The Word

Theme: An Instrument of God  Text: Isaiah 45:1 45 Thus says the Lord to His anointed, To Cyrus, whose right hand I have held—To subdue nations before him and loose the armor of kings, to open before him the double doors, so that the gates will not be shut God is able to use just anyone to bring His glory to bear. While Israel and Judah were in exile, the power of God manifested in a pagan king called Cyrus. He became God's instrument to direct His own back to Him. The Lord addressed him as His anointed because, whatever the Lord uses, He sets apart (sanctifies). When we avail ourselves as instruments to be used by God, He sanctifies us for greater jobs ahead. God does not give up on those He has called for a purpose. He never makes them losers or give them to the will of their adversaries. Just as God held the hand of Cyrus to subdue nations before him and loose the armor of kings, so will the Lord sustain you in every battle in life. It is God who opens and shuts doors in life. Wh...

Theme: The Lord is Our Shepherd  Text: Psalm 80:1-3 80 Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, You who lead Joseph like a flock; You who dwell between the cherubim, shine forth! 2 Before Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh, Stir up Your strength, and come and save us! 3 Restore us, O God; Cause Your face to shine, and we shall be saved! The Lord has been a Shepherd to all, for He watches over every thing in the world. God is the only one who can bring you to an expected end if you trust your life in His care.  The psalmist pleas to the Lord to give ear to his call knowing how wonderful the presence of God is to Israel. Dear beloved in the Lord, God's presence is with us through the Holy Spirit. Avail yourself to the Great Shepherd to lead you to a good place t of pasture. The pasture could be an area of your life that needs a divine transformation. It could be your education, ministry, marriage, finances, career, and other important areas of your life.  God is a Restorer and He is wi...

Theme: Face Your Battles Strategically  Text: Joshua 8:1-8 8  Now the  Lord  said to Joshua: “Do not be afraid, nor be dismayed; take all the people of war with you, and arise, go up to Ai. See, I have given into your hand the king of Ai, his people, his city, and his land.  2  And you shall do to Ai and its king as you did to Jericho and its king. Only its spoil and its cattle you shall take as booty for yourselves. Lay an ambush for the city behind it.”  3  So Joshua arose, and all the people of war, to go up against Ai; and Joshua chose thirty thousand mighty men of valor and sent them away by night.  4  And he commanded them, saying: “Behold, you shall lie in ambush against the city, behind the city. Do not go very far from the city, but all of you be ready.  5  Then I and all the people who are with me will approach the city; and it will come about, when they come out against us as at the...

Theme: Your Foundation Has Been Laid Text: Isaiah 44:26-28 26 Who confirms the word of His servant, and performs the counsel of His messengers; Who says to Jerusalem, ‘You shall be inhabited,’ To the cities of Judah, ‘You shall be built,’ And I will raise up her waste places; 27 Who says to the deep, ‘Be dry! And I will dry up your rivers’; 28 Who says of Cyrus, ‘He is My shepherd, and he shall perform all My pleasure, saying to Jerusalem, “You shall be built,” And to the temple, “Your foundation shall be laid.” ’ We've seen how God can frustrate the works of the wicked and render the darkened wisdom of the unrighteous to foolishness in yesterday's devotion. Today, we will be looking at the divine foundation laid out for those who believe in the Lord. Before one can be established, he needs to have a well built foundation if not, his struggles will become useless. So it is, with anyone who doesn't build his life on Jesus. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that whi...

Theme: God Will Frustrate Your Adversaries Text: Isaiah 44:24-25 24 Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, And He who formed you from the womb: “I am the Lord, who makes all things, who stretches out the heavens all alone, who spreads abroad the earth by Myself; 25 Who frustrates the signs of the babbles, and drives diviners mad; Who turns wise men backward, and makes their knowledge foolishness. In yesterday's devotion, we looked at the redemptive work of God and how His mercies will blot out our sins like the thick dark clouds. The same God is calling to us that He is our Redeemer. He formed us in the womb of our respective mothers' and has sustained us till now. Praise be to His Holy and Majestic name.  Being the Creator and Controller of affairs, God has the potent power to will or not to will the happenings on the earth. With this assurance, and learning from Job's encourter with the accuser, dear beloved in the Lord, there's nothing about your life hidden from God. If...

Theme: Redeemed by the Lord Text: Isaiah 44:21-23 21 “Remember these, O Jacob, and Israel, for you are My servant; I have formed you, you are My servant; O Israel, you will not be forgotten by Me! 22 I have blotted out, like a thick cloud, your transgressions, and like a cloud, your sins. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you.” 23 Sing, O heavens, for the Lord has done it! Shout, you lower parts of the earth; Break forth into singing, you mountains, O forest, and every tree in it! For the Lord has redeemed Jacob, and glorified Himself in Israel. God has demonstrated from the time of creation to now His endless love towards mankind. In His image, He created us male and female. Israel is the chosen one of the promise and by the mercies of God through Jesus, both Jewish and Gentile nations  have received grace to freely come to the presence of God as His beloved children. The seed of disobedience has been a destructive tool from the Garden of Eden till now. Sin is sin and there's no l...

Theme: Do Not Imitate Evil  Text: 3 John 1:9-12 9 I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us. 10 Therefore, if I come, I will call to mind his deeds which he does, prating against us with malicious words. And not content with that, he himself does not receive the brethren, and forbids those who wish to, putting them out of the church. 11 Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God. 12 Demetrius has a good testimony from all, and from the truth itself. And we also bear witness, and you know that our testimony is true. As dear beloved children in the Lord, we need to be like our Father by imitating the character of our Lord Jesus Christ. Any other character contrary to Christ's way of living is evil and this must not be mentioned among us. Diotrephes who happens to have influence among the brethren used it wrongly. Your position occupied must be ...

Theme: Reward for the Generous  Text: 3 John 1:5-8 5  Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the brethren and for strangers,  6  who have borne witness of your love before the church. If you send them forward on their journey in a manner worthy of God, you will do well,  7  because they went forth for His name’s sake, taking nothing from the Gentiles.  8  We therefore ought to receive such, that we may become fellow workers for the truth. The ministry of the Lord is purely one of charity and so, we are called to show this to the world. The Lord loves cheerful givers and He rewards such ones immeasurably. Gaius had been good to the believers who were carrying out the Great Commission command as well as strangers. His good deeds have been mentioned amongst the people of which the Apostle also got to know. Dear beloved in the Lord, you're a custodian for the Lord's resources He has blessed you with so that, you c...

Theme: Prosper in all Things  Text: 3John 1:1-4 1  The Elder,  to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth:  2  Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.  3  For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth.  4  I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. As we journey on this earth, it's vital for us to prosper in all things - physically and spiritually. There's the need for a balanced life so as not to be deficient in the walk with the Lord, for false balance is an abomination before the Lord. As the Apostle John is pleased to hear the good report of Gaius, this must be how good accounts must be given about every child of God even in his/her absence. A complete and well lived life is one that entails walking in the truth. That's to say, doing the Father's will. In s...

Theme: Retain the Knowledge of God  Text: Romans 1:28-32 28  And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting;  29  being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness,  covetousness,  maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness;  they are whisperer,  30  backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,  31  undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful;  32  who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them. In yesterday's devotion, we learnt about how the truth has been exchanged for a lie and how God gave the ungodly up to uncleanness. Today's text continues wi...

Theme: Exchanging the Truth for a Lie Text: Romans 1:23-27 24  Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves,  25  who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. AMEN.  26  For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature.  27  Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. Nature presents to us the way to live. However, if anyone decides to defy the natural norm to do otherwise, then it's evident that individual has a challenge. In yesterday's devotion, we learnt there are no excuses to why we cannot serve God well, for a...

Theme: Without Excuse Text: Romans 1:18-23 18  For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,  19  because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.  20  For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,  21  because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.  22  Professing to be wise, they became fools,  23  and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. God is hol...

Theme: Ready to Preach the Gospel Text: Romans 1:8-15 8  First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.  9  For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of His Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers,  10  making request if, by some means, now at last I may find a way in the will of God to come to you.  11  For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established—  12  that is, that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.  13  Now I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that I often planned to come to you (but was hindered until now), that I might have some fruit among you also, just as among the other Gentiles.  14  I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise a...

Theme: Grace Divine  Text: Romans 1:1-7 1  Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God  2  which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures,  3  concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh,  4  and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.  5  Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name,  6  among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ;  7  To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: G race to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. The grace of God is manifested in Christ Jesus who laid down His life for us sinners to be reconciled wit...

Theme: Satisfied in God's Likeness  Text: Psalm 17:11-15 11  They have now surrounded us in our steps;  They have set their eyes, crouching down to the earth,  12  As a lion is eager to tear his prey,  and like a young lion lurking in secret places.  13  Arise, O  Lord ,  confront him, cast him down;  Deliver my life from the wicked with Your sword,  14  With Your hand from men, O  Lord ,  from men of the world who have their portion in this life,  and whose belly You fill with Your hidden treasure.  They are satisfied with children,  and leave the rest of their possession for their babes.  15  As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness;  I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness. In our quest to satisfy our needs and desires, we often fall prey to the wicked. Our adversaries have set wicked traps in our ways to bring us down. To...

Theme:The Apple of God's Eye Text: Psalm 17:6-10 6  I have called upon You, for You will hear me, O God;  Incline Your ear to me, and hear my speech.  7  Show Your marvelous lovingkindness by Your right hand,  O You who save those who trust in You  from those who rise up against them.  8  Keep me as the apple of Your eye;  Hide me under the shadow of Your wings,  9  From the wicked who oppress me,  from my deadly enemies who surround me.  10  They have closed up their fat hearts; With their mouths they speak proudly. God have listening ears and an outstretched hand to save anyone who calls to Him. The psalmist knows this well that is why, he said he will call on God for he knows, He incline His ears to his speech. We are the apple of God's eyes for He loves us unconditionally. Anyone who does the will of God, becomes the apple of His eyes. He will watch over such ...

Theme: Uphold My Steps O God Text: Psalm 17:1-5 17  Hear a just cause, O  Lord , Attend to my cry;  Give ear to my prayer  which is  not from deceitful lips.  2  Let my vindication come from Your presence;  Let Your eyes look on the things that are upright.  3  You have tested my heart;  You have visited  me  in the night;  You have tried me and have found nothing;  I have purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.  4  Concerning the works of men,  by the word of Your lips,  I have kept away from the paths of the destroyer.  5  Uphold my steps in Your paths,  that  my footsteps may not slip. It is through prayer that any child of God can communicate with Him. God knows every heart and what the mind is even plotting. It's therefore unprofitable coming to God's presence with a pretentious heart in prayer. The psalmist proclaimed his prayers are not from decei...

Theme: The Royal Position to Another  Text: Esther 1:16-22 16  And Memucan answered before the king and the princes: “Queen Vashti has not only wronged the king, but also all the princes, and all the people who are in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus.  17  For the queen’s behavior will become known to all women, so that they will despise their husbands in their eyes, when they report, ‘King Ahasuerus commanded Queen Vashti to be brought in before him, but she did not come.’  18  This very day the noble ladies of Persia and Media will say to all the king’s officials that they have heard of the behavior of the queen. Thus there will be excessive contempt and wrath.  19  If it pleases the king, let a royal decree go out from him, and let it be recorded in the laws of the Persians and the Medes, so that it will not be altered, that Vashti shall come no more before King Ahasuerus; and let the king gi...

Theme: Understanding the Times  Text: Esther 1:13-15 13  Then the king said to the wise men who understood the times (for this  was  the king’s manner toward all who knew law and justice,  14  those closest to him  being  Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, who had access to the king’s presence,  and  who ranked highest in the kingdom):  15  “What  shall we  do to Queen Vashti, according to law, because she did not obey the command of King Ahasuerus  brought to her  by the eunuchs?” Having learnt from the king and his queen yesterday, and how the command of the king through the eunuchs was declined, we will look at the reaction of the king. It is important to know and understand the times and seasons in life so as to know when to act appropriately.  The seven princes of Persia and Media did not wait for anyone...

Theme: Together but Divided Text: Esther 1:9-13 9  Queen Vashti also made a feast for the women in the royal palace which belonged to King Ahasuerus.  10  On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, seven eunuchs who served in the presence of King Ahasuerus,  11  to bring Queen Vashti before the king, wearing her royal crown, in order to show her beauty to the people and the officials, for she was beautiful to behold.  12  But Queen Vashti refused to come at the kings command  brought by his eunuchs; therefore the king was furious, and his anger burned within him. King Ahasuerus had everything beautiful in his life; kingdom, treasury, servants, nobles, and above all his wife. Yet, he could not bond well with his wife. Most people in this dispensation have missed the mark in life's relations...

Theme: You are a Royal  Text: Esther 1:5-8 5  And when these days were completed, the king made a feast lasting seven days for all the people who were present in Shushan the citadel, from great to small, in the court of the garden of the king’s palace.  6  There were white and blue linen curtains fastened with cords of fine linen and purple on silver rods and marble pillars; and the couches were of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of alabaster, turquoise, and white and black marble.  7  And they served drinks in golden vessels, each vessel being different from the other, with royal wine in abundance, according to the generosity of the king.  8  In accordance with the law, the drinking was not compulsory; for so the king had ordered all the officers of his household, that they should do according to each man’s pleasure. The king after displaying his wealth and celebrating with his...

Theme: You are Wealthy  Text: Esther 1:1-4 1  Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus (this was the Ahasuerus who reigned over one hundred and twenty-seven provinces, from India to Ethiopia),  2  in those days when King Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which  was in Shushan the  citadel,   3  that in the third year of his reign he made a feast for all his officials and servants—the powers of Persia and Media, the nobles, and the princes of the provinces being before him—  4  when he showed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the splendor of his excellent majesty for many days, one hundred and eighty days in all . Kind Ahasuerus had power and control over a vast area comprising of over one hundred and twenty provinces from India to Ethiopia. He had everything he could think of and so decided to made a feast in his third year of reign. He as well displayed his w...

Theme: The Takeover  Text: Acts 1:20-26 20  “For it is written in the Book of Psalms:  ‘Let his dwelling place be   desolate,  and let no one live in it’ ;  and,  ‘Let another take his   office.’  21  “Therefore, of these men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,  22  beginning from the baptism of John to that day when He was taken up from us, one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.”  23  And they proposed two: Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.  24  And they prayed and said, “You, O Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which of these two You have chosen  25  to take part in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.”  26  And they cast their lots, and the lot fell on Matthias. And he was numbered with the elev...

Theme: Field of Blood Text: Acts 1:15-19 15  And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples (altogether the number of names was about a hundred and twenty), and said,  16  “Men  and  brethren, this Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus;  17  for he was numbered with us and obtained a part in this ministry.”  18  (Now this man purchased a field with the wages of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his entrails gushed out.  19  And it became known to all those dwelling in Jerusalem; so that field is called in their own language, Akel Dama, that is, Field of Blood.) Every Word that comes from God is accomplished as He has said it to be. Judas' betray has long been prophesied by David. His guilt brought punishment upon him such that, his...

T heme: One Mind  Text: Acts 1:12-14 12  Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey.  13  And when they had entered, they went up into the upper room where they were staying: Peter, James, John, and Andrew; Philip and Thomas; Bartholomew and Matthew; James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot; and Judas the son of James.  14  These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers. Having been instructed by Jesus not to depart from Jerusalem to await the Holy Spirit, the apostles obeyed. To be empowered, you need to listen attentively and adhere to Instructions. They all have one mind, and tried to ensure it is accomplished.  Dear beloved in the Lord, it is important to have an upper room in your life. This upper room is where you seek God's interve...

Theme: Ascending on High  Text: Acts 1:9-11 9  Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.  10  And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel,  11  who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.” Having revealed Himself to His followers and equally instructing them to await the empowerment of the Holy Spirit for the Great Commission, He was taken up into heaven. Christ's return to heaven is what we often celebrate as Ascension Day. We will learn some key lessons from Christ's ascension in relation to us ascending on high to occupy positions.  He was not taken up to heaven in secret but openly for His followers to see. Dear beloved in the Lord, your risin...

Theme: The Promise of the Father  Text: Acts 1:4-8 4  And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father,  “which,”  He said,  “you have   heard from Me;   5  for John truly baptized with water,   but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”   6  Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”  7  And He said to them,  “It is not for you to   know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority.   8  But you shall receive power   when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and   you shall be   witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and   Samaria, and to the   end of the earth.” The Holy Spirit has been mentioned by Jesus to be another Helper from the Father to the believ...

Theme: Do You Know Jesus?  Text: Acts 1:1-3 1  The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,  2  until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen,  3  to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. Today's theme is on, do you know Jesus? Many of us are often quick to respond we know Jesus, but can we really proof who He is? This is what we will be delving into taking the account of the Acts of the Apostles. Luke, believed to be the writer of Acts, is seen here addressing his letter to Theophilus about Jesus Christ.  Understanding who Christ is and His purpose aids to birth new converts. Just as the writer could point His works: what He did and taught, we must also draw near th...

Theme: Choices in Life Text: Proverbs 13:21-25 21  Evil pursues sinners,  but to the righteous, good shall be repaid.  22  A good  man  leaves an inheritance to his children’s children,  but the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous.  23  Much food  is in  the fallow  ground  of the poor,  and for lack of justice there is waste.  24  He who spares his rod hates his son,  but he who loves him disciplines him promptly.  25  The righteous eats to the satisfying of his soul,  but the stomach of the wicked shall be in want. Life presents us with diverse choices to choose from; to be good or evil, disciplined or undisciplined, righteous or sinner. The choice we make determines the result we will get. If one chooses to remain sinful or not remorseful of his sins, then, evil will pursue him wherever he finds himself. The righteous, on the other hand will be repai...

Thrme: Be Mindful of Your Companions  Text: Proverbs 13:15-20 15  Good understanding gains favor,  but the way of the unfaithful is hard.  16  Every prudent man acts with knowledge,  but a fool lays open his folly. 17  A wicked messenger falls into trouble,  but a faithful ambassador brings health.  18  Poverty and shame will come to him who disdains correction,  but he who regards a rebuke will be honored.  19  A desire accomplished is sweet to the soul,  but it is an abomination to fools to depart from evil.  20  He who walks with wise men will be wise,  but the companion of fools will be destroyed. Associations have key role in shaping our attitudes and habits. If we keep company with good people, we will pick up their good nature likewise when we keep company with wicked people they will have influence ove...