“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.” (Matthew 5:14)

A city is a place where people do transactions. People gather in a city to find refuge, rest, supplies, make homes, do business, etc. City welcomes visitors. It is meant to be seen, to be visible. Jesus in the same passage in Matthew 5, went on to say that it makes no sense to light a lamp and put it under a basket. Likewise, it makes absolutely no sense for a city to be hidden from people, hidden from sight.

We who are created in the image of the Living God, have unique purpose in this world. We are born into this world with unique identities and God given destiny. Sin, however, has messed up our purpose in life. It distorts our identities and conceals our destiny. The devil taking opportunity of sins, hides our identities from the world, and deprives us from living out our giftings, calling and destiny.

Jesus is the Light of the world. He comes to shine into Darkness, exposing all that has been hidden by it. He exposes the works of the devil and destroys them. He exposes the lies and deception of the enemy and set us free with His Truth. He reveals what has been deliberately hidden. When we receive Jesus into our lives, we can expect Him to do the same in our lives. Expect Him to bring conviction of sins to our hearts, so that sins can be addressed and dealt with by His Cross, so that we can receive the freedom of forgiveness. Expect Him to expose the enemy’s lies and deception so that we will no longer live in bondages and fear. Most of all, we will no longer be hidden – our identities, destiny, potential, giftings, calling and talents, will be visible. We will be like “a city of a hill”, a blessing to the world around us. When live out our identities and walk in our destiny, we will be blessings to others, including our families and descendants.

The enemy wants to keep you hidden, “invisible”. Jesus wants to shine His Light into your life, display God’s wondrous works in you, parade your beautiful identity and giftings before the world, so that you are hidden no more! That’s God’s will for your life!

Prayer Focus

He who hates, disguises it with his lips, and lays up deceit within himself; when he speaks kindly, do not believe him, for there are seven abominations in his heart; though his hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness will be revealed before the assembly. (Proverbs 26:24-26)

Sometimes we read or watch in the news certain hate crimes committed against certain group of people. We are appalled by these displays of hatred, often find them beyond comprehension.

Hate crimes or the display of hatred did not happen overnight. Hatred found its way into man’s hearts by way of offences, hurts, injustice, oppression, betrayal, rejection and loss. Responses to all these, and more, that belittle our self-worth, identity, deprive us of what is rightfully ours, rob us of dignity and destroy our dreams and hope, could have easily come from the flesh. Anger, revenge and aggression harboured in the hearts, makes fertile soil for hatred to take root and grow. The Proverbs writer rightly warned us that hatred opens the door to errors, entertains lies from the enemy, aim at destruction, not just the one who hates, but all those around him. The heart becomes deceitful once hatred is allowed to dwell. Hatred infiltrates into the soul of the hater, and modifies rationale, emotional responses, decision making. Fed by the carnal nature of the flesh, it brews wickedness and schemes evil. Hatred leads to evil.

When evil muddles the heart, it is filled with abominations. The way to overcome evil is with good (Romans 12:21) “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” That decision to choose good must come right at the onset of responding to offences, hurts, injustice, oppression, betrayal, rejection and loss. Nib it at the bud, as we say. Then, hatred would have no conducive seedbed to grow.

What if we failed to overcome evil intent and captured by hatred? The antidote is love, God’s love. Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.(Romans 12:9). This genuine love is from God, who Himself is love (1 John 4:8). God’s love can be experienced and received only when the Holy Spirit pours it into our hearts. “because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” (Romans 5:5b).

Love heals. Love overcomes hate. Love frees us from the tyranny of hate. Love leads us to trust in the Loving God who will avenge the wrongs we suffer.

Prayer Focus

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. (1 John 4:18)

Fear is a destiny robber. It obstructs us from entering into God’s best for us. The opposite of fear is love, God’s perfect love.

And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon's Porch. Yet none of the rest dared join them, but the people esteemed them highly. And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women (Acts 5:12-14). Some of those present to witness the miraculous works of God through the hands of the apostles were too fearful to join them, thus missing out God’s salvation and destiny for their lives, But there were those who has overcome the fear of the unknown and unexplained, multitudes of them, took hold of Jesus and entered into their destiny.

The person who refuses fear makes room in the heart for freedom, a brighter tomorrow filled with dreams and hope. The Lord’s people who live this way are distinctive—casting out any semblance of fear and living life right down the middle, right now! “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.”

The terrorist is different. Terror is fear-based. All terrorism develops in a sick heart. Terror demands a mind-soul connection that has been tampered with, resulting in human-contrived brutality, a spiritual force based in perverted body chemistry, mental imbalance, and an enlarged capacity for hate. The terrorist is myopic with a value system of lawlessness. All terrorism operates in hiding, positioned to attack suddenly. Terror’s fear-base is its platform to spread intimidating fear that paralyzes freedom. Terror is a Satan-inspired spirit.

God is opposite to fear—God is love. He calls us to demonstrate terror’s opposite, the presence of Almighty God, His Son, and His Spirit! His love delivers us and those we minister to from fear’s cycle of torment. We are called to strengthen as many as possible with peace (shalom) and to do as much as we can, as often as we can, to shine His light on fear’s darkness.

(Extracted from Shirley Weaver’s Devotional “The Terrorist, Bully and Abuser”)

Today, refuse to be intimidated by the unknown and resist the spiritual terrorist. Say no to fear. Open your heart to receive God’s perfect love poured out by the Holy Spirit. Expect the end result: enter into your destiny!

Prayer Focus

Now the mixed multitude who were among them yielded to intense craving; so the children of Israel also wept again and said: “Who will give us meat to eat? We remember the fish which we ate freely in Egypt, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic; but now our whole being is dried up; there is nothing at all except this manna before our eyes!” (Numbers 11:4-6)

The people of Israel were just delivered miraculously by God from Egypt. How short were their memories, we might say. While still enjoying that miracle manna in their mouths, they complained about what they missed in Egypt: the fish, cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic, which they described as “they freely ate”. They said they could enjoy all these without paying a price! How they forgot it was their cry that their God responded to: And the Lord said: “I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows. (Exodus 3:7)

Let me put it in another way: the newly freed slaves are longing to return to their former slave masters because they considered that as freedom. At times, we find human beings behave in such similar manner even today. When they have been given freedom, liberty or independence, and when they encounter challenges or resistance in the “free world”, they instinctively long to return to the state of slavery because it was familiar. They can get out of slavery, but they need also to get the slavery out of them. We can be set free from slavery, but we must be aware that we need also to get the slave mentality out of us.

God delivers us from the slavery of the sin and the controlling power of Darkness. He rids us of an identity of a slave, and accords us the identity of a son. He frees us from the destiny of a slave, and brings us into the destiny and inheritance of a son, His son. Just by merely calling ourselves children of God doesn’t make us sons of God, but it is by allowing the Holy Spirit to fill us and dwell in us that we receive the confirmation as the sons of God. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God (Romans 8:14-16).

Are there still times that you feel that you do not deserve God’s love and His blessings? Do you feel at times you are more like a slave in the Father’s House rather than a son, just like the elder brother in the Parable of the Lost Son? Open your heart to the Holy Spirit today. Invite Him to witness your sonship of God into your heart. Ask Him to purge the slave mentality out of you!

Prayer Focus

Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. (John 6:53-56)

When someone exhibits character flaws in him, sometimes we say, “There is bad blood in him!”. It means, the person has inherited certain undesirable character traits from his forebears.

In Leviticus 17:11 and 14 we learn, “For the life of the flesh is in the blood…for it is the life of all flesh. Its blood sustains its life.” If life is in the blood, it also carries characteristics of that life. It has memory of our forebear’s life in spirit, soul and body. It carries along the DNA of the physical body (looks, physical build, both good and bad physical conditions), soul (emotional responses, inclination in the will, mindset) and spirit (both godly and ungodly). Generational iniquities leave a mark in the bloodline, thus affecting us and our descendants.

When Jesus said, “Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life”, He was certainly referring more than just the physical Holy Communion. He knew the condition mankind is in. How we are all deeply affected by what has gone on in our bloodline. Therefore He brought a solution that goes deep into the root of man’s problem, the effect of sins and iniquities that lay deep in our being. The salvation that Jesus offers to us is a total solution to the problem of sin. He offers us His life, for His life is in His blood. The Blood of Jesus is powerful. It is capable to overcome the works of sin and darkness in our bloodline, thus giving us true freedom.

When you partake of the Holy Communion, remember how powerful the Body and the Blood of Jesus is. As you receive the bread and wine, give thanks to Jesus that He is doing a deep work in your life, in your bloodline. Allow Him to expose the hidden traits and works of the enemy in your bloodline, and ask Jesus to set you free!

Prayer Focus

But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.” (Acts 5:3-4)

Once I confronted a compulsive liar. Not to condemn him, nor to judge him, but to lovingly assure him that it was wholly unnecessary to lie about the thing he tried to conceal. But to no avail. Soon I found him lying about some inconsequential things on other occasions.

The devil has been described as “the deceiver of the whole world” (Revelation 12:9). The modus operandi of the devil is to establish structures in the belief system of a person, family and human society, wherefrom he works out his scheme of enslaving and separating man from God and everything godly.

For Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11):

The underlying cause and source of their deception were identified—Satan had filled their heart to lie to The Holy Spirit. The story’s lesson applies to any deceptive act. Deception in anything, even small things, is partnership with spiritual forces of deception. It’s the way Satan, who is the author of all deception, enters the human heart, then settles in to establish a pattern.

Ultimately, when resistance is completely breached, when the heart has been opened to deception, Satan subtly builds a darkened hiding place where capacity to deceive others develops and a spiritual gateway for further deception is created. The opening is a spiritual door, but not spiritual in a good sense.

To partner with deception is never a good business idea—not savvy or clever in any sense! All forms and levels of deception work against the will of God and never carry His blessing. Furthermore, once deception’s door opens, more deception follows—more deceiving others, and more being deceived by Satan to continue the destructive process.

For those willing—those who personally choose—to live honestly while also championing deliverance for anyone snared by deceit, God’s Word instructs us—“Every Scripture has been written by the Holy Spirit, the breath of God. It will empower you by its instruction and correction, giving you the strength to take the right direction and lead you deeper into the path of godliness” (2 Timothy 3:16, The Passion Translation).

(Extract from Shirley Weaver’s Devotional “Deceptive anything”)

The Holy Spirit will not only deliver us from the deceptive scheme of the devil, He is able to dismantle the deception structure in us!

Prayer Focus

"And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, 'These things says He who is holy, He who is true, "He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens" (Revelation 3:7)

“and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel” (Ephesians 6:19)

A core principle of governance is that everything begins somewhere—everything has a door, an entrance. Practically speaking, anything we fence or hem-in also has a gate. Rooms have doors and nations, entry points. Parents know the principle. Speaking to a child who will not, or is unable to hear is unfruitful, the same as speaking to a closed door. The principle is also spiritual. The Apostle Paul asked believers to pray that he would have “an entrance and an utterance,” because he knew his message would fail if he didn’t attract the ear of those he was sent to reach.

Spiritual discipline includes patience to wait for doors to open with a word of God’s wisdom for what to do or not do as we wait. But when it comes to the enemy’s wiles, we do not wait or neglect an opening; when it comes to the enemy, we resist interference or delay, determined to possess every gate! We are “the seed of Abraham.” We are innumerable descendants destined to “possess the gates of their enemies.” Abraham’s relatives, sending Rebekah to become Isaac’s wife, blessed her, declaring these exact words: “And may your descendants possess the gates of those who hate them.”

In daily life, matters that threaten also have wrong spirits, and each wrong spirit must have a point of entry to affect you. Instead of yielding to that opening—that gate—possess it! Your covenant with God includes authority over every gate. You have governing authority to open and close them!

Take authority! Remove the thing that does not belong in your life.

Now… close the door!

(Adopted from Shirley Weaver’s Daily Devotional)

Prayer Focus

Then David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone; and he slung it and struck the Philistine in his forehead, so that the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the earth. So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him. But there was no sword in the hand of David. Therefore David ran and stood over the Philistine, took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him, and cut off his head with it. (1 Samuel 17:49-51)

We are in season to break the stronghold the enemy has in our bloodline. Generational covenants established by our forebears with the demonic are real and they affect us adversely. Some of us have been engaging in spiritual warfare against these stronghold and generational iniquitous patterns for a while.

We are greatly thankful to the Lord for the Covenant we have with Him through Jesus. By the Cross of Jesus, and His shed Blood, our sins, transgressions and iniquities can be forgiven. Generational curses, bondages can be broken. We need to appropriate the Victory of the Cross specifically against the enemy’s stronghold in our generational bloodline. Otherwise we may be obstructed from entering into our Covenantal blessings and inheritance.

We should do as David did! Every challenge to our covenant with God should be answered decisively, and we should continue decisively against every threat and its source until the challenger is marked for destruction, everything in the enemy camp is plundered and the source of trouble evicted.

Resist the enemy and continue to resist. Don’t stop and don’t let up. Battles connect to the next battle, and an enemy allowed uncontested retreat will return more forcefully. And don't be tricked into fighting the same battle over and over but stop those threats as they arise, with fearless zeal and Godly conviction.

Like David, you will recover all. (Adopted from Shirley Weaver’s Devotional “As David did”)

Some enemies against your destiny, against the destiny of your family and our land need to be pursued! Don’t let them continue to steal from you and rob you of your Covenantal blessings! Keep up the battles in prayers and do what the Lord is revealing to you.

Persevering Prayer Focus

Then he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts. Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain. And he shall bring forward the top stone amid shouts of ‘Grace, grace to it!’” (Zechariah 4:6-7)

The Book of Joel described the state of God’s people, Israel, as one that was in total despair. “the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the crawling locust, the consuming locust, and the chewing locust” (Joel 2:25). Whatever the locusts have eaten, we can be sure they won’t be giving them back soon! Such was the devastation brought about by sins – ignoring God, His truth and His words, refusing to worship Him and take Him seriously (let alone revere Him). Sin affects everyone connected to it, everyone or everything it touches, including the surrounding environment and subsequent generations. It results in impossible situations for man to eradicate.

Yet, God through the Prophet Joel, promised forgiveness and healing. If the people would repent and return to God’s way, He will refresh and restore (Joel 2:25). Much more than that, He will renew and revive (bring back to life – God’s abundant, victorious and overcoming life) His people by pouring out His Holy Spirit upon them. This outpouring of the Holy Spirit finally occurred at Pentecost. And this gift of the Holy Spirit is for you and for me!

Is there a seemingly “impossible” situation in your life? I mean, really, really an impossible one? It is standing in the way to God’s destiny for your life, your family, your children’s lives, your finances, your city, nation, etc. You know very well unless and until this mountain of the impossible is removed or overcome, you are quite stuck. The word of the Lord to Zerubbabel, perhaps speaks to your situation today: Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain. And this is accomplished not by the might nor power of man, the world system or wisdom, but by the power of the Holy Spirit.

On Pentecost, the Holy Spirit is poured out in power. It is precisely because God’s people have insufficient resources to overcome the many challenges that stand in their way, that the power of the Holy Spirit is needed. Do you need this power? Ask for it, and expect to receive!

Prayer Focus

Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, "Because I bore him in pain." And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, "Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!" So God granted him what he requested. (1 Chronicles 4:9-10)

The prayer of Jabez is a story often told. It has given much encouragement and hope to many who are struggling to overcome life’s difficult circumstance. His mother named him based on a personal experience while bearing him. It could be a difficult child birth, or a sad pregnancy. Whatever it was, he was named according to his past. His life, and therefore his future was defined as it were, by his past.

That doesn’t seem quite fair, does it? Indeed, and therefore Jabez was not contented. He knew he was created for more. He did not want his entire life to be defined by a past which he had no control over, a past which he could not change. We also know that he was an honourable man, a trustworthy man. Even in looking for more in life, he did not trade in his honourable character. He did not compromise. That has gained him favour with the Lord. He asked for blessings from God, enlarge his territory, his capacity for more, and he asked for God’s presence to be with him, and protect him for evil, and that he will not cause pain to others. He wanted a God-given destiny, not the one defined by his name!

You may be in a state of life where you know that you were made for more. There is much more that is in store for you, that God has given you promises that you are yet to see fulfilled. Hold on to those promises. Don’t trade in your honourable character. Don’t compromise on God’s Kingdom values. Ask from the Lord His destiny for you. Contend for your destiny in prayers. Refuse to give in to the mold the world is trying fit you in. For He will show His favour on you, and “grant what your request.”

In this coming year, ask a dream from God concerning your destiny. Dare to dream His dream!

Prayer Focus