YOU HAVE ENOUGH TO START

Spirit & Life Devotional
Friday, February 28
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

YOU HAVE ENOUGH TO START

II Kings 4:2 NKJV "So Elisha said to her, “What shall I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?” And she said, “Your maidservant has nothing in the house but a jar of oil.”

I have come across a number of people eager to start up businesses, most times due to the need to survive. And they have big budgets; going around looking for sponsors, finding none. So they get frustrated and angry, and then they give up. I hope I can minister to such people today.

What people lack is not really capital; what people lack is understanding of getting things done. And sometimes they are too proud to start small, and lazy to start from the bottom. Apple Inc. is valued at over $500bn today, but do you know that it was started without a dime? It was started in a garage, and all they had was an idea! They sold their idea, got an order, got materials on credit, did the job, and as they say, the rest is history!

Listen to me: nobody owes you anything! But if you have understanding, you will eventually get everything you have ever wanted in life. Look around you; people are selling water! You don't need a million to start that. The Igwe twins started with the little money they got from their father's burial! If it's only one item you can start with, start! You have a jar of oil somewhere in your house or in your head; it's enough to start your journey to prosperity and success!

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COMPASSIONATE JESUS

Spirit & Life Devotional
Thursday, February 27
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

COMPASSIONATE JESUS

Luke 7:12-15 NKJV "And when He came near the gate of the city, behold, a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother; and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the city was with her. When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.”  Then He came and touched the open coffin, and those who carried him stood still. And He said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.”  So he who was dead sat up and began to speak. And He presented him to his mother."

I know of no one as compassionate as the Master. We all need to be as compassionate as He is. There'll be miracles every day on the streets if everyone of us is; we won't have to wait to invite people for programmes before they can be healed if we become as compassionate as Jesus.

Words cannot adequately describe the sadness and pain of the woman in the story above; she had lost her husband earlier, and then her only son, her only other source of joy, hope and consolation also died. Her heart must have ached terribly, it must have seemed like the end of the world for her. Until Jesus showed up!

I have a revelation of Jesus as a Restorer! He didn't not need an invitation from the woman to restore the life of her son; her pain and her tears were sufficient to get His attention! Maybe your heart is filled with sorrow right now; maybe you feel pain where you are; I assure you that Jesus is with you now! Receive your miracle in the name of Jesus!

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MAKING ETERNAL INVESTMENTS

Spirit & Life Devotional
Wednesday, February 26
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

MAKING ETERNAL INVESTMENTS

I Kings 7:1 NKJV "But Solomon took thirteen years to build his own house; so he finished all his house."

King Solomon built a house for 13 years! Note that King Solomon was a very wealthy man; so the construction didn't last for that long because of insufficient funds. Now imagine how amazing King Solomon's house was! He also built the temple for seven years! Wow!

But where are those buildings today? Have you ever wondered? They are no more! The investments, everything, gone! They only lasted for a while and then they were destroyed. Brothers and sisters, Solomon's buildings are examples of how temporal every thing on earth is: nothing you see is permanent; they will all pass away.

Therefore, make eternal investments! Set your affection on things above and on the life hereafter. Quit living for here and now! Yes, you can have investments here, but your eternal investments should be more! When this world is finally over, will you be as wealthy in the New Jerusalem as you are on earth now? Jesus said, "Amass wealth for yourselves in Heaven, where neither the moth nor wear-and-tear destroys, and where thieves do not break in and steal." Matthew 6:20 WNT

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A VISIT TO THE KING

Spirit & Life Devotional
Tuesday, February 25
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

A VISIT TO THE KING

I Kings 5:1 NKJV "Now Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants to Solomon, because he heard that they had anointed him king in place of his father, for Hiram had always loved David."

It's not until you have written hundreds of books that you are wise; wisdom is manifested in your daily decisions, actions and choices. We spend a lot of time asking God for wisdom, but what have we done with the "common sense" He gave us? (I hope you mature enough to understand this).

Politicians and businessmen are smart. You always see them paying visits and making courtesy calls; they pay for newspaper pages just to wish someone a happy birthday. Do you think that they do such things because they don't know what to do with their money? No. They do all that with great expectations of things much greater than the prices they pay!

Hiram sent his servants to Solomon when he heard that Solomon was anointed king and got himself a contract to supply wood for the building of the temple. You've been asking God to cause people to remember you; now it's time for you to go to their offices! Manna will not fall into your room or into your office; it might, but certainly not every now and then. Let the Spirit of God lead you to make strategic moves and to take strategic steps.

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A WALL OF FIRE

Spirit & Life Devotional
Monday, February 24
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

A WALL OF FIRE

Zechariah 2:5 NKJV "For I,’ says the Lord , ‘will be a wall of fire all around her, and I will be the glory in her midst.’”

One of the ways the Lord manifested Himself to the Israelites was as fire. When the Israelites left Egypt, God was with them as a Pillar of Fire. His presence made it impossible for Pharaoh and his army to get close to the Israelites until they had completely crossed the Red Sea. By being a pillar of fire with them, the Israelites were protected from harm.

Psalms 125:2 NKJV says, "As the mountains surround Jerusalem, So the Lord surrounds His people From this time forth and forever." Psalms 34:7 NKJV "The angel of the Lord  encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them." This is the consciousness I have at all times; that's why I don't fear.

As you step out of your house today, be rest assured that the Lord is with you. Whether you are moving by air, by train or by road, fear not. The number and the strength of the people who have chosen to come after you don't matter; whether they are from your village or abroad is irrelevant; the Lord is around you and your family as a wall of fire; no harm shall befall you; the eyes of the wicked shall not see you, in the name of Jesus! Amen.

To do: Speak faith filled words in agreement with the Scriptures.

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CLOTHED WITH HUMILITY

Spirit & Life Devotional
Sunday, February 23
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

CLOTHED WITH HUMILITY

I Peter 5:5 NKJV "Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”

If God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble, then I want to be humble for the rest of my life!

In the church, and everywhere really, you've got to forget about how important or revered you are; forget about the number of high tables you've sat on, forget that you are a friend of Mr. President and CEOs of multinational organisations; forget about your qualifications, forget about the number of countries you've been to, or how many people report to you at work, forget about what you possess, and the family you come from. Forget about how expensive what you are putting on too. Never be too big to relate with other brethren, to work with them, or to do whatever you are asked to do, even if they smell, and even if they don't give you your due respect. See God and not them!

These verses help me, Romans 12:3, 16 KJVA "For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits."

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WICKEDNESS, ABOMINATION AND PERVERSION

Spirit & Life Devotional
Saturday, February 22
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

WICKEDNESS, ABOMINATION AND PERVERSION

Leviticus 18:17, 22-23 NKJV "You shall not uncover the nakedness of a woman and her daughter, nor shall you take her son’s daughter or her daughter’s daughter, to uncover her nakedness. They are near of kin to her. It is wickedness. You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination. Nor shall you mate with any animal, to defile yourself with it. Nor shall any woman stand before an animal to mate with it. It is perversion."

Sin is sin, no doubt about that; what's wrong is wrong. Every sin will be judged and punished by God, especially if we do not repent and receive forgiveness for committing them.

Having said the above, it's noteworthy that God specifically refers to some sins as wicked, abominable and perverse.  Wickedness is the quality of being evil; perversion is a distortion or corruption of the original; and an abomination causes moral revulsion, is loathsome, despicable and damnable.

Sadly the world is now legalizing wicked, abominable and perverse acts. Homosexuality, transsexualism, bestiality and similar acts must be stopped and condemned! And we must stop approving them! No man with the Spirit of God would endorse such. Repent now and be born again, if you have committed such sins; God loves you and is not willing that you should perish.

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CASTING OUT DEMONS

Spirit & Life Devotional
Friday, February 21
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

CASTING OUT DEMONS

Mark 9:25 NKJV "When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it: “Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no more!”

Every child of God is authorised to cast out demons in the name of Jesus Christ. Mark 16:17-18 says, "And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

Demons are in people and in places, stealing, killing and destroying lives; ruining destinies; causing pain, causing confusion and chaos; deceiving men, distracting men, preventing the gospel, and leading men away from the Father. Our job as believers is to disallow the continued activities of Satan and his demons anywhere they are operating.

We've got to be sensitive and discerning: not all demons are violent. In Acts 16 we read of a girl with a spirit of divination who made much money for her master. For many days she followed Paul, saying, “These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.” She didn't seem harmless but she was distracting people: Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And he came out that very hour. Hallelujah!

To do: Learn more about your authority in Christ; pray and fast from time to time.

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WOMAN, ARISE!

Spirit & Life Devotional
Thursday, February 20
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

WOMAN, ARISE!

Judges 5:6-7 NKJV “In the days of Shamgar, son of Anath, In the days of Jael, The highways were deserted, And the travelers walked along the byways. Village life ceased, it ceased in Israel, Until I, Deborah, arose, Arose a mother in Israel."

When God was to create the woman, He said, "It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.” God created women to be helpers, but a lot of women in the world today have made themselves dependants. It is children who should be dependants, not you, lady!

There's so much noise about women empowerment. Don't you know that he who gives you power can take it away from you? The great and powerful women I've read of and known did not go about seeking to be empowered, they empowered themselves, made themselves significant, they were wise, hardworking, diligent, focused, passionate about certain causes and virtuous. They impacted and changed lives.

Woman, arise! God wants to use you in your generation! Make a decision to be a person of influence; rid yourself of that mentality of a dependant! Take on challenging roles; don't avoid responsibilities; choose to be a virtuous woman! ARISE!

To do: Share with your female contacts, friends, colleagues, members, etc.

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PASSING THE BATON

Spirit & Life Devotional
Wednesday, February 19
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

PASSING THE BATON

Titus 1:5 AMP "For this reason I left you [behind] in Crete, that you might set right what was defective and finish what was left undone, and that you might appoint elders and set them over the churches (assemblies) in every city as I directed you."

I used to think that it was my responsibility to finish whatever I start; you know, Jesus said that His meat was to do the will of God and to finish it. But finishing His work didn't mean He would stay on earth forever, overseeing the church He established; He finished His own part; His own work, and then passed the baton to someone else.

Some people are starters while others are finishers. Some people are foundation layers, while others are meant to continue the building; some people are dreamers while others are doers; some are pace setters, and the others are perfectionists; there are leaders and there are managers.

We must all identify our roles and know when to pass the batons on to the next person. That God has used you to begin a great work at a place doesn't necessarily mean that it is equally your responsibility to stay there and finish it; God may want you to begin something similar or even greater elsewhere. Seek someone who is capable; delegate wisely; move on and then you can continue directing and supervising him or her.

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OUR SINS WERE LAID ON JESUS

Spirit & Life Devotional
Tuesday, February 18
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

OUR SINS WERE LAID ON JESUS

Ezekiel 4:4-6 NLT “Now lie on your left side and place the sins of Israel on yourself. You are to bear their sins for the number of days you lie there on your side. I am requiring you to bear Israel’s sins for 390 days—one day for each year of their sin. After that, turn over and lie on your right side for 40 days—one day for each year of Judah’s sin."

Following God, especially working for Him, is a life of sacrifice. But it is also rewarding. Some people want the rewards without the sacrifices; but it isn't so. In the Scripture above, we see Ezekiel being made to lie in a certain position for over a year! If you read subsequent verses, God restrained him from moving and made him eat rubbish. God laid the sins of Israel on Ezekiel and made him pass through all that as a sign of what the Israelites were to suffer as a result of their sins.

Now Isaiah 53:6 says, "All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all." Just as Ezekiel bore the sins of the Israelites and was made to eat defiled food, on Jesus was laid the sins of the world and He suffered in our place. Ezekiel bore their sins for only 430 days, but what Jesus did was forever! The Lamb of God took away the sins of the world! Hallelujah!

That happened about two thousand years ago, but many of us are yet to comprehend what He did. By taking away our sins, first He made us righteous so that we can stand before God and commune with Him without fear or guilt, He secured our redemption forever, set us free from the penalties of sin, and made it possible for us to receive our eternal inheritance promised by God! He carried our weaknesses and sorrows, He was pierced for our rebellion and crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!! Hallelujah!!! Glory to the Lamb!

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THE GOSPEL CAN MAKE YOU RICH

Spirit & Life Devotional
Monday, February 17
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

THE GOSPEL CAN MAKE YOU RICH

2 Corinthians 6:10 CEVDCUS06 "And we are always happy, even in times of suffering. Although we are poor, we have made many people rich. And though we own nothing, everything is ours."

Poor men don't make people rich. Right? Wrong! Poor men with grace and the gospel can make you rich! You see, many people have missed a lot by looking at the man instead of receiving the message coming from God to them. By the way, the apostle, Paul, was poor because he chose to.

The word of God is capable of making you rich. The word of God is the word of grace. In other words, it imparts grace to its hearers. And the Scripture says that God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work (2 Corinthians 9:8). God makes grace available through the word. Hallelujah!

I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ for it is the power of God unto whatever God has in store for me! Just as the gospel saved you, it is also capable of making you rich if you believe it with your heart and confess it with your mouth. Stop running helter skelter chasing money and paying little or no attention to the word; the world that you see, and every thing in it was created by the word of God, the same word that has been given to us! Hallelujah!

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GOD'S FAITHFUL LOVE

Spirit & Life Devotional
Sunday, February 16
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

GOD'S FAITHFUL LOVE

Lamentations 3:22-23 NLT "The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning."

To be faithful is to be strict or thorough in the performance of a duty. Faithfulness is not as easy as we think, especially when you are being faithful to someone who doesn't appreciate it or is unfaithful to you. To be faithful is to continue being you, to continue doing what you've always done no matter how difficult or inconvenient it is.

God's love is said to be faithful! Wow! If you understand it, you'll agree that it's something to shout about! It's a love that is constant and steady; a love that is unaffected by what we do or do not do; a love that is unconditional; a love not subject to our response! Even when we don't reciprocate He never stops loving us! 2 Timothy 2:13 says "If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny who he is." Glory to God!

Today, there's already something to be grateful for: the love of God and His mercies that are new every morning! Maybe you've exhausted yesterday's mercy; I've got good news for you: fresh packages of mercy are being delivered right now from God's warehouse of grace and mercy! Receive mercy in the name of Jesus!

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ENCOURAGEMENT FOR KINGDOM WORKERS

Spirit & Life Devotional
Saturday, February 15
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

ENCOURAGEMENT FOR KINGDOM WORKERS

Exodus 4:10-12 NKJV "Then Moses said to the Lord , “O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.” So the Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing, or the blind? Have not I, the Lord? Now therefore, go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say.”

There's a great difference between working for God and working for man: from the onset man thinks of getting rid of you - the tests and the interviews are meant to reduce the number of applicants and select the very best and qualified; but God seeks to qualify and enable those He calls. Employers have very limited vacancies but God says the labourers are few!

There are a few amazing organisations to work for, but none like God! It is good to work for others, better to work for yourself, and best to work for God! Nothing on earth compares. Man trains, but God completes and energizes us. Man rarely gives second chances, but God patiently gives us several chances to grow and get better. Man's obligations to you ends when you stop working for him, but God has eternal blessings in store for those who have served Him faithfully, and God is righteous and just. Hallelujah!

Be encouraged today to do the work of God; and if you are working for Him already, be encouraged to continue serving Him faithfully and with the right attitude. 1 Corinthians 15:58 MSG says, "With all this going for us, my dear, dear friends, stand your ground. And don’t hold back. Throw yourselves into the work of the Master, confident that nothing you do for him is a waste of time or effort."

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DEVELOPING CAPACITY FOR YOUR NEXT LEVEL

Spirit & Life Devotional
Friday, February 14
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

DEVELOPING CAPACITY FOR YOUR NEXT LEVEL

Genesis 2:4-5 NKJV "This is the history of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens, before any plant of the field was in the earth and before any herb of the field had grown. For the Lord God had not caused it to rain on the earth, and there  was no man to till the ground;"

After God created the world, the earth must have looked like a barren land because there was no plant or herb on it according to the Scriptures. But the earth was blessed. God did not allow anything to grow on the earth neither did He cause it to rain because there was no man on earth as at then. Growth was delayed because of the absence of man on earth.

Lots of Christians are eager to enter into their inheritance, and God is equally willing to get them into their place of fulfilment; but God has not fully opened up the windows of heaven for them as it were because for some reasons they are not ready for such blessings the same way you won't handover a multimillion Naira company to an unprepared child even though he is heir.

Are you really ready for that next level you desire? Do you have the character to handle the blessings you seek? Do you have the maturity and capacity to deal with the challenges of that new position? Have you developed the relevant people and leadership skills you need to manage a group of people? Do you understand budgeting processes and techniques to manage the kind of prosperity you have been sowing for?

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GOD FIRST

Spirit & Life Devotional
Thursday, February 13
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

GOD FIRST

Haggai 1:9-11 NKJV “You looked for much, but indeed it  came  to little; and when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why?” says the Lord of hosts. “Because of My house that is in ruins, while every one of you runs to his own house. Therefore the heavens above you withhold the dew, and the earth withholds its fruit. For I called for a drought on the land and the mountains, on the grain and the new wine and the oil, on whatever the ground brings forth, on men and livestock, and on all the labor of your hands.”

God is jealous and He demands attention. But He deserves everything He seeks because He is our God, because He is loving, because of all He's done for us and because He is great.

Some people think that witches and wizards from their villages are behind their problems in life. What if you are the one responsible for everything that's happening to you because of your attitude to God and things relating to Him?

What you do with your money says a lot about you. Apart from the 100 or 200 Naira offerings you give to God every Sunday, what else have you done, or do you do for God? And the same you spends 1000, 2000 or more at fast foods almost every day! Some will give a million to a man in order to secure a contract or to show appreciation, but the same people will give God little or nothing! Who exactly made it possible? And you seriously expect God to increase you? Especially when there's a need to be met in the Kingdom of God. Put God first. Place more value on the things of God. Ascribe greater honour to our God! If I can give man a thousand then my God deserves ten thousand! If I can afford to spend 10,000 on myself then God certainly deserves much more because He is the One who keeps me alive and blesses me. Hallelujah!

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WALKING TOGETHER

Spirit & Life Devotional
Wednesday, February 12
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

WALKING TOGETHER

Luke 1:5-6 NKJV "There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless."

Here we see a husband and wife with one mind, walking together in the ways of God.

I don't think money, childlessness or other problems are the major causes of broken homes and relationships; I think that the reason for most break ups is disunity; being in a relationship with someone who doesn't share and appreciate your goals, dreams and beliefs; getting involved with someone who sees and thinks differently.

Though Zacharias and Elizabeth didn't have a child for a very long time they remained together because their marriage was founded on a solid foundation. Two cannot walk together except they are in agreement. When the foundation is solid relationships can survive and thrive. Marriages are to be enjoyed and not endured; it's important that we get it right from the beginning. Mutual faith in God is vital. Cheers.

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THE SOUL THAT SINNETH

Spirit & Life Devotional
Tuesday, February 11
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

THE SOUL THAT SINNETH

Ezekiel 18:4 NKJV “Behold, all souls are Mine; The soul of the father As well as the soul of the son is Mine; The soul who sins shall die."

Our souls belong to God! Not to any man; not to Satan; and certainly not to any fraternity! God owns us and He has the right over every one of us. The rich fool said to his soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.” ’But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’" Luke 12:19-20. That's a lesson for everyone of us.

Now, He who owns the souls of all men says that the soul that sins shall die. And many of us don't seem to take it seriously. Satan has deceived a lot of men with his famous line: "You will not surely die." Genesis 3:4. But don't be deceived; The wages of sin is death! If you remain the way you are you will surely die!

But you don't have to die! "The Lord is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:9. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” Acts 16:31. Romans 10:9-10 says that "if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." Believe and live!

To do: Forward to your contacts who need to be saved and pray for their salvation.

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SOWERS OF THE WORD

Spirit & Life Devotional
Monday, February 10
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

SOWERS OF THE WORD

Mark 4:2-3 NKJV "Then He taught them many things by parables, and said to them in His teaching: “Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow."

He's a sower because he sows the word of God. But there are sowers in the body of Christ who haven't sowed the word in a very long time. They haven't told anyone about Jesus and His love for man. John 15:13 says "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends." We reconcile friends, neighbours, lovers and colleagues but we don't seek to reconcile lost men to God their creator.

Unto us has been given the ministry and the word of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18 & 19). God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself; that's what should be said about us; that God is in us reconciling the world unto Himself.

It's really a test of our love for fellow men. What we do with the word of God that has been given to us reveals the magnitude and also the existence of love in our hearts for others and for God. Don't be content being a worker in church; do the work of an evangelist. There's a special blessing reserved for those who talk to others about Jesus. "Those who are wise shall shine Like the brightness of the firmament, And those who turn many to righteousness Like the stars forever and ever." Daniel 12:3

To do: Prepare yourself every morning to share the gospel with at least one person a day. Post short messages on your Twitter, Facebook and Google+ profiles telling the love of God. Give out a helpful book and invite people to church.

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DWELLING IN ZION

Spirit & Life Devotional
Sunday, February 9
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

DWELLING IN ZION

Isaiah 33:24 NKJV "And the inhabitant will not say, “I am sick”; The people who dwell in it will be forgiven their iniquity."

Zion is the city of the Living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, wherein resides an innumerable company of angels and the church of Jesus Christ, the Mediator of the new covenant, Whose blood was sprinkled and speaks better things than the blood of Abel! Hallelujah!

You can't be an inhabitant of Zion and be suffering as a stranger; you can't be a citizen of Zion and be under the same unpleasant conditions as the inhabitants of the world. In Goshen, the Israelites prospered and flourished while their neighbours suffered. Think about that.

You are in Christ Jesus and your sins have been forgiven! Hallelujah! I wonder if you really understand what it means to be in Christ and for your sins to be forgiven. It means that you are free from the effects of sin and the dominion of darkness! Jesus said to that paralysed man, "Son your sins are forgiven, rise up and walk." (Matthew 9:1-6) Meaning that forgiveness of sins removes the barriers and breaks the chains. Therefore I say to you, O inhabitant of Zion, your sins have been forgiven, rise up and walk in the name of Jesus!

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RECEIVING A FULL REWARD

Spirit & Life Devotional
Saturday, February 8
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

RECEIVING A FULL REWARD

II John 1:8 NKJV "Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward."

Award ceremonies are usually very glamorous; the nominees attend with great expectations and you can literally feel the excitement of the eventual winners. Awards are rewards for great works done; they are honours for excellence, exceptional achievements and contributions, and for things done to make the world a better and safer place to live in.

God has also reserved rewards for us all in heaven! Hallelujah! I can only imagine how glorious that day will be when we appear before God to receive rewards for all that we have done while here on earth. And beyond the honours, the rewards themselves would be so awesome! Oh, I can't wait! Many times only the top three are recognised here, but in heaven, every one would be rewarded; not with the same awards, it will be according to our works.

But some will lose their rewards. That's the sad and bitter truth. How you started the journey or the race is not as important as how you end it. We must all strive to finish strong and well. And we must run according to the rules! We will not just be rewarded for what we have done, how we are doing what we do would matter on that day. So we must work and live for God with a perfect heart and an acceptable attitude, on terms determined by Him. His grace is sufficient for us.

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CONDUCTING OURSELVES RIGHTEOUSLY IN THE WORLD

Spirit & Life Devotional
Friday, February 7
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

CONDUCTING OURSELVES RIGHTEOUSLY IN THE WORLD

II Corinthians 7:2 NKJV "Open your  hearts to us. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have cheated no one."

As simple as those words sound, they are so powerful and profound. To be able to say that you have wronged no one, corrupted no one, and cheated no one is a big deal!

So much is expected of us as believers, especially if we are going to be effective ministers of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Obedience to the law and rules, being ethical, how we relate with people, what we do and say to others matters a lot. If you're a boss, have you behaved in such a way that you can boldly preach to your subordinates? If you are a business man or woman, have you been fair enough to your customers that you can decide at anytime to witness to them? And you in any kind of relationship, have you been fair and faithful?

I will have you know that evangelism isn't just what you do when you go out with other members of the church from door to door, no, it has everything to do with how you relate with everyone you meet, with what you do, how you conduct yourself, how you behave indoor and outdoor, and the things that you say.

To do: Determine to live right.

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REDEEMED FROM THE CURSE

Spirit & Life Devotional
Thursday, February 6
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

REDEEMED FROM THE CURSE

Galatians 3:13-14 NKJV "Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith."

Moses proclaimed the curses for disobedience to the law: Deuteronomy 28:15 NKJV “But it shall come to pass, if you do not obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments and His statutes which I command you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you:"

Sadly, some teachers of the word still threaten us with curses of the law. The most common one being the curse for not paying tithes found in Malachi 3:9, "You are cursed with a curse, For you have robbed Me, Even this whole nation." That's a very wrong teaching because it is written that Christ Jesus has redeemed us from every curse that came with the law, being made a curse for us when He was crucified on the cross! Hallelujah!

You can encourage believers to do the word, but don't tell them that they will be cursed or that they are cursed! Jesus redeemed us from the curse of the law, that we might receive the blessings of Abraham! We are blessed! Yeah, we were called to inherit blessings! Abraham's blessings are ours, not because of what we have done or not done, but because of what Jesus did for us! Hallelujah!

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GLORYING IN GOD

Spirit & Life Devotional
Wednesday, February 5
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

GLORYING IN GOD

Judges 7:2 NKJV "And the Lord said to Gideon, “The people who are with you are too many for Me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel claim glory for itself against Me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’"

Deep within each one of us is the desire to accomplish something great all by ourselves. We start to see this desire in kids, at a point, they begin to want to do things by themselves. But God is a jealous God not willing to share His glory with anyone. He wants complete reliance on Him; not on our qualifications, talents, connections or on anything else.

God warned the Israelites not to take credit for whatever He did for them. Deuteronomy 8:11-12, 17 says, “Beware that you do not forget the Lord your God... lest— when you have eaten and are full, and have built beautiful houses and dwell in them; then you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth.’" But the world loves to say that people are self made! No, we must never claim the glory of God. That's pride.

I Corinthians 1:29 says "that no flesh should glory in His presence." You want God to get involved and intervene in your life? Then you must position yourself by letting Him know that your trust is in Him alone. God resists those who want to take His glory, but He gives grace to those who are humble enough to seek His intervention. Success is not a function of numbers, qualifications, beauty or brains; it is by God! Good health is not a result of many exercises or good diet; it's by the stripes of Jesus! Child of God, let us glory in God alone!

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PEACE IN THE MIDST OF THE STORM

Spirit & Life Devotional
Tuesday, February 4
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

PEACE IN THE MIDST OF THE STORM

Philippians 4:7 NKJV "And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

I still wonder how Jesus was able remain asleep in the midst of the storm. That was the peace of God in action! It is beyond the limits of human understanding!

David said, "Lord , how they have increased who trouble me! Many are they who rise up against me. Many are they who say of me, “There  is no help for him in God.” Selah But You, O Lord, are  a shield for me, My glory and the One who lifts up my head. I cried to the Lord with my voice, And He heard me from His holy hill. Selah I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the Lord sustained me. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people Who have set themselves against me all around."

The peace of God sustains you in the midst of trouble, it makes you unafraid. Shirley Caesar sang, "There is peace in the midst of a storm-tossed life, there is an Anchor, there is a rock to build my faith on, Jesus Christ is my vessel so I fear no alarm, He gives me peace in the midst of the storm." Hallelujah!

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WALKING AS HE WALKED

Spirit & Life Devotional
Monday, February 3
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

WALKING AS HE WALKED

I John 2:6 NKJV "He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked."

We risk being called deceivers when we claim to be born again but don't live like Him. Being born again isn't a title, it's being dead to sin, to self and being raised up with a new life, the very life of God, that enables you to live like Him.

You know, preachers encourage us to remain in faith even when we sin; we are told that babies start crawling before they begin to walk; and that Jesus has paid the price for all the sins we would ever commit: yes, but for how long is a man supposed to be a babe? For how long are we going to keep preaching that message to the same man? For how long shall a man continue to walk in his old ways?

He who says he abides in Christ ought to walk as Christ walked! It's time to grow up! Time to get serious about our faith and walk with God; it's time to follow Jesus wholeheartedly and learn His ways.

To do: Ask God for the power of the Holy Spirit to live and walk like Christ.

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GRACE FOR PROSPERITY

Spirit & Life Devotional
Sunday, February 2
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

GRACE FOR PROSPERITY

Genesis 32:10 NLT "I am not worthy of all the unfailing love and faithfulness you have shown to me, your servant. When I left home and crossed the Jordan River, I owned nothing except a walking stick. Now my household fills two large camps!"

Grace! Imagine for a moment, a world without the grace of God: how terrible it would be. Imagine also your own life without grace; maybe you would have been dead by now; or broke, unhappy and hopeless.

There's not enough space to write about the benefits of the grace of God upon us. None of us deserves anything that we have ever received from God, yet He keeps on blessing us as if we have never committed an offence! Thank you Jesus!

Look at Jacob: he prospered by grace. He entered a place with nothing except a walking stick and later left there a very wealthy man! Hallelujah! Guess what; we serve the same God Who was gracious to Jacob! I prophesy to you in the name of Jesus, the grace of God that brings wealth, promotion, fulfilment, joy, peace and success will locate you today! I know you don't deserve it, but Jesus has qualified you! So shall it be in the name of Jesus!

To do: Say this: Today I will see the goodness of God. Today, I am walking in the favour of God. Today, I am blessed! Today, the lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places! Today, I receive an abundance of the grace of God! I am moving from one level of grace to another! Grace is mine in the name of Jesus! Amen!

CHASE YOUR DESIRES

Spirit & Life Devotional
Saturday, February 1
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

CHASE YOUR DESIRES

Proverbs 2:3-5 NKJV "Yes, if you cry out for discernment, And lift up your voice for understanding, If you seek her as silver, And search for her as for hidden treasures; Then you will understand the fear of the Lord, And find the knowledge of God."

The problem many of us have is that we keep on "waiting on the Lord" when we should be chasing what we want. Don't misunderstand me; don't misinterpret waiting on God for inaction; to receive you've got to ask; to find you've got to seek; and for the door to be opened you've got to knock.

To succeed as a believer and have whatever you want, you've got to learn to be a chaser. Stop waiting for manna to fall from heaven into your bedroom, stop thinking that God will do things for you without you having to pray for them to be done! Knock the door so hard, bang it, kick it if you have to! In other words, pray earnestly about what you want until they are done.

Isaiah 62:6-7 says "I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; They shall never hold their peace day or night. You who make mention of the Lord, do not keep silent, And give Him no rest till He establishes And till He makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth."

To do: Make a list of your desires, and then make each one of them specific prayer points. Determine not to give God rest until everyone of your prayers has been answered.