siloam came from under the
temple and was used to wash the utensils which were part
of worship and sacrifice. In other words, this water didn’t
come from a man–made source, but from the presence of
God. Don’t miss the point here! Jesus said, ‘You are
already clean because of the word which I have spoken to
you.’ (John 15:3 NKJV) Paul speaks of ‘…the washing of
water by the word’ (Ephesians 5:26 KJV). David writes,
‘How can a young man [or an older one] cleanse his way?
By taking heed according to Your Word.’ (Psalm 119:9
NKJV) The secret of victorious Christian living is bathing
your mind each day in the Scriptures. Picture yourself
taking a bath in God’s Word and the dirt and grime
coming off you. That’s what meditating on the Scriptures
does for you.
SoulFood: Ezek 43-45, Matt 20:17-28, Ps 139:7-12, Prov
15:28-30
This is The Word For Today


:)

[ebankole]

:)


What Are Your Children Watching?




'I will set nothing wicked before my eyes...' Psalm 101:3 NKJV


Today our children have more access to the internet than ever before. Over half of all children between the ages of nine and seventeen have internet cable or satellite television access in their bedrooms. The old image of the family gathered around a single TV set in the living room is almost non–existent. Instead, often children are off by themselves where they can choose anything they want to see. They don’t even have to be in their bed-room because now they can access it all on a hand–held device like a tablet or an iPhone! One prominent social researcher put it this way: ‘Almost everything children are seeing is essentially going into their minds in some sort of uncensored or unfiltered way.’

Under the ‘freedom of expression’ rule, the government and courts permit internet sites to peddle explicit sex, violence, Unclothedness and profanity to your children and your grandchildren. Are you concerned? You should be! Why do sheep need a shepherd? For the same reason children need loving and observant parents—wolves! And your ignorance of technology is no defence! Because you weren’t exposed to these evils growing up doesn’t guarantee that your children won’t get hooked on them. Many parents don’t even take the time to know what their children are watching! Don’t be one of them. After his disastrous affair with Bathsheba and the heartache and havoc it brought to his family, David said, ‘…I will walk within my house with a perfect heart. I will set nothing wicked before my eyes…’ (Psalm 101:2–3 NKJV) Parents, what are your children watching?



SoulFood: Ezek 46-48, Matt 20:29-34, Ps 139:13-24, Prov 15:31-33


This is The Word For Today

:) :)

[ebankole]

:)



How to Overcome Doubt




'...If you have faith and do not doubt...' Matthew 21:21 NIV


Doubt is a doorway through which Satan enters your life. It causes the ‘fight of faith’ to become the ‘flight of faith’. When fear, confusion, discouragement and despair take up residence within you, they rob you of confidence, joy and peace. But isn’t doubting just human? Of course it is and it’s also Satan’s ploy! ‘…whoever does not believe God has made Him out to be a liar, because they have not believed the testimony God has given…’ (1 John 5:10 NIV) Your doubts reveal a lack of confidence in what God says. So how can you stop doubting?

The same way you deal with other sin—by acknowledging you have a problem and doing something about it. Doubt cannot be conquered by reason or even resistance; it will only submit to complete relinquishment. Trying to overcome your doubts one by one is like an alcoholic trying to reduce his or her alcohol intake one drink at a time. It doesn’t work.

The solution is two–fold.
(1) It begins with a once–for–all decision. It calls for a total relinquishing of your right to doubt anything God promised. It’s saying, ‘From now on, I will not doubt God!’ It’s believing that when you surrender a thing to Him, He takes it and deals with it.

(2) By faith declare, ‘Lord, I absolutely trust Your every Word!’

Will doubt come knocking again at your door? Yes, but instead of letting it in, ‘...take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.’ (Ephesians 6:16 NIV) Don’t fret, wrestle, or reason with your doubts. Instead, repeat your Scriptural declaration of faith, disregard your feelings, and trust God to do what He says.


SoulFood: 2 Cor 1-4, Matt 21:1-17, Ps 144:1-8, Prov 16:1-3


This is The Word For Today


:)

[MrsS]

thank you Jesus for setting me free from doubt.:)

[ebankole]

:)


The Huddle




'I appeal to you, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another...' 1 Corinthians 1:10 NIV



To lead your family effectively, you need to learn how to huddle regularly. The ‘huddle’ is where a team:

(1) sets its goals;
(2) discusses the division of responsibilities;
(3) tackles the issues that determine whether it wins or loses.

Parent, even though you call the plays from overhead, your family must be taught how to accomplish them on the field. That means working through things, talking through the disagreements, motivating and appreciating each member. Try to listen with an open heart. Don’t just hear what your children say, try to understand how they feel. Yes, you’re the boss, and yes, you can try to enforce your will if you want to. But sooner or later you’ll have trouble, for resentment grows when people feel left out.

Every member of your team has got to be part of the decision–making process. Involve them! Ask God to help you look beyond what you want to what’s best for all of you. And don’t fall under the spell of instant gratification. What looks good to you today could be taking you off the path to a better tomorrow. And don’t let ‘outsiders’ into your huddle. Tell them to stay in their own. Too often their opinions are based on hearsay, self–interest or jealousy. Respect the privacy of your team. Build loyalty. Huddle regularly in prayer. When you do that, everybody wins!


SoulFood: Esther 4:9-5:3, Heb 4:7-16



This is The Word For Today

:)

[ebankole]

:)


Handling Your Failures (1)




'...the hearts of the people melted, and became like water.' Joshua 7:5 NKJV


Even the most seasoned believers experience failure and the big question at such times isn’t, ‘How could I have let that happen?’ but, ‘What’s the right way to deal with it?’ Indulging in self–condemning thoughts comes naturally to us, but it does no good. It just produces discouragement, and adds failure upon failure. As a result of Achan’s sin, Israel was defeated at Ai and fled before their enemies. Like us, in response to their defeat, ‘…the hearts of the people melted, and became like water.’ Their faith forsook them, and they ‘lost their courage.’ (Joshua 7:5 GNT) Even their leader Joshua ‘…fell facedown to the ground…’ (Joshua 7:6 NIV), despairing that things could only get worse!

Have you been there? Do you recognise the pattern? Defeat, discouragement, despair, and more defeat. What was God’s response? ‘Get up! Why do you lie thus…? Israel has sinned… Get up, sanctify the people…’ (Joshua 7:10–13 NKJV) He’s a God of repentance—not wallowing in remorse; a God of getting up—not lying down in failure! Holiness is a path, not a place. When you’re off the path, God’s plan is simple—get back on it immediately. Confess your sin (1 John 1:9). By faith ac-cept God’s mercy and forgiveness. And refuse Satan’s condemnation (Romans 8:1). ‘…Forgetting those things which are behind…press toward the goal…’ (Philippians 3:13–14 NKJV) Like a child learning to walk, when you fall don’t lie down and give up. Minimise your down–time—get back up and walk again.

Remember this: the moment that brings the awareness of sin should also bring the confession of sin and the assurance of forgiveness!


SoulFood: 2 Cor 5-8, Matt 21:18-32, Ps 144:9-15, Prov 16:4-7


This is The Word For Today

:)

[ebankole]

:)



Handling Your Failures (2)



'Return... I will heal your backslidings...' Jeremiah 3:22 NKJV



What’s the root of our failures? Failure doesn’t lie in the strength of the enemy, or our own weakness, or God’s reluctance to help us overcome. Israel was defeated by a small town after having conquered mighty Jericho. Their failure, like ours, was the result of unconfessed sin (Joshua 7). But once their sin was brought to light and dealt with, God spoke encouragement to them. ‘…Do not be afraid…Take all the people of war with you… I have given into your hand the king of Ai, his people, his city, and his land.’ (Joshua 8:1 NKJV) Sin unacknowledged will keep you defeated, but sin confessed will bring you forgiveness and restoration that leads to victory.

Author Hannah Whitall Smith tells of moving into a new home. She noticed in the cellar a very clean–looking cider cask sealed at both ends. She de-bated whether to open it and see what was inside, but decided to leave it undisturbed. Each spring and autumn when the cleaning was being done, she’d remember the cask but put off opening it. Unaccountably, moths began to fill the house. She used every means she knew to get rid of them, without success. At last, remembering the cask, she opened it and thousands of moths poured out! The lesson here is simple: anything we cling to that’s contrary to God’s Word will cause us to fall before our enemies.

Always keep before you David’s prayer: ‘Search me, O God, and know my heart…see if there be any wicked way in me…’ (Psalm 139:23–24 NKJV) Whatever God shows you, confess it immediately and by faith receive His forgiveness and cleansing. Then you’ll be able to stand victorious before your enemies.


SoulFood: 2 Cor 9:1-11:15, Matt 21:33-46, Ps 8, Prov 16:8-11


This is The Word For Today

:)