The Word

Theme: Covenant Keeping God  Text: Nehemiah 1:5 5 And I said: "I pray, Lord God of heaven, O great and awesome God, You who keep Your covenant and mercy with those who love You and observe Your commandments" In yesterday's devotion, Nehemiah approached the challenges of his people by fasting and prayer. In the text for today, he began to pray to the covenant-keeping God. He acknowledged who God is in prayer: God of heaven, great and awesome God, keeps covenant, and merciful. Communicating with God requires we understand Him better so we can stand confidently before Him. How do you know God? How do you address Him when conversing with Him? Let's adopt Nehemiah's tactical prayer.  God declared heaven is His throne, therefore, giving honor to His throne is reverence to His Name. If He is enthroned in heaven, then He is great and awesome for He created all things and He continues to perform great and mighty miracles in our lives. He established His covenant with us i...

Theme: Are Things Going Well? Text: Nehemiah 1:3&4 3 And they said to me, “The survivors who are left from the captivity in the province are there in great distress and reproach. The wall of Jerusalem is also broken down, and its gates are burned with fire.” 4 So it was, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned for many days; I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven.  In yesterday's devotion, we learned that Nehemiah was concerned about the well-being of the captives who returned to Jerusalem and the city too. He inquired from Hanani and his companions of which today's text is their response. It was clearly stated all was not well in Jerusalem. Just in many nations in our dispensation, the wall and gates are broken and burned with fire respectively. This does not imply literal walls and gates but their security and safety. The COVID-19 pandemic (and its aftermath), the Russia-Ukraine war, the coup d'etat, and natural disasters, just to...

Theme: Nehemiah’s Concern for Jerusalem Text: Nehemiah 1:1&2 1 The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. It came to pass in the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the citadel, 2 that Hanani one of my brethren came with men from Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews who had escaped, who had survived the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem. Have you ever missed home? Mostly those who have traveled to the diaspora or left home for some reason often miss home and wish to be with their family. Nehemiah was far from home and he experienced this nostalgic feeling while at Shushan. The only means by which he gets to hear about the well-being of his people is by making inquiries. We ought to also be concerned not only about our family but the community and nation where we dwell. In so doing all shall be well with us. Inquire about others and show genuine concern towards them to build a community of love. May the Lord stir up love in our hearts to be c...

Faith is required to fuel every believer to pilgrim through this earth holding on to what God has promised even if it does not make sense. The father of faith, Abraham is known for this principle and it was counted for him as righteousness. Romans 4:20&21 "He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform". Dear beloved in the Lord, what has the Lord promised you? Activate your faith and embrace the promises. Declare, "In the Name of Jesus Christ, my faith is activated therefore I shall not waver at the promises of God through unbelieve. By the efficacy of the Blood of the Lamb of God and the ever presence of the Holy Spirit, I receive strength to keep hope alive through faithful worship. O God, You are not a man to lie or relent on Your promises therefore, I am fully convinced there shall be performance in my life, marriage, ch...

 The name Ham means "hot or warm". However, it could also be said to mean servant of majesty probably due to the curse pronounced by Noah over his son Ham. Ham was the second son of Noah. His act of immaturity led to his father cursing him. Some Characteristics of Ham: ✔ He was in the ark with his family. If he were not submissive to his father, he is likely to join the rest who never believed Noah. He would have perished. ✔ When his father got drunk, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brothers outside. He was unwise to see his father naked and tell his siblings without covering him. We must learn to flee from any unholy edge to see the nakedness of others or even entice others with our nakedness.  ✔ His act brought a curse upon his descendants. “Cursed be Canaan;  A servant of servants h e shall be to his brethren.” Be careful what you do because your actions can have negative repercussions on your descendants.    ✔ The sons o...

Theme: Declare It Text: John 17:26   26 And I have declared to them Your Name and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.  The tongue has the power of life and death in it so does it also hold blessings and curses. The final prayer of Christ for all believers reveals that what we declare manifests. His declaration of God's Name to all believers is to ignite in them the insight of how loving God is to send Him to save anyone who believes. Dear beloved in the Lord, in this year 2024, bridle your tongue to eliminate every evil utterance from proceeding from it. Let your tongue declare good things over your life and all that matter to you (spouse, children, family, ministry, colleagues, neighbors, friends, associates, etc...). The more you declare positive things over your life the less negativity you see. Note that from the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. Therefore if God's love is not guarding your heart, love cannot manife...

Theme: Are You Known? Text: John 17:25 25 O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me.  In a fast-growing world, to catch up with the time one needs to build connections. Good connections connect you to people of influence easily because those you know connect you to others you do not know. Christ emphasizes that the world does not know God but He does. Truly no one knows God except those to whom the Son wills. If you desire to know God, then you need to connect with Jesus Christ. All who connect to Him believe and identify Him as the Son of God sent to redeem perishing souls. Are you known to be a follower of Christ? How connected are you to Him? This life is all about Jesus so get connected to Him so that you can enjoy the full benefits that come with it.  PRAYER: O Righteous Father! I desire to know you and to have a lasting fellowship with You. I connect by the Blood of the Lamb and I believe that You sent Je...

Theme: You Shall Dwell with Christ Text: John 17:24 24  Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.  In yesterday's devotion, we learned that we have been glorified and made perfect in Christ Jesus. Today's text is another aspect of His prayer for the believers which focuses on all believers abiding with Him. Christ's prayer is that where He dwells we also shall dwell there so that we can behold His glory given by the Father. This implies that until one abides with Christ he cannot partake of the glory given to Him. Dear beloved in the Lord, how can you be where Christ is? Do you think you have to wait until you die before you can be with the Lord?  It is not solely by death that we can be with the Lord Jesus. He stated in Revelation 3:20 " Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will c...

Theme: Glorified and Made Perfect Text: John 17:22&23 22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. In yesterday's devotion, we learned that Jesus has offered a prayer on our behalf, and is a sure prayer of faith. Today's text is a continuation of Jesus' prayer for all believers. We have been glorified by Christ, therefore, we are not ordinary beings for we carry the glory of God both spiritually and physically. Under the glory, we have also been made perfect. Dear beloved in the Lord, are you being challenged by circumstances? Do you feel nothing seems right in your life? That is the voice of deceit trying to place a stronghold over your mind that you can't amount to anything good. Reject such voice by declaring that Christ has glorified you and made you per...

Theme: A Prayer for You Text: John 17:20&21 20 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. Amazingly, we've been looking at the prayer Christ offered for Himself, His disciples, and all believers in this chapter. Today's text commences His prayer for all who believe the Good News. Dear beloved in the Lord, Christ has prayed for you and this prayer will never fail because it is a prayer of faith. His prayer is that we may be one with Him and the Father if we accept the Gospel and believe. If we are one with God, then the devil cannot harm us. Those who plot evil against us will marvel at why their evil charms keep failing. The secret is that we have become one with God so our victory lies in Him, not by our natural strength. This affirms the authority of Jesus Christ that the wo...

 There are moments in our lives we can look back and realize how we've messed up woefully. The sure way to correct our wrongs is to return to the path of righteousness. For in the path of righteousness, we encounter the Holy Spirit who is our Great Teacher. According to Isaiah 30:20&21 "And though the Lord gives you t he bread of adversity and the water of affliction, y et your teachers will not be moved into a corner anymore, b ut your eyes shall see your teachers.  Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying,  “This is the way, walk in it,” w henever you turn to the right hand o r whenever you turn to the left".   Declare, "In the Name of Jesus Christ, Lord have mercy upon me and deliver me from the bread and water of affliction due to my sin. Forgive my sin, cleanse me, and create in me a clean heart and a steadfast spirit. By covenant in Christ Jesus, my Teacher the Holy Spirit shall not be separated from me anymore. I shall encounter Him daily in 2024. I ...

The name Shem means fame and he was the first son of Noah. He and his siblings and wives were fortunate to be saved by Noah's ark from the flood that destroyed the earth.  Some Characteristics of Shem: ✔ He is believed to be the eldest son of Noah. The constant appearance of his name before his other brothers suggests he is the first child/son of Noah.   ✔ He was in the ark with his family. If he were not submissive to his father, he is likely to join the rest who never believed Noah. He would have perished. ✔ He respected his father even when he was unconscious. In his father's drunken state, he did not look at his father's nakedness but rather covered him. This teaches us to give honour to the aged/elderly in our homes, community, and nation. It is unwise to desire to mock the nakedness of the elderly.  ✔ His father's blessings upon his life were: “Blessed be the Lord, t he God of Shem, a nd may Canaan be his servant.  May God enlarge Japheth, a nd may he dwel...

Theme: Sanctified Text: John 17:17-19 17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. 18 As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth. To be sanctified means to be declared holy or set apart by the efficacy of the Holy Spirit. The sanctification Jesus prayed for His disciples is that of the truth. That the disciples will be made holy by the truth through the Word of God. This is built on the premise that they shall know the truth (which is the Word of God) and the truth shall liberate them from every unrighteousness (John 8:32). A lair cannot be sent out to declare the message of truth, therefore, the Messiah prays that the truth will equip them for the propagation of the Gospel. In His earthly ministry, Christ showed by example how to live or abide by the truth for the sake of His disciples. Dear beloved in the Lord, as a child of God, you have been sanctified by the t...

Theme: Kept from the Evil One Text: John 17:15&16 15 I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. In yesterday's devotion, we learned that Christ prayed that His joy be fulfilled in His disciples. In the text for today, He prays for them to be protected from the evil one. As we learned yesterday, for us to live is Christ and to die is gain, it is for that reason Christ prayed pleading with the Father not to take them from the world but rather keep them from the evil one. So long as we exist in this world, we need to advance the Kingdom of God and as we do that, the evil one will rise against us.  Just as immigrants have challenges in some countries, so do we who belong to Christ also are challenged because we are not citizens of this world but of God's Kingdom.  Our shield and protection can only come from God, not physical bodyguards. I do not conde...

Theme: Fulfilled Joy  Text: John 17:13&14   13 But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. In yesterday's devotion, Jesus prayed that His disciples should be kept in the Name of God for the Name of the LORD is a strong tower which the righteous run into and are safe. Today's text is a prayer for them to have the fulfilled joy of being followers of Christ. Knowing well how the world will hate and treat His disciples, Christ prayed His joy of conquering should ignite His disciples to withstand their moments of persecution and trials. The Word is that He will conquer death on the third day and ascend to heaven where He will prepare a place for them. They therefore have an assurance of a better place hereafter: "For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain (Philippians 1:21)...

Theme: Kept in God's Name Text: John 17:11&12 11 Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are. 12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept, and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled In yesterday's devotion, we learned that we need to offer a divine prayer for all our subordinates just as Jesus did for His disciples. The divine prayer of Christ for His disciples further stated that the disciples be kept in the Name of God. Why would He pray the disciples be kept in God's Name? According to Proverbs 18:10 "The name of the LORD is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe". Whatever God has entrusted to us can only be preserved in the Name of God. Your marriage, children, family, career, and everything you possess e...

Theme: Divine Prayer Text: John 17:9&10 9  I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours. 10 And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them.  Prayer is communicating with God. Jesus is noted for solitude prayers but for this text, He prayed openly for His disciples which we can term a divine prayer. Jesus said, "I pray for them (His disciples)". Dear beloved in the Lord as leaders of our homes, workplaces, communities, nations, schools, etc... we need to emulate the divine prayer of Christ to pray for our followers or subordinates. Let us commit them to God's Hands and seek the best for them. In so doing, we build a home, community, or nation that is bonded in God and is geared towards achieving a common goal. Do you feel your children are wayward? Your subordinates are not up to the task or there is a big gap between you and them? Why not employ the formula of the divine prayer to pray f...

 God controls the season likewise our lives: He decides the outcome of every action we take. The blessings of godly parents have a significant lasting impact on us. Isaac's blessing on Jacob was for him to receive an increase in harvest and the best from the earth in Genesis 27:28 ~ "From the dew of heaven  and the richness of the earth,  may God always give you abundant harvests of grain  and bountiful new wine". No wonder he prospered in the house of Laban despite being cheated many times.  Declare, "In the Name of Jesus, I decree I receive divine dew from heaven over every field of my life (marriage, children, ministry, health, finances, businesses, projects, etc...) to increase on all sides. My harvest in 2024 shall be greater than in previous years. Thank You, Lord, for blessing me abundantly and establishing Your Word in my Life in the Mighty Name of Jesus Christ. AMEN!   

 Last week, we learned about Noah stating that there existed two people named Noah in the Bible: the son of Lamech and the daughter of Zelophehad. We focused on Noah the daughter of Zelophehad however today, we will look at Noah the son of Lamech. The name Noah means rest and has its origin from the Hebrew name Noach.  Some Characteristics of Noah: ✔ Noah was the son of Lamech a descendant of Seth by Methuselah. His father named him Noah hoping in the Lord for rest: “This one will comfort us concerning our work and the toil of our hands, because of the ground which the Lord has cursed.” Dear beloved in the Lord, do not just name a child because the name sounds good but rather seek to understand what the name implies.  ✔ He found grace in the eyes of God when He intended to destroy the earth because of the wickedness of men. If we desire to find grace with God then we should believe His Son Jesus Christ who is the custodian of grace.  ✔ God instructed him to buil...

Theme: Receive and Believe Text: John 17:7&8 7 Now they have known that all things which You have given Me are from You. 8 For I have given to them the words which You have given Me, and they have received them, and have known surely that I came forth from You; And they have believed that You sent Me. In yesterday's devotion, Jesus began to pray for the disciples and we learned that, in our dispensation accomplishing the Great Commission is manifesting the Name of the Lord. Dear beloved in the Lord, if we had not received the message Christ brought to us, we would not be a part of the accomplishment of the Great Commission. Until we avail to receive from the Lord, it will be difficult for us to tap into His possibilities to believe that nothing is impossible with Him. Purpose in your heart this year that, you will receive the Word of God. The Word will direct your path to know what the will of God for your life is for the year to ignite your faith to believe Him. Note that fa...

Theme: Treasure in the Name  Text: John 17:6 6  I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word. The Lord Jesus Christ has manifested the Name of the true God to us as His followers. The manifestation is revealing who God is to the disciples and as many as believe and reverend God. In our dispensation accomplishing the Great Commission is manifesting the Name of the Lord. This Name is a treasure that opens doors to possess whatever belongs to the Sovereign God. Note we were His (God) and He gave us to the Son and the Son ensured the Word abided in us. This means that in the realm of the spiritual when we align with God, He gives us whatever is His. What do you desire from the Lord? The key is in the manifestation of His Name and keeping His Word.  PRAYER: Almighty God, as I accomplish the command to proclaim the gospel to the end of the earth, may divine blessings locate eve...

Theme: It is Finished Text: John 17:4&5 4 I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. 5 And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.   Jesus came to glorify the Father on earth and He has finished the task perfectly and beautifully. He never failed any task assigned to Him and since we are His, we will also finish every task in 2024 no matter the resistance from our adversaries. The tasks in our family, marriage, education, nurturing godly children, projects, businesses, investments, financials, and any area of our lives that seems insurmountable, beloved in the Lord, I bring you good news, the glorified Lord said He has finished the work of our struggles. The glory of Jesus existed before the world was made and this glory is as strong as it was and will remain even to the end of the age.  May the glorification of the Father and the Son locate you now!  ...

Theme: Eternal Life Text: John 17:2&3 2 as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. 3 And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.  In yesterday's devotion, we learned that this chapter is Jesus' prayer for Himself, His disciples, and all believers. The text for today enlightens us on what eternal life means. Eternal life is knowing the only true God and Jesus Christ whom He has sent. Therefore eternal life without the knowledge of God is a total scam. Dear beloved in the Lord, anyone who desires to have eternal life should first of all seek the things of the Kingdom of God. This will stir the zeal to know more about the true God and His only Begotten Son Jesus Christ. How zealous are you about knowing God? If you are a child of God who does not have any idea about the Sovereign God, the wind of deceit will sweep you away like chaff. Once you...

Theme: The Hour Has Come Text: John 17:1 17 Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You There is a season for everything under the sun and we must be careful not to miss the time or season of the Lord for our lives. As Jesus draws near to His major task of taking away the sins of the world on the cross He set out to pray for Himself, His disciples, and all believers. In the text for consideration, He began to pray for Himself and He stated, " Father, the hour has come". Dear beloved the hour of His glorification was not hidden from Him. Likewise, Jesus cannot forget us when the time to glorify us is due. In this year 2024, to understand or know if the hour has come, you need Jesus. He hold the seasons and times in His Hands. He as well decides what should or not happen.  PRAYER: Father in heaven, I lift up my eyes to You and trust that my hour shall not pass me by. Lord glor...

 Counsels are needed in life but sometimes not every counsel is of value from the people who seek well for us. If you fail to walk the will of God for your life, others who may not necessarily want to destroy your life may allow emotions to distort their judgment of giving you great counsel. Just as in the case of Peter, there are still many out there who have been misled to give ungodly counsel that seems friendly but not of God's will. Matthew 16:22-23 states;  Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!”  But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”    Declare, "In the Name of Jesus Christ, in 2024 I reject any counsel that is not the will of God for my life. Every ungodly counsel is nullified in the Blood of the Lamb. I decree in the Name of Jesus Christ, get behind me, Satan! I sha...

Our study today will focus on Noah. There existed two people named Noah in the Bible: the son of Lamech and the daughter of Zelophehad. Our focus today will be on Noah the daughter of Zelophehad then we will look at Lamech's son next week. The name Noah means rest and has its origin from the Hebrew name Noach.  Some Characteristics of Noah: ✔ She is one of the daughters of Zelophehad presumably the second child.  ✔ She joined her sisters to fight for the inheritance of their father: "And they stood before Moses, and before Eleazar the priest, and before the princes and all the congregation, by the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying, our father died in the wilderness, and he was not in the company of them that gathered themselves together against the LORD in the company of Korah; but died in his own sin, and had no sons. Why should the name of our father be done away from among his family, because he hath no son? Give unto us therefore a possession among th...

Theme: The Lord is Good Text: Psalm 100:5 5 For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations. God is good, all the time. His mercy towards us is renewed every morning and is an everlasting one. He is the Ye and Amen! God does not lie neither does He fail His own. If God promises to see us through the year, then we ought to trust Him to do so. No need to doubt what He is capable of doing for His truth endures for all generations. Let the praise of our God be on our lips throughout the year.  PRAYER: Thank You Lord for being kind towards me. You are good and Your mercy is everlasting. Take glory, honor, and adoration. May Your Name be exalted from generation to generation. In the Name of Jesus Christ have I prayed. AMEN!     

Theme: Enter into His Gates Text: Psalm 100:4 4 Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. The presence of God is a ground of absolute worship and reverence for God. No ungrateful soul can have a right to stand in His presence. It is for this reason the psalmist proclaimed we must enter His gates with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise. Dear beloved in the Lord, drop every baggage of murmuring and complaining, anxiety and worries, and anything that distracts your focus to be grateful to God. Be thankful for even what you do not have and God will turn your situation around for good. Bless the Name of God for you are abiding in His courts because His Holy Spirit indwells you.  PRAYER: Almighty God, stir up in me the heart and spirit of gratitude that I may enter your gates and courts with thanksgiving and praise. I thank You Lord for my life, family, friends, and all that I have in the Name of Jesus Chri...

Theme: Sheep of His Pasture Text: Psalm 100:3 3 Know that the Lord, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. A parent takes pride in watching his/her children play around and develop into responsible adults. Likewise, does God expect us to grow in knowing Him as our Father. He is God over all creation. As children cannot disregard the fact that their existence is made possible by their parents, so we cannot eliminate the fact that God created us in His image. Acknowledging the Lord as God is to reverent Him and obey His commandments with the understanding that our lives are accountable to Him as sheep of His pasture. The sheep knows the voice of the shepherd and obeys him. Jesus is our Shepherd and we are the sheep of His pasture so we must discern His voice to attain salvation and eternal life.  PRAYER: Dear Lord, I acknowledge You are the Sovereign God and the Creator of all things. Thank You for making me in Your...

 Theme: A Joyful Shout Text: Psalm 100:1&2 100 Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands! 2 Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before His presence with singing. When we shout, it could connote many things but most significantly two key things: To express fear or joy. To make a joyful shout to the Lord is to praise His Name and/or glorify His Majestic Name. In this year 2024, resolve in your heart not to approach God with murmuring but rather with cheerful singing. Make joyful noise in your closet and in the open about the goodness of God. Cheerfully serve God in any capacity you occupy or the least opportunity that comes your way.      PRAYER: Dear God, I will open my lips to give You thanksgiving for the great and awesome direction of the course of life. Come Holy Spirit and empower me to serve the Lord cheerfully. This I ask in the Name of Jesus Christ. AMEN!  

Blessed be the Name of our God who has sustained us this far. Had the Lord not been on our side, the wicked would have made sports of us. Dear beloved in the Lord, as we begin another year, note that it has been the love of God through the grace of Christ and nothing else. Therefore, purpose in your heart to hearken to the voice of God throughout the year. It is written in Psalm 103:7 that, "He made known His ways to Moses,  His acts to the children of Israel". If you purpose to have an undivided attention to the Lord in 2024 and to walk diligently with Him, He will make known His ways to you and He will not hide any action He intends to take this year from you.  I pray with you that it shall be well with you this year and beyond. Do not get worried or anxious for expectations not met in the previous year, rather I challenge you to turn it to praise and thanksgiving and watch the Lord turn things around for you. In 2024, may your walk with Christ intensify as you share the g...