SOUND THAT ELEVATES
2 Chronicles 15

2 Chronicles 15:1-2, “Now the Spirit of God came upon Azariah the son of Oded. 2 And he went out to meet Asa, and said to him: “Hear me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin. The LORD is with you while you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you.” Azariah kept on with his exhortation while Asa listened. Azariah then concluded his exhortation by stating, “But you, be strong and do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded!”(2 Chronicle 15:7) Exhortation that sounded in the direction of Asa turned things around for Asa, “And when Asa heard these words and the prophecy of Oded the prophet, he took courage, and removed the abominable idols from all the land of Judah and Benjamin and from the cities which he had taken in the mountains of Ephraim; and he restored the altar of the LORD that was before the vestibule of the LORD.” (2 Chronicles 15:8) The word cannot sound without bringing forth testimony. Any time the word of God sounds, it is always backed with power to heal and power to deliver. The Psalmist testifies, “He sent His word and healed them, And delivered them from their destructions.”(Psalm 107:20) The word of God is all that will make the difference that is needed for the journey of life. God described His word when He stated in Jeremiah 23:29, “Is not My word like a fire?” says the LORD, “ And like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces? ” Is there anything that does not represent God in your life and needs to be burnt off? Apply the word of God that sounded in your direction. Is there any rock of hindrance in your way that needs to be broken? You can ask for the hammer nature of the word of God to break it down. Jeremiah once found the word of God in his time of need for encouragement and he testified, “Your words were found, and I ate them, And Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; For I am called by Your name, O LORD God of hosts.” (Jeremiah 15:16) Remember, it is the same word that the Lord God used in the creation of the whole of heaven and earth. Psalm 33:4, “For the word of the LORD is right, and all His work is done in truth.” The word of God can sound through His messenger and it can be contacted in the pages of scripture. His word has never failed and it cannot fail. All reforms of Asa were in response to Azariah’s exhortation that sounded in Asa’s direction.

Prayer for today: Ask God that the same word that sound and distinguish Asa will sound to distinguish you for His glorious name.    

FOUNDATION
Genesis 22:1-19

Everything that comes out to be good or bad has its foundation. Also, if faith can be demonstrated in minor challenges it should also be demonstrated in major challenges. If you have been trusting God for a minor provision, when the need for a major provision presents itself trusting in God should also be in place. Experience that brings out the best out of man in the journey of life builds up and adds up to empowerment. Experience into empowerment does not come overnight; it adds up and builds up. An adage says, ‘Rome was not built in a day.’ Practice is what makes perfect. Practicing faith will bring out the best to stand tests as they come in the way of a believer. When it was time for Abraham to enter the test that settled him and defined him for his divine agenda, the Bible recorded, “Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham…” (Genesis 22:1) The statement, ‘After these things’ is undoubtedly referring to all his experiences and responses from the time he was called out to the time God wanted to finally elevate him. Abraham, a faith practitioner had passed through many minor tests before he was set for major test. Abraham’s response to the King of Sodom after Abraham’s victory of bringing Lot and people back from the captivity of king Chedorlaomer and other kings was evidence of the fact that Abraham’s passing the final test was rooted in the earlier test. Genesis 14:21-23, “Now the king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the persons, and take the goods for yourself.” 22 But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have raised my hand to the LORD, God Most High, the Possessor of heaven and earth, 23 that I will take nothing, from a thread to a sandal strap, and that I will not take anything that is yours, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’” Abraham was bent on trusting God as his only divine source and provider. When the final test of using Isaac as the sacrificial offering came up, Abraham did not hesitate to demonstrate his trust and reliance on God as his source. When Isaac asked for the lamb for burnt offering Abraham knew there was no lamb at hand but yet responded, “…My son God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering…” (Genesis 22:8) There was a foundation in Abraham’s defining moment. Abraham’s foundation had been in trusting God for His word. Trusting God is resting in God and not rusting in the world of challenges.

Prayer for today: Ask God to ensue you with all that it will take for you not to miss His visitation that will pass you into divine agenda for your life.    

CONFRONTATION WITHOUT CONFIRMATION
2 Chronicles 18

As a believer in the name of the almighty God, knowing who you are will be a determining factor in how you end up on the journey of life. Once, during King Jehoshaphat of Judah’s visitation to Ahab king of Israel, his assistance was requested in joining Ahab against Ramoth Gilead.  “So Ahab king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, “Will you go with me against Ramoth Gilead?” And he answered him, “I am as you are, and my people as your people; we will be with you in the war.” (2 Chronicles 18:3) King Jehoshaphat’s knowing who he was prompted his request from Ahab stating, “…Please inquire for the word of the LORD today” (2 Chronicles 18:4) It is written in Psalm 32:8, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.” Knowing who you are will always request calling for God’s direction in every area of life. However, calling on God for direction can be very challenging where there is a ready made decision about what to do or what to get. In the case of King Ahab, he knew what he wanted to do and how to go about it before calling on God for direction. Ahab wanted to go against Ramoth Gilead and all that he wanted to hear was a direction to go to war with victory prophesied. Often time, man forgets that God cannot be put in a container and neither can He be lead because He is the Leading leader. In response to Jehoshaphat, King Ahab “…Gathered the prophets together, four hundred men, and said to them, “Shall we go to war against Ramoth Gilead, or shall I refrain?” So they said, “Go up, for God will deliver it into the king’s hand.” (2 Chronicles 18:5) King Ahab heard what he wanted to hear but Jehoshaphat wanted a confirmation. King Ahab responded, “…There is still one man by whom we may inquire of the LORD; but I hate him, because he never prophesies good concerning me but always evil. He is Micaiah…” (2 Chronicles 18:7) Jehoshaphat, knowing who he was, insisted on getting a confirmation before getting into a confrontation. Anytime a believer makes a move without a confirmation it becomes a confrontation with the opposition (the evil one). Four hundred prophets spoke what King Ahab wanted to hear but Micaiah stood out and gave the word of God, “…I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd. And the LORD said, ‘These have no master. Let each return to his house in peace.’”(2 Chronicles 18:16) Confrontation against the enemy without His confirmation is equal to termination. King Ahab went to war without God and he became history when he could not return from the war in peace.
 
Prayer for the day: Lord let it become of me to become a constant and consistent listener to your direction.

FEAR SHUTS DOORS
John 20:19-30

Despite all the powerful teachings of Jesus against fear and worrying, the disciples went ahead and locked themselves up in fear of the Jews. “Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.” (John 20:19) While they were being locked up in the state of fear, Jesus showed up and declared peace. Jesus the Word of God is the Prince of peace. Where there is fear there is worrying and it is the indication of the absence of the Word. Is there any fear or worrying as a result of any situation that is surrounding you? Jesus, the Word of God is the one that you need to attend to your fear. Once, Martha had Jesus in her house yet she gave into worry. “And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. 42 But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” (John 10:41-42) Martha could have given herself into choosing the good part. The good part is sitting at the feet of the Lord while feeding on the word. The devil is never careless but always careful and on time to take advantage when a believer slips from letting the word has its place in every confronting situation.Inregards to the disciples there was no better solution to free them from the lock up of fear but the living word of God. The antidote of fear is faith. Faith in Jesus will cause peace to reign. After Jesus had spoken peace into His disciple’s life, the eyes of their mind were opened to see the mark of crucifixion. “When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.” (John 20:20) The mark registered gladness into the life of the disciples and the spirit of fear departed. If you will begin to see the marks of crucifixion and believe that the marks were registered on Jesus for us to be able to have life abundantly, the fear about all that is going on around the world will not have its place in your life. Rejoice if you have received and believe that Jesus went to the cross for you. The disciples came out of fear and they were able to testify to their seeing of Jesus because fear the vehicle of worry departed from them.

Prayer for today: Ask in the name of Jesus for the fear and worrying terminating word to sound in your direction as you face the challenges or situation that are having you locked up. 

WHILE IT WAS DARK
John 20:1-18

John 20:1, “Now the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb.” While it was still dark, He has risen up! Can you receive this statement and believe it for yourself? Declare that you have risen up while it was dark in the eyes of the enemy. In the dark hour, while the enemy was celebrating and the enemy was sure that there would be no other way out for Jesus; at the dark hour it was clear to the enemy that he has finished the work by nailing Jesus to the cross. At the dark hour, sadness and confusion had set on the followers of Jesus because His body has been bound and placed in the tomb. It was in that dark hour that Jesus; the one that inhabits eternity disappointed the enemy. If you have received and believe Jesus, say it out that you have risen up from every challenge that has kept you down and stagnated. Mary Magdalene who was going to see the body of Jesus turned back when she found out that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. Mary Magdalene, “…Ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.” (John 20:2) If you have received and believe in the resurrection of Jesus, there will be no hour of the day, nor will situation around the world be able to hold you down in Jesus name. Psalm 33:4, “For the word of the LORD is right, and all His work is done in truth.” The same word created all creation was true then, true now and will be true forever. When we receive and believe the word and we are able to work the word of God the world will work for us. Having taught the disciple about the resurrection, yet they did not know that He would rise again, “For as yet they did not know the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead.” (John 20:9) What is it that you do not know about your rising? The One that rose while it was dark came with all it takes for us to know that no situation, condition or hour of the day in this world is strong enough to hold us down. When there is a knowing, understanding will have its place. Today, if you will allow the Word to have its place and to settle in you, no dark will hold you down any time of the day.
 
Prayer for today: Ask the Lord to allow His word have a place in you all the days of your life.