Apst Odiana

05/01/2025

*THE SOURCE OF YOUR TEMPTATION*

KJV Bible. James 1:13-15
[13]Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
[14]But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
[15]Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

Animals are caught by traps when they are enticed by their desire to eat something of their interest.

From the verses we are considering today, we learnt that one is tempted by the quest to do what entiiced him most. Temptation comes when one is unable to control his desire as such allows it to entice him.

To win over temptation is to first have control over your thoughts and wants. If you are easily enticed, then temptation will remain in your domain.

For instance Gehazi could not control his desire as such got tempted to go after Naaman and consequently he lost out....2 Kings 5:20-21
[20]But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, Behold, my master hath spared Naaman this Syrian, in not receiving at his hands that which he brought: but, as the LORD liveth, I will run after him, and take somewhat of him.
[21]So Gehazi followed after Naaman. And when Naaman saw him running after him, he lighted down from the chariot to meet him, and said, Is all well?

Judas was another victim of uncontrolled desires which caused him to betrayed Christ...Matthew 26:14-15
[14]Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests,
[15]And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.

Beloved, temptation comes if you lack self control. Therefore, have self control.

God bless you

Prayer points

1. Father, i pray not to fall to temptation
2. Father, i pray for contentment
3. Father, i pray for your help to control my thoughts

03/01/2025

04/04/2024

*BE CAREFUL OF YOUR ACTIONS IN TIME OF DISTRESS II*

KJV Bible. Acts 16:23-26
[23]And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:
[24]Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.
[25]And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
[26]And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.

The kind of action one takes in time of distress would determine his joy afterwards.

From the verses we are considering today, we learnt that Paul and Silas were imprisoned but in that prison, they were praying and they sang instead of crying or casting blames here and there. The action they took was a good one. They were cheerful though in a distressed condition. They did not fall into self pity, saying things negatively or doing any unholy things. In the midst of the cheerful mood, their liberation came. They were freed and the jailor got saved from the incident.

As believers who put their confidence in God, distress time should not make them act ungodly. They are to behave as thought nothing bad had actually happened. Keep going on with life with a positive perspective and relying on God for victory. Once this kind of disposition is set, you gain your peace and God swing into action to solve the problems. The Shunamite woman in 2 Kings 4: 25,26 acted in a similar way as did Paul and Silas. She trusted in God and held her peace. No wonder when asked of her son, she replied it is well and it really became well because she had her son back to life....2 Kings 4:25-26
[25]So she went and came unto the man of God to mount Carmel. And it came to pass, when the man of God saw her afar off, that he said to Gehazi his servant, Behold, yonder is that Shunammite:
[26]Run now, I pray thee, to

04/04/2024

*YOU HAVE YOUR PART TO PLAY II*

KJV Bible. Genesis 27:1-4
[1]And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his eldest son, and said unto him, My son: and he said unto him, Behold, here am I.
[2]And he said, Behold now, I am old, I know not the day of my death:
[3]Now therefore take, I pray thee, thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and go out to the field, and take me some venison;
[4]And make me savoury meat, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat; that my soul may bless thee before I die.

In a building, every components has its role to play to make the building worthwhile.

From the verses we are considering today, we learnt that Esau was told by his father Isaac to hunt and prepare his delicacy for him prior to receiving blessings from him. It means if he is to be blessed, he need to play his part of getting what his father wanted. His blessing was hanged on him doing what his father wanted. His father needed to be pleased to declare the blessings. The pleasing had to do with his son going to hunt and prepare his favourite.

Likewise, to be blessed by God, you have a part to play. Your part is a simple one. Once you do it, He pour down His blessings upon you. Your primary part to play is to repent from your sins and live a righteous life. This is what he need from you. Do it and He will continue to do His part in your life....Matthew 6:32-33
[32](For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
[33]But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Your part is to seek first His kingdom. You start by seeking Him. This you do by asking for forgiveness of your sins from God. After this, seek to do His work and He will bless you.

Beloved, your part to play so as to be blessed by God is to seek first His kingdom.

God bless you

Prayer points

1. O Lord I pr

19/03/2024

*NO IS NOT ALWAYS FINAL ANSWER III*

KJV Bible. 1 Kings 18:42-44
[42]So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees,
[43]And said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. And he went up, and looked, and said, There is nothing. And he said, Go again seven times.
[44]And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down, that the rain stop thee not.

When you ask something from your superior and it delays, it is wise to be patient and not to give up.

From the verses we are considering today, we learnt that Elijah prayed and did not get his answer instantly. Rather it appears there was none coming as his servant kept coming with no good news he was expecting. But Elijah refused to take no for an answer. He continued praying until yes he was expecting came.

When you pray over issues and there appears to be silence, continue yes as an answer is not far from you. Elijah kept getting the news he never wanted but continued his prayer unto God. Like Elijah, continue your prayers do not relent. Jacob had very rough times before his encounter with the angel that night. Yet he never accepted no and resigned to fate. It was when he persisted to get solution from God that he encountered the angel. That brought turn around in his life. If he had accepted no for answer, there would not have been that night of encounter which heralded a change in his life....Genesis 32:24-26
[24]And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.
[25]And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him.
[26]And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, excep