KNOWING THE LORD

Spirit & Life Devotional
Saturday Morning, May 31
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

KNOWING THE LORD

Hosea 6:3 ERV "Let’s learn about the Lord. Let’s try very hard to know him...”

Psychologists say that there are three levels of knowledge. That's not our focus today, but understand that no one gets to know all about another person and even things in a very short time. And you don't know people by simply reading about them, no, it's by spending quality time with them. And it begins with a desire or an interest. Without a strong interest and desire for knowledge, learning is boring, hard and limited.

Prophet Hosea was trying to get us deeply interested and desirous to know the Lord. He said, "Let’s learn about the Lord. Let’s try very hard to know him." Very hard! Why? Jesus said, "And this is eternal life: that people can know you, the only true God, and that they can know Jesus Christ, the one you sent." John 17:3. The Amplified Version says, "And this is eternal life: [it means] to know (to perceive, recognize, become acquainted with, and understand) You, the only true and real God, and [likewise] to know Him, Jesus [as the] Christ (the Anointed One, the Messiah), Whom You have sent."

To truly know God is to be friends with Him because you cannot know Him beyond a certain level until you are very intimate with Him! It has nothing with being able to recite the entire Bible offhand, it's about walking with God everyday, having habitual fellowship with Him, dwelling in His presence, listening to Him and doing all He says to do.

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EVERY RULE MATTERS

Spirit & Life Devotional
Friday Night, May 30
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

EVERY RULE MATTERS

2 Timothy 2:5 ERV "Athletes in a race must obey all the rules to win."

The world record for men's 100m sprint is 9.58 seconds set by Usain Bolt in 2010. Now, if Usain Bolt runs a 100m sprint today in 9.55 seconds and breaks the rules in the process, he would be disqualified. Rules are to be obeyed and not ignored.

God wants us to do all His word. Effort and speed will amount to nothing if we're not doing all the will of God. It's important therefore that we acquaint ourselves with God’s will for our lives and live accordingly.

Every rule matters. For instance, don't spend hours praying, expecting answers if you are nursing a grudge in your heart; you're not going to win! God's rules are easy enough to be obeyed. And He also gave us the Holy Spirit to help us to do His will. We are therefore inexcusable. His grace is sufficient for us.

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NOT THE MAN

Spirit & Life Devotional
Friday Morning, May 30
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

NOT THE MAN

1 Samuel 16:7 ERV "But the Lord said to Samuel, “Eliab is tall and handsome, but don’t judge by things like that. God doesn’t look at what people see. People judge by what is on the outside, but the Lord looks at the heart. Eliab is not the right man.”

I'm trying to put myself in Eliab's shoes for a moment; what does it feel like to be rejected, not by man but by God? I think I have an idea because I've been rejected by man: but thank God not by God!

There are lots of Christians working hard to look good physically, like Eliab, they invest a lot to look handsome and beautiful, but they are not working at having the kind of heart that God desires. They are working hard to speak right, to write well, to appear better than others; that's good, but God is looking at our hearts!

May it never be said that I'm not the right man! When God looks at my heart, may He be pleased with what He sees! Dear Father, Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart always be acceptable in Your sight. May I always be the man You can use!

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DANCE FOR THE LORD

Spirit & Life Devotional
Thursday Night, May 29
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

DANCE FOR THE LORD

Matthew 14:6-7 ERV "On Herod’s birthday, the daughter of Herodias danced for him and his group. Herod was very pleased with her. So he promised that he would give her anything she wanted."

If dancing will get me anything I want, then I will dance and dance and dance! I better start dancing right away!

There are people that are paid for dancing; dancing is actually an occupation. These dancers are paid because people are pleased when they dance; there's something about a good dance that makes you happy. Dancing pleases God too!

Dancing was one of the things that endeared David to God: the Scripture says that he jumped and danced for the Lord; while others were conscious of their social status', the man danced until his clothes fell off his body! Somebody needs to start dancing now! I see sicknesses vanish as people are dancing! Heaven will open as you dance for the Lord!

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AN ABUNDANCE OF BLESSINGS

Spirit & Life Devotional
Thursday Morning, May 29
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

AN ABUNDANCE OF BLESSINGS

Psalms 115:14-15 ERV "May the Lord give more and more to you and to your children. May you receive blessings from the Lord,  who made heaven and earth."

Amen! Some are rich today and then become poor tomorrow because their possessions continue to diminish. But that's not our portion; God seeks to give us more and more! When our graphs are plotted, the lines should go upward and forward only! Hallelujah!

Are you better off today than you were yesterday? Or haven't you been measuring your progress? You've got to. As a Christian, there should be neither stagnation nor retrogression in any area of our lives. As long as we stay connected to God, doing only what pleases Him, He will continue to bless us; and His blessings make rich and cause progress.

Don't settle for less! We are talking about the One who made the heavens and the earth! If He created everything we see, then we can expect Him to make our lives so beautiful and to give us all that we will ever require. I'm talking about blessings that will endure for generations, if Jesus tarries! Yes. And don't hinder yourself from receiving from God; do only what pleases Him and be faithful. Proverbs 28:20 says, "A faithful person will have an abundance of blessings."

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WRITING FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS

Spirit & Life Devotional
Wednesday Night, May 28
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

WRITING FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS

2 John 1:12 ERV "I have much to say to you. But I don’t want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to come visit you. Then we can be together and talk. That will make us very happy."

Apostle John deprived the church of much revelation! Why? Because he preferred to talk face to face instead of writing. What would have happened if Paul and David didn’t write as much as they did? You can only imagine.

Writing is not just a hobby; it's a responsibility: you and I are responsible for preserving knowledge and our experiences with God for both the present and for future generations. Those long gone wrote for our learning: "For everything that was written in former times was written for our instruction, so that through endurance and through encouragement of the scriptures we may have hope." Romans 15:4

Psalms 102:18 ERV says, "Write these things for future generations, so that they will praise the Lord." That's why our page and blog exists (www.facebook.com/spiritandlifedevotional and www.chinaemeremjoshuaibezim.blogspot.com), and we'll do more and more, to ensure that future generations are blessed!

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THE LORD IN OUR MIDST

Spirit & Life Devotional
Wednesday Morning, May 28
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

THE LORD IN OUR MIDST

Zephaniah 3:17 NET "The Lord your God is in your midst; he is a warrior who can deliver. He takes great delight in you; he renews you by his love; he shouts for joy over you.”

Hallelujah! Our God is an awesome God! He's not a God to be dreaded; He's not a God that we cannot approach; we excite Him, and He loves us so much!

The Scripture says that He's a warrior. And that He can deliver! Hallelujah! I remember when Israel was to attack Jericho, God showed up and introduced Himself, “Truly I am the commander of the Lord’s army. Now I have arrived!” Hallelujah! Don't know the battles you're fighting, step aside and let the Lord fight for you; let Him give you divine strategies, let the battle be His! Greater is He that is in us than he that's in the world!

Tired? Fed up? You need a renewal. "He helps tired people be strong. He gives power to those without it. Young men get tired and need to rest. Even young boys stumble and fall. But those who trust in the Lord will become strong again. They will be like eagles that grow new feathers. They will run and not get weak. They will walk and not get tired." That's the word of God: He renews us by His love! Hallelujah!

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GIVING YOURSELF TO YOUR CHILDREN

Spirit & Life Devotional
Tuesday Night, May 27
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

GIVING YOURSELF TO YOUR CHILDREN

Galatians 4:6 AMP "And because you [really] are [His] sons, God has sent the [Holy] Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, Abba (Father)! Father!"

One of the first things God does to His new children is to impart them with Himself. That impartation is what makes us recognize Him as Father; that impartation is what makes us feel deeply connected to Him.

But what do we have: parents who are imparting little or nothing into their children, but demand and expect that their children regard them. We have very busy parents who have little or no time for the children they gave birth to but expect their children to be like them.

Parents, it is your responsibility to impart your children with Godly wisdom, knowledge, and the fear of God. It is your job to teach your children to love, to do what is right and acceptable, and to refrain from doing what is wrong. You won't need to demand affection and loyalty from a child to whom you have imparted something valuable. Bond with your children through impartation. 

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HAVING ONLY GOOD DAYS

Spirit & Life Devotional
Tuesday Morning, May 27
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

HAVING ONLY GOOD DAYS

Jeremiah 4:18 ERV “The way you lived and the things you did brought this trouble to you. It is your evil that made your life so hard. Your evil life brought the pain that hurts deep in your heart.”

There's the law of cause and effect. It states that for every action there is an equal reaction. It's like saying that you will reap whatever you sow. Whatever is happening in your life right now is a result of what you did and said in the past, and what will happen in the future will be determined by what you're doing now.

The devil is not your number one problem because he can only operate in your life by permission! That's why Paul said we should not give him any place in our lives. Our lifestyles, the things we say and do, will bring us either blessings or trouble. David said, "Before I suffered, I did many wrong things. But now I carefully obey everything you say."

Brothers and sisters, the choice is ours. Are we going to continue living as we please or are we going to start living to please the Lord. The Scriptures say, “If you want to enjoy true life and have only good days, then avoid saying anything hurtful, and never let a lie come out of your mouth. Stop doing what is wrong, and do good. Look for peace, and do all you can to help people live peacefully. The Lord watches over those who do what is right, and he listens to their prayers. But he is against those who do evil.”

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WE HAVE THE LIGHT

Spirit & Life Devotional
Monday Morning, May 26
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

WE HAVE THE LIGHT

John 8:12 CEVDCUS06 "Once again Jesus spoke to the people. This time he said, “I am the light for the world! Follow me, and you won't be walking in the dark. You will have the light that gives life.”

Darkness refers to obscurity, death, misery, sorrow, confusion, terror, and so on. Jesus said that when we follow Him we won't experience any of that! No wonder David said that though he walked through the valley of the shadow of death he would fear no evil because God was with him. Hallelujah!

We have the light of the world in us and with us! Hallelujah! How thick the darkness in the world is is irrelevant and inconsequential; we have the Light of the world and we will never walk in darkness!

We have what the world is desperately looking for! Isaiah 60:2-3 says "Darkness now covers the earth, and the people are in darkness. But the Lord will shine on you, and his Glory will appear over you. Then the nations will come to your light. Kings will come to your bright sunrise." You're not a nobody; nations are coming to your light; Kings, Governors, Presidents will come to your light in the name of Jesus! Men will hear about you far and wide because you're a city set upon a hill that cannot be hidden! Wow! Glory to God!

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HOW TO BE RICH

Spirit & Life Devotional
Sunday Morning, May 25
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

HOW TO BE RICH

1 Kings 10:10 ERV "Then the queen of Sheba gave King Solomon 4 1/2 tons of gold, a huge amount of spices, and precious stones. She gave him more spices than anyone has ever brought into Israel."

The queen of Sheba heard in her country how wise King Solomon was; she didn't believe that a man could be so wise, so she decided to pay him a visit. She was amazed by all she saw in Israel and heard from Solomon, and she gave him gifts.

Here's a truth: If you and I manifest the wisdom of God, we will never be poor neither will we lack anything we need. Instead, we will see ourselves grow and increase, having more and more.

Proverbs 8:1, 18, 21 says, "Listen, Wisdom is calling. Yes, Understanding is shouting for us. With me there are riches and honor. I have lasting wealth to give to you. I give riches to those who love me, and I fill their houses with treasures."

The wisdom of God is already in you and you can always have more if you desire. Use it and you'll never complain of being broke again.

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BEING TEACHABLE

Spirit & Life Devotional
Saturday Night, May 24
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

BEING TEACHABLE

Galatians 4:1-2 ASV "But I say that so long as the heir is a child, he differeth nothing from a bondservant though he is lord of all; but is under guardians and stewards until the day appointed of the father."

I've heard people say they don't go to church because they don't want to subject themselves to the interpretations of other men. They are very proud.

I wonder why such men go to school; they don't want to listen to other men preach the gospel to them but they will spend huge sums of money to acquire more degrees in universities and business schools; they should just get the text books and read, prepare their own exams, pass themselves, and give themselves their own customized certificates!

God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. The same God who gave all men the Spirit, is the same God who ordained a few as leaders of His church. Iron sharpens iron; that's if you think you have known it all. Be humble; be teachable.

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SAVING LIVES

Spirit & Life Devotional
Saturday Morning, May 24
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

SAVING LIVES

Proverbs 24:11-12 ERV "If you see someone on their way to death or in danger of being killed, you must do something to save them. You cannot say, “It’s none of my business.” The Lord knows everything, and he knows why you do things. He watches you, and he will pay you back for what you do."

How many of us are guilty already? Of the hundreds and thousands of people - sinners, carnal and lukewarm believers - we meet daily, weekly, monthly and yearly, how many do we even try to save! Yet we talk about our jobs and businesses; we argue about politics and the economy: we care less that men are going to hell every second!

I don't care who you are: President, Major General, Managing Director, Award Winner, Celebrity, The Most Beautiful or Handsome; if you claim to be a Christian and you're not saving lives you're guilty and God will require the blood of men from you! We've stayed indoors for too long; it's time to evangelize!

James 5:19-20 says, "My brothers and sisters, if anyone wanders away from the truth and someone helps that person come back, remember this: Anyone who brings a sinner back from the wrong way will save that person from eternal death and cause many sins to be forgiven."

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LIKE A TREE

Spirit & Life Devotional
Friday Morning, May 23
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

LIKE A TREE

Job 14:7-9 ERV “There is always hope for a tree. If it is cut down, it can grow again. It will keep sending out new branches. Its roots might grow old in the ground and its stump die in the dirt, but with water, it will grow again. It will grow branches like a new plant."

As long as you do not uproot a tree, you can cut it or burn it, but it will surely grow again! I don't know what people have done to you, be hopeful, you are not about to die, there'll be a great comeback!

Water makes trees grow. And the Scripture says that we are like trees by the rivers of water! If we are by what makes us grow, then it means that we are unstoppable! Nobody can determine how big we can become! They can try to restrict us but they'll never succeed!

God is our Living Water and as long as we are connected to Him we will never fail! You've got to believe this! Even if you ever fail or have a setback, all you need is fresh water and you'll succeed again! Be positive and hopeful; you're like a tree by the river, bringing forth fruit in due season. Hallelujah!

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CITIZENS OF THE KINGDOM

Spirit & Life Devotional
Thursday Night, May 22
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

CITIZENS OF THE KINGDOM

Acts 22:28 ERV "The commander said, “I paid a lot of money to become a Roman citizen.” But Paul said, “I was born a citizen.”

Once we were sinners, lost in the world; hopeless, helpless, clueless; slaves, insecure, preys of Satan! We were doomed to eternal damnation until when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ. Being born again, we were translated from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of God! Hallelujah!

Ephesians 2:19 says, "So now you non-Jewish people are not visitors or strangers, but you are citizens together with God’s holy people. You belong to God’s family." Hallelujah!

We are not just inhabitants of the Kingdom, no, we were born there and have all the rights and privileges of citizens! We are in the world, but not of the world! We are unlimited by earthly circumstances; God reigns over our affairs and we have been given power to walk in liberty and dominion! Hallelujah!

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PLEASING TO THE KING

Spirit & Life Devotional
Thursday Morning, May 22
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

PLEASING TO THE KING

Esther 2:4 ERV "Then let the one who is pleasing to the king become the new queen in Vashti’s place.” The king liked this suggestion, so he accepted it."

Many times, people are given positions based on their ability to please a person in authority; not only positions, favours are obtained, relationships are created and doors are opened when one is pleased with another or when the feeling is mutual.

Understand that God created everything for His pleasure. Revelation 4:11 says "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." What it means is God is attracted to, and He will move heaven and earth for whoever pleases Him. God said about Jesus, “This is my Son, the one I love. I am very pleased with him. Obey him!”

O yes! My sole ambition from now onwards is to be pleasing to my King! Being pleasing to the Lord is what He desires and it is the key to all I ever want to become and ever want to have. I pray it is your desire too.

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TRUE LOVE

Spirit & Life Devotional
Wednesday Night, May 21
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

TRUE LOVE

Colossians 1:22 ERV "But now he has made you his friends again. He did this by the death Christ suffered while he was in his body. He did it so that he could present you to himself as people who are holy, blameless, and without anything that would make you guilty before him."

Lots of guys would choose a well educated and probably rich lady over one who's an illiterate. Not many guys are interested in bringing a lady up to par, they prefer a "ready made" woman for a wife.

But God did otherwise. We were sinners, lost, hopeless and spiritually dead, but God, being so in love with us, and knowing that we could not approach Him as we were, sent His Son to shed His blood for our cleansing, and made us the bride He desired us to be. Hallelujah!

God loves us much more than we can ever imagine, and His desire is for us all to spend eternity with Him. We must keep ourselves as beautiful as He first made us; holy, blameless, and without anything that would make us guilty before Him. Amen.

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ACHIEVING TRUE AND LASTING SUCCESS

Spirit & Life Devotional
Wednesday Morning, May 21
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

ACHIEVING TRUE AND LASTING SUCCESS

Proverbs 21:30-31 ERV "There is no one wise enough to make a plan that can succeed if the Lord is against it. You can prepare your horses for battle, but only the Lord can give you the victory."

It's not about starting strong, having brilliant ideas and detailed plans, or favourable conditions: "If it is not the Lord who builds a house, the builders are wasting their time. If it is not the Lord who watches over the city, the guards are wasting their time." Psalm 127:1

All human effort amounts to nothing without divine intervention. All success therefore is granted and permitted. Without God we are utterly helpless; without God we can accomplish nothing significant. Therefore, God deserves all the glory!

The Tower of Babel became an abandoned project because God was against it; they were wasting their time all along. True and lasting success comes when the Lord is with us; when we do things consistent with His will for our lives.

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OUR RIGHTEOUS HELPER

Spirit & Life Devotional
Tuesday Night, May 20
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

OUR RIGHTEOUS HELPER

1 John 2:1 ERV "My dear children, I write this letter to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone sins, we have Jesus Christ to help us. He always did what was right, so he is able to defend us before God the Father."

There are some people who cannot be called upon to bail you out in times of trouble because they have no integrity; they have no moral right to speak on behalf of another because they are as guilty as the offender.

But Jesus is able to make intercession for us before the Father because He did nothing wrong while on earth. He can stand before God boldly as a Faithful High Priest, fully justified, having met all the requirements of both the law and the Kingdom. Hallelujah!

I love Hebrews 4:14-16. It says,  "We have a great high priest who has gone to live with God in heaven. He is Jesus the Son of God. So let us continue to express our faith in him. Jesus, our high priest, is able to understand our weaknesses. When Jesus lived on earth, he was tempted in every way. He was tempted in the same ways we are tempted, but he never sinned. With Jesus as our high priest, we can feel free to come before God’s throne where there is grace. There we receive mercy and kindness to help us when we need it." Glory!

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OUR RIGHTEOUS HELPER

Spirit & Life Devotional
Tuesday Night, May 20
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

OUR RIGHTEOUS HELPER

1 John 2:1 ERV "My dear children, I write this letter to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone sins, we have Jesus Christ to help us. He always did what was right, so he is able to defend us before God the Father."

There are some people who cannot be called upon to bail you out in times of trouble because they have no integrity; they have no moral right to speak on behalf of another because they are as guilty as the offender.

But Jesus is able to make intercession for us before the Father because He did nothing wrong while on earth. He can stand before God boldly as a Faithful High Priest, fully justified, having met all the requirements of both the law and the Kingdom. Hallelujah!

I love Hebrews 4:14-16. It says,  "We have a great high priest who has gone to live with God in heaven. He is Jesus the Son of God. So let us continue to express our faith in him. Jesus, our high priest, is able to understand our weaknesses. When Jesus lived on earth, he was tempted in every way. He was tempted in the same ways we are tempted, but he never sinned. With Jesus as our high priest, we can feel free to come before God’s throne where there is grace. There we receive mercy and kindness to help us when we need it." Glory!

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STRENGTH, SPEED AND SAFETY

Spirit & Life Devotional
Tuesday Morning, May 20
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

STRENGTH, SPEED AND SAFETY

Habakkuk 3:19 ERV "The Lord GOD gives me my strength. He helps me run fast like a deer. He leads me safely on the mountains. To the music director. On my stringed instruments."

We need a good mix of strength, speed and safety to succeed in whatever we do and to achieve God's purposes for our lives.

Isaiah 40:29-31 ERV "He helps tired people be strong. He gives power to those without it. Young men get tired and need to rest. Even young boys stumble and fall. But those who trust in the Lord will become strong again. They will be like eagles that grow new feathers.  They will run and not get weak. They will walk and not get tired." Amen!

David declared, "In your strength I can crush an army; with my God I can scale any wall." Psalm 18:29 Hallelujah! Divine strength, divine speed and divine protection are yours today and always in Jesus name.

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CALLED TO SAVE

Spirit & Life Devotional
Monday Night, May 19
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

CALLED TO SAVE

John 8:5 ERV "The Law of Moses commands us to stone to death any such woman. What do you say we should do?”

How do people feel when they carry out jungle justice on fellow men and women like them? I sincerely can't comprehend it! To kill a fellow man? Are they possessed by demons or what? It takes being completely heartless to kill or physically abuse another human being!

I visited a particular community twice or thrice in a period, and each time I saw bodies just being burnt! I couldn't bear it. If I've never killed a chicken how can people easily kill fellow men! When did we become animals? The heart of man is truly wicked!  

But we are as guilty as perpetrators of jungle justice when we hate fellow men, when we slander others, when we abuse people and when we look down on them. One certain time the disciples wanted to command fire to come down from heaven to consume people, Jesus turned and rebuked them, and said, “You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them.”

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FAMOUS FOR CHRIST

Spirit & Life Devotional
Monday Morning, May 19
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

FAMOUS FOR CHRIST

2 Samuel 7:9 ERV "I have been with you every place you went. I have defeated your enemies for you. I will make you one of the most famous people on earth."

Cristiano Ronaldo has 81million Facebook followers! Only about 15 countries have a population of more than 81million people. What it means is that Cristiano Ronaldo is capable of influencing nations with posts on his Facebook page! Imagine Cristiano Ronaldo posting, "Jesus Christ is Lord." Wow!

I don't know about you but I want to be famous for Christ's sake. Luke 4:14 KJV says, "And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about." The more famous Christians are the more people we can influence for Christ. Creation earnestly awaits our manifestation! But we can only manifest when we are filled with the power of the Spirit. Some of us have received the Holy Spirit but it has only ended in speaking in tongues! It's time to do good and heal the oppressed as Jesus did.

But God will not make a man famous if he doesn't trust him. Some of you are already somewhat famous in your areas but you're not talking about Jesus! You've got to do better. Be Kingdom minded; influence your world with the gospel. Don't be ashamed of the gospel of Christ, it's the power of God unto salvation.

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HONOURING THE LORD'S TEMPLE

Spirit & Life Devotional
Sunday Morning, May 18
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

HONOURING THE LORD'S TEMPLE

Ezekiel 8:17 ERV "Then God said, “Son of man, do you see this? The people of Judah think my Temple is so unimportant that they will do these terrible things here in my Temple! This country is filled with violence, and they constantly do things to make me angry. Look, they are wearing rings in their noses to honor the moon as a false god!"

A temple is a place dedicated to the service or worship of God. Wherever believers choose to worship God becomes His temple; and as He said, He is always present in their midst.

There's a way to behave in the presence of the Lord. You don't behave however you desire in the Governor's office or in your MD's office; you either comport yourself well or you'll be asked to leave! Paul wrote to Timothy, "If I am detained, you may know how people ought to conduct themselves in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and stay (the prop and support) of the Truth." 1 Timothy 3:15

The presence of the Lord in any place demands honour. Teach your children to honour the Lord. God honours those who honour Him.

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THE ONLY GOD

Spirit & Life Devotional
Saturday Night, May 17
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

THE ONLY GOD

Mark 12:29 ERV "Jesus answered, “The most important command is this: ‘People of Israel, listen! The Lord our God is the only Lord."

There is only one God, our God. Other "gods" are products of people's imaginations or demons.

Don't be confused! Just because we want peace doesn't mean we should believe lies. And because so many people are worshipping false gods doesn't mean they can't be wrong. They are so wrong!

There is only one God, revealed through His Son Jesus Christ. And Jesus is the only Way to the Father! Trying to get to God through any other means is impossible. Believe it because it is true; and declare it with all boldness. The Lord our God is the only Lord!

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THE WORD OF A PROPHET

Spirit & Life Devotional
Saturday Morning, May 17
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

THE WORD OF A PROPHET

Genesis 20:7 ERV "So give Abraham his wife again. He is a prophet. He will pray for you, and you will live. But if you don’t give Sarah back to him, I promise that you will die. And all your family will die with you.”

Abimelech was going to die for taking Abraham's wife, even though he did that thinking Sarah was his sister. God appeared to him in a dream and said, “You will die." As soon as God spoke the word, death set it and Abimelech immediately began to die. Now, Abimelech absolved himself from wrongdoing saying that Abraham and Sarah lied to him about their status. But that wasn't enough to alter the word that had proceeded from the mouth of God! God said to him, Abraham is a prophet, you will stay alive if he prays for you.

God honours the prayers of His servants.

Same thing happened to Job's friends. Job 42:7-8 ERV "After the Lord finished talking to Job, he spoke to Eliphaz from Teman. He said, “I am angry with you and your two friends, because you did not tell the truth about me, as my servant Job did. So now, Eliphaz, get seven bulls and seven rams. Take them to my servant Job. Kill them and offer them as a burnt offering for yourselves. My servant Job will pray for you, and I will answer his prayer. Then I will not give you the punishment you deserve. You should be punished, because you were very foolish. You did not say what is right about me, as my servant Job did.”

Why did God need to hear the prayers of Abraham and Job before He answered? Have you thought about that? And some of us take our prophets for granted! When Jesus was on earth, He said, “You believe in God; believe also in me." 2 Chronicles 20:20 says,"Have faith in the Lord your God, and you will stand strong! Have faith in his prophets, and you will succeed!”

Maybe you've been praying and praying and there's been no change, talk to a servant of God! One word from Eli terminated Hannah's many years of barrenness! Hallelujah!

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LOVE AND FORGIVENESS

Spirit & Life Devotional
Friday Night, May 16
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

LOVE AND FORGIVENESS

1 Peter 4:8 ERV "Most important of all, love each other deeply, because love makes you willing to forgive many sins."

1 Corinthians 13:5 says Love cannot be made angry easily and that it does not remember wrongs done against it.

So, do you truly think you are loving people as you should?

After reading this message make a call to that person or to as many people who you know you haven't forgiven; send a text, an email; you can even visit some; forgive them tonight, now! Then talk to your Father in heaven, ask Him to fill your heart with His love; a love that forgives completely and doesn't remember wrongs done against it.

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DOING YOUR ASSIGNMENT

Spirit & Life Devotional
Friday Morning, May 16
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

DOING YOUR ASSIGNMENT

Jonah 1:3 ERV "But Jonah tried to run away from the Lord. He went to Joppa and found a boat that was going to the faraway city of Tarshish. Jonah paid money for the trip and went on the boat. He wanted to travel with the people on this boat to Tarshish and run away from the Lord."

Jonah was given an assignment to go and preach to the people of Nineveh so they could repent of their sins and not be punished, but he chose to run away from his assignment.

A lot of us are like Jonah. If you're doing something else other than fulfilling your divine purpose, what you're doing is tantamount to running away from your assignment. Every time you take steps in the wrong direction you're like Jonah, getting onto a boat heading for another destination. Every time you try to be like someone else, you're like Jonah paying to travel with them to wherever they are heading.

When Jesus came, He said, “And so, my God, I have come to do what you want, as the Scriptures say.” Hebrews 10:7. If God wants you to be a farmer please be a farmer; if He wants you to be a tailor please don't try to be something else. You can succeed at anything God wants you to do, men will be blessed and God will be pleased.

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THANK GOD FOR THE RAIN

Spirit & Life Devotional
Thursday Night, May 15
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

THANK GOD FOR THE RAIN

Acts 14:17 ERV "But God was always there doing the good things that prove he is real. He gives you rain from heaven and good harvests at the right times. He gives you plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.”

We take a lot of things for granted: the food we eat, the houses we live in, our jobs, our businesses, our friends, our customers and colleagues, our clothes, and a lot more things we classify as common, forgetting that many people out there don't have half as much as we own.

Even if you don't have much, how about the fact that you are alive? You've woken up each time you slept in the past five months; you've not been naked; even though you have been trekking long distances you're still strong and haven't collapsed!

The rains come from God and are a revelation of His goodness! Never say that the Lord hasn't done anything for you; instead be grateful for everything, always. God is good!

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APPOINTED TO LIFE

Spirit & Life Devotional
Thursday Morning, May 15
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

APPOINTED TO LIFE

Jeremiah 15:2 ASV "And it shall come to pass, when they say unto thee, Whither shall we go forth? then thou shalt tell them, Thus saith Jehovah: Such as are for death, to death; and such as are for the sword, to the sword; and such as are for the famine, to the famine; and such as are for captivity, to captivity."

That's what sin does, it causes death; the wages of sin is death. Because they rejected God, the Israelites were appointed to death.

But for us who have believed, 1 Thessalonians 5:9 ASV says "For God appointed us not into wrath, but unto the obtaining of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ." Hallelujah!

We are vessels of mercy called by God to obtain glory! We have been delivered from death! Eternal life is ours in Christ! Hallelujah! We shall not die but live, and we shall enjoy the divine life that we have received every day of our lives!

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VICTORY ASSURED

Spirit & Life Devotional
Wednesday Night, May 14
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

VICTORY ASSURED

1 Corinthians 2:7-8 ASV "But we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, even the wisdom that hath been hidden, which God foreordained before the worlds unto our glory: which none of the rulers of this world hath known: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory."

Satan is not all-knowing; only God is. All that the devil knows is whatever has been revealed. But God knows the end from the beginning and He determines what happens most of the time.

All the while, Satan and all of hell thought they were winning the battle; Jesus was being chastised, humiliated and eventually crucified; they organised a celebration party in hell thinking they had achieved the greatest victory of all time! But God had it all worked out; through the crucifixion of Christ, Satan was forever defeated! Hallelujah!

If they had known, they would never have crucified Christ. You might be going through bad times; passing through water and fire; I need you to be assured that all things are working together for your good! Jesus triumphed despite all that they did to Him; you too will triumph in Jesus' name!

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APPRECIATING THE TRUTH

Spirit & Life Devotional
Wednesday Morning, May 14
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

APPRECIATING THE TRUTH

Micah 3:8 ERV "But the Lord’s Spirit has filled me with power, goodness, and strength. So I can tell Jacob about his crimes, and so I can tell Israel about his sins!"

If I could, I would gladly pay to have a Nathan in my life! Nathan was a prophet of God that always communicated God's words to David. He told David both the sweet and bitter truths all the time; and David had the right attitude to receive his messages.

I prefer to have one or two people in my life always telling me the truth than a multitude of people who want to make me feel superhuman! I don't need fans; I need friends, I need brothers and sisters who can look at me and tell me that I've done wrong or that I need to do something better! People like the apostle Paul who can tell Peter not to err! The day I stop telling you the truth is the day I stop being your friend! Open rebuke is better than secret love!

There are lots of people in the world today who don't want to hear the truth; you become a hater when you tell them the truth; they are quick to ask you not to judge them. They prefer being kissed by Judas not knowing they are being betrayed! Be wise! Proverbs 27:6 NET says, "Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are excessive."

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THE MAN GOD ELEVATES

Spirit & Life Devotional
Tuesday Night, May 13
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

THE MAN GOD ELEVATES

Acts 13:22 ERV "After God took Saul away, God made David their king. This is what God said about David: ‘David, the son of Jesse, is the kind of person who does what pleases me. He will do everything I want him to do.’"

When the righteous is in authority the people rejoice. God seeks to put believers in places of authority, but He is looking for men and women He can trust.

We've seen believers compromise in office; like Saul, they were corrupted by the power and authority of whatever office they occupied. And even though they might still be attending church, they are not as yielded to God as they used to be; they no longer pray as they used to, they've surrounded themselves with too many advisers and ignored the counsel of the Lord.

God made David king because He trusted David. He trusted David to do only what pleased Him and to be obedient to Him. Do you want God to elevate you in life? Then become a person that can be trusted to do only what's pleasing to Him; a man or woman whose personal desires and will are subjected to the will of God.

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LABOURING TILL YOUR WORK IS DONE

Spirit & Life Devotional
Tuesday Morning, May 13
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

LABOURING TILL YOUR WORK IS DONE

Joshua 13:1 ERV "When Joshua was very old, the Lord said to him, “Joshua you have grown old, but there is still much land for you to take control of."

Old age is not an excuse! It can be used as an excuse to quit doing your own will but it's not an excuse to quit fulfilling God's purposes for your life; in the Kingdom of God, we only stop when we have finished our work.

Your age is irrelevant; what matters is for you to devote your entire life to doing the will of God for your life. That's the difference between God's work and man's work: man's work has an expiry date (sack, resignation or retirement), but we continue to do the work of God until death! O yes, I'm going to be teaching the gospel and prophesying until my last breath!

Pastoring is not the only work God has for His children; discover your own purpose and fulfil it. Jesus said, “My food is to do what the one who sent me wants me to do. My food is to finish the work that he gave me to do." Hallelujah!

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GREAT AND WONDERFUL THINGS

Spirit & Life Devotional
Monday Night, May 12
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

GREAT AND WONDERFUL THINGS

Revelation 15:3 ERV "They sang the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb: “Great and wonderful are the things you do, Lord God All-Powerful. Right and true are your ways, Ruler of the nations."

I love the lyrics of Sinach's song: "I stand amazed in your presence, There is nothing you cannot do, I stand amazed in your presence, There is joy peace and hope, There's no one like you, Jesus, There's no one like you, in all the earth, There's no one like You, Jesus, There's no one like you, You do mighty things, You do glorious things, You're a faithful God, Awesome is your name."

God is All Powerful, meaning that He can do whatsoever He likes. Some have power and they become bullies; some have power and they don't use it for the benefit of anyone else; but God does great and wonderful things! Hallelujah!

What God does makes us glad! The Israelites said, "The Lord has done great things for us! We are glad!" Hallelujah! I can't say what has happened to you before now, but I know what's about to happen; believe me; God is about to do great and wonderful things for you that will make you glad! Hallelujah!

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PREPARING FOR THE JOURNEY

Spirit & Life Devotional
Monday Morning, May 12
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

PREPARING FOR THE JOURNEY

Exodus 13:17 ERV "Pharaoh made the people leave Egypt. God did not let the people take the road leading to the land of the Philistines. That road by the Mediterranean Sea is the shortest way, but God said, “If the people go that way they will have to fight. Then they might change their minds and go back to Egypt.”

This is probably one of the most revealing Scriptures in the Bible. It might just be the answer to why a lot of us are where we are today despite the promises God has made concerning us.

Life is a series of journeys. The difference between where you are now and where you desire to be is a journey. Now, God knows the shorter ways to your destination - to being wealthy and prosperous; He knows exactly what you need to get the the top; He knows how to get you the best job in 24 hours; and any other thing you desire, but maybe because you aren't ready for the challenges of the shorter route He's now leading you through the longer route so you can develop greater capacity and faithfulness along the way.

If the Israelites had known how to fight they would have entered the Promised Land much earlier! Check yourself; instead of complaining about not achieving your goals and your dreams on time, find out what you need to do, skills you need to acquire, the right attitude you need to possess, and the kind of person God wants you to be. God knows you too well; He needs you to develop greater capacity for your journey.

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A DIVINE VISITATION

Spirit & Life Devotional
Sunday Night, May 11
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

A DIVINE VISITATION

Judges 13:3 ERV "The angel of the Lord appeared to Manoah’s wife and said, “You have not been able to have children. But you will become pregnant and have a son."

When God visits a man, the walls of limitation are shattered and the impossible begins to happen. When God visits, miracles happen. Hallelujah!

God knows our problems. When God visits it's not a time to start complaining; it's a time to receive because He has come to answer your prayers and to grant the desires of your heart! Amen!

May God visit you tonight. As you sleep, may you have revelations of what you need to do! May this be a night you'll never forget. May you receive a word that will make you great and forever blessed! I command doors to be opened, wombs to be opened and mountains to move in the name of Jesus!

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WHO ARE YOU?

Spirit & Life Devotional
Sunday Morning, May 11
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

WHO ARE YOU?

Acts 19:15 ERV "But one time an evil spirit said to these Jews, “I know Jesus, and I know about Paul, but who are you?”

The seven sons of Sceva had no answer to that question, so they couldn't respond appropriately; they were therefore humiliated.

Satan humiliates those who do not know who they are in Christ! Without knowledge of who you are, you will perish in life; you'll live like unbelievers, suffering like them, experiencing same things. What saved the prodigal son? When he remembered who he was! When he remembered that he was the son of a great man, a lot better than servants!

You must know who you are in Christ! You are a joint heir with Christ; you are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus; you are the child of the Most High God; you are one who was justified by faith, forgiven, sanctified and glorified! You are a king and a priest; Christ's ambassador! Hallelujah! Look into the word and know a lot more about yourself; believe what the word says about you and then live the life.

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YOU WILL SUCCEED AGAIN

Spirit & Life Devotional
Saturday Night, May 10
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

YOU WILL SUCCEED AGAIN

Psalms 53:6 ERV "I wish the one who lives on Mount Zion would bring victory to Israel! When God makes Israel successful again, the people of Jacob will be very happy; the people of Israel will be glad."

That the path of the just is as the sun that shines brighter and brighter doesn't mean there won't be challenges in life and even setbacks. I guarantee you that every man at the top today has tales of challenges and how they overcame.

Even the sun is not out for 24 hours. But you can be sure that the sun will shine again tomorrow! That you can't see the sun right now is not enough reason to lose hope and faith in God and in the beauty of your future; the sun will shine again! Hallelujah!

You will succeed again in Jesus name! Whatever you're passing through right now will certainly not last forever. Even if you have never succeeded in anything before, I assure you that because you serve the Lord things will surely get better. Cheers.

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TREATING PEOPLE RIGHT

Spirit & Life Devotional
Saturday Morning, May 10
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

TREATING PEOPLE RIGHT

Matthew 7:1-2 ERV “Don’t judge others, and God will not judge you. If you judge others, you will be judged the same way you judge them. God will treat you the same way you treat others."

The Scripture says that God will treat us the way we treat others. Scary! But Jesus didn't say that to make us scared; He said so to teach us to love one another, to honour ourselves and to appreciate each other.

The best way to relate with others is to see God in them. Yeah, we can be nice to our friends, siblings, big customers and so on, but how about our house helps, our staff, our subordinates, our students and those we are more privileged and powerful than? Are you using your office, your wealth and position to oppress, manipulate and intimidate people or are you using it to help, bless, inspire and elevate people who you come in contact with?

God treats us the same way we treat others! Maybe that's why your prayers aren't being answered; maybe that's why you're not experiencing the blessings of God; maybe that's why your own superiors are also wicked to you; maybe that's why things are not well with you! Maybe all you need to do is to start treating people right.

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MAKING DECISIONS

Spirit & Life Devotional
Friday Night, May 9
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

MAKING DECISIONS

1 Kings 18:21 ERV "Elijah came to all the people and said, “You must decide what you are going to do. How long will you keep jumping from one side to the other? If the Lord is the true God, follow him. But if Baal is the true God, then follow him!” The people said nothing."

One problem with a lot of people is their failure to make decisions, and probably stick to them. We dilly dally for a while and even when we finally decide, we come up with excuses that make us procrastinate.

A double minded man is unstable in all his ways! You've got to groom yourself to take necessary decisions when you ought to. When people are in relationships with more than a person it simply shows that they are unstable! Make a decision and follow through!

If you have chosen to serve the Lord then let Him be the only one that you truly serve. No more hypocrisy; serve the Lord according to the Scriptures and not according to your imagination or desires. Do only what pleases Him all the days of your life.

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INEVITABLE CONSEQUENCES

Spirit & Life Devotional
Friday Morning, May 9
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

INEVITABLE CONSEQUENCES

Proverbs 6:27-28 ERV "If you drop a hot coal in your lap, your clothes will be burned. If you step on one, your feet will be burned."

Consequences are things that happen as a result of actions done earlier. For every action therefore, there are consequences. There's the law of cause and effect; it teaches that for every action there is an equal reaction.

What it means is that every day is a time of harvest because we take action every day. Knowingly or unknowingly we are experiencing the effects of our previous actions; every day we reap fruits of seeds sown in the past-both good and bad (except for the grace of God). We are where we are now because of what we did in the past. So, every one of us can determine the kind of harvests we get each day, each month and each year.

You've got to stop dropping hot coals on your laps because you will surely be burned! Think carefully about everything you are about to do before you do them! Don't only think, pray so that your steps can be ordered by the Lord. Your words also have their consequences, so mind your words. May you only see good all the days of your life in Jesus name.

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GARBAGE IN, GARBAGE OUT

Spirit & Life Devotional
Thursday Night, May 8
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

GARBAGE IN, GARBAGE OUT

Mark 7:20 ERV "And Jesus said, “The things that make people wrong are the things that come from the inside."

What corrupts a man isn't what goes into him, but what comes out of him. We are all controlled from within. Whatever you see on the outside was first conceived on the inside. Sin therefore begins in the heart.

But whatever proceeds from within a man first found its way into the man's heart somehow. Garbage in, garbage out. The things we permit our eyes to see, our ears to hear, etc, they are the channels through which our hearts are fed with garbage.

Guard your heart with all diligence. Pay attention to the things you read, the songs you listen to, and the conversations you are part of. Protect your heart as much as you can. God's grace is sufficient for you.

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RESPONDING IN FAITH

Spirit & Life Devotional
Thursday Morning, May 8
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

RESPONDING IN FAITH

2 Kings 19:6 ERV "Isaiah said to them, “Give this message to your master, Hezekiah: The Lord says, ‘Don’t be afraid of what you heard from the commanders. Don’t believe what those “boys” from the king of Assyria said to make fun of me."

So many things happen every day and we are not in control of many of them; in fact, some of them are beyond our control. But we can always determine our response to whatever occurs. Your response can be determined; as a matter of fact, you've got to respond positively at all times. If you can't help yourself, then you must believe that God can!

Fear is a response of weaklings! Who are the fearful? Those that do not know their God. They that know their God are strong and are as bold as a lion! Shedrach, Meshach, Abednego and Daniel were bold and strong in the face of danger because of their faith in God and they responded accordingly.

Let them say and do whatever they choose; respond in faith! The God that you serve is well able to cater for you, to deliver you, to prosper you and to make you many times bigger than you are right now! Whose report are you going to believe? Even if they have done their worst, trust God to do His best! Hallelujah!

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ANAMIMNÉSKÓ (TO REMIND)

Spirit & Life Devotional
Wednesday Night, May 7
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

ANAMIMNÉSKÓ (TO REMIND)

2 Peter 1:12-13 ERV "You already know these things. You are very strong in the truth you have. But I am always going to help you remember them. While I am still living here on earth, I think it is right for me to remind you of them."

The essence of preaching and teaching is not to communicate new knowledge all the time: many times we need to be reminded of the things we already knew.

What we need is not a new word but a now word. I heard Joyce Meyer say that about 10 years ago, and it's true. In fact, the Holy Spirit only gives messages that are relevant for the now. Even new words are for the now. God's word is always relevant, always fresh. Hallelujah.

In the midst of trouble, may you be reminded of a word of deliverance. When you feel pain, may you be reminded of a comforting word. And when you feel like about to err, may you be reminded of a word of caution.

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REGULATED BY THE WORD

Spirit & Life Devotional
Wednesday Morning, May 7
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

REGULATED BY THE WORD

1 Samuel 15:11 AMP "I regret making Saul king, for he has turned back from following Me and has not performed My commands. And Samuel was grieved and angry [with Saul], and he cried to the Lord all night."

God asked Saul to go and completely destroy the Amalekites for trying to stop the Israelites from entering into the Promised Land as they came out of Egypt. Saul went with his army as instructed, and in the process, thought it better and wise to retain the good things that were seen in that land for themselves and also spared the king’s life.

God's interpretation of Saul’s action was that Saul had stopped following Him. That's noteworthy. It means that a decision not to do any of the word of God is a choice to stop following Him and to follow our own will. At that point we become lord of our lives.

We've got to be careful. Going to church is not what pleases God, doing His word is what's important to Him! We sin every time we do not do the word. 1 John 3:4 says, "Everyone who commits (practices) sin is guilty of lawlessness; for [that is what] sin is, lawlessness (the breaking, violating of God's law by transgression or neglect - being unrestrained and unregulated by His commands and His will).

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IMPACTING YOUR WORLD

Spirit & Life Devotional
Tuesday Night, May 6
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

IMPACTING YOUR WORLD

Luke 14:34-35 ERV “Salt is a good thing. But if the salt loses its salty taste, you can’t make it salty again. It is worth nothing. You can’t even use it as dirt or dung. People just throw it away. “You people who hear me, listen!”

We are either influencing lives or we are useless! Life is not only about eating, drinking, sleeping, dressing up, working for money and having fun. If that's all we were meant to do, then we are no better than animals.

There are people who just disappear from the scene after a while; once known, once important, once powerful, once great, and once influential, but they are suddenly no more; they are still alive but not anymore. They retired too soon!

Never stop being salty. There's always someone out there whose life you can touch. Either do more or reach out to more. Refuse to be worthless. To be worthless is to be worth less. Impact your world with the grace you have received, with your knowledge, with your gifts, talents and resources.

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THE CALLING OF GOD

Spirit & Life Devotional
Tuesday Morning, May 6
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

THE CALLING OF GOD

Amos 7:15 ERV "I was a shepherd and the Lord took me from following the sheep. The Lord said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to my people Israel.’"

God can call anyone, at anytime and anywhere. He can choose to use the most unlikely people to do His work.

In these last days, we're going see a lot of people entering into the ministry; professionals and non-professionals; the learned and the unlearned; rich and poor; the famous and the unknown. God is going to use them to reach people in their circles. Even those that are considered as chief sinners and rebels would be converted, filled with the Spirit, and sent into field. Hallelujah!

As at 2013, it was said that 2.87 billion people have never heard the gospel. And we seriously want Jesus to return soon? We must be delusional to think that. God is calling a lot of people and they are still resisting His will. It's time to say yes to the Lord; it's time for us all to get involved with the work of the ministry! Stop relying on someone else to do the work; it's our collective responsibility.

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THE POWER OF SELF PERCEPTION

Spirit & Life Devotional
Monday Morning, May 5
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

THE POWER OF SELF PERCEPTION

Romans 6:11 ERV "In the same way, you should see yourselves as being dead to the power of sin and alive for God through Christ Jesus."

Self perception is the idea you have of the kind of person that you are: how you see yourself; what you think about yourself; what you believe about yourself; what you say about yourself.

What you believe about yourself becomes real. You've got to understand this! Until you begin to see yourself that way, think of yourself that way, and speak of yourself that way, the chances of ever becoming that way will be very slim. Wishing and desiring to be something is not enough; it's your perception that makes it happen.

And that's what faith is about. Jesus said, When you pray, believe that you have received it, and then you will have it. The purpose of prayer is to change our perception. Also, whenever you see a picture of who you are in the Scripture, change your perception to whatever God has said about you. That's how it manifests physically!

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OUR BURDEN BEARER

Spirit & Life Devotional
Sunday Night, May 4
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

OUR BURDEN BEARER

Psalms 68:19 ERV "Praise the Lord! Every day he helps us with the loads we must carry. He is the God who saves us. Selah"

You know, there are certain loads we cannot ignore: pressures of business and work, payment of bills, raising children, etc. Sometimes the burdens are too much to bear and we long for help.

I've got good news for you tonight! Our God is a burden bearer! Psalm 68:19 says He helps us with the loads we must carry every day! Hallelujah!

1 Peter 5:7 says, "Give all your worries to him, because he cares for you." There's no need carrying all those burdens alone when you have a divine offer of assistance. Take your burdens to God in prayer.

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BE A BIG TIME GIVER

Spirit & Life Devotional
Sunday Morning, May 4
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

BE A BIG TIME GIVER

2 Corinthians 8:7 ERV "You are rich in everything—in faith, in speaking ability, in knowledge, in the willingness to help, and in the love you learned from us. So now we want you to be rich in this work of giving too."

God will never ask you not to give to Him. He has already asked us to give, so don't expect a counter instruction. Luke 6:38 says, "Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.”

The believers in Macedonia were poor, but we are told that they were very generous givers! They gave more than they could afford and begged again and again to give! This they did willing, not being cajoled; they didn't need someone to preach a wonderful sermon before they were inspired to give.

It is more blessed to give than to receive! Decide to become a big time giver! Give to the poor; give for the work of God; give and keep giving! The widow of Zarephath opened the door of prosperity by giving Elijah of her last meal! Why? Because God loves cheerful and generous givers, and because giving is a proof of love: God is love! Hallelujah!

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BATTLE READY BELIEVERS

Spirit & Life Devotional
Saturday Night, May 3
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

BATTLE READY BELIEVERS

Nahum 2:1 ERV "An enemy is coming to attack you, so guard the strong places of your city. Watch the road. Get ready for war. Prepare for battle!"

The best soldiers are always ready for battle. Even when they are asleep someone is watching or they sleep with an eye open as it were. They are always in a state of readiness in mind and body to do their duty.

The Bible calls us soldiers. And we are told that Satan our adversary goes about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. Yes your faith might be strong and the devil cannot harm you, but how about your children, how about your friends, and how about your brethren? The duty of a soldier isn't to protect himself; he protects a people!

Ephesians 6:11-13 ERV says "Wear the full armor of God. Wear God’s armor so that you can fight against the devil’s clever tricks. Our fight is not against people on earth. We are fighting against the rulers and authorities and the powers of this world’s darkness. We are fighting against the spiritual powers of evil in the heavenly places. That is why you need to get God’s full armor. Then on the day of evil, you will be able to stand strong. And when you have finished the whole fight, you will still be standing." May you never fall in Jesus' name.

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BREAKING THE WALLS OF SEPARATION

Spirit & Life Devotional
Saturday Morning, May 3
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

BREAKING THE WALLS OF SEPARATION

Ephesians 4:5 ERV "There is one Lord, one faith, and one baptism."

The church as it is today is not one; and it has affected our growth. Instead of churches reaching out to the lost, much of our activities are aimed at winning members of other churches to ours. There are churches who won't even mix up with other churches. I must say that no reason for that is good enough; except where the other "church" has been proven to be a false one.

Jesus did not come to establish denominations and neither of the apostles established denominations. What they had were churches in different locations where believers worshipped freely with one another and enjoyed the ministries of all the apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers.

It's time for the church to break all the walls that have prevented genuine fellowship among all God's children. These walls must first be destroyed in our minds. We must stop creating walls, trying hard to protect what has never been ours, since all sheep are for Christ! There must be genuine love and fellowship among us, serving our Lord and submitting to each other.

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YOUR BEST SOURCE OF ADVICE

Spirit & Life Devotional
Friday Night, May 2
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

YOUR BEST SOURCE OF ADVICE

1 Chronicles 19:3 ERV "But the Ammonite leaders said to Hanun, “Don’t be fooled. David didn’t really send these men to comfort you or to honor your dead father! No, David sent his servants to spy on you and your land. He really wants to destroy your country!”

Hanun was a young king; his dad had just died and David thought to show kindness to him because of a favour done by his dad to him, David. But Hanun, being ignorant of the history between David and his dad was misled by his advisers to think that David was out to hurt him. Hanun lost a golden opportunity to cement ties with Israel because of one wrong advice.

We all have our special advisers whether they are being paid or not; they are our friends, colleagues, relations, and classmates. Advice is good and we are encouraged to seek advice before taking actions. Proverbs 11:14, Proverbs 24:6 and Proverbs 15:22 underscores the need for advice. But we've got to be careful. The Word of God remains your best source of advice.

Psalm 1:1-2 AMP says "BLESSED (HAPPY, fortunate, prosperous, and enviable) is the man who walks and lives not in the counsel of the ungodly [following their advice, their plans and purposes], nor stands [submissive and inactive] in the path where sinners walk, nor sits down [to relax and rest] where the scornful [and the mockers] gather. But his delight and desire are in the law of the Lord, and on His law (the precepts, the instructions, the teachings of God) he habitually meditates (ponders and studies) by day and by night."

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DIVINE TESTS AND REWARDS

Spirit & Life Devotional
Friday Morning, May 2
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

DIVINE TESTS AND REWARDS

John 6:5-6 ERV "Jesus looked up and saw a crowd of people coming toward him. He said to Philip, “Where can we buy enough bread for all these people to eat?” He asked Philip this question to test him. Jesus already knew what he planned to do."

There's a difference between temptations and tests. God tests and Satan tempts. The purpose of temptations is to make you sin but tests are to test your faith in God and to know what you'd do in a particular situation.

We are tested from time to time the same way students are tested after being taught. Abraham was tested with his son Isaac and Abraham was willing to give God his only son. But how many of us would gladly give God the last money in our accounts when there's no hope of getting it back? How many of us would pay our tithes when the bills nearly equal the income? What if you are being tested?

We are rewarded for every test that we pass. Here's what God said to Abraham: “You were ready to kill your only son for me. Since you did this for me, I make you this promise: I, the Lord, promise that I will surely bless you and give you as many descendants as the stars in the sky. There will be as many people as sand on the seashore. And your people will live in cities that they will take from their enemies. Every nation on the earth will be blessed through your descendants. I will do this because you obeyed me.” Hallelujah!

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WORKING WITH PURPOSE

Spirit & Life Devotional
Thursday Night, May 1
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

WORKING WITH PURPOSE

Isaiah 49:4 ERV "I said, “I worked hard for nothing. I wore myself out, but I did nothing useful. I used all my power, but I did not really do anything. So the Lord must decide what to do with me. He must decide my reward.”

It's no news that unemployment is a big problem in this country and all over the world. We saw stadiums filled with people who wanted jobs at a particular government agency a short while ago. Getting admission into tertiary institutions is also a Herculean task for many.

For the above reasons, dreams and visions are being set aside for survival; not many people are fulfilling their purposes, they are just working in order to meet their needs. That's one cause of unhappiness for lots of workers. Businessmen too; a lot of business people wouldn't have been businessmen if conditions were okay.

If you have discovered your purpose then you must have a plan to fulfil that purpose before you die. Consider what you're doing now as a temporal work until you can start doing what truly delights you and pleases the Lord.

HAPPY WORKERS' DAY!

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BEING DIFFERENT

Spirit & Life Devotional
Thursday Morning, May 1
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

BEING DIFFERENT

Titus 3:1-2 ASV "Put them in mind to be in subjection to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready unto every good work, to speak evil of no man, not to be contentious, to be gentle, showing all meekness toward all men."

Christianity is not only about claiming the promises of God and manifesting the power of God; it is about being like Christ, being different from the rest of the world, influencing people positively and manifesting the love of God to all men.

People complain about the number of churches springing up, not because it is wrong to open churches, but because they've seen no real difference between them and us. We abuse our leaders and bosses just as they do, we quarrel with people like they do, we break laws as they do, we talk like them, and our relationships and marriages are no different from theirs.

Choose to be different. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, and self-control: and, I love what the apostle said, against such there is no law! We can never be wrong and faulted manifesting the fruit of the Spirit. Here's what God wants; for men to be drawn to Him as a result of our lives.

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