February 2021 – Youth and Teens

February 27, 2021

MISSIONARY STORY – J HUDSON TAYLOR

Date: 28.02.2021

Topic: MISSIONARY STORY- J HUDSON TAYLOR
Biblical Text: ‘ Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the son and of the Holy Spirit teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded you ‘. [Matthew 28:19-20]

James Hudson Taylor was born on May 21, 1832. His parents were spirit filled believers. However, James in his teen years was rebellious and bored with the constant reminders of Christian life. He started work in a bank and indulged in a carefree life. It took a sudden illness for him to reluctantly give up his bank position. One day while reading Gospel biography, he had a definite encounter with God; he fell down on his knees and accepted Jesus into his life. In December, 1849, Hudson was communing with God and asking about his purpose in life. Almost as if spoken out loudly, he clearly heard the words, Then go for me to China! Hudson Taylor was now a man set apart and going to China in the name of Jesus Christ. His life was no longer his own. He had a burning desire for China to be saved! In one of his missionary trips to Chinese interiors, they were running short of money, he remarked, The Lord reigns, herein is our joy and confidence. We have 25 cents and all the promises of God. And God miraculously met their need! Hudson will always say, My soul yearns, oh how intensely for the 180 million soul of these unoccupied provinces. Oh that I had a hundred lives to give or spend for their good! Over his life, he recruited and trained over 1,000 men and women for China during his lifetime. Forty five years after his death, the China inland mission he inaugurated remained the largest Gospel endeavor in China. When praised for his work in China, he will say, All Gods giant is a weak man who did great things for God because they reckoned on His being with them.

KNOW IT ∞ Every radical vision for evangelism must be backed by the mighty God.
READ IT ∞ Mark 16:15
PRAY IT ∞ Father, reveal your purpose to me and use me for your glory.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR ∞ 1 Kings 16-19

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February 26, 2021

WHEN TO BE LIKE A CHILD

Date: 27.02.2021

Topic: WHEN TO BE LIKE A CHILD
Biblical Text: “ And said, verily I say unto you, except ye be converted and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven’. [Matthew 18:3]

Once upon a time, a rider came across a few soldiers who were trying to move a heavy log of wood without success. The corporal was standing by, just watching as the men struggled. The rider could not believe it. He finally asked the corporal why he was not helping. The corporal replied, I am the corporal, I give orders. The rider said nothing in response; instead he dismounted from the horse and assisted the soldiers lift the heavy log. He quietly mounted on his horse and went to the corporal and said, the next time your men need help, send for the commander-in-chief! A child from a rich background if given the chance will play with all classes of children whether from rich or poor background. They will not discriminate whether they are white or black; dirty or clean. They do not have a high opinion about themselves. That is humility! A child has low opinion about themselves and that is why God used them to cite an example concerning humility. God warned Nebuchadnezzar to be humble rather he chose to assume the role of a god; thinking it was his power that made him achieve all for Babylon. Immediately, God drove him from men, and he ate grass for seven years. Humility is a character trait exhibited by Jesus. To be like God, you need to be humble. It takes humility to enter the kingdom of heaven. Be humble like a child. Heaven is for humble people.
KNOW IT ∞ Be humble to everyone. It is a character trait of children of God.
READ IT ∞ Deuteronomy 4:30-34, Matthew 3:4, Luke 14:11
PRAY IT ∞ Father, give me the grace to remain ever humble.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR ∞ 1 Kings 13-15

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February 25, 2021

DISCIPLINE- A CRITICAL INGREDIENT FOR SUCCESS

Date: 25.02.2021

Topic: DISCIPLINE- A CRITICAL INGREDIENT FOR SUCCESS
Biblical Text: ‘ But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself ‘. [Daniel 1:8]

Discipline can mean a set of rules and regulation; self-control to prevent abuse. Sunday did not take his studies seriously during his primary and secondary education. He manages to pass and get minimum credit required to be promoted to the next class. Most times, his teachers will write in his report sheet, He is very intelligent but too playful. When he got to the university, he decided to discipline himself and regulate the excesses preventing me from achieving the best in academics. You can guess the result? He came out with a good result in the University. It took Daniel, discipline to refuse to eat of the abundance at the kings table and opt for pulse and water. His discipline paid off. Daniel and his friends that disciplined themselves looked better than all the other people feeding off the kings table. God also gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom that made them ten times better than all the magicians in a foreign land. It takes discipline to pray, to read the Word of God, to evangelize, to carry out priority tasks of each day. Without discipline, success will only be a wish word and not a reality.

KNOW IT ∞ It takes discipline to succeed in life.
READ IT ∞ Daniel 1:8-20
PRAY IT ∞ Father, I receive grace to discipline myself and do the things that will take me to the top.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR ∞ 1 Kings 5-8

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February 17, 2021

DO NOT PATTERN YOUR LIFE AFTER THEM

Date: 18.02.2021

Topic: DO NOT PATTERN YOUR LIFE AFTER THEM PART 1
Biblical Text: ‘ And they left the house of the Lord God of their fathers and served groves and idols: and wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for their trespass ‘. [2 Chronicles 24:18]

Joash was seven years old when he began to reign and did that which was right in the sight of the Lord , all the days of Jehoiada, the priest. When it was time for him to marry, the priest guided him in his choice. Joash did not like how the house of the Lord was looking. He wanted to repair it; he consulted all relevant stakeholders. Finally, they finished repairing the house of the Lord. Joash loved the things of God. But when Jehoiada the priest died, he left the Lord God of his fathers and began to serve idols. The Lord sent prophets to warn Joash and the people, but they refused. When Zechariah, the son of Jehoiada the priest spoke the Word of the Lord to Joash and the people, they rejected it and stoned him to death. By this action, Joash, forgot all the good things that Jehoiada had done for him, part of which included preserving his life at a tender age. Joash was eventually killed by his own servants. Beloved, it is not enough to begin with God, our ending with God is most important. Also, when we love God genuinely, it will be difficult to value sin more than God. To refuse to heed Gods correction leads to destruction.

KNOW IT ∞ Your love for God must pass the test of time.
READ IT ∞ 2 Chronicles 24:1-25
PRAY IT ∞ Father, by your grace, let my love for you remain forever.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR ∞ Joshua 16

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February 16, 2021

GOD-MADE PURPOSE

Date: 17.02.2021

Topic: GOD MADE PURPOSE
Biblical Text: ‘ (for the children being not yet born neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose according to election might stand, not of works but of him that calleth)’. [Romans 9:11]

Kunle grew up in a humble family but he was not exposed to the teachings of Christ. His father and mother were Christians but not practicing Christians. They hardly go to Church. They were moralist but do not encourage their children in the way of the Lord. Due to these mentioned circumstances, Kunle did not believe there is fulfillment in Christ, he rather sought for fulfillment in other areas. He was part of a cult group in his Junior Secondary School. He did not know how to pray to God even in his teenage years; praying to God was strange to him. Despite Kunle’s distant relationship with God, His mercy kept him through his years in secondary school and the University. Then, he had a definite encounter with God. Before the encounter, Kunle was having lots of struggles and pressures in life but when Jesus came into his life, the pressures ceased. God now began to reveal his purpose to him. Therein, Kunle found fulfillment in life. Today, he is fully running with Gods purpose for his life. Purpose simply means a goal to be reached. There is God-made purpose and man-made purpose. While God-made purpose is God conceived, man-made purpose is man conceived. Man-made purpose cannot bring fulfillment, only God’s purpose can! If you do not know God’s purpose for your life, why not go to God and ask Him like Apostle Paul said, ‘What do you want me to do O Lord’. Be patient, He will speak to you.

KNOW IT ∞ God made purpose is God conceived.
READ IT ∞ 2 Timothy 1:9, Ephesians 1:11, 1 John 3:8
PRAY IT ∞ Father, in your mercy, reveal your purpose for my life.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR ∞ Joshua 13-15

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February 14, 2021

UNHOLY EXPRESSION OF LOVE

Date: 14.02.2021

Topic: UNHOLY EXPRESSION OF LOVE
Biblical Text: ‘ Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be condemned’. [Songs of Solomon 8:7]
Amnon loved his sister Tamar; he was always thinking about Tamar. He wanted to be with her. He fell sick because of the love he had for her. But he knew it will be hard for him to get her, it was an unholy feeling; an unholy expression of love. Day by day, he grew more restless, just to sleep with her sister. Finally, he hatched a plan which led to him sleeping with his sister. But something happened immediately after he slept with her; he hated her exceedingly and drove her out of his house. The love he had for her has ended. What you are feeling is it love or lust? As recorded in the Bible text we read, Many waters cannot quench love, neither can flood drown it. Lust is an unholy, strong desire especially a feeling driven by sexual arousal. When you truly love someone (opposite sex), you cannot commit iniquity with the fellow. True love does not rejoice in iniquity. Sex outside marriage is an unholy expression of love. God frowns at it. When someone tells you the only way they can express their love for you is by caressing your body or having sex with you! RUN AWAY from them. They have the same spirit as Amnon. The end will not be pleasant.

KNOW IT ∞ God frowns at every unholy expression of love
READ IT ∞ Songs of Solomon 8:6, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13
PRAY IT ∞ Father, I receive grace to disengage from every unholy relationship today in Jesus Name.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR ∞ Joshua 4-6

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February 10, 2021

ACRES OF DIAMOND

Date: 11.02.2021

Topic: ACRES OF DIAMOND
Biblical Text: ‘ Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many, and in horsemen, because they are very strong, but look not unto the Holy one of Israel.’ [Isaiah 31:1]

Acres of diamond was a true story of a poor farmer who settled in Africa and spent years struggling to raise his crops. His land was rocky and difficult to till. Disenfranchised with his circumstances, the farmer became increasingly fascinated by tales of easy wealth gained by men who searched and discovered diamonds in the countryside. He too, wanted to be rich! He grew tired of the endless labour and impulsively sold his farm to search for diamonds for the rest of his life, he wandered the West African continent searching for diamonds until he became broken spiritually, financially and emotionally. He threw himself into a river and drowned. Meanwhile, the man who had bought his farm discovered that there was diamond on the farm. He was stunned of his new found wealth. It was to become one of the worlds richest diamond mines! The first farmer had unknowingly owned acres of diamonds but was looking for riches somewhere else. Isaac thought there was a greener pasture in Egypt but God prevented him from going. That same year, he sowed and reaped a hundred-fold return; that probably was his own acres of diamond! We must not be quick to run off from our present location in search of greener pastures. Let God lead you, the location you are now might contain your own acres of diamonds.

KNOW IT ∞ Before seeking greener pastures, put it to God to lead you so as not to miss your own acres of diamond.
READ IT ∞ Genesis , 26:1-12, Isaiah 30:2-3
PRAY IT ∞ Father, by your grace, I will not miss my own acres of diamond in Jesus Name.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR ∞ Daniel 10-12
© Pastor Tunde Richards & Pastor Oluwafemi Adebayo

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February 9, 2021

GETTING RESULTS BY ALL MEANS PART 1

Date: 09.02.2021

Topic: GETTING RESULTS BY ALL MEANS PART 1
Biblical Text: ‘ And Jezebel his wife said unto him, Dost thou now govern the kingdom of Israel? Arise, and eat bread, and let thine heart be merry: I will give thee the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.’ [1 Kings 21:7]

King Ahab loved the vineyard beside his palace. It was a garden of herbs. He wanted it and asked the owner Naboth to either sell it to him or allow him to give him a better vineyard elsewhere. Naboth refused to accept any of the conditions insisting it was not right for him to sell the inheritance of his fathers. King Ahab was displeased and unhappy. He refused to eat when he got home. He told his wife, Jezebel the cause of his unhappiness. She promised to get the vineyard for him. Jezebel went ahead to frame Naboth for an offence he did not commit- Blasphemy against God and the king, an offense punishable by death. Naboth was subsequently sentenced to death by stoning. Jezebel on hearing about the death of Naboth told King Ahab to go and take possession of the vineyard. He got what he wanted by all means. God was displeased with the wickedness perpetrated by Ahab and family. He sent prophet Elijah to tell them that they will all die a shameful death without a befitting burial. When we do not mind committing sin to get results by all means, it will attract punishment from God. When you pass your examinations through crooked means, expect a reward from God for it in form of punishment. To turn to a ritualist because you want to have money to help people will only attract Gods severe punishment. Desist from getting result by all means, it always attracts God’s anger and punishment.

KNOW IT ∞ Getting results by all means will only attract God’s divine wrath and punishment.
READ IT ∞ 1 Kings 21:7-15, Jeremiah 17:11
PRAY IT ∞ Father, give me the grace to be conscious of getting result only in a godly way.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR ∞ Daniel 4-6

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February 9, 2021

GETTING RESULTS BY ALL MEANS PART 2

Date: 10.02.2021

Topic: GETTING RESULTS BY ALL MEANS PART 2
Biblical Text: “ And he wrote in the letter saying, set ye Uriah in the fore front of the hottest battle and retire ye from him that he may be smitten and die.’ [2 Samuel 11:15]

On a certain day, King David was at the roof of his house, he saw a woman washing herself and he admired the woman. He called his servants and enquired who the woman was. He was told she is Bath-sheba, the wife of Uriah the Hittite, one of his faithful servants. It could have been expected that upon hearing that the woman was a married woman, and that she was married to one of his loyal soldiers, could have made him desist from lusting after her. But instead he used his power as a king to lay with Bath-sheba. Bath-sheba became pregnant. Since he was determined to get results by all means and prevent the truth from being revealed, he hatched a sinister plot and got Uriah killed. Then, he was relieved that no one would know of the wickedness against Uriah. He went ahead and took Bath-sheba as wife. It is important to note that, how you got results you are currently celebrating is not hidden to God. He knows everything, He is called the OMNIPRESENT. Like the case of King David, God knew and punished him severely for the wickedness he committed. The Lord told him, Sword will not depart from your house. God also told him that they will lie with his wives in the sight of the sun (openly). All happened in his lifetime. Do not rob people in order to pay tithes, God will not honour it. When you get results through ungodly means, you will lose your honour before God and attract a punishment for what you did. Beloveth, beware!
KNOW IT ∞ When you get results through ungodly means, you will lose your honour before God.
READ IT ∞ 2 Samuel 11:2-17, 12:1-6
PRAY IT ∞ Father, give me the grace not to get result through ungodly means so as not to lose my honour.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR ∞ Daniel 7-9

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February 8, 2021

OTHER OPTIONS

Date: 08.02.2021

Topic: OTHER OPTIONS
Biblical Text: “ And when Saul enquired of the Lord, the Lord answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets. Then said Saul unto his servants, seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her and enquire of her. And his servants said to him, behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor .’ [1 Samuel 28:6-7]

I heard about the pathetic true-life story of a lady who waited on the Lord for seven years for the fruit of the womb; after seven years, she grew tired of waiting on the Lord and sought other options. Shortly after, she got pregnant. She called the overseer of the Church she was attending before to tell him that she is pregnant. She did it sarcastically to mock the man of God. Fast forward, she gave birth to a baby boy. When the boy was about five years, he woke up the mother one night and demanded for sex. The mother was shocked! The boy told the mother, You know where you got me from, this should not surprise you. There are dangers of considering other options aside God. The Philistines gathered their armies to battle with the Israelites. Saul who had formerly driven out all that had familiar spirits and wizards from the land now went to consult a familiar spirit (other option) when the Lord did not answer him concerning the battle before him. Saul and his sons were killed in that war. Like Saul, some people consider other options because they are living in sin and they know God has turned His back on them. Others consider other options because they felt God is too slow in granting them what they asked for. Taking other options aside God will ultimately bring disappointment and loss. Let God be your first and last option. If sin lieth at your door, repent and let God be your only option. You will not be disappointed or suffer loss in Jesus Name.

KNOW IT ∞ Let God be your only option.
READ IT ∞ Jeremiah 44:16-19, 1 Samuel 28:1-9, Ecclesiastes 7:8
PRAY IT ∞ Father, give me the grace never to consider any other option apart from You.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR ∞ Daniel 1-3

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