Action City Church - Agona Swedru

Action City Church - Agona Swedru Action City Church Agona Swedru is a branch of the ACC/ ACI family.

02/05/2022

*THE LAMP DEVOTION*

*MONDAY MAY 2*

*YOU ARE A PROBLEM SOLVER*

*1 Samuel 17:34-37a*

34 But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep his father’s sheep, and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock, 35 I went out after it and struck it, and delivered the lamb from its mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught it by its beard, and struck and killed it. 36 Your servant has killed both lion and bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God.” 37 Moreover David said, “The LORD, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.”

We know King David as one of the true worshippers of all time. We read the Psalms and they are full of his experiences of God’s favor and breakthroughs in his life. This morning, it is worth looking at David from another perspective – a problem solver.

When the great soldiers of Israel who had fought battles all their lives saw no way out of a situation, David found one. Now you must understand here that David’s solution then was not grounded in the fact that he was a war strategist.
He did not command any of the credentials we acknowledge before a mortal mounts the pulpit to make a delivery; yet he stood as one great problem solver. He knew the God who helped him fight the bear and lion in the wilderness had power to bring the giant down.
David’s power to solve problems was deeply rooted in the God of all power and dominion. No one who truly walks with God in close intimacy lacks wisdom to solve problems.

The people who will enjoy life here on earth while waiting to enter eternity are the problem solvers. Simply realize that in Christ we are problem solvers.

*Prayer*
1. Thank God that by His wisdom in you, you are a problem solver.
2. Pray that when you encounter problems, you will look up to Jesus.
3. Father, please make me resistant to stubborn problems.

*Declarations*
I declare that God my heavenly Father is the Source of all wisdom. He is the Master problem solver. His wisdom is available to me. Therefore, I am also a problem solver. There is no problem on earth bigger than my God, and there is therefore no problem bigger than me. I declare by divine authority that in Christ I have solutions to all my problems in the name of Jesus!

*Author: Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams*

30/04/2022

*THE LAMP DEVOTION*

*SATURDAY APRIL 30*

*ONE DAY AT A TIME*

*Deuteronomy 7:22-24*

_22 And the LORD your God will drive out those nations before you little by little; you will be unable to destroy them at once, lest the beasts of the field become too numerous for you. 23 But the LORD your God will deliver them over to you and will inflict defeat upon them until they are destroyed. 24 And He will deliver their kings into your hand, and you will destroy their name from under heaven; no one shall be able to stand against you until you have destroyed them._

All humanity is in a hurry about everything. We are in haste with both little things like waiting for your turn in line to big things like getting that million-dollar contract to come through. This is worsened by the micro-wave mentality where everything is subjected to the instant mode. Unfortunately, we take the same attitude to God.
God has a different scenario. He works through process, and process takes time. Time allows God to establish building blocks that will sustain whatever He is doing with you. That is what makes God-things last for a long time. This is part of the equation humanity has forever struggled to come to terms with.
If God opens our eyes to see what goes into what He does for us, we will appreciate Him more when He asks us to wait for His appointed time. He works one day at a time, and we cannot see what He did in any particular day. We see the sum-total sometimes months after He began.
In today’s passage He gives us one of the reasons He did not drive Israel’s enemies from the land all at once. In your case it may not be beasts of the field, but something more than beasts of the field. Let God be God.

*Prayer*
1. Worship God for being the all-wise God He is, perfect in all His ways.
2. Pray for a heart that will humbly wait on God for His fullness of the time.
3. Father, please hold my spirit so l will not go ahead of You and take things in my hand.

*Declarations*
I declare that my heavenly Father is wiser than all. There is no way anyone can know better Him. He knows the end from the beginning, and His works are forever perfect. I allow Him to lead, and I follow one day at a time. l declare that my time will come, and He will honor and exalt me to His glory in the name of Jesus.

*Author:Archbishop Nicholas* *Duncan-Williams.*

29/04/2022

*THE LAMP DEVOTION*

*FRIDAY APRIL 29*

*GOD’S WAY IS THE WAY*

*Isaiah 55:7-9*

_Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon. 8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. 9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts._

In His wisdom God created us in His image and likeness. Further to this, He gave us the power of choice to make decisions based on what He wills for us. This became a two-edged sword that works for our advantage and often to our disadvantage. It works for our advantage when we make choices that perfectly align with God’s principle and purposes. When we make wrong choices, we always face the consequences. Thank God in those moments He still does not leave us alone.

With the power of choice, we tend to create our own ways and paths. When we create paths that match God’s plans, we get blessed in several ways. Often however, humanity specializes in taking ways that directly oppose God. Those are the ones described as the ways of death however good and right they look in the eyes of men.

God knows His ways are far higher than ours and so are His thoughts. Consequently, God picks issues with us not because we walk in paths that lead to death. He has issues with us because we often refuse to listen to Him; we refuse to seek His thoughts and His ways in making the decisions of this life till we meet with trouble. The wise adopt an “ask God first” policy, and all who do that will not deviate from God’s paths and ways.

*Prayer*
Thank God he has not hidden His ways from you but has made them open.
Pray that you will develop the discipline of first asking God before making major life decisions.
Father, please help me to contact You every day of my life on all issues.

*Declarations*
I acknowledge that God’s ways are higher than mine and so also are His thoughts. I pledge to never go ahead of God again in my life. I declare that I shall wait on Him, learn to seek His face as a lifestyle before I get confronted with the major issues of life. I shall let Him lead and I will follow in the name of Jesus.

*Author:Archbishop Nicholas* *Duncan-Williams.*

28/04/2022

*THE LAMP DEVOTION*

*THURSDAY APRIL 28*

*WHAT HAPPENED TO TESTIMONIES?*

*Isaiah 63:7-8*

I will mention the loving kindnesses of the and the praises of the Lord, according to all that the Lord has bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which He has bestowed on them according to His mercies, according to the multitude of His loving kindnesses. 8 For He said, “Surely they are My people, Children who will not lie.” So He became their Savior.

The church has undergone some changes, some for good and some still leave us asking questions. The prophet Isaiah declared he will mention the lovingkindness of the Lord according to what He has bestowed upon His children. This was a declaration under the Old Testament. It was made by the prophet who prophesied about Jesus but did not meet Him like Peter and John did. He prophesied but the early church saw the fulfillment of the prophecies.

The question to ask these days is simply this: “where are the testimonies of the Lord”? Put another way we ask, “what happened to testimonies”? Every day we hear of several hours of prayer, particularly in tongues with passion and fervency that can make you feel you do not know how to pray. We sing a lot of songs written by gospel musicians that talk about God; but where are our personal testimonies?
God hears the songs of your favorite gospel musician that you have memorized and sing with all your emotions. He is still waiting to hear of your testimonies when you come into his presence. Is it that He is not answering our long prayers? Is it that we are missing the whole point in this saga of long prayers the whole night talking to God? Let each man examine himself.

*Prayer*
1. Thank God for His commitment to answer the prayers you offer before His throne.
2. Pray that all your prayer will be on point, and you will be sensitive to see what God does for you.
3. Father help me count my blessings and testify to Your goodness at all times.

*Declarations*
I declare that my God is a faithful and prayer-answering heavenly Father. As I pray, He does for me the things I ask of Him. I shall therefore no longer keep silent over all that He has done for me. Nothing shall be small in my eyes, and nothing shall be big; Every good and perfect gift comes from Him and so shall be my testimonies of His goodness in the name of Jesus.

*Author: Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams*

27/04/2022

*THE LAMP DEVOTION*

*WEDNESDAY APRIL 27*

*WHO CAN STAND?*

*Malachi 3:2-3*

_“But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner’s fire and like launderers’ soap. 3 He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer to the Lord an offering in righteousness._

This passage explains one of the things that will happen when God arises. He is coming to town with a well-defined very intentional agenda. He calls that the day of His coming and He says He is coming with fire. It is about purging, it is about purifying, the agenda is to separate chaff from what will stand in the lives of His children. He comes as a refiner, and nothing will remain the same when He comes.

He is asking who will endure His coming because we all know the process of purging. Anything impure in the sight of God that we have held on and has become part of our very being is on the verge of being removed from our being; and that is where the trouble will be.

He said He will purge the sons of Levi, the priesthood, and that today means all believers because we have been called into the royal priesthood. This is synonymous with judgement which will begin in the house of God. On one hand, it looks like a fearful visitation, particularly for anyone who is living a loose life, but for those who are endeavoring to walk in God’s word, it is an opportunity for them to become even better than what they are now. I pray you are in this latter group.

*Prayer*
1. Thank God for His agenda to make you a better version of yourself than when you first accepted Christ as Savior and Lord.
2. Pray that you will continue in a heart that is ready to be purified so God’s visitation will bless you even more.
3. Father, all I ask is to be like my Lord Jesus Christ.

*Declarations*
I acknowledge that the greatest gift I can ever receive from God is the image and character of Jesus my Lord. My heart’s desire is to look like Him as I live in this life of sin and woe. My heart is open, and my mind is ready for the purging and refinement that God is bringing my way. I declare that when He is done with me, I shall come forth as pure gold in the name of Jesus.

*Author: Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams*

26/04/2022

*THE LAMP DEVOTION*

*TUESDAY APRIL 26*

*MAKE SURE YOUR WORK* *STANDS*

*1 Corinthians 3:11-15*

_11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. 14 If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire._

This passage is one of the most critical passages about what every man is doing on earth today, especially for those of us who are doing so many things in the name of God. The reality that will be revealed one day is that some of the things people are doing today will not pass God’s test.

We have endorsed so many practices and so many statements today because someone whom God used to do a miracle is saying or practicing that. Jesus said earlier that some will come and say things they did in His name and He will say to them, “I know you not”. Here Paul is not referring to those to whom Jesus will say I know you not”. It is about those who have a place in the kingdom with Jesus in eternity. They will lose their reward though they will be saved. He said “as through fire”, and that has its implications.

Jesus earlier gave a hint. He said many already have their reward on earth because their works were done to please people and make a name for themselves. We all must be careful about how and with what we are building God’s kingdom.

*Prayer*
1. Thank God for equipping you to serve him while you wait for eternity.
2. Pray that you will build only on God’s solid foundation and with the required items.
3. Father, please help me build well so my work will last into eternity in the name of Jesus!

*Declarations*
I declare that the service of the Lord is my delight. For as long as He gives me breath, my life and times shall be invested in kingdom business. I am careful to build only on the one solid foundation and do according to God’s standards. My works here shall endure the trying fire and stand throughout eternity in the name of Jesus!

*Author:Archbishop Nicholas* *Duncan-Williams.*

21/04/2022

*THE LAMP DEVOTION*

*THURSDAY APRIL 21*

*BECAUSE YOU ARE GOD’S*

*Amos 3:2-3; 13-15*

_“You only have I chosen of all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your sins.” 3 Do two walk together unless they have agreed to do so? 13 “Hear this and testify against the descendants of Jacob,” declares the Lord, the Lord God Almighty. 14 “On the day I punish Israel for her sins, I will destroy the altars of Bethel; the horns of the altar will be cut off and fall to the ground. 15 I will tear down the winter house along with the summer house; the houses adorned with ivory will be destroyed and the mansions will be demolished,” declares the Lord._

Our relationship with God is like His word – a two-edged sword. Everyone sees us as privileged even our enemies and they envy us because we have Jehovah as our -heavenly Father. Whoever God loves He chastises; chastisement is not fun. It often takes the form of pain or the removal of a privilege, whichever will get the job done by God’s understanding.

At the new birth, God promises to give us a new nature. We also pledge to walk in newness. That is the agreement at the point of the new birth. Once we agree to this, God expects us to honor our part of the agreement.
In the olden days when Israel broke their portion of the agreement, God used ways He chose to bring them back to Himself. This third chapter of the Book of Amos gives a graphic presentation of this truth.

Anything that we have substituted in place of loving and honoring God becomes God’s target in the chastisement, which in this passage is referred to as punishment. That is the winter house and the summer house mentioned here. Let nothing come between you and God because that thing cannot stand God’s judgement. God will demolish them all so He can have your maximum attention

*Prayer*
1. Thank God for His commitment to the agreement to walk with you in this journey of life.
2. Pray for strength to honor your portion of the agreement.
3. Father, please help me pull down any altars that stand between us.

*Declarations*
I declare that I am bound to an agreement to walk uprightly as God’s child in a dark and crooked world. God has given me what it takes to honor my part of the agreement that made us Father and child. I will therefore honor my part so I do not attract God’s displeasure for disobedience in the name of Jesus.

*Author: Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams*

20/04/2022

*THE LAMP DEVOTION*

*WEDNESDAY APRIL 20*

*VESSEL OF HONOR*

*2 Timothy 2:20-21*

_20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. 21 Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work_

The Christian life begins with being born again – when one asks Jesus to come and live in his heart. That is an instant happening. Beyond that the Christian experience is a process involving the transformation of the believer into Christian character. Although the young believer is encouraged to serve the Lord in a capacity commensurate with God’s gift in his life, there is no short0cut to the process.
Paul said never make a novice a leader and that is a loaded statement. It means give responsibility to someone who has gone through due process and has attained a level of Christlikeness. It takes time and process for one to cleanse himself and become a vessel of honor. The cleansing Paul is talking here is not the one that we receive when we come to the altar and ask God for forgiveness. It is the removal from the new believer of all the manifestations of the sinful nature that he has walked in all these years, some of which have become habits. We know that habits do not go away as easily as we wish.

Every believer must yield to God daily and give God time to remove from him all that will bring shame to God if he is exposed to the world. God wants a clean vessel to parade before a dark, lost and dying world, and we should not be tempted to run ahead of God. Let God take time to prepare you for long-term quality service.

*Prayer*
1. Thank God for the opportunity given you to serve God in a lost and dark world.
2. Pray that you will allow God to do the deep work of transformation to make you a clean vessel.
3. Father, here am I, kindly work on me till You have transformed me into a vessel of honor.

*Declarations*
I declare that my heart is open for service in the kingdom of God. I am ready to be transformed into a vessel that God will not be ashamed of. My mind is set, and I am willing to go through God’s mill no matter how hard and how long that will be. I declare that I am being transformed into a vessel of honor in the house of God in the name of Jesus!

*Author: Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams*

19/04/2022

*THE LAMP DEVOTION*

*TUESDAY APRIL 19*

*SINNERS AFRAID*

*Isaiah 33:14-16*

The sinners in Zion are afraid; Fearfulness has seized the hypocrites: “Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? Who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?” 15 He who walks righteously and speaks uprightly, He who despises the gain of oppressions, who gestures with his hands, refusing bribes, who stops his ears from hearing of bloodshed, and shuts his eyes from seeing evil: 16 He will dwell on high; His place of defense will be the fortress of rocks; bread will be given him, his water will be sure.

This passage is in two parts. In the first part it acknowledges the state of that heart of sinners. They are afraid and it is because of the devouring fire of the Holy Spirit. Fear has seized those who are hypocritical. The second part focuses on those who will be able to survive despite the fire of the Lord.

They are those who walk uprightly before God. They are the people who are moving away from all that defile the soul of man before God – taking bribes, bloodshed, does not delight in unlawful gains, etc.
God does so much for us on His own accord and that is explained by His grace. We generally do not earn God’s blessings. He does things out of His love for us. Nevertheless, God is happy with those who move away from all works of darkness because of what God’s word says. It is logical that these will get more from the Lord than those who live anyhow because God does not condone sin and He will not prosper the one living in utter sinfulness.

Live right and always exhibit the righteousness of Christ. Let no man have a shadow of doubt about your faith and commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ. Give God the opportunity to testify to your uprightness like He did of Job. You are sure to get the best of God’s blessings.

*Prayer*
1. Thank God for His faithfulness in acknowledging your life of righteousness.
2. Pray for grace to continue living in righteousness in accordance with God’s principles.
3. Father keep me daily in your path of righteousness.

*Declarations*
I declare that my God is faithful in keeping His promise to bless me beyond my imagination. I shall not fail in fulfilling the least He asks of me; I shall honor that by the grace of God. My righteousness shall be manifest at all times and I declare that I shall truly be a city set on a hill. My light shall always shine bright in the name of Jesus.

*Author: Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams*

18/04/2022

*THE LAMP DEVOTION*

*MONDAY APRIL 18*

*YOUR ENEMIES ARE IN TROUBLE*

*Amos 1:9-12*

_This is what the Lord says: “For three sins of Tyre, even for four, I will not relent. Because she sold whole communities of captives to Edom, disregarding a treaty of brotherhood, 10 I will send fire on the walls of Tyre that will consume her fortresses.” 11 This is what the Lord says: “For three sins of Edom, even for four, I will not relent. Because he pursued his brother with a sword and slaughtered the women of the land, because his anger raged continually and his fury flamed unchecked, 12 I will send fire on Teman that will consume the fortresses of Bozrah.”_

Today’s passage is only a piece of an entire chapter where God is narrating what He would do with the enemies of His people. Each of the enemies receives God’s judgement in proportion to what they did to God’s people. Anyone who sets himself to fight you for whatever reason is in real trouble with God.

The message God has for you from this passage is that you do not need to worry about those you see as your enemies, and that even includes those who are enemies you do not know about. That is why God asks us to leave vengeance to Him. When God asks us to pray for our enemies, it is not so they will continue to do us harm. Elsewhere, Paul says you are heaping coals of fire upon their heads. That can be frightening because only God knows what is in those coals of fire.

You have one choice to make; either spend your time thinking about your enemies all day long, trying to figure out what to do to them, or leave them in the hands of God. Let today’s passage advice you as to how to handle your enemies.

*Prayer*
1. Thank God for His continued commitment to deal with your enemies.
2. Pray that you will be free from the spirit of vengeance for vengeance belongs to God.
3. Father, please help me to leave all my battles in Your hand so You fight for me.

*Declarations*
I declare that God my heavenly Father knows all my enemies. He has made provision for my safety from their evil works against me. Therefore, I will remain still before my God. I leave all vengeance to Him, and I focus on loving Him and knowing His words and His ways. I declare that as He fights for me, my victory is certain in the name of Jesus.

*Author: Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams*

16/04/2022

*THE LAMP DEVOTION*

*SATURDAY APRIL 16*

*YOUR OIL NEVER STOPS*

*2 Kings 4:5-6*

_5 So she went from him and shut the door behind her and her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured it out. 6 Now it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said to her son, “Bring me another vessel.” And he said to her, “There is not another vessel.” So the oil ceased._

I am sure this is a passage you have read over and over and also heard sermons preached on. There are a few lessons we can pick from the experience of the widow and God’s prophet. Note that the source of the oil was an unlimited source, meaning the oil could continue flowing for as long as there were vessels. The oil stopped flowing only when there was no vessel for it.

It is the same in God’s dealings with us today. Whether we are expecting financial blessings, or increase in the knowledge of God, or walking in His power, it is always tied to our capacity to contain. Where are your containers?

God gives increase for a purpose, and that is why He gives you far more than you need for yourself. Whatever increase God is bringing your way has seed and bread. You sow seed and eat the bread. That is the mindset with which you should expect the increase. The seed component is not to be eaten; it is for sowing. It is only the bread that is for consumption

How conscious are you that there are people within your range that need what God has given you? The seed goes. Understanding this principle and committing to it, is one of the ways of creating containers or the increase. Readiness to be a blessing to God’s people is a sure container for God’s blessings. Make yourself a partner with God in the Luke 6:38 command “shall men give”. Be ready to give to others.

*Prayer*
1. Thank God that His oil never stops flowing for as long as you have containers.
2. Pray for wisdom to know what containers you should have for God’s oil.
3. Father, please help me to start thinking beyond myself that I will open my heart to others around me.

*Declarations*
I declare that I am blessed and highly favored. My source shall never run dry. God is coming my way with more than I can handle. Therefore, I receive wisdom to create containers for the outpouring coming my way in the name of Jesus!

*Author:Archbishop Nicholas* *Duncan-Williams.*

14/04/2022

*THE LAMP DEVOTION*

*THURSDAY APRIL 14*

*BLESSED FROM THE* *BEGINNING*

*Genesis 1: 28-29*

_28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” 29 And God said, “See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food._

God knew what life in the world He created would look like and so He was wise enough that the first thing He did for the man He created was to bless them. If your understanding of blessing is to have a lot of money as preached to us by many preachers today, then you missed it.
Adam was placed in a world where he would need nothing. Everything was ready before he was created. God knew it was not money Adam needed to fulfill the purpose for his creation so He blessed him. We must understand that the blessing here relates to the commission God had given him. It would take creativity and a high level of productivity to exercise dominion over the earth and its elements.

In the image of God, Adam had access to the whole counsel of God. He would lack no knowledge. He had access to the full power of God, and the authority of Jehovah was at his disposal so the rest of God’s creation would literally bow at his feet. That is not what we see today. It looks like the elements of the earth are dictating how we should live our lives.
Our victory in this world is closely tied to God’s true blessing and we must go back to it.

*Prayer*
1. Thank God for equipping you to be able you exercise dominion over God’s earth.
2. Pray for a revival of every potential God placed in you that seems lost.
3. Father, please remake me so I will be in the position to execute your purpose for my life.

*Declarations*
I declare that I am truly blessed by God. I have what it takes to subdue all the elements of the earth and any part of the earth in me that is standing in the way of my progress in this life. I receive the freshness of the power of the Holy Spirit to move on in this life more victoriously than I ever have in the name of Jesus!

*Author:Archbishop Nicholas* *Duncan-Williams.*

Address

Box 713 Agona Swedru
Swedru

Telephone

+233206701073

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Action City Church - Agona Swedru posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category