Beware Of Liars

Spirit & Life Devotional
Sunday, 31 January 2016
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

Beware Of Liars

"And certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, 'Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.'” Acts 15:1 NKJV

Those so called "certain men" were liars and deceivers who went about teaching false doctrines. Just because they were from Judea, they felt qualified to teach; I wonder who even gave them the opportunity to teach the people of God; they were people hell-bent on holding on to doctrines of the Old Testament in the New Testament; they wanted to mix old wine with the new; they refused revelation of what God was doing in the now.

Don't be moved by titles, backgrounds, positions, and affiliations; just because a person quotes scriptures while teaching doesn't mean that he is rightly dividing the word of truth; and just because a person uses big grammar, and spices up his message with Hebrew and Greek words doesn't mean that you must swallow everything that he says.

We are in the last days when there will be many false doctrines: you've got to be careful in order not to be deceived and led astray. The best approach is to be as the Berean believers. Listen, you have equal access to the Holy Spirit as anyone else! When in doubt ask the Holy Spirit to guide you into all truth; and make it a personal responsibility to grow in knowledge and in understanding. You will not be deceived in Jesus name. 

Twitter: @PastorChinae
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Bringing The Tithe

Spirit & Life Devotional
Saturday, 30 January 2016
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

Bringing The Tithe

"Then all Judah brought the tithe of the grain and the new wine and the oil to the storehouse." Nehemiah 13:12 NKJV

I have taught several times that tithing is not a commandment in the New Testament and that there is no curse for those who do not tithe, because Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (Galatians 3:13).

Having said that, let me add that there's nothing wrong with choosing to give God a certain percentage of your income, whether daily, monthly, or annually. After all Joseph made it a law for the Egyptians to give Pharaoh a fifth, that is 20% of their income. I chose to give God 20% of my revenues (not profit) too. If we pay taxes to the government periodically, it shouldn't be a big deal to give to God specific sums or percentages of whatever we earn.

We are blessed every time that we give to God. Malachi 3:10-12 says, "'Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this,' says the Lord of hosts, 'If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it. 'And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, so that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,' says the Lord of hosts; 'and all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a delightful land,' says the Lord of hosts.'"

Twitter: @PastorChinae
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Blessed Are Those Who Mourn

Spirit & Life Devotional
Friday, 29 January 2016
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

Blessed Are Those Who Mourn

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted." Matthew 5:4 NKJV

Mourning is a feeling of sadness or sorrow over death or the loss of something. In this life, there will be times of mourning; it will not always be fun and merriment; Ecclesiastes 3:4 says that there is a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance.

Everyone mourns; that is believers and unbelievers alike; the difference between us and the world is that we have a better understanding of life and life after death. Paul wrote in I Thessalonians 4:13, "But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope." We do know that death is not the end of life; when our loved ones die in Christ, we know that we will see them again. Hallelujah!

God cares about those who mourn: and like a loving friend and relation He is always there to comfort all who mourn. Job 5:11 says that He sets on high those who are lowly, and those who mourn are lifted to safety. In other words, He makes them happy! Are you mourning? God is right there with you. You are blessed. Receive the comfort of Christ in Jesus name. Amen.

Twitter: @PastorChinae
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WOMEN WHO WEAR TROUSERS ARE WITCHES

WOMEN WHO WEAR TROUSERS ARE WITCHES

That was exactly what I used to think as a little boy. And I avoided women and ladies who wore trousers. I had a very religious background. My mom didn't wear make up, earrings and trousers. I tried so much to do everything right.

I used to have a small Gideon's New Testament Bible which was always in my back pocket; I read it all the time. As I returned to school, from Lagos to Awka, one day; I was reading that Bible in a Chisco luxurious bus, when I stumbled upon 1 Corinthians 7:19;

"Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is what  matters."

It hit me the same way Martin Luther was hit by the revelation that the just shall live by faith. In that bus, on that journey, I spent a lot of time on meditation; the Holy Spirit opened the my eyes of my understanding and changed my life and thinking forever, not only about trousers, but about a few other issues. I studied more, and I understood more. I stopped condemning people for whom Christ died and I began to love.

I preach against abuse and excesses.

A woman once said she wouldn't attend my fellowship because I allowed ladies wear trousers. She was saved, so I wasn't bothered. I'm more interested in bringing in sinners into the Kingdom.

There are disputable issues in the faith, and the Bible is clear on how to handle such issues. "Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves." Romans 14:22 NKJV

Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim
January 28, 2016

Money Is Not Everything

Spirit & Life Devotional
Thursday, 28 January 2016
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

Money Is Not Everything

"People might be wealthy, but they cannot stay here forever. They will die like the animals." Psalms 49:12 ERV

I'm sure you've heard it before, that money is not everything. Someone said, "Money can buy a house, but not a home. Money can buy a bed, but not sleep. Money can buy a clock, but not time. Money can buy a book, but not knowledge. Money can buy food, but not an appetite. Money can buy position, but not respect. Money can buy blood, but not life. Money can buy insurance, but not safety."

Talking about the rich, Solomon wrote: "They think their wealth will protect them. They brag about how rich they are. But no one has enough to buy back a life, and you cannot bribe God. You will never get enough money to pay for your own life. You will never have enough to buy the right to live forever and keep your body out of the grave. Look, the wise die the same as fools and stupid people. They die and leave their wealth to others. The grave will be their new home forever. And how much land they owned will not make any difference.  People might be wealthy, but they cannot stay here forever. They will die like the animals."

Jonathan Swift said something very important. He said that "A wise person should have money in their head, but not in their heart." Think about it; it makes a lot of sense. And that's what God has always tried to teach us; not to trust in riches. We should never be possessed by material things.

Twitter: @PastorChinae
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Do Something

Spirit & Life Devotional
Wednesday, 27 January 2016
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

Do Something

"In all labor there is profit, but idle chatter leads only to poverty." Proverbs 14:23 NKJV

Someone did an analysis of how much the owner of a particular barbing salon in town could be making every month; to be sincere I hadn't expected it to be that much. From the analysis done, if true, the owner of the salon makes more than a lot of people with white collar jobs.

In a country like ours with very high unemployment rates, a lot of our young people need to think about being entrepreneurs. I know a lady who sold portable table water during her NYSC days, today she has not less than three different businesses; I'm talking about businesses that are doing well enough to enable her purchase a brand new car for herself and live comfortably.

There is profit in all labour according to the scriptures, and it's true. No one should be idle and unemployed. There's something that everyone of us can do to earn money. You might require training, get trained. Don't wait until you have very huge capital before you start, start small. There are multibillion Dollars worth of companies today that started from garages: with vision, proper management and good decision-making you too can be great. You will be great in Jesus name. Amen.

Twitter: @PastorChinae
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Factory Reset Your Life

Spirit & Life Devotional
Tuesday, 26 January 2016
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

Factory Reset Your Life

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." II Corinthians 5:17 NKJV

Factory, or Master reset "is often done to fix a software issue that the device is facing, but it could also be done to restore the device to its original settings."

My phone was freezing a lot and I had decided to get a new one in a month. It was quite frustrating using the phone. People talked about how fine the phone is but I usually replied within me, "If only they knew!" To me, it's the worst phone I had ever used. There were many times I felt like smashing it on the floor! I didn't though, I wasn't willing to waste my money just like that.

Then, yesterday I decided to do a factory reset. I did, and my phone is now like a new one! I'm now so happy! There's no need for a new one any more! I lost every data on my phone but I've reinstalled them. And I'm thinking: a lot of us need to submit ourselves to God for factory resets. Some of us look so beautiful outwardly but we know within ourselves that all is not well. Many habits, issues and flaws would be fixed when a factory reset is done. If you're not born again now is the time to be! And if you are, but you've messed yourself up, you can say today, "Lord I give You my life!" And He will fix you and make you whole.

Twitter: @PastorChinae
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#challenge

I just woke up with a thought on my mind... You know, we are often challenged to do certain things here on Facebook (social media): #favouritescripturechallenge for 7 days, etc. Can we all be challenged to do bigger things? E.g. #sponsorachildchallenge, #adoptachildchallenge, #feedafamilychallenge, #educateachildchallenge, etc. It doesn't have to be a child; it could be anyone in real need of assistance. It's always part of my yearly goals and I'm encouraging you all to do same. It's not for Facebook, it's not for showing off, no one needs to know about it; it's about reaching out to people with the love and kindness of God. The world will be a better place if everyone of us is involved in things like this, and God will be glorified.

Judgement On All Plotters Of Evil

Spirit & Life Devotional
Monday, 25 January 2016
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

Judgment On All Plotters Of Evil

"Then the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders of the people assembled at the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas, and plotted to take Jesus by trickery and kill Him." Matthew 26:3-4 NKJV

Many times, before something terrible happens to a man people have sat down to discuss it. Whether in the office, school or the marketplace; there are people, evil people, who meet to plot and conspire against the man. Psalm 2:2 says, "The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against His anointed."

The Bible says that when the brothers of Joseph saw him afar off, they conspired against him to kill him. When Haman wanted to destroy Mordecai, he went home, sent and called for his friends and his wife Zeresh. He told them of his great riches, the multitude of his children, his promotion and success; he said, "Yet all this avails me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.” His wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, “Let a gallows be made, fifty cubits high, and in the morning suggest to the king that Mordecai be hanged on it; then go merrily with the king to the banquet.” The suggestion pleased Haman; so he had the gallows made. But thank God, it was Haman and his entire family that were hung on them.

Ah! We decree judgment for anyone, anywhere, gathering against you, for whatever reason, in the name of Jesus! Isaiah 54:15 says, "Indeed they shall surely assemble, but not because of Me. Whoever assembles against you shall fall for your sake." Say Amen!

Twitter: @PastorChinae
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Expecting The Rapture

Spirit & Life Devotional
Sunday, 24 January 2016
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

Expecting The Rapture

"Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord." I Thessalonians 4:17 NKJV

It's funny that some people do not believe in the rapture. Is it that such people do not believe that Jesus ascended into heaven after His resurrection? Because it is something similar that is going to happen. Well, believe it or not, the day is coming when the saints will be raptured. Amen. Matthew 24:31 says that He (Jesus) will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

Jesus said that "two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left.  Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left." In other words, one will be caught up to meet with Him in the air, while the other will be left behind. Question: which man or woman are you going to be; the one taken or the one left behind?

That day is coming, brothers and sisters; it is coming! Are you ready? We used to say, "The rapture will not happen until I get married", "Jesus will not come until I build my mansion"; etc; funny thoughts: “learn this parable from the fig tree: when its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see all the signs that are being fulfilled everyday, know that it is near—at the doors!

Twitter: @PastorChinae
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Rebuking The Devourer

Spirit & Life Devotional
Saturday, 23 January 2016
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

Rebuking The Devourer

“'And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, so that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,' says the Lord of hosts." Malachi 3:11 NKJV

There are devourers in life: why is it that your entire salary finishes just four days after you are paid and you cannot tell what meaningful thing you used it for; why is that you always receive terrible news from home that prevents you from achieving anything meaningful; why must something always go wrong? Those are devourers at work and you've got to rebuke them if you want to see changes in your life.

The devil is the ultimate destroyer. Jesus said that he is a thief who comes to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. His aim is to steal your peace, your health, your joy, your business, your job, your money, and even your life! God forbid it! I forbid it too in the name of Jesus!

You've got to learn to rebuke the devourers in your life. James 4:7 says to resist the devil and that he will flee from you. You've got to say, "Satan, enough is enough, take your filthy stinking hands off all that concerns me, in the name of Jesus!" "Satan, I forbid you from doing anything in my home, in my family, in my job, in my business, in my ministry, in my environment, in the name of Jesus!"

Twitter: @PastorChinae
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Intentional Delays

Spirit & Life Devotional
Friday, 22 January 2016
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

Intentional Delays

"So, when He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was." John 11:6 NKJV

The first thing you notice in the verse above is that Jesus heard about the sickness. So that could no longer be an excuse; He heard. But despite the fact that He heard, the Bible says that He remained where He was for another two days. And note that there were no private jets, or trains or very fast cars then, He was probably going to walk down there. Yet He stayed for two days before moving.

Is it that Jesus did not love Lazarus enough? That cannot be true because verse 5 says that He loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So why did He chose to stay for two days before acting? A lot of us would have started complaining about the pastor and the church if we've not seen or heard from anyone in two days: two days is enough for people to make up their minds about changing their church.

So why the delay? Because of what He wanted to achieve! He had told the disciples that the sickness was not unto death, but for the glory of God, and so that He would be glorified through it. In other words, the delay was intentional.

Brothers and sisters, it really doesn't matter when God chooses to show up, what matters is that He will manifest His power whenever He does. Receive your miracle, in the name of Jesus! Amen.

Twitter: @PastorChinae
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Delivered By His Righteousness

Spirit & Life Devotional
Thursday, 21 January 2016
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

Delivered By His Righteousness

"Even if these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they would deliver only themselves by their righteousness,' says the Lord God." Ezekiel 14:14 NKJV

Noah, Daniel and Job were righteous men in their generations, and for their righteousness they were able to stand in the gap for others. Noah saved his family; Job interceded for his family, and Daniel interceded for his nation. But you see, the Bible says in Isaiah 64:6 that all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags. So we cannot even begin to rely on ours or anyone else's righteousness to save us.

Only the righteousness of Jesus matters now. 2 Corinthians 5:21 says "For He (God) made Him (Jesus) who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." So you see, we cannot be delivered by our own righteousness, but we will surely be delivered by His own righteousness which He has given to us! Hallelujah!

Hebrews 7:25 says, "Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them."

Twitter: @PastorChinae
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Glory To God

Spirit & Life Devotional
Wednesday, 20 January 2016
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

Glory To God

"For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen." Romans 11:36 NKJV

All things are of Him. In other words, He is the source of all things. He is the source of success, He is the source of wealth, He is the source of wisdom, He is the source of talents, ability, achievements, and everything else that you can think of, therefore all glory must be to Him.

All things are through Him. Like Paul said, I can do all things through Christ. Not by power, not by might, but by His Spirit. And all things are to Him. It's good to always have this mindset; knowing that all things are for Him, through Him and to Him not only keeps you humble, it helps you return all the glory back to the Lord.

Don't ever make the mistake that Herod made! It's a fatal one. On a set day he was arrayed in royal apparel, sat on his throne and gave an oration to the people of Tyre and Sidon. And the people kept shouting, “The voice of a god and not of a man!” The praises of the people made Herod feel like a super human; he received their "worship" instead of restraining the people as Paul and Barnabas did. After a miracle was done to a crippled man in Lystra, the people raised their voices, saying “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!” They called Barnabas Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. The priest of Zeus brought oxen and garlands intending to sacrifice with the multitudes. But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul saw it, they tore their clothes and ran in among the multitude, crying out and saying, “Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men with the same nature as you!" Herod did not do as Paul and Barnabas did, so an angel of the Lord struck him, and he was eaten by worms and died. All the glory must be to the Lord.

Twitter: @PastorChinae
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A Very Costly Sacrifice

Spirit & Life Devotional
Tuesday, 19 January 2016
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

A Very Costly Sacrifice

"And being in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, as He sat at the table, a woman came having an alabaster flask of very costly oil of spikenard. Then she broke the flask and poured it on His head." Mark 14:3 NKJV

Brothers and sisters, there's nothing too costly to give to God. The Bible says that He is great and greatly to be praised. In other words, being a great God, He is worthy of great gifts. Hallelujah!

The quality of your offering shows how much you esteem and honour the Lord. I have never seen anyone give a beggar by the road, say a million Naira or the equivalent in any currency, but there are people who even though they are not beggars receive such amounts and even more as gifts. It's all about perception: what we give to people is based on our perception of them.

What would you give to God if you knew that your offering could cause God to give you a child, a visa, a house, a car, a job, or anything else that you have always wanted? Solomon loved the Lord, he offered a thousand burnt offerings, and the Bible says that at Gibeon the Lord appeared to him in a dream by night; and said, “Ask! What shall I give you?” Wow!

Twitter: @PastorChinae
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Seeking The One You Love

Spirit & Life Devotional
Monday, 18 January 2016
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

Seeking The One You Love

"By night on my bed I sought the one I love; I sought him, but I did not find him." Song of Solomon 3:1 NKJV

Ladies complain, "You don't call me", "You don't text", etc; it's because of what they know, that when you truly love someone you will always seek them. Love always wants to be close to the one they love.

It's the same with God, you can't be in love with Him and not seek to always be in His presence. There will always be a longing, a desire for fellowship with Him. No wonder David said in Psalm 42:1-2, "As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?"

God wants to be sought. You will never get the best of God until you seek Him. There must be a hunger and thirst for Him. He said in Jeremiah 29:13, "And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart." Thankfully, Jesus has brought us nigh and given us unrestrained access into the presence of the Father by His blood. Hallelujah!

Twitter: @PastorChinae
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Making Enquiries

Spirit & Life Devotional
Sunday, 17 January 2016
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

Making Enquiries

"While Rebekah was pregnant, the babies inside her struggled with one another. She prayed to the Lord and said, 'What is happening to me?'" Genesis 25:22 ERV

You know, people send hundreds and thousands of emails everyday to enquire about certain features of products and services of an organization; we want to know how best to use what we've got; we want to know if there are alternatives; there are so much we want to know. This goes on all the time, that's why large service providers have 24 hour contact centers.

But how many of us are making enquiries from heaven's contact center on a daily basis? One of the things Jesus said the Holy Spirit will do is to guide us into all truth: but how will He do that if we are not seeking to know? There are so many things that are mysterious to a lot of us which should be well understood; but because we do not ask.

If there are persistent issues in your family, you can ask the Holy Spirit for answers; if you notice the same thing occurring to you in the different jobs you've done, you need to know why! Some people will even visit witch doctors and sorcerers! How dare you! There's nothing you need to know that God cannot reveal to you if you will discipline yourself to spend time in His presence and be attentive to His voice.

Twitter: @PastorChinae
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Intercessory Prayers

Spirit & Life Devotional
Saturday, 16 January 2016
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

Intercessory Prayers

"Now Isaac pleaded with the Lord for his wife, because she was barren; and the Lord granted his plea, and Rebekah his wife conceived." Genesis 25:21 NKJV

This is one type of prayer a lot of us Christians don't do. We think that it's the responsibility of the pastor of prayer department in church. No, every child of God should intercede for others. There must be people who you are constantly interceding for; and when God answers, you have a new list.

The problem with a lot of us is that we gossip more than we pray. When we see someone erring, we're excited to have new gist! The love some of us have for gossip is unbelievable, no wonder we spend so much of our time on gossip blogs and websites. What a shame.

1 John 5:16a says, "Suppose you see your fellow believer sinning (sin that does not lead to eternal death). You should pray for them. Then God will give them life." You see, the life and destinies of people are in your hands. It's a responsibility that God has given to each and everyone of us, and we've got to pray! Pray for the unsaved, for the sick, for those with problems and challenges. God will take care of your own issues as you intercede for others. Amen.

Twitter: @PastorChinae
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The Prayer Of The Afflicted

Spirit & Life Devotional
Friday, 15 January 2016
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

The Prayer Of The Afflicted

"Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms." James 5:13 KJV

James said that the person who is afflicted should pray. Someone who is afflicted is suffering, he is pained, he is greatly troubled. James said that the cure for affliction is prayer. And that's what Hannah did.

1 Samuel 1 says that Hannah was in bitterness of soul. She was a woman who was afflicted, the Bible says that she prayed to the Lord and wept in anguish. Hannah made a vow; “O Lord of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head.”

Prophet Eli had been watching her, he thought she was drunk; Hannah answered, “No, my Lord, I am a woman of sorrowful spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor intoxicating drink, but have poured out my soul before the Lord. For out of the abundance of my complaint and grief I have spoken until now.” Then Eli answered and said, “Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition which you have asked of Him.”

Are you afflicted? Maybe by sickness, threats, etc, pray, God will answer.

Twitter: @PastorChinae
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When Jabez Prayed

Spirit & Life Devotional
Thursday, 14 January 2016
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

When Jabez Prayed

"And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, 'Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!' So God granted him what he requested." I Chronicles 4:10 NKJV

The prayer of Jabez is only thirty two words long! How long does it take to pray a prayer of thirty two words? Certainly not up to a week, not a day, not even up to an hour! And the Bible says in the same verse that God granted him what he requested!

Some of us have a wrong understanding of prayer: we think that we must always pray for so long, with much intensity for God to grant our requests; we forget that Jesus said that we are not heard because of the length of our prayers! Jabez did not speak big grammar; he simply made an expression of the desires of his heart to God, and God heard him.

God loves it when we pray! And He is swift to respond! There's no bureaucracy involved; our prayers go directly to Him and He attends to our petitions immediately! If God answered the prayer of Jabez, there's no reason why He wouldn't answer yours. Have that assurance when you pray; believe He will hear you and that He will grant your requests. Amen.

Twitter: @PastorChinae
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Prayer Is The Solution

Spirit & Life Devotional
Wednesday, 13 January 2016
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

Prayer Is The Solution

“Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!” Esther 4:16 NKJV

A decree was issued to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate all the Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, on a certain day, and to plunder their possessions. Virtually all the Jews mourned. Mordecai also wept and even tore his clothes, but he knew that crying alone would not solve the problem. His niece, Esther, being the queen had to intervene urgently.

There was a problem though: there was a law stating that any man or woman who goes into the inner court to the king, who has not been called, was to be put to death, except the one to whom the king holds out the golden scepter, that he may live. Esther needed to see the king, but she had not been called to see him in thirty days. Going to see him without an invitation was a big risk; she could lose her life!

There was only one way out: to pray. To dare to do the seemingly impossible task Esther knew that she had to pray; her life depended on prayer, as it were. That's the kind of approach you and I need to have. When there's a mountain before us we must learn to pray; when we have to take risks we must pray; when there are challenges seemingly mightier than our abilities, instead of running away, let's take it to the Lord in prayer.

Twitter: @PastorChinae
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Great Reward

Spirit & Life Devotional
Tuesday, 12 January 2016
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

Great Reward

"Moreover by them Your servant is warned, and in keeping them there is great reward." Psalms 19:11 NKJV

One sure way to secure your job or position in an organization is to adhere to the laid down policies, standard operating procedures, rules and regulations, and acceptable behaviours. If you do anything contrary, you will be punished, but you will be safe and even rewarded if you comply.

The word of God was given to us as a guide, to let us know what to do and what not to do. We will have problems and not enjoy the blessings of God as long as we do things contrary to the word, and we will be rewarded if we comply. It's as simple as that.

David said, "Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Your word. It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes." (Psalms 119:67, 71). Don't wait to be afflicted before you learn to do what is right! Making doing the word your highest priority and begin to enjoy the rewards of obedience and compliance.

Twitter: @PastorChinae
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Praying With Knowledge And Understanding

Spirit & Life Devotional
Monday, 11 January 2016
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

Praying With Knowledge And Understanding

"Then I set my face toward the Lord God to make request by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes." Daniel 9:3 NKJV

You see, Daniel didn't just get down on his knees to start praying; Daniel said, "In the first year of his (Darius) reign I, Daniel, understood by the books the number of the years specified by the word of the Lord through Jeremiah the prophet, that He would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem." It was based on the knowledge and understanding that he acquired from the Scripture that he prayed. He didn't just pray for deliverance, he knew it was time for deliverance so he prayed. And God answered.

So many people pray every second of the day but with little results because they are not praying with knowledge and understanding of the will of God concerning a particular situation. 1 John 5:14 says, "Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us." Meaning that He doesn't hear us if we don't ask according to His will.

Is it what God wants to do? Does He want to do it now? Is there anything He has said in the scriptures concerning it? Do we have a part to play in the fulfilment of His will? Are there things we should do first that will enable Him do His part? Are there things we are doing or have not done that are restraining Him? We've got to familiarize ourselves with the word of God for our prayers to be truly effective.

Twitter: @PastorChinae
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Living Up To Expectations

Spirit & Life Devotional
Sunday, 10 January 2016
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

Living Up To Expectations

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

We read in Acts 11:26 that the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. And that's because they were seen to be like Christ. That's the true meaning of Christianity; we're not just church-goers, we ought to be people who live like Him, talk like Him, think like Him, function like Him, walking just as He walked.

It's quite unfortunate that we have to talk about being "true" Christians; there shouldn't be such qualifications, and truly there wouldn't be if we were all living up to expectations. There seems to be no correlation between the profession and lifestyles of a lot of us - we say that we are Christians but we do things that we know He would never do.

Brothers and sisters, "He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked." I think that's instructive enough. May God give us the grace to live up to His expectations in Jesus name. Amen.

Twitter: @PastorChinae
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Experiencing Overflows

Spirit & Life Devotional
Saturday, 9 January 2016
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

Experiencing Overflows

"Honor the Lord with your possessions, and with the firstfruits of all your increase; so your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine." Proverbs 3:9-10 NKJV

When something is overflowing, it is flowing over the top or the edge. Like pumping water from a borehole; you get to know that the tank is full when water overflows and falls to the ground.

You don't have to ever lack anything; more than that, you can, and should have things (money and other material possessions) in abundance. That's the level God wants to take us to. But in order to get there, you've got to do what the word says to do.

If you honour God He will also honour you. You can never give to God and lose; you can never give to God consistently and cheerfully and continue to experience financial difficulties. It is impossible! A time will come when you will realize how much your life has changed for the better. Let your goal always be to honour God; give to Him as a Father, as a King, with joy and appreciation for Who He is and for what He has done and will do.

Twitter: @PastorChinae
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Touch Not The Lord's Anointed

Spirit & Life Devotional
Friday, 8 January 2016
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

Touch Not The Lord's Anointed

"So David said to him, 'How was it you were not afraid to put forth your hand to destroy the Lord’s anointed?'” II Samuel 1:14 NKJV

There are people with problems today who do not realize the origin of their problems; they are victims of their own errors; sometime in their past they spoke or did something against the Lord's anointed and they are now suffering the consequences.

You see, every child of God is His anointed one. You've got to understand that. Psalms 105:6, 13-15 says, "O seed of Abraham His servant, you children of Jacob, His chosen ones! When they went from one nation to another, from one kingdom to another people, He permitted no one to do them wrong; yes, He rebuked kings for their sakes, saying, 'Do not touch My anointed ones, and do My prophets no harm.'”

Don't jeopardize your destiny by engaging in this dastardly act. If you can't treat God's anointed ones right, at work, in school and everywhere else, then please just let them be. Repent if you probably are guilty of doing so, I tell you, it is a dangerous thing to fall into the hands of God.

Twitter: @PastorChinae
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Obtaining Possession Of The Earth

Spirit & Life Devotional
Thursday, 7 January 2016
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

Obtaining Possession Of The Earth

"Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth." Matthew 5:5 NKJV

As we learned before we own the world. That's why you shouldn't be intimidated by anyone's wealth. Neither should you be envious of anyone because every single thing that's on this earth, including all the monies in the banks, the silver and gold, the crude oil, etc, belong to you! That's the truth!

But there is a difference between being an heir to something and actually taking possession of it. That's why a lot of Christians are broke; they are joint heirs with Christ, but there's nothing to show for it. There's a missing link.

Jesus said that it is the meek that will inherit the earth. Weymouth New Testament version says, "Blessed are the meek, for they as heirs shall obtain possession of the earth." Hmm, so that's the secret! You've got to be meek. Psalm 37:7-11 says, "Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him; do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; do not fret— it only causes harm. For evildoers shall be cut off; but those who wait on the Lord, they shall inherit the earth. For yet a little while and the wicked shall be no more; indeed, you will look carefully for his place, but it shall  be no more. But the meek shall inherit the earth, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace." Amen!

Twitter: @PastorChinae
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Winning By Faith

Spirit & Life Devotional
Wednesday, 6 January 2016
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

Winning By Faith

"For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith." I John 5:4 NKJV

I love God's Word and New Living Translations of the verse: GW says, "because everyone who has been born from God has won the victory over the world. Our faith is what wins the victory over the world." NLT says, "For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith."

Hear me, brothers and sisters, the formula for success and victory remains the same; you can only achieve it by faith. Satan presides over the systems of the world, so don't even think for a moment that he will be pleased to see you succeed, or that he's uninterested in your affairs; you've got to use your faith if you want to achieve anything meaningful in this world, as a child of God.

Don't just do business as usual; your faith must be active and operational all the time. If you're an employee you've got to do same. We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against unseen forces of darkness. There will definitely be challenges, even in school, but if you always live by faith victory and success are certain. You will succeed, in Jesus name. Amen.

Twitter: @PastorChinae
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We Own The World

Spirit & Life Devotional
Tuesday, 5 January 2016
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

We Own The World

"The earth and everything on it belong to the Lord. The world and all its people belong to him." Psalms 24:1 ERV

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1). Therefore, the earth and everything on it belong to Him. That's a valid truth; but you see, that's not the only revelation of the truth that you should have.

Psalm 115:16 communicates another very important truth: it says, "The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord’s; but the earth He has given to the children of men." God gave us the earth! No wonder Psalm 8 says, "What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him? You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet, all sheep and oxen— even the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea that pass through the paths of the seas." Hallelujah!

One may argue that man lost the world to the devil when he disobeyed God; but that has been taken care of! That's one of the reasons why Jesus came, to restore man's authority and inheritance: 1 Corinthians 3:21-22 says, "Therefore let no one boast in men. For all things are yours: whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or things present or things to come—all are yours." Wow! The world is mine! I'm rich! Glory to God!

Twitter: @PastorChinae
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An Economy Powered By Miracles

Spirit & Life Devotional
Monday, 4 January 2016
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

An Economy Powered By Miracles

"Then Elisha said, 'Hear the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord: ‘Tomorrow about this time a seah of fine flour shall  be sold for a shekel, and two seahs of barley for a shekel, at the gate of Samaria.’" II Kings 7:1 NKJV

Economies of the world, especially mono-product economies like ours whose major export is oil, are dependent on a number of factors, like price, output, demand, etc. Our revenue has decreased significantly in the last one year because of continuous reductions of the price of oil. As long as other countries continue to discover and sell oil, things are not likely to improve unless steps are taken to diversify the economy.

But the kingdom of God is not like the economies of the world! Whether there's oil or not, the kingdom of God continues to flourish. Hallelujah! A lot of us Christians need reorientation; our minds have become too used to the system of the world and we have subjected ourselves to those systems, that we don't even realize that we can operate by higher laws even while here on earth. How else can we say that there is a lifting up when men are saying that there is a casting down? By the application of kingdom principles!

Become miracle conscious. Instead of borrowing trying believing God for a miraculous supply! The widow who inherited huge debt from her husband was able to repay all the creditors as a result of miraculous multiplication of her barrel of oil! Jesus paid taxes by collecting money from the mouth of a fish! God is still doing miracles today; if we believe we too will see the glory of God. Amen.

Twitter: @PastorChinae
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Demand And Supply In The Economy of the Kingdom of God (2)

Spirit & Life Devotional
Sunday, 3 January 2016
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

Demand And Supply In The Economy of the Kingdom of God (2)

"And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19 NKJV

Paul said God shall supply all your needs! Not the market, God! And in the kingdom of God, there can never be a scarcity! Supply is unlimited: and as long as there are people with faith to receive their demands God will always be faithful to supply. Hallelujah!

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 he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened." You don't need money to get anything, neither do you need connections or specific negotiating skills; just be a thanksgiver and a giver too.

Thanksgiving, giving and faith are the currencies of the kingdom, not Dollars, Pounds Sterling or Euro: they that come to God must believe that He is a Rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. Give, and it will be given unto you, full measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over! Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and supplication, make your requests known unto God with thanksgiving. No more lack of anything in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Twitter: @PastorChinae
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Demand And Supply In The Economy of the Kingdom of God (1)

Spirit & Life Devotional
Saturday, 2 January 2016
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

Demand And Supply In The Economy of the Kingdom of God (1)

"And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19 NKJV

There's a theory of demand and supply which students of economics are aware of. According to Investopedia; "The quantity demanded is the amount of a product people are willing to buy at a certain price; while supply represents how much the market can offer."

You see, in the economy of the world they talk about buying stuff, price or money, market or market conditions, etc. The economy of the kingdom is different and you must understand the difference. In the economy of the kingdom, you don't have to buy things in order to have them, neither do you have to have money before your demands will be met! Interesting, right? In the economy of the kingdom of God, we are not limited by money! Money is not a determinant of anything!

OK, how much money did Jesus have before using five loaves of bread and two fish to feed over five thousand people? Nothing! Philip was thinking in terms of money and purchasing, so he said to Jesus, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have a little.” But Jesus doesn't depend on Naira and Kobo, Dollars or Rand! We must start thinking and functioning like Jesus! (To be continued)

Twitter: @PastorChinae
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The Economy of the Kingdom of God

Spirit & Life Devotional
Friday, 1 January 2016
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

The Economy of the Kingdom of God

"And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19 NKJV

It's important that we remind ourselves of the truth that we are not subjected to the economy of this world.

There's lack in the world; Jesus said that there will always be poor people in the world. But Christians shouldn't lack! Because the Lord is our Shepherd! The Bible says that God shall supply all our needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. The Bible also says that He daily loads us with benefits. Hallelujah.

It's not all about having excess in the economy of the Kingdom; it's about having your needs met all the time and never lacking. Jesus did not have excess when He was here on earth, but you'll agree with me that He never lacked. All He had to do was multiply loaves and fish, or collect money from the mouth of a fish! Wow! You will never lack again in the name of Jesus!

Twitter: @PastorChinae
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