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

Genesis 26:1-33

Isaac repeatedly ran into confrontation with the herdsmen of Gerar over the digging of wells. He knew quite well that that part of the world could not have survived without wells. Every effort by Isaac and his servants to have a productive life at Gerar were punctuated by the herdsmen of < ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>Gera. The herdsmen of Gerar kept taking away the wells that were dug by Isaac servants and would not leave them in peace. Genesis 26:27-28, ÒAnd Isaac said to them, why have you come to me, since you hate me and have sent me away from you?Ó V.28 ÒBut they said, we have certainly seen that the LORD is with you. So we said, Ôlet there now be an oath between us, between you and us; and let us make a covenant with you.ÕÕÕ Those who that have been tormenting Isaac with hatred turned around and looked for him to settle with a peace treaty. What happened? What was the cause of change? They saw God in him. They saw that the LORD was with him. His walk and work for God made the difference. He was shinning for God. How is your walk with God? How is your work in the LORD? Is their any difference when compared to your next door neighbor that does not want to hear the gospel? Go ahead and deceive yourself. You know the state of your identity. It does not take forever for you to be distinct. Also, it does not take forever for the enemy to turn his hatred for you into peace if indeed your walk and work is that of God. Proverbs. 16:7, ÒWhen a manÕs ways please the LORD, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.Ó  The word of God is true and alive, take to the word of God and it will take over your life.

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

Lk.17:11-19, Jh.14: 13-14

What a mighty God we serve! He said in John14:14, ÒIf you ask anything in My name, I will do it.Ó  He has never failed in His word. He said none of His word will come back to Him void. Do you believe Him for His word? So, what exactly is stopping you from lifting your voice in asking Him? Is it your distance, or your condition? The ten lepers had everything against them in asking for their miracle. In Luke < ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>17:12, ÒThen as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers who stood afar off.Ó They stood afar off because they were supposed to be isolated by virtue of their disease. In that part of the world, they were regarded as unclean. Despite their dilemma, keeping quiet was not their portion. Luke 17:13, ÒAnd they lifted up their voices and said, ÔJesus, Master, have mercy on us!ÕÕÕ You have been silent on that particular difficulty facing you. You just cannot identify the reason why you have not been taking that concern to the Lord as you have been doing with other difficulties. The enemy is at work to steal and to deny you. There is nothing too difficult for Him only that it is too challenging for you to deal with your difficulty. When you begin to engage the issue of your difficulty–by ignoring every hindrance, and constantly lifting your voice on a consistent basis– He will answer you. Have you been asking as much as you should be asking?

Not an Excuse< ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>

Dan.6:10-24, 2, 1Pet.2:13-17

Being a believer or a self acclaimed born again is not an excuse for doing wrong against the law of the land or authority that is over you. Daniel, a man with a purposed heart serving the LORD God Almighty, did not abuse the power of God in his life. Daniel did not use the God-given power to disregard or do wrong to the king of the land. Despite his submission to authority, he could not compromise his faith. He took his stand in his faith and still did not do wrong to the king. As a believer, it should not be an excuse to disregard authority that governs the land. However, it is to bring out the best example that testifies that you are in the LORD. When Daniel refused to compromise his stand in the LORD, he was sentenced to death by the mouth of lions inside the lionÕs den. Are you in a lionÕs den as you read through this? You can be rest assured that if you have not done any wrong to the authority, and you have constantly and consistently maintained your stand in the LORD, victory is certain. While in the lionÕs den, the king called out to Daniel wanting to know DanielÕs situation. Daniel responded to the king in Dan.6:22, ÒMy God sent His angel and shut the lionÕs mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also, O king, I have done no wrong before you.Ó He allowed God to act on his behalf for deliverance because he allowed himself to submit to the law of the land. 1Pet. < ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>2:13 ÒTherefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the LordÕs sake, whether to the king as supreme.Ó You can be submissive and not compromise. Your faith should not be an excuse for insubordination.

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

Gen.26:1-14

Lying is a form of deception; deception is a form of lying. Whenever lying or deception has taken a stage in your life, you are bound to be off your God-ordained ground. Isaac, in his attempt to establish a dwelling ground for his family, departed from telling the truth and entered into deceiving others. Gen.26:6-7, ÒSo Isaac dwelt in Gerar. And the men of the place asked about his wife. And he said, Ôshe is my sisterÕ; for he was afraid to say, ÔShe is my wife,Õ because he thought, Ôlest the men of the place kill me for Rebekah, because she is beautiful to behold.ÓÕ He could not get away with his deception; it caught up with him. After Abimelech, king of the Philistines, discovered IsaacÕs deception, he charged all his people not to touch Isaac or his wife. After the cloud of deception had rolled away in the life of Isaac, things began to change. Gen. 26:12-13, ÒThen Isaac sowed in that land, and reaped in the same year a hundredfold; and the LORD blessed him. The man began to prosper, and continued prospering until he became very prosperous.Ó Do you still wonder what could be delaying GodÕs blessing in your life? You have been delaying your blessings. In IsaacÕs life, when the cloud of deception rolled away, the cloud of blessing rolled in. Ask God for deliverance in every area that you have been living under the cloud of deception and lying. Do you consider it as a way to survive? It is obviously not a way of survival, but suicidal. God moved for Isaac, He will move on your behalf.    

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

Num.32:1-42, Jer.29:10-13

God signed them up for a land that flows with milk and honey, but they resigned themselves to a land that flows with only milk. The children of Reuben and the children of Gad had a great multitude of livestock. When they saw the < ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>land of Jazer and the land of Gilead, that indeed the region was a place for livestock (Numb.32:1), they decided to settle and not go over the Jordan where God was actually taking them. They went to Moses and requested to stay. Num. 32:5 ÒTherefore they said, if we have found favor in your sight, let this land be given to your servants as a possession. Do not take us over the Jordan.Ó Can you imagine God taking you to a higher mountain for gold and silver, and seeing silver, you opted to discontinue the journey? The children of Reuben and Gad were only thinking of livestock (source for milk); the thought of honey subsided. Are you thinking clearly when it comes to GodÕs promise and plan for your life? Deny self in your walk; engage self with God in His plans and promises. God has never failed; He will not fail. God has a better plan for you than the plan you have for yourself. He said in Jer.29:11, ÒFor I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.Ó  Do not deny yourself from what God has planned for you. His thoughts for you are better than the thoughts you are having for yourself.