Watch Out For Part 2!!!

Spirit & Life Devotional
Tuesday, June 30
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

Watch Out For Part 2!!!

2 Samuel 19.18 "Then a ferryboat went across to carry over the king’s household, and to do what he thought good. Now Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king when he had crossed the Jordan."

When David fled from Absalom, there was a man from the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei. He came out, cursing David continuously. And he threw stones at David and at all the servants of King David. Also Shimei cursed David, saying: “Come out! Come out! You bloodthirsty man, you rogue! The Lord has brought upon you all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned; and the Lord has delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom your son. So now you are  caught in your own evil, because you are a bloodthirsty man!”

In the mind of Shimei, David was finished! In his mind, there was no way David would recover from his loss! In his mind, David would never be king again! Therefore, he had the audacity to curse the king and throw stones at him!

Here's what Shimei did not know: that the downfall of a man is not the end of him! Shimei was obviously not a good student of the scriptures, else he would have known that though a righteous man falls seven times, yet he will rise again! Shimei thought it was over for David, he didn't know that when God is involved, it is never over until we win!

I feel like jumping out of my body right now! I've got a good word for someone today, everyone who mocked you will come and prostrate before you! Everyone who rejected you, ostracized you, wrote you off, and belittled you, they will all join others to celebrate you! In the name of Jesus! I tell you, it won't be long, your star will so shine, it will be like a dream, even your classmates and colleagues will be bewildered! The Part 1 may not have ended in your favour, but watch out for Part 2!!!

What a message to end the first half of the year! It's indeed being a year of achievements! Hallelujah!!!

Twitter: @PastorChinae
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God's Special And Uncommon Gifts

Spirit & Life Devotional
Monday, June 29
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

God's Special And Uncommon Gifts

Proverbs 19.14 "Houses and riches are an inheritance from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the Lord."

There are gifts or things that men can give you, but there are things that only God can give to you. Sometimes we are in a hurry and we miss out on what God has in store for us. It may "delay" a bit, but it always pays to wait for whatever comes from the Lord. Peninnah had her children early, Hannah didn't; but today, no one talks about the children of Peninnah, we don't even care to know them; but we know Samuel and even name our children after him!

James 1.17 says that "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning." Yea, when it's from God, it's not only good, it's perfect! Hallelujah! Some parents want to manipulate things to favour their children; dear parent, let go and let God, so that your children can get the very best!

There are jobs, but God wants to give you a lucrative one! There are many men, but God wants to give you a good man! There are many women too, but God wants to give you a prudent wife who will only bring joy to your life! What's the point in having a very expensive wedding only to get divorced a few years later, or to be miserable for the rest of your life? The blessing of God makes rich, and it comes without sorrow! We must learn to trust God; to wait patiently for Him; and to truly believe His word that He's got good plans for us. As this week progresses, and as we enter into the new month, new quarter, and into the second half of the year, my prayer for you is that you receive God's special and uncommon gifts. Amen!

Twitter: @PastorChinae
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Glory Only In God

Spirit & Life Devotional
Sunday, June 28
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

Glory Only In God

Judges 7.2 "And the Lord said to Gideon, 'The people who are with you are too many for Me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel claim glory for itself against Me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’"

Only God says something like that! You know why? Because He never shares His glory with any man. If it's what you can do all by yourself, God will stand aside; but if it's something beyond you, He will gladly assist you! That's just how He works! A lady once asked me to pray for her to be able to achieve something in order to get a reward, and I asked, "So you can get the glory, right?" I knew that God would be more glorified if she got the reward without much of her own effort.

Paul wrote to the Corinthians, "For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence."

And Moses warned the Israelites, “Be careful. Don’t forget the Lord your God! Be careful to obey the commands, laws, and rules that I give you today. Then you will have plenty to eat, and you will build good houses and live in them. Your cattle, sheep, and goats will grow large. You will get plenty of gold and silver. You will have plenty of everything. When that happens, you must be careful not to become proud. You must not forget the Lord your God. You were slaves in Egypt, but he made you free and brought you out of that land. Don’t ever say to yourself, ‘I got all this wealth by my own power and ability.’ Remember the Lord your God is the one who gives you power to do these things."

Remember Nebuchadnezzar. He said, “Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honor of my majesty?” That very hour God made him become like an animal and he was driven into the forest, where he lived for seven years eating grass like oxen; his body was wet with the dew, his hair had grown like eagles’ feathers and his nails like birds’ claws. Remember Herod too. He was arrayed in his royal apparel, sat on his throne and gave an oration to the people. And they kept shouting, “The voice of a god and not of a man!” Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and died.

Glory only in God!

Twitter: @PastorChinae
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You're Either In Or You're Out

Spirit & Life Devotional
Saturday, June 27
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

You're Either In Or You're Out

James 4.4 "Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God."

The closer we get to the end of the world, the clearer it would be who a person really is. There would be no sitting on the fence; you would be forced to declare your beliefs, because the true Christians will be persecuted. What's happening in the world today is a prelude to what is to come, and we must be prepared. The true church will be hated because of our refusal to compromise.

But even now, every day, every second, by the decisions we make, by our beliefs, associations and actions we are being separated. On one hand are the friends of God, on the other are the friends of the world. You can't be both! 1 John 2.15-17 says, "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever."

Romans 12.2 says, "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." The world is changing its definitions of good and bad, right and wrong; the truth is being twisted even by people who claim to be ministers of the gospel, even the Bible is being reinterpreted and used to justify sin. A lot of us have conformed to the world when we should have renewed our minds. As Jesus prophesied, the love of many of us is growing cold! Brothers and sisters, let's endure to the end, because it's only those who endure to the end, who remain steadfast and unmovable, that would be saved. His grace is sufficient for us.

Twitter: @PastorChinae
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Be Provoked

Spirit & Life Devotional
Friday, June 26
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

Be Provoked

Acts 17.16 "Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him when he saw that the city was given over to idols."

You cannot change what you are comfortable with. In other words, you will do nothing about whatever doesn't bother you. And the more people who are less bothered, the more likely that things would remain the same. But you can make a difference.

Anger is not a bad emotion. The cause of anger, and what you do in reaction to your anger, are what make anger good or bad. The truth is that if we are going to change our world, our nation, our communities, especially as Christians, we must first be provoked by the things that are going on right now. Jesus overturned tables of money changers and traders in the Temple because He was angry! Men like Martin Luther King Jr and William Wilberforce changed the world because they were provoked!

Ephesians 5.11 says, "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them." Do you know why we are not winning souls as much as we should? Do you know why there's so much corruption, sin and evil in the world despite the fact that there seems to be so many churches and churchgoers? Because a lot of us are not provoked within. We are comfortable with the things going on; we even applaud them; we just want to live in peace and not offend people; we don't want to be labelled. Brothers and sisters, we must be provoked to the point of action! I pray that the fire of God will burn within us as never before, causing us to speak out and take necessary actions. Amen.

Twitter: @PastorChinae
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Private Praise Parties

Spirit & Life Devotional
Thursday, June 25
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

Private Praise Parties

Acts 16.25 "And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them."

I know, a lot of us pray in private, but it seems that we have not learned to praise in private. We praise in church, in meetings and groups, but rarely offer praises to God alone. I think it's something you and I must learn to do.

Psalm 50.23 says, "Whoever offers praise glorifies Me; and to him who orders his conduct aright I will show the salvation of God.” And Psalm 149.5 says, "Let the saints be joyful in glory; let them sing aloud on their beds."

I call it a praise party! Open your mouth, sing and dance to the Lord! Paul and Silas were in chains, but they didn't let those chains stop them from singing praises to God! Who knows, they may have danced! It doesn't matter if you are on a hospital bed, Psalm 149:5 says to sing aloud on your bed! Believe me, that sickness would go as you sing praises to God! Stop complaining that you don't have a car! It's a great opportunity to sing praises to God as you walk to your destination! And if you have a car, you are privileged to play CDs that can aid you! The other prisoners heard them sing! So sing! Be free! Praise Him! And see your life and situations change... from glory to glory! Hallelujah!

Twitter: @PastorChinae
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Let God Be The Head

Spirit & Life Devotional
Wednesday, June 24
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

Let God Be The Head

2 Chronicles 13.12 "Now look, God Himself is with us as our head, and His priests with sounding trumpets to sound the alarm against you. O children of Israel, do not fight against the Lord God of your fathers, for you shall not prosper!”

Four hundred men went to war against eight hundred and prevailed, killing five hundred of them because their king acknowledged God as the Head of his army.

You'd be quick to say that God is the head of your life, your family, business, team, etc, if I ask, but is He truly the head? Do you always acknowledge Him as the head? Do you consult Him before you make decisions? It's more than having inscriptions on the wall of your house and office, you've got to relate with Him as one.

Be a man or woman whose life is regulated by the word of God. That's the real proof that you have made God the head of your life. Jesus said, “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?" (Luke 6:46). Please spend some time to think about the things you do - how you live, your work, your business, your family, your finances, your relationships - are your actions being guided by divine instructions? When God is the Head, and you're living by His word, then success and prosperity are guaranteed. Please let God be Head indeed.

Twitter: @PastorChinae
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Following Jesus

Spirit & Life Devotional
Tuesday, June 23
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

Following Jesus

Matthew 16.24 "Then Jesus said to His disciples, 'If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.'"

The chorus of a favourite hymn:

Follow! follow! I will follow Jesus!
Anywhere, everywhere, I will follow on!
Follow! follow! I will follow Jesus!
Everywhere He leads me I will follow on!

We sang it many times back then, that we would follow Jesus, every time and to every where He leads us. I sincerely hope that we are truly following Him; because following Him is not always going to be a pleasant experience! That's what many of us today don't seem to understand; to truly follow Jesus, you would have to pay a price! You would often have to give up something; you would have to inconvenience yourself many times! You would have to carry a customized cross, specially made for you, to follow Him!

Some of us won't even give up our sleep in order to go for evangelism; how often do we spend time with Him? You've got habits, bad ones, that you know you have to give up, but you're unwilling to take up your cross and truly follow Jesus. You're not in any department in your church because you're unwilling to give up some of your personal time to attend meetings and to work for God, and you think you're following Jesus? These I've mentioned are things anyone of us can do easily; understand that there are people out there following Jesus with bigger crosses! May we be true followers.

Please sing with me:

Take up my cross
Daily follow You
I’m not ashamed to shout
My love for You my Lord
Straight from my heart
I worship You
You are the reason for life

CHORUS:
Simply devoted to You, oh Lord
I lose my life to follow You
The life that I live, it’s not I that live
For me to live is Christ.

Twitter: @PastorChinae
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Give It A New Name

Spirit & Life Devotional
Monday, June 22
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

Give It A New Name

Genesis 2.19 "Out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them. And whatever Adam called each living creature, that was its name."

You see, from the very beginning God has always given man an opportunity to be part of the creative process along with Him. After God had created the animals and birds, He took them to Adam, and there was the first naming ceremony. The Bible says that whatever Adam called each living creature was its name.

Adam could have called them any name; God did not participate in the event; He delegated that duty to Adam. Are you beginning to understand what I'm saying? Let me explain further. Remember when Lazarus died, Jesus said to His disciples, “Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up.” Do you know what Jesus did, He gave death a new name!

When you are faced with unpleasant situations, it's not a time to cry and wallow in self pity, it's an opportunity for you to be a part of the creative process! Perform a naming ceremony! Whatever you call it is what it will be! No, I'm not broke, I'm wealthy! I'm not barren or impotent, I'm an expectant mother and an expectant father! I'm not unemployed, I'm on a long vacation, preparing myself for my job that's on its way! Every day, every month and every year, God gives you an opportunity to be a part of the creative process; don't misuse your opportunities; use your mouth and give your days, months, years and situations sweet and pleasant names. What others say shouldn't concern you; whatever you call them is what they will be!

Twitter: @PastorChinae
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Release From Debts

Spirit & Life Devotional
Saturday, June 20
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

Release From Debts

Deuteronomy 15.1 “At the end of every seven years you shall grant a release of  debts."

God asked creditors in Israel to cancel debts owed them by their brothers after every seven years. I can imagine some of you wishing that that law was still applicable today. You see, God is interested in your finances.

Here's what got my attention: God said that the law was to be obeyed "except when there may be no poor among you; for the Lord will greatly bless you in the land which the Lord your God is giving you to possess as an inheritance— For the Lord your God will bless you just as He promised you; you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow; you shall reign over many nations, but they shall not reign over you." In other words, praying for God to cancel your debts is good, but asking Him to bless you greatly to a level where you'll never need to borrow again is a lot better!

Today, I'm asking God to release you from debts. If God asked the Israelites to cancel debts owed them by their brothers then He too can make provisions to enable you repay whatever you owe. May God greatly bless you! May God make all grace abound to you so that you will have more than enough to meet all your needs and to help others. And may the word of God be fulfilled in your life, making you a lender to nations and not a borrower. In Jesus name.

Twitter: @PastorChinae
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Children Of A Rich God

Spirit & Life Devotional
Friday, June 19
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

Children Of A Rich God

Philippians 4.19 "And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus."

The Lord is my Father, I shall not want!

There's a story of a son who went to study abroad; when he got there, he wrote to his Dad, "Dear Dad, Berlin is wonderful, people are nice and I really like it here, but Dad, I am a bit ashamed to arrive at college with my pure-gold Ferrari 599GTB when all my teachers and fellow students travel by train. Your son, Nasser" His Dad replied, "My dear loving son, Twenty million US dollars has just been transferred to your account. Please stop embarrassing us. Go get yourself a train too. Love, your Dad."

Only a very wealthy Dad can do that. That's just a story, but do you know that our Father in heaven is so wealthy, and that we don't ever have to beg for, or lack anything that we need? Let me tell you, God's ability to supply all our needs and make us rich and comfortable is not in doubt! 2 Corinthians 9:8 says that God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. Hallelujah!

I always think abundance! If God is rich enough and willing to give me an abundance, then I must enlarge my capacity for abundance! Solomon had so much that he made silver as common as stones in Jerusalem! You think that you have arrived? No! Our Father is very wealthy! No Christian should lack anything! David said, "I have been young, and now am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging bread." Wow! Your days of begging and lack are over, in the name of Jesus! Amen!

Twitter: @PastorChinae
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The Communion Of The Holy Spirit

Spirit & Life Devotional
Thursday, June 18
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

The Communion Of The Holy Spirit

John14.16 "And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may be with you for ever."

People say that this is the dispensation of the Holy Spirit; what they don't understand is that He has always been here! We first heard about Him in Genesis, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. And the earth was waste and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep: and the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters." We read about Him again when Jesus was baptized, "And Jesus when he was baptized, went up straightway from the water: and lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming upon him."

You see, He is the Spirit of the Father, so He's always present wherever the Father is. He's actually the One Who executes the will of the Father. He has always been here, the difference is that man did not have a personal relationship with Him. And that's what Jesus did for us, He made it possible for the Holy Spirit to dwell in us and to always be with us. Hallelujah!

There are arguments and debates about if believers have the Holy Spirit in them at conversion or after a special experience that we call the baptism of the Holy Spirit. The truth is that those are merely academic discussions. You can't have the Holy Spirit and not know! You will be so sure that He is in you, just as sure as you are about whether you are married or not! He's such an awesome and glorious personality! We must move from theories to experience. What God wants is for us to have fellowship with the Holy Spirit. 2 Corinthians 13.14 says, "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all." Amen! That's what you and I must desire; a real and active relationship with the Holy Spirit.

Twitter: @PastorChinae
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The Double-Minded Man

Spirit & Life Devotional
Wednesday, June 17
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

The Double-Minded Man

James 1:8 "He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways."

A double-minded man, as the word suggests, is a man with two minds; he can't make a decision, he can't choose, he can't focus, he's confused. A double-minded man is a doubter; he's always thinking, "will it work?", "can God do it?". A double-minded man sees A and wants to marry her; he sees B and also wants to marry her, because he is uncertain of what he wants! The Bible says people like that are thinking two different things at the same time. They can never decide what to do. So they should not think they will receive anything from the Lord.

Joshua told the Israelites to choose whom they would serve; Elijah said to them, “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!” And Jesus said without mincing words, “You cannot serve two masters at the same time. You will hate one and love the other, or you will be loyal to one and not care about the other."

James said that a double-minded man will not receive anything from the Lord. God wants to hear from people who are sure of what they want from Him. No wonder Jesus asked people what they wanted Him to do! If you want a boy, ask for a boy and keep asking for a boy; if you want a Toyota, ask for a Toyota and keep asking for a Toyota; if you want a Federal job then stop applying to every organization! If you want God to help you then why are you still running from pillar to post, talking to every Tom, Dick and Harry? That's why it's always best to say, "God what would you have me do?" It clears all doubts and then you can make your moves without assumptions.

Twitter: @PastorChinae
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Drop The Weights

Spirit & Life Devotional
Tuesday, June 16
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

Drop The Weights

Hebrews 12.1 "Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us."

When David was to fight Goliath, Saul clothed him with his armor, put a bronze helmet on his head; he also clothed him with a coat of mail. David fastened his sword to his armor and tried to walk, but couldn't because "he had not tested them". David said to Saul, “I cannot walk with these, for I have not tested them.” So he took them off.

Some of you are carrying weights on you and you're wondering why you're not so effective, not making much progress, not moving as fast as you want, not receiving as much blessings from God as you should, why you're not prospering as much as you desire: maybe it's because of the weights you're carrying! Have you ever stopped to consider that those habits, addictions, relationships, words, and actions of yours could be affecting you negatively? Sometimes we are pressurized to do what we don't want to do, but like David, we should be courageous enough to say, no, I cannot walk with these; I cannot run with these; I cannot please God with these!

Yes, brothers and sisters, we've got to drop the weights affecting us spiritually, physically, financially and otherwise. Sometimes the weights seem okay on us; sometimes we try to manage with the weights; sometimes we've carried these weights for too long that they've become a part of us; I understand; but you must also understand the damage that those weights are capable of causing; you must also understand the costs of continuing to carry those weights. May God give you the will and the courage to do what's necessary.

Twitter: @PastorChinae
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He Promised

Spirit & Life Devotional
Monday, June 15
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

He Promised

Matthew 14.9 "King Herod was very sad. But he had promised to give the daughter anything she wanted. And the people eating with Herod had heard his promise. So he ordered what she asked to be done."

Here's the story: On Herod's birthday, his step daughter entertained him and his guests with a dance; she must have danced so well that day because Herod was very pleased. In that elated state, you know how excited we are on birthdays, he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. The young lady consulted her mother who advised her to request for the head of John. Herod wouldn't have done it but because he promised, and because of the people around who heard him, he got John killed.

The Bible says that God is not a man that He should lie. Are you getting it? Now, if a man would not lie, and would keep a promise despite the fact that it involved taking a life, would God then lie and not keep His promises? No, He won't!

Jesus said, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened." That's all you need! If you want a million before the end of the year, ask Him; if you want a job, ask Him; whatever it is that you want, ask Him! He promised that it will be given unto you; He will never fail. Amen!

Twitter: @PastorChinae
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The Saviour's Love

Spirit & Life Devotional
Sunday, June 14
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

The Saviour's Love

Luke 15.1 "Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him."

When Adam and Eve sinned, they hid themselves from God. Note that it wasn't God that drove them away from His presence, it was not even their guilty consciences, it was their misunderstanding of the personality and character of God that made them run away from the presence of God. They hid themselves, but God brought them out.

The tax collectors were about the most corrupt people back then; they, and other sinners ought to have felt so uncomfortable being around Jesus, but there was something about Jesus that made them draw near to Him. Jesus didn't judge them, He didn't ignore them, He didn't rebuke them, neither did He even advise them; He simply loved them!

Nothing you do or do not do will make Him love you less: Jeremiah 31.3 says, “Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you." It's His love that draws us to Him! And His love is everlasting! The truth is that we can never fully comprehend or describe His love for us, we can only respond to it. What then will your response be? May we fall deep in love with Him and may we also become passionate about always being in His presence. Amen.

Twitter: @PastorChinae
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The Right Response To The Word

Spirit & Life Devotional
Saturday, June 13
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

The Right Response To The Word

1samuel 1.18 "And she said, 'Let your maidservant find favor in your sight.' So the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad."

That was Hannah; she was childless for many years because of which she was mocked and insulted. Unhappiness is an understatement, the woman was bitter. She often wept and refused to eat. It went on for a while until the day she got a word from Eli the prophet of God. He said to her, “Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition which you have asked of Him.” That was it! Her response to the word was immediate, she ate and was no longer sad.

How you respond to the word of God matters. It's actually what will determine if you'd get what you want or not. Jesus said, "Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them." You've got to learn and practice this principle if you want to get results. The proof of your believing is your response! If you were sad then you must not remain sad; faith alters your mood, your attitude, your words and your actions.

Hallelujah! Somebody's baby is on the way! Yes, that money you need is coming! All the approvals you need are being granted! Receive your dream job, in the name of Jesus! Yes, God has heard your prayers, your marriage will no longer be delayed, in the name of Jesus! Sickness disappears from your body now, in the name of Jesus! From today your situation has changed! It has! I see glorious years ahead! The barriers have been removed! The chains have been broken! You will catch up, and you will overtake, in the name of Jesus!

Twitter: @PastorChinae
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Say Something!

Spirit & Life Devotional
Friday, June 12
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

Say Something!

Job.22.29 "When they cast you down, and you say, ‘Exaltation will come!’ Then He will save the humble person."

The verse says that God will save the humble person when you ask Him to. Do you understand? Nothing is happening because you are quiet! The change you seek in your life and in the lives of people dependent on you will come when you start using your mouth to say what you want to see!

Consider the words of Jesus, "And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it." Jesus did not say, "I love you so much, I will do anything I think you want." No, He said, "I will do whatever you want Me to do, and I'll know you want Me to do it when you say so!"

It costs nothing to use your mouth. If my situation will change by the use of my mouth then I will use it as often as I can! Listen, the success of your children depends on what you are saying to God about them; the success of your business depends on what you are saying to God consistently about it; you're a priest, therefore other lives are dependent on your words! Stop complaining, stop whining, stop worrying, stop sulking! Don't say what is happening, say to God what you want to happen! If it doesn't happen immediately, then keep saying it until it happens! Do your part and trust God to do His. Amen.

Twitter: @PastorChinae
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Personal Relationships Matter

Spirit & Life Devotional
Thursday, June 11
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

Personal Relationships Matter

Matthew 5.23-24 "Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift."

I've done that before; I had a big argument with my roommate just before fellowship; we were members of the same fellowship. I didn't feel good all through the service, so when it was offering time, I remembered this scripture, walked up to him and apologized. Then I gave my offering. Ever since then, I do my best to avoid whatever will affect my mood, especially on a Sunday; don't want anything disrupting my time with God. Smiles.

What's trending now is people saying that they only care about what God thinks about them. Do you really want to know what God thinks about you? He thinks you should be concerned about your relationships with other people and what they think about you! John said, how can you claim to love God that you do not see when you hate the people who you see. In the same way, how can you be claim to be more interested in the opinion of God that you do not see, and ignore the opinions of people in your life?

Pride kills the best relationships. I'd love to see bosses apologizing to their subordinates for how badly they've treated them; I'd love to see exes apologizing to one another; I'd love to see friends reconcile; I'd love to see people make calls to their aggrieved customers; I'd love to see children apologize to their parents, parents apologizing to their children, husbands and wives apologizing to one another; I'd also love to see members of church and pastors who left church angrily and wrongly go back and apologize to those they may have offended. Notice that Jesus talked about the people who have something against you: it's therefore not about who offended who, but about making peace and reconciliation. Cheers.

Twitter: @PastorChinae
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A Good Work In You

Spirit & Life Devotional
Wednesday, June 10
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

A Good Work In You

Philippians 1.6 "Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ."

I didn't get proper understanding of this verse until recently: what comes to mind when we read it is, "He who has begun a good work in your life". Our focus is often on what He is doing around us, we think of material blessings, etc, not thinking much about what He's doing in us.

God is doing a good work in us! Hallelujah! And that's the most important thing, really; He's making us better, stronger, wiser, more and more like Him. I think Peter enlightened us on some of the good work that God is doing in us when he said, "giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love." God is working in us, all the time, as we yield to Him, making these a reality.

Philippians 2.13 says God is working in us, both to will and to do for His good pleasure. He's perfecting us, making us more willing, more obedient, more understanding, more loving, more faithful, more compassionate, etc. And we are confident, that He who has begun this good work in us will complete it. Amen.

Twitter: @PastorChinae
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Motivated By The Prize

Spirit & Life Devotional
Tuesday, June 9
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

Motivated By The Prize

Joshua15.16 "And Caleb said, 'He who attacks Kirjath Sepher and takes it, to him I will give Achsah my daughter as wife.'”

I ran in primary school and I remember being first at a time. The prize was a transparent white bucket. On my 10th birthday in primary 6, I took the puff puff my mum made for me to celebrate my birthday to school using that bucket. It was indeed a special bucket. It was my prize!

There's always a prize for everything we do in this life, and you've got to understand that; whether you are aware of it or not, whether you expect to get it or not, there's always a prize; we will be rewarded for all our actions. There are prizes for everyone: for example, we will all reap whatever we sow; but again, there are special prizes for those who distinguish themselves and do exceptionally well. There are prizes in life, and there are much better prizes in heaven. Hallelujah!

What's your motivation? Paul said, "Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do,  forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." Hebrews 12.2 says, "Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Money is not the true prize; not fame or comfort either; be motivated by the true prize that God has reserved in heaven for everyone who endures and runs the race to the end!

Twitter: @PastorChinae
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F.E.A.R. (False Evidences Appearing Real)

Spirit & Life Devotional
Monday, June 8
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

F.E.A.R. (False Evidences Appearing Real)

Judges 7.9-11 "It happened on the same night that the Lord said to him, 'Arise, go down against the camp, for I have delivered it into your hand. But if you are afraid to go down, go down to the camp with Purah your servant, and you shall hear what they say; and afterward your hands shall be strengthened to go down against the camp.' Then he went down with Purah his servant to the outpost of the armed men who were in the camp."

Gideon was a fearful man: once God asked him to tear down the temple of Baal but because he was afraid, instead of doing it in the day he did it at night. But God knew him, and God was patient with him. Again, in the verse above, God told him that He had delivered the Midianites into his hand, but knowing how fearful Gideon could be, God said he could go and hear what the Midianites were saying; he did, and was encouraged to attack them.

Fear is defined as False Evidences Appearing Real. In other words, there's really no reason to be afraid, because the reasons for your fear are unreal! Gideon was afraid, not knowing that the people he was afraid of were very afraid of him! It's interesting that faith is also defined as an evidence, "the evidence of things not seen". What evidences then, are you going to believe?

Refuse to be held back by fear. Your fears are unreal, they are lies, you can't trust them! The righteous are as bold as a lion; yes, be that bold! Do that thing you've always wanted to do; do that thing that God is leading you to do: God has already made a way for you; He has already opened the doors for you; God has already given you favour! Stop listening to your mind, and to those who are telling you that it can't be done; listen to the Word of God which says that all things are possible! Yes, you can!

Twitter: @PastorChinae
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The Power of Your Words

Spirit & Life Devotional
Sunday, June 7
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

The Power of Your Words

Numbers 14.28 "Say to them, ‘As I live,’ says the Lord, ‘just as you have spoken in My hearing, so I will do to you."

There's tremendous power in your words. You've got to understand that. We were created in the image of God; whatever we say can come to pass whether we expect it to come to pass or not: in your tongue is the power of death and life.

We use our mouths wrongly. We say things like, "I'm going to be sick", "nothing is happening in this town", "it's so difficult doing business in this country", "I'm not due", "business is bad, business is not moving", "it's not easy to be promoted"; many times we're saying those things because we want people to sympathize with us. A lady once told me that I was the wrong person to talk to; while she expected me to understand and to sympathize with her, I was telling her to stop speaking negatively. I refuse to be a part of pity parties! Stop whining and start saying what you want to happen!

God said He would do whatever we say, as long as He lives! That's powerful. It's up to us then, to say whatever we want Him to do. It's not about how big the situation or the challenge is, it's about how big your faith in God can be. David said to the giant, "This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel." And that was exactly what happened! Hallelujah!

Twitter: @PastorChinae
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Unafraid of Bad News

Spirit & Life Devotional
Saturday, June 6
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

Unafraid of Bad News

Esther 4.3 "And in every province where the king’s command and decree arrived, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes."

That was an evil decree; a command that made people mourn, weep and wail wherever it was announced. Today, we nullify such decrees and commands, in the name of Jesus!

Proverbs 25.25 says that "As cold water to a weary soul, so is good news from a far country." Just as there's good news, there's also bad news. Since the year began, there are people who have received terrible and unsettling news about their children, parents, friends, businesses, jobs, etc. The Bible says that when Jacob heard that his son, Joseph, had been killed, he tore his clothes, put sackcloth on his waist, and mourned. They tried to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted; he said he would go down into the grave to his son in mourning. No, you will not mourn forever! Your days of mourning are over in Jesus name!

Psalm 112.7 says we will not be afraid of evil tidings; that is bad news, and that our hearts will be steadfast, trusting in the Lord! No more bad news this year, in the name of Jesus! No evil decisions will affect you and your loved ones, in Jesus name! Your job is secure, in the name of Jesus! Your business will only grow, in the name of Jesus! No harm will befall your family in Jesus name! And no policy of government will affect you negatively, in the name of Jesus! Say Amen!

Twitter: @PastorChinae
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Where Are Your Works?

Spirit & Life Devotional
Friday, June 5
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

Where Are Your Works?

James 2.26. "For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also."

A faith that cannot or will not propel you to take action is referred to as a dead one. There are little or no results because we are talkers and "believers", not doers. Until we begin to do, until we become action oriented people, until there are works proving our faith, we will not experience the power of faith.

I've not been sick for about thirteen years. I wanted to live in health, because it is written that by His stripes I was healed. I believed it; I believed in what Jesus did, He took my sicknesses and infirmities! The first step I took was to stop taking drugs. I took that decision in January 2001. Check any hospital in the world, you won't find any records for me. The second step I took was to stop praying for healing. Why ask God to heal me when He has already healed me? Didn't God's word say we were healed? I still fell sick in 2002, but whenever I was sick, I would get up and go and play football! Why? Because Jesus said that when I pray, I should believe that I have received it, and I will have it! So if I believed that I've been healed what was I still doing on the bed? Sickness did not last in my body, they disappeared on the football fields! One day in 2002, I was sick, but managed to attend fellowship, as we prayed, I had a vision of the Lord pulling a garment from me: as He pulled it from up my head, the sickness left from my feet up through my head, and I was instantly healed! Hallelujah!

You believe, but where are your works?

Twitter: @PastorChinae
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The Promise of Preservation

Spirit & Life Devotional
Thursday, June 4
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

The Promise of Preservation

1 Chronicles 18.6. "Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus; and the Syrians became David’s servants, and brought tribute. So the Lord preserved David wherever he went."

David was a warrior so he knew the importance of preservation. It was his prayer often: Psalm 16.1 "Preserve me, O God, for in You I put my trust." Psalm 64.1 "Hear my voice, O God, in my meditation; preserve my life from fear of the enemy." Psalm 140.4 "Keep me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from violent men, who have purposed to make my steps stumble."

You don't have to be a soldier to need protection and security. We are actually soldiers, spiritually speaking. But as Paul noted, there are wicked and unreasonable men in the world. I've met a few of them, all they think about is how to do evil; you don't have to offend them, they don't just want you to do well. We need to be preserved from such men. Paul wrote, "Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you, and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for not all have faith."

The good news is that the Bible is full of promises of preservation for the children of God. Psalm 121.5-8 says, "The Lord  is your keeper; the Lord is your shade at your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul. The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in from this time forth, and even forevermore." So shall it be, in Jesus name. Amen!

Twitter: @PastorChinae
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Unselfish Living

Spirit & Life Devotional
Wednesday, June 3
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

Unselfish Living

Philippians 2.4 "Not looking each of you to his own things, but each of you also to the things of others."

God began to teach about brotherly love in the Old Testament. It was written in the Law that, “You shall not see your brother’s ox or his sheep going astray, and hide yourself from them; you shall certainly bring them back to your brother." God was teaching them, not only to be concerned, but to always do what's in the best interest of others. In our neighbourhoods, at work, in school, etc, God doesn't want us to be selfish. Don't say it doesn't concern you, it does.

In 1 Corinthians 13:5, we learn that love "seeketh not her own". In other words, love puts others first before herself! I can imagine what some of you are thinking right now: we would rather satisfy ourselves first, before thinking about anyone else. 1 Corinthians 10.24 says, "Let no man seek his own, but each his neighbor’s good."

You know, you really don't have to put others down in order to rise. If that's your strategy then you must change it immediately. I know it's what goes on in the world today, but being Christians we must be different. Have the interests of others at heart; be genuinely concerned about their welfare; seek to know how they are. Don't be someone who's "too busy" to know what's going on in the lives of other people. Don't wait for them to come crying to you before you consider helping them, reach out to them with the love of God that's shed abroad in your heart. Let brotherly love continue.

Twitter: @PastorChinae
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It's Your Time

Spirit & Life Devotional
Tuesday, June 2
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

It's Your Time

Psalm 102.13 NKJV "You will arise and have mercy on Zion; for the time to favor her, yes, the set time, has come."

You've got to understand how God works: He works with time; in other words, He does things at appointed times. Abraham served God faithfully and God promised him children, but for many years Abraham didn't have none, because it was not yet time. At the right time, God appeared to Abraham and Sarah conceived.

1 Peter 5.6 says to humble yourself under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time. There is always a due time, a set time, an appointed time. And you must learn to key in at such times. God told Abraham that the Israelites would be in Egypt for 400years, but they were there for 430years; it's because there was none that had the understanding of times. But when God told Jeremiah that the Israelites would be scattered for 70years, and the time came, we're told that "Daniel, understood by the books the number of the years specified by the word of the Lord through Jeremiah the prophet." And because he knew about times, Daniel began to demand their release.

My mission today, is to announce to someone reading this devotional that his or her time has come! All along nothing seemed to be happening, you've been praying, sowing seeds, working hard, doing all you know to do, waiting on God; I have good news for you: the cloud is full of rain, and it's about to be emptied on you! Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning! This is your time! This is your day for a change, and let me tell you, nothing shall stop you whatever God is set to release to you, in Jesus name!

Twitter: @PastorChinae
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Time For A Catch

Spirit & Life Devotional
Monday, June 1
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

Time For A Catch

Luke.5.5-6. "But Simon answered and said to Him, 'Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.' And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking."

By the time Jesus got to the lake, the fishermen were washing their nets. They had had an unsuccessful outing, their efforts all night yielded no results, not even a little success, they caught nothing! They were tired, and there was no hope of catching any fish that day.

Maybe you've been trying since January to achieve your goals, whatever it is; the month of May has just ended and there was no remarkable achievement. Nothing has happened since January, you've toiled for five months without success, and there's really no reason to believe that June will be any better.

Hear the word of the Lord this first day of the month of June: it's time for a catch! January to May may not have been good by any known standards and criteria; you've not gotten your dream job, no proposals yet, no contracts yet, no invitations yet, no admissions yet, no promotions yet, no capital for your business yet... God says it's time for a catch! And here's the exciting part; it's not just an ordinary catch, it's going to be a net breaking catch! It's going to be beyond your expectations, because God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that you can ever imagine. So shall it be in Jesus name.

Twitter: @PastorChinae
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