Topic: Looking unto Jesus I [Sunday 31 January, 2016]

Memorise: And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: – John 3:14

Read: Hebrews 12:1-2 (KJV)

1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Bible in One Year: Matthew 16:5-18:35; Job 13:17-14:6

MESSAGE:

Human beings have been in search of the way back to their Maker since after the fall. The soul of man pants after the peace that only his Maker can provide. This is the reason man invented means of getting along with God in the name of religion. Unfortunately, man was unable to adequately reach out to his Maker until God in His mercies revealed Himself to us through His son Jesus Christ.

”9 And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? 10 And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.” - Genesis 3:9-10

Adam was sent out of the Garden of Eden and he became a wanderer and a destitute of the peace that he once had with his Maker. After many dispensations, God decided to reveal part of Himself to some people who sincerely sought to know Him. He related to Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses and the prophets to mention just a few. They did not only benefit from God’s self-revelation, they also helped their generation by pointing them to the Almighty God. Yet, the perfect relationship was not in view then. When the fullness of time came, God became man and lived among men in the person of Jesus Christ. When one of the disciples asked Him to reveal God the Father to them, Jesus said:

“…Have I been so long time with you and yet hast thou not known me, Phillip? He that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, show us the father? Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the father in me?...” - John 14:9-10

Jesus Christ is the perfect revelation of God the Father. He came to reveal the father to us so that we may know how best to worship Him. It was through His teaching that we know that God is a spirit and whoever wants to worship Him must worship Him in spirit. He told us that unless we are born-again, we cannot see the Kingdom of God. Religious activities are exercise in futility without this experience. Not until He came, even Doctors of the Jewish religious laws were ignorant of these principles of God’s kingdom. Therefore we must always look unto Jesus for direction if we want to make it back to the One who created us in His image. Our text says to look up unto Jesus because He is the author and finisher of our faith.

I encourage someone reading this devotional to look unto Jesus for salvation, for deliverance, for healing, for material prosperity and eternal life.

Prayer Point: Jesus Christ my Saviour, I look unto You today, perfect everything concerning my life.

Topic: Counting your blessing II [Saturday 30 January, 2016]

Memorise: A Psalm of David. Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight: – Psalms 144:1

Read: Psalms 103:1-5 (KJV)

1 A Psalm of David. Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.

2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:

3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;

4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;

5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.

Bible in One Year: Matthew 13:44-16:4; Job 13:1-16

MESSAGE:

Still dwelling on counting your blessings, we must consider some other things as highlighted by the great Psalmist so that we may understand what made him a great worshipper. There are many seen and unseen Hands of the Almighty God that have kept us alive. For life alone, we must bless the Lord. In our memory verse for today, the Psalmist blesses the Lord for teaching his hands to war and directing his fingers to fight aright. We must realize that not all fighters win in the battles of life, many are destroyed by the hostility of life. This might have influenced David to write:

“Bless the Lord o my soul… who redeemeth thy life from destruction...” - Psalms 103:4

Considering the numerous battles David fought, particularly against King Saul, one should know that but for God, David would have died a premature death. David lived to a very old age, though his beloved son overthrew him and sought his life; he survived his external and internal enemies.
To him, the kindness God showed to him was not ordinary, it was the loving type. Meaning that kindness has categories! How I wish someone reading this devotional will appreciate God’s kindness to him as intensely as David did.

David saw good food, its nourishment and appetite to eat it as blessings from the Lord in verse 5 of our text today. What a grateful creature of the Almighty God David was. There is a story told of a woman, iIesa-land in the South-west Nigeria, who was fond of thanking God for good food and the appetite to eat well. Anytime Mama Ijesa came up for testimony, she would tell of how God provided not only good food but also appetite to eat it.
Her Pastor became bored of the one and only testimony of this grateful woman and stopped her from giving testimonies in the Church. Not long after, the Pastor took ill, and on his sick bed, all sorts of food were brought to him but he had no appetite to eat any of them. When mama-Ijesa came visiting like other parishioners, she innocently asked whether her Pastor realized that having good food to eat is not enough, but having appetite to eat is equally praiseworthy.

Action Point: Take a minimum of 15 minutes to thank God for His goodness and Mercies over your life and that of your loved ones.

 CHRONICLES OF HOPE

Encouragement To Hold Onto God During Difficult Times

Do not be a terror to me; you are my refuge in the day of disaster. Jeremiah 17:17 NIV

The life of a believer is not always rosy. I’m quite sorry if you are new to the faith and that surprises or disappoints you. Sometimes the outside world assumes that because we claim to know God personally that we have somehow risen above the stresses of life.

That is far from the truth. No, the Christian life is filled with strife. At times life is glorious, and at those times we can easily see the hand of our God at work in our lives. Other times, however, life gets to be a bitter battle just to stay afloat. We drift along, sometimes barely holding on to the hand of our Creator.

But we do hold on…and, praise His name, even more than that, He holds on to us.
 He has never let one of His children go; not one of them has ever been forsaken. We hold on to the promises that His love never fails; that He will never let us be put to shame; that His strength is perfect when our strength is gone.

We trust; we lean; we grab tight as we walk through the valleys, longing and hoping for the day of victory; for another trip to the mountain top; in which we have full confidence will one day come.

We can stand tall through the painful toils, because our Redeemer lives and He is our refuge through every storm of life.

Have you been barely holding on lately? Remember, He has a firm grip on you…and His grip is much tighter than yours will ever be!

I'M IN A RELATIONSHIP: DON'T WASTE THE SUBSTANCE

Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you” – Matthew 7:6

The essential part of a man or woman is said to be the substance they possess. When it comes to life and relationship, each of us have one thing or the other that is very precious to us. But little did many know of these substance which they eventually abuse due to their ignorance. Just like the prodigal son, many singles, both male and female had wasted their lives on a relationship they ignorantly believe it would lead to marriage, only to wake up and realize their folly. Having spent much of their substance on a frivolous relationship, they end up in regret, wishing they had not done it. Check that relationship you’re presently into which you’re not sure of its fate, are you making the wise use of your life or you’re destroying it all for lust?

What constitutes the substance of your life?

1. Time
Time is irrevocable, once it’s wasted, it’s gone for life. The only time to correct your time in life is to make wise use of it now.

Thank God for internet-enabled phones, it has brought much harm than good to many singles. A lot of singles now chat into the wee hours of the night without achieving anything valuable to their life. Some spend time by surfing the web for irrelevant gossip site, while their lives slip off per seconds. On the other hand, some are investing (wasting) their time on a relationship that would lead no where only to realize later that it would have been much invested in something productive.

Don’t waste your time on a boyfriend and girlfriend relationship that won’t lead to anywhere. Conserve your time to develop yourself. Spend little time pursuing pleasure and more of it on the discovery and fulfillment of your purpose in life. Once you waste your time, it will never be regained. And if you try to do what you should have done in the past today, it becomes too late and irrelevant.

2. Money
God has entrusted riches to some people right from their youthful age but only few are wise enough to make the best use of it. That you’re fortunate to be blessed financially or you have a wealthy parent doesn’t mean you should squander your resources on a pleasure-driven relationship.

I'm In A Relationship: Don't Waste Your Substance. Why would you sponsor a lady or man to school with the hope of marrying them off when they graduate? Home videos should have teach some people lessons but they won’t learn. It would never work. A large percentage of such relationship usually end up in betrayal and heart break. It is good to be generous but it’s stupidity to make blind financial commitment to a relationship that’s going nowhere. Spend your money wisely and use it to invest in yourself: career, talent or purpose. You’ll reap the benefits someday than to cast your pearls to dogs that would end up destroying you.
Before you come up with a bitter tale about the gender that gave you a bad experience, spend wisely.

3. Body
A lot of singles believes that they own their bodies and can use it anyhow as they so wish. Little did they know that they are made of dust and would return there as they’d give an account of the works they did in their body. Hence in this regard, many, especially the ladies have abused themselves with the opposite sex due to their failure of knowing the purpose their bodies serve.

They offer their bodies as a ‘sacrifice’ for lust only to realize later when the relationship failed that it wasn’t worth it in the first place.

If you give your bodies as a means for sexual immoralities, expect that it’s nothing but a leftover of the multiple partners you’ve had. Your so-called boyfriend will not appreciate your body unlike how your husband would. So why waste the essential part of your life on frivolities?

Ask many ladies who were victims of failed relationship, they usually have one common tale, “I wished I had never given him my body”.

So before you’d end up becoming a victim in that relationship, don’t waste your time, monies and bodies on a relationship whose fate you don’t know. Quit all the trial and error relationship and conserve your time, energies to the right channel – serve God. You don’t have any regret for giving God your time, honor Him with your body and give Him the whole of your heart. But regrets ain’t far-fetched when you give your boyfriend or girlfriend. Trust me, it’s true!

Run a check on your relationship, are you wasting your substance? Think and make wise decision now that it’s not too late.

Topic: Counting your blessing I [Friday 29 January, 2016]

Memorise: Praise the LORD; for the LORD is good: sing praises unto his name; for it is pleasant. – Psalms 135:3

Read: Psalms 103:1-5 (KJV)

1 A Psalm of David. Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.

2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:

3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;

4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;

5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.

Bible in One Year: Matthew 12:9-13:43; Job 12:13-25

MESSAGE:

Ingratitude is dangerous, particularly when it is directed at God, the Almighty. There are many things we enjoy from God’s benevolence, but we take for granted. As we saw in the Bible reading for today, when David seemed to be forgetful of the goodness of the Lord, he decided to preach to his soul. He took his time to list the blessings of God upon his life so that his soul could be grateful for each of them.

The first thing he mentioned was the benefit of forgiveness he enjoyed from the Holy One of Israel. Modern day Christians do not appreciate the blessing of forgiveness like David did. We often take work of redemption for granted. Anyone who appreciates the agonizing death of Jesus Christ on the Cross for the sin of humanity wouldn’t want to indulge in sin any more. The apostle asked rhetorically:

“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?” - Romans 6:1

Only those who take the issue of sin lightly would say, “Let us sin the more, so that we may enjoy the grace the more”, and they shall not be guiltless according to the scriptures:

“26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, 27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.” - Hebrews 10:26-27

Another blessings David listed in his collection of God’s benefits is divine healing. The Psalmist blessed the Lord for healing, whereas, some of us who enjoy divine health have never said thank you to the Giver of good health. The Lord promised that He would not allow us to be plagued with the sickness and diseases that the Egyptians suffered and He made bold to say:

“And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee.” - Exodus 15:26

My prayer for someone using this devotional is that the Lord will grant you divine health which is far superior to healing in Jesus’ Name. However, we must not take God’s grace and blessings for granted. We must endeavour to show our appreciation by living for God alone and by glorifying Him in our bodies.

Action Point: Take some time to count the blessings of the Lord upon your life and give Him adequate gratitude in return.

Topic: Making your marriage work II [Thursday 28 January, 2016]

Memorise: And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? – Matthew 19:5

Read: Ephesians 5:21-25 (KJV)

21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.

23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.

24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

Bible in One Year: Matthew 9:27-12:8; Job 12:1-12

MESSAGE:

A marriage that has God in it is the best thing that can happen to any child of God. The Bible says:
“Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the Lord” - Proverbs 18:22

This Scripture unequivocally dismisses the wrong notion of marriage being a burden. For your marriage to work, our memory verse for today reveals the first obligation on the part of the man (the husband) towards his wife: you must strictly adhere to this twin-command – leaving your parents and cleaving to your wife. Some men never leave their parents, particularly their mother. They are “mummy’s boys” and after marriage they still ‘eat from their mother’s pot’ on regular basis. This habit destroys a marriage relationship fast.

Unconditional love is another obligation a husband must perform towards his wife. This kind of love will make the man give his entire being to his wife without expecting anything in return. The Bible says:

“Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it” - Ephesians 5:25
Some men, unfortunately, do not know what it means to be married. Marriage could be regarded as giving of one’s self to one’s spouse. Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, gave the real picture of marital obligation when he wrote:
“32 But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord: 33 But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife.” - 1 Corinthians 7:32-33

The truth in the above passage is that a man is under obligation to cater for his wife and to have an unreserved commitment to the joy and well-being of his wife. Some so-called Christians are so careless about their marriage that they neglect the divine mandates of caring for the family. As a result, the wife becomes disillusioned about the faith and the children vow never to follow their father to worship God. At the end of the day, the failure of the family eventually affects their Christian walk and ministry. Love must be experiential and substantial, men must show their love practically, and their spouses will not be in doubt as to whether or not they are loved.

Prayer Point: Father, please give me the ability to love my spouse unconditionally.

5 Clear Reasons Why Boys Want Sex

5 Clear Reasons Why Boys Want Sex. I have sometimes written about 6 Reasons Why Some Men/Ladies Wants Sex Before Marriage, but in this article, I’ll by His grace write explicitly on why ‘boys’ wants sex badly from ladies or girls without minding its consequence.

Recently, while scanning through a newspaper, my attention caught a reader’s comment on a column addressed to sexual purity for girls. The man, whom I can equally refer to as a boy spilled out harsh words on the writer. “Why would you tell ladies to act indifferently to guys on sexual related terms?” “How would men cope when they have a hard-on?” Do you know what a hard-on means?

Some calls it ‘Konji’, ‘Agro’ or hard-on as a formal term. They all describe a situation where a man has an uncontrollable urge to have sex. It’s either natural for some weird men or induced by taking aphrodisiacs. A boy is a boy even if he has a male figure, or he’s married, drives a posh car or earns big salary, but he’s controlled by his erection. Boys are controlled by their erection but men controls theirs.

Don’t think he loves you when he tries to lure you into having sex with him, he only wants your body.

Why do boys want sex?

1. Uncontrollable sexual urge
It is normal to have sexual urge but it becomes abnormal when you cannot control it. Real men has the ability to control their sexual urge but boys cannot.
Don’t serve as a damper for his sexual urge while he sees you as a sex object. If you give in to his sexual plea, you’ll live to face the consequence.
Sexual urge can be controlled. If he can’t change his thought, he’ll use and change you after extracting all the juicing in you.

2. When his wife refuses him sex
When some boys fortunately get married, they’ll look for naive ladies to be their mistress in case they have sexual quarrels with their wife.
5 Clear Reasons Why Boys Want Sex That he showers you with all the care and love doesn’t mean he’ll leave his wife. Don’t be an option in the life of man when you can equally be a jewel of inestimable value to another man. There are many married ‘boys’ who go out to look for young girls because of their wife’s refusal or low sexual drive. Don’t be a victim.

3. When his wife isn’t as good as his ex

Married boys aren’t responsible, being married doesn’t mean they’ll stop their sexual escapades. When they discover that their wives aren’t as good as their ex, they’ll look for young ladies who can be available and equal to the task. While they’re still attached to their wives, they’ll stick to ladies who can fill their urge for as long as she still satisfies their urge. Keeping a married boy as a partner is the beginning of your destruction in life.

4. When he wants to have a taste of your body
Any man, whosoever, that wants sex from you only wants to have a taste of your body. Naturally, men are attracted by sight and because of that, he only wants to ‘taste’ what appeals to him in your body.
A boy will come with a ‘good’ motive of being caring, loving, friendly and with a cloak of ‘Mr. Nice’ guy, however, his real motive is nothing but for sex. Sex isn’t love and it will never make a man committed to you. A man can love and be committed to you if he choose to without seeing your panties.

Don’t be deceived or believe what the society says about sex. Sex before or outside marriage is motivated by lustful desires. Don’t be the reality for a man’s carnal desire.

5. When he wants to dislodge his ‘tank’
Do you know that there’s a common saying that a man who’s not sexually active has more sperm reserved in his body? Medically, this is true by there’s a way that a man can discharge it without having premarital sex – nocturnal emission or through wet dreams was how God designed it for men.

hour glass Boys want sex because they feel they need to eliminate the excess sperm in their body. Don’t become his sexual ‘toilet’ where he visits whenever he needs to empty his sperm reservoir.

Having said much about this, would you still remain his sexual urge damper, a recipient of his semen or an option to his wife? Remember, God has a better life for you than what any boy, whether single or married can offer you. Turn it over to Him now before it’s too late! Give Him your life before you become used and dumped.

3 Things That Happens When A Guy Is In Lust With You

Who has woes? Whose life would end up being ruined? Who nurses depression, guilt and condemnation? Anyone who mistaken lust for love will definitely suffer these, especially the female folks!

I feel so sorry for lots of ladies who believe their so-called boyfriend is really in love with them. Many have been deceived to believe that they’re loved only to see the outcome of such love to have destroyed their life. Lust destroys your life but love is edifying. How I wish most ladies would know these before their stories will end up in ‘Had I known’.

It’s never difficult to know if a guy is truly in love with you but many do not know this. Are you so sure he’s in love with you? Here are the simple things he will do if he’s in lust with you.

1. He pretends to be in love
An adulterated form of love is lust which many people practice. A guy would pretend he loves you just to get what he wants from you.

What other good does an average man who is not genuinely born again, note that, wants in a lady? He will pretend he ‘loves’ you so that you can open up your heart to him. Once he warms his way into your heart, he can have access to your vagina and lure you into sex.

That he spends so much on you, gifts you, show so much care, gives you all the attention you needed doesn’t mean he ‘loves’ you, he’s up to something which you’re probably ignorant of.

Pretense is the game of guys to make a woman believe they’re in love. Once he gets what he wants, he would stop to pick your calls and even when he picks it, you’re nothing but a stranger to him. Don’t be blind, love isn’t blind but lust.

2. He wants your body
A guy that’s in lust with you wants your body. He might pretend to be in ‘love’ but as soon as you’re emotionally connected to him, hardly would he be able to get his hands off you. Prior to sexual intercourse, he wants to kiss you, fondle your breast, hold your waist or create an opportunity to ‘romance’ you if you give him that opportunity. Don’t be deceived!

There are many first kiss that some ladies had that opened up their lives to the pool of sexual immoralities. A guy that truly loves you will never touch you body until the appropriate time. He’s never old-fashioned but morally balanced to know what’s right or wrong.

He has blood running through his veins but he’s able to possess his body in honor and in the fear of God. Hardly would you find such men but the truth is that they exist.

But it’s a pity that lots of ladies wants guys that would make them feel like a woman when they’re not married. No one holds fire in their bosom and wouldn’t have their clothes burned.

3. He wants to have sex as soon as possible
A Yoruba adage or common saying states that, “Ere ki laja nba ekun se”, meaning that what kind of relationship will a Lion have with a dog. Isn’t it to devour it when he’s hungry? The same goes for every lady that’s having a boyfriend. I reserve no apology for saying that. All your boyfriend wants from you is nothing but S-E-X.

If you haven’t given him what he wants, you’ll be the sugar in is tea but once he get want he wants, you’ll become a pain in his ass.

Deny a guy sex, you’ll be everything to him. Give him as much as he wants, you’ll end up becoming a whore to him. When a guy hasn’t have access to your vagina, he’ll be after you but once he’s able to satisfy his sexual urge, you’ll be the one running after him.

Be careful ladies because some of you might still end up as victims. Guard your heart (emotion) with all diligence and don’t let a guy ‘lust’ his way into it. Many of them are in lust, only a tiny fraction are in love.

Topic: Walking with God I [Wednesday 20 January, 2016]

Memorise: And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him. – Genesis 5:24

Read: Deuteronomy 5:30-33 (KJV)

30 Go say to them, Get you into your tents again.

31 But as for thee, stand thou here by me, and I will speak unto thee all the commandments, and the statutes, and the judgments, which thou shalt teach them, that they may do them in the land which I give them to possess it.

32 Ye shall observe to do therefore as the LORD your God hath commanded you: ye shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.

33 Ye shall walk in all the ways which the LORD your God hath commanded you, that ye may live, and that it may be well with you, and that ye may prolong your days in the land which ye shall possess.

Bible in One Year: Deuteronomy 25:5-27:26; Job 7:7-21

MESSAGE:

Walking with God can be highly rewarding if we can pay the price. The price, however, is very easy if we are humble-hearted, after all Jesus said: “for my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

In our Bible reading of today, we are confronted with what it takes to walk with God. Walking with God takes complete obedience to His Word. Failure to do this brought calamity upon the human race in the Garden of Eden. The Bible says:

“16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: 17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” - Genesis 2:16-17

The First man and woman listened to the devil who deceived them by telling them that God’s word was a lie. He persuaded them to eat the forbidden fruit, and as a result, they bungled their walk with and God’s presence began to frighten them.

“And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.” - Genesis 3:6

This is exactly what is still happening today. People find it difficult to live by the words of the Holy Scriptures because they feel it is out-dated. Some theologians are already saying that the ideals of Christ in the gospels are no longer relevant or tenable in the 21st century! These only remind me of what God said concerning His word and concerning the latter days; Jesus said:

“18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. -” Matthew 5:18-19

Beloved, walking with God is a command that doesn’t just please God but also benefits us greatly. The Bible says: “…that ye may live and that it may be well with you, and that ye may prolong your days in the land which ye shall possess.” - Deuteronomy 5:33

Prayer Point: Father, please help me to walk with You in complete obedience to Your Word.

Topic: Qualified for commendation? [Tuesday 19 January, 2016]

Memorise: And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. – Revelation 22:12

Read: Matthew 25:19-21 (KJV)

19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.

20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.

21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

Bible in One Year: Deuteronomy 22:13-25:4; Job 6:24-7:6

MESSAGE:

Man is wonderfully and fearfully made. Created in the image of God, man is a “god” to other creatures. God Almighty created man for a divine purpose and for His pleasure. At the same time, He has earmarked a reward for every man who chooses to fulfill God’s purpose for his life. This is why in our memory verse today, we read about Jesus Christ saying He rewards men according to their works.

In our Bible reading today, the faithful servant who made good use of the talents given to him by his master received commendation. This story is no doubt talking about the commendation and rewards awaiting believers who faithfully serve the purpose and interest of the Lord. The question confronting us in today’s reading is “Are we qualified for commendation?” Jesus Christ said:

“Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.” - John 15:16

The Lord is encouraging someone reading this devotional today; He is taking note of your labour of love in the Church and to humanity. Though your pastor or superior may not commend you, the Almighty God will reward you handsomely if you will not be weary in well doing. Galatians 6:9 says:

“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”

The outspoken Peter asked the Lord what their reward would be seeing that they left everything to follow Him. Jesus answered by saying:

“29 And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's, 30 But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.” - Mark 10:29-30

Beloved, if you want to receive commendation from the Lord on the last day, first step is to give your life to Christ. Then, begin to work for Him, serve Him and His Church through soul winning and sacrificial giving. You will surely be commended. Remember He said, “I come quickly and my reward is with me…”

Action Point: Think of a way to use your God given talents to expand God’s kingdom on earth: be it through giving or aggressive soul winning.

Two Unavoidable Reasons Why You Will Encounter Problems In Your Love Life

Everyone needs to love and be loved. Love is just something that you can’t do without in life. If it’s not in relationship, it will be in other things you’re so passionate about.
But there’s a life that’s so common to everyone, it is their love life. A part of them that needs the opposite sex for a relationship. At this junction, many people get it wrong and come up with lots of terrible experiences about love.
Some would even end up with a generalized statement about the gender that does them bad. Is love wicked? Is love a pack of puzzle that cannot be solved?
I have clearly discovered that for these two reasons, you will encounter problems with the opposite sex in your love life.

1. Lack of understanding about love
It’s so bad to hear people describe love as ‘feelings‘, ’emotions’ or based on what they saw in the movies or see people do. Don’t get me wrong, emotions and feelings are needed for love but they’re not the overall essence of love. Love is not in kissing or in public display of affection. Love is not in sex or in sexual immoralities. Love is not all about attention or attraction. It is not even that butterfly feelings in your belly or sleepless night that you experience, love is more than these.

Two Unavoidable Reasons Why You Will Encounter Problems In Your Love Life When you have a poor understanding of love, you can’t escape the consequence of your shallow mentality about it. How can you excel in a project that sc you’re not adequately prepared for?

The real understanding of love can ONLY be found in the nature and personality of God. Believe you me, nobody can describe, define or express love to you if it lack divine touch.
God is love and love is God. God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son (John 3:16). That’s sacrifice! And that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life, that’s commitment.
Many people think love is about giving, hence they give what would ruin their life and destiny. How can you give your body to him for sex as a proof for love? That’s crazy! God didn’t give man what would affect Him. Giving him or her an opportunity to ruin your life isn’t love but stupidity of the highest order!

2. Expressing it with the wrong partner
That God loved the world doesn’t mean He committed Himself to all the people in the world. He’s only committed to those who believe in Him and these are the people that would not perish in life and hereafter.
When you express sincere love to the wrong person, you don’t need any prophet to tell you that your life will be doomed. Who’s a wrong person? A wrong person is someone who doesn’t share the same value as you do relating to sexual purity, integrity, honesty, contentment and so on.

2 Unavoidable Reasons Why You Will Encounter Problems In Your Love Life Only a wrong person will tell you to express love to him or her through premarital or extramarital sex. A wrong person will exert a negative influence on your destiny no matter how you ‘burn’ up yourself for love.

This is why many, especially ladies would say, “I gave him my body, money and life, yet he ruined it”. And the male folks would lament that she’s never the woman they thought they married. Problems will abound in your love life if you express love to the wrong person. Until you find the right partner, you can’t experience love the way you ought to. And mind you, you can’t find the right person through dating, cohabiting or through any means the world system pushes to you.

It takes God’s guidance to know the right person and it takes working to improve on yourself to become the right person. Check your love life, do you have the true understanding of what love is all about? Anyone that doesn’t love God cannot love you better. It doesn’t matter if he goes to church, pastor in a church or becomes actively involved in a religious setting, he will abuse what love is.

A person that doesn’t know how acid look like will mistaken it for another thing. You must know what love is so that you can tell when lust is expressed to you. Moreover, to have a deep understanding of love, meditate on 1 Corinthians 13:1-8. Importantly, have God’s nature in you so that you can love like God. Do you want your love life to be hassle free? Know the truth about love, for it shall set you free from bondage and problems many encounter in their relationship and strive to love the right partner.

Topic: Being with Jesus [Wednesday 13 January, 2016]

Memorise: Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. – Matthew 11:29

Read: Acts 4:13-14 (KJV)

13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.

14 And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.

Bible in One Year: Deuteronomy 7:1-9:12; Job 3:3-19

MESSAGE:

It is one thing to answer the call of Jesus Christ, and it is another thing to stay put with Him after we answer the call. There are casual followers of Jesus Christ and there are die-hard followers as well. The casual followers of Jesus Christ have their reasons for casually following Him. One of it may be because they cannot live by the ideals that Jesus teaches in His gospel. Being with Jesus means living by His teachings, He once lamented:

"And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” - Luke 6:46

Many call Jesus “Lord” with their mouth but indeed, they do not regard Him as the Lord of their lives. This is why, for the avoidance of doubt, Jesus said:

“31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” - John 8:31-32

Two things are clear from our Bible reading for today; the first is, if you have been with Jesus indeed, boldness will be your trademark. The Bible says:

“For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.” - Romans 8:15

When a so-called child of God is living in fear, we must check out whether indeed he has been with Jesus. Secondly; someone who has been with Jesus lives a daily miraculous life, this is another trademark of genuine followers of Jesus Christ. The Bible says:

“And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.” - Acts 4:14

I have taught my children in the School of Disciples that we can do more than Jesus did according to His promise. When we believe this, we stop being caricatures of His Ambassadors on earth. Then, we shall bring the whole world to their knees, when we confidently tell them that Jesus is Lord. We are indeed the light and salt of the world if we chose to be with Jesus, living according to His ideals. Two great blessings of being with Jesus are: we shall learn of Him and when we learn of Him, we shall find rest for our souls. Come to Jesus today and decide to stay put. Don’t be a casual or temporary follower of Jesus Christ.

Action Point: Make up your mind to live the rest of your life for and with Jesus today and you will be a blessed person.

We have no other God but him alone, we have rest of mind for doing what no man can do in our life. its certain that whatever he says HE will do , will He do.

I may not know what you are going through this morning, may be sorrow is flowing like a river in your life. "who can stand against us if God be for us'. Believe Him with all your heart, and that situation will turn around for Good.

simply praying for you, that the flowing river of sorrow will turn to an endless river of joy and happiness in jesus name.

IS ANY THING TOO HARD FOR GOD TO DO?

Your Body: God’s Temple or the Temple of Idols?

COPIED

your body“Mehn, see that babe. See the way she take set. She package everything wella”. “Any guy that sees me would find me irresistible to sight. I’ll use what I have to get what I want”. “Guy, I no send anybody, na me get my body. I go do anything I like on top am. Mind your business o!” The human body is a container housing his soul and spirit. Some people are tall, short, fat or slim. What matters to man doesn’t matter to God. The sizes, color and shapes of the body differs but what matter most is the condition of the spirit and soul both here and hereafter.

Do you know that your body doesn’t belong to you? God created it and your works in the body would determine the kind of judgment you’ll receive. He wants you to glorify Him in your body rather than making your body the temple of idols. However, your body becomes the temple of idol when you use it for the following.

1. Sex object
Some people use their bodies to get what they want and they’re really facing it real hard while some would still face it in future.
When you prove love on a platform of sex, then you’re a sex object. Allowing someone who’s not your spouse to fondle, caress and do all sort of sexual plays with your body is an indication that you’re a sex object. Sex isn’t love. Fornication is a sin against your own body apart from the fact that God hates it. Your spirit becomes vulnerable to demonic attacks when you allow your body to be used as a temple of idol. That you’ll be married is not a legal tender to commit immoralities.

2. Cosmetics
Taking care of the body is good but it becomes worse when it’s overly excessive. Why should you enhance the beauty that God has created? Many ladies had turn themselves to ‘walking idols’ all in the name of make up. The word ‘cosmetic’ is a Greek word ‘kosmos’ meaning “Of this world, worldy”. It has its root traceable to Egyptian culture and it’s evident in the use of eye makeup and aromatic ointments found in their tomb.

cosmeticsIt amazes me to see Christians too who are meant to be heaven-bound to be using cosmetics. If you know where you’re going as a believer, caring excessively for your body will not be your paramount aim because your body will return back to dust. Why should you become obsessed with the use of cosmetics and lose your eternal bliss?

Make up is telling God He didn’t create you well and that you’re not beautifully and wonderfully made. The use of artificial eye brow, eye lash, eye liners and other make up items is trying to recreate yourself because you’re not pleased with the way God created you.

Adorning your bodies with all these artificial items doesn’t make you look anyhow better before God when your spirit and soul is full of evil. Apostle Peter said your adornment should be of a meek and quiet spirit, not the outward.

3. Worldly dressing
Everything man does has its origin and culture. The world has its own traditions while I’m fully sure that there’s a culture too in Heaven.

cleavage Just as there’s a god in charge of wealth, Mammon, there’s also a god in charge of worldly dressing. Semiramis is known as the mother of all harlots. She used makeup, as well as suggestive whorish clothing, for various religious and sexual rituals. Many who adopted nude dressing or tight-fitting clothes took semblance with her pattern of dressing.
Should you dress to please self, men or God? Consider the one who created you and the fate of your life after your demise.

4. Hair extensions
In a bid to beautify, lengthen and improve the color of the hair, several synthetic or fiber products have been introduced to enhance the look of the hair.
Lots of females and males had distorted their natural hair in other to look ‘good’ to the world. Several patterns, styles and colors has been used to make the hair look better than how He created it. Many even go the length of spending their fortune on hair extensions. Would any of these make you better than how God made you?

5. Alteration of the skin
Looking good has drove many people into the bleaching of their skin, body tattooing, piercing and mutilation. body tattooChemicals has been introduced to change the tone and complexion of the skin. Apart from the effect which these chemicals has, the skin ages faster and in old age, the skin looks poor.

Why should you spend so much on your body to look so good when your spirit and soul will become miserable in eternity? Don’t spend your fortune on your body that will return to dust and you in turn become unfortunate in the life hereafter.

God cannot reside in your body when at the same time it’s a temple of idols. You cannot be a genuine child of God and your body will be a temple of idols.
When you make your body the temple of idols, automatically the gods in charge of what you idolize would dominate your spirit and soul. For instance, making it a temple of sexual immoralities would invite the demons in charge. You’re not a shrine, why should you adorn yourself with superficial items when you have a natural beauty?

Your body becomes God’s temple when you live to please God, not self, men or the world and a temple for idols when you adapt your body to the culture of the world. Do not yield your body members as an instrument of unrighteousness to sin and the lust of the world.

Remember, you will give account of what you did with your body.

Topic – Genuine praise and worship: A path to prosperity [Tuesday 12 January, 2016]

Memorise: The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it. – Proverbs 10:22

Read: 2 Chronicles 20:24-26 (KJV)

24 And when Judah came toward the watch tower in the wilderness, they looked unto the multitude, and, behold, they were dead bodies fallen to the earth, and none escaped.

25 And when Jehoshaphat and his people came to take away the spoil of them, they found among them in abundance both riches with the dead bodies, and precious jewels, which they stripped off for themselves, more than they could carry away: and they were three days in gathering of the spoil, it was so much.

26 And on the fourth day they assembled themselves in the valley of Berachah; for there they blessed the LORD: therefore the name of the same place was called, The valley of Berachah, unto this day.

Bible in One Year: Deuteronomy 4:32-6:25; Job 2:7-3:2

MESSAGE:

Yesterday, we considered genuine praise and worship as a path to victory, today we want to consider prosperity; the genuine praise and worship.

“And when Jehoshaphat and his people came to take away the spoil of them, they found among them in abundance both riches with the dead bodies, and precious jewels, which they stripped off for themselves, more than they could carry away: and they were three days in gathering of the spoil, it was so much.” - 2 Chronicles 20:25

When God tells you that He would prosper you, don’t insult Him by asking “how?” This is because while you do not have one way that can lead you to your prosperity, God has uncountable ways. All you need is to believe and obey Him (John 11:40). Is it not amazing, if not unusual, for the soldiers in our bible reading to go to battle with precious jewels and costly outfits as if they were going for wedding ceremonies?
The reason for this was that God had determined to bless His people, because He knew from onset that His people would praise and bless the beauty of His holiness, so He prepared their compensation beforehand! Another lesson we must learn from this story is that our praise and worship must be Holy Spirit inspired; it must not be offered from our carnal man. The way we sometimes sing God’s praise confirms that these songs are carnally motivated: not seasoned with grace. It would have been acceptable if we were singing it to praise men like secular musicians do. Unfortunately, the One we claim to be praising is a spirit; He knows everything.

“23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” - John 4:23-24

Moreover, the Almighty demands our praise and worship of Him. He is also prepared to bless our obedience to this divine mandate. In other words, if we deny Him the praise that He is worthy of, He will also deny us the prosperity that we can so easily get. I once visited a relation with the aim of blessing him with a certain amount of money, but changed my mind because he failed to give me a modest hospitality according to our custom. When I left his house, I used about 5% of the money I should have given him to buy the soft drink he should have entertained me with. He lost 100% because he did not host me with 5%. Let us cultivate the habit of giving God abundant praise and worship and He will bless us with abundant prosperity.

Action Point: Throughout today, worship God in truth, in spirit and in holiness as you go about your daily business.

VIRGINS WITHOUT VIRTUES

by Mayowa Adeniyi

virgins without virtues aSexual purity has always been a treasure in the time of our parents when civilization hasn’t upturn the morals values that were instilled in the children that were raised.
It was a thing of pride, a culture that was celebrated and rewarded for everyone, especially females who still retain this virtue until their wedding night.

As good as being sexually pure is, it is a thing which God strongly approves because He wanted everyone to be able to possess his or her vessel (body) in honor because we are His temple and it must not be defiled.
Virginity is what is required from all gender, though much is said of the female folks. But there’s nothing wrong with a man becoming one. Although this is not usually enforced or tend to be required from the male folks in our modern world. Yet, it is not an excuse to living a promiscuous life.

However, in recent times, lots of the female folks have placed much premium on virginity whereas they neglected the main thing that is required – virtues. Some are virgins with a beautiful face but with an ugly character. Of what good is virginity in a marriage when there’s no godly values and virtues to complement it? Of what good is it to treasure virginity when the virtue that is required to become a good wife isn’t available?

Don’t get me wrong, virginity is very good and highly important for yourself, it saves you from the consequence of a sexually loose life and prevents you from the agony which most exposed couples would face in marriage. But you need other qualities to complement this sacred virtue – virginity.

virfins without virtues bDo you have virtues in you that would make you indispensable such as being prudent, temperance, love, hope, courage and justice amongst others? Or a character that makes for an enviable and virtuous wife? Anyone can be a virgin but only few have virtues that would make them indispensable. Virginity doesn’t build your marriage, it’s only a token of trust and it enhances oneness in marriage.

Strive to make your life indispensable by working on your character. How prudent are you concerning the matters of life? Do you have what it takes to utilize your discretion as a single lady or man regarding the issues of life?

Wisdom is the principal thing and it’s one important thing you’ve got to possess. Wisdom is simply knowing what to do, when to do, how to do, where to do and doing it rightly. It takes wisdom to build and sustain a successful marriage.

When it comes to temperance, how temperate are you in character? There are many people who are sexually pure but are badly tempered. Hostility and aggressiveness best describes their lifestyle while patience is faraway from them.

Forbearance is highly needed in any relationship. You cannot claim to love if you lack the ability to tolerate one another. Your partner cannot be like you or think like you. It takes time for oneness and mutual understanding to materialize.

Is temperance lacking in your character? Cultivate it!

The ability to love is a rare treasure most people lack in life. Do not forget that love isn’t just about feelings, it is about being able to make good sacrifices for the betterment of your spouse. Are you loving and loveable? Be a virgin with a virtue. Imbibe good qualities that would make you indispensable now that you’re still single. Maximize your life to the fullest by building good qualities such as the ones that were aforementioned. Build godly virtues that would make you a blessing to whomsoever marries you and not a curse.

Being a virgin is applicable to both gender. It’s not only the responsibility of the woman. Let each one imbibe godly values and virtues that is lacking in their lives now before marriage the time of marriage. There’s nothing as detrimental to a marriage when you esteem your sexual purity as the hallmark of worth which you possess while other areas of your life are deficient.

Are you a virgin with a virtue?

Topic – Genuine praise and worship: A path to victory [Monday 11 January, 2016]

Memorise: And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten. – 2 Chronicles 20:22

Read: 2 Chronicles 20:21-23 (KJV)

21 And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the LORD, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the LORD; for his mercy endureth for ever.

22 And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten.

23 For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of mount Seir, utterly to slay and destroy them: and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, every one helped to destroy another.

Bible in One Year: Deuteronomy 2:26-4:31; Job 1:20-2:6

MESSAGE:

The issue of praise and worship cannot be overemphasized. As a matter of fact, the primary reason God created man was that man should praise and worship Him.

“10 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” - Revelations 4 : 10 - 11.

Despite the fact that we are created for the purpose of praising and worshipping God, the Lord still provides great benefits for us as we go about doing what we must do to fulfill the purpose of our creation. One of these benefits is the victory that God gives to us when we sing His praises, as is recorded in our Bible reading for today. When Judah began to sing the praise of God, the Lord arose and fought on their behalf.
We have read this passage so often that we seem to have lost both its significance and implication. Ordinarily, the people of Judah would have found it difficult to do what their king asked them to do considering the impending doom of war. How many of us can sing the praises of God in the presence of danger or attack? At such times, instead of singing the praises of God we begin to query God, as if our righteousness is good enough to make us immune to the attacks of both spiritual and physical enemies. It is easier read than practiced, but only its practice can bring us blessings, not our reading about it.

Another thing we must learn in today’s reading is that the Bible says, ”he appointed singers unto the Lord, and that should praise the beauty of holiness…” It is not all praise and worship that is genuine and acceptable unto the Lord; some are unto the flesh. I have often told my children in the faith that they should be mindful of the type of songs they sing in the name of praise or worship. Some of these songs are from the pit of hell, coated in Christian lyrics.
Any song, dance, drama or general work of art that promotes promiscuity is abominable in the sight of God and will do the opposite of genuine songs of praise and worship. Our songs should come from a pure heart; its presentation should also be void of pride and ulterior motive. It is unfortunate that some so-called songs of praise and worship are the importation of songs from idol worship. They are melodious, so we embrace them without knowing the implication.

From today, let us allow the Holy Spirit to give us songs that the Trinity will appreciate, and let us sing to the beauty of God’s holiness for irreversible victory over our adversaries.

Action Point: Pray that the Holy Spirit should give you angelic songs from God’s throne so that when you sing here on earth, they will join you to sing “holy, holy, holy” unto the captain of life.

4 Highly Important Things You Need To Know About A Right Partner

by Mayowa Adeniyi

what you need to know about a right partner “Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is right for him” – (Genesis 2:18, GW)
Whether you believe or not, care to listen or not, when it comes to choosing a partner, there’s the right partner and there’s the wrong partner.

When the first man was made, God took it upon Himself to make him a suitable help meet or someone who is right for him. God didn’t find a suitable help meet in the likes of Gorillas, Chimpanzees, Baboons who have semblance with man according to archaeological beliefs. There was no helper in all the animals that were available until God made a right partner for Adam. As much as you’re unique and an incomplete being without a partner, you need some to rightly fit into your missing rib as a man and to fit a man’s missing rib as a woman. This is where the issue of better half comes into play.

A right partner is someone who is suitable for your life, purpose and destiny both now and in the future. He or she is made to complement the missing part of you and not to compete with you. He or she is made to be a companion and not a thorn in your flesh. As populated as the world is, you can only have a right partner for your life and not two, except in the case of death when you have to look for another.

On this issue of right partner, many have completely missed it and ruin their lives. You cannot and can never know the right partner yourself, no matter how educated, exposed and experienced you are. If it were to be possible, man wouldn’t have been in need of God in his affairs in life.
Let me share some essential truths you need to know about a right partner.

1. There’s always a right partner for everyone
Since Adam couldn’t find a helper in a Chimpanzee or a Goat, there’s also a wrong partner for you even amongst your fellow human. There’s a right partner for you whom God has destined to complement your life. God has specifically made that person to complete the missing part in you.

When you pick just anyone else for your life, be sure to get whom you feel right for you and not God’s right partner for you. For instance, a career freak isn’t suitable for a man who’s called to be a prophet. They are two unsuitable being. And that he or she seem right for you doesn’t make them God’s will.
That He permitted the relationship doesn’t mean that’s His perfect will.

2. You have no power to know the right partner
Man usually do claim the ability to know what he feels right for him since he has a functional brain and understanding. But little did he know that when it comes to choosing a partner, he doesn’t have the power to know the right person.
A person who you feel is right for you today without God’s approval or guidance will be unsuitable for you in the future.
A person can be right for you today and be unfit tomorrow because you are a work in progress. This is not the final version of you. Your life, desire, body, pursuit or entire being are susceptible to change.

If you don’t wait on Him to guide you into marrying someone He has made suitable for your future, you will have irreconcilable issues in the future when there are changes.

And the likes of dating, cohabiting, catching them young or employing worldly gimmicks in choosing a partner to marry cannot guarantee you a perfect means of finding the right person.
Only God who knows the end from the beginning has the capacity to guide you into knowing who’s right or wrong for you. This is why He’s the Almighty and the All knowing!

3. It’s best to make yourself a right partner while waiting
Many a single usually feel it is the right partner that would define their life and marriage while they fold their hands doing nothing. Never!

Instead of wasting away your life and time while waiting, do all you can in your ability to be the right partner. Work on yourself – emotionally, spiritually, financially, mentally, health wise and other areas that could affect your relationship.

You cannot get the right partner by becoming a wrong partner. Likes would only attract likes. And if by chance you marry the right partner, the unsuitable aspect of your life would mar the other person’s life which would in turn destroy the relationship.

4. Not everyone that comes your way is or likely to be the right person for you
I need to let you know this! Not everyone that you seem to get along easily with is suitable for your life. This is one reason why you shouldn’t lean on your own understanding when it comes to choosing whom to marry.
That he cares for you, he’s concerned about your needs, gifts you, gives you attention or lavish you with affection doesn’t make him the right partner. Even if she has all you wanted in a wife doesn’t make her your suitable help meet because you do not know what the future holds.

That they seem to have everything you love or had wanted in a spouse doesn’t make them right for you if God has not spoken. This is why relying on the issue of compatibility preferences alone doesn’t work if God didn’t guide you.
You can be compatible today and be incompatible tomorrow. Are you planning to get married this year or latter years. Quit the quest for a right partner and allow God to guide you while you make yourself the right partner. It is dangerous to find the right partner yourself without God’s leading!

Topic: The secret of divine blessings [Saturday 9 January, 2016]

Memorise: I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. - John 15:5

Read: Deuteronomy 7:12-18 (KJV)

12 Wherefore it shall come to pass, if ye hearken to these judgments, and keep, and do them, that the LORD thy God shall keep unto thee the covenant and the mercy which he sware unto thy fathers:

13 And he will love thee, and bless thee, and multiply thee: he will also bless the fruit of thy womb, and the fruit of thy land, thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep, in the land which he sware unto thy fathers to give thee.

14 Thou shalt be blessed above all people: there shall not be male or female barren among you, or among your cattle.

15 And the LORD will take away from thee all sickness, and will put none of the evil diseases of Egypt, which thou knowest, upon thee; but will lay them upon all them that hate thee.

16 And thou shalt consume all the people which the LORD thy God shall deliver thee; thine eye shall have no pity upon them: neither shalt thou serve their gods; for that will be a snare unto thee.

17 If thou shalt say in thine heart, These nations are more than I; how can I dispossess them?

18 Thou shalt not be afraid of them: but shalt well remember what the LORD thy God did unto Pharaoh, and unto all Egypt;

Bible in One Year: Numbers 34-36; Job 1:6-12

MESSAGE:

When God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness", little could an uninformed person know that this goes with a lot of responsibilities. For instance, by this divine decision, man is made responsible for his actions and inactions because he is a god. This is the reason why man, consciously or unconsciously takes his life in his hands and works out his own well-being, even to a fault, and Jesus Christ warned us against this extremism.

“31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." -Mathew 6:31-33

The Scripture above reveals the secret of divine blessings. Although man is a responsible carrier of God's image, however, he is dependent on the God who image he is carrying. At the creation of man, when man lived in accordance with Gods Instruction, he lived in all-round abundance, because God bestowed His blessings upon him and his wife. With little effort, man got great harvests. Therefore, man must live according to the dictates of God to enjoy divine blessings. Jesus Christ, the incarnate of the Almighty God pointed this out in our memory verse today.

For us to be divinely blessed, we just make Jesus Christ our Lord; we must be born again; that is, we must admit what scripture says in Romans 3:23:" For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" and quickly do something about it. What we must do is to repent according to the admonition of Peter:

"Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord". - Acts 3:19

It is high time all men, particularly the children of God, understood the secret of divine blessing; that is, abiding in the son of living God, the True Vine. Let us stop be anxious of what we want to become. The Bible says:

"For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich." - 2 Corinthians 8:9

With His benevolent act which was climaxed at the cross, we are abundantly blessed without any addition of sorrow (Proverbs 10:22).

Prayer Point: Father, please open my eyes to see the secret of divine blessings and let me align myself with it.

MARRIED IN SCHOOL, SINGLE AT HOME

Thinking about this topic, I’ve been wondering who the focus of this post should be – girls or guys or both.

In almost every tertiary institution in Nigeria,you find ‘undergraduate couples’ living as husbands and wives.
You find a lot of these misguided people in virtually all schools. It’s so bad that, often times,they are duly recognised and acknowledged as couples by lodge neighbours, classmates and even leaders of various students associations.
Little wonder there is such an award as “The best couple of the year award” shamelessly and thoughtlessly received by students..Like I said earlier, I really don’t know the particular gender to address but let me just keep typing.
The rate at which girls live with their boyfriends in their various off campus hostels is painfully alarming. Most times, these young girls are very beautiful, with bright and promising future.They cohabit with boys who are their fellow students as roommates.

The lugubrious part of it is that the silly girl would always introduce the small boy as her fiancé..Our society is really sick courtesy of those that live in it. These girls collect either hostel fees or house rents from unsuspecting (and sometimes, struggling)parents and end up in the house of a boy. You struggled possibly for several years to gain admission. Then you suddenly became a prayer warrior posting and shouting ‘Amen’ at the slighted provocation. You fasted.
You had one prayer point filled with promises of your loyalty and devotion to God if only He would answer your prayer. Now that He has fulfilled His part by answering and granting you admission, don’t you think He is expecting you to fulfill your own part, to keep whatever promises you made to Him??. Many of you just got admission and once you settle down (especially from your second year), crazy thoughts will begin to creep into your minds.
Yes by then, the heat of the rush would have been over; If God didn’t capture you (possibly through the various campus fellowships), boys would have caught you. In my school we even have an unrecognized, unregistered but well offered course . For d guys its a course that shouldn't be carried over.

Soon, they would persuade you to move in with them. Of course, they’d give you one thousand reasons to make you give in to their prodding..Before you agree to move in and live with a boy on campus, consider the reason why you are in school in the first place. What image would you be creating about yourself? Can this boy marry you in case you get pregnant for him as is always the case, or will you resort to series of abortions like many other girls before you?

What advice will you give your children in future concerning this kind of things? After school, what next? Will the relationship really lead you anywhere?.

This post is finally addressing the female folks. I didn’t plan it that way. Maybe it’s because they are the worst hit by the grave consequences of illicit sexual relationships. They are the ones that turn out to be the sore losers in the end. They call it school life but they don’t realize how idiotic they have been till it’s too late. You are not in school to get married.
Part of the reasons why you are in school IS NOT to get the husband-and-wife experience, to see what it feels like for the boy to provide the money for food and for the girl to go to the market for food stuffs and cook. That’s pure misplacement of purpose!

One guy told me that he was practically learning how tobe a caring and romantic husband. Such shameless! Then you hear the girl say, “We are not doing anything, we are just roommates”. Yet she commits countless abortions before graduation..Yes, your admission has given you unlimited freedom.
Yes, your parents are not there to tell you what to do or what not to do. There is even no blood relation around, so there's no fear of someone reporting you. But what about giving your womanhood respect and protecting your dignity?

What about living in such a way as to have a positive story to tell the next generation (including your children) without your conscience pricking you?

What Goes Around Will Definately Come Around....

Y not exercise a moment o

Topic: Dress it and keep it [Friday 8 January, 2016]

Memorise: And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. - Genesis 2:15

Read: Deuteronomy 18:9-13 (KJV)

9 When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations.

10 There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch,

11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.

12 For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.

13 Thou shalt be perfect with the LORD thy God.

Bible in One Year: Numbers 23-33; Job 1:1-5

MESSAGE:

The Almighty God is the most efficient conservationist. With Him, there is no wastage or corruption unlike many so-called children of God. Right from Genesis, we read about how God commanded Adam to make sure the beautiful garden did not suffer decay or any pollution. There are many ways in which one can preserve or pollute a God-given gift. The 'land' can be polluted by sin of all sorts particularly idolatry and/or witchcraft. In the text of today, we are confronted with the seriousness God attaches to the preservation of His creation.

"When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanger, or a witch," - Deuteronomy 18:9-10

According to Exodus 20:3, idolatry is the most grievous sin against God. Adam automatically chose another god for himself when he decided to obey the devil rather than God. This is what many people don't know; they think until they put an image on the ground and they begin to bow to it, they have not committed idolatry. It is obvious that there are idolaters in the church; they always attend Church programmes but they never do what God want them to do. The Bible says:

"And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness." - Ezekiel 33:31

By disobeying the Word of God, people pollute the land and being eternal curses upon themselves and generations after them. This was exactly what the first man did and God cursed the land for his sake (Genesis 3:17). To keep the land which the Lord has given us to inhabit, we must obey Him and live according to His Word. When we do this, our land will be free from evil and it will yield great increase for our pleasure (Deuteronomy 28). I encourage you reading this devotional to give your life to Jesus Christ today and begin to live according to His Word from now on. The seemingly barren or polluted land upon which you are living will turn out to be fruitful and blessed.

Action Point: Think about how you have lived your life in the past; see if you have polluted the land in anyway, repent and call on God for forgiveness so that God's time of refreshing will come upon your life.

Topic: Day Two Miracle [Saturday 2 January, 2016]

Memorise: And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters. - Genesis 1:6

Read: Genesis 1:6-8 (KJV)

6 And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.

7 And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so.

8 And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day.

Bible in One Year: Numbers 18:1-20:9; Psalms 145:1-13

MESSAGE:

The Word of God has creative power. According to our Bible reading for today, the power in the Word of God created space where there was none. It seemed like there was no space for further creation and the Almighty God wanted to create what now constitutes the present day universe. So the Word created the space (firmament) between the water and dry land for further creation. The Bible says:

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made." - John 1:1-3

There are lots of lessons we could learn from this creation story: The Word of God, when allowed to do His work, will always make a way where there is no way and a space where there seemed to be no space. When the Israelites got to the Red Sea and it seemed like they were stuck between the host of Pharaoh and the Sea, the Lord, through Moses, told them to move on. It takes faith in God to obey such a command, and thank God they did and their obedience paid off, because the Word made an expressway for them to pass through:

"And the LORD said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward: But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea." - Exodus 14:15-16

Another lesson to be learnt here is; people of God should always talk to God about their challenges. Moses did this effectively and God spoke at every given time, he became a problem solver because he had from God always. Also when God speaks, a miracle is potentially performed, but its ultimate manifestation is dependent on human agents. We short change ourselves of miracles when we fail to heed the Word of God.
We should not forget our positions in the Created Order i.e. Image or God. It was Moses who divided the Sea not God, though under the influence of God's Word. The Word empowered the process by decree, "and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea." Settled! My prayer for you is that, as you obey the Word of God this year, you will begin to do the impossible in Jesus' name.

Action Point: Examine your life and see if there are ways in which you have not been taking heed to God's Word.

if there is any reason to be thankful for the new year, its because we have just moved a step closer to eventually meeting of jesus christ. make this new year a year to know God the more. draw closer to him, and leave a santified

Topic: Day One Miracle [Friday 1 January, 2016]

Memorise: And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. - Genesis 1:3

Read: Genesis 1:1-5 (KJV)

1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.

4 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.

5 And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.

Bible in One Year: Psalms 144; Numbers 16-17

MESSAGE:

We read in the Book of Genesis that God created the heaven and the earth in six days. Going by the account of the book of Genesis, we can assuredly say that the miracle of the universe was performed in six days! I pray for someone using this devotional; by the time you go through the first six days of this year, listening to God through this devotional, the everlasting miracles you need for the rest of your life shall be yours in Jesus’ name.

The first challenge that confronted the universe was darkness, and this was the first thing God dealt with. When an individual gropes in darkness, he is likely to fall into a ditch and thereby end his life. In other words, darkness is potentially harmful. This is why there must be light; and there will be light in your life today in Jesus’ name. God said in Genesis 1:3:
“Let there be light: and there was light”

One lesson we must learn here is that it was when God spoke His Word that the miracle of light occurred. Many people do not know what they lose when they refuse to allow the Word of God to penetrate their lives. Those outside the Church do not allow the Christian witnesses and evangelist going around their neighbourhood to preach them with the Word of God that will liberate them from darkness. Even, ‘modern day Christians’ close up their hearts to the Word of God. This is the reason why many have been in the Church for years and their lives have remained the same. They came sick and they have remained sick; they came poor and they have remained poor; they came bound and they have remained bound. What a waste of opportunity. My prayer for someone using this devotional is that the Word of God will penetrate your life forcefully today, and you will have the miracle of the light of the Living God.

When there is darkness, there will be no activity. God knows this, and that’s why He first tackled the problem of darkness which the devil brought upon the earth when he was cast down.

“Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhibiters of the earth and of the sea! For the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.” - Revelations 12:12

When there is darkness, stagnation is inevitable. Also, we should take note of this phrase in the above scripture; “because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.” It simply reveals that the devil works round-the-clock to get his victims before they discover the light of God in Christ. So, if you are reading this devotional and you have not come into the light of God in Jesus Christ, today is your day of salvation; now is the acceptable time (2 Corinthians 6:2). I decree the miracle of the first day into your life in Jesus’ name.

Prayer Point: Father, send Your Light into darkness of my life today in Jesus’ name.