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1 Kings 17:8-16

The little that you have left should not be an excuse not to give. How often have you been in a position to give but you turned your hand back because you were counting the little you have left? Many times, we often forget that nothing we carry or that is carrying us comes from us. God is the only giver and taker. The Psalmist presented it right and best in Psalm 24:1, ÒThe earth is the LORDÕs, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein.Ó In the case of the woman of Zarephath, there was only a handful of flower in a bin and a little oil in a jar left for her and son to eat and die (1 Kings < ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>17:12). When Elijah approached her, he requested from her to make him a small cake. It was a bold request by the prophet. To the woman, it was a very challenging giving; a giving that was costly and a sacrificial giving that would cause a painful and consistent attention. It is like sowing a seed and paying attention to its care that will bring forth manifestation. A sacrificial giving will provoke GodÕs hand in providing abundantly. The woman of Zarephath responded to Elijah by giving out a small portion of her little that was left. As a result of her giving from the little, it is recorded in 1Kings 17:15-16, ÒSo she went away and did according to the word of Elijah; and she and he and her household ate for many days. 16 The bin of flour was not used up, nor did the jar of oil run dry, according to the word of the LORD which He spoke by Elijah.Ó It is not just about giving; it is about a sacrificial giving. This was a giving that costs very much; a giving that was not regular because it came unexpectedly; a giving that comes out of a Òlittle leftÓ. It was a giving of not showing off, but showing forth faith. God oversees every action of man. Above all, God is the God of knowledge and by Him all actions are weighed (1 Samuel 2:3). Stop withdrawing your hand of giving in the face of Òlittle leftÓ. Ask God for the heart of giving through His grace. Little left will turn into left over and abundance will reign.

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Acts 9:20-31

The Psalmist wrote in Psalm 91:1, ÒHe who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.Ó Among the blessings of abiding under the shadow of the Almighty is multiplication. The secret place of the Most High remains a secret to every man and to every acclaimed believer until adequate, appropriate and reasonable time in studying the Word of God becomes apparent and consistent in the life of a believer. Studying the Word is different from skimming through the surface on irregular basis. When you begin to spend time and time on the Word of God, how to walk into all kinds of His blessings will be opened up. It will become open for any one that takes to the Word and walks into the open door of blessing. Among the secret of multiplication is walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit. It is written in Acts 9:31, ÒThen the churches throughout all < ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied.Ó The peace that the churches in Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had was rooted in the Word of God that they received. The same Word that was received became the source of edification and it was also a generating force that enabled walking in and fear of the Lord. The Word of God is described in Hebrew 4:12, ÒFor the Word of God is living and power, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.Ó The Word of God is so true and powerful and it will fill up all that is supposed to be full in you for your walk in the Lord. Take to the Word of God and it will take you beyond your place of imagination. Ask God that whatever is rushing you or making you not spend time on the Word of God, on a consistent basis should no longer have its way in your life. The Word of God is all that you need to live life abundantly.

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Acts 12

There are some gates that have to be open in your life in order for you to move out of stagnation, death sentence, embarrassment, persecution, and every form of the enemyÕs opposition. Those gates have to move for you in order to get to where He has ordained for your life. Do you desire to know which or how many gates have to be opened before you move over your enemiesÕ entire offensive? As a believer, you will have a need for brethren to be in accord with you so that every gate will be opened on its own accord. The Apostle Peter was set for death. There were judgments in place for Peter to be killed because of his stand in the Lord. James, the brother of John, had already been killed by the outstretched hand of King Herod with the sword. It was now PeterÕs turn to be killed. The Bible mentions in Acts 12:5, ÒPeter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the churchÓ. Just as Jesus Christ called Peter to follow Him so you have been called. All that Peter experienced as a follower of Jesus Christ are not elusive to you. What Peter experienced could become your experience. However, do you or can you identify any group that is in accord somewhere or in some place that can stand in gap for you? Going to church, nice and quiet on Sundays, minding your business and missing out in what can be identify as a fellowship of brethren will not be in place when you end up in place of need. Peter reaped from what must have been sown when he was a having his freedom. At the time when a prayer of accord was being rendered on behalf of Peter, by brethren for an open gate in PeterÕs life, heaven moved. An angel of the Lord came forth and took him through guard posts and the iron gates which lead to the city which was opened to Peter on its own accord. You cannot forsake the assembly or fellowship of believers if you desire to live an accomplished life to the glory of God. With brethren in place that are lifting you up when there is a need, gates of hindrance, stagnation, death sentence or persecution will have no choice but to open on its own accord for your deliverance.

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Genesis 13

Apostle Paul, in his first letter to Timothy, mentioned that Ògodliness with contentment is great gainÓ (1Timothy 6:6). He did not say it is just a gain, but a great gain. Paul was not just using the power of the Word, but was also sharing what his experience has been by living the Word. That is a testimony of a life that is centered on God. It is not possible to be living a life centered on God and be a looser. Through the Scripture, there are many giants in the hand of God that lived a contented life with testimonies of greatness through the goodness and mercy of God. Abraham was an example. He was a man of contentment. He was always letting go all that requires a let go; never struggled with threat of lack and never doubted blessings of provision. When he was challenged, when he was in position to struggle for a better land (according to what could be seen on ground), Abraham told < ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>Lot in Genesis 13:9, ÒIs not the whole land before you? Please separate from me, if you take the left, then I will go to the right; or if you go to the right, then I will go to the leftÓ. As one that is contented, Abraham sounded like he did not care, but he was counting on the promise of provision that was received in the beginning of his journey in regard to what was going to bring life for him. Just as Abraham had received promise at the beginning of his journey so has every believer received promises that are enough for a believer not to struggle with things that are visible more than the ones that are not visible. The promises of life with Jesus as the Lord and Savior will not substitute abundance with lack when a godly life style is in a place. When contentment that is embedded with godliness begins to have its way in the life of a believer, there will be power to make any choice or change without struggle. The spirit of letting go is the one that brings forth moving forward. You have been in the Lord for quite a while; will you consider yourself has being contented? Ask God for the grace to make you up where you are being unmade by the liar.

SET YOUR < ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>MIND< ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>

Colossians 3:1-17

Apostle Paul wrote in Colossians to make us understand that there is a position to be taken by every believer. He emphasized in Colossians 3:1, ÒIf you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.Ó Further down in the same chapter, he gave a clear understanding to show that the only way to be able to seek with effectiveness is to set our minds on things that are above and not on things that are on the earth. This is an indication that indeed, the battle ground that the enemy wants to capture is our mind. A captured mind is a trapped mind in the things that are not of God. When we begin to effectively set our minds on those things which are above, those things which are on the earth will begin to be offset in our lives and no longer have its way. The idea of setting is to purpose to go. It is also to purposely be fixed against any distraction. A mind that is set will not be found without constant meditation in the morning, day, and night. Are you willing to set your mind on things that are above where Christ is? If yes, then there will be a need to Òput to death your members which are on earth such as fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness which is idolatryÓ (Colossians 3:5). This is not all of your old man that needs to be put off, but anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of our mouth is also included. In the place of putting off of the members which are of this earth (the old man), there will be a putting on of the things which are of God; characteristics which represents He that is above. Apostle Paul called these tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering (Colossians 3:12). Above all of this is love and allowing forgiveness to reign and to rule in the heart and life of every believer of the Word. Consistency in the place or position that is above with Christ will deliver us from becoming a waste when He comes back again.