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

2Chronicles 32

Whatever is gaining entrance into the life of a believer will either make or break that believer. If the Word of God enters, it will make such a believer and if the enemy finds a means of gaining entrance, it will break such a believer. What is entering into you? When the enemy wants to break down the life of a believer, the enemy will have to gain entrance. Without the enemy gaining entrance, it will be almost impossible to break the believer from the outside. The same applies to the Word of God. For the Word to make a believer, the Word will have to gain entrance. It is written in Psalm 119:130, ÒThe entrance of the words gives light; it gives understanding unto the simple.Ó The Word of God that enters will make the life that it enters and that life will never be of darkness or of defeat. Gaining entrance either in a person or territory is important because it will deliver victory or defeat. Once in the attempt of attacking < ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>Judah, Sennacherib King of Assyria entered Judah. 2Chronicles 32:1-2, ÒAfter these deeds of faithfulness, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and entered Judah; he encamped against the fortified cities, thinking to win them over to himself. 2 And when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come, and that his purpose was to make war against Jerusalem.Ó The purpose of entering was to make an effective war against Judah. It was left for Judah to reverse the negligence of allowing the enemy to gain entrance. As a believer, we do not have to allow the enemy in gaining entrance or to avoid being won over by the enemy. When an enemy is within, a believer can be redeemed by allowing the Word to work Its way. Watching and praying is the best weapon of protection against the enemyÕs attempt of gaining entrance in our lives.

BEAUTY OR SHAME< ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>

Psalm 90, 97

The Psalmist wrote in Psalm 97:7 ÒLet all be put to shame who serve carved images, who boast of idols. Worship Him, all you gods.Ó Shame belongs to those who serve outside of the living God. Being put to shame or living in shame is not a life for the children of God. Shame is a direct result of failure, destruction, deprivation, degradation and every humiliating situation that one can think of. The Psalmist was requesting that all be put into shame who serve carved images and who boast of idols. Serving outside of the one and only Creator, the Most High God is not a place to be. As shame belongs to those who are serving idols, so beauty is what belongs to those who are serving the Most High God.

The Psalmist also pointed out in Psalm 90:17, ÒAnd let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands for us; yes, establish the work of our hands.Ó The difference is clear. Beauty of God is blessing of God. When you serve Him in deed and in truth, His beauty will be the end result. It is clearly spelled out by the Psalmist that when the beauty of the Lord comes upon a believer, that believer is set to be established for His glory. The Words of the Bible are neither fairy tale nor fiction. The purpose of the Word is here in 2Timothy < ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>3:16, ÒAll Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.Ó If you will be purposeful by taking the Word of God as a living oracle, you will not end up in shame, but rather you will end up under the beauty of the Lord while overcoming challenges that come your way.

END IN SIGHT?< ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>

Exodus 13:17-22

To those that went in the journey of the wilderness, it must have been as if the journey would never come to an end. Are you feeling the same in your journey of life? Do you question about when will all the confronting challenges be over? Interesting enough for the children of < ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>Israel, the Lord led them through the safest route. It was a route to avoid war with the forces of enemy; a route that would prevent them from becoming a captive in the hands of enemy. Above all, God led them through a route where there would have been no reason for them to go back into the captivity of Egypt. Exodus 13: 17-18, ÒThen it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, Lest perhaps the people change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt. 18 So God led the people around by way of the wilderness of the Red Sea. And the children of Israel went up in orderly ranks out of the land of Egypt.Ó In their deliverance from entering a war route, they turned on to war of complaint and disobedience against the One that led them from bondage. The children of Israel could have taken the worst route, but they did not recognize it. As a result, they were unable to acknowledge what God had done and turned into complaining and disobedient. Your situation could be much worst right now, consider yourself blessed and keep on trusting God. He knows the plans that He is having for you. His plan is not evil because He is not an evil God. Today, encourage yourself in the Lord; let it be clear to you that God will get you to where He is taking you if you do not get out of His command.

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

Mark 6:7-13

In the days of Jesus, crowds followed Him, multitudes thronged Him, but only twelve were actually called. Mark 6:7, ÒAnd He called the twelve to Himself, and began to send them out two by two, and gave them power over unclean spirits.Ó Before He called them to Himself, they left all they had behind; unlike some who were following without being able to leave it all behind. Jesus called them in order to send them out to serve. Jesus did not call them so that people could serve the disciples. JesusÕ calling is for serving others and not for ourselves to be served. In His calling for your life, are you serving or are you being served? If Jesus has called you to Himself, He will deposit power in you. If in your acclaimed calling, power is not being demonstrated you are either being served or have yet to receive being called to Jesus Himself. The twelve were called and power was deposited in them over unclean spirits. The twelve that were called left under His command that He gave them. Are you operating in the calling of Jesus based on His command? The disciples took commands from Jesus and went further in their assignment. Mark < ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>6:12-13, ÒSo they went out and preached that people should repent. 13 And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick, and healed them.Ó The disciples that were called by Jesus went and came back with testimony of miracles. In all your assignments, are you having testimony? In JesusÕ calling, there is power when the response to serve is glaring. Ask God, the only distributor of grace, to deposit in your life all that it takes to answer in serving others.

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

Psalm 95:1-11

This is how rebellion is described in the book of 1Samuel < ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>15:23, ÒFor rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He also has rejected you from being king.Ó Rebellion has its root in rejecting the Word of God. Is it possible that you are having any trace of rebellion in you? Rebellion is in line with witchcraft and it is a serious sin that causes rejection in the life of its carrier. There is a way out of rebellion and that way is in hearing the voice of God; that is hearing what the Word has to say or is saying. The life of the children of Israel should serve as a vivid example of what it will be like for anyone that is living a rebellious life. Psalm 95:7-8, ÒFor He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand. Today, if you will hear His voice: 8 do not harden your hearts, as in the rebellion, as in the day of trial in the wilderness.Ó It is clear that worshiping God will always bring forth His voice in our direction. With the Word of God entering by being able to hear His voice, hardness of heart will not have its place. The children of Israel began to lose it when the Word of God could no longer sound in their direction because there was a failure in hearing His voice. The devil is a liar that has been around for long and he knows what to take away so he can give what will take man away from God. Rebellion will not announce itself when it begins to solidify its footing in your life. When rebellion sets into a man, there will be a lost in the ways of God. Despite all that the Lord God did in bringing them out of the bondage of Egypt, the children of Israel entered into rebellion and became lost in the ways of God. To be lost in His ways is to gain exit out of His rest. Pray to God and work against the spirit of rebellion.