Word of Faith Group of Schools, Aba

*RECEIVE! (2)*

*Mark 11:24, Matthew 7:11 (GNB), Ephesians 3:20 (NLT)*
_What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. *As bad as you are, you know how to give good things to your children. How much more, then, will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him! *Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think._

Today, we shall consider more scriptural examples to buttress that God is always more willing to give us what we are asking for, and what He wants to give us is always bigger and better than what we are asking for.

When the people of Judah were faced with a great threat from three different kings, Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah prayed unto God for his help. In answering them, God did not only divinely give them victory over the armies of those three kings; they didn’t need to fight at all, and they ended up gathering abundant wealth and weapons for three whole days, (2Chron.20). Hannah was asking God for a child, and instead of just giving her a child, God gave her one of the greatest prophets Israel had (1Sam.1:20), along with three more sons and two daughters, (1Sam.2:21).

In Joseph’s dream, he saw his family bowing to him (Gen.37:5-11) - local dominion and influence; but what God had in mind for him was global dominion and influence. The Bible says, “People came to Egypt from all over the world to buy grain from Joseph, because the famine was severe everywhere.” (Gen.41:57). When Joseph was praying to be released from prison, God was orchestrating how Joseph would be taken to the palace. Receive God’s abundant wisdom, favour, provision, strength.

*Prayer:*
Dear Father, I thank you for the greater and better things you have in store for me. I receive your abundance into my life right now.

*RECEIVE! (1)*

*MARK 11:24, MATTHEW 7:11 (GNB), EPHESIANS 3:20 (NLT)*
_What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. *As bad as you are, you know how to give good things to your children. How much more, then, will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him! *Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think._

Sometimes, we seem to pray as though we are trying to plead with God or force Him to give us something He does not want to give us, or do something He does not want to do. But the truth is because of God’s great love for you, He is always more willing to give you and do what you are asking for, than you are willing to ask for it.

The real issue is not God’s ability or willingness to do it, but our ability and willingness to believe and receive what He wants to give us. What God always wants to give you is bigger, better and more than what you are asking Him for.

When the supply of water ran out for the armies of Israel, Judah and Edom on their way to battle, King Jehoram said, “What!”....Has the LORD called us … together only to deliver us into the hands of Moab?” But when Elisha came and the hand of the Lord came upon him, he said to them, “This is what the LORD says: I will fill this valley with pools of water.” …You will see neither wind nor rain, yet this valley will be filled with water, and you, your cattle and your other animals will drink. This is an easy thing in the eyes of the LORD; he will also deliver Moab into your hands,” (2Kings 3). Receive God’s rivers of blessings and abundantly supply of whatever you need and more!

*ACTION POINT:*
Thank God for His great love for you, and for the great and abundant things He wants to give you. Ask and receive them now.

*FAITH FOR GREAT IMPACT AND TESTIMONIES*

*Acts 14:7-10 (AMPC)*
And there they continued to preach the glad tidings (Gospel). Now at Lystra a man sat who found it impossible to use his feet, for he was a cripple from birth and had never walked. He was listening to Paul as he talked, and [Paul] gazing intently at him and observing that he had faith to be healed, Shouted at him, saying, Stand erect on your feet! And he leaped up and walked.

Something glorious is happening to you as the revelation of Christ is filling your heart. Faith for victory over every condition and situation men have called impossible, is being divinely birthed and stirred up in your heart. By this faith, you are going to make great impact and have great testimonies. Hebrews 11:2 (AMPC) says, “For by [faith—trust and holy fervor born of faith] the men of old had divine testimony borne to them and obtained a good report.” “…faith comes from listening to this Good News—the Good News about Christ,” (Rom. 10:17).

Never despise the power of the Gospel of Christ. Please always be focused and avoid distractions as much as possible, whenever you are studying or listening to the Gospel of Christ.

The man in our text above had never walked since he was born. But as he listened intently to the Gospel of Christ, something happened to him. Faith to do what he had never done before filled his heart. God is filling your heart with this kind of faith right now. Your faith in Christ gives you the capacity to receive your miracle and do what was previously impossible for man. As the faith of Christ fills your heart, seize the opportunity and release the faith of Christ. Shout and boldly declare your miracle and victory. Begin to do what you could not do before.

*Action Point:*
By faith in what Christ has done for you, declare the glory, power and will of God into your life.

*PRAY FOR YOUR CHILDREN*

*Numbers 6:22-27*
_And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto Aaron and unto his sons, saying, On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel, saying unto them, The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them._

Pray that from an early age, your children will be conscious and passionate about knowing God and serving Him just like Jesus. Pray that like Jesus, they will grow in wisdom, and stature and in favour with God and man, (Luke 2:41-52). Pray that they will have faith in Christ just like you do, (2Tim.1:5). Pray that they will be taught of the Lord and great shall be their peace, (Isa.54:13). Pray that God will increase both you and your children more and more, (Psa.115:14). Pray that your seed will be mighty upon the earth and they will be blessed, (Psa.112:2). Pray that the angel of God will encamp around them and deliver them, (Psa. 34:7). Pray that no weapon will prevail over them, (Isa. 54:17). Pray that no plague will come near their dwelling, (Psa. 91:10)

Pray that they will wax great, move forward, grow and become very great, (Gen. 26:13). Pray that their minds be filled with the wisdom of God (James 3:17-18). Pray that your children will love to take correction (Prov. 15:5-10). Pray that they will love righteousness and hate iniquity, (Heb. 1:9). Pray that they will not consent when sinners entice them, (Prov. 1:10). Pray that no negative influence will prevail over them. Instead, they will delight in the ways of God, meditate on God’s word day and night and they will be like trees planted by the rivers of water, bringing forth fruit in season and all they do shall prosper, (Psa.1:1-3).

*Action Point:*
Pray for your children to know and have faith in Christ. Pray for them to have God’s wisdom, favour, blessings and peace.

*REFLECT THE MERCY OF GOD TO OTHERS*

*EPHESIANS 4:31-32 (AMPC)*
_Let all bitterness and indignation and wrath (...) and resentment (anger, animosity) and quarrelling (...) and slander (...) be banished from you, with all malice (spite, ill will, or baseness of any kind). And become useful and helpful and kind to one another, tender-hearted (compassionate, understanding, loving-hearted),forgiving one another [readily and freely], as God in Christ forgave you._

Just as God shows us His grace and mercy continually, He wants us to continually do the same unto others. Jesus wants us to love one another just as He has loved us, (John 13:34). The major way Jesus showed us God's love and mercy, is by sacrificing His life on the Cross for our sins. Instead of condemning us, He took our place and gave us hope and another chance to receive God's life and be all God wants us to be.

Mercy can be described as the highest demonstration of love and the greatest way we show people mercy, is by forgiving them when they hurt us. We can also be merciful to people by being patient and kind to them. Don't desire evil on everyone who hurts you. Desire their salvation, (Luke 9:54-56). It is not God's will for any man to perish but for all to come to repentance, (2Peter 3:9).

Colossians 3:12 says, "Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering." See all men as God's creatures in need of His mercy, and see other believers as Christ. Always keep your mind on the great mercy God has shown you and be willing to extend that same kindness to others. Just as God forgave you because of Christ, forgive and show people mercy because of Christ. Pray for people.

*PRAYER:*
FATHER, I THANK YOU FOR THE GREAT MERCY YOU HAVE SHOWN ME THROUGH CHRIST. HELP ME TO SHOW YOUR LOVE AND MERCY UNTO OTHERS, AMEN

*HOPE IN GOD’S MERCIES*

*Romans 9:15-16 Psalms 32:22, Psalms 130:7*
_Let thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in thee. *Let Israel hope in the LORD: for with the LORD there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption. *For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy._

God wants us to put our hope in His mercy. He wants us to expect and have an assurance of the manifestation of His mercies in our lives. According to God’s abundant mercy, He has begotten us again unto a lively hope, or a life of hope, (1Pet.1:3). By His mercy, God will manifest His glory in your life. The Bible says, “The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy,” (Psa.147:11). “Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy,” (Psa. 33:18). Because your hope is in the mercy of God, God delights in you and His eyes are always upon you.

You are a vessel of God’s mercy (Rom.9:23). Stop doubting whether God will manifest His mercies in your life. Because you are in Christ, God has destined you to experience His mercies. This is why He wants you to come boldly to Him to obtain His mercy, (Heb.4:16). Because of what Jesus has done for you, the mercies of God are sure in your life. Hope in the mercy of God. David said surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life (Psa.23:6). God will show you great mercy. “Now Elisabeth's full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son. And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her,” (Luke 1:57-58). The mercies of God will beautify your life.

*Prayer:*
Heavenly Father, I thank you for your abundant love and mercies available to me in Christ. My hope is in your mercies.

*THE MERCY OF GOD IS AVAILABLE FOR YOU*

*Daniel 2:15-18*
_Why is the decree so hasty from the king? ... Then Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would give him time, and that he would shew the king the interpretation. Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to … his companions: That they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon._

Daniel received a sudden news of a threat on his life and that of all the wise men in Babylon, because no one could tell the king what he dreamt and the meaning of the dream. Humanly speaking, it was an impossible situation. All hope seemed lost, but not for those who knew that with God nothing is impossible. Instead of being troubled like every other wise man in Babylon, Daniel had confidence in the ability of His God. Together with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, they prayed and sought God for His mercies concerning the situation. The Bible says, “Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.” (Dan.2:19). As you pray and seek God for His mercies concerning that situation right now, you will experience God’s power and intervention and you will praise and bless His name. You will have a testimony!

Our God is a very present help in time of trouble, and He will help you right on time. The Bible says, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. *God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early,” (Psa.46:1, 5).

“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need,” (Heb. 4:16).

*Action Point:*
Ask God for His mercies and intervention concerning any situation in your life or the life of others.

*YOU WERE TRANSFORMED, RELOCATED, AND PROMOTED*

*Colossians 1:13 (KJV, AMPC), 2Corinthians 5:17*
_Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: *[The Father] has delivered and drawn us to Himself out of the control and the dominion of darkness and has transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of His love *Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new._

In addition to the fact that Christ has destroyed the power the devil had over you, there are three more reasons why the devil cannot exercise any power over negative influence over your life. The first reason is because you have been transformed. You are now a new creature. The you that the devil could dominate over is dead. The life you have now is the life of Christ. Is there any way the devil can attack or have dominion over Jesus right now? Then why do you think he can attack or have any influence over you?

The second reason is you have been relocated. God has transferred you out of the domain and reach of the devil, and planted you in the kingdom of His dear Son. The devil does not have any access into your new location, and whatever he is doing cannot affect you anymore. The third reason is because beyond being transformed and relocated, you have been promoted spiritually. You are now seated with Christ in Heavenly places (Eph. 2:6) and in this position, you are far in rank, above principalities and powers (Eph.1:20-22). We are admonished to put on the whole armour of God so we can STAND against the wiles (tricks) of the devil and not against his power, (Eph 6:10). As a believer in Christ, the devil no longer has any power over you. Exercise your victory over him by standing in the victory Christ has won for you.

*Prayer:*
Father, I thank you that you have transformed, relocated and promoted me in Christ. The devil cannot prevail over me anymore.

*BE MORE CONSCIOUS OF THE POWER OF GOD IN YOU*

*EPHESIANS 3:20, 1 JOHN 4:4, LUKE 5:17 (GNB)*
_Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us *…greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. … Jesus was teaching, some Pharisees and teachers of the Law were sitting there who had come from every town in Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. The power of the Lord was present for Jesus to heal the sick._

You need the help of God to become conscious of the great power of God at work in you. This is why even after telling them about it, Paul still prayed for the believers in the Ephesian church to be conscious that the same power that raised Christ from the dead was at work in them, (Eph.1:16-20). The more you are conscious of the power of God n you, the more you will be strong and do exploits.

Jesus was very conscious of the power of God that was at work in His life. As Jesus was teaching in our last text above, He knew the power of God was present to heal and He manifested the power to heal the paralyzed man who was brought in from the roof. Jesus was so conscious of the power of God in Him, that He knew when virtue had gone out of him to heal the woman with the issue of blood, (Mark 5:27-30). Peter became so conscious of the power of God that at a time, his shadow transmitted the healing power of God (Acts 5:15). Paul was so conscious of the power of God, that he knew when a man listening to him preach had faith to be healed, and he commanded the man to “Stand up!” and the man was healed, (Acts 14:8-10). Every time the Gospel is being preached, the power of God is present to heal, because the Gospel of Christ is the power of God to save, heal, deliver, prosper and transform lives, (Rom. 1:16).

*PRAYER:*
HEAVENLY FATHER, PLEASE INCREASE MY CONSCIOUSNESS OF THE FLOW OF YOUR GREAT RESURRECTION POWER AT WORK IN ME, AMEN

*FILLING THE EARTH WITH THE GLORY OF GOD*

*Psalms 72:19 (KJV, NIV), Habakkuk 2:14 (KJV, NLT)*
_Praise be to his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen and Amen. *And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen. *For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea. *For as the waters fill the sea, the earth will be filled with an awareness of the glory of the Lord._

God wants the whole earth to be filled with His glory. He wants His kingdom to come and His will to be done on earth as it is in Heaven, (Matt.6:10). There are many good things we can define and describe as the glory of God, but the perfect definition and utmost reflection of the glory of God, is Christ. Jesus is the brightness of God’s glory and express image of God’s personality, (Heb. 1:3). The glory of God is in the face of Jesus (2Cor.4:6). In John 1:18 (TPT), John shows us that Jesus is the only One who has declared who God really is. Jesus Himself said whoever has seen Him has seen the Father, (John 14:9).

It is through you and me that the glory of God (Christ) will fill the earth as the waters cover the sea. God wants Christ to overflow from us into the lives of others and the spaces we are in, and from there, continue to increase, spread, overflow and fill the earth.

Preach the Gospel and manifest the life and power of Christ. Speak life and hope to many. See and touch people as Christ would. Go about doing good and healing all oppressed by the devil, (Acts 10:38). God wants people to know about Jesus and also see and experience Jesus through our lives. Keep focusing on Christ and transforming from glory to glory into His image, by the help of the Spirit, (2Cor.3:18).

*Prayer:*
Father, I thank you that through me and other believers, Christ who is your glory, is filling my environment and all the earth.