Wednesday, 30th September 2020

Bible verse: Proverbs 26:7 contd.
The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.

Message
The source of our study is the _*Institute in Basic Life Principles*_.
Today we are looking at the sensual, the scorning and the steadfast fools.

The _*sensual*_ fool's focus is on that which brings him immediate pleasure as he is only driven by sensual desires and feelings, act on sexual instincts very quickly with little or no self-control.

The _*scorning*_ fools do not obey rules or instructions; distasteful in speech; disdain and contempt in their heart for authorities.
These are law breakers as we can see in many so-called men of God and their disobedience to the laws of the land.
The scorning fool utterly detests people and ideas that contradict his false thinking and will term them devil whereas they are devils in disguise.

The most dangerous type of fool is a _*steadfast*_ fool.
This type of fool is self-confident and close-minded. He is his own god, freely gratifying his lower nature and running his mouth without reflecting on what he says and ignoring intelligence, depth, and wisdom.
It is his goal to draw as many others as possible into his evil ways.
Only God can successfully reprove a steadfast fool.

You have to decide now remembering God's warning: "Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me".
Now is the appropriate time to turn away from your foolishness and seek God before it is too late.

Prayer
To all of us fools - simple, stubborn, and scoffing - may God pour out His Spirit on us, grant us the wisdom, knowledge and opportunity for us to turn away from our foolishness and turn to God's wisdom.

Tuesday, 29th September 2020
Bible verse: Proverbs 26:7 contd.
The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.

Message
The wise are not wise because they know a lot of proverbs but because they know wisdom also comes from reading.
It is written in Daniel 9:2 _*I Daniel understood by books*_
Keying to the words of Daniel I was able to understand that there are different types of fools - simple fools, silly fools, sensual fools, scorning fools and steadfast fools.

The _*simple fools*_ only see the surface of things without much reason, knowledge or understanding.
He opens his mind to any passing thought and opens his arms to any passing stranger.
This type of fool is describes as dangerously immature, extremely gullible, intensely curious# and easily captivated by all kinds of enticements and deceptions.

The _*silly fools_* on the other hand just speak without thinking; their mouths give them away and gets them into trouble.
they believe that their own ways of thinking is right while there is no substance to them as they are easily taken off course if they have one.
Is any of the above symptom in your character?
Watch running your mouth reflecting on what you say, look before you leap and seek knowledge and understanding.

Prayer
Dear Lord, Your word says that a fool does not delight in understanding, his mouth feeds on folly while the mind of the intelligent seeks knowledge.

I pray for knowledge, understanding and discernment in Jesus name.

Monday, 28th September 2020
Bible verse: Proverbs 26:7
The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.

Message
Lame is defined as unable to walk without difficulty as the result of an injury or illness affecting the leg or foot.
The legs of a lame do not function as a coordinated pair.
Being not equal in length, strength, or coordination, his movements are absurd, contradictory, distorted.

A fool opens his mouth wide, hates accountability and practical strategies, loves blaming, rejects instruction and responsibility and above all cannot see his own foolishness.
Foolish people are self-involved, overly optimistic regarding their own views, and unable to see their own vulnerabilities are practically mockers.
They assume they already know all that needs to be known.
Are you one of them? Do you meddle in the matters of others and having no self-control?

Beloveth, you can't win with a fool. The best you can do is to learn to identify and avoid them and do not forget that anyone who corrects the foolish person will get hurt. So don't bother correcting mockers; they will only hate you.
Therefore choose wisdom and reject foolishness. It is written: _*Trusting a fool to convey a message is like cutting off one's feet or drinking poison*_

Prayer
Gracious God, let my life not be dictated by assumptions but by divine facts!
Deliver me form the syndrome of copying what other people say foolishly, what other people do foolishly, what other people want foolishly and fill me with wisdom so that there is no room for selfish foolishness in Jesus name.

Sunday, 27th September 2020
Bible verse: Proverbs 22:11
He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend.

Message
Perhaps one of the more important area in most lives is relationships - our relationship with God and affinity with others.
Beloveth, from the presence of a pure heart and gracious speech, the absence of an ugly and absence of malicious words and all that which accompanies a proud and selfish heart, the absence of self-righteous and bitter soul are the criteria for the fruit of the Spirit to flow.
Purity and grace only comes through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit, but in Him you have everything you need for life and purity, goodness and grace.

Seek therefore the purity of heart and graciousness of speech.

Prayer
Dear everlasting Father, thank You for reminding me that You desire purity of heart and graciousness of speech.
May my speech be gracious and pleasant at all times and may the words of my mouth, the meditation of my heart, the actions I undertake and the motive behind all I do, be pleasing in Your sight in Jesus name.

Saturday, 26th September 2020
Bible verse: Matthew 6:25
Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?

Message
To focus on earthly matters like riches and basic needs will always breed worry and anxiety.
Focusing on eternal matters delivers us from those worries and brings God's peace.
Worrying about the future will only distracts you from the presence of God, removes your focus from Him and from making Him your first priority.
Worry is sin because it denies the wisdom of God and it denies the power of God.
Beloveth, let your undivided attention be given to seeking God's rule in your life and let tomorrow take care of itself by trusting in God without been lazy and idle.
Seek ye first the kingdom of God and all other things shall be added unto it.
God promised to care of you and He has the power and integrity to deliver that promise.

Prayer
O Lord, I beseech thee to deliver me from worry, anxiety, and fear of the unknown future.
Keep me as the apple of Your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings; teach me to walk in blameless and supply those physical needs that might be a source of distraction from you in Jesus name.

Friday, 25th September 2020
Bible verse: Proverbs 16:2
All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits.

Message
Every man thinks he is right about his life, often content himself with looking at his ways - he defaults to self-righteousness by nature.
He dislikes instruction and correction, for he assumes his way of doing things is good and wise.

Beloveth, do you often bear a civility and preference to some sins above others, and think yourself all the while very clean?
Don't forget that partiality towards your sins is a most notorious deceitfulness and to retain some as favourites is a certain corruption in the control and government of your spiritual self.

Repent of your arrogant self-righteousness, hate your self-esteem and get rid of confidence in things you have done.
Learn to mistrust and resent yourself, for your heart is a lying flatterer to deceive you into error.
All things are naked and opened unto God's eyes.
God sees your heart and thoughts and the proud and selfish motives in the deep water of your heart.
Therefore, rest in the Lord, and wait patiently on Him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way.

Prayer
Dear Lord, do not allow my self-righteous heart to justify everything I think, say, and do.
Let Your spirit of excellence operate in every area of my life in Jesus name.

Thursday, 24th September 2020
Bible verse: Psalm 102:1-11
1 Hear my prayer, O LORD, and let my cry come unto thee.
2 Hide not thy face from me in the day when I am in trouble; incline thine ear unto me: in the day when I call answer me speedily.
3 For my days are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned as an hearth.
4 My heart is smitten, and withered like grass; so that I forget to eat my bread.
5 By reason of the voice of my groaning my bones cleave to my skin.
6 I am like a pelican of the wilderness: I am like an owl of the desert.
7 I watch, and am as a sparrow alone upon the house top.
8 Mine enemies reproach me all the day; and they that are mad against me are sworn against me.
9 For I have eaten ashes like bread, and mingled my drink with weeping,
10 Because of thine indignation and thy wrath: for thou hast lifted me up, and cast me down.
11 My days are like a shadow that declineth; and I am withered like grass.

Prayer
O God arise and set me above all my oppositions and let the excellent spirit in Christ cleave upon me in Jesus name.
Any power plotting to attack the godliness in my life, I decree them scattered in the mighty name of Jesus.

Wednesday, 23rd September 2020
Bible verse: Isaiah 37:7
Behold, I will send a blast upon him, and he shall hear a rumour, and return to his own land; and I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land.

Message
Rumour is defined as a currently circulating story or report of uncertain or doubtful truth - often a mixture of truth and untruth.

Beloveth, are you facing a problem that is too big for you to handle?
Are you encountering problems, persecution, defamation of character, destruction through gossip, slander, backbiting etc.?
Follow Hezekiah's example - present your requests with confidence to God, do what you can, grieve over what is wrong, seek God's word, pray and ask others to pray on your behalf.

Whenever you are intimidated by powerful people or impossible circumstances, or facing report of uncertain or doubtful truth about yourself, take your case to God, stop and look at the awesome display of God's power and don't be afraid of a puny man because God is with you.
He has promised to send a blast upon your enemies and to cause them to fall by their sword like Haman in his own land.
God will act to glorify Himself through you.

Prayer
Father Lord, disgrace every power that is out to steal Your programme for my life and cause every power envious of the excellence of God in me to fall by the sword in his own land in Jesus name.

Tuesday, 22nd September 2020
Bible verse: Proverbs 18:4
The words of a man's mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook.

Message
Deep waters hide what lurks beneath them, you can only see the surface.
Dangerous animals of the ocean like whales, crocodiles, sharks, tadpoles, alligators, snapping turtles, gold fish etc live in deep waters.
A flowing brook is clear and transparent as they flow from their spring to supply water to prosper lower lands.

The words of a man's mouth are compared to deep waters - which cannot be easily fathomed - saying one thing but the meaning and danger of what was said lays much deeper within him.
Or are like flowing brook, extensive in quantity and abundant in supply which flows from a never failing source.
His mouth is a well of life, fountain of wisdom and his instruction is a fountain of life which is never exhausted.
As a brook supplies water to prosper lower lands, so a wise man speaks to help those around him.

Are you in the category of deep waters - ready to kill your brother, have delight in gossip, slander, deceit, fraud, fabricating of rumours as well as shooting poison at others, destroying and/or killing others while smiling and playing the innocent?
Or you are in the category of flowing brook - source of wisdom, the refreshing fabricator of the souls of brethren, the motivating motor?
Do you love others enough to discover their needs and help them?

Prayer
Dear Lord, manifest in and through me a fountain of wisdom, a bubbling brook of water that will refresh my soul and grant me wisdom when I need it as well as spiritual discernment and to use them to supply water to prosper lower lands in Jesus name.