Sound Word Outreach and Ministry

THE CHOSEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL DATE: Thursday 18th June, 2020. TOPIC: Come Unto Me TEXT: Matt. 11:28  MESSAGE Whenever I go through the Sankey, especially when I feel happy and want to get inspired by the love of God for mankind, I usually amongst others open to sacred songs and solos 473 - "Just as I am without one plea, but that the blood was shed for, and that thou bids me come to thee O lamb of God, I come." It invites the sinner with all his sins, just as he is with all his..., all his unworthiness, pardon, cleanse and receive to relieve them. The love of the father has broken every barrier down - John 3:16. From verse 28 of our text,  Christ says, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." The call is for all, the righteous and unrighteous. Job 14:1 says, "Man that is born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble."  You might be rich or poor, illiterate or learn, black or white. It is an open invitation. At an...

MEDITATION Leadership Failure and Repentance 2 KINGS 12:1-16 1. Leadership failure a. Imperfect, partial obedience and compliance to the word of God v3. "Just a little" worldliness, sin, compromise and permissiveness  by the leader and the led. b. Inability to command full obedience to God's standard v3. Q What are the reasons why leaders at times chicken out from full compliance and enforcement of God's standard? It takes courage to do and enforce full obedience to God, Joshua 1:6,7. c. Leadership negligence: The temple was left in a state of disrepair for 23 years v6. Does it mean he was not going to the temple for 23 years? Procrastination? Busy with less important things etc? e. Poor supervision of the subordinate's responsibilities vv6,7. The priestly responsibility was not done for 23 years and the king kept mute until after 23 years! e. Delay in taking action on matters of emergency vv6,7. f. Wastage of divinely given resources vv7,8. They had the money but...

MEDITATION Deuteronomy 16:13-22 Gleanings from the shadow  The ordinances of the Old Testament are shadow of the new Testament, the reality of God's plan, Colossians 2:17, Hebrews 10:1. 1. The shadow of feasts a. There were three feasts commanded in the text, v16. b. All of them are pointers to the redemption and the journey of the new life in Christ. c. Feast of unleavened bread had to do with commemoration of when they were delivered from Egypt (the world of sin) vv16,3. The feast was not really pleasant because they could only eat unleavened bread. The equivalence in the NT is the Lord's supper. I Corinthians 11:24. The feast of weeks was to help them remember the great difference between the slavery life in Egypt (sin and the world) and the blessings in the new Canaan life signified by the beginning of harvests vv9,12. The NT reality was fulfilled in the day of Pentecost in Acts chapter 2. The feast of Tabernacles enjoined them to be in booths for 7 weeks as a reminder of t...

DAILY MANNA TUESDAY, 16 JUNE 2020 It is advisable that you prayerfully and meditatively read the text first PARTIALITY CONDEMNED  TEXT: DEUTERONOMY 16:13-22. 🔑 KEY VERSE   "Thou shalt not wrest judgement; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift: for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous" (DEUTERONOMY 16:19). During the fall of 1775, a man who appeared to be a typical American farmer attempted to book a room in Baltimore's fashionable hotel. Concerned about the hotel's reputation, the manager refused to rent the room. The man left and he took a room in another hotel. Later, the manager learnt he had refused a room to Thomas Jefferson, the then Vice President of the United States. Immediately, he sent a note asking Jefferson to return to his hotel as a guest. And Jefferson replied: "I value your good intentions highly, but if you have no place for an American farmer, you have no right giving hospitality to an Am...

MEDITATION 2 KINGS 11:1-12 Beware of inordinate position seeking 1. Inordinate position seekers a. They are willing to destroy or assassinate the character of anybody that stands in their way of ambition v1.  b. They, perhaps unconsciously, value their ambitions more than human lives v1. c. They hypocritically pretend to want to serve when in actual sense they want people to serve their ambitions and lists v1. d. The will of God is secondary to them and seeking His will is just to ask God to rubber stamp their ambitions v1. e. They may get what they want but that thing will eventually destroy them and if care is not taken end up in hell vv13-15. Q What are the other  characteristics inordinate position seekers.  2. The right attitude to follow The young Joash, who did not fight for the throne, eventually became the king. a. Think twice before struggling for any position for which nobody recommends you. It may be that people don't see the grace for that position in you or ...

DAILY MANNA MONDAY, 15 JUNE 2020 It is advisable that you prayerfully and meditatively read the text first END OF IMPUNITY  TEXT: 2 KINGS 11:1-12. 🔑 KEY VERSE "And when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the royal seed" (2 KINGS 11:1). What has come to be referred to as the Arab Spring was a series of pro-democracy uprisings that enveloped several largely Muslim countries, including Tunisia, Morocco, Syria, Libya, Egypt and Bahrain. The events in these nations generally began in the spring of 2011 which led to the removal of popular dictators and brought social and political change. From the passage under review, the southern kingdom of Judah was now being consumed by the venom of the poisonous snake they allowed in their nation. Athaliah, the daughter of Omri, a king in the idolatrous northern kingdom of Israel, came into the royal family of Judah by marriage. She killed her own grandchildren and took control of the nation...

🍃🌹 ​A sick person in a hospital bed was visited by relatives.​ ​The patient was on an oxygen MACHINE and therefore couldn't speak.​ ​As they stood beside the bed, the patient took a pen and a piece of paper and wrote a note which he gave to one of the relatives who put it in his shirt pocket without reading and they continued with their conversation.​ ​After a few minutes, the patient died.​  ​The relative later picked the note from his pocket to know what the dead man had written.​  ​And guess what❗​  ​Sadly the note read....​ ​​"Please move away from there, you have stepped on the oxygen pipe. I can't breathe again , you are killing me".​​  🌹 ​LESSON:​🌹 ​Do you postpone reading posts❓​  ​Or do you ignore picking calls because you are already close to the caller❓​  ​They might be helpful to you or to somebody particularly at a most critical time.​ ​Please pick your calls, read that note.​ ⚠ ​NEVER POSTPONE ANYTHING.​❗ ​​Don't just read this message alo...

MEDITATION DEUTERONOMY 15:12-23 How to treat our house helps, servants and employees 1. Put their future interest, freedom and prosperity in perspective. Don't be selfish v12. 2. Don't use and dump. Have specific plans for their successful independent living v12. 3. In determining their wages, treat them like human beings who should have enough to secure their present and prepare for their future. Don't be like Laban, Jacob's master  v12. 4. Don't be oppressive. Treat them in such a way that they will enjoy working for you and if they are to leave, it will be reluctantly vv16,17. 5. Settle them after they have served you and it is time to release them vv13,18. 6. Don't enslave them. Don't use affliction, deprivation, denials or delays in paying them to drive them away vv13,14. 7. The reward and blessings that follow obedience and love outweigh the sacrifice v18c.  8. It is expected of the servants to behave brotherly and sacrificially in a way that the emplo...

MEDITATION EZEKIEL 17:11-24. How to break an evil covenant 1. The evil covenant a. Jerusalem was already captured and had already experienced the first deportation to Babylon 2 Chronicles 36:10. b. Zedekiah was installed as King by Nebuchadnezzar under an evil covenant if he wanted to enjoy his reign 2 Chronicles 36:13. c. What was the term of the covenant? That the kingdom of Judah will forever be base, in subjection and perpetual defeat, Ezekiel 17:14.  d. What was the benefit? Judah will not be destroyed and the king will not be taken to captivity Ezekiel 17:14. e. Since it was a national covenant, the princes and leaders were part of this evil covenant Ezekiel 17:13. Q Why do people go into unrighteous covenants with greater powers, civil or spiritual, nowadays? Hebrews 2:15. 2. God's attitude towards evil covenants a. Did God recognise the covenant? Why not? It was voluntary. Both sides had their benefits and the repercussions. God is a covenant keeper and He is a witness to a...

MEDITATION A rehearsal of the Great Tribulation? The literal fulfilment of the text will be in the Great Tribulation. For example, cp vv19-21 and Revelation 6:15,16. However, the pandemic is  showing that the fulfilment will be literal. 1. Some modern day sins that will precede the great tribulation a. Proud look vv11,17. Sin is a heart problem, but it  will always seek to overflow to the outward appearance in dressing, physical and outward comportment etc., if not dealt with. Q Mention some of the elements of outward look that show pride and worldliness. b. Arrogance vv11,17. Unprecedented arrogance against God and His word, due mental knowledge, wealth etc. will characterize these last days. P Think of how mental knowledge and quest for wealth have replaced the knowledge of God in this age. c. The idols of latter days will be more of love of wealth (gold and silver), worldly wisdom (knowledge that is exclusive of God and godliness), wickedness, worldliness and wantonness...

MEDITATION PSALM 5:1-7. Some revelations on prayers 1. Some levels of prayers  vv1-3. a. Meditations or desires v1. Proverbs 10:24b and  Isaiah 65:24 show that God do grant some meditations/desires without asking. So, mind your meditations and thoughts.  Q Can you think of a case in the Bible where mere desire was granted without prayers? b. Worded and vocalised prayers v1. The prayers are worded but none is hearing except the petitioner. An example was Hannah, I Samuel 1:13. Some desires will not be granted until you ask Matthew 7:7. c. Voiced and audible prayers v3. This requires voicing out your requests to God in such a way that others may hear, Jeremiah 33:3.  d. Crying to God v2. This involves seeking and knocking the gates of heaven with passion and strong intensity. Q Apart from Jesus at Gethsemane, which other example do you have in the Bible? e. Prayer of confession of faith/praise vv4,6, Romans 4:20. Q Give an example where Judah resorted to praise when it...

MEDITATION Exodus 1:15-22 Some lessons from idol worshippers 1. The midwives were brought up in an idolatrous environment, yet they believed and feared the only true God above all else. L Your godless background should not be an excuse for not seeking the truth and breaking off from false religions or ways.  vv17,21.  2. All the Egyptians and the task masters cooperated with Pharaoh in carrying out evil racial and hateful assignment except the midwives v11,12.  L Be willing and ready to distinguish yourself from majorityif you want to please God Exodus 23:2. 3. The nurses, in line with their professional training, had a strong conviction on the sanctity of life and were not ready to compromise it vv16,17. Q Are you faithful to the ethics of your profession even when it is tough to do so? vv15,16. 4. Their fear of God made them to obey God above the most powerful king on earth at that time vv17-19. Q Do you have such an uncompromising fear of God? Acts 5:29. 5. God is a fa...

THE CHOSEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL DATE: Wednesday 10th June 2020. TOPIC: Constant Companionship With God TEXT: PS 23:3-4  MESSAGE When we agree to subject ourselves to His directives and live in obedience to His word, not turning aside our conscience, he leads us by the still waters, i.e. in dangers, deep and imminent, He leads us. Even when the true believers wander away from the paths into the by paths, God shows them their errors and there is repentance as they come back quickly to their duty post. verse 4 of our text says, "Though i walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, "FOR THOU ART WITH ME" thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me."  David as a young Lad suffered and passed through series of dangers.  As a youth, Saul sought to kill David with all his military powers and when he was aged, there was internal face off and gang ups that even made him run away from his throne. This was what prompted him to write this psalm - "Though i w...

MEDITATION James 2:10-26 More than mental faith and confession 1. The laws of God by which man will be judged are more than the 10 commandments vv9,10.  2. 99.9% obedience = 100% disobedience to God vv10-13. No man can please the Holy God by good works without definite salvation or new birth experience. 3. While good works cannot save any except by personal faith in Christ, genuine faith is known by the good works we manifest vv14-16. 4. Divine Mathematics a. Good works - faith in Christ = 0% (total failure). Galatians 2:16, Ephesians 2:8,9. b. Faith in Christ - good works = 0% (total failure) vv14, 17, 26. c. Faith - good works = vain religion v20.  c. A man of faith without a new life in Christ is not better than Satan v19.  d. Faith + fruits of repentance + good works = 100% v22. e. Any score less than 100% is failure v10. Who said new birth minus holy living is sufficient? Lord, I realise that good trials are not enough, give me the new birth that will turn my efforts...

DAILY MANNA TUESDAY, JUNE 9 2020 It is advisable that you prayerfully and meditatively read the text first PROVE YOUR FAITH  TEXT: JAMES 2:10-26. 🔑 KEY VERSE   "Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works" (JAMES 2:18). It is all too easy to seek to extol our personal virtues, flaunt our spiritual gifts and make ourselves look better than other people. Whereas, this may impress men, it accounts for little or nothing before God. What matters to Him is the result of whatever spiritual experiences we claim to possess. Apostle James underscored this point when he stressed that believers must not strive for half measures. They either obey all the laws or they fail in all. Their words must match their actions. In the same vein, he said if they profess to possess faith, it can only show by their good works. It is no use telling someone in need, who came to you for help, that God will bless him...

MEDITATION James 1:1-15 Don't count it a strange experience please 1. The reality v2. You will at one time or the other experience divers (not just one) situations that will tend to shake your faith John 16:33. 2. The righteousness v2,12. This is different from temptations to sin. Believers are not to fall into temptations but we will fall into trials. We are not to endure temptations but to resist them; we are to endure trials. No sinner will experience a trial of faith because they don't have saving faith. 3. The rationale v3. Trials of faith are permitted by God to try, test, toughen and make your faith triumphant in troublous times. 4. The roughness v8. It is a rough experience that will expose your hypocrisy and unfaithfulness, if you don't have genuine faith, thereby propelling you to seek for the real experience. 5. The radiance v2. Radiate the joy of the Lord without despondency because trials show that God is interested in pulling you out of the register  of hypocr...

MEDITATION TEXT: 1 SAMUEL 3:11-21. Your children's sins can take you to hell if ... 1. Danger of negligence a. Eli did not commit what many called sin except that he was negligent in training his sons v13. b. His "sons made themselves vile" indicating that his sons defiantly refused to do the right and were not excusable. At least Samuel was brought up in the same environment v13.  c. Eli was judged not just because his children misbehaved but for negligence and refusing to play his part as the father v13.  2. What training a child entails Proverbs 22:6. a. "Train up" and not train down. Training should lift the person to a higher ground spiritually, skillfully, socially etc. b. "Train up" cannot exist without an example to follow. You must show the example. Like father (mother) like children. c. "Train up a child" indicates that the best time for training is at childhood. Don't postpone it. d. "Train up a child" shows that it i...

DAILY MANNA SATURDAY, JUNE 6 2020 It is advisable that you prayerfully and meditatively read the text first DON'T LOSE HOPE!  TEXT: 1 SAMUEL 1:1-13. 🔑 KEY VERSE "And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore" (1 SAMUEL 1:10). Perseverance pays. God knows where we are hurting and He is always moved by our tears of sorrow as a compassionate Father. The story of Hannah is a classic example of God's faithfulness to those who trust Him. Although it seemed her journey to Shiloh really yielded no dividend, she continued. She was always part of the worshippers, though with a heavy heart. Only God knew how much she must have cried for the blessing of the womb. Each time she went to Shiloh, she had one special request - that God should touch her womb. To make matters worse, Peninnah, her husband's second wife, was always in the habit of deriding and reminding her of her barren status. In spite of this, Hannah persevered because she knew only G...

MEDITATION The day to always celebrate 1. The day Israel was delivered from Egypt and not the day Israel was born as a nation v1. 2. The purpose of the celebration was to remember the day of deliverance from Egypt v3b,12. 3. It must be characterized with worship (vv5,6), sober and reflective mind (bv3,8) as opposed to fleshly pleasurable or hilarious celebrations (vv7,8). 4. It should be a time of rejoicing in the presence of the Lord because salvation is a thing of joy v11. All other "anti-joy" challenges must be set aside through the spirit of faith, praise and appreciation of the greatest miracle of salvation any one can ever get. 5. For born again child of God, it is the day a person got delivered from sin, worldliness and power of Pharaoh (Satan). It is the day of salvation. Q What are the benefits of recalling and reflecting on your day of salvation. Note  a. Nowhere was Israel asked to celebrate the day she was born as a nation. b. No where were Christians asked to cel...