The Word

Theme: Everyday is a Sabbath II Text: Luke 14:4-6 4 But they kept silent. And He took him and healed him, and let him go. 5 Then He answered them, saying, “Which of you, having a donkey or an ox that has fallen into a pit, will not immediately pull him out on the Sabbath day?” 6 And they could not answer Him regarding these things. Today's devotion is a continuation of yesterday's devotion on the theme, everyday is a Sabbath. Jesus asked a question, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?” The response to this question never came as the continuation of the reading indicates that, they kept silent. It's amazing how many play hypocrisy at its best at the expense of the freedom and joy of others. When it comes to our own comfort, we are quick to outline the many reasons why it is possible but when it comes to others, we seems not to have knowledge about it. Failing to support the course of others to succeed is bad and must not be mentioned amongst us. Dear beloved in the Lord, a...

Theme: Everyday is a Sabbath  Text: Luke 14:1-3 14 Now it happened, as He went into the house of one of the rulers of the Pharisees to eat bread on the Sabbath, that they watched Him closely. 2 And behold, there was a certain man before Him who had dropsy. 3 And Jesus, answering, spoke to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?” What do you use the Lord's sacred moments to do? Don't forget every seconds of your life on earth is a sacred moment with God. You cannot value some days as better than other days and so set that day aside to do the right thing. Each day must be used wisely and to glorify God. Everyday of the believer's life must be a Sabbath, a holy day for the Lord. Though Jesus was not invited to heal, yet when his eyes caught up with the man with dropsy, His focus turned to Him. Jesus asked, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?” Dear beloved in the Lord, yes, it is lawful to do good everyday. The slightest chance you get to help...

Theme: Pentecost  Text: Ezekiel 37:11-14 11 Then He said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They indeed say, ‘Our bones are dry, our hope is lost, and we ourselves are cut off!’ 12 Therefore prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Behold, O My people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. 13 Then you shall know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves, O My people, and brought you up from your graves. 14 I will put My Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken it and performed it,” says the Lord.’ ” Praise be the Lord, it's another Whit Sunday (Pentecost). It's the seventh Sunday after Easter and the outpour of the Holy Spirit on all flesh. We are empty vessels without the Spirit of God because we have no power of our own as we depend on Him to do all things. God is speaking to us t...

Theme: The Word Text: Psalm 119:130 130 The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple The Word spoken by God in the beginning is, "Let there be Light". The light gave room for the creation story to take it course smoothly. As we study the Word  of God, it illumine our paths and guide us on the right path to go. Walking in darkness makes us stumble and fall into all forms of evil. Dear beloved in the Lord, be directed by the Word and you'll have a perfect testimony to share with others. Prayer: Light of God, brighten in my path as I study the Word. Help me to gain understanding in all things. This I pray in Jesus' name. AMEN! 

Theme: Believe Text: John 4:52-54 52 Then he inquired of them the hour when he got better. And they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.” 53 So the father knew that it was at the same hour in which Jesus said to him, “Your son lives.” And he himself believed, and his whole household. 54 This again is the second sign Jesus did when He had come out of Judea into Galilee. Today's devotion is a build up of yesterday's devotion on the theme, your son lives. The nobleman was met by his servant who told him, his son lives, the very words of Jesus Christ. The nobleman quickly inquired the hour it had happened so as to compare with the hour Jesus told him his son lives.   Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Having confirm the hour, he believed and then led his household to as well believe. Dear beloved in the Lord, your faith can't be driven if the Word of God is not rich in you. The absence of the Word of God only cripples your spiritu...

Theme: Your Son Lives Text: John 4:49-51 49 The nobleman said to Him, “Sir, come down before my child dies!” 50 Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your son lives.” So the man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he went his way. 51 And as he was now going down, his servants met him and told him, saying, “Your son lives!” In yesterday's devotion, we look at the theme, after the miracle or Christ. We noticed that the nobleman came to seek Jesus because of miracle but when the Lord responded, “Go your way; your son lives” he didn't get offended but chose to believe. Dear beloved in the Lord, there are issues pressing you on all sides be it your marriage, career, business, finances amongst others just like the sick son of the nobleman. You don't have to doubt what God has said concerning the situation. Just believe in Him and you'll experience the extraordinary things in life. Before the man could get home, his servant met him with the good news. The news confirms w...

Theme: After the Miracle or Christ?  Text: John 4:46-48 46 So Jesus came again to Cana of Galilee where He had made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman whose son was sick at Capernaum. 47 When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to Him and implored Him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. 48 Then Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe.” Being a Christian without faith that God is able to do all things for you, makes you deviate from the faith. Jesus performed a miracle in Cana at a wedding reception by changing water into wine when the wedding wine was exhausted. His presence in Galilee made the nobleman whose son was sick at Capernaum to search for Him. Had it not been the ill-health of his son, he wouldn't have seek the Lord's presence in his house.  Dear beloved in the Lord, you don't have to wait until you have a challenge before you draw near to God. ...

Theme: Witnessing  Text: John 4:39-42 39 And many of the Samaritans of that city believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, “He told me all that I ever did.” 40 So when the Samaritans had come to Him, they urged Him to stay with them; and He stayed there two days. 41 And many more believed because of His own word. 42 Then they said to the woman, “Now we believe, not because of what you said, for we ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world.” In our previous study, we discussed how the Samaritan woman went to call the men of the city to come see if the man who told her all she has ever done is the Messiah. The outcome of that calling is what we will be studying today. She witness the power of God and testified of it to many. The catalyst to spreading the Gospel is having a personal experience of it. You can easily recall vividly your own testimony than that of others. The people believed the woman's testimony be...

Theme: The Whitened Harvest  Text: John 4:34-38 34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work. 35 Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest! 36 And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. 37 For in this the saying is true: ‘One sows and another reaps.’ 38 I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored, and you have entered into their labors.” In yesterday's devotion, we looked at divine food which is not ordinary but nourishes the soul, mind and spirit. Today's devotion is a build up on yesterday's discussion. Jesus indicated in the text that, His food is to do the Father's will and to finish the work given Him by the Father. The work for which He has been sent is to sow and har...

Theme: Divine Food Text: John 4:31-33 31 In the meantime His disciples urged Him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.” 32 But He said to them, “I have food to eat of which you do not know.” 33 Therefore the disciples said to one another, “Has anyone brought Him anything to eat?” In today's devotion, we will be looking at the theme, "Divine Food". Let's quickly recall Jesus' early hours after the forty days and night fasting; the devil came tempting Him to change stones into loafs of bread. But Jesus responded man must not live by bread alone but by every Word of God. The Word of God is a divine food to anyone who reads and meditate on it. This food nourishes you to have a better perspective of life's demands. You are more able to control your fleshly desire or appetite.  When the disciples brought the food, they expected the Lord to eat but He wasn't concerned about food. They urge Him to eat however, He replied them saying; “I have food to eat of which you do not know.”...

Theme: Do You Know the Christ?  Text: John 4:27-30 27 And at this point His disciples came, and they marveled that He talked with a woman; yet no one said, “What do You seek?” or, “Why are You talking with her?” 28 The woman then left her waterpot, went her way into the city, and said to the men, 29 “Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?” 30 Then they went out of the city and came to Him The story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well has a whole lots of insights for us all. In today's devotion, we will be looking at the theme, "Do you know the Christ?" Having heard the Messiah, she couldn't keep the secret to herself so she went all out to the city to the tell the men her encounter that blessed afternoon. There are days we sometimes don't even understand the actions of our friends and that's exactly the case of the disciples.  They marveled what exactly the Lord will be discussing with a Samaritan woman. The ...

Theme: The Messiah  Text: John 4:25&26 25 The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When He comes, He will tell us all things.” 26 Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He.” We're continuing our study on Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well of Jacob. In today's devotion, we will be looking at the Messiah. Having heard on how true believers will worship in spirit and truth, the woman directs it manifestation through the Messiah as He will make all things known. Indeed she was right. Dear beloved in the Lord, you cannot be with Christ and be ignorant. He has chosen to reveal great secrets to those who come to Him. The Messiah is the Saviour of the world, in Him alone can we be saved if we believe. Through the Holy Spirit, we gain knowledge, wisdom and understanding of the things of the Lord and the circumstances of our lives. (Matthew 11:25) Christ the Messiah is standing at the door of your heart and will knocking, if you open u...

Theme: Worship in Spirit and Truth Text: John 4:21-24 21  Jesus said to her,  “Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming   when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father.   22  You worship   what you do not know; we know what we worship, for   salvation is of the Jews.   23  But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will   worship the Father in   spirit   and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.   24  God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” In yesterday's devotion, we looked at how we could serve sincerely. Our discussion for today will be on worshipping in spirit and truth. To worship as a Christian, is the feeling or expression of reverence and adoration for God. It can be done through service or honoring God's name. In time past, the temple in Jerusalem was believed to be solely where one can encounter the Lo...

Theme: Being Sincere  Text: John 4:16-20 16  Jesus said to her,  “Go, call your husband, and come here.”  17  The woman answered and said, “I have no husband.”  Jesus said to her,  “You have well said, ‘I have no husband,’   18  for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; in that you spoke truly.”  19  The woman said to Him, “Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet.  20  Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship.” In yesterday's devotion, we learnt the Samaritan woman desires that Jesus gives her the living water to drink so she won't need to draw from the well anymore. We will be looking at the response she received from the Lord in today's devotion. Jesus asked her to bring her husband of which she replied she has no husband.  The essence of the demand for her husband is, because he...

Theme: Everlasting Life Text: John 4:13-15 13 Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” 15 The woman said to Him, “Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw.” In yesterday's devotion, we learnt about how confident the Samaritan woman was in having something to draw the water with whereas Jesus had nothing. We stated that we often focus on situations than relying on the Lord to overcome it. We however noticed she started asking salient questions about who Jesus is. The response Jesus gave her will be our focus for discussion today. The water Jesus is offering is an everlasting life one, that refreshes the soul and spirit continually. On the contrary, the wisdom and provisions of this earth are insatiable; wisdom is not embedded in a...

Theme: Nothing to Draw With  Text: John 4:11&12 11 The woman said to Him, “Sir, You have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. Where then do You get that living water? 12 Are You greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank from it himself, as well as his sons and his livestock?” In yesterday's devotion, we looked at how Jesus evangelize to a Samaritan woman by just requesting for a drink. He made known to the woman the gift of God and the living water He has to offer anyone who asks. In today's devotion, we will be looking at the woman's response. Just like the woman, many have failed to experience the glory of God because their focus is on what is unprofitable. She believed she has an upper hand because she has something to draw with whereas Jesus has none. She was focusing on the situation than looking up to the Lord. Do you often feel or act in the same manner? Coming to the Lord requires faith to attain victory than earthly possessions. No m...

Theme: The Evangelism Process Text: John 4:7-10 7  A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her,  “Give Me a drink.”   8  For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.  9  Then the woman of Samaria said to Him, “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.  10  Jesus answered and said to her,  “If you knew the   gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you   living water.” In today's devotion, we will be looking at Jesus' quest for a drink from the Samaritan woman. We learnt yesterday that Jesus was by the well at about noon. It was during this time, the woman came to draw water. That's unusual since drawing of water is either done in the early hours after dawn or the setting down of the sun. To establish a conversation, Jesus asked her to give Him a drink ...

Theme: Jacob's Well Text: John 4:5&6 5 So He came to a city of Samaria which is called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. 6 Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied from His journey, sat thus by the well. It was about the sixth hour. In yesterday's devotion, we learnt about baptism; we were called to draw souls to Christ wherever we find ourselves. In continuing with this subject, we will be looking at Christ's stop over at Jacob's well in Samaria. Though we are pilgrims here on earth, there's the need to at least have inheritances to our names. That's not in anyway implying we should forget our purpose and focus on earthly possessions. Jacob bought a land for his son Joseph even though he was a sojourner by then. A well was dug to his name to authenticate the land belongs to him. This well served many generations even unto the time Jesus stopped over by it. We must plan into the future so as to leave legacie...

Theme: Baptism  Text: John 4:1-4 4 Therefore, when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John 2 (though Jesus Himself did not baptize, but His disciples), 3 He left Judea and departed again to Galilee. 4 But He needed to go through Samaria. Baptism is an act of sprinkling, immersing either partially or wholly a repented soul into water to cleanse him of his sins and usher him into the Christiandom. John the Baptist was known purposely for calling people to repentance and baptizing them in the river Jordan. Before his arrest and beheading, his disciples mentioned to him Jesus was also baptizing. He acknowledged Christ must increase as he decreases. Baptism is therefore needed to draw souls to God. (John 3:22-36) Dear beloved in the Lord, it is not all of us as Christians that can baptize but we are all called to lead sinners to Christ. The Apostle Paul mentioned; For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, no...

Theme: Anointed  Text: Psalm 105:12-15 12 When they were few in number, indeed very few, and strangers in it. 13 When they went from one nation to another, from one kingdom to another people, 14 He permitted no one to do them wrong; Yes, He rebuked kings for their sakes, 15 Saying, “Do not touch My anointed ones, and do My prophets no harm.” Hallelujah! It's another blessed day in God's presence. Count yourself blessed to be alive for some haven't enjoy this grace this morning. The Israelite enjoyed the grace of God in their journey from Egypt to the land of promise. A divine hedge was upon them because God's presence went before them to make divine ways for them as their fathers of old (Abraham, Isaac and Jacob) whom God gave warning to kings not to harm them. Dear beloved in the Lord, a better anointing now speaks over the lives of those who believe in Jesus Christ. By this mark, as you move from one kingdom to another proclaiming the Gospel in all you do, the anointi...

Theme: The Servant's Attitude 2 Text: 1 Peter 2:21-25 21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: 22 “Who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth”; 23 who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; 24 who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed. 25 For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. In yesterday's devotion, we looked at the servant's attitude 1 where we learnt that, as children of God we ought to submit to our superiors irrespective of their attitude or relationship towards us. In today's devotion, we will be looking at the second part of the servant's attitude focusing on Jesus our perfect example of a good a...

Theme: The Servant's Attitude 1 Text: 1 Peter 2:18-20 18 Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh. 19 For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. 20 For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. In yesterday's devotion, we looked at submitting to governing bodies. Today's devotion will be on the servant's submission to his master. We are servants in the Vineyard of God to proclaim His glory. In as much as we serve God, we also have earthly masters or superiors that we are accountable to. We are being admonished as children of God to submit to these masters irrespective of their attitude or relationship with us. We must not only respect the good and caring masters but also do same for the mean and harsh ones as well. ...

Theme: Submit to Rulers  Text: 1 Peter 2:13-17 13 Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, 14 or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. 15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men— 16 as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. 17 Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king. In every nation, there exist governing bodies that rule it. Irrespective of the age, wealthiness, educational background, physical abilities or any other reason, you ought to obey those put in charge to rule. We are admonished to submit to them because though they are rulers on this earth, yet it is the doing of the Lord. Submitting to them by adhering to tax laws, corporate social responsibility regulations, sanitation laws, road regulations amongst oth...

Theme: Good Works  Text: 1 Peter 2:11&12 11 Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, 12 having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation. Dear beloved in the Lord, today's devotion will focus on good works. We are pilgrims here on this earth, heading to the Father. The way we conduct ourselves is key to the success of our journey. The Apostle Peter is hereby admonishing us to abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; these are contrary to one another, and so cannot coexist. We must also note that, if we live according to the flesh we will die; but if by the Spirit we put to death the deeds of the body, we will live. (Romans 8:13; Galatians 5:17) Putting up a good conduct is what justifies our fai...