Friday 8 February 2013

Daily Devotional with Pastor E.A Adeboye

                              SIN STARTS FROM WITHIN

Memorise: If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me. Psalm 66:18
 
READ :psalm 66:17-20
 
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: DANIEL 1-3
 
ACTION POINT: Give 80% attention to inward cleanliness and 20% to outward cleanliness. Prayerfully select a house fellowship center: around you, and be committed to its growth. ;
Hearing and obeying God's Word are central to receiving your breakthroughs. When you go through the Scriptures, you will discover among other things that when God has made up His mind to destroy a group of people, He will first deafen their ears so that they will not hear God's Word (Isaiah 6:10-12). One of the greatest challenges Christians have today is our inability to listen to the Spirit. When the Word of God is coming to us, we tend to believe that Word is for our neighbour, not us. We are quick to see what others are doing wrong or not doing but fail to meaningfully reflect over our thoughts, actions and inactions. If you have been in Christ for some time, you would have observed that when a new convert or a baby Christian prays to God just for five minutes, the answer would come, but the Christian who had been saved for several years might experience something different: if he prays for others, the answer will come, but if he prays for himself, it would appear nothing is happening. Why is this so? It might be because that believer is failing to listen to God's Word.
Some Christians only count how many years they have been in the faith of Christ but never care about having growth commensurate with their age in the faith. Are you becoming too big to hear and obey God's Word? Some people are now too big to ask others to pray for them: they think it is humiliating to request for prayers from those the Lord has put under them. While all of the aforementioned conditions are bad enough, a worse scenario is when God says that His child be left alone like it happened to Ephraim (Hosea 4:17). Are you doing something that can make God not only to leave you but also to tell others to leave you alone? If you are, immediately beat a retreat in humility and ask for His mercy today. Psalm 66:18 says God will no longer hear me if I harbour sinful thoughts in my heart. The Lord does not gauge from the outward but searches the heart. He separates Himself from a heart where sin thrives. God is no respecter of persons. If you entertain sin in your heart, God can no more be your guest at that point. Some brethren ensure no one catches them committing sin openly but inwardly their hearts are defiled. Always keep the heart pure because sin starts from within.

 

 

 

*This devotional was originally written by Pastor E.A Adeboye .For all inquiries please visit http://www.rccg.com
 

Daily Devotional with Pastor Chris Oyakhilome

                           The "Sword" Of The Spirit… ·

And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God (Ephesians 6:17).

The Greek rendering for "word" in the verse above is "rhema," and it means the spoken Word of God for the "now." It is God’s specific Word to you, at a specific time, for a specific purpose. It’s the Word of God in your mouth for the moment, concerning you or anything that you’re directing it at. That Word in your mouth is the sword of the Spirit.
The Greek word for "mouth" is "stoma," and it means the front or edge of a weapon. Literally, it means the front of a sword. In Revelations 1:16, the Apostle John describes the Son of Man saying, "… out of his mouth went a sharp two edged sword." Again, Revelations 2:16 says, "…I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth."
Now, Jesus doesn’t have a "physical" sword protruding out of His mouth. The Word He speaks is the sword of the Spirit. After you’ve deliberately and consciously meditated on the Scriptures, the Word that comes out of your mouth becomes the Word of the Spirit with which you cut the enemy in pieces. When you face crises in life, practise meditation. When you receive that "rhema-word" from the Spirit, speak it over or against the situation.
With today’s technology, you can play or listen to God’s Word, loading it into your spirit on the go, through various media formats. As the Word gets into your spirit, mutter it or shout it forth as you’re stirred in your spirit. At that moment, the words you speak become the active or creative Word. This creative Word is powerful and produces results. It’s the sword of the Spirit with which you get on the offensive against Satan and his wicked onslaught.

Confession
The Word of God is in my heart and in my mouth today, prevailing against adverse circumstances, and producing what it talks about in my spirit, soul and body. I’m living in power and working miracles as I live in, and through the power of the Holy Spirit and the Word today, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

f u r t h e r s t u d y: 2 Corinthians 10:4; Isaiah 49:2

Daily Scripture Reading

1 Year Reading Plan : Matthew 26:31-56 Exodus 34-35
2 Year Reading Plan : Matthew 13:10-23 Genesis 39


*This devotional was originally written by Pastor Chris Oyakhilome .For all inquiries please visit http://www.rhapsodyofrealities.org

 


 

Daily Devotional with Pastor W.F Kumuyi

                 REST AND RECREATION
"Six days thou shalt work, but on the seventh day thou shalt rest: in earing time and in harvest thou shalt rest."  (Exodus 34:21)

Consider the two commandments in this verse for meditation. There is a commandment for gainful employment. And there is a directive for rest. While it is obligatory that we must work, it is also important that we should rest. Rest is the condition or state of being free from activity, movement or disturbance. When should we rest? We are to observe rest every day, in-between activities, and at night, when we retire to sleep. We should also rest weekly, as we observe God’s Sabbath Day. Periodically, as we go on holidays and vacations, we should find sufficient time to rest.
Restoration of your energy happens only through adequate rest and sleep. Many youths jeopardize their health by compromising their rest and recreation. Over-indulgence in watching movies, browsing the Internet and playing video and computer games are some of the unhelpful pastimes that tend to undermine the academic success of youths today. A good believer will not divert time meant for worship and fellowship with other believers to leisure. As a child of God you must learn to be modest in all things, including how you spend your time (Colossians 4: 5).. Why not take the word of God seriously today. Rest.

Challenge:         I must maintain the balance between work and rest.
Prayer:             Oh God, I rest in your love.
Further reading:     Exodus 20:1—-11
Quote:             Learn to be modest in all things.



*This devotional was originally written by Higher Everday.For all inquiries please visit http://www.dclm.org 

Daily Devotional with Pastor Mike Okonkwo MFR

     New Testament Righteousness

“But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.”
Romans 4:5

 New Testament righteousness is a gift you received when you give your heart to Jesus Christ. It is not predicated on what good you have done. Isaiah 64:6 declares all your effort, works, struggles to become righteous before God are like filthy rags. So stop now and receive the gift of righteousness from God so that you can live for Him.
 After the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross God imputes righteousness to anyone who believes in His son and not to those who obey the law Gal 2:16. In 2 Cor. 5:21 Jesus took our sins and gave us His righteousness. Romans 4:5-8. It is the righteousness that comes by faith. It is not because you are morally upright or that you exercise self-control or that you feel so or you’re more present than any other person. Like the songwriter wrote, it is not by works of righteousness but Jesus did it all. When you believe it your faith is accounted for righteousness. You didn’t really need faith to know that you are righteous by your deeds; you also don’t need faith to know you are sinful. But you need faith to declare your righteousness in Christ in the midst of your struggle with temptation and sin. When you have missed it and you remind yourself that you are the righteousness of God in Christ, the revelation will cause you to pick up yourself to do the right thing. I know the devil will jump on your shoulder to challenge your righteousness, remind him it is because of the blood and the finished work on the cross.
 Thank God for your righteousness
  
Further Reading: Roman 4:1-8, Philippians 3:1-9

Daily Bible Reading: Morning-Leviticus 4-5; Evening-Matthew 24:29-51

 

 *This devotional was originally written by Pastor Mike Okonkwo MFR.For all inquiries please visit www.trem.org

Daily Devotional with Joseph Prince

 Jesus Understands What You Are Going Through

For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.
Hebrews 4:15


Do you sometimes wonder if God really knows what it is like to be poor, rejected by people or sick with aches and pains. Perhaps you are asking, “Does God really understand what I am going through?”
My friend, Jesus was no stranger to emotional or physical pains, poverty or hardships. He was born into a poor family. He had a smelly manger for His birthplace. (Luke 2:7) From an early age, as a carpenter, He knew all about working hard with His hands, standing on His feet all day long and returning home with aches in His body.
The religious leaders of His day made life difficult for Him. They challenged His authority (Matthew 21:23) and tested His teachings. (Matthew 19:3) They also called Him a glutton, winebibber, friend of tax collectors and sinners (Matthew 11:19), and blasphemer. (Mark 2:7)
They said that He was demon-possessed and mad (John 10:20), put Him on the spot when they brought an adulterous woman to Him (John 8:2–11), attempted to stone Him (John 8:59, 10:31–39) and accused Him of perverting the nation. (Luke 23:2)
Have you been chased out of your home because of your Christian beliefs? Jesus understands what you are going through. He was chased out of His own hometown. (Luke 4:29) Have you been rejected by someone you love? Jesus also experienced the pain of being denied by a loved one (Luke 22:54–62) and betrayed by one considered close to Him. (Luke 22:47–48) He also knows all about the sickness you are suffering because He bore your sicknesses and pains on the cross. (Isaiah 53:4)
Jesus certainly understands all that we are going through because being born fully Man, He was “in all points tempted as we are”. He endured His sufferings for our sakes, so that we can have His peace and the anointing to rise above the troubles we are facing!

Thought For The Day
Jesus understands all that we are going through because being born fully Man, He was in all points tempted as we are.

 
 
 
*This devotional was originally written by Joseph Prince.For all inquiries please visit http://www.josephprinceonline.com

 

 

Daily Devotional with Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor

                      THEY WILL HEAR A NOISE

"For the Lord had made the host of the Syrians to hear a noise of chariots, and a noise of horses, even the noise of a great host �Wherefore they arose and fled in the twilight, and left their tents, and their horses, and their asses, even the camp as it was, and fled for their life" (2Kings 7:6-7)

Previous days, we started discussing the four lepers who wouldn�t accept their human imposed fate. As they got up to go forward, God went ahead of them. Did you know that if they hadn�t gotten up, God wouldn�t have moved?
God made the enemy hear a noise. Your enemy will hear a noise that will confuse them. God can make noise. You will make holy noise and touch the supernatural today. Press in on the Holy Ghost. Your enemies will come in one way and flee in seven ways. (Deuteronomy 28:7) Why do you think your enemies will flee in seven ways? It is because they will hear a noise today. A noise that the natural ear may not hear but the spiritual one will. When the devil, hears a noise from God, he lets go. When Jesus said to Lazarus, loose him and let him go. Satan heard a noise and let him go. Imagine four lepers matching towards an army of soldiers that had all kind of weapons. The soldiers heard a noise and they all fled. The defeat was unimaginable and unbelievable. The only reason the devil oppresses the children of God is that they are sitting down instead of standing up. Therefore, every rubbish he drops rests on their head. Why should the devil sit on your business? Why should a witch boast that she�s the one destroying your life?
If you are sick in your body, have problems in your life, business, job, etc, the fire and power of God will flow into your life as you stand up, pray, and make spiritual noises today. Tell the devil you know who you are. Take authority over him and set yourself free.

SING: Let God arise and His enemies be scattered.

PRAYER/CONFESSION:
Pray in the spirit today.
Lord, make a noise that my enemies will hear and leave my marriage, job, or business, and me alone, in Jesus name. In the name of Jesus, I take authority over every demonic power holding my life and business. I command such spirits to come out, in the mighty name of Jesus.

FURTHER READING: 2 Kings 7, Deuteronomy.28

WORDS OF WISDOM: Take authority over the devil and set yourself free.


*This devotional was originally written by Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor.For all inquiries please visit http://www.ayo-oritsejafor.org.

Wednesday 6 February 2013

Daily Devotional with Pastor E.A Adeboye

                 ESTABLISHING MERE STATEMENTS

Memorise: Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways. Job 22:28

Read: Kings 2:19-22

Bible in One Year: Esther 5-7

Action Point: The anointing turns mere statements into laws. If you are Cod's anointed, be very careful with your words, particularly your jokes and comments when provoked.


If you compare the old with the new anointing, although it is the same Spirit, yet you will notice that there is a divine intent to do things better, deliver faster and give God a greater level of glory. This New Year, the new anointing will make uncommon miracles possible through you in Jesus name.


Another attribute of the new anointing is that with it you can decree something and it will be established immediately. In 2 Kings 2:19-22, Elisha poured water mixed with salt at the spring of some bad river, and decreed an end to death and barrenness and it was so. We had a Holy Ghost rally recently in America. During the time for testimonies, one of my daughters testified that several years ago, while still seeking admission into the university, she met me for prayers, but because I was very busy, I told her to go and that she will get the admission. She was disappointed because she felt I had no time to pray for her; but a few weeks later, she got her admission. Some years later, she was pursuing her admission into a particular university which was not easy to secure. She said I simply looked at her and said congratulations! Then she recalled how God used a simple comment from me to give her that admission earlier, so she went home rejoicing. On arrival, she told her son and not long after, her admission letter into that university was received, and it started with: 'Dear Mrs. so and so, congratulations!' Have you been struggling with getting admission into a school of higher learning but have met with disappointments? The era of disappointment is over in your life.
In the name that is above all other names, you shall receive your admission letter into that preferred course of study as you make another effort. Have you made several efforts with your spouse but you have not been able to have a child? This season, your next attempt will result in pregnancy and your baby shall be made manifest. Have you been finding it so difficult to make ends meet? Have you been living from hand to mouth? From today, the Lord is opening new doors that will deliver abundance to you. Tap into the new anointing with faith and it shall be well with you.
 
 
 

*This devotional was originally written by Pastor E.A Adeboye .For all inquiries please visit http://www.rccg.com
 
 

 

Daily Devotional with Pastor Anita Oyakhilome

                           Partakers of His Righteousness

...They which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ (Romans 5:17).

When you were born again, you received righteousness as a gift. Righteousness therefore is no longer something you’re looking for or hoping that you’d have in the sweet-by-and-by. It’s already been imparted to your spirit as a gift from God (Romans 5:17). Righteousness is now your nature. Righteousness, however, is different from right living. Right living is only possible for the one who’s been made righteous.
Religion teaches that if you would first live right, God would then make you righteous and accept you. That’s putting the cart before the horse. There’s a great difference between righteousness and right living, and it’s imperative to put them in the right context. A sinner, for example, can’t live right, no matter how "good" his deeds are. Right living is the product of the nature of righteousness imparted to a man’s spirit at the New Birth. No one can live right until he is first of all righteous.
God, in Christ Jesus, has made us righteous. That’s the good news; that an ungodly person can become righteous through faith in Christ Jesus. Anyone who confesses the Lordship of Jesus, believing in his heart that God raised Him from the dead, according to Romans 10:9-10, receives salvation into his heart! He’s made righteous. That endorsement of what has already been wrought by Jesus Christ on the Cross on your behalf, automatically brings you into oneness with God. You didn’t have to struggle to earn it! That’s why Romans 5:1 says, "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."
2 Corinthians 5:21 says "For he hath made him to be sin for us who knew no sin that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." Now you can live right and please God everyday as you live by faith in His Word. He has made you a partaker of His righteous nature.
For a more detailed expose on the subject of righteousness and right living, order the series "Understanding Righteousness" at www. christembassyonlinestore.org
Prayer
Dear Father, I thank you for giving me your righteousness as a gift, and inspiring in me the consciousness of a victor. Being justified freely by your grace, I rejoice exceedingly, knowing that I’ve been ordained to reign in life by grace through righteousness, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
f u r t h e r s t u d y: Romans 5:18-19

Daily Scripture Reading

1 Year Reading Plan : Matthew 25:31-46, Exodus 31
2 Year Reading Plan : Matthew 12:39-50, Genesis 37




*This devotional was originally written by Pastor Chris Oyakhilome .For all inquiries please visit http://www.rhapsodyofrealities.org 
 

 

Daily Devotional with Pastor W.F Kumuyi

                                              LET US NOT SLEEP
"Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober."  (1Thessalonians 5:6)
Sleep is good. After a good night sleep, you feel better, your thoughts are clearer and your emotions less fragile. Without adequate sleep, judgment, mood and ability to learn and retain information are weakened. A growing boy or girl needs adequate sleep everyday to revitalize the brain and the tissues of the body.
Although sleep is necessary to good health, yet it is wrong to sleep at odd hours. It is wrong to be asleep when we ought to be awake. Think of a boy who sleeps always in the class. He will not be able to listen or take a good note. Some youths who remain wide awake to watch several episodes of a Television soap opera late into the night will fall asleep during the 20 minutes family devotion. . To such people, the admonition of God is clear: let us not sleep as do others. For you to be victorious in your Christian life as  a young person, you must not only be born again, you must give time to prayer, read the Bible, fellowship with other believers and serve your creator.

Challenge:
        I will not sleep at odd hour.
Prayer:             Lord, keep me awake when I should be.
Further reading:     Romans 13:11-14






*This devotional was originally written by Higher Everday.For all inquiries please visit http://www.dclm.org
 

Daily Devotional with Pastor Mike Okonkwo MFR

           You Can Call On Him

“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Romans 10:13
 What a beautiful scripture we have today. Notice that this scripture is a qualifier for everyone. Oftentimes people discount themselves from coming to God because of the mess they have made of their lives. The devil jumps on your shoulders and tells you, there is no need trying, don’t even make any attempt, there is no use, you are not good enough to approach God. I want you to know that all these satanic suggestions are not enough to stop you.
 God specializes in making messages out of messes. Your mess is a message to someone. The text today says “whosoever” calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Whosoever means anyone: man or woman, boy or girl, educated or illiterate, rich or poor, irrespective of your social status or financial status. The gospel is for “whosoever”.
 No matter your condition, failure, mistakes or disadvantages.  You are included in “whosoever”. You can be saved. Just call upon the name of the Lord. The son of man came to seek and to save those that are lost (Luke 19:10). If you have not yet given your life to Christ, right where you are, you can surrender to Him today, just turn to the last page and pray that simple prayer and you will be surprised that He will come into your life and make His abode in you and your life will never be the same again.
 But that does not end there, also I encourage you to find a Bible believing church, a place where Jesus Christ is preached, the Holy Spirit is given absolute liberty and the word of God is the final authority. You need a church to help you grow for everything that is born must grow. If you need my recommendation, I gladly recommend to you any TREM branch close to you. You can get all the addresses from the website: www.trem.org.
 There is hope for you today; you are qualified to call on Him.


Further Reading: Luke 19:1-10, Romans 10:1-17

Daily Bible Reading: Morning-Exodus 39-40; Evening-Matthew 23:23-39



*This devotional was originally written by Pastor Mike Okonkwo MFR.For all inquiries please visit www.trem.org


 

Daily Devotional with Joseph Prince

             God Is In It With You

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
Romans 8:28


Do you feel misunderstood and forsaken by the people you love? Have you been falsely accused and stripped of everything, without a dime to your name? Maybe today, you feel that you have hit rock bottom and you wonder if you can ever rise again.
Joseph, who was sold by his brothers into slavery (Genesis 37:28), went through all these experiences and emotions. Still, he was conscious that God was in it with him every step of the way. Though his life was a “mess”, he believed that it was not an accident. Though the things that were happening to him were not good, he believed that God was making all things work together for his good. And it was indeed so — Joseph eventually rose to occupy the most powerful position in Egypt, second only to Pharaoh. (Genesis 41:40)
Probably, this consciousness that God was in it with him was the reason he forgave his brothers when he met them again later in his life. Joseph told them, “But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life.” (Genesis 45:5)
So like Joseph, whatever you are facing now, be conscious that God is in it with you. Be Jesus-conscious. Though you may have nothing or not much now in the natural, the truth is that you have everything when you have Jesus!
The same Jesus who went around enriching others with 12 baskets full of leftovers, a net-breaking, boat-sinking load of fishes, and who never impoverished anybody, will empower you to prosper and succeed in life. The same Jesus who went about doing good will cause good to explode in your life. The same Jesus who went about healing the sick and never giving anyone sickness will keep you in divine health and protect you from harm.
Beloved because “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8), as He was with Joseph, He is with you right now. And He will empower you to live the high life — the abundant life in which you will see God’s promises manifest!

Thought For The Day
God is with you every step of the way and making all things work for your good.




*This devotional was originally written by Joseph Prince.For all inquiries please visit http://www.josephprinceonline.com

 

Tuesday 5 February 2013

Daily Devotional with Pastor E.A Adeboye

                             SACRIFICIAL DELICACY

Memorise: AND LET THEM SACRIFICE THE SACRIFICES OF THANKSGIVING, AND DECLARE HIS WORKS WITH REJOICING. psalm 107:22

Read: psalm 107:21-22

Bible in one year: Esther 1-4

ACTION POINT: throughout today, serve God a fresh, hot sacrificial thanksgiving ‘delicacy’ over your disappointments & inadequacies.

When you give thanks to God, it is analogous to serving Him Food. The way this ‘food’ is served is important to God. Not many husbands will like food prepared a day before or cold, stale food. If you are casual about thanking God, it is synonymous to serving Him cold food. Although this is a meal, He is not compelled to ‘eat’ it. When you thank him grudgingly, you can be certain He will not eat that food. In most homes, if the wife set the table and as her husband settles down to eat, she begins to complain or nag, most men will leave that food and possibly leave that house just have to just to have peace of mind. No wonder proverbs 17:1 says,
Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than a house full of sacrifices with strife
At any time you offer God thanks and mix it with bits of complaints, you make it difficult to for him to take such meal.
some people allow the passage of time to affect the fervency of their thanksgiving over a subject matter. That is, if the good deed God has done to them occurred a long time ago, they will serve their thanks cold; but if it is fresh, they will be full of life and serve their thanks hot. This should not be! Even if he subject of your thanks occurred 20 or 30 years ago, you should be fervent while thanking Him. Dig into your memory and get a vivid picture of what He has done and present thanks to Him as if it is just occurred. This He will receive from you. Moreover of all thanksgiving specials, the best ‘delicacy’ you can serve God, of which you can be sure God will accept unquestionably, is thanksgiving that involves sacrifice. While thanking God for what He has done is a special meal, thanking Him when situations are going contrary to your expectations is such a great delicacy. Can you thank God after the loss of a job, a loved one, or after a demotion? Can you thank God when there is no food to eat? Can you thank God after been victimized or when you have not been able to bear children? Doing such is a sacrificial delicacy. It attracts God’s attention – so don’t be found without it!

 

 

 

 

Daily Devotional with Pastor Chris Oyakhilome

                                 A Future Of Success

Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints… which is Christ in you, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:26-27).

The one who’s born again is guaranteed of a glorious future. You can know what kind of life you’re going to have or what your future will be like. The future isn’t supposed to be a mystery. Part of the ministry of the Holy Spirit in your life is to show you the future: "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come" (John 16:13).
If you have received the Holy Spirit, no more should you be in the dark about the future! How does He show us the future? It’s by taking of that which belongs to Jesus, and showing it unto us: "All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you" (John 16:15). The future belongs to God. The Holy Ghost takes that future and unveils it to you through the Word. Therefore, you can tell what your life is going to be; you can plan your life.
There’re those who say, "Well, we never can tell what God’s going to do. Nobody knows tomorrow." Some will even say, "God moves in mysterious ways, His wonders to perform." God isn’t mysterious; it’s Satan that’s mysterious. To be mysterious means to be strange, cryptic, furtive, cagey, or unpredictable, and God isn’t that way. He gave us His Word so we can understand His will and understand His thoughts towards us.
He said in Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." That expected future is one of success. As you walk in His Word, in His preordained pathways, you’ll discover that He created you for glory, honour, success and excellence. Ephesians 2:10(AMP) says, "For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live]. "
Prayer
Dear Father, I thank you for revealing your Word to me, and helping me see myself and the glorious future you’ve prepared for me in Christ. Now I know that you’ve blessed me with a future filled with hope—a future of success, prosperity and joy, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
f u r t h e r s t u d y: Jeremiah 29:11; John 1:14

Daily Scripture Reading

1 Year Reading Plan : Matthew 25:1-30, Exodus 29-30
2 Year Reading Plan : Matthew 12:31-38 Genesis 36




*This devotional was originally written by Pastor Chris Oyakhilome .For all inquiries please visit http://www.rhapsodyofrealities.org 
 


 

Daily Devotional with Pastor W.F Kumuyi

                           JESUS MARVELLED

"When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel." (Matthew 8:10)
Jesus was a wonder. People marvelled at him. As a boy, his earthly parents—-Joseph and  Mary marvelled at the prophecies and predictions made about him. The scribes and doctors of the law were startled at his knowledge of Scriptures. The multitudes marvelled at his power over nature and sicknesses and diseases. The Jews wondered at his knowledge of letters, having not acquired higher education. The Pharisees marvelled at his unconventional behaviour like eating without washing his hands. Pilate wondered at his silence and latter marvelled at his death.
But twice we saw Jesus also marvelled. He marvelled at the faith of the centurion. And he was surprised  at the unbelief of his kinsmen. Jesus was amazed that a gentile from another country had so much faith while Jews from Nazareth, His home town, had little faith. The situation is still the same today. As a youth do you give due honour to your parents, teachers and spiritual leaders?  What is your case today? Will Jesus marvel at your faith or unbelief? How strong is your faith. Do you trust God for your healing and provision?

Challenge:         Have faith in God.
Prayer:             Lord, help thou my unbelief.
Further reading:     Mark 6:1-6
Quote:             Will Jesus marvel at your faith?    



*This devotional was originally written by Higher Everday.For all inquiries please visit http://www.dclm.org

Daily Devotional with Pastor Mike Okonkwo MFR

   The Gospel Is The Power To Save

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”
 Romans 1:16

 The gospel of Christ is the good-news and each time you hear the gospel you are actually hearing the good-news. This good-news is the power of God for your salvation from hell, illness financial challenges, harm, marital challenges and other aspects of your life that needs God’s intervention. One thing is to hear the gospel and another thing is to understand it and believe it in your heart; and this must happen if you must get the benefit.
 From our text you will discover that it is further buttressed in (v.17) that in this good news the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith. In other words, you are the righteousness of God. You received it by faith in His finished work on the cross and not by what you did right. It is from faith to faith not faith to works or works to works.
 The good-news is never preached to show you what is wrong with you but to show you what is now right with you because of Jesus. All you need to do now is to hear and believe in this saving power of the gospel of Christ to heal you of all sickness, preserve you from danger, prosper you and grant you bliss in your family.
 The gospel of Christ is so good because it is true. Believe it and act on it and you will see the result.
  
 Further Reading: Psalm 32:1-2, 1 Corinthians 5:17-21

Daily Bible Reading: Morning-Exodus 36-38; Evening-Matthew 23:1-22




*This devotional was originally written by Pastor Mike Okonkwo MFR.For all inquiries please visit www.trem.org


 

Daily Devotional with Joseph Prince

           Pray Perfect Prayers In The Spirit


Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
Romans 8:27

Wouldn’t you like to pray effective prayers that are always in line with the will of God and which always hit the mark? Well, when you pray in the Spirit, you can.
You see, when we pray in English or our known language, and according to our limited understanding, we can pray amiss. Sometimes, our heads get in the way and we find ourselves asking, “Isn’t it selfish of me to pray like this?” or “Am I praying in line with God’s will?”
My friend, that is why God gives us the gift of praying in tongues. When we pray in tongues or in the Holy Spirit, we can never pray out of God’s will because the Holy Spirit “makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God”.
In other words, we pray perfect prayers in line with God’s will when we pray in tongues. And the Bible goes on to tell us that “if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him”. (1 John 5:14–15)
Isn’t it wonderful that God has put in you the Holy Spirit who prays perfectly? He knows the heart of God and precisely what you need. And He makes intercession for you because He loves you very much.
The Holy Spirit is like your lawyer or legal counselor. He knows what belongs to you legally. He knows what your blood-bought rights are in Christ. Best of all, He knows exactly how to enforce them in your life!
Beloved, when you pray in tongues, you allow the Holy Spirit to pray perfect prayers through you. He pleads your case before God. He knows where you have gone wrong and what the root of the problem is. He also has the wisdom, solution and power to win your case. With the Holy Spirit on your side, you cannot but come out victorious!
 
Thought For The Day
We pray perfect prayers in line with God’s will when we pray in tongues.





*This devotional was originally written by Joseph Prince.For all inquiries please visit http://www.josephprinceonline.com

 


 

 

Monday 4 February 2013

Daily Devotional with Pastor E.A Adeboye

                VICTIMS OF NATURAL DRIVES

MEMORISE: Be Not Deceived: Evil Communications Corrupt Good Manners 1Chorintians 15:33

Read: 2 Samuel 13: 1-14

Bible in one year: Nehemiah 10-13

Prayer point: father let me not be a victim of legitimate thirst, hunger and sex drives. Help me that these needs might be satisfied within the bounds of your laws.

One unfortunate trend we see around us today is how so many people have become victims of their needs. There are very legitimate needs but some people have used this as an excuse to do something wrong. For instance, in every human being, there is a drive called thirst. This is natural and can be satisfied through wholesome, healthy and legitimate means.
However, using this drive as an excuse to indulge in alcohol is an abuse of the body from which this drive emanates. So also is the sex drive. This is natural.it is natural for those of the opposite sex to feel attracted to each other. Yet, this drive is not to be consummated except after marriage. Anyone who engages in premarital sex, saying that if it is wrong, why did God put the drive in man in the first place, is only a victim of his need. In what way are you becoming a victim of your legitimate needs? Ask God to deliver you today!
Similarly, a Christian who needs a spouse and decides to marry an unbeliever or just any Christian will definitely become a victim of legitimate need. A certain brother who had been separated from his wife for years was becoming so lonely that he began to associate with unbelievers. Before long, he regularly visited beer parlours and went back into smoking and drinking until some members of the church led him back to Christ. No matter how highly pressed you are, never yourself to become a victim of your need! Ammon was influenced by his friend to satisfy his sex drive through an incestuous rape of his-sister Tamar. Who should you make friends with? Choose fellow believers as your friends and pray partners. Not every believer should be your prayer partner if you are unmarried. Prayerfully, choose someone who is spiritually compatible. Also, your partner must be someone who does not willfully sin but lives holy. Let it be someone you can confide in, with whom you can pray prayers of agreement with. Take time to ask God to choose your friends for you. Above all, let Jesus be your partner. If you allow him, He will help you with the grace, strength and wisdom to do all that you should. Remember that you cannot achieve much without him. Your success in life is dependent on Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Give the Lord the space, time and energy due Him. Your need for friendship is truly satisfied in Christ.

 

Daily Devotional with Pastor Chris Oyakhilome

                                   The Fullness Of Christ

And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ (Ephesians 4:11-13).

What is God’s purpose in training and edifying the Body of Christ? Why does He want us nurtured and brought up in the things of the Spirit? The answer is given to us in the 13th verse of our theme scripture: "Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ." His purpose is to bring us into the fullness of Christ—into the fullness of His understanding, wisdom, and glory. What a purpose!
No wonder John said in the sixteenth verse of the first chapter of his Gospel, "And of his fullness have all we received, and grace for grace." I urge you to take the time to meditate on this verse; it’s so powerful! It says of His fullness have we all received, grace heaped upon grace. What this means is that we have received in all fullness everything that is of deity in Christ Jesus. This isn’t just in measure, but in quality, and in the severalty of potentialities available in Him. All of His powers, all of His glory, might, strength and wisdom; everything that He represents—everything that’s contained in Him—we have received!
Recall the words of the Lord Jesus in John 5:26: "For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself." Jesus had inherent life. He didn’t need more life from God. Now, the Bible says of His fullness: of all that He’s got, we have received. Meaning, you’ve received of His ability, wisdom, knowledge, glory and everything that makes Him who He is. Awesome reality!

Confession
I’ve received of God’s ability, wisdom, knowledge, and glory in full measure. I was born to rule and reign in life through Christ Jesus, having received abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
f u r t h e r s t u d y: Colossians 1:19; Colossians 2:9-10

Daily Scripture Reading

1 Year Reading Plan : Matthew 24:36-51, Exodus 28
2 Year Reading Plan : Matthew 12:22-30 Genesis 35

 

*This devotional was originally written by Pastor Chris Oyakhilome .For all inquiries please visit http://www.rhapsodyofrealities.org

 

Daily Devotional with Pastor W.F Kumuyi 1

               HAVE YOU SEEN DAVID?

"Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse ... that is cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man ... and prudent in matters, and a comely person, and the LORD is with him."(1Samuel 16:18)

David, the son of Jesse, presents a picture of a balanced youth. He is a well-rounded youth who developed various aspects of his personality. He was skilful in the use of musical instruments. As a brave shepherd by trade, he was so athletic to suggest that he was involved in regular exercise and military training.. He lived  a disciplined life and had a personal relationship with God.
What picture do you present to the public? Are you developing yourself in all directions? You can excel by observing the following: (1) Read the Bible and develop yourself intellectually. (2) Endeavour to acquire relevant skill and learn something new every day. (3) Take care of your physical looks, eat balanced diet, exercise and avoid unhealthy habits. (4) Improve your social relationships and make yourself friendly. (5) Have a personal relationship with God. Be born again. Above all, serve God in your school fellowship and local church.

Challenge:         Be a well-rounded youth.
Prayer:             Lord lift me up to higher ground.
Further reading:     Luke 2:40 - 52
Quote:         Learn something new every day.



*This devotional was originally written by Higher Everday.For all inquiries please visit http://www.dclm.org

 

Daily Devotional with Pastor Mike Okonkwo MFR

Why Worry When Jesus Is On The Throne

“Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?”
 Mathew 6:27

You will be surprised how many have not allowed this question asked by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount or the Beatitudes as they are popularly called, become a reality to them. You must realize that no amount of worrying can lengthen your life or add anything to your person; neither can it solve the challenge ahead of you. Rather, worrying will rob you of sleep, health, joy, peace and many good years.
 God’s anointing flows freely in you to strengthen, heal restore and add to you when you are worry free. When you worry, you are actually saying that the devil has the power to do in you what he is saying because God cannot protect you. In other words, worrying is giving credit to the devil that he does not deserve. This is because nothing can be farther from the truth. The devil is not a roaring lion, it is like a roaring lion. Think of it, no matter how good a carving is, it is only a carving, it cannot bite, the same way, the devil is just like a lion; he Is not a lion. Jesus is the Lion of the Tribe of Judah.
 When you refuse to worry, you are putting your faith in God. You have more confidence in His love and power working for you than the devils ability to hurt you. You are resting absolutely in the finished work of Jesus Christ and you will see the manifestation of God’s miracle in your life.
 When you refuse to worry, you are boasting in the awesome power of God and guess what God never fails. He will rise up to the occasion and defend His name. There is no need to worry because your Father is in charge.

Further Reading: proverbs 3:5-6, 1Peter 5:6-7

Daily Bible Reading: Morning- Exodus 34-35; Evening-Matthew 22:23-46

*This devotional was originally written by Pastor Mike Okonkwo MFR.For all inquiries please visit www.trem.org

 

Daily Devotional with Joseph Prince

     Blessed With Every Pneumatikos Blessing


Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,
Ephesians 1:3

Some people think that the term “spiritual blessing” refers to only non-visible and intangible blessings like peace and joy. To them, God’s promise of “every spiritual blessing” excludes the tangible blessings of health, prosperity, a healthy marriage and so on. They say things like, “Don’t expect God to remove this tumor because our blessings are only spiritual.”
Beloved, do you know what the word “spiritual” here means? In the original Greek text, it is pneumatikos, which in this context means having properties and characteristics belonging to the Spirit of God. So if you have the pneumatikos blessing of health, for example, it means that it is of the Spirit of God, and therefore does not depend on your exercising or dieting.
A church member had high blood pressure which did not normalize even after he started exercising and eating well. So he stopped being preoccupied with his exercise and diet regimes, and simply rested in the truth that a normal blood pressure was a pneumatikos blessing from God already given to him. In a short time, his blood pressure came down to a healthy level!
The same goes for the pneumatikos blessing of prosperity. It is of the Spirit of God and does not depend on our toiling seven days a week or monitoring the stock market closely.
A church member, who owns a small company, received her pneumatikos blessing of prosperity when she believed that God would cause her small company to be publicly listed. He did. In fact, the company was over-subscribed seven times within the first week! Later on, it even made inroads into Dubai in the Middle East. For a woman to find favor in a male-dominated society like Dubai, it can only be the pneumatikos blessing of favor, which is not subject to the laws of man.
My friend, believe that you have received every pneumatikos blessing, and you will find yourself enjoying blessings that are eternal, just as God is eternal, and of a quality that only the Spirit of God can give!

 Thought For The Day
You have received every pneumatikos blessing and each one is of a quality that only the Spirit of God can give!

 


*This devotional was originally written by Joseph Prince.For all inquiries please visit http://www.josephprinceonline.com

 

Sunday 3 February 2013

Daily Devotional with Pastor E.A Adeboye

                                                        RECRUIT CIVILIANS
MEMORISE : And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Matthew 10 : 7.

READ : Matthew 10:7-8.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR : Nehemiah 7-9.



In addition to the order to love, the soldiers of Christ were given another order, and this relates to the attitude of divine soldiers
to earthly civilians those who are not in God’s army. 
In John 14:12, the Lord Jesus Christ ordered His earthly soldiers to replicate His works by doing what He did and even greater works
than He did. What has the Lord done to us? The Lord recruited us into God’s army. 


If He healed you at any time, it is because He does not want sick people in His army. 

If He delivered you at any time, it is becauseanyone who is not delivered or is in bondage will constitute a security risk to
His army. Little wonder He went about doing well, healing the sick
and setting the oppressed free from their oppressors (Acts 1 0:3 8). Just as
the Lord recruited you into God’s army, so must you recruit others? How? By going out.

You have been ordered to go out and meet people so that you can do them some good. 

How do you feel when you offer to help someone and the fellow tells you he does not need your help? 

You will definitely feel bad, yet, irrespective of how you feel, the Lord still expects you to go and meet these civilians to do them some good, so
that through your good works, they can sign up to be part of God’s army
(Matthew 5:1 6). 

Our mandate is to keep on witnessing to civilians until they all become soldiers of the cross. However, when the Commander-in-chief of the
Heavenly hosts sends His soldiers on an errand, He does not want to hear
‘Mission impossible’ but Mission accomplished’. 

Nevertheless, you have nothing to fear because He will provide the strength, wisdom and strategy to accomplish
the mission. In Matthew 1 0:7-8, we see that our duty is more than just to preach; we are also commanded to heal the sick, cleanse the leper, raise the dead,
and cast out devils. We are also expected to do these freely. 



This therefore means that the saved, Spirit-filled believer who fails to do these is indebted. That fellow is violating God’s command. 

But are you saying that you lack the anointing to perform these miracles? Fine! 

All God wants from you is to do everything legitimately possible for you to get His power - not Satan’s! Seek God with all your heart
and pay whatever price He wants you to pay and you will begin to see miracles in and through your life.
 

Daily Devotional with Billy Graham

                      In His Image

Create in me a new, clean heart, O God, filled with clean thoughts and right desires.
–Psalm 51:10 (TLB)

You were created in the image and likeness of God. You were made for God’s fellowship, and your heart can never be satisfied without His communion. Just as iron is attracted to a magnet, the soul in its state of hunger is drawn to God. Though you, like thousands of others, may feel in the state of sin that the world is more alluring and more to your liking, some day—perhaps even now as you read these words—you will acknowledge that there is something deep down inside you which cannot be satisfied by the alloy of earth. Then with David, the Psalmist who had sampled the delicacies of sin and had found them unsatisfying, you will say, “Oh God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is.”

Prayer for the day
How I long for You, God, yet so often my heart is drawn away from Your leading. Like David, I desire a clean heart.


*This devotional was originally written by Billy Graham .For all inquiries please visit www.billygraham.org


Daily Devotional with Pastor Anita Oyakhilome

                         Acknowledge The Good Treasures In You!

A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things… (Matthew 12:35).

Do you know there are good things in you? Philemon 1:6 says, "That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus." There’re good things in you; pleasurable things; things that bring joy, honour, and excellence. Your faith would only become effective when you acknowledge these good things that are in you in Christ Jesus.
The realities of our heavenly Kingdom are activated through recognition and proclamation. Recognize and proclaim that you’re who God says you are; you have what He says you have, and you can do what He says you can do. Acknowledge that you have this treasure in earthen vessel; therefore the excellence of the power that works in you, causing everything you do to prosper, is of God: "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us" (2 Corinthians 4:7).
Begin to discover the good things in you and proclaim them, for Christianity is finding out who you are and then acting that way.

Confession
I’m filled with the Spirit of God in all wisdom, understanding, and knowledge. Therefore, I have an excellent spirit, and I’m sufficient in all things, full of the eternal deposits of the goodness and grace of God. I have my understanding enlightened to have precise knowledge of the great riches of God’s glorious inheritance in me, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

f u r t h e r s t u d y: Ephesians 1:17; Ephesians 1:3

Daily Scripture Reading

1 Year Reading Plan : Matthew 24:1-35, Exodus 26-27
2 Year Reading Plan : Matthew 12:10-21 Genesis 34

 

 

*This devotional was originally written by Pastor Chris Oyakhilome .For all inquiries please visit http://www.rhapsodyofrealities.org 

 

Daily Devotional with Pastor W.F Kumuyi

                        Provisions Of Daily Bread

TEXT: EXODUS 16:11-21

Key verse: “And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another, it is manna; for they wist not what it was. And Moses said unto them, This is the bread which the LORD hath given you to eat” (Exodus 16:15).

The causes of most revolutions in our contemporary days are  connected to provision or availability of food. Once there is scarcity, there is high level of complaints. Most often,  governments become the scapegoat.
    The same trend and instinct for immediate gratification were demonstrated some millennia ago by the children of Israel during their journey in the wilderness. God made them to cross the Red Sea without ship or bridge. He made bitter water sweet at Marah. At some point, there was scarcity of food. They should have sang praises and worshiped God in anticipation for food. Instead, they complained against Moses, God’s  representative on earth.
    Despite their acts of ingratitude, God was compassionate towards them. He provided them bread to eat that lasted for forty years during their wilderness journey. The magnitude and depth of that miracle can only be comprehended by gathering all the teeming members of a large Church into a single location for a three-day Retreat without provision of food.
    In the “Lord’s prayer”, Christ taught us to pray to the Father  for “our daily bread”, considering that today’s food is the only food we could possibly eat today. Through the Holy Spirit, Apostle Paul admonished us: “Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God”. The One who fed thousands with bread and fish is still very much in the business of providing for His children today.
    We must therefore avoid unbelief and hardness of heart as exhibited by Israel. Instead, we must cultivate the attitude of David the king who wrote: “the Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: God is our Provider.

 

*This devotional was originally written by Daily Manna.For all inquiries please visit http://www.dclm.org

 

Daily Devotional with Rod Parsley

                           Leaven of the Herodians

"Be careful," Jesus warned them. "Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod."
Mark 8:15


The leaven of the Herodians is the craving of sinful man that comes from being of the world and under the power of the god of this world—the devil.

Herodians follow the lust of their eyes, they give in to the lust of the flesh and they boast of the things that they possess and what they have accomplished. They are governed by self—self-interest, self-desire, self-focus, and self-pleasure.

Every vice that is in the sinful nature of man is able to influence and exert control over a Herodian, for they follow the call of the world and not of God. Greed, gambling, sexual perversion, murder, lust, robbery, covetousness, lying, and all the other sins listed in the Bible (Romans 1:29) become the driving force behind a Herodian.

God expects us to live differently, now that we have been born again. Galatians 5:16 says, “So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.” Let us renounce the leaven of the Herodians and live the way God intends—according to His Spirit.


Further Reading
  • Mark 6:14-29
  • 1 John 2:16
  • Luke 12:1

*This devotional was originally written by Rod Parsley.For all inquiries please visit www.rodparsley.com