WHAT IS MAN?

What! So short?
Is it truly so short?
Is life on this planet earth really so short?
Just imagine!
Then what after that?
Eternity of course!
Why the hullabaloo about life here?
Vanity, vanity, all is vanity!

TEACH US TO NUMBER OUR DAYS

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How do you see life? How long do you have on this earth? 60, 70, 100 years more? Our days on the earth 70 to 80 years the Psalmist says: "The days of our years are three score years and ten: and if by reason of strength they befour score years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away". Even if for whatever reason one stays up to 120 years (very rare and not unconnected with regrets) that's still nothing to be compared with eternity.
God has given each one of us only a short time on earth as a period of testing to determine our faithfulness to Him while living in the midst of this wicked and perversed generation which opposes God and His word.

Understand eternity by comparing this chart:
1000 years here on earth is only like one day in heaven!
ON EARTH HERE--------------------------IN HEAVEN WITH THE LORD
60 years ---------------------------------------1 hour 26 minutes 4 seconds
70 years ---------------------------------------1 hour 40 minutes 48 seconds
80 years ---------------------------------------1 hour 55 minutes 12 seconds
100 years --------------------------------------2 hours 24 minutes
See how brief our sojourn here on earth is?

What are you doing? Take a closer look at the brevity of life, the time is far spent. Where will you spend the eternity? In heaven or hell? Jesus is the only way made available by God. Accept Him as your Lord and Saviour today.
James 4 verse 14; Ecclesiastes 1 verse 2; Psalm 90: verses 10-12;
2nd Peter 3 verse 8; John 14 verse 6.

WEAPONS OF WARFARE

1Samuel 17:20
“So David defeated the Philistine with only a sling and a stone………” David as inexperience as he is, defeated that veteran warrior-Goliath of Gath not with a missile or any other virile physical weapons.
In fighting the Goliath of your life, you need two weapons. I have never seen a virile, potent, powerful, deadly, and dynamic weapon as these two weapons. No atomic bomb can match them. No chemical weapon is as powerful as they were. David employed these two weapons in fighting Goliath a man of great stature, a giant.

A SLING
Just a sling; your faith. “All these people had great faith. And with that faith they defeated kingdoms………with their faith some people closed the mouth of lions, some people stopped great fires….they did those things because they had faith……they became powerful in battle and defeated other armies” Hebrews 11 verses 33-34. Faith is a propelling positive force that moves the hand of the commander of the host of heaven to strike on your behalf.
ONE STONE
Only one stone-the word of God, is needed. When you speak the word of God, it is not your own word which originates from you. As a result it is not your responsibility to defend or fulfill it. The onus lies on God to watch over His word to perform it. So speak it. A closed mouth is a closed destiny. The words you speak have power and consequences. “Death and life are in the power of tongue: they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof”. Proverbs 18 verse 21. If the word of man can be so powerful to bring or cause life and death, how much more powerful shall the word of God be? Open your mouth and declare by faith. The man whose daughter was sick said unto Jesus “Speak the word, and my daughter will be well”. When you are under attack, open your mouth, declare God’s word and the forces of heaven will come to your aid.
David used faith (sling) to propel the word of God at Goliath. What was the result? It hits the target at the right place-in between the eyes. “The evil bow before the good; and the wicked at the gates of the righteous”. Proverbs 14:19 “The stone sank deep into his head; and Goliath fell to the ground (face down)”. 1 Samuel 17 verse 49. The word of God is as powerful as God Himself. Where the word of the king is, there is power. “A divine sentence is in the lips of the king”, David sentence Goliath to death with the word of his mouth. “Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God……….Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comes to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou has defied. This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take your head from thee; and I will give the carcasses of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.” 1 Samuel 17 verses 36, 44-45. Spiritual warfare is a battle of words; don’t allow the enemy to have the last say over your life and situations. Goliath made the first move; he walked slowly closer to David. But David ran out to meet Goliath. David was bold and confident in the virility of his weapons and was ready to strike. Spiritual warfare is a do or dies affairs.

2Corinthians10:
4. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;
5. Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalted itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
6. And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
Stand up and speak the word of God in faith. The Lord will surely fight for you.

JESUS CAN SET YOU FREE

John 5:6

When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole? (KJV).

A. IDENTIFY YOUR NEED
Sickness can simply be put as a state of body illness. However, it is not only the body that is becoming sick nowadays.Many other things are becoming sick, e.g. marriage, spiritual life, finance,character,.........., the list is endless.You need to identify your need. In other word, it is your responsibility to know in which area you need help. In this case that man was sick in his body and he knew it. He has been suferring for the past 38 years.

B. BE WHERE YOUR NEED WILL BE MET
This man was in the right place and at the right time. He was in a place where healing and deliverance are received. Despite the fact that you know your problem, have you being to where the solution is? Have you being to the right place for the solution? The solution to that problem is not just anywhere. Stop moving from pillar to post, seeking for help where help is not.Stop allowing Satan and his agents to milk you. The woman with issue of blood spent all she had without respite. Jesus said "Come unto me all ye that labour and have heavy burden, and I will give you rest.... He that comes unto me I will in no way cast out". In the evening when the sun was set, they brought all manners of sick people to Him and everybody went home rejoicing.

C. BE WILLING
Having identified your need, you must be willing to accept help.Jesus asked the man "Do you want to be well?" instead of giving a direct answer, he started narratin g unsolicited story to atrract Jesus' pity. Many people are like,telling stories that never help.Rolling out the catalogue of your problem may not yield any positive results.Do you want to be well? Yes,I want. No, I don't want.The one that is asking the question knows you more than you think he does.

D. DON'T BLAME ANYBODY
The man said, "There is no person to help me get into the water when the water starts moving.....but when I try, another person always goes in before I can" Don't blame your parents, relatives, friends, spouse, government,teacher/lecturer, or even God. Whatever happens to you is your fault.You are responsible for what you are and whatever happens to you.Jabez did not accept sorrow as his lot on Earth, therefore he cried to God and God answered him 1 Chronicles 4 verse 9-10. If your effort is yet to produce results, don't give up. Do more.

E. TAKE UP RESPONSIBILITY
Then Jesus said "Stand up! Pick up your bed and walk". The man picked up his bed and started walking. Until you take up a responsibility, you remain a liability. Do something. Pray more. Get employed. Be committed to serious studying. Don't close that business or shop. Don't quit that college or job. Don't divorce your spouse. That child will change for the better. Your life won't be the same for ever. A change is coming. Your healing and deliverance have come. Your salvation has arrived. Jesus can set you free, come unto Him today.

SUICIDE IS NOT THE SOLUTION

Matthew 27:3-5; '......Judas said, "I sinned. I gave you an innocent man to be killed"....So Judas threw the money into the temple. Then Judas left that place and hanged hinself.I don't know the offence you have committed. Is it stealing, fornication,adultery,fraud, armed robbery,....? What is the situation that is challenging your faith to think of ending your life? The one who created you knows about it. He has designed it for a purpose. Judas reacted negatively to the sin of betrayal he has committed by hanging himself. Suicide is not the solution to the problem of sin or difficult situation. Killing yourself has no meaning because JESUS has died for you. He has taken your place on the cross, there he bore all your sins and carried all your difficult situations.Job faced the most challenging situation of life, yet he did not commit siucide. At the end God granted him double blessings for his troubles. Peter denied Jesus to His face, he did not commit suicide thereafter, he repented and was restored. David committed adultery with one of his soldier's wife and later killed the man (Uriah). He cofessed his acts when he was confronted with it and repented.God restored him. Suicide is an exit to everlasting place of sorrow (hell fire). Stop thinking of committing suicide, God is interested in your being alive, that is why He has died for you. Cofess whatever sin you have committed, repent of them and receive God's forgiveness. Forgive yourself also. That situation you are in now is a transition to the next level of your life. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, God delivers them out of it all.God is ever ready to change your situation around. Are you ready for Him? Glorious days are ahead. I can see you coming out strong. I can see you overcome.DON'T BE LIKE JUDAS, BE LIKE GOD.See you on top.

DON'T GIVE UP.

Isaiah 38 vs 1-6. At that time, Hezekiah got sick. He was about to die. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz visited him and said, "God says, 'Prepare your affairs and your family. This is it: You're going to die. You're not going to get well.'" Hezekiah turned away from Isaiah and, facing the wall, prayed to God. And Hezekiah wept as he prayed—painful tears.Then God told Isaiah, "Go and speak with Hezekiah.I've heard your prayer. I have seen your tears.I'll add fifteen years to your life. And I'll save both you and this city from the king of Assyria. I have my hand on this city.
Hezekiah took his destiny in his hands.He took a step,he wrestled with God in Prayer. In what difficult situation or disturbing circumstance are you in? It is not over for you. Your situation is redeemable. The possessor of heaven and earth will answer to your cry. Take a step. Give God a chance.Stop pity party.God will never forget or forsake you. He is your prsent help in trouble.You cannot pray too much. Remember, the devil's strategy is to weary you so that you can quit. What have you heard from the doctor concerning your health or fruitfulness? What are the negative pronouncements over your life? God can reverse it. Your maker have the final say over your life not a mere man.Hezekiah did not give up, never should you give up. The miracle of God for you is on the way.