And God gave……

Weekly Nuggets October 21, 2019

1 Kings 4:29-34 NKJV

And God gave Solomon wisdom and exceedingly great understanding, and largeness of heart like the sand on the seashore. Thus Solomon’s wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the men of the East and all the wisdom of Egypt. For he was wiser than all men—than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, Chalcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol; and his fame was in all the surrounding nations. He spoke three thousand proverbs……………… And men of all nations, from all the kings of the earth who had heard of his wisdom, came to hear the wisdom of Solomon.

Key Phrase: And God gave……

The start of man’s greatness is knowing that it all comes from God and accepting that neither power nor might is the reason for our being.

Rewind to 1 Kings 3, where it all started- a sacrifice that got Gods attention. And God asked… what do you want? The humility in the response shows the heart of one who wanted to do God’s work right, and in verse 9, King Solomon responded “give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?”

Wisdom, we are taught is the application of knowledge. King Solomon asked and received both knowledge and wisdom to which God added a bonus of influence and wealth that still stands unsurpassed today.

Wisdom is not bought, it is not learnt…. it is given liberally by God (James 1:5) to all who will ask without doubting.

Father, you are the giver of good gifts, this week bless us with wisdom. Lord, let our lives be the sacrifice that gives us access to divine wisdom and knowledge. Mostly Lord, as your wisdom enable us to do your work, let it also unlock doors to influence and greatness in every other area of our lives. In Jesus mighty name.

Elozino

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Hold Firm to instruction, don’t let go

Weekly Nuggets October 14, 2019

Proverbs 4:10-13 NKJV

Hear, my son, and receive my sayings, And the years of your life will be many. I have taught you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in right paths. When you walk, your steps will not be hindered, And when you run, you will not stumble. Take firm hold of instruction, do not let go; Keep her, for she is your life.

Key Phrase: Hold Firm to instruction, don’t let go

I recollect my early days as an engineer working on offshore rigs. I had retired to my cabin after a long shift and drifted into a deep sleep only to be awakened by the loud scary horns of the emergency alarms at 2am. I jumped off my bed and headed to my muster point, listening intently to instructions over the speakers as I went, my heart beating like it was going to jump out of my mouth… evacuation procedure was smooth, no one challenged the wardens. We followed instructions, grabbed our life jackets, put them on and obediently climed into our designated life rafts. In the dark silence of the raft, I could see everyone holding on tightly to their jackets for dear life (even though it had been tied and secured in several places)…. no one was taking chances – we sat there hard faced, two hands securely on our vests, listening intently for the next instruction…… it turned out to be a drill.

Today, this passage brings that memory to mind. The instructions of the wardens directing us to the right rafts, the life jacket (aptly named) which was the difference between life and death in an emergency. Proverbs 4:13 says we should “Take firm hold of instruction, Do not let go, Keep her, for she is your life.”

Brethren, this is how God’s instructions should meet us daily. Our ears keenly listening for every word, our eyes wide open to follow and not mis-step, holding on firmly to His every word for dear life, all the time acknowledging that to disobey is the difference between life and death.

Father, Let your word give us light and understanding (Psalm 119:130). Lord, teach us to hunger for your instructions and to obey without arguing or processing with our limited intellect. Mostly Lord, as we hold on to you, hold on to us, keep us safe under the shadow of your wings, safe from the devices of the enemy. In Jesus mighty name.

Elozino

Glory changes the Story

Weekly Nuggets October 7, 2019

2 Samuel 6:9-12 NKJV

So David would not move the ark of the Lord with him into the City of David; but David took it aside into the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite. The ark of the Lord remained in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite three months. And the Lord blessed Obed-Edom and all his household. Now it was told King David, saying, “The Lord has blessed the house of Obed-Edom and all that belongs to him, because of the ark of God.” So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with gladness

Key Phrase: Glory changes the Story

Every story can be changed, especially when the glory of God is involved.

In today’s text we see how King David was afraid of the Lord (see verse 9), he had just seen Uzzah struck dead because he held on to the ark. He was afraid to take the ark home and looked for a place of little relevance to keep the ark. The Bible says he moved the ark of God ‘aside’, to an unimportant place that could be destroyed without anyone being concerned- that was Obed-Edom’s house.

Three months only, the place of irrelevance was now a place of relevance. Obed-Edom and all his household prospered so much that they made the national news, the whole world heard about their turn-around and the news reached the palace.

That home, abandoned, ignored, considered irrelevant; received a glorious visitation and was celebrated. Someone this season will experience an uplifting because of a visitation of God’s glory.

Father, today we ask for the power of your glory to manifest in our lives. We ask, that every good virtue in our lives that has been forgotten, abandoned, set aside, will be brought to relevance this season. Mostly Lord, change our story – every negative story, every stagnant story, every confused story, written against us, let it change by your power, In Jesus mighty name.

Elozino

Wait-listed? Or Confirmed

Weekly Nuggets September 30, 2019

John 5:1-8 NKJV

After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water. For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had. Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?” The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me.”Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked.

Key Phrase: Wait-listed? Or Confirmed

God speaks in diverse ways. I had a confirmed ticket for an afternoon flight but suddenly needed to get on an earlier flight to meet an appointment. As expected, the early flight was fully booked and I was wait listed – along with a several other passengers!

Many anxious minutes later, the check-in was closed, reconciliations, and a few seats confirmed available. I got the first seat, because I already had a confirmed ticket. This ministered to me richly “though the wait may be long and anxiety filled, as long as you have Jesus (our confirmed ticket) it will come to pass”

The Bible text referenced today teaches us about a man who was waiting, waiting, 38 years and still no promise of a breakthrough. But then, Jesus happened and the wait was over. Healing was confirmed, break through was confirmed.

Today, the name of Jesus will accelerate every thing waiting confirmation in our lives.

Father, teach us to be patient, joyfully anticipating the manifestation of your glory. Teach us the true meaning of Phil 2:10-11, that at your name, every knee in heaven and earth knee bows and that every tongue confesses to your Lordship. Mostly Lord, confirm Your name in our lives, let every waiting come to a joyous end, In Jesus mighty name.

Elozino

On a mission

Weekly Nuggets September 23, 2019

Jeremiah 1:6-9 NKJV

Then said I: “Ah, Lord God! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth.” But the Lord said to me: “Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’ For you shall go to all to whom I send you, And whatever I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of their faces, For I am with you to deliver you,” says the Lord.

Key Phrase: On a mission

Someone once asked a great man, “do you ever get afraid?”. And the response was “yes, every morning, but I look in the mirror, remind myself I’m on a God mission, and go out to conquer by His power”.

We all go through seasons when we doubt ourselves, our abilities, we doubt where we are and where we are going. We start to ask questions like “am I good enough”, “am I strong enough”, “am I knowledgeable enough”, “am I experienced enough” or like Jeremiah “am I old enough”… STOP!

The prophet Jeremiah doubted, but God told him STOP, “you shall go to all to whom I send you, And whatever I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of their faces, For I am with you to deliver you,”

We are on a mission. God has handpicked us even with our frailty and fears, but He has promised to equip us for success. He has brought us this far, He will put the right words in our mouths and will back us up with all the authority of heaven to bring us triumphantly through this season.

Father, this week we ask for an outpouring of your strength to do what our abilities can not accomplish. We ask that for every spirit of insecurity, your word will bring us confidence. And Lord, we stand as your ambassadors, let your ways be our ways, your words be our words, our battle your battles. In Jesus mighty name.

Elozino

Suddenly, Without warning!

Weekly Nuggets September 16, 2019

Acts 16:25-26 NKJV

But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed.

Key Phrase: Suddenly, Without warning!

A turnaround, an unexpected intervention…
Darkness turns to light
Mourning turns to dancing
Fear turns to boldness
Bondage turns to freedom

That’s how God rolls, the Bible says in 2 Chron 16:9 that “the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him“. When He turns up, He turns up huge! He is always on duty, never sleeps, seeking where to intervene, searching who to save, who to free.

Things may be looking dark today. The road may be looking rough. The problems may look overwhelming……. but ……….. suddenly, He will turn up and change your lyrics.

Paul and Silas were imprisoned, but suddenly! Their feet were in chains, but suddenly! Their doors were shut against them, but suddenly!……. all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed and there was RELEASE.

Father, today let your mercy find me where I am. Lord, as Your eyes rove all of creation, show yourself strong on my behalf. And mostly Lord, let every door shut against us suddenly open, let every mountain standing against our progress by suddenly moved and let every (heavy) yoke that causes us pain be suddenly lifted. In Jesus mighty name.

Elozino

Priceless, Perfect, Powerful Peace

Weekly Nuggets September 9, 2019

John 14:27 NKJV

Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Key Phrase: Priceless, Perfect, Powerful Peace

There are promises that are worth their weight in gold. This is one of them, Jesus gives us this assurance in John 14:27, “My peace“. Not just any peace, not a transient peace, not a fickle peace, not a circumstantial peace, but a peace that comes only from Jesus; complete peace which passes all human understanding.

Some would ask, why is His peace different?
1. He is not man. He is God. Numbers 23:19
2. He is eternal. The same God yesterday, today and forever. Hebrews 13:8
3. His words need no back up. Its settled. Psalms 119:89
4. The Sun, moon, winds obey Him. Mark 4:39, Joshua 10:12-13

What does this mean? God’s peace is backed by his name. God’s peace is transgenerational (no time limit). God’s peace can be ‘taken to the bank’, it is solid. God’s peace calms the elements, it can calm our every trial. Receive it! Let not your heart be troubled.

Father, I receive Your promise of peace today. Lord, I believe that every challenge in our lives (whether in the past, today or future) WILL hear your word, we receive the calmness, solutions and breakthroughs that come from dwelling in the place of your peace. Mostly Lord, just like you did in Mark 4:39… Arise… rebuke every fear causing wind in our lives, let the seas, storms, the sun, moon and stars hear you say “Peace, be still!” And let every torment change to calm today. In Jesus mighty name.

Elozino