THE LORD'S SUPPORT SYSTEM

Spirit & Life Devotional
Monday, June 30
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

Hebrews 10:24 ERV "We should think about each other to see how we can encourage each other to show love and do good works."

THE LORD'S SUPPORT SYSTEM

Christianity is a life of love and the church is a group of people, not of one person alone. God designed the church in such a way that makes us dependent on one another. "The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the foot, “I don’t need you!” We will always need each other and it's very important that we belong to good churches and cells where we are constantly encouraged and strengthened.

The Holy Spirit wants us to have deep love for one another in these last days. That's the only way some of us would remain standing till the end. The Lord wants us to be proactive in caring for one another: in other words, we are to take steps to ensure that the faith of our brothers and sisters are intact and that they are in good spiritual condition.

Don't wait until you get to prayer meeting before you pray for others, do that at home first. Don’t wait until you are in the follow up unit before visiting your brethren, do it personally, especially when you know that they aren't strong in faith. Call to know why they weren't in church, call to know how they are, how they are faring, how their children are, and so on. Romans 12:10 says we should love each other in a way that makes you feel close like brothers and sisters. That's what God wants His church to be - a support system.

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Prayer Point

Our prayer point for today is from 1 John 2:19 "These enemies were in our group, but they left us. They did not really belong with us. If they were really part of our group, they would have stayed with us. But they left. This shows that none of them really belonged with us."

You don't need everybody in order to succeed. And there are offers well packaged with lovely wrappers that are actually dangerous. When God sows wheat the enemy comes at night to sow tares. When God has planned something good for you Satan comes with something that looks like it but it's not good at all. Therefore in the name of Jesus, let all enemies disguised as friends in our lives be exposed; let them be removed and replaced with genuine friends and helpers; help us to know what and what not to accept, and to know what is already in our lives that we need to put away. Amen.

ACCEPTING CRITICISM GRACEFULLY

Spirit & Life Devotional
Sunday, June 29
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

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!"

ACCEPTING CRITICISM GRACEFULLY

There have been times in my life when I was scared to go to church because of something wrong I did; I was afraid that some prophet would see a vision of what I had done and rebuke me publicly. But God is merciful. His aim is not to embarrass us, but to restore us back to fellowship with Himself. Hallelujah!

I respect people who can tell me that what I'm doing is wrong or that I can do something better; to me, they love me more! They may not always be right, but I appreciate their concern. Yes, I believe what the Bible says, that open rebuke is better than secret love.

Not everyone who tries to correct you is a hater. Not all critisms are from Satan the accuser of the brethren. God corrects and discipline those He loves: ask David; we all need at least a Nathan in our lives through whom God can call us to order. A true preacher will not only tell you what you want to hear and things that are pleasant; he'll also tell you about things you need to stop doing, things that can prevent you from going to heaven, and about things that won't make you have a great life here on earth. I like what William Arthur Ward said, "To bear defeat with dignity, to accept criticism with poise, to receive honors with humility -- these are marks of maturity and graciousness."

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A HIGHER LIFE (WALKING IN LOVE)

Spirit & Life Devotional
Saturday, June 28
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

1 Corinthians 4:12-13 ERV "When people insult us, we ask God to bless them. When people treat us badly, we accept it. When people say bad things about us, we try to say something that will help them. But people still treat us like the world’s garbage—everyone’s trash."

A HIGHER LIFE (WALKING IN LOVE)

Years ago, I was walking by the house of someone, I don't know who, and I heard him saying, "Die, die, die, die!" I was shocked and I trembled. That was supposed to be a prayer to the Almighty God! Well, I thought it was witchcraft.

I'm sorry to say this, but some of us who say we are born again are wicked and heartless. Some of us wouldn't mind stoning people to death, the way they did in the Old Testament. And yet, we are beneficiaries of God's grace and mercies! I question a faith that does not forgive! I question a faith that seeks the destruction of souls for whom God sent His Son to die. And I question a faith that only seeks vengeance.

Some of us have made ourselves slaves of the actions of other people. How? Because our attitudes, actions and reactions are dependent on their own actions. It shouldn't be so. As a Christian, you must be guided by the word and be controlled by the Spirit such that you are unaffected by what people say about you or what they do to you; their actions may hurt, but you refuse to let it change you and how you see them. That's a higher life; walking in love.

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BEING WITH THE LORD

Spirit & Life Devotional
Friday, June 27
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

Exodus 34:29 ERV "When Moses came down from Mount Sinai, he carried the two stone tablets of the agreement. Because he had talked with the Lord, his face was shining, but he did not know it."

BEING WITH THE LORD

The greatest transformation of a man happens in the presence of the Lord. Men who have affected their generations and stood out from other men were men who spent quality time with God. No man spends time with God and returns the same: he returns renewed, refreshed and re-energized; he becomes unstoppable and his full potentials are unleashed! Hallelujah!

2 Corinthians 3:18 lets us know that every time we are with God we are become more and more like Him. Oh my God! Do you understand that? Do you realize the implications of that? No wonder that the members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John; they knew that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. The only reason those ordinary fishermen were gaining national attention was because they had been with Jesus!

No, I'm not talking about going to church! Because some people go to church to meet with the pastor, to show off their new clothes and to attend meetings! I'm talking about men like Jacob who would keep other men away in order to have a one on one encounter with the Lord; men like David who don't care about who is beside them or who is looking at them; and men like Joshua, Peter, James and John who are never time conscious in His presence!

O Lord, I want to be where You are, dwelling in Your presence feasting at Your table, surrounded by Your glory in Your presence, that's where I always want to be, I just want to be, I just want to be with You!

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A FLASH IN THE PAN

Spirit & Life Devotional
Thursday, June 26
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

Mark 4:5-6 ERV "Other seed fell on rocky ground, where there was not enough dirt. It grew quickly there because the soil was not deep. But then the sun rose and the plants were burned. They died because they did not have deep roots."

A FLASH IN THE PAN

The rocky ground seems to be a better place to be on; it's cooler on the rock and you can have a better view, but the soil is dirty and you have to disappear for a season. The naive seed considers the limelight and all the other things it thinks it will benefit by being on the rock, and what it will lose by being in the soil, it chooses to stay on the rock and immediately shines! But a few months later, when it should have started sprouting from the ground, it begins to die because even though the rock is a beautiful place, it isn't ideal for a seed!

A lot of us have been deceived by appearances. We have chosen to be in places that seem to be cool and ideal instead of where God actually wanted us to be. God develops men in the wilderness before releasing them to the world, but because the wilderness is an uncultivated, uninhabited and inhospitable area, because the wilderness is a neglected and abandoned place, we refused to stay in the wilderness, thinking we would die there, we opted for somewhere else, therefore we have not been made. We went to places where we quickly made headlines and rose faster, but we did not last. We ended up aa flashes in the pan.

Give God a chance! Stop trying to have your way all the time. Let God make you, let Him take you through the processes. A grain of wheat must fall to the ground and die before it can grow and produce much more wheat. If it never dies, it will never be more than a single seed. No pain, no gain. If you do not endure the suffering that is only for a while, you will not enjoy the glory that will last forever!

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IN SEARCH OF KINDNESS

Spirit & Life Devotional
Wednesday, June 25
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

Ruth 2:2 ERV "One day Ruth, the Moabite, said to Naomi, “I think I will go to the fields. Maybe I can find someone who will be kind to me and let me gather the grain they leave in their field.” Naomi said, “Fine, daughter, go ahead.”

IN SEARCH OF KINDNESS

Not many things will come to your house looking for you; many times, you have to go out and get them. Did you notice that Jesus said we would have to seek before we find? Finding is only assured when we go seeking for whatever we intend to find. It's lazy people who wait at home for the blessings to come; no, it's only poverty that would visit them! Goodness and mercy follows because you are going somewhere not sitting idly!

Ruth wouldn't wait for some miracle phone call from someone she didn't know; she returned with Naomi broke, with nothing, and they were in dire need; Ruth didn’t start asking for addresses of their rich relations, or for phone numbers of important people, neither did she go and register for welfare or sell her body; she went to the field hoping to meet someone who would allow her work. She didn't only get a job, she got a husband and became a descendant of Christ!

Your problem might just be how long you sleep, listen to music, chat, browse and watch television. Haven't you heard that nothing happens until something moves? Albert Einstein so. So move! You know what you want, go for it and God will meet you on the way. Kindness is at the door waiting for you to get up, to get dressed and to move!

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OVERCOMING NEGATIVE PEER PRESSURE

Spirit & Life Devotional
Tuesday, June 24
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

Romans 11:4 ERV "But what answer did God give to Elijah? God said, “I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have never given worship to Baal.”

OVERCOMING NEGATIVE PEER PRESSURE

Your peers are basically your equals, physically, socially, educationally, financially, politically, and so on. In this case, they include your 'friends', colleagues, course mates, associates, partners, neighbours, etc. It also includes people of same sex and even religious backgrounds. The list is endless.

That something is being done by virtually everybody doesn't make it right in the sight of God. The voice of the people is not the voice of God many times! When the Tower of Babel was being built, all men pursued that agenda but God was against it. That others do it is not enough reason to do it! While every one else bowed down to Haman, Mordecai alone refused not minding the consequences of his disobedience to the king’s order.

In a day when everything has become acceptable and ideal, we must insist on doing things God's way. That everyone is stealing public funds doesn’t make it okay; that people are living together, sleeping together and having kids before marriage doesn't make it okay; God will not judge you and I based on the prevalent culture and practices of our time, it will be based on His word. Stand out! Let them call you names if they desire, refuse to compromise. Remember, a faithful man shall abound with blessings.

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BRINGING BLESSINGS TO YOUR HOUSE

Spirit & Life Devotional
Monday, June 23
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

BRINGING BLESSINGS TO YOUR HOUSE

Ezekiel 44:30 ERV "And the first part of the harvest from every kind of crop will be for the priests. You will also give the priests the first part of your flour. This will bring blessings to your house."

I'm sure that you want blessings that will abide in your house; blessings for today and for tomorrow, blessings that will endure from generation to generation, blessings for your entire family, all kinds of blessings.

David was one person that knew the importance of the blessing in his house. He literally begged for it: he prayed, "Now, please, bless my family. Let them stand before you and serve you forever. Lord GOD, you yourself said these things. You yourself blessed my family with a blessing that will continue forever.” 2 Samuel 7:29 ERV. David did everything he could to attract the blessing to his house; 2 Samuel 6:12 says that when he heard that God blessed the house of Obed Edom because of the Ark, he immediately mobilized people to go and bring the Ark to his own house! No wonder we are still talking about the house of David till this day, thousands of years after his death. 

This kind of blessing doesn’t come by toiling hard from morning till night everyday of your life; you can become rich today through your effort but only the blessing can guarantee eternal fulfilment. Only the blessing can ensure that your descendants have a great life. Education is not the greatest thing to give your children, it is the blessing! Go for the blessing for your house today!

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POWER IN THE NAME OF JESUS

Spirit & Life Devotional
Sunday Morning, June 22
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

POWER IN THE NAME OF JESUS

Luke 10:17 ERV "When the 72 followers came back from their trip, they were very happy. They said, “Lord, even the demons obeyed us when we used your name!”

Jesus sent 72 ordinary men to preach the gospel and to heal the sick. They went, and did exploits in the name of Jesus. Hallelujah!

There's power in the name of Jesus! If you have never used the name of Jesus before I dare you to use it now! It is the greatest power anywhere; darkness cannot withstand that name; demons flee when we declare that name; at the mention of the name of Jesus, every knee bows and every tongue confesses that Jesus is Lord!

Right now, in the name of Jesus, I declare you free of any form of sickness; be healed of arthritis in the name of Jesus! I command the pain in your foot to disappear now, in the name of Jesus! Begin to hear perfectly in the name of Jesus! Be healed in the name of Jesus! Receive your miracles now in the name of Jesus! So shall it be in the name of Jesus! He who the Son of Man sets free is free indeed. You are free in the name of Jesus!

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CHRIST-LIKE LEADERSHIP

Spirit & Life Devotional
Saturday Morning, June 21
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

CHRIST-LIKE LEADERSHIP

Matthew 23:11-12 ERV "Whoever serves you like a servant is the greatest among you. People who think they are better than others will be made humble. But people who humble themselves will be made great."

Who's the boss? He's the decision maker, the one with the power to hire and fire, he's in charge and in control, he gives orders and sends people on errands. The boss is served; sometimes he's a bully and can even insult people. If the boss doesn't like you he can frustrate you, so we try as much as we can to please the boss so as to obtain favours.

Leadership makes people lords. We can even compare our leaders with kings and queens: consider the number of personal assistants working for our leaders; I read of a particular leader who had 952 personal assistants! We have also heard of leaders who you can't talk to standing, you have to kneel before them. And these same people will never kneel in worship before the Most High!

As believers, we must learn and practice humility. In His own words, Jesus said, “But you must not be called ‘Teacher.’ You are all equal as brothers and sisters. You have only one Teacher. And don’t call anyone on earth ‘Father.’ You have one Father. He is in heaven. And you should not be called ‘Master.’ You have only one Master, the Messiah." It's not about titles! It's about helping others succeed! I like what Paul said, "Love each other in a way that makes you feel close like brothers and sisters. And give each other more honor than you give yourself." Romans 12:10.

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FIGHTING YOUR BATTLES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD

Spirit & Life Devotional
Friday Morning, June 20
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

FIGHTING YOUR BATTLES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD

2 Chronicles 14:11 ERV "Asa called out to the Lord his God and said, “Lord, only you can help weak people against those who are strong! Help us, Lord our God! We depend on you. We fight against this large army in your name. Lord, you are our God! Don’t let anyone defeat you!”

Asa had an army of 580,000 men who carried swords and spears; Zerah the king of Ethiopia came against them with an army of 1,000,000 men and 300 chariots. But Asa was not moved by their number and skills and strength, he went out to meet them in the battle field.

A lot of times we are confronted by oppositions that seem greater than us. Hear me, it's a lie! There's no opposition greater than us because greater is He that is in us than he that's in the world! Asa knew this, and he prayed, "Help us, Lord our God! We depend on you. We fight against this large army in your name. Lord, you are our God! Don’t let anyone defeat you!”

Asa didn’t say, "Don't let anyone defeat us," he said to God, "Don't let anyone defeat you!" I don't care how big your opposition is, don't look at your size, see the greatness of your God! Never fight an enemy in your own name, you'd fail! Fight your battles in the name of Jesus! That's what David did: he said to Goliath, “You come to me using sword, spear, and javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord All-Powerful, the God of the armies of Israel. You have said bad things about him. Today the Lord will let me defeat you. I will kill you. I will cut off your head and feed your body to the birds and wild animals. And we will do the same thing to all the other Philistines too. Then all the world will know there is a God in Israel." Hallelujah!

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Healing Scriptures

Healing Scriptures

Isaiah 33:24
Psalm 41:3
Jeremiah 33:6
Romans 8:11
3 John 2
Psalm 91:9-10
Deuteronomy 7:15
Exodus 23:25
Malachi 4:2
Isaiah 58:6-8
Jeremiah 30:17
Exodus 15:26
1 Peter 2:24
Isaiah 53:5
Jeremiah 17:14
Psalm 30:2
Psalm 107:20
Matthew 8:3
Psalm 103:3

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SECRETS OF PERSONAL EFFECTIVENESS

Spirit & Life Devotional
Thursday Morning, June 19
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

SECRETS OF PERSONAL EFFECTIVENESS

Acts 6:3-4 ERV "So, brothers and sisters, choose seven of your men who have a good reputation. They must be full of wisdom and the Spirit. We will give them this work to do. Then we can use all our time to pray and to teach the word of God.”

The amount of time you put into an endeavour determines the level of your effectiveness, success and excellence. The more time you devote to your assignment the better you become at it. Success is a journey. How much time you devote to your purpose determines how long it will take for you to succeed in it.

Focus is essential for progress. The apostles refused to be distracted from their primary duties. A lot of us are not as effective as we should be because we have made ourselves Jack of all trades. To run faster you must drop some weight.

Delegate. Don’t attempt to do everything even if you're a superman. There are people in your life who are capable of handling certain responsibilities on your behalf; make use of them. If there are no capable hands then you must find teachable people with the right attitude who with time can handle those responsibilities. Cheers.

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HELP FROM THE LORD

Spirit & Life Devotional
Wednesday Morning, June 18
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

HELP FROM THE LORD

Psalms 121:1-2 ERV "I look up to the hills, but where will my help really come from? My help will come from the Lord, the Creator of heaven and earth."

We all need help: help to achieve our goals, dreams and visions, help to succeed in business and at work, help for expansion, help to graduate, to get a good job, to marry, to have children, to win our battles, for good health and so on.

When we need help we talk to our spouses, our doctors, parents, bankers, lawyers, consultants, special advisers, teachers, and friends. We rely on government, on NGOs or on some international agency, and many times we are disappointed. Not because these people don’t care or because they aren't willing to help; sometimes they even try their best, but they are limited and their best isn't always good enough.

You have the privilege of calling upon the Lord every time you need assistance. Stop looking up to the hills, God is a very present help for all places, all situations and all times. God is interested in helping you, and He is very capable too! He should be your first resort and not your last resort. Let Him lead you on what steps to take: when they needed wine He turned dirty water into the sweetest wine! Hallelujah!

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THE POWER OF LOVE

Spirit & Life Devotional
Tuesday Morning, June 17
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

THE POWER OF LOVE

1 Corinthians 13:7 ERV "Love never gives up on people. It never stops trusting, never loses hope, and never quits."

Everyone claims to be in love! But that's obviously not true. If it's true, then there would be no divorces, no abandoning of children, no heartbreaks, there would be peace, there would be second, third, and fourth chances, there would be forgiveness, no grudges, no malice, and less pain. We think that we love; how I wish we really did!

They say, "Once beaten twice shy." Meaning that when you have been hurt by something or someone you tend to avoid that person or thing. But love never gives up! It never stops trusting, never loses hope, and never quits! Love is a risk taker! It is always willing to try again, always believing for a change, always believing that things will get better; it is never shy. You say that love is foolish and weak; no, brave and wise are those who truly love!

Did I hear you say that love is not easy? Trying to love naturally isn't easy, that's why it is a fruit of the Spirit. True love is of God. There will always be reasons to give up on people: I sense that there's someone contemplating divorce, don't! Love your husband, he'll soon change if you love him with the love of the Lord. I know you've been hurt, refuse to stay hurt, love! Free yourself from the shackles of hate! Forgive your parents, forgive your boss, forgive your ex, forgive your children, forgive your molesters! Love must never end. Help us dear Lord!

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PROMISES OF DIVINE PROTECTION

Spirit & Life Devotional
Monday Morning, June 16
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

PROMISES OF DIVINE PROTECTION

Job 5:19-26 ERV "He will save you again and again. No evil will harm you. God will save you from death when there is famine. He will protect you from the sword when there is war. People might say bad things about you with their sharp tongues. But God will protect you. You will not be afraid when bad things happen! You will laugh at destruction and famine. You will not be afraid of wild animals! It is as if you have a peace treaty with the wild animals and the rocks in the field. You will live in peace because your tent is safe. You will count your property and find nothing missing. You will have many children. They will be as many as the blades of grass on the earth. You will be like the wheat that grows until harvest time. Yes, you will live to a ripe old age."

Speak in agreement with the word of God. It doesn't matter what's going on around you, no harm will befall you! It doesn't matter who is against you, you have already overcome! Both you, your family and your possessions shall be intact; you will not lose your health, you will not lose your money and you will not lose your life! You will live to see your children's children! Today, I decree and declare that you are delivered from fear! In the name of Jesus! Amen!

Have a blessed week.

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A FATHER'S LOVE

Spirit & Life Devotional
Sunday Morning, June 15
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

A FATHER'S LOVE

Titus 1:4 ERV "To Titus, a true son to me in the faith we share together. Grace and peace to you from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior."

Do you know why we have more epistles of Apostle Paul in the Bible? It's not because he loved to write or simply because he had so much knowledge and revelations, it's because as a spiritual father he was always concerned about the welfare and spiritual condition of his children. He wrote to guide his children, to encourage them, to caution them and to bless them.

Every time Paul wrote, he started by blessing his children: "Grace and peace to you from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Saviour." And he also let them know that he always prayed for them, that they were always on his mind and that he was eager to see them again. He was a true father and I don't think anyone would not desire a father like him.

If you have been privileged to be a father then you must be a father indeed. Fatherhood is a calling! It is the responsibility of fathers to produce a greater generation. Being a father, you must learn to reach out to your children even if they are the worst; the father of the prodigal son ran to meet his son while he was still far away! You must never disown your children; you will give account to God. Forgive as God forgives you. Pray for them and bless them always. Manifest the love of God to your children.

May God bless all fathers in the world! 

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TAKING ACTION

Spirit & Life Devotional
Saturday Morning, June 14
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

TAKING ACTION

Nehemiah 4:9 ERV "But we prayed to our God. And we put guards on the walls to watch day and night so that we could be ready to meet them."

Prayer is not an excuse for abdication of duty or responsibility; instead, prayer should give you the courage to take action. We do not pray so that God will do all the work; no, we pray so that God will help us do our work better.

The reason why nothing is happening is because you have done nothing. You've been praying and praying and praying, maybe waiting for an angel to bring you a message from heaven: lol. Listen to me; sometimes you have to walk by faith; God has heard your prayers and He has released grace; take action!

The Israelites prayed, and they put guards on the wall. Prayer should not prevent you from locking your doors, if you leave your doors open thieves will come in! Do you understand? Prayer should never be used as an excuse for negligence, laziness and carelessness: prayer is an invitation to God to be with you, to be your senior partner, and to guide you; prayer is an expression of trust in God and an acknowledgement of your need for Him; prayer makes wise and gives understanding: after you pray, take action!

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AN IMPORTANT REMINDER

Spirit & Life Devotional
Friday Morning, June 13
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

AN IMPORTANT REMINDER

1 Timothy 6:7-8 ERV "When we came into the world, we brought nothing. And when we die, we can take nothing out. So, if we have food and clothes, we will be satisfied with that."

According to Mail Online, "A Northern California couple out walking their dog in February 2013 on their Gold Country property stumbled across a modern-day bonanza: $10million in rare, mint-condition gold coins buried in the shadow of an old tree."

"Experts say it's likely whoever owned the property 150 years ago buried the coins as a kind of California gold rush-era bank - to save as an investment and for a rainy day. The coins were then forgotten for over a century." Whoever kept those coins in the ground died before he could use them, and probably before he could prepare a will. Both him and his generations lost what he worked so hard to accumulate. Sad.

Brothers and sisters, I wish to remind you today that when we die, we would leave with nothing. God's ultimate goal is not to give us the whole world; His ultimate goal is to have an everlasting relationship with us. If you become rich, thank God, don't let it affect you negatively, have a proper perspective about it, maintain a right attitude, use it well; and if you are not as rich as you desire, first be grateful and content! It's okay to desire more, but it should not affect your joy, your senses and your understanding of the truth.

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GOD WANTS TO USE YOU

Spirit & Life Devotional
Thursday Morning, June 12
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

GOD WANTS TO USE YOU

Malachi 1:1 ERV "This is a message from the Lord to Israel. God used Malachi to tell this message to the people."

Malachi means "my messenger", or you can say, God's messenger. Bible Scholars have had arguments about who wrote the Book of Malachi; some say it's Ezra, others say Zechariah, and others conclude that the author is anonymous. But what matters is that God used Malachi to tell deliver His word.

John 3:34 says that "The one whom God sent speaks God’s words because God gives the Spirit generously." When God sends a man, He sends the man to communicate His thoughts, His will, His plans and His purposes to other men. And He empowers the man for the assignment. Because God is a Spirit, He will always need men.

God wants to use you! He needs you to speak on His behalf to your world. God wants to use you to touch lives, and to bless souls all around the world! You need no special qualifications; there are no special attributes; you need no special gifts either; only be willing and He will enable you. Say, Lord, if You can use anything, then You can use me!

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SET APART FOR GREATNESS

Spirit & Life Devotional
Wednesday Morning, June 11
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

SET APART FOR GREATNESS

Matthew 13:55-56 ERV "Isn’t he just the son of the carpenter we know? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? And don’t all his sisters still live here in town? How is he able to do these things?”

The Scripture says that Jesus went to the town where He grew up. He taught the people in the synagogue, and they were amazed. They said, “Where did this man get such wisdom and this power to do miracles?"

Familiarity breeds contempt. Just because they knew Jesus' story, they knew that He did not attend school, they knew His family background, they did not understand why God would elevate the son of a carpenter and make Him better than them and their own children; so they were envious and did not honour Him as they should. Who lost? They did! Jesus did not do miracles there because they did not believe in Him.

There are some of you reading this; God is going to set you apart from your family members, your neighbours, your colleagues and your peers; in a few years from now, you are going to be many times bigger than them all - richer, powerful and influential! What God will do with you will be amazing. They might hate you for it, but there's nothing they would be able to do about it! It would be the Lord’s doing, and it will be marvellous in the eyes of all! Hallelujah!

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A SPIRITUAL POWERHOUSE

Spirit & Life Devotional
Tuesday Morning, June 10
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

A SPIRITUAL POWERHOUSE

1 Samuel 10:6 ERV "Then the Lord’S Spirit will come on you with great power. You will be changed. You will be like a different man. You will begin to prophesy with these prophets."

When God, the King of kings, the Lord of lords, the Almighty God, the glorious God, inhabits a human body, it is impossible for that body to remain the same. But for grace, that body would explode same way a bulb explodes when the voltage is high. When God stepped on Mount Sinai, Exodus 19:18 says the mountain shook!

Have you received the Holy Spirit? I assure you that you are no longer the weak person that you used to be; you are full of power! I tell you, what's on your inside is more glorious than what Samson carried! You may look ordinary but you are not! You are the temple of the Lord, a powerhouse! No wonder the shadow of Peter healed the sick! Do you understand?

Don't be afraid to lay your hands on the sick; power will flow from within you and cast that sickness out! Don't be afraid of issuing decrees in the name of Jesus, there's sufficient power in you to bring that word to pass! Greater is He that is in us than he that's in the world! Resist that devil and he will flee! Hallelujah!

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MANIFESTING THE WISDOM OF GOD

Spirit & Life Devotional
Monday Morning, June 9
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

MANIFESTING THE WISDOM OF GOD

James 3:17 ERV "But the wisdom that comes from God is like this: First, it is pure. It is also peaceful, gentle, and easy to please. This wisdom is always ready to help people who have trouble and to do good for others. This wisdom is always fair and honest."

We act in accordance with our wisdom. In other words, we do the things that we think is right. And it is the kind of wisdom a person has that determines what he does, what he says and how he lives.

It is the wisdom of some people to use derogatory words on others; it is the wisdom of some to cheat others; it is the wisdom of some to be quarrelsome, they have known no other way - they quarrel at home, at work and in school; and it is the wisdom of some to hoard things, never helping anyone else. This wisdom is not of God.

God is pure therefore His wisdom is first pure. His wisdom is easy to please! If you're one of those it's difficult to please, then you're not functioning by the wisdom of God! The only way we can stand out is by living by the wisdom of God. Our actions, our speech, our interactions must be manifestations of the wisdom of God everyday.

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WISE PEOPLE GO TO CHURCH

Spirit & Life Devotional
Sunday Morning, June 8
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

WISE PEOPLE GO TO CHURCH

Proverbs 18:15 ERV "Wise people want to learn more, so they listen closely to gain knowledge."

People who have an intense desire for knowledge are wise; wise people never feel satisfied with the knowledge that they already have, they always want more and more, and cherish every opportunity to learn.

The church of God is a school. In a good church, we receive divine instructions both for life and for eternity. God's will for our lives, His plans and His purposes are revealed every time the word is taught, and we are equipped with new revelations and light to reign in life.

Refuse to stay at home whenever you should be in the house of God. Wise people listen! In other words, they never think that they know it all; they humble themselves and receive instructions from the lips of others. Look beyond the man for he speaks by divine inspiration. God has a word for you; don't miss it. Go to church!

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LED BY THE SPIRIT

Spirit & Life Devotional
Saturday Morning, June 7
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

LED BY THE SPIRIT

Galatians 2:1-2 ERV "After 14 years I went back to Jerusalem with Barnabas and took Titus with me. I went there because God showed me that I should go."

One of the greatest things that can happen to anyone is to be led by the Spirit. Why? Because He is omniscient and omnipotent. He knows the past, the present and the future, and He is strong enough to preserve and protect wherever He leads.

Israel was preserved by God during a seven year famine that affected the whole world because many years before that God had led Joseph to Egypt. Are you getting it? Joseph said, "God sent me here ahead of you so that I can save your people in this country." Hallelujah!

You may not have an idea of why God is leading you to a particular place at a particular time, or why He wants you to remain where you are even when things are not rosy there; you've got to trust Him knowing that He knows the end from the beginning and that all His plans for us are only good and not evil.

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LIVING WORDS

Spirit & Life Devotional
Friday Morning, June 6
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

LIVING WORDS

Ezekiel 18:9 ERV "He obeys my laws and studies my rules so that he can learn to be fair and dependable. He is good, so he will live.” This is what the Lord GOD said."

The word of God is not only to prepare us for heaven, the word of God is also for now; the word of God is for every day, for every occasion and for all times; the word of God is for our jobs, for our businesses, for our families, for school, for relationships, and every other thing.

We are encouraged to be doers of the word. Just as we are learning to use the word to live a life of holiness and to prosper, we should also use the word to develop good relationships with people, to live healthy lives, to raise our children, to live amicably and to resolve issues and challenges.

Each time the word comes to you, find out what you can and should do with it: also learn from it what not to do. God never gives us His word so we can only memorize it or teach others; He gives us His word so that we can become living words! A time should come when all our thoughts, words and actions are inspired by the word of God.

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PATIENT, BUT POWERFUL

Spirit & Life Devotional
Thursday Night, June 5
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

PATIENT, BUT POWERFUL

Nahum 1:3 ERV "The Lord is patient, but he is also very powerful! The Lord will punish the guilty; he will not let them go free. He will use whirlwinds and storms to show his power. People walk on the dusty ground, but he walks on the clouds."

Love is patient. That's one of the most important lessons I've ever learnt. When in love, you've got to be patient with those you love - patient enough to know them, to understand them, to tolerate them and to forgive them.

But patience is not a licence to continue to do wrong. Sometimes we push ourselves to do what we'll eventually regret. We take the patience of others for granted instead of appreciating it.

Thank God for His patience and love; we would all have been dead without it. But He's powerful enough to execute judgement and discipline erring children. Remember that. His grace is sufficient for us.

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USING YOUR FAITH

Spirit & Life Devotional
Thursday Morning, June 5
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

USING YOUR FAITH

Luke 17:6 ERV "The Lord said, “If your faith is as big as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Dig yourself up and plant yourself in the ocean!’ And the tree will obey you."

You will only get results when you use your faith. Miracles are products of faith. People who don't use their faith cannot be outstanding, they will have an ordinary life.

You use your faith by speaking. Jesus said that a man who has faith can say: therefore, there will be no manifestations until faith filled words start proceeding from your mouth. You've got to say what you want to see and what you want to happen.

What you say will happen if you have faith that it will happen. If you want money, for instance, believe that you will have it, then declare with your mouth that you will have it at a specified time. And you will have it! Use your faith now. The just shall live by faith!

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SUPER POWER

Spirit & Life Devotional
Wednesday Night, June 4
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

SUPER POWER

Exodus 8:18 ERV "The magicians used their magic and tried to do the same thing. But the magicians could not make lice come from the dust. The lice remained on the animals and the people."

There's a lot that the devil cannot do; fear and ignorance is what makes us ascribe more power to him.

Jesus power is super power! Hallelujah! There's nothing Jesus cannot do; His power is the greatest; all powers in the world, combined, are powerless compared to His! Greater is He that is in us than whoever or whatever is in the world!

Let me tell you something Satan cannot do; he cannot harm you because you are the apple of God's eye! What cannot be done to God cannot be done to you! So sleep like a baby, peacefully and without fear. And should the enemy appear in any form, resist him and he will flee from you!

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HELPING GOD'S SERVANTS

Spirit & Life Devotional
Wednesday Morning, June 4
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

HELPING GOD'S SERVANTS

Philippians 1:3-5 ERV "I thank God every time I remember you. And I always pray for all of you with joy. I thank God for the help you gave me while I told people the Good News. You helped from the first day you believed until now."

Apostle Paul said he thanked God every time he remembered the Philippians, that he always prayed for them with joy. Why? Because they always helped him! The Philippians helped Paul fulfill his ministry and that made them so dear to his heart.

It's that simple; people remember those who are always there for them. You know, people ask; "Hope you're praying for me?", or they request, "Please always pray for me," yet it never occurs to them to assist in anyway, some of them wouldn't even care to come worship with you for once: all they are interested in is to receive and keep receiving.

Someone said to me, “Pastors have a lot of money." No doubt, some do, but certainly not all. And helping goes beyond meeting their personal needs; how about helping him preach the gospel to a lot more people, meeting the needs of the church, helping his ministry grow, praying for him, etc? Galatians 6:6 says "Whoever is being taught God’s word should share the good things they have with the one who is teaching them." Yeah.

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CONTROLLING YOUR BODY

Spirit & Life Devotional
Monday Night, June 2
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

CONTROLLING YOUR BODY

1 Thessalonians 4:3-5 ERV "God wants you to be holy. He wants you to stay away from sexual sins. God wants each one of you to learn to control your own body. Use your body in a way that is holy and that gives honor to God. Don’t let your sexual desires control you like the people who don’t know God."

A lot of us have let ourselves become victims of our own emotions, and because we've not controlled our emotions we continue to do the wrong things even though it makes us feel sorrowful afterwards. For how long will that continue?

A man who has not conquered himself cannot conquer the world! Winning your flesh has to be your first major victory.

We still talk about Apostle Paul many years after he died: here's what he said, "So I run like someone who has a goal. I fight like a boxer who is hitting something, not just the air. It is my own body I fight to make it do what I want. I do this so that I won’t miss getting the prize myself after telling others about it." 1 Corinthians 9:26-27.

His grace is sufficient for us.

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CONTROLLING YOUR BODY

Spirit & Life Devotional
Monday Night, June 2
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

CONTROLLING YOUR BODY

1 Thessalonians 4:3-5 ERV "God wants you to be holy. He wants you to stay away from sexual sins. God wants each one of you to learn to control your own body. Use your body in a way that is holy and that gives honor to God. Don’t let your sexual desires control you like the people who don’t know God."

A lot of us have let ourselves become victims of our own emotions, and because we've not controlled our emotions we continue to do the wrong things even though it makes us feel sorrowful afterwards. For how long will that continue?

A man who has not conquered himself cannot conquer the world! Winning your flesh has to be your first major victory.

We still talk about Apostle Paul many years after he died: here's what he said, "So I run like someone who has a goal. I fight like a boxer who is hitting something, not just the air. It is my own body I fight to make it do what I want. I do this so that I won’t miss getting the prize myself after telling others about it." 1 Corinthians 9:26-27.

His grace is sufficient for us.

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STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS

Spirit & Life Devotional
Monday Morning, June 2
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS

Ecclesiastes 4:9 ERV "Two people are better than one. When two people work together, they get more work done."

Almost everyone has in them a desire to do more, to achieve more, to become more: sometimes, the key is forming strategic partnerships with others. I mean, even countries as big and powerful as they are form strategic partnerships to become better and stronger than they already are, and to protect their territories. At any level, it pays to co-operate with others.

"If one person falls, the other person can reach out to help. But those who are alone when they fall have no one to help them. If two people sleep together, they will be warm. But a person sleeping alone will not be warm. An enemy might be able to defeat one person, but two people can stand back-to-back to defend each other. And three people are even stronger. They are like a rope that has three parts wrapped together—it is very hard to break."

Strategic partnership is the key to accomplishing more and to achieving better results in any area of life - spiritually, economically, etc. And it has to be strategic; not everyone will make a formidable partner, not everyone will help you achieve your goals because not everyone shares your visions. Find someone who sees what you see and wants want you want. Find someone whose strengths complements your weaknesses and vice versa. That's how to make it work.

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PRAYING FOR OUR LEADERS

Spirit & Life Devotional
Sunday Morning, June 1
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

PRAYING FOR OUR LEADERS

Acts 23:4-5 ERV "The men standing near Paul said to him, “Are you sure you want to insult God’s high priest like that?”   Paul said, “Brothers, I did not know this man was the high priest. The Scriptures say, ‘You must not say bad things about a leader of your people.’”

Paul was being tried and after his first statement, the high priest asked men standing close to him to slap him. In anger Paul insulted the high priest. But he did not know the man was the high priest. He apologized immediately he knew, even though the high priest had done something unscriptural.

When David had the opportunity to kill King Saul, he didn't, instead he cut a corner of Saul’s robe. And he still felt bad about doing that! 1 Samuel 24:5-6 NLT says "But then David’s conscience began bothering him because he had cut Saul’s robe. He said to his men, “The lord forbid that I should do this to my lord the king. I shouldn’t attack the lord’s anointed one, for the lord himself has chosen him.”

But we have Christians attacking leaders verbally without any remorse! That's so wrong and ungodly! Your spiritual stature, political party, your ideologies, and your justifications don't matter, what pleases God is us praying for our leaders and all in authority (1 Timothy 2:2-3). We've got to stop attacking our leaders even when they are wrong; the king’s heart is in God’s hand and God can direct it in the right direction if we continue to pray.

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