Contributor: Tobi Morakinyo

INTRODUCTION
In recent weeks, we've been studying Divine Righteousness, starting with how it's connected to God's faithfulness and how important our motives are to Him. We've also looked at the consequences of our motives in relation to His righteousness. Today, we'll go further by exploring how God's righteous nature ensures that blessings are reserved for the righteous, specifically, through the hard work of unbelievers. We will also study how believers can position themselves to receive these special blessings.

CHARACTERISTICS OF BLESSINGS FROM GOD.
It remains hard to figure out where material blessings come from just by using human wisdom. We need the spirit of discernment to tell whether certain ‘blessings’ are from God or from the Devil. The truth is, Satan can give "blessings" too, but they are just traps to lead people to their own destruction. It's important to know what God’s blessings both material and spiritual (Ephesians 1:3-6) look like, so we don’t fall for the Devil’s tricks.

As believers, we shouldn’t be influenced by the so-called blessings of the wicked. “Don’t follow after the wicked ones or be jealous of their wealth. Don’t think for a moment they’re better off than you. They and their short-lived success will soon shrivel up and quickly fade away like grass clippings in the hot sun. Keep trusting in the Lord and do what is right in his eyes. Fix your heart on the promises of God, and you will dwell in the land, feasting on his faithfulness” Psalm 37:1-3 (TPT). Below are some characteristic difference between a Blessing from God and “blessing” from Satan:

The Source and Nature of Blessings: God’s blessings come from His holy, righteous, and loving nature. According to James 1:17, every good and perfect gift comes from God, who is pure and just. God’s blessing maketh rich without any added sorrow (Proverbs 10:22). On the other hand, Satan’s "blessings" are deceptive and harmful because they come from his nature as the father of lies (John 8:44). While they might look appealing at first, they are ultimately destructive, as Satan often pretends to be an angel of light to deceive people (2 Corinthians 11:14-15).

Accompanying Emotions and Impact: God's blessings bring peace, joy, and contentment (Philippians 4:7, Romans 15:13) and are often tied to our obedience and faith (Deuteronomy 28:1-2). They also promote love, unity, and justice (Genesis 12:2-3). In contrast, Satan's "blessings" bring anxiety, fear, and regret (Proverbs 14:12, James 1:15) and often require compromise or sin (Matthew 4:8-10). These false blessings lead to selfishness, division, and harm (1 Timothy 6:9-10).

Purpose and Final Outcome: God's blessings, whether material or spiritual, are meant to bring us closer to Him and help fulfill His divine purposes in our lives, leading to spiritual growth and ultimately eternal life. In contrast, Satan's "blessings" are designed to pull us away from God and lead us into sin and destruction. While they may provide temporary satisfaction, they ultimately lead to spiritual emptiness, ruin (John 10:10), and separation from God.

BLESSED THROUGH UNBELIEVER’S WORKS
As a good and loving Father, God has various ways of blessing His children. He blesses the work of our hands (Deuteronomy 28:11), provides for our needs (Philippians 4:19), grants peace and wisdom (Philippians 4:7, James 1:5), offers protection and healing (Psalm 121:7, Psalm 103:3), multiplies our resources (Luke 6:38), and grants favor (Psalm 5:12). He also gives spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12:4) and rebukes the devourer on our behalf (Malachi 3:11). One often overlooked way God blesses us is by using the work of unbelievers to benefit the righteous. In His sovereignty, God can use all things, including the actions of those who don't follow Him, to bless His people and fulfill His purposes. Lets examine some biblical references to establish this:

Genesis 47:1-12: Pharaoh, an unbelieving ruler, gave Joseph’s family the best land in Egypt, demonstrating how God used the resources of an unbeliever to bless His people.

Proverbs 13:22: "A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just." — This proverb reveals the principle that the wealth and resources of sinners (unbelievers) can be transferred to benefit the righteous.

Exodus 12:35-36: God instructed the Israelites to ask the Egyptians for silver, gold, and clothing, which they received abundantly, as a form of restitution for their years of slavery. "And the children of Israel did according to the word of Moses; and they borrowed of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment: And the Lord gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent unto them such things as they required. And they spoiled the Egyptians."

2 Chronicles 20:25: After God granted Jehoshaphat and his army victory over three nations, they spent three days collecting the wealth and resources left behind by their defeated enemies. "And when Jehoshaphat and his people came to take away the spoil of them, they found among them in abundance both riches with the dead bodies, and precious jewels, which they stripped off for themselves, more than they could carry away: and they were three days in gathering of the spoil, it was so much."

John 4:38: Jesus explained that His disciples would reap what they had not labored for, benefiting from the work done by others. "I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labor: other men labored, and ye are entered into their labors."

Isaiah 61:6: Isaiah prophesies that the nations (Gentiles) will serve Israel, bringing their wealth and resources to God's people. "But ye shall be named the Priests of the Lord: men shall call you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves."

Isaiah 45:3: God promises to give hidden treasures and riches stored in secret places to His chosen ones, showing that God can bring wealth and resources from unexpected sources, including those controlled by unbelievers, to bless the righteous. "And I will give thee the
treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the Lord, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel."

Proverbs 10:3: The righteous will not suffer hunger, even if it means God providing through the works and resources of unbelievers. "The Lord will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish: but he casteth away the substance of the wicked."

Isaiah 49:23: Isaiah foretells a time when kings and queens will serve God's people, bringing their resources and influence to benefit the righteous. "And kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing mothers: they shall bow down to thee with their face toward the earth, and lick up the dust of thy feet; and thou shalt know that I am the Lord: for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me."

Psalm 2:8: God promises to use the resources and works of the nations (including unbelievers) to bless and expand His kingdom. "Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession."

POSITIONED TO ACQUIRE THE WEALTH OF THE UNGODLY?
To be positioned to acquire the wealth of the ungodly, carnal approaches like jealousy and covetousness are not the way. This kind of blessing is entirely at God's discretion and not based on our efforts alone. However, through the Bible, we can identify characteristics that positions us to receive these divine transfers and apply them to our own lives:

• Seek God’s Kingdom First: Prioritize God's kingdom and righteousness above all else, and all these things will be added to you. (Matthew 6:33). It will also include a commit to a relationship with God that includes a focus on advancing His kingdom

• Ask and Pray for Wealth Transfer: Pray specifically for God's provision and the transfer of wealth as part of His divine plan. (Psalm 2:8)

• Live Righteously and Obey God’s Commandments: Position yourself for God’s blessings by living a life of righteousness and obedience to His commands. (Isaiah 1:19; Exodus 12:35-36; Proverbs 11:3)

• Cultivate Wisdom and Discernment: Develop wisdom and discernment to make godly decisions and recognize divine opportunities. (1 Chronicles 12:32)

• Be Faithful in Service and Tithing: Show faithfulness in your service to God and in your giving, including tithing. (Malachi 3:8; Genesis 41:39-41)

• Walk in Righteousness: Align your life with God’s standards, as righteousness positions you for prosperity. (Psalm 1:1-3)

• Engage in Spiritual Warfare: Be prepared to fight spiritual battles to claim what God has promised, standing firm against opposition. (Ephesians 6:12)
 

CONCLUSION
In conclusion, God's blessings, both material and spiritual, are given with purpose to draw us closer to Him. Unlike Satan's deceptive "blessings," God's blessings bring true richness without sorrow (Proverbs 10:22). Understanding these differences helps us align with God's will. God still transfers wealth, and believers can position themselves for these blessings by living righteously, cultivating wisdom, being faithful stewards, seeking God's kingdom first, practicing generosity, standing in faith, engaging in spiritual warfare, being diligent, and maintaining integrity.

Contributor: Isekhua Evborokhai

INTRODUCTION
During the course of this month, we will be looking at the various facets of God’s Divine Righteousness. Last week we studied His consistent faithfulness using Joseph’s story as a case study.
We saw how God demonstrated His faithfulness to His covenant, working through human actions—both good and evil—to achieve His righteous purposes. We discussed His righteousness, how we can
obtain His righteousness, how we can maintain our own righteousness, the benefits we derive from His righteousness, and finally, the important connection that exists between, God’s righteousness and His faithfulness. In today’s study, still using Joseph’s story as a case study, we will consider how important our motives are to the Righteous One, and what the consequences may be as a result of our motives.

MOTIVE
Motive is the reason (the underlying intentions) behind all of our actions. The interesting thing about motive is that it reflects the true state of a person's heart. To God, our motives count more than our actions, that is why He does not look at the outward displays we showcase, but our hearts. (1 Samuel 16:7)
God examines the motives of our hearts and holds us accountable for them. Proverbs 16:2 says, "All a person's ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord." This shows that even if actions seem right to others, God judges the underlying reasons.

As we walk with God, this must be foremost in our hearts! That Our actions should flow from a heart that is aligned with God’s will, full of love and sincerity, rather than from a desire to merely fulfill obligations, for show, or simply to “appear” righteous.
Last week we learnt the different ways we could obtain righteousness. But we should know that apart
from the righteousness the Lord inputs in us, there is the “show of righteousness”, an external compliance that people put on too. This was addressed by Jesus in Matthew 15:8 "These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me."

DISCUSSION
Now, let’s return to Jospeh’s account in the Bible. The dreams of Joseph as we see in this scripture (Gen. 37:5-11) tells us the blessings his father, Jacob received from Isaac in (Gen. 27:22-29), was to be transferred to him.

Questions
• What do you reckon to be Jospeh’s motive for sharing his dreams?
• Was Joseph proud? In what way?
• Did he “learn humility” by the things he suffered? (Hebrews 5:8)
• Did he have to share his dreams with anyone?
• Could Joseph have become prime minister of Egypt without being sold into slavery?
• What lessons can we learn from Joseph’s account?

Why do we do the things we do? And say the things we say?
Are we genuine, or driven by ignorance, foolishness, pride, jealousy or naivety?

BENEFITS/CONSEQUENCES DERIVED FROM OUR MOTIVES
1. The Blessing of Strengthened Relationship with God: (Matthew 5:8) "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God." To be "pure in heart" means our motives are genuine, and unselfish, thus allowing us to have a true relationship with God.

2. Reward According to Our Conducts (Jeremiah 17:10) “"I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve." Despite the actions (conducts), God’s reward is based on what we have in our hearts and minds. You can’t con Him!

Let’s look at some examples
a. Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11): In the early days of the Christian church, believers would sell their land or property and donate the proceeds to the apostles, who would then distribute it according to need. They sold their land and secretly kept back part of the money for themselves. If only they had told the truth, they would not have died, but their motive was to deceive the apostles.

3. Vindication by God. (1 Corinthians 4:5) “"He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God." We could be misunderstood or criticized by others, but if our motives are right (pure), God will vindicate us in due season.

Let’s look at three examples in the Bible.
a. Joseph: Was sold into slavery by his brothers and then falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife of trying to seduce her, leading to his imprisonment (Genesis 39). Despite these injustices, Joseph remained faithful to God. And God vindicated him by elevating him to the position of second-in-command in Egypt.
b. Daniel: Thrown into the lion’s den because envious colleagues wanted to get rid of him, but he was a genuine seeker of God and unwaveringly committed to prayer (Daniel 6). God vindicated him by shutting the mouths of the lions, sparing his life. King Darius then decreed that all should fear and reverence Daniel’s God (Daniel 6:25-28).
c. Mordecai: Targeted for death by Haman, a high official who resented Mordecai’s refusal to bow to him (Esther 3-7). God vindicated Mordecai by orchestrating events such that Haman was hanged on the gallows he had prepared for Mordecai, and Mordecai was promoted to a position of honor (Esther 8:1-2).

HOW DO WE ENSURE OUR MOTIVES ARE RIGHT?
The Bible in Jeremiah 17:9 says: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” This implies that if we leave our hearts “alone” the natural tendency is deception and wickedness. That is why ensuring our motives are right requires a deliberate and conscious effort of aligning our hearts and intentions with God’s will.

We can achieve this by:
a. Prayers: Regularly ask the Lord to examine your heart and reveal any wrong motives. Psalm 139:23-24 says, "Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."

b. Meditating on God’s Words Daily: The Bible is the most powerful tool for discerning our motives. Hebrews 4:12 says, "For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."

c. Humility: The practice of humility helps us recognize our dependence on God and prevents pride or selfishness from corrupting our motives. Philippians 2:3 says, "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves."

d. Focusing on Pleasing God, Not People: Make a conscious effort to prioritize God’s approval over human recognition. Galatians 1:10 says, "Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ."

e. Being Quick to Repent: Don’t ignore or justify wrong motives instead, confess them to God, seek His forgiveness, and ask for the help of the Holy Spirit in cultivating pure motives. 1 John 1:9 says, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."

f. Letting Love Be Your Driving Force: Love for God and love for others naturally leads to pure motives. With genuine love (1 Cor. 13), you can never go wrong! 1 Corinthians 16:14 says, "Do everything in love."

CONCLUSION
As we walk with the Lord, we must be reminded that God sees the true intentions of our hearts, and to Him, that is what matters the most. That is why we must be honest in our intentions and be guided by integrity and sincerity of heart.

Contributor: Isekhua Evborokhai

INTRODUCTION
In the last two months we have been considering the benefits of walking with God. So far we have looked at God’s Divine Faithfulness, and His Divine Healing. During the course of this month, we will be looking at the various facets of God’s Divine Righteousness, starting today with His consistent faithfulness.

CASE STUDY JOSEPH (Genesis Chapters 37–50)
Today’s text in Gen. 37:1-18 is simply the starting point of the story of Joseph. The entire account spans several chapters up to Chapter 41 when he was made prime minister of Egypt. The story of Joseph is a testament to God’s righteousness and faithfulness. Despite the numerous injustices and hardships he faced, God’s righteousness was evident in the end and His promises fulfilled. (Genesis 37:5-11 and Genesis 41:41-44). God demonstrated that He is faithful to His covenant, working through human actions—both good and evil—to achieve His righteous purposes.

Today’s study will be divided into five sections – (1) God’s righteousness, (2) How God’s righteousness can be obtained, (3) Maintaining Righteousness, (4) The benefits we derive from His righteousness. Finally, we will consider the important connection that exists between, God’s righteousness and His faithfulness.

1. GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS.
God's divine righteousness is multifaceted, reflecting His just nature, the righteous standards of His law, and the way He imparts righteousness to believers through faith. This righteousness governs His judgments, informs His law, is essential in His plan of salvation, and will be fully realized in His eternal kingdom.

(a) God is Righteous by Nature. The Bible, in Psalm 11:7 says: "For the Lord is righteous; he loves righteous deeds; the upright shall behold his face." (See Psalm 145:17 and Isaiah 45:21)

(b) God is Righteous in Judgment. He is impartial and judges according to His perfect standards.
Deuteronomy 32:4 says: "The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he." See (Psalm 9:8 and Romans 2:5)

2. OBTAINING GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS.
(a) Righteousness by Obedience. God's Words reflects His righteous standards and obedience to His Word counts as righteousness on our accounts. Deuteronomy 6:25: "And it will be righteousness for us, if we are careful to do all this commandment before the Lord our God, as he has commanded us." Having said that, we still cannot declare ourselves righteous. It is only God Himself who can declare us righteous.

(b) Righteousness through Faith. Another way we can receive the righteousness of God is by faith.
Genesis 15:6: "And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness." Also see Romans 3:22: "The righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction." Righteousness before God is not something humans can achieve on their own. Instead, it is imparted to those who have faith in God, particularly faith in Jesus Christ. Philippians 3:9 says: "And be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith."

(c) Righteousness through Salvation Righteousness is one of the gifts God bestows on us when we give our lives to Christ. It is by grace that believers are made righteous before God. Romans 5:17 says: "For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ." 2 Corinthians 5:21: "For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."

3. MAINTAINING RIGHTEOUSNESS
Obedience to God’s Words: Obedience to God's commandments is a fundamental aspect of maintaining righteousness. We see from the account of Joseph that despite the injustices he suffered from his brothers (Genesis 37:12-36), the temptation and pressure to compromise from Potiphar’s wife and the injustice that followed (Genesis 39:7–20), he did not concede to the devil. Daniel also remained faithful to God’s laws, even when it meant facing the lions’ den (Daniel 6:1-28)

The Help of the Holy Spirit: Maintaining righteousness is possible through the power of the Holy Spirit, who helps believers resist sinful desires and live according to God’s will. (Galatians 5:16) “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”
Stephen, the first Christian martyr, is described as "full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom" (Acts 6:3). Even in the face of persecution, he maintained his righteousness, forgiving those who stoned him, just as Jesus had done.

4. BENEFITS DERIVED FROM HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS
The benefits of God's divine righteousness impacts all aspects of a believer's life. Such as:

(a) Freedom from Sin and Guilt and Eternal Life: God's righteousness justifies believers. Through faith in Christ, we are declared righteous before God. This leads to salvation and eternal life, offering freedom from sin and guilt. (Romans 3:22-24 & 2 Corinthians 5:21)

(b) Peace with God: Being made righteous by God brings peace with Him. This peace is not merely the absence of conflict but a deep, abiding sense of harmony and reconciliation with God. Romans 5:1: "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Isaiah 32:17: "The fruit of that righteousness will be peace; its effect will be quietness and confidence forever."

(c) Guidance and Protection: God's righteousness guides believers in making right decisions and living in a way that pleases Him. It also protects them from the consequences of sin and the traps of the enemy. Psalm 23:3: "He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His
name's sake." Proverbs 11:6: "The righteousness of the upright delivers them, but the unfaithful are trapped by evil desires."

(d) Spiritual Confidence and Boldness: Righteousness provides believers with confidence and boldness in their relationship with God and in their spiritual lives. They can approach God with assurance, knowing they are accepted and loved. Proverbs 28:1: "The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion." Hebrews 10:19-22: "Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus... let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings."

(e) Fellowship with God: God's righteousness allows us to have a close, intimate relationship with Him. Walking in righteousness brings us into deeper fellowship with God and with other believers. 1 John 1:7: "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin." Psalm 24:3-4: "Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god."

(f) Eternity in Heaven: God's righteousness guarantees us eternal life. After being made righteous through Christ, we are also promised eternal life and a reward in heaven. Matthew 25:46: "Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life." 2 Timothy 4:8: "Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing."

CONCLUSION
Connection Between God's Righteousness And Faithfulness
An interesting and deep relationship exists between God's righteousness and His faithfulness. God's righteousness ensures that He is always just and morally perfect, while His faithfulness reflects His unwavering commitment to His promises and to His people. These two attributes show us that God’s actions are not only right but also reliable and consistent. His righteousness is one of the foundations of His character, (the other being love), so we can trust in His promises and rely on His steadfast love. Lamentations 3:22-23 says: "Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."
The reason God is faithful is because of His righteousness. Nehemiah 9:8: "You have kept your promise because you are righteous."
His righteousness guarantees that He will always act in accordance with His commitments. Psalm 89:14: "Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; love and faithfulness go before you." Deuteronomy 7:9: "Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments."

Contributor: Okwudili Prince Isaac

INTRODUCTION:
In the last part of this series, we see that healing could come through the laying on of hands. Today, as we conclude this series on Divine Healing, may any sickness or disease left in our system vanish in Jesus Name, Amen.

Acts 10:38
“How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.”

One of the ways that people physically expressed a spiritual connection that has lasted for centuries is the laying on of hands. It is when a person or people put their hands on another person or group of people as part of a blessing or a prayer.
On the most surface level, a part of the significance of the act of laying on of hands is that it creates human connection. This basic truth is supported by modern science, as studies show that touch increases oxytocin, can facilitate increased well-being, and communication. Jesus used touch to assure the Apostle John when He appeared to Him at Patmos in His full glory,
“When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, ‘Fear not, I am the first and the last’” (Revelation 1:17). Contact is a part of how some people connect, though not everyone.

• SPECIAL CASES OF SICKNESSES AND DISEASES
All sicknesses and diseases come from the devil. However, there are some special cases, which are because of demonic oppression and bondage. There are signs by which the special instances may be recognised.
1. John 10:10 -……the thief comes to steal, kill and destroy
2. Luke 13:16 – …a daughter of Abraham under Satan’s bondage
3. Luke 11:14 – …demon cast out of a dumb man
4. Matthew 12:22 –…healing of demon-possessed, blind and dumb
5. Matthew 9:17-27 – …dead daughter of a Synagogue leader
6. Job 1:14-17 –…the Sabeans, the Fire, and the Chaldeans

• HOW JESUS DELIVERS
Sadly, Satan is the thief, whose mission of solely to steal, kill and destroy. Joyfully, Jesus Christ is the Restorer. In-fact He came specifically to destroy the works of the devil by His special anointing.
1. Acts10:38 -…Jesus went about…. healing all who were oppressed by the devil
2. John.10:10 - …the thief comes to steal, kill and destroy
3. 1 Jn3:8 -…the Son of God came to destroy the work of darkness
4. Mt.28:18 - ….I have given you all authority in Heaven and on Earth
5. Luke.11:21-22 -… a strong man guards his house…until someone stronger
6. Mt.8:16 - …he cast out evil spirits with a single command
7. Mk.16:17- ..these miraculous signs shall follow… who believe…cast out demons
8. Jam. 4:7.- ..humble yourselves before God, resist the devil and he will flee

• PRECEDENCE
Placing hands on persons in need of healing has a strong biblical precedent as well. Although there had been times when Jesus healed the sick without necessarily laying His hands on them, He certainly laid His hands on many of those He healed. Instance of Jesus laying on His Hands:
1. Mark 6:5 – ……….even in the midst of unbelief, albeit few sick people
2. Mark 8: 22-25 – spitting, laying hands “outside the village”
3. Luke 4:40 – at sunset, villagers brought family members
4. Luke 13:13 – at Sabbath Day healing (Abraham’s daughter) crippled 18 years

• OUR MISSION
Laying on of hands is one of the ordained ways to heal the sick (Mark 16:18) “And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover”.

And Jesus promised that any believer could do this, including you. You can lay hands on the sick and see them get better. You just have to open yourself up to God and allow Him to heal through you.

• CAVEAT
But when you look carefully at Mark 16:18, you will notice that Jesus promised recovery.
That recovery could be instantaneous, or it could be a process that is prolonged over a period. This lets us know that all healings do not occur instantly; some of them take place over a period. But Jesus’ promise is that if we will follow His example and lay our hands on the sick, God’s power will be released into the body of the afflicted. If we are releasing our faith and believing for healing power to flow from us to the recipient, healing virtue will be deposited into the sick person’s body. Just as medicine slowly works to reverse a medical condition, the power of God that was deposited with the laying on of our hands will begin to attack the work of the devil and progressively bring that sick person back into a state of health and well-being.

Mark 16: 18 (in some Greek texts) could be translated, “…they shall progressively feel themselves getting better and better, until finally they are well and healthy.”

What did Jesus do for these people?
He laid His hands upon them, and He healed them. In such cases, Jesus was giving the perfect example of how believers would later lay their hands on the sick —including the terminally ill — and see them be restored back to health because of their obedience.

CONCLUSION
Jesus promised that any believer could do this! Any believer, including you, can lay hands on the sick and see the sick get better and better until they are finally restored back to health. All that is required for God to use you in this way are three basic criteria:
1. That you have a desire for God to heal through you
2. That you have hands to lay on sick people; and
3. That your faith is released to activate the power of God to heal.

If you can fulfil these three requirements, you’re ready to get into the healing ministry! Healing the sick is part of your responsibility as a believer. You cannot do it alone, but the Holy Spirit is present to impart His power when you act in Jesus’ name. So rather than look at sick people and feel pity for them, why don’t you pull your hands out of your pockets and go lay them on those sick people, just as Jesus did when He was ministering on the earth? The Word of God guarantees that God will work with you to bring healing and health to those who are in need.
Why don’t you get started healing the sick today?

Contributor: Isekhua Evborokhai

INTRODUCTION
In the last few studies, we have been learning about “Divine Healing” as a consequence of walking closely with God. We were taught how this divine healing could be received by God sending His Word (Psalm 107:17-20), and by the stripes of Jesus (1 Peter 2:24). In today’s study, we will be discussing obtaining divine healing through prayers.
In John 14:14 Jesus said: “If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.”
James 5:14 -15 says: “Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven.”

In our previous studies, we were taught to look at divine health from a holistic point of view. It thus implies that we should look at healing from the same holistic point of view; encompassing the physical, emotional, and spiritual. Before going into the study, I would like to cite two important truths.
1) From Jesus’s own Words, we know that it is only the sick that need healing. Mark 2:17
2) The Bible tells us how to live in divine health. In Exodus 23:25 the Bible says: “And ye shall serve the LORD your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee".
Today’s study is broadly divided in two parts. How to pray for and the hinderances to healing.

I. RECEIVING ANSWERS TO OUR PRAYERS FOR HEALING
Our Heavenly Father is a principled God and He has put processes in place that we can, by faith employ to receive our healing.
1) Praying from a place of relationship with the Father
John 14:14 says: “If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.” But for prayers to be answered, they must be rendered acceptably. Remember James 5:16b (MSG) says: “The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with.” Not the prayer of a sinner or the ungodly.
Psalms 66:18 says: “If I regard iniquity in my heart, The Lord will not hear.”

First, three disclaimers:
• Disclaimer #1: When the Bible says: “God will not hear”, I believe it means, God will not answer the requester. (Proverbs 1:28a) “Then they will call on me, but I will not answer”

• Disclaimer #2: When the Bible says: “God will not hear”, I believe it does not include the cry for mercy. (Luke 17:13-14) “And they lifted up their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”14 So when He saw them, He said to them, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed."

• Disclaimer #3: When the Bible says: “God is Sovereign”, I believe it means, He will show mercy to whom He will show mercy. (Exodus 33:19) “And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.”

God hears. Period! Isa.59:1-2 tells us that the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. 2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God

So, when we pray from a place of relationship with the Father, He hears us and answers us according to His sovereignty.

2) Praying According to His will
1 John 5:14-15 says: “This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.”
His will is that we are in health, 3 John 2 says: “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.”
We also see this manifested when Jesus healed a man with leprosy in Matthew 8:1-3 “When Jesus came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. 2 A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” 3 Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy.”

3) Praying with the Scripture
Jeremiah 1:12 tells us that God is actively watching over His Word to fulfil it. When we pray using specific Bible verses related to healing, it reinforces our faith and aligns our prayers with God’s promises. His Word also does not return to Him void. (Isaiah 55:11). The Lord Himself says in Isaiah 43:26: “Put me in remembrance: let us plead together: declare thou, that thou mayest be justified.”

Therefore pray for healing with scriptures such as:
• Isaiah 53:5 says: “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.”
• Jeremiah 17:14 says: “Heal me, Lord, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise.”

4) Praying in Faith
Stand on the Word of God such as James 5:14-15 that says the prayer of faith will heal the sick. Mark.11:23-24 says: “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”

5) Praying in Agreement
Align with fellow Bible believing and sincere believers and agree in prayers. Matthew 18:19-20 says: "Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them."

II. HINDERANCES TO ANSWERED PRAYERS FOR HEALING
The Bible in Isaiah 59:1-2 tells us that the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. 2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God;”
He is more than able to do exceedingly abundantly beyond what we can ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20). So when things don’t go right. It is not His fault. Here are a couple of things that we may engage in that may cause unanswered prayers for healing.

1) Doubt and Unbelief
James 1:6-7 says: “6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.”

2) Ignorance (Lack of Accurate Knowledge) on the Subject of Healing
It is difficult to believe what you are ignorant of. We are not sick people looking for healing, we were healed over 2000 years ago by the stripes of Jesus. The Word of God is the antidote to ignorance. Psalms 119:130 says: “the entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding to the simple.”

There are people (even believers) in the world today that do not believe in healing. Cessationists for instance, believe that the miraculous gifts of the Spirit, such as healing, prophecy, and speaking in tongues, ceased with the apostolic age. They fail to realize that when Jesus said in John 14:12 that we will do greater works, healing was included.

3) Negative Confession
The Bible in Proverbs 18:21 tells us that death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. The words of our mouths also reveal our faith. It is important that we say about ourselves is what God's Word says about us; If God says we are healed, we must confess that healing, regardless of our feelings. Prov. 11:11 (MSG) says: “When right-living people bless the city, it flourishes; evil talk turns it into a ghost town in no time.”

4) Sin/Iniquity
While sin and iniquity both refer to moral and spiritual wrongdoing, iniquity often denotes a more serious, intentional, and ingrained pattern of behaviour,
Whereas not all sickness is due to sin, a lifestyle of sin can prevent the healing of sickness. Psalms 66:18 says: “If I regard iniquity in my heart, The Lord will not hear.” The NIV renders this verse thus: "If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened."

To "cherish sin" means to hold onto, delight in, or refuse to give up sinful thoughts, attitudes, or behaviours. It implies a conscious decision to prioritize sin over obedience to God. The verse clearly indicates that harbouring sin can impede communication with God. God values sincerity, humility, and repentance in those who seek Him. When Jesus healed a man that was sick at the pool of Bethesda in John 5:8-9, in verse 14, Jesus said to him, “See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.”

5) Unforgiveness
Unforgiveness creates a barrier between us and God, blocking the flow of His grace and blessings, including healing. Mark 11:25 “And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.” Forgiveness of sin many times precedes healing (2 Chron.7:14). Also, holding onto unforgiveness can lead to emotional stress, and has been known to manifest in physical sicknesses. That is why Ephesians 4:31-32 calls believers to let go of bitterness and anger, which are detrimental to both emotional and physical health.

CONCLUSION
Not all sickness is due to sin, but any sin can prevent healing of sickness.
Prayer changes things! It is a potent weapon in the hands of believers. It can change doubts to trust, weakness to strength, hopelessness to hope and surely sickness to health. Healing can be obtained simply by asking for it in prayers from the One who said that He would do whatever we ask for in His name, as long as we are in His will and believe in the finished work of Christ.

Contributor: Ayomide Oladipo

INTRODUCTION

Last week we started our series in the topic Divine Healing through the Word of God. Divine healing as we learned in the study, is healing from God Himself through His written or spoken Word, and how sin robs us of good health. Psalm 107:20 “He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.” The desire of God for our health in 3 John 1: 2 “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” revealed to us that God wants us as believers to look at health from a holistic point of view of the spirit, soul and body, and anyone living below the standard of perfect health in all areas of our being needs ‘Divine Healing’.
We concluded the study by looking at 3 prescriptions from the God the Great Physician for a healthy life which are: (a) Regularly feeding on the Word of God (Pro 3: 1&8), (b) Exercising our spirit (Jude 1:20) and (c) Regular visits to God in retreats (Mark 4:35).

Today we will continue the series by looking at Divine Healing through the stripes of Jesus. Romans 3:23-26 “23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. 26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.”

Since the fall of man in the garden of Eden, all mankind became guilty of sin, and in Roman 8: 23 the scriptures tell us the consequence of sin is death. So, if all men have sinned, this means all men should die because of our sins. God knew the price for the sin of the world must be paid for, Heb 9:22 “And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.”
Out of His benevolence as a merciful God, He sent His Son Jesus who had never sinned to be the Lamb that would take away the sin of the world John 1:29.
The ‘stripes of Jesus’ symbolises the price that was paid for our sins, as we looked at last week how God sends His Word either spoken or written for our healing, today we would examine how God gave Himself for our healing.

WHY DID JESUS GIVE HIMSELF FOR OUR SIN?
Because of the Father’s love for the world – John 3:16 “For God so love the world, that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believes in him will not perish but have evaluating life”.

By law, the world is guilty of death, because the entire world has sinned and come short of the glory of God. God is merciful, but just. Because of His justice, the scripture in Roman 6:23 “The wages of sin is death” must be fulfilled, which means all souls were required to pay for their transgressions against God with everlasting death, but for His mercy, He provided a way out for everyone. John 1:29 “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”

1 John 3:8 “He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose, the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.”
We were all created by God, imagine God having created us, and from the moment we were born, knowing He will never have us again because, we would have to pay for our own sins, and for the rest of our lives He would have to watch the devil afflict His hand work and He can’t do anything because the devil now owns them.
Because of God’s faithfulness, commitment and love as our Father, He gave Jesus to die, not for His own sins but the sin of the world, now anyone that accepts this love will be redeemed from eternal guilt of death to eternal life.

Romans 6:8-10 “Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. 10 The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.”

Jesus came to pay the debt of sin of the world so that no one will have to end up in everlasting death by default because they were born into the world. He ended the reign of the devil and provided a path to salvage the world form death to life.

ONLY THOSE THAT HAVE ACCEPTED JESUS ARE TRULY HEALED!
You might ask what has this got to do with healing, this sounds like a salvation message to me. Well, you are right it is indeed a salvation message. The truth is anyone that has not been redeemed by accepting Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour is ‘sick’. Remember we said sickness is deviation from normalcy, in the sight of God it is abnormal for any soul He created to be afflicted by the devil because of sin.
Psalm 107: 17- 18 “Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted. 18 Their soul abhors all manner of meat, and they draw near unto the gates of death.”

This passage shows us that a soul guilty of transgression and iniquity (sin) is living in affliction. Bible says in 1 John 3:8 “He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose, the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.”

The Devil only comes to kill, steal and destroy. An unsaved individual can be assured this is all they get from the devil. The Bible says the soul that sinneth shall die Ezek.18: 20.
An unsaved individual is physically and spiritually dead. Ezekiel 18:20 made it clear “The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.”
Which means that an unsaved person will bear the brunt of his sin while on earth and even in eternity. God sees an unsaved person as a sick person because such individual is willingly forfeiting his right to life.
The good news is it does not have to remain that way, healing by the stripes of Jesus is available of all men, but exclusively heals those that have accepted the redemption these stripes paid for.

HEALING BY THE STRIPES OF JESUS
1. Physical Healing By the Stripes of Jesus: 1 Peter 2:24 “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.”
Physical affliction was inflicted on Jesus so that we don’t have to surfer physical sickness. Isaiah 53:5 “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”

This scripture shows us Jesus already bore our burden, sickness, affliction and paid the price for our healing. All we need do if we have already been saved is believe Him for our physical healing.
The Bible already told us the desire of God in 3 John 1: 2 “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.”
Jesus was hung on the tree for us to be healed from the curse of affliction to a life of wholeness Gal.3:13 “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”,

The wounds and bruises are physical afflictions Jesus suffered which lead to the gushing of blood from His body, by the risen of the blood of Jesus and by faith, we can administer physical
healing into our body, Jesus being hung on the cross healed us from every curse, and Him dying and rising again healed us from eternal death to eternal life. God chose the stripes of His only begotten Son to give us an opportunity to experience His desire for our physical health to prosper.

2. Spiritual Healing By The Stripe Of Jesus: By the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, our spiritual healing was bought and paid for. Through the finished work of Jesus, we can receive the Holy Spirit which is the Spirit of God Himself living in us. Romans 8:11 “And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.”.

The redemption of God through Jesus when accepted quickens the life and power of God in us ‘The Holy Spirit’. This passage tells us that the Holy Spirit was the One that raised Jesus Christ from the dead, Jesus had the Holy Spirit in Him which is the Spirit of the Father because He was without sin, so He could not remain dead. The chastisement of Jesus was for us, and by those stripes our spiritual healing was also provided for. As God has expressed His desire for us to be healthy in all areas of our lives, it is important for us to lay hold of the finished work of Jesus for our spiritual healing. Accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior is not the end, but God desires for us to be healed in our spirit so we can be sons and daughters of God.

Romans 8: 14-17 “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.16. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.”

Our spiritual healing obtained by the suffering of Jesus, ends the reign of the devil over our lives and adopts us back into sonship of our Heavenly Father. James 2:26 “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” Our spiritual health reflects on our physical health.
The Word of God here guarantees that if our spiritual life is healthy, our mortal (physical) health will be simultaneously. How? The Spirit of God living in us is the power of God within us, when we invest in our spiritual health, we are simultaneously releasing the power of God into our mortal body.

CONCLUSION
Envision the finished work of Jesus as a trust fund account that our Heavenly Father opened and funded for us. It’s the path He made for us at any given time we decide to come back to Him, to be able to do so.
Even though our healing had been provided for by the stripes of Jesus, accepting or refusing it is our choice. Even though the account is fully funded, doubting its legitimacy, delaying withdrawal from it or even receiving it is all choices of ours.
The question is why suffer for what has been paid for?
Revelation 3:20 (NIV) “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.”
To someone opening the door means accepting Jesus, to another it means accepting the finished work that He has given to you.

Contributor: Ayomide Oladipo

INTRODUCTION
Last study we learnt about God’s faithfulness relative to our commitment as believers to fulfil God’s divine purpose for our lives. One of the things we were taught are the two sides to God’s faithfulness. The first side is God’s faithfulness of His fatherhood to us, and His commitment to His Word. 1 Corinthians 1:9: “God is faithful He is reliable, trustworthy, and ever true to His Promise He can be depended on, and through Him, you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”
The second side is our own path, where God expect us to be faithful to Him so we can attain His promises to us as demonstrated in the life of Abraham when God commanded him to walk before
Him faithfully and blamelessly.

Today we would be looking at the subject ‘Divine Healing’ by the Word of God. Divine healing is healing from God Himself through His written or spoken Word.
Psalm 107:20 “He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.”

For someone to need healing, it means the part of them they need healing in is defective. Sickness is defined as a deviation from, an interruption, a cessation or a disorder of a body, system, organ structure or function (Medical dictionary), characterised by symptoms and exhibitions.
Healing on the other hand is the reversal of a sick body, system or organ back to normal. As believers, God desires for us is that we be in perfect health 3 John 1: 2 “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospered.”

Today relative to us as believers, we would look at what sickness means, what causes it and how the Word of God can heal us.

WHO NEEDS HEALING?
Anyone or any part of our spirit, soul and body that is sick. Someone will say well am physically healthy, what about your spiritual health? What about your soul’s health? Are they healthy too? In 3 John 1: 2 God expressed His desire for our health that He wishes they all prosper. This means that God does not desire for us to be healthy is one area of our life and be defective in another. As children of God, we should not look at health from a physical point of view alone but from a holistic point of view of physical and spiritual health.

REASONS A BELIEVER CAN BE SICK
1. When a believer falls into sin: Psalm 107: 17- 18 “Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted. 18 Their soul abhors all manner of meat, and they draw near unto the gates of death.”
This passage shows us that one of the ways a believer can open him/herself to affliction is through transgression and iniquity (sin). Why would sin cause me affliction you may ask, bible says in 1 John 3:8 “He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose, the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.”

The Bible says the soul that sinneth shall die Ezek.18: 20. Now sickness is no other thing but a representative of death. When a believer commits and remains in sin, he forfeits his right to life, in John 3:16 “for God so love the word that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believes in him will not perish but have everlasting life”
Either physically or spiritually, sin kills!! As explicitly written in Ezekiel 18:20 “The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.”

This Bible verse explains to us that a sinner is the one that bears the brunt of his sin while a righteous person is the one that reaps the reward of his righteousness.

2. For the glory of God: - John 9: 1-3 “And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. 2. And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? 3. Jesus answered, neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.”

Based on this passage, we can establish God sometimes manifest His glory through situations such as sickness. The disciples based on their knowledge knew that for a man to be afflicted as such as being blind from birth, sin must have entered through him or his parents, however Jesus told them that sin was not the cause of this man’s affliction, it is for God to manifest in him, and we could see that Jesus went on to heal the man by His Word in the later part of that scripture.

Remember the story of Lazarus in John 11:1-44. Lazarus was a friend of Jesus; it is safe to assume that the man was not a sinful natured man for him to be God’s friend. But he became very sick that his sisters sent message to Jesus to quickly come and heal him before he dies, but Jesus responded in vs 4 “But when Jesus heard about it, he said, Lazarus’s sickness will not end in death. No, it happened for the glory of God so that the Son of God will receive glory from this 5. So, although Jesus loved Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, 6 he stayed where he was for the next two days.”

This explains to us that as believers sometimes we may have sickness and affliction, sickness and affliction does not have us! Lazarus tasted death, but death could not hold him, even Jesus saw death, but death could not hold him. This is because, as righteous children of God, we are of God not of the devil, and it is the will of God that we prosper in health, meaning God will never afflict His children without a cause.

DIVINE HEALING BY THE WORD
1. Physical healing by the Word: Romans 8:10-11 “But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. 11. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.”

As earlier established that sin kill the body, the word of God provides a remedy for this illness, ‘righteousness’. The Word of God provides healing to a sick sinner when such sinner repents of his sin and adopts righteousness through the finished work of Jesus. Now the same Spirit that made Jesus taste death, yet death could not hold Him, will recover such repentant individual from death to life.
Again, God’s desire is that we be in health, but when a person choses to forfeit a chance at life and health through righteousness, and instead choses death and affliction through sin, God’s hands are tied sort of.

Isaiah 59:1-4 “Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear 2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you, that he will not hear.”
God already provided a remedy for an afflicted soul which is everlasting life, and this life can only me ours when we chose to accept Christ and remain in Christ.

Psalm 107: 19-20 “Then they [Afflicted cause of sin] cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he[Lord] saved them out of their distresses. 20. He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.”
Jesus already bore our burden and paid the price for our healing - Isaiah 53:5 “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”, all we need do is to accept Him and remain in Him.

2. Spiritual Healing by the Word

Isa.40: 31 “Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall. 31. But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary and they shall walk, and not faint.”

The passage describes the symptoms of a sickened spirit ‘fainting and weariness’, and even ‘fall’, but did provide a remedy to this spiritual illness ‘waiting on the Lord’. As believers it is equally important to pay attention to our spiritual health. There is no physical health without spiritual health.

James 2:26 “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” Our spiritual health reflects on our physical health. Romans 8:11 “And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.”
The Word of God here guarantees that if our spiritual life is healthy, our mortal (physical) health will simultaneously be too. How? The Spirit of God living in us is the power of God within us, when we invest in our spiritual health, we are simultaneously releasing the power of God into our mortal body.

CONCLUSION
Medical practitioners would advise good diet, exercise, regular checkup among other precautions as steps we can take to keep our body in good health.
Our great physician also advises us to feed our spirit with good diet which is the Word of God

Pro 3:1&8 “My son does not forget my law, but let your heart keep my commands. 8. It will be healthy to your flesh, and strength to your bones.” God’s Word, spoken or written has the power to bring healing and deliverance from affliction, restoring wholeness to body and soul.

James 5:14-16 “14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he has committed sins, he shall be forgiven.”
He also advises us to exercise our spirit
Jude 1:20 “But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost”. Another method our great physician advised us to keep our spirit in health is to pray in the Holy Ghost to edify our spirit.

Regular visit to Him in retreat, prayer and fasting Mark 4:35 “And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.”
Divine health is our God given right administered to us through His Word, therefore it doesn't matter how weak or sick you may be, if you accept His Word and believe, you will be made whole.

Contributor: Alex Kokobili

INTRODUCTION
God’s faithfulness can be expressed in two sides. The first is God’s faithfulness as our Father who is faithful to His word (1 Corinthians 1:9 God is faithful He is reliable, trustworthy, and ever true to His Promise He can be depended on, and through Him, you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord). The other is God’s expectations for Christians to stay faithful to him. God expects us to be faithful to Him to attain His promises. For instance, Abram was ninety-nine years old, when the Lord appeared to him on the need to be faithful to Him, Genesis 17:1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty; walk before me faithfully and be blameless”).

Today’s study will dwell on faithfulness which involves the commitment of believers in journeying with God in order to fulfil His divine purpose in our lives. It is also important for us to be informed that God’s presence has a key role in the journey of faithfulness. The discussion will draw on the life of Joseph and then the latter part will engage on the expectation of the church in regards to faithfulness towards God.

PART A: JOSEPH’S FAITHFULNESS TOWARD GOD
1. Faithfulness is always associated with a test which could either be before or after a blessing.

Gen 39: 7 And it came to pass after these things that his master’s wife cast longing eyes on Joseph, and she said, “Lie with me.”

The previous verses 1- 6 told us about God’s favour in the life of Joseph and how he became the manager of Potiphar’s house, and soon after Joseph’s test of faithful resulted from Mrs. Potiphar's immoral sexual desire toward him. Your faithfulness to God will be tested so that He can make you the showpiece of His glory. The test of faithfulness is a test of your love for God and full adherence to the word. There is some test that we cannot pray against but must happen as a way to examine our work with God (Job 2: 3 Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil. And he still maintains his integrity, though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason). We must always pray for God’s grace to overcome all forms of tests that might put our faith in God into question (Mathew 6: 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil).

2. Holiness as the bedrock of faithfulness is not a weakness, but a strength and also a defence.

Gen 39: 8 But he refused and said to his master’s wife, “Look, my master does not know what is with me in the house, and he has committed all that he has to my hand”.

Joseph feared God and realised that he was God’s regent in Potiphar’s house. Surprisingly, an average Christian today would not think twice before accepting such an offer that Joseph turned down and would even give an excuse of blaming Potiphar’s wife for causing them to sin. Some other Christians will also blame Mr. Potiphar for not always being at home and they would say they were doing Potiphar a favour and that they would later ask God for forgiveness. Unfortunately, so many believers are ashamed to speak about the emphasis on holiness when in regards to things such as lying, fornication and adultery, pride, drunkenness, hatred, selfish ambitions, ingratitude, etc. (See also Gal 5:19-21, Rev 21: 8, 2 Tim 3: 1-5). Our commitment to faithfulness in God as Christians after salvation must be followed by a lifestyle of holiness which is a sign that we fear God (Prov. 8: 13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; Pride, and arrogance, and the evil way, And the forward mouth, do I hate. Job 28:28 And to man He said, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, And to depart from evil is understanding).

Some Christians seem to have an excuse for every action in self-defence by making assertions such as “I still have a struggle and I believe I am a work in progress or I need some therapy”. Sometimes some people even say things like “Nobody is perfect or God understands,” Why are you judging me?” etc. We must realise that trying to validate any actions of unfaithfulness through emotions, theology, philosophy, tradition and culture, personal opinions, or social perceptions does not change the absoluteness of God’s word (Psalm 119:89 Forever, O Lord, thy Word is settled in heaven. God's Word, or Law, is eternal and unchanging - fixed and established forever in the heaven of heavens).

3. Forgetfulness of God’s faithfulness is a betrayal of His trust

Gen 39: 9 There is no one greater in this house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?

Joseph remembered the goodness of God in his life and how He caused Potiphar to favour him and on that premise, Joseph decided to stay faithful to God. So many people forget how God came through for them including how he used specific people to shape their destiny. Those who forget God’s goodness are unfaithful and cannot withstand the test of time. Have you not wondered how possible it was that Judas forgot all that he saw Jesus Christ do (the miracles and healings) and yet he betrayed his master? The carnal man is always ready with an excuse or a blame game as a defense of embracing something that God forbids.

Rev 21: 8 But people who are cowardly, unfaithful, detestable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars will find themselves in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur.

Israel often forgot God’s goodness when they were confronted with unpleasant situations and in return displayed actions of unfaithfulness towards God. Judges 8: 34 And the children of Israel remembered not the Lord their God who had delivered them out of the hand of all that afflicted them round about. We have to also realize that unfaithfulness is as good as unbelief and instability of purpose in life. Psalm 78: 42
"They refused to listen and failed to remember the wonders You performed among them. They stiffened their necks and appointed a leader to return them to their bondage in Egypt”.

4. The temptation to be unfaithful might continue for a while but we must genuinely God's intervention not to fall into sin.

Genesis 9: 10-12 And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be with her. One day he went into the house to attend to his duties, and none of the household servants was inside. She caught him by his cloak and said, “Come to bed with me!” But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house.

Longsuffering is a fruit of the spirit that requires that we persevere amid temptation without giving in (Gala 5: 22).
Some people have failed the test of faithfulness because of situations such as business contracts, challenges with their health, marriage, etc. This shows our level of commitment to God

Daniel 3: 16-18 "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17 If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. 18 But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up."

We must realize that we need the strength of God to over temptations over and over again “1 Samuel 2: 9 He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail”.

James 1:12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

Mathew 5:11-12 Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

PART B: FAITHFULNESS IS THE PREREQUISITE FOR A GLORIOUS CHURCH
Without the glory of Christ, the church ceases to exist and even if it pretends that it exists, it will only be a building without glory. Ephesians 5: 27 "that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish."

Revelations chapters 2 and 3 describe the state of the end-time church. For instance, out of the seven churches mentioned; five were considered unfaithful to Christ and were described as the Loveless Church, the Compromising Church, the Dead Church, the Corrupt Church, and the Lukewarm Church. The two that stood out and were commended for their faithfulness were the Persecuted Church and the Faithful Church. We will notice that the Persecuted Church was recognized. (Rev 2:10c “Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life”.), and also the Faithful Church (Rev 3: 10 “Because you have kept my command to preserve, I will also keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth).

King Solomon was faithful in building a temple for God so that could worship God and his heart during that period in harmony with God’s presence, and during the dedication of the temple, God’s glory overwhelmed the place (2 Chronicles 7: 1-3). There is no shortcut to holiness when we talk of faithfulness. However, despite Solomon’s magnificent temple, God still required that His people would present themselves before Him in humility and repentance from evil before He hears our prayers or fellowship which we further saw in 2 Chronicles 7:14 that God promised to only hear the people when they faithfully pray to Him).

God is seeking Christians to be fully aligned with His word because we are the church. The church seems to be becoming too apologetic in trying to gain social acceptance. The fear of not offending people might lead us to things that have brought a load of imperfection upon us. We have to stay faithful to God whether it is socially acceptable or not because Christ wants to present the Church to Himself as a perfect bride. We have to understand that as long as we fail to get serious with the business of holiness, the church stands the risk of becoming spiritually disabled with no power to command God’s kingdom on earth (Hebrews 12: 14 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord), (Mathew 5: 8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God).

CONCLUSION
There is no shortcut to faithfulness and purity as two important variables in sustaining God’s presence. We need the grace of God to stay faithful to His word and not by our physical ability ( 1 Samuel 2:9 He will keep the feet of his holy ones, but the wicked shall be put to silence in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail). Holiness is possible, when we genuinely desire perfection and then allow God to fill us with grace for the race (Mathew 5: 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled). See also
“2 Corinthians 4: 17-18 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal”.
“Mathew 25: 21 His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness”.

It is God’s presence that guides us to work according to the pattern that He has set for us to follow. Faithfulness is like a mirror that reveals God’s purity in accordance with the Bible which overrides our perception of analyzing good and evil.

Contributor: Folashade Morakinyo

INTRODUCTION
Since the last two weeks, we have been learning about God’s divine faithfulness. Last week, the focus was on the sub topic: “promotion comes from God,” and why and how God promotes. Today, we will dig further to shed some light on what happens in God’s presence.
From the very beginning of mankind, God has desired for us to be in His presence (fellowship with man). In fact, that was the purpose for which man was created. God would come in the cool of the day to have fellowship with Adam (Gen. 1:26-30). Man enjoyed God’s presence regularly until the deceiver crept in and man had to hide, moving away from God’s presence (Gen. 3:1-6). Having fallen from that level of grace through disobedience, since then, man has to be more intentional if we want the warmth of fellowship and to be in God’s presence (Gen. 3:8). Why is this? God cannot behold iniquity/unrighteousness (Isaiah 59:1-2). Therefore, we must submit ourselves as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable (Rom. 12:1-2). May the Lord give us further understanding as we study today, in Jesus’ name.

Where is the Presence of God?
Presence is the state or fact of existing, occurring, or being present.

• God as Omnipresent (Psalms 139:7-8) - He created the whole world, the heavens, the earth, andother planets; He is everywhere - we can see His works.

• He resides in Heaven - He operates, exists, and has His throne in heaven (Rev. 4:2-3, Deut. 26:15,Isaiah 57:15); this is where His administration is. There, we are close to seeing Him in His form(Rev. 21:10).

• He is Spirit; therefore, He has the liberty to live inside anyone who believes in Him and has acceptedthe work of salvation that Jesus did (Romans 8:11, Colossians 1:27) - in the person of the Holy Spirit. As a result, we have His abilities, His greatness, and enjoy His goodness.

•God’s presence as a time of fellowship - personally, with family, in a group, and in the church.

Attributes of those who embody the presence of God
This section addresses the question: Who embodies the presence of God, or how can I be a carrier of God’s presence? (Gen. 39:1-3, Ps. 1:1-3).

• Joseph was a carrier of God’s presence: Gen.39:2-9: The Lord was with Joseph and he was a successful man.

• David was a carrier of God’s presence 1 Samuel 18:14: David succeeded in all he did because theLord was with him. 1 Samuel 23:4-5, 10-11; 1 Samuel 30:8-9; 2 Samuel 5:17-21: David constantlysought the Lord for strength, strategy, instructions, and victories. 2 Samuel 2:4; 2 Samuel 12:13; Psalm 51; Psalm 32: When David fell, he demonstrated true repentance and sought to restore his relationship with God.

• Moses was a carrier of God’s presence: Joshua 1:17: Moses led with God's guidance and presence. Numbers 12:3: Moses was known for his meekness. Exodus 33:11, 18-20: Moses sought God'spresence and guidance directly and intimately.

Blessings/fruits/Blessedness of carrying the presence of God
God is the Creator, He is Light, He is the Way. We cannot be carriers of God’s presence without our lives reflecting His abilities. There are fruits attached to carrying God’s presence: Pro. 3:33, Ps. 5:12, Pro. 10:6, Pro. 28:20, Pro. 12:2, Ps. 75:6-7, Job. 17:9, II Chr. 26:3-5, II Chr. 31:20-2.
Potiphar was blessed because the presence of a righteous man in his house focused God's attention on his estate. Meanwhile, Joseph obtained God's blessings in the form of favor and rapid promotion because he carried the presence of God. If we all are carriers of God’s presence, He will surely bless us because of His faithfulness (Psalm 37:23-40).

God’s Presence is Reciprocal

It is important that we remember that God’s Presence is Reciprocal. And that we can cultivate His presence.
James 4:8a: "Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you"
John 14:23: "Jesus answered him, 'If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.'"
Matthew 18:20: "For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them."

CONCLUSION
A place is called the presence of God because God is already there. The invitation to God’s presence is for all; God desires this, which is why He created us in the first place. As we do away with sins that easily beset us and come boldly to His throne/presence, every aspect of our lives will bear fruit. God’s presence is reciprocal—meaning blessedness. "Abide in me, and I will abide in you. Just as the branch cannot produce fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me" (John 15:4).

Prayer: Father, take away anything hindering me from Your presence.

Contributor: Peter Folikwe

INTRODUCTION
Last week, our teacher and contributors at the day’s teaching highlighted the benefits that come with having “a closer walk with God”: the theme of our Bible study for this year. The study x-rayed God’s divine faithful benefits through ‘the law of harvest’.
In summary, the study elaborated on God’s faithfulness to keeping His promises, when we fulfil our part through righteousness and total obedience to God’s instructions.
In today’s Bible Study, we shall be reviewing the subtopic under God’s faithfulness - ‘Promotion comes from God’.

THE TRUTH ABOUT GOD’S PROMOTION
Before we delve into the anchor scripture for today, I want us to be guided by a statement of truth in Psalm 75:6-7 “For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. 7 But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.”
Meaning no one can promote you, except God. Promotion from any other source – the devil, leads to failure in the end.
Another truth is in Lamentations 3:which says 37 “Who is he who speaks and it comes to pass, When the Lord has not commanded it?”
Brethren, this passage reminds us to always boast in the Lord, not in our achievements in -It is by His mercies we are not consumed. life.
Finally, James 1:17 tells us that “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”
• this tells us that promotions or progresses we make in life are gifts from God. He never waivers. He stands by His promise.
• As the unwavering, dependable and reliable God, once you meet His conditions for promotion, He will promote you.

WHY AND HOW DOES GOD PROMOTE? A CASE STUDY OF JOSEPH
1. Life Without Bitterness.
Gen 39:1-6 tells us that:
The Lord was with Joseph in Egypt because He led him there in the first place. After Joseph’s dreams that he innocently relayed to his brethren, his environment became toxic unknowingly to him. His brothers planned his death which eventually led him to becoming a slave in a foreign land, but he was not bitter at all. He became a candidate of God’s blessings and promotion.

Gen 50:19-20:

• By this time he was the Prime minister of the most powerful and influential country in the world at the time.
• He could have chosen to dissociate himself from his family and hid his identity.
• Not only was he not bitter, he forgave with ease.
• In one of Pastor’s teachings, he noted that the first thing Joseph would have requested soon as he became prime mister was to demand for Potiphar’s wife to tell the truth and offer a public apology. But he did not. Potiphar’s wife lived and died with a wounded conscience.
• Hebrews 12:14-us to admonishes 15 pursue peace with all people…….lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled.
• Bitterness is birthed when we are in contention with people. It develops stubborn roots when we harbour unforgiving in our hearts towards same people.

2. Righteous Living:

• Ps. 1:1-3 - Joseph’s righteous lifestyle kept him overcoming every huddle of life he had to pass through. He refused to deny God.
• In Gen 39:9 Joseph told his master’s wife “There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back anything from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God? “  
  • Here he turned down the enticing offer of his bosses wife, focusing more on his right standing with God than offending his master.
• His brothers ought to be happy for him and encourage him, instead they detested him and hated him. This is common in the world we live today.
• Cain orchestrated similar behaviour towards Abel in Gen 4:8-9.
• Potiphar was blessed because of the presence of a righteous man - Joseph, in his household. This focused the attention of God on his estate.
• Proverbs 10:6 The righteous will be unable to hide God’s blessings/ promotions because it will be in the glare view of all, but shame will keeps the mouth of the wicked/sinner shut. As a slave, Joseph was uniquely favoured by his master. Even in prison Joseph was a superstar.
• II Chronicles 26:3-5. Similar to Joseph was the young king Uzziah, whose reign was interrupted for 52 years simply because he made God his priority in all his decisions.
• II Chronicles 31:20-21. King Hezekiah also prospered because he diligently obeyed God’s commandment and sought the face God before embarking on any plan.
• Proverbs 3:33 “The curse of the Lord is on the house of the wicked, But He says comes under the curse of God An entire household blesses the home of the just.”. Conversely, blessings pursue and overtake a home ways because a man’s wicked where justice and equity prevails.

3. Focus on God’s Gifts With Patience:

• Joseph unwaveringly held unto his dreams and aspirations to the end despite consistent pitfalls along the way.
• He was not deterred despite being thrown into a dry well, sold to slavery in Egypt and thrown into prison. He lived his dreams; dreaming all-over again and again.
• Joseph looked up to God, just as we are admonished in Heb. 12:2 “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” He relied on God’s blessings and not that of man. Many are today men-pleasers with eyeservice, sycophants satisfied with prises from men.
• 1Pet 1:7 states “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:” Reward for honest service to God is promotion here on earth and a crown of glory after our earthly sojourn. 1Pet 5:4.
• It takes a lot of perseverance and patience to wait on God sometimes. But 2Pet 1:5-7 admonishes us to be patient and godly; and also have brotherly kindness and charity

GOD IS STILL IN THE BUSINESS OF PROMOTING

• Psalms 113:7-says “He raises the poor out of the dust, And lifts the needy out of 9With the princes of His people. —the ash heap, That He may seat him with princesHe grants the barren woman a home, Like a joyful mother of children. Praise the Lord!”
• He specializes in turning things around.
• The poor and down trodden written off by men are elevated unto enviable positions in life by God. The barren is made mother of children.
• Song: I can see everything turning around….
• Psalms 37:25 “I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his descendants begging bread.”
• Proverbs 12:2 “A good man obtains favor from the Lord, But a man of wicked intentions He will condemn.”
• Psalms 112:2-1 ““Praise the Lord! Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, Who delights greatly in His commandments. 2 His descendants will be mighty on earth; The generation of the upright will be blessed.”

CONCLUSION:
Enduring promotion is the reward for consistent commitment to God’s will and purpose for our lives. Anyone who lives outside of God’s will and purpose and seem to be enjoying the worlds promotion is simply being set-up by the devil for filure.