SPY THE YEAR

“And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men to spy secretly, saying, Go view the land, even Jericho.”

JOSHUA 2:1 (KJV)

As we come to the end of 2016 it becomes necessary for us to approach 2017 from a biblical perspective; and this perspective is revealed in Joshua’s decision to have two men spy out the land of Jericho. The children of Israel had a great desire for the land of Jericho, more so because it was a promise of God to them, but they were careful to know the state of the land before entering into it – this they did by spying the land.

To spy is to catch sight of; it is to secretly collect classified information. The decision to spy Jericho imparted the children of Israel with the courage needed in taking over the land. As we see the next year in view, we need to spy the year. Do not enter a year without gathering information about the year. The courage we need to walk through the year will come from the information gathered from spying the year.

There are two ways by which we can spy the year 2017: it is through the study of the word, and inquiring from the Spirit of God. As you study God’s word, you will find promises that assure you of what your experiences will be like in the forthcoming year. You are to believe these promises as believing them activate the word to produce the experience it talks about.

Scripture says that the Spirit of God searches the deep things of God; therefore, you can trust the Spirit of God to bring information to you about the next year. Jesus says that the Holy Spirit will tell you about things to come. Inquire of the Holy Spirit through praying, and listen to his voice and his promptings in your spirit: trust these leadings as the Spirit of God desires to lead you to prosperity next year.

In the same vein, as you plan to embark on major projects or anticipate certain blessings for the forthcoming year, take out time to gather information about the project or anticipated blessings: this will instil courage into you. I wish you a season of rest all through year 2017.

PRAYER

Dear Father I thank you for the year 2016, I believe you for revelations for the forthcoming year. Thanks for the revelation of your word and the ministry of the Holy Spirit in me in Jesus’ name. Amen

FURTHER READING

1 Corinthians 2:10

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ENTER INTO REST

“For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, as I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.”

                                                                                                HEBREWS 4:3 (KJV)

I brought to our notice that God’s requirement from us is to believe his word, and this act of faith brings us into the kingdom experience called rest. Rest is the completed purposes of God, and this includes your life purpose and every desire you have for your life on earth.

Our opening scripture reemphasises the need for us to believe God’s word. May I point out to you that God has called you to experience a life that he has already completed. God never begins what he hasn’t finished. Your life on earth began because God already concluded it. Hallelujah. You can only know about the details of your completed life from God’s word. Jesus said, “Search the scriptures for in them you think you have eternal life.”

We are told by our opening scripture that the works were finished from the foundation of the world. The question here is, “what is the foundation of the world?” The spiritual realm is the foundation of the world. That is where everything about your life was finished. Scripture says that we’ve been blessed with all spiritual blessings in spiritual places. Hallelujah!

The scripture is the access to the spiritual realm, as God’s words are spirit and life. It is through the word of God that you can grasp the things that were prepared for you from the foundation of the world. Scripture further says that we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God had before ordained that we should walk in them. Did you notice that good works have been prepared for you to experience (walk in).

Once you identify precious promises in God’s word, believe; as believing activates the word to perform what it talks about. Believing is an activity of rest; believe God’ word to experience rest, the word will fulfil itself.

EXERCISE

Identify God’s word that assures you of the fulfilment of your desires; believe them to see its performance.

FURTHER READING

Ephesians 2:10

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THE MISSING INGREDIENT

“For to us was the gospel preached, as well as to them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.”

HEBREWS 4:2 (KJV)

The profit the word of God brings is the divine life that God had foreordained for us to partake of. The promises in scripture were given to us so we could experience this divine life. This life can only be experienced when we believe the promises of God. This is the point where we miss out of God’s blessings.

There is a divine expectation for your finances, your marriage, your moral conduct, and life-purpose. Whenever the word of God comes to us, it comes with the reality of the life that God has ordained for us, and the appropriate response to the presence of the word is to believe it.

To believe is to accept as true; it is to be confident about something. The answer to our earnest prayers is the word of God. How do I mean? Scripture says that God spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things. Hallelujah! Jesus is the word of God: and so God uses the word to give us all that we desire. Believing activates the word to fulfil itself.

This is the reason Jesus said that when you pray believe that you receive it and you shall have it. It means that the point of praying is the point of receiving answer to prayer. This is further proved by the use of the word “believe.” Words are what we believe; therefore, our act of believing God’s word will grant us the experience that it talks about.

Our opening scripture tells us that the word did not profit them because they didn’t believe in it. When you doubt God it declares that God is incapable of doing what he talks about. Remember that there is a waiting period to the manifestation of God’s word to you; therefore, begin at once to believe God’s word for your future so that its manifestation will coincide with your expected time for its manifestation. Allow the word of God profit you as you believe in it, for faithful is he that has promised and he will perform.

PRAYER

Dear Father I thank you for your words that are available to me through the scripture. I declare my belief in your word and patiently wait for its manifestation in Jesus’ name. Amen

FURTHER READING

Jeremiah 33:14; Philippians 1:6

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DON’T LEAVE ANY BEHIND

“Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.”

  HEBREWS 4:1 (KJV)

In our previous article we considered the rest that God wants his children to experience; and I stated that the completed purpose of God is this rest. It will interest you to know that your life on earth and in eternity is contained in the completed purpose of God and the only way you can come into this rest is by believing the promises of God as contained in his word and revealed to you

Our opening scripture tells us to fear least we fail to enter God’s rest because of a promise we didn’t believe. The word “fear” as used in the above scripture means to avoid the danger of something happening; so, scripture tells us to avoid the danger of not entering into God’s rest because of unbelief.

The life outside God’s rest is characterised with worries, anxiety, depression and discouragement. God wants us to experience the life of peace and joy which characterises rest. We are expected to live in rest and live from rest. The former speaks of an experience; while, the latter speaks of a lifestyle. Rest is a Kingdom experience; rest is a Kingdom lifestyle.

Let us take a close look at the word “promise.” Promise is a statement with certainty of fulfilment. May I point out that there are two categories of promises in God’s word and these categories are to be believed and embraced (do not leave one for the other): these categories are “popular” and “unpopular” promises. A category of God’s promises is “popular” because they are regarded with great favour and approval by man; while, the other category is “unpopular” because they are not readily regarded with great favour and approval by man.

The “popular” promises bring comfort, edification, encouragement, and hope; while, the “unpopular” promises convicts, warns, and awakens. An example of “popular” promises is, “the LORD will perfect that which concerns me. . .” an example of “unpopular” promise is, “and whoever shall exalt himself shall be abased. . .”

These categories of promise are to be sought out in the scripture and believed on. Let them adjust your behaviour in life; thereby, bringing you into the kingdom life called rest.

PRAYER

God I thank you for the rest you’ve ordained for me; I repent from choosing the part of your word to believe: neglecting the one that convicts and sets me on the pathway of Holiness. I receive grace to believe your words in Jesus’ name. Amen

FURTHER READING

Psalm 138:8; Matthew 23:12

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