HUMBLE YOURSELF
Mathew 18:1-10

Paul advised in Philippians 2:5, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.” What is it about the mind of Christ? The mind of Christ is a mind that is HUMBLE, plain, and simple. Reading through all of Philippians 2, Paul pointed out that the mind of Christ is a mind that reigns in humility. Without doubt, from the Apostle Paul’s writing, it is clear that regardless of the number of times that one is born again, 1 time or 100 times, one could miss the trumpet sound without humility. Jesus said in Matthew 18:3-4 Jesus said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” What Jesus is saying is that, without doubt, with all certainty, humility is like the gasoline for the vehicle of salvation. Thank God, you have been converted (born again). However, it is not enough because Jesus said unless you are converted, and become as little children; there will be no other way to enter the kingdom of heaven. The importance of humility is greatly emphasized in the last hours of Jesus’ life before He departed from this world (John 13:1). Having clearly shown, and taught how to do His works, He waited until the last moment to give His disciples a lasting impression that reveals the importance of humility. John 13:3-5, “Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, rose from the supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.” There is no clearer way to say it loudly in the demonstration that humility has no substitution in salvation. He said it with parables, direct language, and demonstrations. Jesus clearly showed that indeed, without humility it is an empty conversion. In His last moments, He washed their feet, and He wiped them with the towel to which He was girded. Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, said it and did it, and that means it is possible for us to do it. He has not asked us to do what is impossible to do. There is no place for arrogance, or pomposity, in the kingdom of God. What you are today is neither by your power, nor by your own might but the grace of God. Humble yourself in the all the ways that the Lord is leading you through, and you will not miss the mark.
Prayer for today: O Lord my God, I ask today, let humility be the garment over my life.

FEET OF JESUS
John 11:26-37

The time Martha welcomed Jesus to her house, her sister, Mary, “…Sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word.”(Luke 10:39) While Martha was doing the serving, Mary remained at the feet of Jesus. Martha’s complaining of not having Mary’s help in serving Jesus, prompted Jesus’ response to Martha, “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.”(Luke 10:41-42) Mary must have discovered a place of security, a place of hope, and a place of undeniable miracles in Jesus when she sat at the feet of Jesus. When Lazarus was dead, when all hope was lost, when there was nowhere to turn for help, Mary knew where to go. When it was most definite that Lazarus was dead, and all of his remains had begun to stink, Mary knew where to connect with Jesus, the Healing healer. When the whole population could not see any chance of bringing Lazarus back to life, Mary knew where to go, and how to settle her self. In the midst of mourning for the death of Lazarus, Mary received a message from Jesus, through Martha. The message that was received by Mary was, “…The Teacher has come and is calling for you.” (John 11:28) The same message is sounding in your direction today if you will answer Him. The calling of the Almighty Teaching Teacher is of hope, deliverance, and of restoration. “As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly and came to Him” (John 11:29) Mary did not hesitate, or doubt, when the message of Jesus’ call got to her. Mary, by virtue of her previous experience at the feet of Jesus, knew exactly where to connect with her miracle. John 11:32-34, “Then, when Mary came where Jesus was, and saw Him, she fell down at His feet, saying to Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.” 33 Therefore, when Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her weeping, He groaned in the spirit and was troubled. 34 And He said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to Him, “Lord, come and see.”” Again, Mary was at the feet of Jesus. It was a place that her miracle could not be denied. It was a place that caught Jesus’ undeniable attention. The same feet of the Lord was where John sought for help when he was afraid, due to lack of understanding, “And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last.”(Revelation 1:17) At the feet of Jesus there is an answer to all situations.
Prayer for today: Lord, cast Your look on me and lay Your hand on me while I am at your feet. I ask for deliverance and restoration.      

UNDERSTAND THIS
Job 1:1-8

In the beginning of the book of Job (Job 1:1), Job is described as a blameless man and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil. Later in the same chapter, God testified of Job, “Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?” (Job 1:8) What else could be said when God testifies for a man just like He did for Job? With this description, and the testimony, of God about Job, it is possible to think that a man like Job has arrived in the things of the LORD. However, in the last chapter of the book Job, he confessed a lack of understanding. He said “I have heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You.(Job 42:5) It could be hard to believe that such a man that God, Himself, testified about as a servant that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless, and upright man, one who fears God, and shuns evil (Job 1:8) will come out, and confess lack of understanding. With Job’s confession, it is clear that whenever a man thinks he has arrived in the things of the LORD, he has ultimately checked out into deprivation from entering where God is taking him. Paul clearly nailed it in his warnings in, 1Corinthians 12:12, “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.” When a believer assumes to have arrived, that believer will resume to be deprived. Paul could not have spelled it out better than he did in different ways. The apostle Paul, as much as he was a general in the field of God’s mission, did not pretend or assume to have arrived at the goal of calling. Paul declared in Philippians 3:13-14, “Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, for getting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead. I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” The point here is for believers to know how to lower to their shoulder, and not allow it rise above their head. If you have been privileged enough by God to give two or three revelations that came to pass in deed, and in truth. It is not a liberty for you to go on thinking that you have arrived or taken the place of God’s glory. God is still God, and He can bring you back, and beyond, from where He has brought you.
Prayer for today: Father, I ask this day that You open my eyes, my ear,s and every area of my life that I may fully understand Your ways.

SLEEPING?
Matthew 25:1-13

There is only one way to heaven. It is not possible to walk two ways at the same time. No one can walk as a sinner and be righteous; or walk as righteous and be a sinner. As a believer who wants to stand on the ground of calling, it is impossible to be asleep and be alive at the same time. Whenever a believer is spiritually asleep, there is great tendency to be spiritually at risk. To be spiritually asleep will cause prayer to cease and entering into failure will become active. The ten virgins were all purposeful in their agenda. They all went out to meet the bridegroom. Matthew 25:3-5, “Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5 But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.”Having gone that far in their pursuit to see the bridegroom, sleeping should have been avoided by getting busy in their waiting. They fell asleep and foolishness became their identity. How are you waiting? Can you tell if and when your oil is running out? You have come too far in this journey to begin to entertain foolishness. How would you have known that your oil is running out when you are asleep and not awake? A believer that goes down and away from prayer is having a sorrow sleep. At Gethsemane, where Jesus went to pray, “When He came to the place, He said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.”(Luke 22:40) They all slept and could not hold on in prayer as requested by Jesus. He came back and questioned them, Luke. 22:46, “…Why do you sleep? Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation.” Are you awake? The only way for you to avoid temptation is to be awake in the Lord. The life of Peter reveals how sleeping can be dangerous for a believer. Peter slept on when he was with Jesus on Gethsemane and he slept in the prison when his life was at stake in the hands of Herod. Acts 12:5-6, “Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church. 6 And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were keeping the prison.”It does not matter how long you have been walking in the Lord, you need to stay awake and alive.
Prayer for today: Deliver me O Lord from sleeping my life away.

 KING UZZIAH TO DIE?
Isaiah 6:1-8

Something must die before something else gets life. As a new believer old-self must die before the new birth in the Lord. Until the death of King Uzziah, Isaiah could not see, hear or receive God’s call of duty. What could the reigning time of King Uzziah represent in the timing of the calling in the life of Isaiah? Could it be have a time of hindrance? Hindrance is a possible weapon of the devil. The devil has no limitation in his attempt to deny the purpose of God but there is a limitation as to how much he can do to delay or deny whom his victim is. Before Isaiah heard the voice that sent him out as a representative of God, a number of things happened. The first of all was the death of King Uzziah. It wasn’t until King Uzziah died that Isaiah could see what he saw. It was his seeing that set him up for God’s calling. This is why it is important to ask God to destroy whatever represents King Uzziah in our life. The Bible declared in Isaiah 6:1, “In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple.” Isaiah went further to describe what he saw after the death of King Uzziah. Does this relate to your situation? Do you know if your hindrance is still well, alive, and active? Prayer unto God will definitely move your hindrance; the one that represents King Uzziah will die a permanent death. After Isaiah had been able to see, he recognized himself as one that needed a cleansing touch. He said, “Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the king, The LORD of hosts” (Isaiah 6:5). Isaiah cried out in repentance when he saw all that was in the presence of the LORD of host. Isaiah cried for the Lord’s cleansing in his life. Isaiah’s cry sent for a needed refinement. Isaiah 6:6, “Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a live coal which he had taken with the tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth with it and said: Behold, this has touched your lips; your iniquity is taken away, and your sin purged.” With the death of King Uzziah, Isaiah began to see, he was able to repent and he received cleansing. Isaiah also heard from the Lord. With repentance, cleansing and seeing, Isaiah got to the position of hearing. Isaiah 6:8, “Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: “whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, ‘Here am I! Send me.”’
Prayer for today: Ask God to sentence every representative of King Uzziah in your life to a permanent death.