Thesonoftheevangelist

[evangelistdagdevotionals]

LOOK OUT

27th April 2020

READ: Jeremiah 23:21-32

“I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran: I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied.” - Jeremiah 23:21

Some people enter the ministry because they have no other options. God did not speak to them, yet they ran! God did not send them, yet they went! They see the ministry as a good career option!

I once heard a minister on television saying that he came into the ministry because he was not good at chemistry, history, maths, biology or any of the other subjects. That is why he entered into the ministry. Is it not amazing that people can shamelessly fulfil such Scriptures on television for us all to see? They were not sent but they went! They were not spoken to by God but they began to prophesy and to teach! Learn to identify such people and do not sit under their ministries because you will be sitting under the wrong person!

Identify people who enter the ministry through false dreams. Many people have false dreams. Unfortunately, some actually enter the ministry because of a false dream. As you can see, false ministry will not really benefit the people. The Lord has cursed false prophets because they cause the people to err through their lives. Almost every minister claims to have heard from the Lord before embarking on his mission. Unfortunately, some saw visions and dreams of their own hearts. All these ministries must be left to time. We shall know them by their fruits.

[evangelistdagdevotionals]

KEEP IT UP

24th April 2020

READ: Genesis 26:1-6

“And Abraham gave all that he had unto Isaac.” - Genesis 25:5

Isaac successfully inherited his father’s ministry. He did not destroy the wealth that he inherited from his father. Isaac was unlike Rehoboam, who inherited everything from Solomon but lost it within five years.

A common mistake of those who inherit wealth is to inherit the wealth without learning the wisdom that created the wealth. Rehoboam inherited the wealth of his father Solomon but did not learn the wisdom of Solomon. His foolishness was seen at his very first cabinet meeting (1 Kings12). He displayed a complete lack of tact and wisdom, the very thing that had created the wealth of Solomon!

Indeed, it is said that only two percent of those who inherit a fortune are able to make their inheritance grow.

Isaac, on the other hand, received a great inheritance from his father Abraham and continued the tradition by becoming great in his own right. The principles that had made Abraham rich were the same principles that made Isaac rich. If you do not learn the principles that made someone great, you will not be able to sustain the wealth he gives you.

It is obvious that Isaac inherited the principle of blind obedience to Almighty God. Remember that God made Abraham rich as he blindly obeyed him. Isaac did the same thing.

When the Lord told him to stay in a land when there was a famine, he was obedient. Through this obedience Isaac also became rich in his own right.

[evangelistdagdevotionals]

DISHONOUR

18th April 2020

READ: Genesis 9:18-29

“And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren without.” - Genesis 9:22

It is an important principle to honour fathers. Ham broke this principle and dishonoured his father. It is the curse that followed that governs large sections of the world’s population. Across the world, the inability of the black man to rise above the state of servanthood can only be explained by a curse. Others may differ in their view and I can handle that, but I find it difficult to explain the state of Africa and black people, in general, except by the interpreting it as the curse of Ham. This severe curse came about when a young man forgot the contribution his father had made to his existence.

Ham forgot that it was his father Noah who heard from God and obeyed the call. Ham forgot that he did not know God well enough to hear the voice that commanded to build an ark. Ham forgot that if his father had not built the ark he would have drowned along with the rest of the world.

Ham forgot that God considered Noah to be a righteous man, even though he did not. Ham forgot that he was alive only because of his “drunken” father. Ham forgot that every man of God has a right to be naked in his own tent. Ham forgot that he himself was, sometimes, naked in his own tent.

He forgot too many things and he paid the price dearly for his lack of remembrance. Today, the black man can scarcely rise out of the waters of poverty and worldwide despisement.

[evangelistdagdevotionals]

PRESUMPTION

16th April 2020

READ: Numbers 16:1-10

“Seemeth it but a small thing unto you, that the God of Israel hath separated you from the congregation of Israel…” - Numbers 16:9

Identify people who enter the ministry not appreciating the great privilege given to them to serve in the house of the Lord.

These people are presumptuous and take for granted existing leadership and authority structures. They move out of rank, speaking about things that do not concern them.

Presumption is defined as “the arrogant assumption of privilege!” People are presumptuous when they feel that the call of God is no “big deal” and it is not such a special thing to be a pastor. Such people do not see any barriers between themselves and the leadership of the church. They say in their hearts, “I can be you”, “I can do what you are doing”. Such people want to be Reverend ministers and declare their equality with all other Reverend ministers. This is presumption and is a dangerous trait that causes people to erroneously move into things they are not called to.

The Word of God and the call of God stand alone as the reason why you should do things. The Word of God is a rock. The murmuring of the people is sand. Do not build your house on the sand. Build your house on the rock!

“Now Korah … and Dathan and Abiram … took men: And they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown: And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron …” (Numbers 16:1-3).

[evangelistdagdevotionals]

MANY STEPS

11th April 2020

READ: 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10

“That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” - Hebrews 6:12

Bad leaders are interested in taking only one step towards a goal. But most things are not achieved by taking one step.

People just want to take one step towards their goals. There are few things, if any, that can be reached with one step. The Bible says that “… things work together for good” (Romans 8:28). Many things work together to make one thing beautiful or successful. Many things are combined in a particular way and with particular timing to make a nice stew or soup. It is not just having one thing (good meat) that will make you have a nice stew.

Many people will take the step of prayer. Many Africans will take one step of fasting and praying every year. Many church members will take one step of sowing a seed in order to be prosperous. Because one step gets you almost nowhere the one step taken is often seen as having not worked. Because of this, people who have taken the one step of praying or one step of fasting or one step of sowing a seed have often complained that the one step does not work.

To achieve great goals you will need to take many steps. Each step in a strategy requires faith and patience. The first few steps require the most patience and the most faith in the wisdom of your strategy. If one of the steps you are taking is to have your quiet time, you need a lot of faith and patience to consistently have your quiet time, believing that it will have an effect on the outcome of your life. Become a man who takes as many strategic steps as needs be.

[evangelistdagdevotionals]

WAIT PATIENTLY

6th April 2020

READ: Hebrews 10:32-39

“Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.” - James 1:3

Patiently waiting for the will of God will make you bear much fruit for the Lord. People enter the imperfect will of God because of their impatience.

If the people had patiently waited for Moses to come down from the mountain they would never have entered the forty-year wilderness phase of their lives.

Being in the wilderness for forty years was not the perfect will of God. Forty years in the wilderness was the imperfect will of God that was imposed on the children of Israel because of their impatience. May you be delivered from having a wilderness season thrust upon you because of impatience!

When the people saw how long it was taking Moses to come back down the mountain, they gathered around Aaron. “Come on,” they said, “make us some gods who can lead us. We don’t know what happened to this fellow Moses, who brought us here from the land of Egypt” (Exodus 32:1, NLT).

People enter the imperfect will of God because of human manipulation. Trusting in God is not easy. We are often tempted to do something to change things. God knows best. You must trust Him and believe that all things work together for good.

[evangelistdagdevotionals]

TAKE HEED

3rd April 2020

READ: Genesis 24

“But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac.” - Genesis 24:4

You know more about choosing a wife after you have chosen one and been married for some time. When I see younger people falling in love and being absolutely enchanted by the wrong people, I marvel at the blindness that is so prevalent among young people.

Yet, young people are so sure of their bad choices when they make them. It is almost impossible to speak a word of sense into their heads at that time of their lives.

It takes the highest kind of wisdom to allow someone, as knowledgeable as your father, to choose a spouse for you. Most of our modern young people would not accept such an idea.

The reason why we are able to catch wild animals is because they never vary their activities and never shift from their basic instincts. You rise above the level of an animal when you do things that are not just based on your instincts.

One day, I responded to a young man’s request to help him choose a wife. I told him who I thought would be a good wife. As I gave him the advice, I wondered at how differently my mind worked because I was older and more experienced.

The art of following Isaac is the art of leaning on the wisdom of the elderly and the experienced. All the unmarried people in the church would have spouses if they would listen to their pastors. But they won’t listen, so they will live out their lives without experiencing certain blessings.

[evangelistdagdevotionals]

TAKE HEED

3rd April 2020

READ: Genesis 24

“But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac.” - Genesis 24:4

You know more about choosing a wife after you have chosen one and been married for some time. When I see younger people falling in love and being absolutely enchanted by the wrong people, I marvel at the blindness that is so prevalent among young people.

Yet, young people are so sure of their bad choices when they make them. It is almost impossible to speak a word of sense into their heads at that time of their lives.

It takes the highest kind of wisdom to allow someone, as knowledgeable as your father, to choose a spouse for you. Most of our modern young people would not accept such an idea.

The reason why we are able to catch wild animals is because they never vary their activities and never shift from their basic instincts. You rise above the level of an animal when you do things that are not just based on your instincts.

One day, I responded to a young man’s request to help him choose a wife. I told him who I thought would be a good wife. As I gave him the advice, I wondered at how differently my mind worked because I was older and more experienced.

The art of following Isaac is the art of leaning on the wisdom of the elderly and the experienced. All the unmarried people in the church would have spouses if they would listen to their pastors. But they won’t listen, so they will live out their lives without experiencing certain blessings.

[evangelistdagdevotionals]

ENTRY

2nd April 2020

READ: Numbers 16:1-35

“…and the LORD is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the LORD” - Numbers 16:3

Identify people who enter the ministry because they are prominent in secular society.

The fact that you are an important person in society does not mean that you must be important in the church. Your secular importance does not mean that you can exercise authority or leadership in a church setting. Also, the fact that your parents were pastors does not mean that you have authority in the church. Leadership in the church is by having the call of God.

“Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men: And they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown:” (Numbers 16:1-2). 

You must also identify people who enter the ministry because they are urged on by the people.

Saul came on the scene because the people wanted a king(1 Samuel 8:5-7). You must not come into ministry because people want you to. You must come into the ministry because God has called you. The voice of the people is not the voice of God! The voice of the majority is not the voice of God! Don’t make the mistake of transposing secular values into the church world.

[evangelistdagdevotionals]

THIEVERY

1st April 2020

READ: 1Corinthians1:26-31

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.

John 10:1

People who do not enter into the ministry through a call have the same effect on the ministry as thieves and robbers.

Imagine having a host of people who are not medical doctors but pose as medical doctors. Imagine having unqualified pharmacists dispensing wrong drugs to innocent people. You would not be wrong to call these people thieves, robbers or murderers. Imagine having some- one to be your president who did not really win the election. Everyone would call him a thief and a robber and that is what he is because he “stole” the election.

As soon as someone tries to be a minister without having a genuine call, he is like a thief and a robber. He has taken up a position that does not belong to him and that is what makes him a thief. It is the presence of such people in the ministry that generates so much confusion for onlookers. It is possible that a large percentage of people who are Reverend Ministers were never called into the ministry. Indeed, true shepherds, genuine pastors, thieves and robbers stand side by side in ministry wearing the same clerical collars. Mercy!

[evangelistdagdevotionals]

THE LORD’S VOICE

25th March 2020

READ: 1 Samuel 3: 7-18

“So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” - Ephesians 5:17 (NASB)

It is important to be able to hear when God speaks. If you cannot tell when God has spoken then you are going to be in serious trouble. That is why the art of hearing God’s voice is crucial to your survival. It is only when you have developed the art of hearing that you can be in the perfect will of God. Many people are in the imperfect will of God because they do not and cannot hear when God speaks.

People enter the imperfect will of God by not accurately hearing the voice of God.

People also enter the imperfect will of God because God allows men to have a free will. Amazingly, God does not force anyone to love Him or serve Him. God respects your will or decision to go to Heaven or to Hell. If you decide to do something against His will He will respect your decision and allow you to destroy yourself.

The prodigal son was allowed to leave home because the father knew better than to keep an unwilling and rebellious son at home. Jesus came to this world to save us all. But He respects the will of the people to accept His salvation or to reject Him. “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil” (John 3:19).

People will be condemned because light came to the world but they freely chose the darkness.

[evangelistdagdevotionals]

WICKED WOMEN

24th March 2020

READ: Mark 6:17-29

“And I will deliver thee out of the hand of the wicked…” - Jeremiah 15:21

The leadership of a woman is characterized by wickedness. You must study leadership, understand leadership, and practise appropriate principles of leadership otherwise you may lead people with the style and mind of a woman.

A woman whose mind is uncontrolled and unrefined by the Holy Spirit and the Word of God has her thoughts characterized by wickedness. Therefore a leader who is like a woman tends to be wicked. Hitler and Stalin are examples of leaders who went this route.

The leadership of a woman is also characterized by fears and insecurity. Read the story of Sarah and Hagar in the Bible: “… And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread, and a bottle of water, and gave it unto Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, and the child, and sent her away: and she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba” (Genesis 21:9-14). A woman whose mind is uncontrolled and unrefined by the Holy Spirit and the Word of God has her thoughts characterized by insecurity. Her thoughts were dominated by the desire to remove threatening people rather than to make use of their strengths for the common good. Therefore a leader who is like a woman tends to demonstrate his insecurity by removing people he perceives as threats to him.

Fear is such a terrible thing. It is put on the same platform as witchcraft, sorcery, idolatry and murder because it has similar fruits. Fear is often called insecurity. Be careful your insecurities do not colour everything you do.

[evangelistdagdevotionals]

THE REBELLIOUS

23rd March 2020

READ: Lamentations 3:$0-47

“And this thing became a sin: for the people went to worship before the one, even unto Dan.” - 1 Kings 12:30

Jeroboam, the classic “departee”, established an alternative centre of worship for Israel. He made them think that there were alternatives to worshipping in Jerusalem. “Jerusalem is not the only place you can find God. You can also find God in Dan or in Bethel.” This is often the message of the people who leave.

When a pastor sets up a church near a ministry he used to belong to, what message do you think he is giving? He is saying to all and sundry, that there are alternatives to the church they have been attending. “Why don’t you try something new? You will discover a new experience of worship under my new leadership. You will be surprised to find that you can have everything that you had in the old place and more in my new alternative ministry.”

This is the unspoken but implied message of the multitudes of pastors who leave churches in anger and rebellion. They say, “I will teach you a lesson. I will show the whole world that there are alternatives to your ministry. We don’t all have to attend that man’s church. They destabilize the committed members by giving them other options. This message scatters the congregation and confuses them.

I have had associate pastors who have left me and started churches a short distance away. Why do you think they started these churches so near their former home? They wanted the very people who attended my church to see their new church as an alternative place of worship.

[evangelistdagdevotionals]

DIFFERENCE

21st March 2020

READ: Acts 8:26-39

“…Understandest thou what thou readest? And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.” - Acts 8:30-31

Asking questions and seeking clarification may seem like a little  hing but it is that which has made a difference between different groups of people on earth. People have searched for big differences to explain the disparity between groups of people. They have tried to measure brain size, intelligence and IQ. They always came up with a blank because the big things are the same.

God made us all the same and equally capable. It is little differences that make the big difference. Today, some people want to know whether there is water and life on Mars whilst others cannot find water on earth to flush their toilets. Have you noticed how some groups on the planet seek to study and to understand lions, leopards, antelopes, worms, flies, birds, sharks, whales and snakes? Other groups of people just kill them when they come across them. These little differences cause the disparity that you see in people.

In the ministry, the large differences between ministers and churches is also caused by this very thing. Some people never ask, “Why is this person able to have a big church? How were you able to do this? Is it the anointing? If it is the anointing how can I also have the anointing? How did you get that anointing?” Sadly, many ministers do not seek clarification. Many ministers do not ask questions. They just assume that they know. They just assume that there are negative reasons for people’s success. Because of this, big differences develop between ministers with the same kind of divine call.

[evangelistdagdevotionals]

SHEPHERD

20th March 2020

READ: Matthew 7:15-20

“Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” - Matthew 7:20

Every shepherd must desire to become a good shepherd. “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep” (John 10:11).

You are a good shepherd when your shepherding style is like that of Christ.

You are a good shepherd when your pastoring style is like Christ’s and your fruits are the same as His.

Every shepherd must desire to become a great shepherd. “…that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant” (Hebrews 13:20).

You are a great shepherd when you have gained much knowledge and skill as a shepherd.

You are a great shepherd when you have large numbers of sheep under your care.

You are a great shepherd when you have pastored successfully for many years.

Every shepherd must desire to become a chief shepherd.

“And when the chief shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away” (1 Peter 5:4).

You become a chief shepherd when you have other under-shepherds under you. Being a chief shepherd is the same as being an overseer of other pastors.

[evangelistdagdevotionals]

ELIMINATION

19th March 2020

READ: 2 Samuel 18:28-19:4

“…now therefore let me see the king’s face; and if there be any iniquity in me, let him kill me.” - 2 Samuel 14:32

Absalom is someone who feels he cannot be sacked. He feels he cannot be transferred. In the Bible story, Absalom told Joab, if my father finds iniquity in me, then let him kill me. These words of Absalom reveal the mindset of a strange son. “My father cannot sack me”, “My father cannot discipline me”, “My father cannot deal with me”. In other words, I am untouchable and I know it. Anyone who feels he is untouchable has developed the wrong attitude.

No one is indispensable. As soon as you begin to think of yourself as indispensable, you are becoming proud and deceived. Just like Absalom, your delusions will lead to your destruction. Pride always comes before a fall.

Sometimes, people sense that they are special and really loved and they take advantage of this special place that they have. But that is a mistake. There is always a Joab that will do the job that the father doesn’t want to do. There are circumstances that will eliminate a deluded and proud child from every good position he has. Try your luck and discover for yourself that no one is indispensable.

This is truly the spirit of Absalom who knew that David could not kill him. Even when Joab killed Absalom, David lamented sorely over him.

[evangelistdagdevotionals]

GOD’S RESPONSE

15th March 2020

READ: Genesis 11:1-9

“And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” - 1 John 2:17

All through the Bible, you will find examples of God allowing men to do what they wanted to do even though it was not His perfect will for them. Most of the time, God’s people were full of rebellion and hatred for the perfect will of God. Instead of passing an immediate judgment, God would allow His people to stray into His imperfect (inappropriate, improper, unacceptable, non-ideal) will and then receive a sound and fitting thrashing for their rebelliousness!

In the Bible, you will discover how God allows people to have a king but uses kings to punish them. He allows people to have prosperity but then sends delusions and leanness into their souls. He allows people to build idols and then destroys them.

He allows a prophet to go on a mission, but then sends a donkey to rebuke him.

God does not contradict Himself by allowing people to stray into His imperfect will. It is His response to the rebellion, stubbornness and rejection of His perfect will. In the end, all men receive the appropriate, well-tailored and innovative judgments of God!

Some people call this imperfect will the permissive will of God. This imperfect will of God is the place where many ministers of the gospel function. Some people live their whole lives in this imperfect will of God.