JUST A CUPBEARER< ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>

Nehemiah 1

You do not have to be somebody who is worthy of attention for God to raise you and make you somebody who is worthy of the whole worldÕs attention. Nehemiah was a nobody. He was not a prophet neither was he a son of a prophet. He was an ordinary cupbearer to the king in the Persian palace. He got to where he was because he was a captive. One thing was clear about Nehemiah: he had the concern for JerusalemÕs welfare and its inhabitants at heart. He had the desire for his people that have returned back home from captivity. Nehemiah was a cupbearer with a big heart who wanted to see changes for his fellow people. If a cupbearer could effect great change, it means all of us who have life are able to effect great change that can touch many lives and the entire world. NehemiahÕs operation of the heart is what God acknowledged before God moved by His divine intervention on behalf of Nehemiah. When Nehemiah got the report of what was going on in Jerusalem, this news developed as a burden in his heart and he began to intercede on behalf of the land and his people. Nehemiah 1:3-4, ÒAnd they said to me, ÔThe survivors who are left from the captivity in the province are there in great distress and reproach. The wall of Jerusalem is also broken down, and its gates are burned with fire.Õ 4 So it was, when I heard these words that I sat down and wept, and mourned for many days; I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven.Ó Nehemiah poured out his heart in prayer on behalf of his people and his homeland. He asked for nothing that had to do with himself, but rather petitioned for things that had to do with a better life for his people. God is a God whose eyes are always traveling to and fro throughout the whole earth to show Himself strong. (2 Chronicle 16:9) NehemiahÕs heart was in line with what God was looking for and God could not deny Himself by moving on behalf of Nehemiah. What are you carrying in your heart? Today it can be almost impossible to find a heart that is centered on seeing changes in the land. If there is any, it is often backed with hidden agendas of how to enrich oneÕs self. It is a serious matter when a claimed believer begins to seek more for himself than for the neediest. Today as you set eyes on this message, ask where is your heart? Is it centered only on how you will be become well off in all projects that are rather set up to better anotherÕs life? God is definitely not a sleeping God and you can only get away for a period of time. Nehemiah desired for his people and God deposited in him what it takes to bring glory to the name of God. All that was needed for this cupbearer to turn his nation around was put in place by the good hand of God. Desire what is good and better for the kingdomÕs glory and the Kingdom of God will back you up with what it takes for you to get through. It should not always be about us and only us alone, but rather it should be about all who come our way.

KING DAVIDÕS CONFESSION< ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>

Psalm 37

ÒI have been young, and now I am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging bread.  He is ever merciful, and lends; and his descendants are blessed.Ó (Psalm 37:25-26) King David, a man referred to as ÒOne that is after GodÕs own heartÓ (Acts 13:22) knew exactly what he was talking about. King David was not arousing emotion neither does it sound as if he was attempting to please God. The truth behind King DavidÕs statement is that indeed it was pleasing to God because it was a statement that demonstrates faith in the highest order. Hebrews 11:6, ÒBut without faith it is impossible to please HimÉÓ What David did was testify about the faithfulness of God. King David was so sure of his God and he testified about his lifetime experience of not having seen a righteous one ever forsaken. Who is it or who are those that David referred to as never been forsaken? King David was referring to the righteous one. Who is righteous? 2 Corinthians 5:21, ÒFor He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.Ó Have you accepted Christ indeed and in truth? It is one thing to claim having accepted Christ as Lord and Savior and not be living the word of God. Also, it is another thing to claim to have received Christ and actually be living according to the word of God. When a believer begins to live indeed and in truth, he becomes righteous in Christ Jesus. The righteous are the ones that King David referred to as the one that cannot be forsaken. God is constantly consistent in His way and His ways have not changed from the times of the Bible through today. His ways will never change, but His ways will be making changes in every way to the glory of His Name. Where do you stand? Are you consistent with your confession? Are you true to the word of God? God will not forsake any of His own. Jesus loves you and He will not give you what you do not need. Be encouraged and take to the word of Hebrews 13:5 ÒLet your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said I will never leave you nor forsake you.Ó David experienced it and confessed it. If you will live according to the word of God, this will also be your portion just as it was for the sanctified. God is faithful! Ask Him to help you out and He will do it if you will belief.

A LEVITEÕ S IDOLATRY< ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>

Judges 17: 1-13

At every time we depart from GodÕs place of provision and accommodation without hearing from Him, we will be taking a risky step. God has an established ground for each and every one of His children who care not to violate His established ground. Every step outside of GodÕs location for man is a departure unto danger. ÒNow there was a young man from Bethlehem in Judah, of the family of Judah; he was a Levite, and was staying there. 8 The man departed from the city of Bethlehem in Judah to stay wherever he could find a place. Then he came to the mountains of Ephraim, to the house of Micah, as he journeyed.Ó (Judges 17:7-8) When there is a departure from where has God established, there will be an encounter with emptiness. Moving to a Òwherever placeÓ is an indication of no purpose or direction of life. A Levite moving into a place where God has not called him to be, a place where idol worshipping has been put in place has definitely missed his mark and sense of direction to what God has given him. As a child of God, making a move or taking a step requires constant inquiring from God to avoid ending up empty. What does it take to inquire from God in every step that we take? If God indeed has been given His place as the Lord and Savior, it only takes some time to go before Him in prayer and waiting before jumping and making a move that could easily terminate onesÕ journey. A Levite becoming a priest for an idol worshipper should be considered as unimaginable and unacceptable. The Levite called himself to a place where the Lord had not called him. This was a place where God did not call him to be. ÒThen the Levite was content to dwell with the man; and the young man became like one of his sons to him. 12 So Micah consecrated the Levite, and the young man became his priest and lived in the house of MicahÓ (Judges 17:11-12) In the days of that Levite, the world was trying to change the word of God because the called carriers of the word were not using the word of God to change and shape the world. As it was then, so it is today. The called are neglecting the purpose of their calling by moving from what God has called them to be by looking for wherever they want as a dwelling place. The last time you checked, were you where He had called you to be by answering what He called you for? God will not overlook sin. Do not let sin overtake you. The Lord will have mercy.

TRANSPARENCYActs 5:1-11

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Any relationship that lacks transparency will be terminated. Whenever there is a hidden agenda in any kind of relationship, that relationship will be exposed to the devilsÕ agenda. The only agenda of the devil is to take away life by his special devices, which are to kill, steal and destroy. (John 10:10) Relationships vary and can include marriage or fellowshipping among brethrens, business relationship and many other relationships. None can escape termination with any kind of operation that inhabits hidden agenda. As a child of God and a claimed believer in the name of God, operating in hidden agenda will result in permanent termination. ÒBut a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. 2 And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostlesÕ feet. 3 But Peter said, ÒAnanias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself?(Acts 5:1-3)There was no reason for Ananias and Sapphira to lie; it was their possession, but they lied about the proceeds they received. The spirit of not telling the truth is an agent of the devil; it is a demonstration of lack of transparency. Are you plotting any kind of evil device in any of your relationships at work, home or any relationship outside of these two? As a child of God, stay away from such evil devices. Even if you are dealing with one whose main skill is deception, lying and manipulation, as a child of God, you are not to play a part. Integrity holds firm before God and it does not matter how often you as a claimed believer has been getting away with deception, lying and manipulation because the one that catches up with you could be the one that terminates you from the ground of your operation. In the case of Ananias and Sapphira, it is possible that it was not their first time, but their last time came with an irreversible termination. Transparency is very crucial in any relationship because it is a bond that binds a relationship to be on a healthy ground. Where there is transparency, there will be working and walking in agreement. Amos 3:3, ÒCan two walk together, unless they are agreed?Ó There is power in agreement that brings forth result and there is termination where there is lack of agreement. It is worth it for us to always play our part and not copy from that which does not represent God. Are you relating without transparency? How are you relating with your partner or partners? If you have been getting away with no transparency, it is time to ask God for deliverance and step of walk, which causes one to get terminated.

FAITH NOT FEARHebrews 11

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Fighting against any impossible force and getting a positive result, a result that is worthy of a child of God, will no doubt be determined by the kind of weapon you choose to carry. The two major weapons to use can be considered as faith and fear. Faith is for the wise while fear is for the fool. God does not lie neither does He compromise His Word. When God says fear not, He meant for us not to entertain fear, but to rather exercise faith. Fear is for the fool and the Bible says in Psalm 14:1, ÒThe fool has said in his heart, there is no GodÓ What is it that you are fearful of when instead you are to be faithful? Faith is the one and only way we can travel on to navigate through the wilderness journey without any possibility of failure getting to the Promised Land. Hebrews 11:6, ÒBut without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.Ó If God is not pleased with lack of faith, that means with faith, instead of fear, we are pleasing God and He is pleased with us. What else do we desired but to have God on our side and when God is for us, who can be against us? Without any doubt, faith is the only weapon that can and will truly carry us without any hitch. At the sense of any danger, the children of Israel in their wilderness journey without hesitation always resolved to fear by lashing out in complaints and negative confessions. They all paid for every one of their fear factors by not getting to that place God had for them. In the face of any challenge, we can stand if we will always remember that God does not lie and He is a rewarder of those that diligently seek Him. Seeking Him is not just running from one ground of worship to another ground of worship and seeking Him is not in showing off when we are yet to hear or do all that He commanded us to do. Seeking Him can just be simply exercising faith in the face of fear. Proverbs 29:25,ÓThe fear of a man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD shall be safe.Ó Isaiah 35:4, ÒSay to those who are fearful-hearted, ÔBe strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God; He will come and save you.ÕÓ In which other way do you want to hear about the benefits and blessings of operating in faith? God wants nothing from us but a full reliance on the power of His might by knowing and believing that, ÒÉfaith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.Ó(Hebrews 11:1-2) In Jesus Name, the faith that delivers good testimony will be our portion to the glory of God.