Faith and Faithfulness. 1 Thessalonians 5:24
NEMA Month of Missions Devotional
Saturday 4th February, 2023
In the battles to possess the nations, two factors have always played out to determine whether God’s people on His Mission would ‘conquer’ or “be conquered”. Faith and faithfulness determine conquest, fear and unfaithfulness spell doom. Faith inspires us to press forward, confront, and discomfit the giants! Fear disqualifies, intimidates, and paralyzes us from daring the giants! It was FEAR of the giants in the promised land and lack of trust in the Lord that made the ten spies to decide NOT to go in to possess the land God has promised to give them (Numbers 13:27-29; 31-33). They preferred rather to “Go Back to Egypt” (Numbers 14:1-4) thereby disqualifying them from entering the promised land (Numbers 14:21-23, 28-30). Their “Unfaithfulness” caused the extension of their wondering in the wilderness to 40 years instead of the intended 40 days of the journey (Numbers 14:33-34) and their eventual death in the wilderness (Numbers 14:36-37). But FAITH in the promises, power, and presence of the Lord inspired Joshua and Caleb to urge the Israelites to advance into their promised possessions thereby qualifying them to be among the inheritors of the promised land (Numbers 13:30; Numbers 14:6-9; 24; 30b; 38). Caleb eventually conquered the last of the giants on Mount Hebron and possessed the territory (Joshua 14:6-15).
Similarly, it was FEAR that disqualified 22,000 of the men mobilized to fight the battle against the Midianites (Judges 7:1-3). The remaining 10,000 were still screened down to 300 men with whom Gideon eventually carried out the battle. God also did a final check on Gideon’s mindset on the issue of fear because of which He was led to visit the camp of the Midianites where he heard a confirmation that “God had given the Midianites and the whole camp into his hands” (Judges 7:9-14). This inspired such a strong faith in Gideon and became the battle cry and mobilization slogan for engaging the stronger, larger Midianite army with his God-selected 300 men; armed only with “trumpets, and empty jars with torches inside” who were to watch and follow the leading of Gideon (Judges 7:17-21). As Gideon and the 300 men proved to be obedient, determined, resilient, and strong (Judges 8:1-4); may we, in the face of the daunting task of reaching the last of the giants in our own time, have the faith to conquer and the faithfulness to finish the task before us!
Prayer Focus:
- Lord reveal Yourself to us to enable us develop faith in Your person, power and purpose.
- Give us the heart to keep standing on our resolve to win the nations no matter the daunting challenges.
- Put in the heart of the younger generation the desire to yield completely to you, oh Lord.
Rev Dr. Reuben Ezemadu
International Director, Christian Missionary Foundation, Ibadan.
Prayer Alert: Saturday, February 4
BANKALAWA
Language: Bankal
Location: Bauchi (Dass, Bauchi, T/Balewa, Toro, LGAs)
Approximate Population: 60,000
Dominant Religion: Islam
Bible in their language: Complete Bible Available
Pray that the Lord will create a hunger for Him in the hearts of the Bankal people. (Act 3:5)
BARKE, BURKNAWA
Language: Mburku
Location: Bauchi (Ningi & Ganjuwa LGAs)
Approximate Population: 30,000
Dominant Religion: ATR
Bible in their language: Adopted
Cast out every contrary spirit that is frustrating gospel effort among the people. (Mark 5:8)