CHANGED STORY< ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>Judges 11

Jephthah the Gileadite was referred to as a mighty man of valor, but a son of a harlot. He was driven out of his fatherÕs house because he was born by another woman. Jephthah was in a situation that was not called for by him. He was in a situation that was outside of his control and he was paying for what he did not bargain for. Are you experiencing any similar situation such as that of Jephthah? Wait, watch and see what the Lord will do to your case. In regard to Jephthah, the children of Israel came back asking him for help. The children of Israel were confronted by enemies and there was a need for a commander. The elders of Gilead had to go and seek Jephthah for help. It was recorded in Judges 11:6, ÒThen they said to Jephthah, ÔCome and be our commander, that we may fight against the people of Ammon.ÕÓ Whenever man condemns, God has His way of redeeming every condemned. Jephthah became a hot commodity. A son of harlot; driven out by brothers, now being sought to be a leader. Jephthah responded in Judges 11:7, ÒSo Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, ÒDid you not hate me, and expel me from my fatherÕs house? Why have you come to me now when you are in distress?ÓÓ The same God that set up a situation for Jephthah to be called back to rise above and beyond where he was before being expelled will always be available to turn your story around for His name to be glorified. God can never be too late or too soon, God will show up in your situation at His divine timing. Jephthah accepted the assignment and victory was delivered to the children of Israel. Jephthah did not just end up as a commander but he became the head because victory was delivered into his hand. The story of Jephthah was changed for good. Your story will change for good to the glory of God. Amen.

CRY OUT LOUD< ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>Mark 10:46-52

Blind Bartimaeus was at the right location to receive his sight when the wrong situation presented itself. He was at the juncture where Jesus was passing by, but a great multitude was also in place. Multitude is the agent of discouragement, denial and delay. Bartimaeus refused to be quiet, ÒWhen he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, ÒJesus, son of David, have mercy on me.Ó (Mark 10:47) The crying out of Bartimaeus was evidence of how and what persistency can do against every agent of the wicked, that is set to destroy and deny breakthrough. The more he cried out, the more the attempt was made to get him quiet. As there are times of need that requires to be quiet in waiting for God to move, so there are times of need that requires you to cry out loud to God. When you are quiet at the time of a need to cry out, the multitude will take you for a ride and deny your breakthrough. Bartimaeus must have been very loud. His noise made Jesus stand still and commanded him to be called (Mark 11:39). The multitude that was out to keep him quiet was the same multitude that eventually called the blind man out for Jesus. The multitude did not just call on him, they recognized what was about to take place by calling him and saying, ÒÉbe of good cheer. Rise He is calling you.Ó (Mark: 10:49) Have you been exposed to any agent of multitude that is attempting to keep you quiet instead of crying out? What you can do is to ignore the multitude and keep on crying out to Him. Your crying out will give you a good cheer and you will rise above every blind situation and every force that is in place to keep you grounded. The first move that the blind man made was to throw away his garment and he rose up into his breakthrough. It is never too late to cry out and have the garment of shame, the mark of stagnation, give up in your life. God will hear your cry this day and you will rise up in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Amen.

NO BITTERNESS< ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>Luke 1:1-25

Bitterness will not help and there should be no room for it. Pray that under no circumstances should you harbor bitterness in your life. Zacharias a minister in the temple and his wife Elizabeth lived in the days of Herod the king of Judea. Zacharias and his wife Elizabeth were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless (Luke 1:6). Despite their walk in the Lord they were both barren and no evidence of bitterness and excuse in their work for God. As a believer that is looking up to God for a miracle and serving God not as much as the Bible recorded for Zacharias and Elizabeth, are you nursing any kind of bitterness? As one that serves God, the people that are surrounding you are beginning to wonder why your miracle is being delayed. It is not for man to determine how God is going to move concerning your miracle but God is the only one that is in control. Zacharias continues with his business of serving God. Zacharias did not allow any filtration of anger or bitterness towards GodÕs work or any man. As Zacharias continues in serving God it was recorded in Luke 1:13, ÒBut the angel said to him, ÔDo not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayers is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.ÕÓ It does not matter how long you have been waiting but it matters for you to keep focus on what God can do. Be encouraged in the Lord and continue to serve in truth and without bitterness, frustration or anger. God will answer your prayer just like He did to Zacharias and Elizabeth. Also, every situation that is representing barrenness in all that concerns your life will be terminated in Jesus name. Stay focus and hold unto God that is able and will never fail.

HIS PRESENCE< ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>Jonah 1

The Word of God is life and it is not just a letter. The Word of God is God. When God called on Jonah to go to Nineveh, God did not appear in person. The Bible recorded in Jonah 1: 1, ÒNow the word of God came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, 2 Arise go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me.Ó Having heard the word of God he failed to move in response to GodÕs command. The Bible declared in the third verse ÒÉthat Jonah arose and flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORDÓ (Jonah 1:3). It is clear that the word of God is God. As a result of his disobedience, the whole vehicle and its passengers entered into a dangerous storm. Jonah was approached as a result to the trouble on the storm. Despite JonahÕs disobedience he went further and claimed in Jonah 1:9, ÒSo he said to them, ÒI am a Hebrew; and I fear the LORD, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.Ó Can you imagine a man that knows the word of God disobeying GodÕs word and standing on the same ground claiming the fear of God in his life? At every time that you hear GodÕs command and you move in opposite direction of GodÕs command, you are heading in the direction of self-destruction. Jonah was heading in the direction of self-destruction. When God gave His command God expects all of His commands to be obeyed and none to be disobeyed. Obeying nine out of ten is the same failure as in obeying one out of ten. Despite JonahÕs claim of the fear of God, he was still in the avenue of sin. Are you operating as another Jonah? When there is a walk away from the word of God, it becomes a walk away from the presence of God. To be away from His presence is to be presentable for the adversary of man. Disobeying God and claiming to be having the fear of God is an error. Let God arise and you will shine for His glory.

PRESERVATION< ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>Psalm 121

The Psalmist testifies in Psalm 121:1-2, ÒI will lift up my eyes to the hills from whence comes my help? 2 My help comes from the LORD Who made heaven and earth.Ó Where do you look up to in times of any need for help? Do you consciously lift up your eyes to the hills or are you accidentally looking up? Deliberate and conscious act is a demonstration of understanding. Understanding that is activated is what produces result. Do you know what to get when you look up to the high place where God is enthroned? In looking up, there should be expectation to contact the face of God. The Psalmist is the one that also said in Psalm 34:5, ÒThey looked up unto Him and were radiant, And their faces were not ashamed.Ó An encounter with the face of God is what will bring all that you need to travel along the path of life without any agent of the wicked terminating your journey to the expected end. Absolutely, looking up unto God is a meaningful and power packed approach that is not being consciously activated among most believers. Jacob, while on his way after moving from Laban, wrestled with an angel and he gave the testimony of his encounter in Genesis 32:30, ÒSo Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: ÒFor I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.Ó What JacobÕs testimony is saying after this encounter is that a face-to-face encounter with God will bring forth preservation. He experienced it and he testifies about it. The face of God is what you need to encounter in this journey of life. An encounter with the face of God will carry you through and you will by pass every agent of enemy in your life. Paul the Apostle prayed in 2Timothy 4:18, ÒAnd the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen! The journey is too dangerous for you to take off your eyes from looking up to Him that is above.