CONSCIENCE< ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>

1Timothy 1

As a believer there is a need to be conscious of your conscience. Twice in PaulÕs letter to Timothy, the issue on conscience was mentioned and this should call for attention of every believers. < ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>American Heritage College dictionary defined conscience as, ÒThe awareness of a moral or ethical aspect to oneÕs conduct together with the urge to prefer right over wrong or a source of moral or ethical judgment or pronouncement.Ó Paul wrote to Timothy in 1Timothy 1:5-6, ÒNow the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith, 6 from which some, having strayed, have turned aside to idle talk.Ó It can be said that conscience is what will drive home faith. Having and operating good conscience cannot be separated for a believer to live a life of testimony. Later in that first chapter, Paul wrote again, 1Timothy 1:19, ÒHaving faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck.Ó The issue of good conscience became an emphasis that has to constantly be in place for faith to have its way. Paul also pointed out some that have suffered a ship wreck in their journey because they did not operate in faith and a good conscience. Is your ship shaking or being moved beyond what you can control? Have you been carrying the Bible, the container of the Word of God around while turning away from doing good that is coming from your conscience? It is evident from the testimony of Paul that faith and good conscience operate together and they cannot be separated. An attempt to separate a good conscience from faith will lead to a ship wreck in the journey of life.

SAUL TO PAUL< ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>

Acts 9:1-22

The conversion from Saul to Paul was the enablement of the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul testified to this in 1Timothy1:12, ÒAnd I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry.Ó Before Paul was counted faithful by Jesus there was enablement in place. PaulÕs enablement took place when JesusÕ name sounded in his direction. Acts 9:4-6, ÒThen he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, ÒSaul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?Ó 5 And he said, ÒWho are You, Lord?Ó Then the Lord said, ÒI am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.Ó 6 So he, trembling and astonished, said, ÒLord, what do You want me to do?Ó Then the Lord said to him, ÒArise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.Ó Saul was an established persecutor and a hard hearted man that wanted to deny the mission of the Lord Jesus by all possible means. Saul heard the voice of Jesus but he questioned the voice. At the name of Jesus, Saul did not have power to question nor resist but to tremble. Saul was also astonished because the name was not for him to resist. It is written, at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth. (Philippians 2:10). Saul went beyond just bowing, but trembled and astonished. Above all, he lost his sight for three days and could not eat or drink for three days. All this happened on his way to < ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>Damascus in attempt to go and disable the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ. Saul was disabled from answering Saul and became enabled to be answering Paul. Ask God to sound His name in your direction. His name, not just His voice will terminate all that doesnÕt represent the calling of God in your life. Saul the persecutor became Paul the apostle. He is a faithful God.

BE ENCOURAGED< ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>

Jeremiah 17

In looking back to where you have started and where you are, can you make a claim to have sincerely embarked and engaged yourself in doing good and not evil? It can never be too much in doing what is good; neither can it be too late to reap the fruitfulness of doing good. Be encouraged if you have been doing good in dealing with a wicked and desperate world. Jeremiah 17:9-10, ÒThe heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it? 10 I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings.Ó The two verses should speak to your encouragement. The word that is directly from God has never failed and He will never be late in carrying out His word. Be encouraged if all that you are doing is sincere to the glory of God and with no hidden agenda for self glorification. In your meditation, add the word of Jeremiah 32:19, ÒYou are great in counsel and mighty in work, for Your eyes are open to all the ways of the sons of men, to give everyone according to his ways and according to the fruit of his doings.Ó He that gives eyes and ears does have eyes to see and ears to hear. Let nothing derail you from doing what you are doing that is bringing glory to GodÕs name. There is nothing under heaven or earth that is too difficult for Him to do. All your mockery will be converted into miracle. You have to get up on your mind and be encouraged and know that you will be given according to the fruit of your doings. Do not bother nor wonder how long it will take, but be assured that it will not be long. Be encouraged and not be discouraged.

FEAR< ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>

Matthew 8:23-27

In every journey storms will come and everything on board will be shaken and moved.  When a storm comes, it is not always to kill but to reveal the character of the one in journey. Also, how you respond in the time of a storm is what will deliver you to your expected end. Storm will generate fear but you are to be elevated by faith. In the time of a storm, if you begin to loose power instead of gaining power, that is required to take control, you are heading towards trouble. If you begin to dislike the way things are going around you, note that the steam of your love is waxing cold. In your storm, if your mind begins to wonder back and forth calculating how you will jump out of the journey then you have lost operating with a sound mind. Fear is what it takes for disability to have its way in the midst of a storm. Once Jesus was sleeping in transit when a storm came up and the disciples were overtaken by fear. The disciples woke Jesus up Matthew < ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>8:26, ÒBut He said to them, ÔWhy are you fearful, o you of little faith?Õ Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea and there was a great calm.ÕÓ What has overtaken you in your storm? Take all to Jesus and  He will not sleep over your challenges. It is written in 2Timothy 1:7, ÒFor God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and of a sound mind.Ó He has given us the spirit that will make us a winner. The spirit of power, love and sound mind that has been given will only work and become active when there is understanding that He never lie nor fail at His word. Activate what has been given by His grace then you will be motivated to stay through the journey.

CROWD< ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>

Mark 2:1-12

It was recorded in the Bible that a paralytic man was brought to Jesus but there was no room to receive him. Also, they could not get near the door (Mark 2:2). The paralyzed man must have heard about the news of Jesus in town very late so he arrived late at his healing ground. However, it is clear that the major hindrance was the crowd that received and resists his getting on to the healing ground. What is it that is complicating your breakthrough? Is it your self created crowd or the religious crowd that is waiting at the entrance of your breakthrough to deny you? It is not time for you to give up but time for you to take it up to another level that is not common. Zacchaeus was described as a short man in stature. He wanted to see Jesus while in the midst of a thronging crowd. He did not wait for Jesus to pass him by. He took it up to another level by running ahead of the crowd and climbing on a sycamore tree (Luke 19:1-10). The four men with the paralytic man took their faith up to another level. Mark 2:4, ÒAnd when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying.Ó There is so much to learn from the word of God as regard to getting above and leaving the crowd behind. Crowds are a major force that will discolor your destiny if you get mixed up with them. Avoid all kinds of crowds, and most especially the religious crowd. Jesus will notice you take it up to another level.