CONVENIENCE< ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>Mark 14:43-52

It is recorded in the book of Job 1:6, ÒNow there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them.Ó Can you imagine Satan having access to the gathering of the sons of God? Satan was asked about where he was coming from, he declared that he was going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it (Job 1:7). Do you wonder why he was going to and fro? Business as usual, looking for someone to devour will not be a strange reason for his going to and fro. Since the days of the Bible, Satan has been going to and fro looking for someone to devour, today he is still looking for whom to devour and tomorrow he will continue to look for someone to devour until his time is up. The devil is at work and he has not given up his hope of frustrating the business of the kingdom just as he has been doing since he was driven out of heaven. When Jesus was here, the devil also found its way to use Judas one of the disciples of Jesus Christ. Judas became an agent for the devil when he got paid to betray Jesus. It is written in the book of Mark 14:10, ÒThen Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Him to them. 11 And when they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money. So he sought how he might conveniently betray Him.Ó Indeed and in truth, when it was time for Satan to work through Judas, it was through a convenient way. Judas gave Jesus up with a kiss. What is the convenient way that you are taking or that you have taken in giving up Jesus? It does not matter where you are or what you do, if your walk in the Lord is short of fully obeying Jesus you have also taken a convenient way of betraying Him. You have been singing how you love Jesus long enough but your walk in the Lord is not consistent with your confession. Judas sold Him out conveniently by setting him up with a kiss. When you become committed with the whole heart, your convenient way of betraying Him will cease. Ask for the grace to be committed.

YOU WILL RISE< ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>2 Kings 9: 1-13

Jehu was only a commander in the army of Ahab at the time God elevated him to become the King over Israel. Before he was elevated there was no prior announcement or any indication of what was going to become of Jehu. Your own elevation will come just like it went and located Jehu. It was business as usual when Elisha sent one of the prophets to go and anoint Jehu with oil as the king of Israel. It is written in 2 Kings 9:2, ÒNow when you arrive at that place, look there for Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat, the son of Nimshi, and go in and make him rise up from among his associates, and take him to an inner room.Ó Jehu was made to rise up from among his associates to become the head among his associates. Interestingly, Jehu did not pray a single prayer, he did not campaign, neither did he struggle or take any stand of opposition before the anointing came unexpectedly to lift him up above and beyond his associates. JehuÕs elevation was from God as a result, his associates could not resist nor reject him as the King. When God promotes you, He will put people in position to dress you and not reject you. 2Kings 9: 13 recorded that, ÒThen each man hastened to take his garment and put it under him on the top of the steps; and they blew trumpets, saying, ÒJehu is king!ÓÓ Jehu did not only received dressing but he was announced with the blast of trumpets and with a loud announcement of his new position. Are you wondering if you will ever rise above and beyond where you are now? God is a great God and He is still in the business of extending favor, mercy, grace and blessings. Let no man or condition dictate to you or discourage you of what you can become or what you cannot become. God, the lifting lifter, will lift you up above your associates in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Amen.

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.