God can show Freedom from the figs

Weekly Nuggets January 13, 2020

Jeremiah 24:3-7 (NKJV)
Then the Lord said to me, “What do you see, Jeremiah?” And I said, “Figs, the good figs, very good; and the bad, very bad, which cannot be eaten, they are so bad.” Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: ‘Like these good figs, so will I acknowledge those who are carried away captive from Judah, whom I have sent out of this place for their own good, into the land of the Chaldeans. For I will set My eyes on them for good, and I will bring them back to this land; I will build them and not pull them down, and I will plant them and not pluck them up. Then I will give them a heart to know Me, that I am the Lord; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God, for they shall return to Me with their whole heart.

Key Phrase: God can show Freedom from the figs

Still on the subject of hearing and seeing. What do you hear? What do you see?
A basket of figs or a revelation?
Captivity or liberty?
A lifting up or a pulling down?
A planting or an uprooting?

There are times that God uses the most random thing to speak and pass across a strong message. It may be a short video clip on social media or it could be that short outburst that you shouldn’t have permitted, or even that brief transaction in the market place. But once our spiritual Eyes and Ears are open, we will see him move, hear him speak in situations.

Jeremiah had an encounter with a basket of figs and the Lord spoke a word to those in captivity. Captivity is a state of imprisonment or confinement. It is not only physical, but can also be emotional, financial, spiritual. Captivity breeds fear, breeds stagnancy or even progression, it brings fruitlessness and limitations. In captivity one is limited by the desires of the captor. But today God is saying to those in captivity, trust me, For I will set My eyes on you for good.

For someone in any state of captivity today, God is set to release, to restore, to build up and to replant in green pastures.

Father, your word says the Son has set us free, let that word free us today. Lord, as you revealed your ways to Jeremiah through a simple basket of figs, let our eyes and ears never be closed to your revelations in our lives. Mostly Lord, set your eyes upon us for good, turn our hearts to know you as our only God. In Jesus name.

Elozino

20/20 vision

Weekly Nuggets January 6, 2020

2 Kings 6:14-17 (NKJV)

Therefore he sent horses and chariots and a great army there, and they came by night and surrounded the city. And when the servant of the man of God arose early and went out, there was an army, surrounding the city with horses and chariots. And his servant said to him, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” So he answered, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” And Elisha prayed, and said, “Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

Key Phrase: 20/20 vision

It’s a new year and what better way to start off todays nugget with a loud Happy new year! May we experience an even higher impact of His word in our lives in 2020.

This first nugget of 2020 is inspired by the medical definition of 20/20; this connotes visual acuity ie sharp/clear vision. My prayer is that this year, our spiritual eyes will be open to clearly see the Lord’s ways.

In the Account of Elisha and his servant in 2 Kings 6, we see how fear takes centre stage when spiritual visual acuity is lacking. Elisha could see but his servant could not until Elisha prayed …. “Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw.

Today, by faith, let us put our names in that prayer and believe that our spiritual sight will be sharpened to see.

Father, we thank you for the opportunity to start again, strengthen us for the journey ahead. Lord, in this new year, open my eyes, open my ears, open my heart to see, hear and perceive those deep things that you are doing on our behalf. Mostly Lord, as we begin to see and hear you more, let faith replace fear, let hope be restored. In Jesus name.

Elozino

Access your open doors…. by all means.

Weekly Nuggets December 30, 2019

1 Corinthians 16:9

9 For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries. (NKJV)

9 There is a wide-open door for a great work here, although many oppose me. (NLT)

9 because a wide door for effective service has opened to me [in Ephesus, a very promising opportunity], and there are many adversaries. (AMP)

9 There is a real opportunity here for great and worthwhile work, even though there are many opponents. (GNT)

Key Phrase: Access your open doors…. by all means.

It’s the last week of 2019 and both hearts and eyes are focusing on the new year. Whilst we ponder over what has been and speculate over what may be, one certain thing is the land lies before us with opportunities to claim for God’s glory.

To deepen our understanding of today’s nugget, we look to different scripture versions and focus on two words; door & effective.

Door: a passage, a gateway marking an entrance or exit from one place or state to another. An opportunity

Effective: accomplishing a purpose; producing the intended or expected result, successful or achieving results or bearing fruits

As we enter 2020, a door, not an ordinary one but an effective door has been opened to us;
• We must spend time in prayer to access those new opportunities that the Lord has gone before to prepare.
• We must overcome every spirit of “just a little sleep & slumber” that clouds our spiritual sight and hearing.
• We must be diligent in the place vigilance as there are many adversaries (with diverse tricks and devices) opposed to the success ahead.

God has gone ahead to open the doors of opportunity, may we not miss them. We shall enter the places of opportunity which God has prepared for us – by all means.

Father, we receive your open doors in thanksgiving, please keep them open until we have reaped the full benefits. Lord, we pray that no opportunity will be missed due to eyes & ears clouded by the world. Mostly Lord, we know the adversary cannot shut a door you have opened, but can only distract and delay us with his devices, so, we pray according to Job 5:12 that in the new year you will disappoint every device of the adversary. In Jesus name

Elozino

What’s your Shine factor?

Weekly Nuggets December 23, 2019

Exodus 34:29-32 (NKJV)

Now it was so, when Moses came down from Mount Sinai (and the two tablets of the Testimony were in Moses’ hand when he came down from the mountain), that Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone while he talked with Him. So when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to come near him. Then Moses called to them, and Aaron and all the rulers of the congregation returned to him; and Moses talked with them. Afterward all the children of Israel came near, and he gave them as commandments all that the Lord had spoken with him on Mount Sinai

Key Phrase: What’s your Shine factor?

This is the season of merry making and cheer. There is excitement in the air, everywhere we go there are beautiful Christmas decorations outdoing each other. It’s the season for lights, glitter, bling and shine.

Bling and Shine naturally attracts, which is why today we ask “what’s our bling factor?”. What is it that draws people to us? Exodus 34 tells us of Moses, “the skin of his face shone” after being in the presence of the Lord. The people initially feared but soon received understanding to draw near and receive the word from God.

This Christmas, what’s in our bling? What our shine factor? Are we shining a temporary superficial shine like the decorations that will get pulled down in January? Or is Jesus our bling factor causing us to shine from the inside and attracting people to the word of God in us?

God has called us to Shine in Matthew 5:16, Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. So brethren, let’s Shine for the world to see!

Father, this season ignite an everlasting fire inside of us that we may shine for you. Lord, teach us that spending time in your presence causes our fire to burn brighter and brighter. Lord, scatter every plan of the enemy to extinguish our light and dull our shine. Mostly we pray, that the fire on our inside, will manifest as a shine on the outside, drawing men unto the kingdom. In Jesus name.

Elozino

God is

Weekly Nuggets December 16, 2019

Ecclesiastes 3:14-15 (NLT)

14 And I know that whatever God does is final. Nothing can be added to it or taken from it. God’s purpose is that people should fear him. 15 What is happening now has happened before, and what will happen in the future has happened before, because God makes the same things happen over and over again.

Key Phrase: God is

One of the foundations of our faith is the understanding that God is in the present continuous. God is not past tense or future tense, He is yesterday, today and forever (Heb 13:8). Time and seasons may change for man, fashion changes, trends change but God remains the same.

God shows Himself strong again and again to remind us of the fact He can do it yet again. In Exodus 3:14 God introduced Himself to Moses as “I AM WHO I AM, Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, I AM has sent me to you.’ ” An apt self introduction for a God who IS.

This week, let’s look beyond those things that cause us to bow our heads in sorrow and shame. That problem is transient. Let’s instead focus on who our God is. God has done it before and He will surely do it again. God IS before those problems and IS after He has brought you through those problems. He is still in the miracle making, testimony giving business.

God is.

Father, your word says faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God, let your word strengthen our faith today. Lord, show us again and again your marvelous ways, how you bring water from the rock and manna from heavens. Mostly Lord, despite any problems in our life, cast it in our hearts that you do not change, You are God, in the present continuous, working things out for our good. In Jesus name.

Elozino

Loaded weapons

Weekly Nuggets December 9, 2019

Jeremiah 51:20-23NKJV

You are My battle-ax and weapons of war: For with you I will break the nation in pieces; With you I will destroy kingdoms; With you I will break in pieces the horse and its rider; With you I will break in pieces the chariot and its rider; With you also I will break in pieces man and woman; With you I will break in pieces old and young; With you I will break in pieces the young man and the maiden; With you also I will break in pieces the shepherd and his flock; With you I will break in pieces the farmer and his yoke of oxen; And with you I will break in pieces governors and rulers.

Key Phrase: Loaded weapons

I heard a word. A word like I’ve never heard. It challenged every spirit of fear which threatens my faith, it challenged every timidity that threatens the boldness which the spirit of God has given us.

The word of God says- I, You, We, are His weapons, battle axe, instrument of warfare. God declares that through us adversaries will be destroyed; old & young, female & male, governors & rulers, kingdoms. We are His weapons.

However, very weapon needs ammunition to be effective: A gun needs bullets, a cannon needs gunpowder, a catapult needs a stone. For us to walk in the explosive power that God has ordained, we must have the word of God dwelling richly within us or operate as a toy weapon, inert and unable to serve its purpose. Hence Hebrews 4:12 says “For the word of God is living and powerful, 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”

Loaded with the word of God, we will need a label that says to the adversary “dangerous weapon, approach at your risk”.

Father, let your word, Jesus, dwell richly within us and manifest in every area of our lives. Lord, from today, uproot everything within us that causes us fear, causes timidity, everything that gives the enemy boldness to approach us. Mostly Lord, load us with your power, charge us, make us a danger, a terror to the enemy. In Jesus name.

Elozino

Father, demobilize them

Weekly Nuggets December 2, 2019

2Kings 6:16-23 NKJV

And when the servant of the man of God arose early and went out, there was an army, surrounding the city with horses and chariots. And his servant said to him, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” So he answered, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” And Elisha prayed, and said, “Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. So when the Syrians came down to him, Elisha prayed to the Lord, and said, “Strike this people, I pray, with blindness.” And He struck them with blindness according to the word of Elisha. Now Elisha said to them, “This is not the way, nor is this the city. Follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom you seek.” But he led them to Samaria. So it was, when they had come to Samaria, that Elisha said, “Lord, open the eyes of these men, that they may see.” And the Lord opened their eyes, and they saw; and there they were, inside Samaria! Now when the king of Israel saw them, he said to Elisha, “My father, shall I kill them? Shall I kill them?” But he answered, “You shall not kill them. Would you kill those whom you have taken captive with your sword and your bow? Set food and water before them, that they may eat and drink and go to their master.” Then he prepared a great feast for them; and after they ate and drank, he sent them away and they went to their master. So the bands of Syrian raiders came no more into the land of Israel.

Key Phrase: Father, demobilize them

Psalm 23:5 tells us that God prepares us a table in the presence of our enemies. Fundamental principle being that what God has prepared for us, no man, principality or power can touch. Even when they surround in great numbers, God can cause them to be powerless.

This powerless state is the most tormenting punishment that anyone, especially the enemy can receive. Inability to move, to touch, to talk, to execute their plans. This is the state God will put our enemies in this last lap of the year.

In our nuggets for the week, Elisha pushes the demobilization button. It would have been easy to call down fire and destroy them, but there is a greater battle to be won when the enemy is demobilized, silenced, disgraced. Elisha said, “Strike this people, I pray, with blindness.” And God struck them with blindness. A great army, blinded, powerless and subject to the authority of their would-be victim. Elisha, controlled them, humbled them, sent them back to their master with their tails between their legs and ended the siege of the Syrians.

Father, let every power tormenting us be totally demobilised and disgraced this season. Lord, As you demobilised pharaoh’s army at the bottom of the red sea, so shall it be for any tormentor with plans to pursue us into the new year. Mostly Lord, let your power come down every time we call on your name, fight for us, demobilize the enemy and change our story from disgrace to honour. In Jesus name.

Elozino