The Word

Theme: God's Sufficient Spirit  Text: 2 Corinthians 3:4-6 4  And we have such trust through Christ toward God.  5  Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God,   6  who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. In yesterday's devotion, we learned that we are Christ's epistle. In today's devotion we will look at God's sufficient Spirit that is at work in us. The carnal desire is insatiable but when the Spirit of God leads, He grants us the spirit of sufficiency. It is the grace of God through His Spirit that abounds with us that gives us sufficiency not our own will. We have therefore been called through this sufficient grace to disciple nations.  Dear beloved in the Lord, we have been made ministers to the new covenant in Chr...

Theme: Christ's Epistle  Text: 2 Corinthians 3:1-3 3 Do we begin again to commend ourselves? Or do we need, as some others, epistles of commendation to you or letters of commendation from you? 2 You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men; 3 clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart. Praise be to God, that by His mercies through Christ Jesus, we've become epistles of Christ. An epistle is a letter, so if we are being called Christ's epistle, then we are letters by what we do and say on this earth as we journey through it. Our lifestyle is a letter to those who have not yet received Christ, calling out to them to come closer to the throne of mercy. The Apostle Paul admonished the church on its true identity in Christ; an epistle. Not just any epistle written with ink on paper nor on stone rather on flesh of he...

Gracious Father, as You've awaken me to true fasting and purified lifestyle in You, help me to walk the talk of faith. I pray the Holy Spirit to equip me for every good work in my family, church, community, nation and the world at large. I declare the spirit of diligence, faithfulness, chastity, truthfulness, generosity, compassion and the fruit of the Spirit are at work. I declare I'm a partaker of the heritage in Jacob and many generations shall benefit from the overflowing blessing God has bestowed on me. I declare I shall be in good health all year round and my gates shall be filled with joy, testimonies, signs and wonders all the days of my life in Jesus' name. AMEN! 

Theme: The Heritage of Jacob  Text: Isaiah 58:13&14 13 “If you turn away your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on My holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy day of the Lord honorable, and shall honor Him, not doing your own ways, nor finding your own pleasure, nor speaking your own words, 14 Then you shall delight yourself in the Lord; And I will cause you to ride on the high hills of the earth, and feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father. The mouth of the Lord has spoken.” There's is a heritage for us who are in the Lord. No one can usurp it from us because it is in a safe hand. The safety lies in Jesus Christ whose name surpasses all names in the heaven, earth and in the sea. Obedience to God sustains this heritage for us for that reason, our desire should be to please the Lord than to satisfy our lusting cravings.  For the past days, we have been looking at fasting and its accompanying blessings. What the Lord has to add to it is observ...

Theme: The Foundation of Many Generations  Text: Isaiah 58:11&12 11 The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in drought, and strengthen your bones; You shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail. 12 Those from among you shall build the old waste places; You shall raise up the foundations of many generations; And you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach, The Restorer of Streets to Dwell In. A rightful fast attract divine blessings that opens doors in the life of a believer and his/her family. The glory of the Lord as we saw yesterday, lightens our path, brings healing, deliverance and preservation. By this, you are no longer easily breakable because the Lord guides you in every sphere of your life. He meets you at the point of your need with uncommon favor and blessings. You will be described as a watered garden and a spring of water, whose waters do not fail. By this anointing, you impact the blessings of the Lor...

Theme: The Glory of God  Text: Isaiah 58:8-10 8  Then your light shall break forth like the morning,  your healing shall spring forth speedily,  and your righteousness shall go before you;  The glory of the  Lord  shall be your rear guard.  9  Then you shall call, and the  Lord  will answer;  You shall cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’  “If you take away the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness,  10  If you extend your soul to the hungry and satisfy the afflicted soul, then your light shall dawn in the darkness, and your darkness shall be as the noonday. In yesterday's devotion, we looked at the rightful way to fast where we learned that, our fasting must be characterized with charitable deeds and love. The result of fasting right is what our concern shall be for today's devotion on the theme, "The glory of God". The glory of God is an awe e...

Theme: The Rightful Fast Text: Isaiah 58:6&7 6  “Is this not the fast that I have chosen:  To loose the bonds of wickedness,  to undo the heavy burdens,  to let the oppressed go free,  and that you break every yoke?  7  Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,  and that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out;  When you see the naked, that you cover him,  and not hide yourself from your own flesh? In yesterday's devotion, we was how wrongly we have been fasting. However we would be looking at the rightful way to fast in today's devotion. We must be careful not to allow our Christian values to be reduced by weights that are of darkness. These weights include unforgiveness, malice, revenge, wickedness, covetousness, selfishness, oppression of people, amongst others. These weights are detestable to God and so must be loosed out of the believer's lifestyle. Embrace the love of Christ in ...

Theme: Do You Really Fast?  Text: Isaiah 58:5 5 Is it a fast that I have chosen, a day for a man to afflict his soul? Is it to bow down his head like a bulrush, and to spread out sackcloth and ashes? Would you call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the Lord? In yesterday's devotion, the plight of the people was that, God never took noticed of their fast and the afflictions their souls go through in the fasting process. Today's text is the introductory reply from God to His people. The first question in the text indicates that, there's a fast instituted by God and that of men. The fast of the Lord is to humble one's self to the will of God not to hearken to the dictates of men or society. The kind of fast acceptable to God is to move spiritually than display of the fast physically. Appearing to men to be fasting won't give any spiritual credit to you. It's only gets the applause of men and not spiritual recognition. It is not acceptable in the presence of God...

Theme: No Notice!  Text: Isaiah 58:3&4 3  ‘Why have we fasted,’ they say, ‘and You have not seen?  Why have we afflicted our souls, and You take no notice? ’ “In fact, in the day of your fast you find pleasure, and exploit all your laborers.  4  Indeed you fast for strife and debate, and to strike with the fist of wickedness. You will not fast as you do this day, to make your voice heard on high. In yesterday's devotion, we learned that the prophet Isaiah was sent to declare the sins of the people of God without holding back a word. Though they present themselves before God, sin has gulfed their core (soul). Their complaint the text is why their fasting has not been given attention by God. This leads us to the theme, "No Notice" for today's devotion. We fast for various reasons and we choose a fast that will best suit the reason for the fast; either dry or wet fasting. Fasting is a denial of self and giving up on thing...

Theme: Ordinances of Justice  Text: Isaiah 58:1&2 58 “Cry aloud, spare not; Lift up your voice like a trumpet; Tell My people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins. 2 Yet they seek Me daily, and delight to know My ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and did not forsake the ordinance of their God. They ask of Me the ordinances of justice; They take delight in approaching God. In the dispensation of the prophet Isaiah, the Word of God came to him to declare the sins of God's people without holding back any word. This is equally a wake-up call on us as the body of Christ to reevaluate our lives to see if it's in conformity to the will of God or not. An age where even evil is seen as human right, the Christian must be up and doing to ensure all things work well and standards in God's perspective operate more in the church, home and as long as it is possible in the community and nations. It is good to approach the presence of God but not with deliberat...

Theme:  Out of Galilee  Text: John 7:50-53 50 Nicodemus (he who came to Jesus by night, being one of them) said to them, 51 “Does our law judge a man before it hears him and knows what he is doing?” 52 They answered and said to him, “Are you also from Galilee? Search and look, for no prophet has arisen out of Galilee.” 53 And everyone went to his own house. In yesterday's devotion, we studied that, we should be aware of the Pharisees of our lives that do not add to our spiritual health but inject deficiencies. We are continuing today to look at the theme, "Out of Galilee". Galilee is a small town that can't boast of anything good coming out of it; no prophet ever came out of it, so how can the Messiah have His root from there? That's the ideology of the Pharisees except for Nicodemus who had had an encounter with the Lord secretly by night. Nicodemus questioned them, “Does our law judge a man before it hears him and knows what he is doing?” The intent must be know...

Theme: Beware of the Pharisees  Text: John 7:45-49 45  Then the officers came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, “Why have you not brought Him?”  46  The officers answered, “No man ever spoke like this Man!”  47  Then the Pharisees answered them, “Are you also deceived?  48  Have any of the rulers or the Pharisees believed in Him?  49  But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed.” The chief priests and Pharisees had a different perspective about the Christ because, His teaching exposed their weaknesses. For this reason they sort means to put the Lord away. In this dispensation, there are still some characteristics of the chief priests and Pharisees in the church. They only believe in things that speaks in their favor not otherwise. Dear beloved in the Lord, let the Holy Spirit be your instructor not men. Least when you've studied the Word of God and have come to know the truth, another misleads you to di...

Theme: The Christ  Text: John 7:40-44 40 Therefore many from the crowd, when they heard this saying, said, “Truly this is the Prophet.” 41 Others said, “This is the Christ.” But some said, “Will the Christ come out of Galilee? 42 Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the seed of David and from the town of Bethlehem, where David was?” 43 So there was a division among the people because of Him. 44 Now some of them wanted to take Him, but no one laid hands on Him. The argument about who Christ is continued amongst the crowd especially looking at His place of birth. Christ indeed is the seed of David but not a prophet. Let not anyone deceive you about who Christ is. You can know Him better if you study the Word of God. Your salvation depends on Him and no other person. It does not matter where Christ was born, for His birth does not exceed the sacrifice He made on the cross for us. His purpose on earth is to save us from our sins. Dear beloved in the Lord, do not despis...

Theme: Living Water  Text: John 7:37-39 37  On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying,  “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.   38  He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said,   out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”   39  But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. As humans, we have both spiritual and physical needs. The physical needs can easily be satisfied by ourselves or depend on others for it. However, the spiritual needs can solely be satisfied by the Holy Spirit. The voice of Christ is calling to all who thirst spiritually to come to Him. Anyone who willingly draws nearer to Christ to quench his spiritual thirst shall have a heart flowing with rivers of living water. This flow of rivers of living water is the Holy Spirit....

Theme: Where's Christ Going?  Text: John 7:35&36 35 Then the Jews said among themselves, “Where does He intend to go that we shall not find Him? Does He intend to go to the Dispersion among the Greeks and teach the Greeks? 36 What is this thing that He said, ‘You will seek Me and not find Me, and where I am you cannot come’?” In yesterday's devotion, we looked at the theme, "Seek Christ" where we have been encouraged to draw nearer to the Lord. In today's devotion, we will be looking at where Christ said He was going. Christ's destination is not this earth but to return back to the Father and be united with Him in heaven. It is for this reason He said, "You will seek Me and not find Me, and where I am you cannot come". The Jews thought He was departing to be with the Greeks but that is not what He was saying even though the message of salvation has been preached amongst the Greeks. Dear beloved in the Lord, you need not ask this question for in t...

Theme: Seek Christ  Text: John 7:32-34 32 The Pharisees heard the crowd murmuring these things concerning Him, and the Pharisees and the chief priests sent officers to take Him. 33 Then Jesus said to them, “I shall be with you a little while longer, and then I go to Him who sent Me. 34 You will seek Me and not find Me, and where I am you cannot come.” There are still Pharisees in our dispensation that are ready to cease those who proclaim Christ than exalting them. In the days of the Saviour, the Pharisees attempted to cease Jesus for saying He is the Christ. The response Jesus gave should be our watchword as we pilgrim on the earth. We have but few years on this earth so every seconds must count for us.  We need to seek God now before sin blindfolds us. We ought to seek the Lord through His Word by reading and meditating upon it daily. Constant fellowship with the Lord is the key to enter into His Kingdom where God is. How prepared is your heart for the Lord?  Prayer: Fa...

Theme: Not Yet  Text: John 7:30&31 30 Therefore they sought to take Him; but no one laid a hand on Him, because His hour had not yet come. 31 And many of the people believed in Him, and said, “When the Christ comes, will He do more signs than these which this Man has done?” God has time and purpose for everything under the sun. No one can truncate God's purpose for His children. It is for that reason those who seek to kill the Christ couldn't do so for His hour of death has not yet come. Though His time for death has not yet come, His season of signs and wonders has come. Unfortunately, those who have seen and experienced these signs and wonders do not have the spiritual sight to know the Christ was in their midst. Dear beloved in the Lord, if you walk faithfully with the Lord, He will reveal great and mighty things to you. You will be secured from the evil schemes of the devil and his cohorts. You will not miss your miracles and God's glory will never depart from you b...

Theme: Knowing God  Text: John 7:28&29 28 Then Jesus cried out, as He taught in the temple, saying, “You both know Me, and you know where I am from; and I have not come of Myself, but He who sent Me is true, whom you do not know. 29 But I know Him, for I am from Him, and He sent Me.” In yesterday's devotion, we looked at how the accusers of Christ could do nothing as He spoke boldly with them. In today’s devotion, we will looked at Christ's response to their denial. Though they knew who Christ was, yet they denied Him. So will you also he denied if you stand for the truth. It should not bother you because, the Saviour did suffer same in the hands of evil men. Dear beloved in the Lord, we are not living for ourselves but to please God. There's a God given purpose for every single individual on earth. If you desire to know God, you have to do His will. Doing His will opens the eyes of your understanding to see beyond the ordinary eyes and to have divine insight in the thi...

Theme: The Christlike Glory Text: John 7:25-27 25 Now some of them from Jerusalem said, “Is this not He whom they seek to kill? 26 But look! He speaks boldly, and they say nothing to Him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is truly the Christ? 27 However, we know where this Man is from; but when the Christ comes, no one knows where He is from.” Oh mine! Ever wondered why people are amazed when they see you? They see the Hand of God at work in you just as in Christ Jesus. Christ our sibling has given us this divine identity. His haters could do nothing to Him even when He stood in the midst to talk. He didn't speak cowardly but boldly. This glory in Christ has been given unto us when we became born again.  You equally possess that nature for the Holy Spirit is within you. Men may plot against you but remain faithful in the Lord and you'll see the salvation of God. Your life shall be a wonder to many. They might have known your past, failures, disappointments, and all the evil o...

Theme: Righteous Judgment  Text: John 7:21-24 21 Jesus answered and said to them, “I did one work, and you all marvel. 22 Moses therefore gave you circumcision (not that it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath. 23 If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath, so that the law of Moses should not be broken, are you angry with Me because I made a man completely well on the Sabbath? 24 Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.” Have you ever been called upon to judge an issue? How did everyone feel after giving your verdict. Were you fair in it or you were partial? The text of consideration is on the judgment of the people on Jesus for making a man completely well on the Sabbath. The Sabbath must be observed in holiness yet circumcision takes place on it which none sees as not right. This is because they believe they are ushering a convert into the promises of God. The man healed is also receiving the grace of God...

Theme: The Law Versus Grace  Text: John 7:19&20 19 Did not Moses give you the law, yet none of you keeps the law? Why do you seek to kill Me?” 20 The people answered and said, “You have a demon. Who is seeking to kill You?” In yesterday's devotion, Jesus made known that His doctrine is doing God's will when the people marveled at His level of intelligence. Today, He mentions the law of Moses and how difficult it is for it to be kept. There's a distinction when we walk under the law to that of grace. Grace abounds with Jesus so the people seek to kill Him because to them, it is a demon at work in Christ. Dear beloved in the Lord, your exceptional nature in the Lord is driving others nuts. The Hand of God that's manifesting in your life makes others to look for means to do away with you. Instead of engaging in physical battles with them, go down on your knees to seek the face of the Lord. All battles done on the knees come out victorious. Prayer: Father in the name of...

Theme: Not My Doctrine  Text: John 7:16-18 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. 18 He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him. In yesterday's devotion we learnt that the audience of Jesus marveled at His  teaching because He has never been to school. In today's devotion, He tells them the secret to His success. Do you hold on to some doctrines and traditions? What's the bases of these doctrines and traditions; is it in conformity with the standard of the Lord or that of human beings? Jesus' doctrine is of God not of his own or the world's standard. So must every child of God embrace the will of God for it is in obedience to the will we learn more of His doctrine. This earthly doctrines seeks n...

Theme: Divine Knowledge  Text: John 7:14&15 14 Now about the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and taught. 15 And the Jews marveled, saying, “How does this Man know letters, having never studied?” What will be your reaction if you chanced on someone who has never been to school reading and writing as though he has been to school? I guess you will ask all the questions that you can, just to be convinced. So it was with our Saviour when he started to teach in the temple during the feast. Dear beloved in the Lord, wisdom, knowledge and understanding is of the Lord. You can't aquire it perfectly outside God's grace. He said anyone who lacks wisdom should ask of Him and it shall be given freely. You need divine knowledge for the affairs of your family, career, business, financial management, projects amongst others. In the dispensation of Moses, the Lord spoke to him, saying: "See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of...

Theme: Be Tactical  Text: John 7:10-13 10 But when His brothers had gone up, then He also went up to the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret. 11 Then the Jews sought Him at the feast, and said, “Where is He?” 12 And there was much complaining among the people concerning Him. Some said, “He is good”; others said, “No, on the contrary, He deceives the people.” 13 However, no one spoke openly of Him for fear of the Jews. In yesterday's devotion, we learnt Jesus said, His time has not yet come and declined to the invitation by His brothers to go to Judea. In today's devotion we will have a look at the approach Jesus adopted in entering Judea. After His brothers have taken the lead to the feast, He followed unannounced. Christ is teaching us not to seek fame or make our intentions known to people openly. The more you talk, the more you expose yourself to the schemes of your adversaries. We need to be tactical in every area of our lives; both spiritual and physical. You canno...

Theme: Not Yet!  Text: John 7:6-9 6 Then Jesus said to them, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always ready. 7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it that its works are evil. 8 You go up to this feast. I am not yet going up to this feast, for My time has not yet fully come.” 9 When He had said these things to them, He remained in Galilee. In yesterday's devotion we saw the pretentious move made by the brothers of Jesus. We are continuing today on Jesus' response to their suggestion. Dear beloved in the Lord, if you know what you're about, you will know just when to take the rightful step. Jesus knew His time for everything that concerns Him and so said,  “My time has not yet come, but your time is always ready." Yes, the last of the flesh always creates an ever ready room for anything. But they that are led by the Holy Spirit, walks in His Will. You will be hated for choosing to walk God's way but be encouraged that's the b...

Theme: The Pretentious  Text: John 7:2-5 2 Now the Jews’ Feast of Tabernacles was at hand. 3 His brothers therefore said to Him, “Depart from here and go into Judea, that Your disciples also may see the works that You are doing. 4 For no one does anything in secret while he himself seeks to be known openly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world.” 5 For even His brothers did not believe in Him. In yesterday's devotion, we learnt the example of Christ to never allow what we envisage as danger to over ride us. In today's devotion we would be looking at the pretentious concerns of His brothers. Have you ever taken the pain to find out why people are concerned about your life? While some meant it for good, others intend it for evil. You have to be on the look out for unfriendly friends in your life. As Jesus draws away from those who want to kill Him, His brothers are encouraging Him to rather draw closer using other cunning means. The perspective they took is trying to...

Theme: Christ Our Example  Text: John 7:1 7 After these things Jesus walked in Galilee; for He did not want to walk in Judea, because the Jews sought to kill Him. Life must be lived wisely and not in arrogance. The Saviour of the world applied wisdom in diverse ways and the text for consideration is an example. Knowing the intent of others towards you should give you direction as to how to walk with them. Jesus knowing what lies in Judea against His life, chose not to expose Himself to His adversaries. He moved to a different territory, that's Galilee. Chose the people you associate with and learn from the Saviour's conduct not to endanger your own life. Do not give room to whatever threatens your life to lay hold of you. If your health will not permit you to eat something, observe not to eat it. If work hazards are affecting you, do think of a better way out; either to suggest remedies or you find a different job. Never create an avenue to suffer what you can prevent from happ...

Theme: The Power of God  Text: Psalm 59:16&17 16 But I will sing of Your power; Yes, I will sing aloud of Your mercy in the morning; For You have been my defense and refuge in the day of my trouble. 17 To You, O my Strength, I will sing praises; For God is my defense, my God of mercy. Our God is omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent in all things from the time of creation to this very day. The great power of God has been our source of protection and deliverance. The psalmist knowing what God is capable of doing, said he will sing of the power and mercies of God. We must also rise up each morning to give thanks to God for the power of His breath in us. Whatever your situation is in life, look up to God soley and He will turn it all for your good.  Prayer: My song will be to Your glory O God at all times. My lips and tongue will testify of Your goodness. Divine power of God, hedge me in all that I do that the wicked will even attest that, You're mighty and powerful. This I ...

Theme: Avoid Dissension  Text: Titus 3:9-11 9 But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless. 10 Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, 11 knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned The mark of Christ in us is Love not hatred. Our actions must show in nature for all to see that indeed we are the children of God. Arguments that do not bring about salvation should not be encouraged amongst us. The center of the Gospel for our dispensation is Jesus and nothing else. Unnecessary argument about traditions, laws that must be kept and not kept will not draw lost souls to salvation. Therefore let's focus on the message of Christ Jesus than any other thing when we meet as a family in Christ. A divisive man is one that is not ready to make peace with all. If such a man has been rebuked and warn on several accounts yet refuses to make peace, such a person must be rejecte...

Theme: The Benediction The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ; the undeniable grace that cause me who was nothing to be raised up as a cohier in God's marvelous Kingdom. I decree by this grace I possess my possessions. I cannot be restrained and no one can take what belongs to me. I am walking in victory in my health, marriage, finances, family, career, education, businesses and all areas of my life. The Love of God; the unconditional love that saved the vilest sinner like me. I decree I am one with the Lord and no principality can have dominion over my life. I belong to Christ and therefore I am one with Him. By this love of God, I enter into the glory of God and I access the grace to have my name written in the Lamb's Book of Life. I am saved and will remain saved to eternity. And the Fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with me now and forevermore; abide with me my Advocate. Let power change hands into the Hands of the Holy Spirit concerning every area of my life. I cannot be hinder...