You may have longed for the Lord to elevate you, but it feels like nothing is going according to your plans. Well, here’s a little encouragement: regardless of what you’ve been through, God will lift you at the right time, just like He did for Daniel! Picture this: Daniel was promoted to a position he never even dreamed of. While the king may have been the one to give him the title, it was the LORD who orchestrated the entire fulfillment of that dream and promotion.

Just think, if God hadn’t revealed the meaning of King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream to Daniel, would he have ever been elevated? He was lifted because God granted him the ability to interpret a dream that all the wise men of Babylon couldn’t make sense of! Daniel 2:48
[48]Then the king made Daniel great and gave him many great gifts, and he made him to rule over the whole province of Babylon and to be chief governor over all the wise men of Babylon.

Now, let’s reflect on this teaching with some thought-provoking questions:

a) What position was Daniel given that surprised everyone?

b) If God hadn’t revealed the meaning of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream to Daniel, would he have been lifted?

c) What insights can we draw from this situation?

d) How does this teaching apply to our everyday lives?

Confession Prayer

Dear Lord Jesus, I declare and confess with faith that you are lifting me up in Jesus’ name. Amen!

What many people don’t really grasp is that you can’t just demand the LORD to speak to you. God is sovereign and supernatural, operating according to the divine sovereignty of His will.

Take the story of Saul, for instance. He sought guidance from The Lord on a pressing matter, but when God chose not to respond, 1 Samuel 28:6
[6]When Saul inquired of the Lord, He refused to answer him, either by dreams or by Urim [a symbol worn by the priest when seeking the will of God for Israel] or by the prophets. [Prov. 1:24-30.]

So Saul decided to consult a spiritist or medium in a place called Endor. And wouldn’t you know it? The witch was more than happy to assist him with her divination skills! Sometimes, folks think that whatever they ask of The LORD, He must respond immediately or appropriately. But let me tell you—it’s not a guarantee that He’ll answer every inquiry you throw His way!

Reflective Questions About the Teaching:

a) Can you really force The Lord to answer you?

b) What did Saul do when The LORD was unresponsive?

c) What significant lessons can you glean from this note?

d) According to our notes, who operates according to His sovereign will?

Confession Prayer:

Dear Lord, I am grateful for Your will and the wisdom of Your word being planted in my spirit. In Jesus’ name, Amen!

One of the things I’ve come to realize in my journey of spiritual enlightenment is that God loves to drop hints about what He wants us to do and where He wants us to go. It’s like He’s the ultimate spiritual GPS, guiding us along the way!

Take Jonathan, for instance. He decided to take a little trip to the Philistines with his armor-bearer, but here’s the kicker—he didn’t even bother to inform his father! Now, you’d think he’d want some military backup or at least a heads-up, right? But nope, it was just him and his trusty sidekick, off to face the Philistines with not much more than faith and a prayer.

Jonathan had a solid belief that God would deliver the Philistines into his hands, proving that the Lord is not one to be underestimated. After all, He can win a battle with an army or just a couple of brave souls! So, the next time you feel led somewhere unusual, remember Jonathan’s boldness and trust in the signs God has showed you. Who knows what victories await you on the other side! 1 Samuel 14:6
[6]And Jonathan said to his young armor-bearer, Come, and let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised; it may be that the Lord will work for us. For there is nothing to prevent the Lord from saving by many or by few.

Have you ever felt completely lost about what to do next?

Many of us find ourselves in a state of frustration simply because we haven’t sought God’s guidance regarding our calling. Take David, for example. When Saul died, he was in a place called Ziklag. Instead of just wandering around aimlessly, David decided to ask the LORD where he should go next. And guess what? God told him to head to the town of Hebron. 2 Samuel 2:1 [1]AFTER THIS, David inquired of the Lord, saying, Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah? And the Lord said to him, Go up. David said, To which shall I go up? And He said, To Hebron.

Reflective Questions about the Teaching:

a) Which town of Judah did the LORD instruct David to go to after leaving Ziklag?

b) Is it a good thing to ask the LORD what to do?

c) Why is it a good thing to consult the LORD about our next steps?

d) Share a personal realization that relates to seeking God’s direction.

Confession Prayer:

Dear Lord Jesus, I pray that I will seek Your direction regarding my spiritual journey and life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

You know, you can’t truly be consistent in pursuing God’s purpose unless you’re willing to be even more persistent about your vision, just like David was.

Many folks struggle with maintaining consistency in their visions, leading them to miss out on what God intended for them at the right time.

When you dive into the Word of God with an understanding of its inclusive context, you’ll see that David faced numerous challenges that tested him deeply. Yet, despite the hurdles, he remained focused on his vision. It’s crucial to uplift others when life throws them curveballs. Take David, for instance: when he fled from Saul, who was determined to end his life, he sought refuge in Philistine territory. And who came to his aid? None other than King Achish of Gath! This king not only welcomed David but also gifted him the city of Ziklag, providing a safe haven for David and his family, despite David’s past encounters with the Philistines.1 Samuel 27:6-7
[6]Then Achish gave David the town of Ziklag that day. Therefore Ziklag belongs to the kings of Judah to this day.
[7]The time David dwelt in the Philistines’ country was a year and four months.

Reflective Questions about the Teaching:

a) What is the royal city of the Philistines mentioned in this context?

b) In what ways did King David find favor with King Achish of Gath?

c) Which town was David given when he arrived in Philistine territory, fleeing from Saul’s pursuit?

Confession Prayer

Dear Lord Jesus, I pray that no matter what happens, I will stay committed and persistent to the vision You have for me.

Life can be tough, and it’s easy to fall into the trap of complaining when we face difficult circumstances. However, we must be cautious about voicing our frustrations. Take the Israelites, for example.

They grumbled about their hardships during tough times, and their complaints reached the ears of the Lord. As a result, the Lord unleashed His anger, sending fire that burned some of them at the edges of the camp (Numbers 11:1). The verse says, “AND THE people grumbled and deplored their hardships, which was evil in the ears of the Lord, and when the Lord heard it, His anger was kindled; and the fire of the Lord burned among them and devoured those in the outlying parts of the camp.”

So, let’s keep our minds sharp and remember not to complain, no matter what we face. After all, a little gratitude can go a long way!

Reflective Questions About the Teaching

a) What were the specific complaints of the Israelites?

b) How did the Lord respond to the Israelites’ complaints?

c) How can we understand this situation in its context?

Confession Prayer

Dear Lord Jesus, I pray for your guidance to help me resist the urge to complain about my circumstances, no matter how challenging they may be. In Jesus’ name, Amen!

One thing I’ve come to realize is that even when some folks claim they don’t have time to pray, the importance of prayer doesn’t waver.

We should be praying for others, no matter their attitudes towards us. It doesn’t matter if they know us, if they show us kindness, or even if we gain nothing from them. You don’t need to have a personal connection with someone to lift them up in prayer.

In his letter to his spiritual son Timothy, Paul emphasized the significance of offering supplications, intercessions, and prayers for everyone. That means we should pray for all people, regardless of who they are, what they do, or where they come from. As stated in 1 Timothy 2:1, “First of all, then, I admonish and urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be offered on behalf of all men.”

Remember, prayer is powerful and can make a difference in the lives of those around us

Reflective Questions About the Teaching

a) What should we do on behalf of others?

b) What key realizations have emerged related to this teaching?

c) What insights have you gained from this perspective?

Confession Prayer

Dear Lord Jesus, I am grateful for this divine insight that you’ve granted me regarding praying for all men. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

God has made a covenant with many of you, but here lies the challenge: some of you have broken the covenant that the Lord made with you. Now, let me ask you, how can you expect the Lord to be pleased with you after breaking such an important promise?

Do you really think everything will be just fine after disregarding the covenant? My dear brother or sister, it simply can’t be well with you.

When we dive into the Word of God, we see that the Lord established a covenant with our ancestors. One significant promise was that Hebrew slaves would work for only six years, and at the end of that period, they would be set free. However, there was a troubling incident where some people freed their Hebrew slaves only to bring them back into slavery. As a result of this violation of the covenant, the Lord declared that they would become a horror to the nations. Yikes! Jeremiah 34:11
[11]But afterward they turned around and caused the servants and the handmaids whom they had let go free to return [to their former masters] and brought them into subjection for servants and for handmaids.

Reflective Questions about the Teaching

a) What covenant did the Lord make with the ancestors of the Israelites?

b) Did some of the Israelites break this covenant?

c) What actions led them to break the covenant the Lord had made with them?

d) What did the Lord say He would do to them in relation to the nations?

e) What spiritual realizations can we draw from this in our current context?

Confession Prayer

Dear Lord Jesus, grant me the strength to uphold the terms of the covenant You have made with me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

You know, fulfilling the purpose that the LORD has set for you truly hinges on receiving clear instructions from Him. It’s a bit of a head-scratcher, though—how many of us, after receiving those divine instructions, still decide to take a detour? It’s like getting GPS directions and then insisting on using a map from the 90s!

As we deepen our relationship with the LORD, it’s essential to recognize that He can provide us with instructions meant for both the present and the future. Just look at Joshua! As he prepared to lead the Israelites across the Jordan, God gave him some pretty specific instructions to follow right then and there. He was told to gather leaders from each of the twelve tribes of Israel and have them collect stones from the middle of the Jordan River. These stones were to be piled at their campsite that evening— (Joshua 4:1-4)1. WHEN ALL the nation had fully passed over the Jordan, the Lord said to Joshua,2. “Take twelve men from among the people, one man from every tribe,3. And command them, ‘Take twelve stones out of the midst of the Jordan from the place where the priests’ feet stood firm; carry them over with you and leave them at the place where you lodge tonight.'”4. Then Joshua called the twelve men of the Israelites whom he had appointed, a man from each tribe.

Now, let’s take a moment for some reflection:

a) Are you aware of the instructions that the Lord has given you?

b) Have you received any instructions from the Lord that you should focus on now or in the future?

c) What specific instructions did the LORD give to Joshua to act upon immediately as he prepared to cross the Jordan River?

d) How purposeful are God’s instructions in our everyday lives?

Confession Prayer

Dear Lord Jesus, I’m grateful for the instructions You’ve given me. I pray that I will diligently follow each one in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Now, I’ve never seen a Muslim texting or WhatsApping when they step into a mosque—maybe I’m wrong, but they certainly honor their place of worship. So, what’s going on in the house of the Lord?

Sometimes, you might not even realize it’s the house of the Lord with all the distractions! The devil has truly succeeded in diverting people’s attention from their spiritual focus whenever they enter the house of the Lord.

You see someone texting during the sermon, or scrolling through WhatsApp amidst the worship program. Back in the days of Ezra, things were quite different. People genuinely honored the public reading of Scripture. When God’s servant Ezra read the book of the law of Moses, the people stood up in respect for the Word of God he was sharing. Nehemiah 8:5 reminds us: “Ezra opened the book in sight of all the people, for he was standing above them; and when he opened it, all the people stood up.” Now, that’s what I call respect!

Reflective Questions About the Teaching:

a) Do you honor the public reading of Scripture?

b) In what ways do you show your respect during the reading?

c) What happened when Ezra began reading the book of the law of Moses?

d) How has the devil managed to distract people spiritually, especially when they come to the house of the Lord?

e) What is your purpose for taking notes during our teaching?

f) Share some lessons you’ve learned in reference to this topic.

Confession Prayer:

Dear Lord Jesus, help me not to be spiritually distracted whenever I come into the house of the Lord. Let’s keep our phones in our pockets and our hearts open!