TODAY’S DEVOTION (THURSDAY 25TH JANUARY 2024)
“May the Lord God of your fathers make you a thousand times more numerous than you are, and bless you as He has promised you!” Deuteronomy 1:11 NKJV
WELCOME TO THE 25TH DAY OF OUR YEAR OF IMPACT.
This is the day the LORD has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it. Let us embrace it tuning our ears to the word of the LORD for the day, and the flow of the Spirit of the LORD for the now.
We have been sharing some Biblical truths on destiny matters. This has been the emphasis of the Spirit for the now.
Destiny matters are the most important matters in the heart of Heaven for the earth. A generation that exalts other matters above destiny matters, will either do the will of man or that of the evil one. There are so many people who are busy doing the will of the evil one. My prayer for us is we will not be part of this group!
In our devotional today we will be highlighting some truths on the word INCREASE. No one wants anything bad to increase. We all want increase in a positive sense.
In the kingdom of God, there is the increase of the government of JESUS Christ. However, it only increases people it rests on. The increase of His government is responsible for the increase of peace, health, victories, or prosperity in the life of a Christian.
There is also the increase of sin and the power of Satan in a man’s life.
Don’t forget, Satan has a kingdom here on earth as well. Jesus acknowledged it in His statements in Matthew 12. That means there can also be an increase in the government of Satan in a man’s life; leading to deaths, losses, or destruction.
Many Christians today are experiencing an increase in the activities of Satan in their lives; marriages are on fire, economic lives are dead and decaying, sin is on rampage, wisdom is not on sight, peace of mind has disappeared. For many, it is just war everywhere.
No man will enjoy this earth if there is an increase of Satan’s government in his life.
The purpose of the gospel is actually to turn hearts away from the government of Satan to the kingdom of God. If we come into the kingdom of God and allow its rule to govern our lives, there will be an elimination of the increase of the Kingdom of darkness in any restive area of our lives.
But if we say we are saved and still live our lives the way of fallen men; following the desires of the godless nature within us that is always opposing the Spirit of God, we will permit the evil one to increase his government in our lives.
WHICH WILL NOT BE GOOD FOR OUR DIVINE DESTINY.
That is why the Bible says;
“But I say, walk and live [habitually] in the [Holy] Spirit [responsive to and controlled and guided by the Spirit]; then you will certainly not gratify the cravings and desires of the flesh (of human nature without God).”
“For the desires of the flesh are opposed to the [Holy] Spirit, and the [desires of the] Spirit are opposed to the flesh (godless human nature); for these are antagonistic to each other [continually withstanding and in conflict with each other], so that you are not free but are prevented from doing what you desire to do.” Galatians 5:16-17 AMP
An increase in the activities of the flesh, will always result in an increase in the activities of the evil one.
Many are not fulfilling their divine destiny because the devil will not let them. And the devil is succeeding because they are allowing the flesh to hold sway in their lives. The Bible says,
“the desires of the flesh are opposed to the [Holy] Spirit, and the [desires of the] Spirit are opposed to the flesh (godless human nature); for these are antagonistic to each other [continually withstanding and in conflict with each other],”
Our job therefore is to co-operate with the desires of the Spirit and shut down that of the flesh. That is the only way we can extend the finished works of the cross to our lives and permit an increase of the government of Jesus in our lives.
Don’t forget, every divine destiny is fulfilled by the propelling power, passion, desires and fire of God. Isaiah calls it “the zeal of the LORD.”
Here is what he said in one of his prophetic deliveries;
“Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this”. Isaiah 9:7 NKJV
Eternal purposes of God are performed in time by the power of the Zeal of the LORD; your divine destiny inclusive. Isaiah said the zeal of the LORD of host will perform this. It means if I do anything that will not allow that to happen, my divine destiny will be stalled.
THERE WILL BE NO PERFORMANCE OF ETERNAL PURPOSE IN AND THROUGH ME.
Walking in the Spirit is therefore the only way we can permit God’s zeal to go active in our lives performing eternal purposes in and through us and unleashing our divine destiny. It is the only way we can plug on to power and allow God to move our divine destinies from the declaration to the manifestation.
May there be an increase of Jesus’ government in your life. May the zeal of the LORD increasingly help you unleash your divine destiny in Jesus precious name! Amen!! Our devotional text today says;
“May the Lord God of your fathers make you a thousand times more numerous than you are, and bless you as He has promised you!”
The dictionary defined increase as becoming greater in size, amount, and intensity or degree. It also means to be made greater in size, amount, intensity or degree. These definitions look alike but not really alike.
One word and one phrase differentiated the definitions. That word is “becoming,” AND the phrase is “to be made.” In matters of divine destiny, if you are not made, you cannot become.
For instance, if GOD has not made you fruitful in the Spirit, you cannot become fruitful in the natural. If He has not made you rich, you cannot become rich.
When it comes to destiny matters, we can only become what God has made us to be.
Not understanding that is the reason for struggles in the life of some. We struggle and toil and sometimes fail because what we are trying to get is not part of our destiny. We cannot become what God has not made us to be.
This morning God is saying to someone, “I am going to increase you – in a positive sense!” He is going to increase us a thousand times more as part of our divine destiny.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT INCREASE IS GOD’S WILL FOR DESTINY PEOPLE.
Yes, it is through our increase that we take over territories and enforce the will of God in the lives of others as written in Heaven. It is through our increase that we take dominion over darkness and subdue the earth.
It is through our increase that we turn the armies of the wicked to flight.
If we do not increase, the kingdom of God will not advance forcefully among men. Increase is a critical blessing God places on a divine destiny. Once you have discovered and planted yourself in divine destiny, the next thing to seek God for is INCREASE.
Divine destiny is unleashed when God increases us on every side!
Jesus made it clear in John 15 that when we bear much fruit, the Father will be glorified. In other words, the blessing of increase has a way of bringing glory to God. And we are in the days of God’s glory.
I pray for you today that Increase will become your hallmark.
However, it will be required that you walk in the Spirit, and no longer walk in the flesh. When we walk in the Spirit, we experience the increase of God. But when we do not, we experience a decrease of God’s moves and works in our lives. That is the message of today!
I pray that you increase in wisdom, in divine peace, in the measure of God’s presence, in divine revelation, in hunger for more of God, in power, and financial prosperity in Jesus precious name!
It is part of our divine destiny to increase on every side, with the increase of God. Without increase, there can be no greatness. May the LORD increase us, and continue to do so on every side, in Jesus’ precious name. Amen!!
LET THIS SCRIPTURE BE AN ADDITIONAL MEDITATION FOR US TODAY;
“You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord; He is their help and their shield.”
“The Lord has been mindful of us; He will bless us; He will bless the house of Israel; He will bless the house of Aaron. He will bless those who fear the Lord, both small and great”.
“May the Lord give you increase more and more, you and your children. May you be blessed by the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” Psalms 115:11-15 NKJV