Thoughts of Our Fathers (TOF)

READ: Psalm 119:17-19

That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
Ephesians 1:17

Here are ten ways to receive revelation.

1. When you listen to anointed messages from preachers and teachers of the Word of God (Ephesians 4:11-12).

2. When you study the Word of God in relation to sermons and messages you have recently heard (2 Timothy 2:15).

3. When you study the Word of God and search for the deeper meanings of words in the Bible (2 Peter 1:21).

4. When you have discussions with fellow pastors, teachers and prophets (Acts 13:1-3).

5. When you read the real life stories of men of God that have gone ahead of you (Acts 1:1).

6. When you study the dreams and visions of well-recognized prophets. I have received much revelation for my life by studying the visions and dreams of Kenneth Hagin and Rick Joyner (John 20:17-18).

7. When God reminds you of something important. Don’t take it lightly when you suddenly remember something you have forgotten (John 14:26).

8. When the Lord puts a burden on your heart (Jeremiah 23:32-40).

9. When God impresses something on your heart through the inner witness (Romans 8:16).

10. When God speaks to you through a dream or a vision. (Acts 16:9).

O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever.
—Psalm 118:1

This year as we observe our season of thanksgiving, let us be grateful not only in word but also in deed. Let our gratitude find expression in a resolve to live a life more unselfish and more consecrated to Jesus Christ. When we sit around our tables laden with sumptuous delicacies, let us not forget that half the world will go to bed hungry. As we enjoy the comforts of our cozy homes, let us not forget that great numbers in other parts of the world have no homes to go to.

When we step into our sleek automobiles, let us not forget that most of the people in the world cannot afford even a bicycle. In the Lord’s Prayer as recorded in the sixth chapter of Matthew, we read, “Give us this day our daily bread.” Scripture teaches that the good things of this life are the gifts of God, and that He is the donor of all our blessings. Thanksgiving? Yes. Let us get on our knees humbly and thank God for the blessings He has given us, both material and spiritual. They have come from His hands.

Be thou an example of the believers in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
1 Timothy 4:12

One thing the world needs to see is good examples. They need to see believers walk in love and purity and faith in their homes, in their schools and in their businesses.

The Apostle Paul exhorts us in Romans 12:17 to live above reproach in the sight of all men. Other scriptures teach us to avoid all appearance of evil. So, when you go after God, don't walk out on the edge, trying to see how much you can get by with. Go all out in God's direction. Conduct yourself in a way that will put to rest any question about whether or not you're a Christian. Let the people around you see your love and faith and purity in every situation.

Your example will go a lot further than your words. When our son, John, was a little boy, we were spending time with my grandparents. John was sleeping with my granddaddy and he woke him up in the night and said, "Pop, I have an earache. Would you pray for it?" Well, my grandparents were raised in a church that didn't believe in healing. I don't know what Pop did, but it didn't work. So, John just got up and said, "I'm going to go get in bed with my mother. When she prays, it stops hurting." About 18 years later, Pop told me the story.

You see, I had set an example of faith and love and John remembered it. While your children are growing up, they might forget some of the sermons you've preached or act like they're not interested in the things of God. But they'll never forget your example.

Even at the place where you work or go to school or just in your neighborhood, people might reject or argue with the words you say. But they'll never refute or forget your acts of love.

Don't let petty sins and spiritual compromises cast a shadow over your example. Live above reproach and let the light of Jesus shine brightly through you.


Scripture Reading:

Romans 12:9-21

It's time to draw a line in the sand.

Some suggest the world can be divided into two camps: givers and takers.

While the two sides vary in many ways, the clear difference between them can be summed up by advice columnist Irma Kurtz.

She observed that “Givers have to set limits because takers rarely do”.

True to her observation, this concept of giver/taker dynamics has been a topic of much research by author and psychology professor Adam Grant.

Takers “like to get more than they give”, Professor Grant found, and they also feel that if they don’t put themselves first, no one else will.

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Givers, he reports, are found in much smaller numbers than takers and “are other-focused, paying more attention to what others need from them”.




Givers give without the goal of reward where takers help themselves even when offering assistance to others.

This data would make it seem that an ideal relationship would be one between a giver and a taker since they can fulfill their individual needs to give and take, but that is not the case.

The truth is that even givers reach their breaking point when dealing with takers. This is what causes conflict to arise between the two groups.

When givers feel they are being taken advantage of, they will go against their natural tendencies and stop their generosity. In turn, this leaves takers feeling cheated because their is no longer a benefit for themselves.




This struggle can be well avoided by knowing where to draw your line in the sand.

When confronted with fair and consistent boundaries, takers are forced to change and instead become matchers--someone who is willing to compromise in giving to get in return.

There are many ways a giver can set boundaries. The first thing to do is identify the habitual takers in our lives. Being conscious of them can help us to minimize exposure to them or prepare us for their requests so we are not blindsided when they come.




The nature of the world is that takers never get tired of taking, but if boundaries are set and respected, givers will never grow tired of giving.

The cycle of give and take can continue with a line drawn in the sand.

Memorise: Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; 

Colossians 2:14

Read: Colossians 2:14 (KJV)
14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
Bible in one year: Genesis 42-43, Psalms 107:10-22
Ancestral curses are said to be in operation when a terrible problem persistently runs through generations with a family. For example, an uncontrollable anger or promiscuity may be noticed in a teenager and on investigation; such is traced to the parents and grandparents. Open Heavens Wednesday 23 November 2016:-DEALING WITH ANCESTRAL CURSES II
Many people today live under bondage as a result of their forefathers’ sins. Exodus 34:7 says:


“….visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.”


However, the moment God comes into such lives, things change dramatically. When God is in control of your life, it will be evident through the tremendous peace that will calm your storms, but when the devil rules the life of an individual, there will be total confusion. 1st Corinthians 14:33 says God has nothing to do with confusion. When the devil takes over the life of a man, everything will turn upside down. Instead of wearing clothes, he will walk about naked. Instead of wearing decent clothes, he will put on rags. The one who finds it uncomfortable to wear decent clothes capable of covering his or her nakedness surely has gone nuts.


In Luke 8:26-33, after Satan took control of the Gadarene man’s life, he left his bed for the graveyard. He abandoned decent clothes for rags. If one wears clothes that expose what should be covered, it is evident that such a fellow is losing his or her mind to the devil. This Gadarene demoniac began to inflict wounds on himself. 23 November 2016 Open Heavens. He was crying out of pain yet couldn’t stop himself. When people engage in things that can destroy them, it means their heads are besieged. The warning that smoking is injurious to a man’s health is not enough to stop a smoker from indulging in the act because his head has been taken over by demons. Anyone who uses mind-bending substances such as Indian hemp, cocaine, alcohol, cigarette or powerful capsules is living in a spiritual graveyard. Besides, this man was violent, he could not be controlled. He rebelled against reason, he was wild. If you find it difficult to submit to authority or comply with simple rules, examine yourself. The state of the head is revealed by the conduct of the body. No matter how refined an individual is, if something is wrong with the head, it will show. What is the state of your head? Is it well with your head?

Withstand him; be firm in faith [against his onset—rooted, established, strong, immovable, and determined], knowing that the same (identical) sufferings are appointed to your brotherhood (the whole body of Christians) throughout the world.
—1 Peter 5:9

We may look at other people and think they never have to go through anything difficult, but we all go through different things. Some people have gone through devastating things that nobody knows anything about. Some people have learned the art of suffering silently. They know only God can help them, so they don’t bother telling everyone they meet what they are going through.

It is not wrong to share our troubles with a friend or counselor, but the point is that we cannot assume others are not having challenges in life just because they don’t look depressed or don’t talk about their problems. We all get hurt at times, and we all have the same opportunity either to let it make us bitter or to let it make us better. How can injustices make us better? For one thing, they help us develop character. Doing what is right when we don’t have feelings supporting us builds strong character in us. Intelligence and talents are God’s gifts, but character is developed. We need to move beyond hurt and be willing to give ourselves away and lay down our lives for others (John 15:13).

Lord, help me to get my eyes off of my troubles and to reach out and help those around me who are hurting. Give me discernment and compassion to truly make a difference. Amen.

1 Peter 2:9

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people...

God calls us “a royal priesthood”. This means that we are kings as well as priests under the king-priesthood of Jesus Christ. This has never happened before in the history of God’s people. In the Old Testament, kings and priests were two distinct groups of people. You were either a king or priest, but not both at the same time.

Today, because we are in Christ, we are king-priests—a royal priesthood. This means that we have a double portion of speaking power because as kings, “Where the word of a king is, there is power” (Ecclesiastes 8:4), and as priests, “by their word every controversy and every assault shall be settled”. (Deuteronomy 21:5)

So if you are a Christian businessman, you will have an edge over worldly businessmen. What you say about your business deals will come to pass. And if you are falsely accused, know that by your very word, every controversy and every assault will be settled!

And as a king-priest parent, when you bless your children, your words have the power to set in motion supernatural events which will bring them into God’s abundance and superabounding grace. And there will be such a courage and resilience about them that it will empower them to win the fights of life!

When the devil comes to you and says that you will die young because your father and grandfather died young, or that you will never be successful because you are not well-educated, you must remember that the devil is neither a king nor a priest. There is no power in his words. But there is power in yours because you are a king-priest in Christ!

So instead of agreeing with him, believe and declare, “I will not die young. With long life He will satisfy me and show me His salvation!” Say, “The Lord will make my way prosperous and give me good success!” Use your double portion of speaking power and see these blessings come to pass!

READ: 

1 Chronicles 22:1-19
...a time to tear down and a time to build,

Ecclesiastes 3:3, NIV

Rich people make it an early priority to build a house. Rich people discern the season for building. Very few people in this world ever build houses for themselves. One of the reasons they do not build houses is because they constantly wait for the right season of their lives to build. But the best time to build a house is now. There has never been, and there will never be enough money . Now is the best time to build and rich people always build now.

“A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up” (Ecclesiastes 3:3).

Rich people build houses because they do not follow fantasies.

“He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread: but he that followeth after vain persons shall have poverty enough” (Proverbs 28:19).

Rich people do not follow imaginary high-sounding ideas. There are people who are full of schemes, projections and plans. They can speak for hours on end about their proposals and what they think will work. Such people do not usually accomplish much for themselves. Such people never build houses.

You simply need to roll up your sleeves and get to the job. People who plan for years to travel abroad instead of going to the school that is nearby often do not amount to much.

He that eateth, eateth to the Lord; for he giveth God thanks . . .
—Romans 14:6

Do you think that God would have bothered to send His Son to the world, if man had been able to face life and eternity alone? Christ’s coming to the world proved that God was not happy with man’s unhappiness. He sent Him not only that we might have eternal life but that we might have life here and now, and that we might have it more abundantly-Life with a capital L!

Jesus’ teaching was unique and different. He took religion out of the theoretical category and placed it in the practical. He spoke with authority! He spoke with finality! He spoke as though He knew . . . and He did! His was not the soft empty conjecture of the philosopher, who professes to search for truth-but readily admits he has never found it. It was more the confident voice of the mathematician who gives his answers unhesitatingly, because the proof of the answers can be found within the problem.

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