The Word

Theme: The Vow of Praise Text: Psalm 22:23-25 23 You who fear the Lord, praise Him! All you descendants of Jacob, glorify Him, and fear Him, all you offspring of Israel! 24 For He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; Nor has He hidden His face from Him; But when He cried to Him, He heard. 25 My praise shall be of You in the great assembly; I will pay My vows before those who fear Him. Gratitude goes beyond just thank you, you must not just be grateful at that very moment but forever. That is why, our praise to God can never and must never cease. Together as the body of Christ, families, friends, coworkers, citizens and as individuals, we must daily give thanks to God for delivering us from our countless challenges in live.  Usually during our moments of grieve or battle, we try to pay our way out by making vows to the Lord: some vow never to repeat an action; to offer a service to God; offer a said amount of money to the glory of God. All these vows and ma...

Theme: New Creation in Christ  Text: 2 Corinthians 5:14-17 14 For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; 15 and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. 16 Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Through Adam, sin originated and by the death of Jesus Christ, there's a provision for forgiveness. Therefore, by One Man, this Jesus Christ, who died for all, then all died. It takes a believing heart to tap into this divine knowledge and mystery. For this reason, we no longer live to please ourselves, but to please Him who offered His life as ransom for us all. (Genesis 3; Mark 15:37&38)  By the resurrectio...

Theme: God's Word  Text: Isaiah 55:11&12 11 So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it 12 “For you shall go out with joy, and be led out with peace; The mountains and the hills shall break forth into singing before you, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. The Word of God is Jesus Christ and He fulfills every command of the Father from the time of creation even to the painful death on the Cross of Calvery; from let there be light to it is finished. This Word of God doesn't return to Him void rather it accomplishes what God pleases, and it prospers in the thing for which God sent it. (Genesis 1:3; John 19:30) What has the Lord said concerning you? Do you doubt its manifestation? You shouldn't, because, He will settle it just as has promised. He will make you go out in the joy of your expectations and you will be led with p...

Theme: The Lord is Great  Text: 1 Chronicles 16:23-26 23 Sing to the Lord, all the earth; Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day. 24 Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all peoples. 25 For the Lord is great and greatly to be praised; He is also to be feared above all God's. 26 For all the gods of the peoples are idols, but the Lord made the heavens. Each time the account of the redemption of man is recalled, praise must follow. This is the demonstration of God's love towards the human race whether Jews or Gentiles. From day to day, we ought to proclaim His salvation so that, those in darkness can also be saved too. We need to declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all peoples of the earth. (Matthew 28:18-20; John 3:16) The Lord is great and greatly to be praised for the miracles and wonders He performs amongst us. He is also to be feared above all God's; For all the gods of the peoples are idols, but the Lord made the heav...

Theme: A New Thing  Text: Isaiah 43:19-21 19 Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. 20 The beast of the field will honor Me, the jackals and the ostriches, because I give waters in the wilderness and rivers in the desert, to give drink to My people, My chosen. 21 This people I have formed for Myself; They shall declare My praise. Indeed God has established a new thing on earth through Christ Jesus. The yearly sacrifice has been replaced with a one time perpetual sacrifice through Christ Jesus. By this, anyone in Christ is a new creation, the former nature is gone. The new has come. (2 Corinthians 5:17) The way of the Lord has been made even through the hearts of the Gentile nations. The desolate hearts of the Gentiles has been refreshed by the Living Water. The wicked and tyrants have humbled themselves in God's presence; Apostle Paul the persecutor of the Church when he en...

Theme: The Lovingkindness of God  Text: Isaiah 63:7-9 7 I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the Lord and the praises of the Lord, according to all that the Lord has bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which He has bestowed on them according to His mercies, according to the multitude of His lovingkindness. 8 For He said, “Surely they are My people, children who will not lie.” So He became their Savior. 9 In all their affliction He was afflicted, and the Angel of His Presence saved them; In His love and in His pity He redeemed them; And He bore them and carried them all the days of old. God's lovingkindness towards us is so vast we cannot measure or explain. If we consider what He does in our individual lives and that of our family, we will realize that, God has been very kind and loving. As the song writer, Guy Penrod said, "Count your blessings and name them one by one. It will surprise you what the Lord has done." God considers us as His...

Theme: A New Song!  Text: Psalm 96:1-3 96  Oh, sing to the  Lord  a new song! Sing to the  Lord , all the earth.  2  Sing to the  Lord , bless His name;  Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day.  3  Declare His glory among the nations,  His wonders among all peoples. Our praise to the Lord must never cease, like the psalmist, let's join hands to sing a new song to the Lord. Our new song should be reflected in our character and conduct in all areas of our lives. With our lips we sing a new song to the Lord and by our actions, we affirm the new song as true and reliable. We do not just sing but act because, the message we carry is the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. We ought to p roclaim the Good News of His salvation from day to day. Salvation is a free gift of God unto anyone who believes. In believing, we are moved by faith such that, we do not rely on carnal wisdom to act but we step out in faith kn...

Theme: The Fulfilled Time Text: Mark 1:14&15 14 Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” To all things on earth, time is given; on some obituaries, it reads, "sunrise (the year of birth) to sunset (the year of death). It's just a signal to the living, your own sunset could come soon. How prepared are you? Jesus began His ministry calling out to people that the time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel. We will delve into this in our devotion today. All prophecies about Jesus has started manifestation at the time He made this call. John the Baptist has prepared the way and was taken out of the picture, and now the focus is Jesus. The salvation of the Lord has come, we can only embrace it with repentance. You can't come to God not ready to surrender to Him thr...

Theme: The Doctrine of God  Text: John 7:16&17 16 Jesus answered them and said, “My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me. 17 If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority. Our journey on this earth is usually guided by some doctrines we've either made for ourselves or others have. If these doctrines contradicts God's will and purpose for our lives, then be informed it is completely out of place. After Jesus had finished teaching, people marveled at His teaching knowing well He hasn't been taught by any one of them. His response to that is what we are considering for our devotion today.  Jesus held on to God's doctrine because He was willing to obey God. If we also avail ourselves faithfully to the Lord, we will also come to know and practice God's doctrine. The will, to do what pleases God brings discernment. If we desire to discern the things of thr Lord, then we must be...

Theme: Your heart, the Way  Text: Isaiah 40:3-8 3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord; Make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be exalted and every mountain and hill brought low; The crooked places shall be made straight and the rough places smooth; 5 The glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” 6 The voice said, “Cry out!” And he said, “What shall I cry?” “All flesh is grass, and all its loveliness is like the flower of the field. 7 The grass withers, the flower fades, because the breath of the Lord blows upon it; Surely the people are grass. 8 The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.” All that it takes a man to draw near the Lord on his body is his devoted heart that drives the mind to the things of the Lord. A voice is heard in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord; Make straight in the desert a hig...

Theme: God is Gracious  Text: Psalm 145:17-21 17 The Lord is righteous in all His ways, Gracious in all His works. 18 The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth. 19 He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He also will hear their cry and save them. 20 The Lord preserves all who love Him, but all the wicked He will destroy. 21 My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord, and all flesh shall bless His holy name forever and ever. From beginning of time to now, God has been faithful with His creation and is very much concerned about their well-being. He has never in anyway does an unrighteous deed towards His creation but man that He created in His image and likeness, always does the unrighteous things towards God. But this does not in any way change the nature of God. God is still the same as He was yesterday and will remain so even in the future. (Genesis 2-3; Hebrews 13:8)  Having a kind nature, God is gracious towards mankind. He is e...

Theme: Fulfillment in Faith  Text: Hebrews 11:39&40 39 And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, 40 God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us. It's been a long and fulfilling time studying about faith in Hebrews eleven. We have learnt a lot about men and women of faith and how we can also be encouraged to remain in faith. However, though they received approval of their faith, yet the promise in Christ Jesus was not made manifested in their days. This is because, God has the whole human race in His mind and heart to redeem, not just a fraction or section of it. He wants even the Gentiles to be partakers of the promise fulfilled in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:13&14) God has a reason for us to be partakers of the promise fulfilled in Christ Jesus. The complete perfection of these men and women cannot be without God's loving grace locating every soul. God wants to extend H...

Theme: Choosing Faith  Text: Hebrews 11:35-38 35 Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. 36 Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented— 38 of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth. The life of the believer is about choices as Moses puts it; I set before you life and death but I encourage you to choose life. The believers of old chose faith above all other things presented to them. By choosing faith, their end became glorious as God is glorified in them. By faith some women received their dead raised to life again. What was dead was given life through faith. If you also faith, you can revive whatever needs...

Theme: Faith Conquers  Text: Hebrews 11:32-34 32 And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: 33 who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. From the beginning of time to now, men have been faced with spiritual and physical battles. Those who conquered did not do it by their strength but by faith. Our fathers of old; Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets defeated their adversaries by faith. (Judges 5; 6-8; 11; 13-16; 1 Samuel 17)  Through faith we can subdued kingdoms (the kingdoms could be a sphere in our lives i.e marrital struggles, academic challenges, sicknesses, financial indebtedness, etc). By faith, we can worked r...

Theme: Faith Demolishes/Builds  Text: Hebrews 11:30&31 30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days. 31 By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace. The measure of faith to do the extraordinary is just little. Christ Jesus said, if the faith of His disciples should be as a mustard seed, they could command the mountains to be moved. The walls of Jericho was brought down by faith. A strong wall like that would have been very difficult to just be brought down by being encircled for seven days and with a shout of praise. What barriers, limitations, or hindrances are you battling with in life? Faith can move them out of your way for there's nothing impossible with faith. (Matthew 17:19&20; Joshua 6:1-16;20-21)  Just as by faith you can demolished, remove, destroy or pull down what the enemy is using to hinder your breakthroughs, likewise can you employ faith to bui...

Theme: Faith Triumphs  Text: Hebrews 11:27-29 27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible. 28 By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest he who destroyed the firstborn should touch them. 29 By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, whereas the Egyptians, attempting to do so, were drowned. In yesterday's devotion, we learnt that faith permits affliction and Moses refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter when he became of age. Today, we will look at how faith triumphs in every circumstance. Having fled from Egypt and encountering the I AM THAT I AM, Moses returned to Egypt to declare the Word of God to Pharaoh to let His people go. He did not fear in anyway even though Pharaoh threatened him. The invincible God gave him the triumph. (Exodus 5:1-5; 10:28) The faith in keeping the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, gave Israel victory over death of the first born. F...

Theme: Faith Permits Affliction  Text: Hebrews 11:24-26 24 By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, 26 esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward. In yesterday's devotion we learnt that Moses' parents hid him from the wicked schemes of Pharaoh (to kill the male children of the Israelites). Moses became the son of Pharaoh’s daughter by faith. However when he became of age, he refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. When faith drives you, you only move by its dictate. Faith gives you a divine identity that cannot be swapped or overturned by the wicked no matter how hard they try. Faith opens your eyes to divine hidden glory. (Exodus 2:11-15; 3:1-22) Faith makes the believer just like Moses to suffer affliction than enjoy the pleasures of this evil age. ...

Theme: Faith Saves  Text: Hebrews 11:23 23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s command. There are times we get confused when what seems beautiful and pleasant in our eyes are snatched from us forcefully. This was what happened in Egypt during the birth of Moses. But his parents were not ready for their son to be killed by the wicked command of Pharoah. They hid their son for three months because he was beautiful.  Dear beloved in the Lord, when faith is activated, you can also protect the beautiful things in your life (marriage, education, finances, career, health, etc..). Faith takes away fear and brings encouragement that helps to save the things you desire. By the faith of Moses' parents, their son was not killed but rather named as the son of Pharaoh's daughter, he grew amongst the very people who wanted to take his life. Praise the Lord! (Exodus 2:1-10) ...

Theme: Faith of the Patriarch - Joseph  Text: Hebrews 11:22 22 By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones. Faith does the unthinkable and unimaginable, for what is unreasonable to the carnal mind is what faith leads the believer to do. We call forth those things which are not as though they exist. With all his hierarchical position in Egypt, Joseph never limited himself to the grace of God he and his father's household were enjoying in Goshen. His faith is carrying him into the land of promise. So his remaining tent after death must equally be carried into the promised land. (Genesis 50:23&24) He paved way not of the physical manifestation of the change of location, but speaking prophetically into the Lord's resurrection. Dear beloved in the Lord, a glorious land awaits us after the toils of this earth. What you confess today, is what will speak for you on that Day of rapture. Confe...

Theme: Faith of the Patriarch - Isaac & Jacob  Text:Hebrews 11:20&21 20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. 21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff. A faith filled life ends with divine revelations and push us to speak prophetically into our lineage. The faith of Isaac and Jacob from the lineage of Abraham led them to divinely bless their children into the future. Every word of Isaac concerning his sons manifested and none failed. This is because, the power of faith gave him the revelations into the things to come.  He blessed the fields of his son Jacob and pronounced divine favour before men and approval of God over his life. Unto Esau, he encouraged will be loosed from the yoke of his brother and by the power of the Holy Spirit, the yokes have been destroyed in Christ Jesus. Whatever yoke suppressing you has no power over you again if you have Jesus in your ...

Theme: Faith of the Patriarch - Abraham  Text: Hebrews 11:17-19 17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, 18 of whom it was said, “In Isaac your seed shall be called,” 19 concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense . It's usually easy to give the excess of what we have out, but difficult giving the only one thing we have out. Abraham was tested by God to sacrifice the son of the promise, amazingly he did it without murmuring, or even questioning God why he should do so. He acted in faith knowing that God will always fulfill His will. (Genesis 22:1-14; James 2:21) The faith of Abraham in God laid the foundation of our redemption through Christ Jesus. To the glory of God, just as he wanted to sacrifice Isaac, God made a provision for a sacrificial lamb. For our redemption, Christ came to die for us that by Him we may have ...

Theme: Dying in Faith  Text: Hebrews 11:13-16 13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. 15 And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them. For the past few days, we have been learning about the faith of our fathers of old. They kept to their faith in all they did without doubting the promises of God. In today's devotuon, we will look at why they held on to their faith to death. To anyone without hope, death is the total end of life however, the believer sees it as the beginning of a glorious life (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). We are but p...

Theme: Strength in Faith  Text: Hebrews 11:11&12 11 By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude—innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore. Our ability to stand firmly and produce effective and efficient results depend on the strength we employ in whatever we do. Sarah had advanced past the years of conception but faith gave her strength to conceive. Dear beloved in the Lord, it doesn't matter how long you've tried your hands at something, if you quit, you will never get the result but if you persist to the end, you will marvel at the result. In the persistence, you will need a catalyst to drive you forward and to us believers, we call it faith. Our faith is always accompanied with works, and that makes it come alive in us. Faith strengthen us to ...

Theme: Obedient in Faith Text: Hebrews 11:8-10 8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; 10 for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. On the 13th February 2020, we discussed Abraham's faith captioned "Faith does the unthinkable." We would be building on that in today's devotion. To please God, you need faith. Abraham heard from God to move out of his zone of comfort to the unknown zone. It took him obedience and faith in God to step out. If our faith lacks obedience, it will be difficult to employ it. Being obedient in faith guides our path not to go contrary to God's directives. Abraham and his seeds did not dispossessed the occupants of their land of promise unti...

Theme: Godly Fear in Faith  Text: Hebrews 11:7 7 By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith. In the dispensation of Noah, the earth was filled with much evil that the Lord decided to destroy the earth with those evil men. Noah and his household were spared because Noah acted in obedience to every instruction God gave him. Godly fear is adhering to the Lord in obedience. It is reverence to God by heeding to His instructions even if it makes no sense to mankind. (Genesis 6; Ecclesiastes 12:13&14; Proverbs 9:10) The faith of Noah acted where reason failed. It was like a tale in his dispensation to tell people the earth is about to be destroyed and so prepare to enter an ark when huge towers were available to hide in. He never doubted God, but took every instruction to the latter. When the Holy Spi...

Theme: Faith Pleases God Text: Hebrews 11:5&6 5 By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. 6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. In yesterday's devotion, we learnt that the offering of Abel was accepted above that of his brother Cain because, he offered it in faith. Today, we will look at how to employ faith in pleasing God. Enoch was the first man taken up so that he did not taste death and was not found by any human being. The testimony about him was, he pleased God (Genesis 5:21-24).  Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith for that reason, it is solely in Him we can please God. To please the Lord, we must believe in Jesus. Believing Jesus entails obedient to His command and directing others to do same. If we diligent...

Theme: Offering in Faith Text: Hebrews 11:4 4 By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks. When we present ourselves before the presence of God, we are offering ourselves unto Him to have His way in us. The Christian offering is not limited to just bringing proceeds from our labour but giving ourselves in total surrender to the will of God. Both kinds of offerings must be done cheerfully and willingly not under pressure or force.  Abel's sacrifice have been accepted as an act of faith above Cain's sacrifice. It is not in anyway presented Cain offered rotten items but rather, he didn't offer his sacrifice in faith (Genesis 4:3-5). Dear beloved in the Lord, whatever you present to the Lord as offering, should be backed with faith that, it is pleasant and acceptable in God's sight.  When we offer either ourselves or proceeds...

Theme: Faith Text: Hebrews 11:1-3 11 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. 3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible. In these few days, we will be looking at faith and how our fathers of old demonstrated it in their days without missing the mark of God's approval. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen; this implies faith is employed by believing even without any tangible proof that what you desire you have attained (John 20:29; Romans 8:24; 2 Corinthians 4:18; 5:7) . In our Christian walk, we need to look up to God and not what we expect Him to do for us. The focus should be on the source of provision (God) and not the outcome (expectations) so as not to be discouraged. The elders of old depended hundred percent on God not their expectations and t...