(2 Kings 2: 8-9)
8 And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground.
9 And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.

There are men who struggle in life for everything. They struggle to be born, they struggle to live, they struggle to go to school. They even pay through their noses in schools. They fight to get a job and wait several years before they find a mate. Nothing is ever easy for them. Look around, you will find such men. Whatever they have, resulted from years of toil. May be you are even one such person whose trademark is struggle. It is my sincere prayer that the God of Heaven will set you free in Jesus’ name. God never ordained a life of struggle for you. It is not God’s wish that you fail twice before you earn a degree. It is never His plan that you learn by brutal life-threatening business failures. God’s agenda for your life is success after success. Please do not misunderstand me, God ordained hard work and He expects it of us but undignified, unproductive and tortuous work is never a part of His plans.

What exactly is the difference between impossibility and struggle on one hand and ease and effortless success on the other hand?- grace and the God of Grace.
In the prophetic ministry of Elijah there was struggle. As powerful as he was, Jezebel almost cut short his ministry. It took the grace of God to sustain him till the end. It was thus a great thing that Elijah left with Elisha double portion of the anointing he carried. Dear Reader, this is the strategic value of a mentor. Mentors are given by God to empower us to do more than what they did. That was what the mentorship of Elijah did for Elisha. It is my belief today that God is sending men and women your way to empower you for greatness. It is the season of greater glory and increase on all sides.

The Bible says “Then Isaac sowed in that land and received in the same year a hundred fold: and the Lord blessed him” Can you just think for a moment about that? Can you just imagine putting a thousand naira in the bank and getting hundred thousand in interest by year? That was what happened to Isaac. In a land of hardship where everyone was crying famine, God rewarded his labour hundred fold. You might be one such person who is thinking “How will dreams come true in this year of woes” I have a word for you: the God that did it for Isaac will yet do it again.

Dear Brethren, as 2022 goes to an end it is time to enforce God’s promise of double portion in our lives. We need this double portion of anointing to terminate every form of struggle, stagnation and limitation on our path of divine destiny. But in doing so, there are at least three things you must take seriously.

One, you MUST never take NO for an answer. Whether it is from destiny-helpers or the devil, never take a “No”. You must know that great doors seldom open at the first knock. Elisha had to cross Jordan before he got the double portion anointing.

Two, you must be a man of prayers. I have not yet seen a greater force than the force of prayers. Christians seem to have forgotten that time changes nothing. Those who constantly record victories have mastered the use of prayers for the dismantling of spiritual strongholds. Be not ignorant, there will always be opposition to your progress.

Lastly, Faith! In this kingdom we operate entirely by faith. The Bible says: The just shall live by faith (Heb 10:38). Faith being the evidence of things hoped for; a believer needs to activate faith to see the real manifestation of seeming impossibilities.

As we engage the combined power of faith and prayers this month, nothing shall be impossible for us in Jesus name.
Happy New Month.

Making friends for Jesus is a practical exercise. It is the act of sharing the good news of salvation with other people with the intent to get them saved. The Lord commanded His friend to get busy with this task while expecting His return (Mark 16:15). This assignment is not limited to Adults. Children who are true friends of Jesus can be part of the team; they can help make more friends for Jesus.

To get them involved:

Take them along with you when you are out to preach the gospel.

Encourage them to pray for their siblings, cousins, aunts, uncles and friends that are yet to be friends with Jesus. (I Timothy 2:1)

Teach and encourage them to study the Scripture. (2 Timothy 2:15)

Give them opportunity to also preach to children of their age group while on the field.

Encourage them to persevere even when it appears there is no result yet.

Teach them to be bold and gentle.

Teach them Christian love and hospitality.

Make them understand that there are present and eternal rewards for those who make friends with Jesus.

(Ex 12:1-2)
1 And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt saying,
2 This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you.
The value of a promise is a function of the speaker of the promise. In this world, there are men and there are men. When some men talk you can go to sleep because they will honor the word even if it is at the cost of their lives. But when some other men pronounce a promise they carry no weight at all. They can renege on a promise just because it rained heavily or it was a sunny day. Our God is not like that. Numbers 23:19 says “God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?”

There are three things that make the word of our God of particular consequence.

First is the Ability of our God.
No one can give what he does not have. Recall the story of the exorcists who; trying to mirror the spiritual exploits of Paul in casting out demons said in Acts 19 to evil spirits “...We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.” Interestingly, the Bible calls them “Vagabond Jews”. By definition, vagabond means “impostor”, not born of the presumed father. In truth, that was who they were. They were claiming the brotherhood of the Kingdom when in fact they had no identity in Heaven. Our God is not like that. By proofs again and again; by proof documented in medieval times and now, our God has proven His capacity to do what men cannot do.
A few months ago, in the ancient city of Akure, working through the hands of a young believer our God raised a popular middle aged man who was reportedly lame from birth. The capacity of our God has not reduced with time. Just as he did of old, He is still doing today.

Secondly, the Integrity of God
It was Alan Kooi Simpson a United States Republican Senator representing Wyoming who served from 1979 to 1997 that said “If you have integrity nothing else matters. When you do not have integrity nothing else matters”. The integrity of God is unquestionable. Even the integrity of those who follow in his steps is solid.

And lastly, the love of God
God speaking through the mouth of Prophet Isaiah in Isa 49:15 says “Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.”
When I think about the love of God, it makes me shiver. God sent His only begotten son to the world to die for mankind in hope that mankind would take advantage of Calvary. And I ask, what if all men reject his offer? What if no one repents? His only begotten son would have died in vain. God took a pre-emptive risk. That’s a depth of love no one can explain.

These three reasons above makes it impossible for God to fail whenever he says a thing. Paul speaking to the Roman Church says in Rom 8:32 “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?” Dear friend, if there was anyone who knew God at close range Paul did.

As this new month unfolds I challenge you therefore to hold on strongly to what you have heard Him say to you. He is not a son of man. He cannot lie. He has said it emphatically- even though it is November God is making it your own January, the beginning of a new year. The implication of that just in case you do not know is restoration of time in all of its dimensions. Men say that time is the only resource in the world that once lost can never be regained- not with God.
Jesus came to the tomb of Lazarus three days late, in spite of that defining lateness, when he got there, he was still right on time. He did not just reverse the death of Lazarus, he restored time unto him (John 11:1-45)

It is my prayer for you today dear reader that God will fulfil the promise of Exodus 12:1-2 in your life. November shall be as January to you and you shall pursue and recover all.
Happy new month.

Faith in God is essential in our walk with Him. In fact, it is the basis of our relationship with God because without faith in Christ’s finished work of redemption, no one can be saved. Even after our salvation experience, we cannot please God without faith.

Faith is the key that grants us access to the divine treasury in times of trouble. With faith, Christian can go through life’s challenges triumphantly. Faith is absolute trust and total dependence on God in all aspects and situation of life.
Therefore, as Christian Parents, it is your responsibility and duty to build your children’s faith in God. This is the way to build their confidence in God and prepare them to face life’s challenges with courage.

As Parents, you need to help your children have a personal relationship with God. Make them understand that we are saved by grace through faith. (Eph. 2:8). Let them know that the same faith in God by which they were saved is what they need to overcome any challenges in their lives.

Teach them to pray always, depending totally on God’s promises at all times instead of seeking help from ungodly sources or resorting to self help. Tell them about bible characters who trusted God in difficult situations and how He delivered them. Show them how to study and listen to the word of God and teach them to obey it because it is the source of faith.

Above all, reinforce your teaching with your exemplary life. Let your children see that you put your trust in God. Practically demonstrate total dependence on God when you are faced with unpleasant circumstances. This will enable them to demonstrate unwavering faith in God and receive divine help in all circumstances.

The home is your Children first classroom and you are their first teacher. Although, they may not utter any meaningful word yet, their little eyes see quite a lot. Be sure they are storing in their brains the things they see you do. Set good examples for them because they carefully watch and unconsciously mimic you. They will replicate your behavior and way of life.

An undeniable fact is that your child will not always remain a child. As they grows older, your influence becomes more significant. They match your precepts with your practices, to see if they agree. If they do, they follow with ease, but if they conflicts, they get confused and rebel against you and your ideas. Children spot hypocrisy and double standard more quickly than your mind can fathom. Therefore, to have a positive influence on your child, define your values, moral and human values, and follow through on them faithfully.

It is no news that some children nurse the desire to be like their Parents when they grow older, and the reason for that is not farfetched. Their Parents′ lives are worthy of emulation. They see in those Parents who they want to become in future. Are you what your child wants to become? What kind of model are you to your child.

Remember, they are watching whatever you do in their presence, good or evil, right or wrong.
Live right if you want them to grow upright.

Ps 126:1-3
When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream.
 Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The Lord hath done great things for them.
The Lord hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.

Freedom is one of the most difficult things to describe. It may however be better understand from an opposite perspective. Perhaps we can grasp freedom much better by first explaining its opposite- slavery.
Nothing reduces a man more than slavery. Nothing has the capacity to debase a man as much as slavery. Slavery takes away the pride of a man. Slavery takes away all of his dignity. When a man becomes a slave, his right; even to life is withdrawn. He is counted as one of the belongings of another man. It is my prayer today that as many as are under the despotic reign of Lucifer would be made free today by the power of Jesus name.
Slavery limits the capacity of a man to think straight. Let me remind you of the sad story of the prodigal son (Luk 15: 11-32). He had left his father’s house with a lot of possessions and had wasted all of his inheritance. He fell into slavery by his own very design. He lived among pigs like one who had no people. It was so bad that he had to eat from the crumbs of pigs. When a man is enslaved, he is treated as the equivalent or even worse than an animal.

I remember the pathetic story of the children of Israel also. They had been in the land of captivity for over four hundred years and the children of glory were now so used to the low-life of servitude in Egypt. They had seen the miracles performed by the hand of God through Moses and Aaron forcing the hand of Pharaoh to let them go. They had seen the outstretched arm of God. So it was surprising when it so happened that on the day that God parted the sea they wanted almost to go back to Egypt. “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us, bringing us out of Egypt...it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.” (Ex 14: 11-12). Can you even imagine that? The children of Israel actually said it would have been better for them to continue in slavery that to embark on this journey of freedom!
It tells me one thing: slavery rewires the thinking of men. It is my prayer that as many who have now settled for the low-life of slavery instead of the abundant life of freedom, God of Heaven will break the yoke upon their heads in Jesus name.

Dear friend, freedom opens the eyes of men. Paul speaking to the Ephesian Church in Eph 1:18 says “the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,.” To be candid, freedom starts with knowledge.

The same Paul spoke yet again in Phil 3:10- 14 “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death. If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,”
Even Paul only found freedom and self-actualization in knowing and daily following Christ. If there is one advice that I consider necessary to give you today it would be that you find Jesus with all of your strength. Lay hold on him when you contact his revelation and ensure by all means that you never let him go.

Freedom is not a reckless life, lacking of accountability. Freedom is; knowing Jesus and following Him for the actualization of the full potentials of your life. That is the cross to which I call you today. That is the gainful enterprise to which I invite you to dedicate the remaining of your life.

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.” ( Matt 16:24-25) Now, this is the mystery of freedom. Those who seek genuinely liberating freedom must learn that there is a price to it. That price is absolute and sheepish obedience to Jesus. When you lose yourself to Jesus you find yourself in purpose. When you become a slave to his will you find the freedom to live the abundant life he promised.

Happy Independence Celebration