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Sprinkled for greater works

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The Reference

1 Samuel‬ ‭16‬:‭1‬ NLT

“Now the LORD said to Samuel, “You have mourned long enough for Saul. I have rejected him as king of Israel, so fill your flask with olive oil and go to Bethlehem. Find a man named Jesse who lives there, for I have selected one of his sons to be my king.”

1 John 2:27 NLT

“But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie-just as it has taught you, abide in him.”

The meaning
The word “anoint” means to rub or sprinkle on; apply an unguent, ointment, or oily liquid to. Persons in the Old Testament were often literally anointed with oil. For example, priests were anointed for their special service to the LORD (Exodus 28:41). Literal oil would be applied, but as a sign of the Holy Spirit upon their lives and service. The oil on the head was only the outward representation of the real, spiritual work going on inside them.

The anointing has nothing to do with how eloquent, charismatic or talented we are. It’s not how loud, spirited or animated anyone can be on a stage.

It is a mountain moving, demon busting, yoke removing, joy releasing, holiness infusing, life changing, faith building, supernatural encountering Presence of God.

It is always giving to glorify Jesus through the preaching of the gospel; healing of the broken-hearted, setting captives free, breaking spiritual, physical, emotional, and psychological bondage; destroying spiritual wickedness; releasing favor, joy, freedom, worship and righteousness.

It is never intended to make the people we put up on pedestals look good. It is always to glorify Jesus and do His work effectively.

The Prayer
I pray that 2015 will be the year for a double portion of His Anointing to come upon us for ministry and the building of His kingdom.

I pray that He will have every part of our world in order to apportion greater deposits of His Anointing upon us for increase, multiplication and productivity.

I pray that he will burn away the fake, imitation, camouflage, fleshly showmanship, false caricatures and strange fires of His Anointing and baptize us with a fresh baptism of Holy Spirit fire.

In Jesus Name
Amen! 2015

A prayer for clarity

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My Story
It was December 28 2014 at about 8:15, just a week or so ago – I stood up in church and prayed a simple prayer:

“Lord I need clarity and wisdom to deal with certain situations I have been dealing with. I am not asking for you to wet a fleece or dry it. I trust that you will speak in a way that I can understand. Thank you for showing me what to do, in Jesus’ name Amen!”

I went home and didn’t think about it again until He spoke to me. The way he spoke was so clear I didn’t have struggle to understand what he was telling me to do.

Every prayer offered in faith is answered by a faithful God.

At this time of the year, all of us are faced with the challenge of decision making. Business decisions, Ministry decisions, family budgets, career change, is it the right time to buy a car or a house. Decisions, Decisions, Decisions!

I would like to urge you quiet your soul, quiet your Spirit and lift a prayer of faith to the Lord. Don’t tell God that you want Him to reveal things to you in a dream, just simply ask for clarity and wait for Him to blow your mind.

Meditation

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways ( James 1:5-8).

Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?” (1 Kings 3:9).

Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the LORD understand it completely (Proverbs 28:5).

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! (Matthew 7:7-11).

Prayer
Father, I want to thank you for your invitation to ask, seek and knock. I thank you because you give generously to those who lack wisdom. I want o pray with my brothers and sisters today as we believe for clarity in decision making. Open their eyes to see and to know the way to take at this time of the year. For those needing clarity about a dream or a prophetic utterance, may the Spirit of truth light up their world. Thank you for clarity in Jesus’ Name – Amen!

I will not offer the Lord anything that costs me nothing

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1 Chronicles 21:24
But King David said to Ornan, “No, but I will buy them for the full price. I will not take for the LORD what is yours, nor offer burnt offerings that cost me nothing.”

I have always heard this passage use in the context of a fundraiser. Where the preacher urges the congregation or his audience to reach deep within their pockets and give an extravagant financial gift.

I love the simplicity and the power of this challenge, but too often my desire to give disappear because the challenge is coming from, well, another TV evangelist, who always seem to want my money. My somewhat skeptical feeling is somehow true – because half or none of what I am being asked to give, really goes toward that cause.

I think, in many ways, we have lost the act of motivating others to make greater impact with their substance and the act of inspiring them at the same time because of so much abuse from the pulpit. People are longing to be moved, recruited for a cause greater then themselves. Unfortunately,

We have allowed greed to steal the show and dishonesty to ruin a beautiful thing. We need to allow people to see the importance of our causes, and inspire them to see the impact they can make – than back off and allow the Holy Spirit to work in their lives.

Too often, the only goal is to simply get people to give and support our causes. To make that happen, many turnto ungodly and unscriptural means. This is exactly what turns this beautiful idea into a scheme that it has become.

The first thing we need to realize is that:
There is nothing you can give to God except a repentant, broken and contrite heart that can appease his wrath. In many cases His mercy alone appeals, appeases and does a better job.

The second thing we need to realize is that:
This is not a formula to get favors from God, it is simply one man’s love for His God – an occasion that made one man realize how overwhelmingly gracious God is. No one walks away unaffected by that knowledge – it makes them want to love more.

The third thing we need to realize is that:
One man’ s disobedience brought an unnecessary wrath upon innocent people. We realize that God is Holy and He desires obedience more than he does sacrifice.

Finally, we need to realize that this “I will not offer anything to God that costs me nothing” should never be reduced to financial gifts and offerings.

I would love to hear this challenge in the following context:

When I decide to spend time in fasting and praying
When I decide to give myself away to a cause
When I sign up to serve my church and community
When I serve my family
When I set aside my tithe and offering every week not just on special occasions or when the one anointed to Tell me I will have a hundred fold return comes to town.
When I kneel in prayer for the missionaries I support and plan how I should support them.

How about making it a new year’s resolution? Make it a lifestyle or a goal of life:
To love more than is required
To go the extra mile
To surrender unconditionally
To empty oneself of whatever gain – all trophies, all degrees, successes, net-worth – lay them all down at his feet. Draw inspiration from this rich example:

And when he was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, as he lay at table, there came a woman having an alabaster flask of ointment of pure nard, very costly; and having broken the alabaster flask, she poured it out upon his head. (‭Mark‬ ‭14‬:‭3‬ DARBY)

Lord take it all – everything, my world, my life – because I love you more. May 2015 finally be the year to offer God everything.

Sin is…

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The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to grant to those who mourn in Zion- to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he may be glorified. (Isaiah 61:1-3)

Sin is…
Bad news
A heart breaker
A captive taker
A tyrannical oppressor
A blinder
A curse
A death sentencer
A bondage giver
A joy stealer
A separator
A beauty eraser

Jesus is…
Good news
Healer of the broken hearted
Proclaimer of liberty to the captive
Opener of prison doors
Comforter
Deliverer
Joy giver
Eye opener
Life giver
Restorer
Bondage breaker
Beautiful Savior

Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. (Hebrews 7:35)

God uniquely anointed Jesus to take away our sins. The way he does that is by nailing them to the cross. By his death and resurrection Jesus satisfied the wrath of God upon our sins. Salvation now becomes a free gift that God wants to give to us.

“If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

I would like to invite you to take that step today if you have not yet!
I am praying for you and I’m very confident that the Lord will forgive you of all your sins and make you his child.

So, on this first day of the year, make a decision that will change your entire life. Make Jesus your personal Lord and Savior.

Joy Is…

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Most of my reading and preaching this month has been about Joy. I just completed a three part Christmas Series on Joy at my Church. And you can discover how to increase your joy here. In this post, I want to, at least try to answer the question – “What is Joy?”

I made a statement during one of my sermons about joy that left a lot of questions. I could hear the murmuring in the congregation while I tried to explained what I meant. Let me share it with you and you can leave a note about your feelings or thoughts about it:

Joy is not affected by afflictions; it’s only affected by sin. Sin decreases joy; affliction increases it.

I believe joy is …
An indestructible Assurance in who God is and everything He promised. This includes the following:
The assurance of his covenant relationship with each and everyone of us.
The assurance that comes from the joy of His salvation within us.
That he is able to save to the uttermost.
That he will never leave us nor forsake us.
That he will make high places low, crooked places straight, rough places smoothed, empty places full in our lives.
That he no longer counts our sins against us.
That our names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
That we are his and he is ours.
That we have found a friend more intimate than others.
That nothing can separate us from his love.
That he is for us – so who dare stands against us.
That we have been given grace to enter his joy and dwell there with him for eternity.

Joy must first be distinguished from happiness. Happiness is temporary – Joy is eternal. Happiness is based on what’s happening – in fact happiness comes from the word happen. When things are going great people are happy, when it is not, happiness is gone. Joy is constant it is always there in good times and bad times.

Joy is not the absence of tears as courage is not the absence of fear.

Jesus wept! He was a man of many sorrows. “He was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5). Both Gethsemane and Golgotha were agonizing and the grave was cold – yet he possessed the “Spirit without measure.” (John 3:35).

Paul had a thorn in his flesh. He was also in a Roman dungeon. He writes, “We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.” (2 Corinthians 4:8-9). Yet, he continues, “Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. Because we have this TREASURE in jars of clay.” 2 Corinthians 4:1:16, 7

John the Beloved was half cooked in boiling oil, left for dead. Well, when he escaped death, they ostracized him to the Island of Patmos. Yet, John writes, “I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus… And “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day. I am inclined to believe that this is just how it was everyday for John. See Revelation 4:2;17:3;21:10.

Joy that was with the Father; that is of the Father – was brought out of eternity into time in the person of Jesus Christ. This joy entered into the heart of the believer through faith. And this joy defies all odds:

It says…
I will not be troubled when others are troubled
I will not give up when others are giving up
I will not be shaken when others are being shaken
I will not fail when others are failing

It says…
I will stand where others fall
I will conquer where others are conquered
I will win where others lose
I will prevail where others succumb

That’s what joy is and that’s what joy promises.

Allow me to leave four joyful promises to take you into the new year:

A victor’s shout
“And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me, and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the LORD.” (Psalm 27:6)
You are not a victim, you are a victor. Pity Parties need to stop. Excuses need to cease. I understand you had a tough upbringing, but stop allowing daddy issues from your past to continue robbing you of your joy. Let go of your love for misery, say your goodbyes. It’s time to get hitched with joy and allow it to sweep you off your feet.

A mark of great strength
“…Do not mourn or weep… For the joy of the Lord is your strength.” (Nehemiah 8:9, 10)
Make joy a lifestyle. Pursue joy with everything within you. It makes sense for all practical reasons. For a “joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” (Proverbs 17:22).

An oil of gladness
“But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie-just as it has taught you, abide in him.” (1 John 2:27). God has anointed you. He has set you apart to experience His joy in deeper and richer ways.

A garment of praise
Shout for joy in the LORD, O you righteous! Praise befits the upright.” (Psalm 33:1). It is also kind of sinful not to be joyful – because God commends for you to be joyful. A spirit of fainting looks horrible you. You were not made to wear that kind of clothing. The word “befits” means – praise looks good on you. It is this kind that releases joy in our lives.

May He fill you with everlasting joy every day in 2015. “They shall have everlasting joy.” Isaiah 61:7
Happy New Year Everyone!

All of me for the King

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Have you ever had the experience of feeling closer to God than anybody could ever be, only to have that feeling changed by one verse from His Word?

It hits you and you come to the realization that you’re still a fellow struggler and it’s only because of his grace that you stand.

Matthew 1:19 will do just that for you. We read:

“And Joseph was a just man.”

Now, that may look like just a simple verse, but I assure you, there are layers of truths to uncover from that sentence alone. A closer look will bring you to your knees.

The story unfolding here, tells of the love between a man named Joseph and a very young woman named Mary.

Her dress was purchased and His tux tailor made. The date was set and the guests were invited. He was so excited that he walked the streets of his little town singing at the top of his lungs everyday.

Just before they could come together, he finds out that she is with a child. Because of his love and respect for her, he decides to put her away quietly – for he didn’t want her to be ridiculed and mocked or even stoned to death.

Matthew sums up his exceptional and noble character in one word: Just! Joseph was a ‘just’ man. The word is translated from the Greek as “righteous, pious, correctness in thinking, feeling and acting in conformity to God’s will.”

If you feel disqualified by that definition, I don’t blame you, because I feel the same. How many of us can say, ” I am righteous in my thinking, feeling and acting?” This is a very tall order to measure up to.

Having said that, this is God’s call on our lives. It’s a call that reverberates from the garden to the city; from Genesis through Revelation:

And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. Deuteronomy‬ ‭6‬:‭5‬

Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. Proverbs‬ ‭4‬:‭23‬

And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. Matthew 22:37

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2

The problem we have as believers, is compartmentalism. We give God parts of our lives and keep him out of other areas. But God is not the God of anything in our lives until he is Lord of everything. This Christmas, let us invite Jesus in those areas of our lives we have kept him out of. Let’s make him not only Savior, but also Lord. Let’s make Him our righteousness.

What are some opportunities in our lives that we missed and failed to invite the Lord into?

The Movie you should not have watched.
The feeling of jealousy.
The unkind words you spoke.
Our false assumptions
Our mistrust
Our unrealistic fear
Feelings left by deception and manipulation of the enemy.
Secret thoughts and feelings

What are some ways we could pray one for another?

As a husband my prayer today is that God will make me a righteous husband. Completely conformed to his will in my thinking, feeling, and acting.

As a father my prayer today is that God will make me a righteous father: Completely conformed to his will in my thinking, feeling, and acting.

As a man of God – my prayer today is that God will make me a righteous man: That my thinking, my feeling and my acting be completely conformed to His will.

I hope we can all realize that even on our best day of holiness and purity, all our righteousness are like filthy rags.

I hope we can all realize that we need Him to lift us, help us, work in us, keep us – because we are always just one step of missing the mark.

I hope we can take some time to lift each other up in prayer – so that we can all conform to the will of God in our thought life, in our emotions and our will to obey. .

Merry Christmas Everyone!

This is my season

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Every time the Christmas season comes around, and when you read stories like that of Elizabeth’s, it invokes a sense of expectation. Like, this could be my time to bring forth what I’ve been praying for.

Nine decades had pass. Old age had set in. The possibility of conceiving a child; the shot at giving birth to one or the hope that one day this could happen was no longer on her mind.

Her best friends, some of whom she still prays for, as part of a priestly family, were now enjoying the laughter of grand babies, great grand babies but she was still without child.

Anyone of us, even the strongest among us will begin to think that God has forgotten us.

But God makes “everything beautiful in His time.” Ecclesiastes 3:11

“Your times are in His hands.” Psalm 31:15

“God is not a man, that He should lie, neither, the son of man, that He should feel repentance. Has he said and shall he not do? Or has he spoken and shall he not make it good?”

And “when the proper time, the fullness of time comes” God will help you bring forth what he has promised.

I pray that God will surprise you this holiday season with a timely blessing:

The blessing of a child
The realization of a dream
The harvest of righteousness
The miracle of healing
The opening of a supernatural door.

For those of you who are at a place – “like when a child is ready to be born, but the mother has no strength to deliver the baby” (Isaiah 37:3), I pray that supernatural help will come your way.

7 Reasons why God won’t use you

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Throughout time, God has, in His Sovereignty, chosen to use people to accomplish his purpose. When he needed a deliverer for his people in Egypt, he called Moses. When he needed to finally save men from sin and damnation, he chose Mary to bring Jesus into the world. He used a stick to part the Red Sea, a little boy’s lunch of fish and bread to feed thousands. He even spoke through a donkey at one time. So God is in the business of using people to accomplish his plan.

But as much as God wants to use us, sometimes he cannot adequately use us because we get in His way. The following are 7 reasons God cannot adequately use you.

1. You steal His Glory

I am the Lord ; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols.  Isaiah 42:8 ESV

Satan was banished for it
Nebuchadnezzar regretted it
Herod was killed for it.
Simon was cursed for trying to buy for his glory
Paul was kept from stealing it by way of a thorn in his flesh

Our motives can easily become carved images. Therefore,  we must ask ourselves:

Are my tweets for His glory?
Is my platform for His glory?
Are my posts for His glory?
Is my speaking for His glory?
What is my motivation?

Not to us, O Lord , not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!  Psalm 115:1 ESV

2. You abuse power

Not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.  1 Peter 5:3 ESV

The 12 Disciples disputed amongst themselves about which one of them was the greatest
The mother of the sons of Zebedee petitioned Jesus on behalf of her sons to have power and authority.
The Pharisees exalted themselves to Places of honor.
The Gentile rulers Lord it over those in their charge

God has called us to humility.  He has called us to service and putting others first.  Therefore,  we must ask ourselves:

Am I greedy for power?
Do I find self worth in it?
Does it make me feel better than others?
I’m I domineering and love to boss others sround?

Not that we lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy, for you stand firm in your faith.  2 Corinthians 2:24

3. You nurture the flesh more than the spirit

For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.  Romans 8:13 ESV

Cain gave into the flesh.
David fell because of it.
Solomon indulged in it.
Samson died because of it.
The Corinthians were famous for it.

We are called to put on the Lord Jesus and make no provision for the flesh.  Therefore,  we must ask ourselves:

Am I grieving His Spirit?
Am I walking in obedience to leading of His Spirit?
Am I feeding my flesh more than my soul?
Am I overcome by the lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh and the boastful pride of life?
How much time am I investing in feeding my soul with Godly things?

If the Spirit of Him who raised Christ Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.  Romans 8:11

4. You rely more on your ‘Savior Faire’ than on God’s power

With him is the arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord,  to help us and fight our battles.  2 Chronicles 32:8

Ahaz refused the sign of deliverance offered by God by making an alliance with Assyria.
Israel set out to go down to Egypt to seek protection from Pharaoh without asking for God.
The disciples were told to wait for it and do nothing without power from on high.
It’s comes by abiding in him.
It’s about relying on his vision, his plans and his wisdom to get the job done-  not ours.

Only God can bring the increase in every thing we are doing for him. Therefore,  we need to ask ourselves:

Why do I keep leaving God out of the picture?
What’s keeping me from relying on him?
Why am I not seeing a great harvest?

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not unto your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your path straight.   Proverbs 3:5, 6

5. You are thinking perfection instead of availability

Whom shall I send,  and who will go for us?  Isaiah 6:8

Isaiah said, “here I am send me.”
Samuel said, “Speak Lord.”
Moses said, “who, Me?”
Esther said, “I’ve come for such a time as this.”
Thomas said, “let’s go die for him.”

God is not looking for a perfect staff.  He is only looking for people who make themselves available to him. Therefore ask yourself:

What excuses am I still making?
Why do I feel I need to be perfect before answering the call?
Why am I still running away from him?

The man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.   2 Timothy 3:16

6. You despise small beginnings

For whoever has despise the day of small things shall rejoice, and see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel.   Zechariah 4:10

The Kingdom is like a mustard seed, small when planted, but mighty when given the chance to grow.

A talent seems small when received, but it’s impact is massive when employed

Vision, dreams and goals may seem insignificant in the moment, but God has a way of making big things out of small things. Therefore, we need to ask ourselves:

Why do I despise my small beginnings?
Why do I underestimate my gifts?
Why am I burying my talents?

Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. Matthew 10:29-31

7. You imitate others instead of seeking to be original

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ. Ephesians 4:11, 12

God has assigned to you a specific area of influence.
Measuring and comparing oneself to others leads to copying others.
There is no other one like you in the world
“It is better to live one’s life imperfectly, than to imitate somebody’s else’s.

You are original in God’s design, so be original in everything you do. Embrace your gifts and unique calling. Ask yourself:

Are all apostles?
Are all prophets?
Are all teachers?
Do all work miracles?
Do all possess gifts of healing?
Do all speak with tongues?
Do all interpret?
(1 Corinthians 12:29, 30 ESV)

Which one of these am I?

Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. Romans 12:6-8

So, the bottom line here is, to be used by God, one must develop certain characteristics: Humility, selflessness, able to listen and follow God’s lead, trust, surrender, tenacity, obedience, spiritual discipline and emotional stability, and a keen sense of who they are.

May the Lord help us!

What does it mean to really love God?

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And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Matthew 22:37-39

But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. 1 John 3:17, 18

For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ Matthew 25:35-40