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

Prov.29:23, Matt.18:1-10.

An assured way to heaven is humility. The disciples wanted to know who will be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Jesus called on a little child and said, ÒAssuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.Ó  It is neither a warning nor a second guess, it is an assurance. It is set, and it will be the way Jesus has said. Without a spirit of humility, you will miss your trip to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever wealth you have accumulated will not count. Your position inside or outside your church will not matter. The password to heaven is for you to exchange your garment of arrogance with the garment of humility. Jesus pointed out that little children are not dressed with pride or arrogance. A little child will turn away from you because of any arguable reason, and turn right back to you with no reservation, malice, bitterness, or anger. As a grown up, can you count the number of people in your diary of woe that have offended you? There are so many things to learn from little children in order to get to heaven. Pro.29:23, ÒA manÕs pride will bring him low, but the humble in spirit will retain honor.Ó On every ground that you go this day, exchange your empty pride with humility and see the kind of result you will get.   

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

Ecc.8:10-13

Your getting away with evil work will only last for a moment. God does not overlook sin. You fellowship the way it is done, you know the songs, and you have memorized the scripture. All of these will not count because of evil works that are hidden in you. Are you not concerned that God does not sleep? God sees everything that goes around. Yes you have been doing your evil work for long; it has never caught up with you. Your getting away in your evil work is not a mark of perfection; it is a matter of GodÕs timing. YouÕre evil work is extensive because you do not see sentencing on sight. It is coming; it will come; it is a matter of time. You will be sighted by the one in charge of the power that is above all powers. Eccl.8:11, Òbecause the sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.Ó  If your heart is set to do evil, you can purpose in your heart to deny evil. DonÕt let evil have dominion over you. God will catch up with you when he chooses. All you have to do is pray that God will endue you to fear Him. When the fear God is in place, you will replace evil doing with good.  

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

Ps.32:5, 6, Is.54:6,7

The LORD God almighty is a living God. He does not sleep; He is omnipresent; omnipotent God. Despite His availability for His children round the clock, He cannot be found just anytime or just any how. Is.54:6- 7, ÒSeek the LORD while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the righteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, and He will have mercy on Him; and to our God, for He will continually pardon.Ó  It is clear that when one who is seeking God goes before Him with a heart of repentance and asks for forgiveness, God deny Himself. The Psalmist also emphasized in Ps. 32:5, ÒI acknowledge my sin to you and my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, ÔI will confess my transgressions to the LORD, Ôand You forgave the iniquity of my sin.Ó He was in the process of finding God. He went before Him by asking for forgiveness because he wanted to find Him. He then went further by saying Òfor this cause everyone who is godly shall pray to you in a time when You may be found; surely in a flood of great waters they shall not come near to Him.Ó  In both references, it is clear that the time to find the gracious God is a time of sincere acknowledgement of sin and repentance. Take the right approach, and then you will stand right before Him.

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

Josh6:1-27

Just as it was a miracle for the children of < ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>IsraelÕs crossing over the Jordan River, so you have crossed the first hurdle of your marathon race. However, the battle has just begun. Have you thought of the Wall of Jericho that is ahead of you? The wall needs to fall down flat (not just falling) for you to advance. In every area that you have turned, a wall has taking a stand against you– financially, health wise, spiritual growth, marriage, and all other areas that you know and no one knows. For the children of Israel, it was recorded in Jos. 6:1, ÒNow Jericho was securely shut up because of the children of Israel; none went out, and none came in. Take your situation to God so you will hear from Him. He is a faithful God. He is a living God and He will speak and you will hear if you are willing. Josh.6:2, ÒAnd the LORD said to Joshua: ÔI have given Jericho into your hand, its king, and the mighty men of valor.ÕÕÕ Joshua must have been asking before God actually spoke to him. God will give into your hand not just the wall, but all that could turn around and cause problems when you break through the wall. God gave into the hand of the children of Israel the king and the mighty men of valor. Get yourself in order as God have designated, the wall will fall flat for you to the glory of the Almighty God.     

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

Gen.28:1-22, 34:1-31, 35:1

Jacob encountered God when fleeing from Esau. After that encounter, he named the place < ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>Bethel. In that encounter, God blessed him with the promises of Abraham. As he continued to move forward, he was also growing in number (wife and children) and became a man with household. He journeyed to Shechem where the Children of Hamor defiled Dinah (JacobÕs daughter). By virtue of deception, Simeon and Levi went and killed Hamor, they slew and plundered the city. Gen35:30, then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, Òyou have troubled me by making me obnoxious among the Canaanites and the Perizzites; and since I am few in number, they will gather themselves together against me and kill me. I shall be destroyed, my household and I.Ó Jacob knew the consequences of what had taken place. His household was about to put him in jeopardy. He has been far from a land where he encountered God: Bethel, a place of worship. In his journey, he had ended in a land of defilement. He needed a divine intervention. Gen.35:1 then God said to Jacob, ÒArise, go up to Bethel and dwell there; and make an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you fled from the face of Esau your brother.Ó God called him to rise and go up from where the household had caused him to be. In his journey, his household had derailed him. Where are you in your journey? Do not pretend; be sensitive to the spirit of God. Do not spiritualize what needs to be dealt with. Learn from Jacob: let God intervene. The need for you is to rise from where you are and take on your journey back to Bethel (your place of worship). God will not let His people perish if His people will humble themselves enough to acknowledge their ground of offense. Bethel is your dwelling place.