The Word

Theme: Wisdom  Text: Proverbs 3:13 13  Happy is the man who finds wisdom,  and the man who gains understanding; It is written the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. This means wisdom comes from adhering to the voice of the Lord. The Lord has also given us open access that anyone who lacks wisdom should ask of Him and He will willingly give it to him/her. All choices in life require wisdom; whether spiritual or physical decisions. Gaining insight into what to do or not depends on wisdom and understanding of the consequences thereof. Don't be in haste to make decisions find wisdom and gain understanding before you act.  PRAYER: Thank You Lord that with You I can find wisdom and gain understanding. Fill me with wisdom and understanding to do Your will in the Name of  Jesus Christ. AMEN!

Theme: The Lord's Chastening  Text: Proverbs 3:11&12 11  My son, do not despise the chastening of the  Lord ,  nor detest His correction;  12  For whom the  Lord  loves He corrects,  just as a father the son in whom he delights. The chastening of the Lord is a means to discipline us when we go contrary to His command to us. The Lord's chastening is basically to humble us and bring us to submission. We must therefore not hate or detest His correction. God is our loving Father (Abba! Father). He does not want to see us perish and so He is always keeping us on track through His corrections.  PRAYER: Thank You Lord for loving me and always ensuring I do what is right. Help me to accept Your chastening and corrections in the Name of Jesus Christ. AMEN!

Bless the Lord o my soul and all that is within me bless His Holy Name. I thank You Lord for Your faithfulness and lovingkindness towards me and my family. It is written, "Therefore all those who devour you shall be devoured;  And all your adversaries, every one of them, shall go into captivity;  Those who plunder you shall become plunder,  and all who prey upon you I will make a prey.  For I will restore health to you  and heal you of your wounds,’ says the  Lord." Honour Your Word o Lord to perfect it accordingly in my life, family and ministry in the Name of Jesus Christ.  Supporting Scripture: Jeremiah 30:16&17a

Theme: The Firstfruits Text: Proverbs 3:9&10 9  Honor the  Lord  with your possessions,  and with the firstfruits of all your increase;  10  So your barns will be filled with plenty,  and your vats will overflow with new wine. The first fruits can be said to be the initial proceeds of our labour (farm produce, salary, wage, children, etc). To honour the Lord is to understand He gave the harvest and therefore willingly give it back to God. In acknowledging the Lord as our source of wealth, He divinely increases the yield (the works of our hands). We can honour the Lord with our substances in His house or support the less endowed for such people have been entrusted to us by God to show mercy.  PRAYER: Teach me to honour You Lord with my possessions and especially with the firstfruits of my labour. May every blessing that comes with this fill my barns with plenty and overflow with new testimonies in the Name of Jesus Christ. AMEN!

Theme: Fear the Lord Text: Proverbs 3:7&8 7  Do not be wise in your own eyes;  Fear the  Lord  and depart from evil.  8  It will be health to your flesh,  and strength to your bones. Fear could be pleasant or unpleasant depending on the nature of what is at stake. An unpleasant fear could be of height, danger, evil, and all the phobias we can think of. However, there is a pleasant fear which is the fear of God. To fear God means to obey Him. Not one that makes you unable to open your mouth or have the courage to act but one that equips you for every good work. Never think you can outwit God in any cunning way by living a double life. Flee from evil and embrace the command of God.  Obedience to God's Word brings  health to your flesh and strength to your bones.  PRAYER: Dear God, help me to fear You. Deliver me from the works of darkness that I may obey You in every area of my life. I pray in obedience to Your Word, may...

Theme: Acknowledge God Text: Proverbs 3:5&6 5  Trust in the  Lord  with all your heart,  and lean not on your own understanding;  6  In all your ways acknowledge Him,  and He shall direct your paths. Academic works are often particular about the citation of references in work. This is to check plagiarism and to accord honour to whoever it is due. In the realm of the spiritual, we should understand the source of our strength and power. Acknowledging God means giving recognition to God for His marvellous works and lots of benefits we enjoy from Him. We need to trust Him with all our hearts and subdue every arrogance in us so that He may direct our path. If we learn to say; Less of ourselves and more of God, we shall discern the will of God for our lives and shall never be the same.  PRAYER: I need You, Lord, I trust every promise of Yours and believe it shall surely come to pass. Please direct my path to the right way in the Name of Jesus C...

Theme: The Tablet of Our Heart  Text: Proverbs 3:3&4 3  Let not mercy and truth forsake you; Bind them around your neck,  write them on the tablet of your heart,  4  And so find favour and high esteem  in the sight of God and man.  There is none without flaws it is, and for this reason, we ought to learn to show mercy and be truthful in our ways. We need to be yoked to mercy and truth than wickedness and lies. When we extend mercy to others and speak truthfully in all cases, we find  favour and high esteem  in the sight of God and man .  Therefore dear beloved in the Lord, on the tablets of our hearts, we need to inscribe mercy and truth that they may communicate to our minds to always think of others by being merciful and truthful to them at all times.  PRAYER: Dear Lord, anyone who is merciful and truthful finds favour and high esteem at Your sight and the same with his/her fellow human beings. Touch my heart th...

Theme: Your Mind & Heart  Texts: Proverbs 3:1&2 3  My son, do not forget my law,  but let your heart keep my commands;  2 For length of days and long life  and peace they will add to you. Life is in our hearts and when it fails, everything in the body is most likely to fail. We are called to keep the commands and not forget the law. The mind must incline to the Word of God, while the heart stores the Word. If we understand God's Word is a treasure, then we will add value to the Word in all things. No one has ever been disappointed in keeping to God's Word;  For length of days and long life  and peace they will add to you. If we seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, then all not some but all other things shall be added.  PRAYER: Dear God renew my mind and heart so that I may treasure Your Word. I pray my mind shall not forget Your Word and may my heart keep Your Word all the days of my life in the Name of Jesus Chri...

Blessed be the Name of our God who has gifted us His only Begotten to bring us nearer to the throne of mercy. Your praise shall continually be on our lips all the days of our lives. "We ourselves heard that voice from heaven when we were with him on the holy mountain.   Because of that experience, we have even greater confidence in the message proclaimed by the prophets. You must pay close attention to what they wrote, for their words are like a lamp shining in a dark place—until the Day dawns, and Christ the Morning Star shines in your hearts." Father in the Name of Jesus Christ, as we encounter You, take away our timidity and fears. Replace it with courage and confidence that we may shine in this dark world to reveal Your glory and honour.  Supporting Scripture: 2 Peter 1:18&19

Levi is the third son of Jacob by Leah. She named him Levi because she said, "Now this time will my husband be joined unto me because I have born him three sons: therefore was his name called  Levi" . He aided Simeon to kill the Hivites to avenge the evil done to their sister Dinah. Characteristics of Levi: ¶ He is the third son of Jacob ¶ His father's blessings over him and Simeon was unpleasant;  “Simeon and Levi are brothers;  Instruments of cruelty are in their dwelling place.  Let not my soul enter their council;  Let not my honour be united to their assembly;  For in their anger they slew a man,  and in their self-will, they hamstrung an ox. Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce;  And their wrath, for it, is cruel!  I will divide them in Jacob  and scatter them in Israel." ¶ His descendants are the Levites of Isreal and amazingly they were scattered among their brethren throu...

Theme: Unjudged  Text: 1 Corinthians 2:15&16 15  But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one.  16  For  “who has known the mind of the   Lord   that he may instruct Him?”  But we have the mind of Christ. In yesterday's devotion, we saw the need to discern spiritually. We are continuing today to learn about other benefits of having the gift of discernment. The benefit we derive from this is, we exercise this gift to judge well and no one questions our judgement. Jesus possesses this gift and so was able to tell whenever the Scribes, Pharisees and Sadducees were trying to be mischievous; the question of whether to pay taxes to Ceasar or not is one such moment. Christ discerned their thought and gave a remarkable response to give what belongs to God to God and to Ceasar what is his (Matthew 22:15-22). To have the gift of discerning also implies having the mind of Christ. Thereby enjoying the gra...

Theme: Discern Spiritually  Text: 1 Corinthians 2:13&14 13  These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.  14  But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. Our walk on this earth must never be based on carnal judgement but a spiritual walk for we are not of this world. The Gospel is not based on persuasive words as we've learned in previous devotions. Rather it is built on the power of the Holy Spirit. To receive this spiritual gift (discernment)  of God, we need to align our ways with that of the Holy Spirit. To discern means to judge well; distinguishing good from evil. We need the Holy Spirit to discern so that we can understand the way of God and get a revelation of secret things.  PRAYER: Dear God, grant unto us the g...

Theme: The Spirit of God  Text: 1 Corinthians 2:12 12  Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. Having accepted Christ and walk not under the dictates of the world, we have received the gift of God who is the Holy Spirit. If we desire to know God and what He has prepared for us, then we need to unite with His Spirit so that we may be given spiritual insight into the things of God. In the realm of the spirit, God has freely given some things out which can only be enjoyed by anyone who unites with the Holy Spirit. For the Holy Spirit will open the eyes of one's understanding to identify them without difficulty and claim them wholly. You do not have the spirit of the world but the Spirit that is from God. PRAYER: Spirit of the Living God that dwells in me, manifest more in me and less of my strength. Open my eyes to see and know the things God has freely giv...

Theme: Revealed By His Spirit  Text: 1 Corinthians 2:10&11 10  But God has revealed  them  to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.  11  For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so, no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. In yesterday's devotion, we learned what God has prepared for us has neither been seen, heard nor conceived in the heart of any man. However, He reveals it to anyone who submits to His authority. The Holy Spirit is our Guide and so need to know all things that He may make them know to us; For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. Just as no one can tell what you are contemplating in your heart unless you make it known so it is that we can not know the things of God except the Lord reveals it to us by His Spirit. To have access to His revelations, then we need to associate with the Hol...

Theme: The Prepared Things of God Text: 1 Corinthians 2:9 9  But as it is written:  “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,  nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” Nothing is new except that which the Lord does. Amazingly, only God has made, is making and will make all things anew. The things He has prepared for those who love Him exceed any human imagination or understanding. The great and awesome things God have in store for us when His Kingdom finally comes, cannot be expressed by mere words. The new Jerusalem and its arrayed glory and the power of this Kingdom when we take a glimpse from the book of Revelation is an awe-spectacular view of what eyes have not seen, nor ears heard nor has it entered into the heart of any man a city as the New Jerusalem and the inhabitants thereof. God has a perfect plan for your life. Do not give up keep for the death, resurrection and ascension of Christ should encourage you to know ...

"I will sing to the LORD, for he has been good to me." Oh, give thanks to the  Lord , for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. Let Israel now say, “His mercy endures forever.” It is written,  “See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil,   in that, I command you today to love the  Lord  your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, that you may live and multiply; and the  Lord  your God will bless you in the land which you go to possess. I denounce every form of evil ways in any area of my life. I cling to God and my love for God is kindled the more. I declare I have life and I multiply on all sides. Therefore, no power of darkness can contend m y glory in the Name of Jesus Christ. AMEN! Supporting Scriptures: Psalm 13:6; 118:1&2; Deuteronomy 30:16

Simeon is the second son of Jacob by Leah. By his birth, the mother said, because the Lord has seen she is not loved have given her another son. He and Levi avenged the wrong done to their sister Dinah by killing the Hivites in their soreness after circumcision on the third day.  Some Characteristics of Simeon: √ He was the second son of Jacob  √ During the time of famine when the children of Isreal came to buy food from Egypt, he was the one detained so Benjamin would be brought.  √ He and Levi slew the Hivites  √ Israel's final word of him is this;  “Simeon and Levi are brothers; Instruments of cruelty are in their dwelling place.  Let not my soul enter their council;  Let not my honour be united to their assembly;  For in their anger they slew a man,  and in their self-will, they hamstrung an ox.  Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce;  And their wrath, for it, is cruel!...

Theme: Divine Mystery  Text: 1 Corinthians 2:7&8 7  But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory,  8  which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. The mystery of God is a hidden wisdom ordained before the ages of our adoption into the royal priesthood. This wisdom is discerning only by the minds that avail to the Holy Spirit than trusting their instincts. It is, for this reason, the carnal intellectuals who are well-versed in legal laws cannot discern it. If they had known the purpose of the crucifixion of Christ will rather advance the Gospel, they would not have attempted it. Do not be perplexed when you see the educated make baseless arguments against the Word of God. They do not understand the mystery of God because they do not possess the wisdom of God.  PRAYER: Abba! Father, thank You for the mys...

Theme: Wisdom Not of This Age Text: 1 Corinthians 2:6 6  However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing . Spiritual maturity is required of every child of God. Just like we see children and even ourselves grow older, Christians should mature in the Lord. This spiritual maturity does not depend on carnal wisdom but rests on the power of the Holy Spirit at work in the matured Christians. This kind of wisdom is not worthless. That is, it is not wisdom that amounts to nothing rather it brings significance to life. Logic does fail, well-proven scientific theories are later realigned to meet standards but the wisdom of God is eternal. PRAYER: Dear God, fill me with wisdom divine that I make diligently follow You all the days of my life in the Name of Jesus Christ. AMEN

Theme: Wisdom in the Power of God  Text: 1 Corinthians 2:3-5 3  I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling.  4  And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,  5  that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. If we are determined not to know anything among the flock except Christ and Him crucified, we pave the way for more of the Holy Spirit to manifest and less of ourselves. It is through this we demonstrate the Holy Spirit and His power at work in us. As He has assured us, we will not need to think of what to say even if we are brought before rulers because the Holy Spirit Himself will grant us divine utterances (Luke 12:10-12). This easily stirs the faith of new converts to the power of God's enabling grace and Sovereignty. Always strife for the wisdom in the power of God, not humans.  PRAYER: T...

Theme: Present Christ Alone Text: 1 Corinthians 2:2 2  For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. We continue with Paul's Epistle to the Corinthians concerning the message of God. Yesterday we established that we share the testimony of the Holy Spirit whenever we avail ourselves to be used by Him than to persuade men to the Lord. As we are on a mission to be witnesses to the end of the earth, our focus and central theme is Christ and nothing else. All things (health, marriage, finances, businesses, career, etc) supernaturally fall into the perfect place when Christ is presented. Be determined not to know anything among the flock except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.  PRAYER: Dear Lord, oftentimes, we feel things must fall into perspective before Christ is made known. Teach us to be determined not to know anything among the flock except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. We pray as Christ is made manifest, may all good things ...

Theme: The Testimony of God  Text: 1 Corinthians 2:1 2  And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. Preparing to deliver a sermon needs more spiritual preparation than just reading and writing things down. This is because the sermon must reflect what the Spirit wants to communicate to His flock at that very moment. The Apostle Paul did not use excellent speech to persuade new converts or earthly wisdom to justify the essence of accepting the Gospel, rather he employed the power of the Holy Spirit. The testimony of God is best given by the Holy Spirit. The Great Commission is not built on the altar of persuasion but on the true testimony of the Spirit of God. It is for this reason, the Holy Spirit gives the understanding to suit the need of the converts and to guide them to the marvellous Light of God. Yours is to avail not persuade.  PRAYER: Dear God, give me a nudge when I am diverti...

Blessed be Your Name o God for Your awesome and powerful presence in my life. Praise Him for His acts of power; Praise Him for His surpassing greatness. Hallelujah! It is written, "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.  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". Father in the Name of Jesus Christ, give me a charitable heart to do good at all times. I decree it shall be well with me in all that I do and I shall know no affliction. Because I am guided by the Holy Spirit, I shall be satisfied, strengthened, and refreshed at all times in the Name of Jesus Christ. AMEN! Supporting Scriptures: Psalm 150:2 & Isaiah 58:10&11

Reuben is the first son of Jacob by Leah and he describes him as his firstborn, might, the beginning of his strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power. However, Reuben's flaw is he slept with his father's concubine.  Some Characteristics of Reuben; ¶ His birth gave hope to Leah that the Lord has looked upon her affliction and that her husband will love her.  ¶ The mandrakes he brought to the mother allowed the mother to batter trade it for her husband leading to the conception and birth of Issachar.  ¶ Reuben slept with Bilhad his father's concubine (Racheal's maid). ¶ He devised means to protect Joseph from being harmed by his brother. He tore his clothes to show his displeasure with their actions when he didn't see Joseph in the pit.  ¶   His father also laid a curse on him not to excel because he went up to his bed to defile it (sleeping with Bilhad). ¶ He offered his sons to be killed if he failed to return with Benjamin from Egypt...

Theme: You Will See Greater Things Text: John 1:50&51 50  Jesus answered and said to him,  “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.”   51  And He said to him,  “Most assuredly, I say to you,   hereafter   you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.” No one encounters Christ and remains the same. Nathaniel is a perfect example of this. The genesis of every great thing is Jesus. He is the stairway to achieving greater things in life and hereafter. Christ is the link between the heavenly Kingdom and the earth. Draw near to Christ and your experience will transform you greatly from grass to grace and from zero to hero all to the glory of God in the Highest.  PRAYER: Dear Lord, take hold of my hands and usher me into divine greatness. I pray as I walk with You, may I daily have angelic assistance in all that I do in the Name of ...

Theme: Christ is King! Text: John 1:49 49  Nathanael answered and said to Him, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” Encounters are great and it does transform lives making them well-defined. He who doubted something good can come out of Nazareth has seen the Christ and had no choice but to declare Him the Son of God. The Kingly glory of Christ, first makes us know our true identity and then grants us the boldness to approach Him in truth. In boldness and truth, Nathaniel called Him Rabbi, the Son of God and the King of Isreal.  The Messiah is; √ A teacher who led many to the True Light of God. He called twelve core disciples and others who went out to proclaim God's gracious gift to mankind.  √ The Christ is the Son of God. He is not of carnal descent but of the Spiritual being divinely conceived by the Blessed Virgin Mary. He is the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of men and well echoed in John 3:16-18. √ He is the King of king...

Theme: God Knows You Text: John 1:47&48 47  Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said of him,  “Behold,   an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!”  48  Nathanael said to Him, “How do You know me?” Jesus answered and said to him,  “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” Nathaniel did ask Philip can anything good come out of Nazareth. He had facts about the territories around them and is confident when he speaks to the fact. However, this record had a twist. In meeting the Messiah, his real self has been revealed to him;  “Behold,   an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!” It simply means Nathaniel is not easily swayed as he was diligent in keeping his integrity. God knows every one of us and His description of us can't be mistaken. Before we meet Him, He knows all about us. There's no pretence in the presence of God therefore we must approach Him with all sincerity.  PRAYER: Teach me Lord to com...