How Thirsty Are You?

Spirit & Life Devotional
Sunday, 31 July 2016

How Thirsty Are You?

"For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, and floods on the dry ground; I will pour My Spirit on your descendants, and My blessing on your offspring." Isaiah 44:3 NKJV

Jesus said, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled." It's clear from the words of Jesus who gets filled; those who are hungry and thirsty. You'll get little or nothing from God if you appear before Him full; you've got to appear before Him in need of more.

It's talking about the attitude with which we approach God. You know, there are people who go to church just to fulfill all righteousness; some go to church as a meeting place with others; to some they've heard it all, and they know it all, they don't expect to receive anything new; they are wrong because they think that they are meeting with the pastor.

If God has floods of whatever He has to offer then I want it all! When I'm in His presence He is all that matters at that moment. I silence my phones or put them off; I get rid of all distractions; that's not a time to sit with friends; meeting with God is serious business! I stand before Him in need of more of Him, to be refreshed and to be filled with His Spirit! Hallelujah!

Prophetic Declaration:
Today I shall be filled afresh with the Spirit of God. The heavens will open for me, and I shall be soaked and drenched with the floods of His glory. Today, I shall be greatly blessed!

Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim
Twitter: @PastorChinae
PIN:568E2E56

Speaking To God

Spirit & Life Devotional
Saturday, 30 July 2016

Speaking To God

"For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries." I Corinthians 14:2 NKJV

Speaking to God means praying to God. But I need you to understand that there are different kinds of prayer. Many times we pray casually, as a routine, but there are times we must make demands in prayer. Let me give two examples:

When Joshua and the Israelites fought the Amorites, the Bible says that Joshua prayed to the Lord in front of all the people of Israel. He said, “Let the sun stand still over Gibeon, and the moon over the valley of Aijalon.” And the sun stood still and the moon stayed in place until the nation of Israel had defeated its enemies. Again, when Korah conspired with Dathan and Abiram, and incited a rebellion against Moses, along with 250 other leaders of the community, Moses was very angry and he said to the Lord, “Do not accept their grain offerings! I have not taken so much as a donkey from them, and I have never hurt a single one of them.”

Listen, if we want things to change we must learn to speak to the Lord as Moses and Joshua did! Don't take prayer for granted; when we approach God in faith, He moves swiftly and does the impossible for us. Hallelujah!

Prophetic Declaration:
I speak to the Lord today about my situation; I command every mountain before me to disappear, in the name of Jesus! I speak to the Lord about my job, business, family and loved ones, I command whatever powers that have kept us bound to get lost, in the name of Jesus!

Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim
Twitter: @PastorChinae
PIN:568E2E56

You Too Can Kill Lions

Spirit & Life Devotional
Friday, 29 July 2016

You Too Can Kill Lions

"And the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him, and he tore the lion apart as one would have torn apart a young goat, though he had nothing in his hand. But he did not tell his father or his mother what he had done." Judges 14:6 NKJV

When a lion took a lamb from David's flock, he went after the lion and killed it. Then there's Benaiah son of Jehoiada, a valiant warrior who did many heroic deeds; on a snowy day, he chased a lion down into a pit and killed it. Wow!

Lions are called kings of the jungle, they are strong and terrifying, virtually every animal flees at the sight of them, they instill fear. But instead of being afraid, Samson, David and Benaiah chased lions and killed them!

This is not about killing physical lions, but the things that represent lions in your life. Thus says the Lord, Fear not! The righteous is as bold as a lion, meanwhile, the devil goes about as one. In other words, you are the real lion! So there's really nothing to be afraid of! Stop running away from whatever has been roaring in your life, stealing from you and harassing you; stop running from challenges; yield yourself to the Spirit, let Him come upon you and enable you to tear lions into pieces and overcome every lion-like challenge in your life. Yes, you can!

Prophetic Declaration:
I refuse to fear! Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world! I am as bold as a lion; I am the real lion; I am more than a conqueror; I shall always win!

Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim
Twitter: @PastorChinae
PIN:568E2E56

Come Forth!

Spirit & Life Devotional
Thursday, 28 July 2016

Come Forth!

"But Jesus looked at them and said to them, 'With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.'” Matthew 19:26 NKJV

When Lazarus died, some people said, “Could not this Man, who opened the eyes of the blind, also have kept this man from dying?” To those guys, death was final and it was impossible for someone or something that was dead to come back to life. But Jesus made it clear that He was the Resurrection and the Life.

Don't be quick to give up on something just because it is dead because death is not final. The world that we live in today was once dead: it was empty, dark and in a mess, until God resuscitated it. Look at how beautiful it is today!

I announce to you today in the name of Jesus that whatever is dead in your life is coming alive in the name of Jesus! Your hopes and dreams are coming alive in the name of Jesus! I speak to your dead visions, Come forth! I speak to your dead financial situation, Come forth! I speak to your dead relationships, Come forth! To your wayward children and unbelieving loved ones, Come forth! To the economy, Come forth, in the name of Jesus!

Prophetic Declaration:
I speak in agreement with the word of God, and I declare that whatever is in a comatose state in my life, in my business, in my family and in my nation is coming forth and coming alive in Jesus name! Amen.

Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim
Twitter: @PastorChinae
PIN:568E2E56

Standing In The Gap

Spirit & Life Devotional
Wednesday, 27 July 2016

Standing In The Gap

"And he stood between the dead and the living; so the plague was stopped." Numbers 16:48 NKJV

God said to Abraham, “I have heard many times that the people of Sodom and Gomorrah are very evil. I will go and see if they are as bad as I have heard. Then I will know for sure.” Abraham knew the implications of that visit, so he approached God and asked, “Will you destroy the good people while you are destroying those who are evil? What if there are fifty good people in that city? Will you still destroy it? You would not destroy fifty good people to kill those who are evil. If that happened, those who are good would be the same as those who are evil—both would be punished. As the judge of the whole world, surely you would do the right thing!” Then the Lord said, “If I find fifty good people in the city of Sodom, I will save the whole city.” Abraham kept interceding for them until he got God to agree that He wouldn't destroy the land for the sake of five righteous men.

Brothers and sisters, we have a duty to intercede for men - for sinners, for our families, tribesmen, nation and for the world. People are being killed by terrorists everyday and it seems like it might get worse; and souls are perishing, going to hell! We've got to stand in the gap! Ezekiel 22:30 says, "So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one." We will be found in Jesus name! Amen.

Prophetic Declaration:
Today, I stand in the gap for my loved ones; I declare that no evil shall befall any of them in the name of Jesus. I also stand in the gap for my community, my nation and the world; I decree an end to the activities of bloodsucking demons in the name of Jesus! And I stand in the gap for those not born again, I pray for their salvation, in Jesus name. Amen.

Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim
Twitter: @PastorChinae
PIN:568E2E56

Your Labour Is Not In Vain

Spirit & Life Devotional
Tuesday, 26 July 2016

Your Labour Is Not In Vain

"And I urge you also, true companion, help these women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life." Philippians 4:3 NKJV

A lot of us need to understand the importance of labour. Many of us are observers; we watch a few do the work, sometimes we even criticize them and at other times we cheer them. But the reason that only little is being done and achieved is that majority of us have left the work for only a few to do.

The above is true in the kingdom of God and everywhere else. How many of us are participating actively in the propagation of the gospel? How many of us can sincerely say that we are contributing to the betterment of our communities and the world at large? Brethren, what we all must learn is that progress is achieved faster when all hands are on deck.

The truth is that we are not always motivated to do much because we assume that our labour goes unnoticed, unrewarded and that it might be insignificant. But that's not true! Those who labour have a special place; their names are in the Book of Life! Hallelujah! Everything adds up. Do the little that you can do to change a life, to improve a place and to transform societies. Know this: your labour will never be in vain. I Corinthians 15:58 says, "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord." Amen.

Prophetic Declaration:
From today, I declare that I am a co-labourer with Christ. From today, I refuse to remain on the fence; I choose to be a blessing to people around me, to the kingdom of God and to my community.

Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim
Twitter: @PastorChinae
PIN:568E2E56

The Future Is Bright

Spirit & Life Devotional
Monday, 25 July 2016

The Future Is Bright

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11 NKJV

The future doesn't look bright when your own brothers kidnap you, drop you in a pit and sell you to complete strangers for twenty shekels of silver; the future doesn't look bright when you are made a slave, sexually harassed and falsely accused and thrown into prison for a crime you didn't commit; and the future certainly doesn't look bright when those you helped, capable of helping you, completely forget about you and you have to spend more years behind bars.

That was Joseph, despite his dreams of a very great future, for many years it seemed like his dreams were mere illusions; at some point a lot of us would have given up on our dreams but not Joseph, he kept believing until his dreams became a reality.

I want you to know today that your dreams are valid, and I prophesy to you in the name of Jesus that your future is bright! It doesn't matter how things seem right now; the situation in your family, in your business, state and country might be terrible, it may even seem like God is not with you; brothers and sisters, God is with you and He is working behind the scenes to bring the desired future to pass. It is well with you in Jesus name! Amen.

Prophetic Declaration:
I declare that my future is bright; dry bones in my life are coming alive, and no matter what is happening now I know that all things are working together for my good.

Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim
Twitter: @PastorChinae
PIN:568E2E56

Believe In Yourself

Spirit & Life Devotional
Sunday, 24 July 2016

Believe In Yourself

"And he spoke before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, 'What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they fortify themselves? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they complete it in a day? Will they revive the stones from the heaps of rubbish— stones that are burned?'” Nehemiah 4:2 NKJV

The nation of Israel was attacked because of their sins, many of them were taken into captivity, the wall of Jerusalem was broken down, and its gates burned with fire. Nehemiah was able to get the people together and motivate them to rebuild the wall, even though they were few and without much resources.

Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem heard that the Israelites were rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem and they laughed at them and despised them. At that point, some of us would have quit. You know that some of us pay so much attention to what people say about us and our work; we don't want to be laughed at; we don't want anyone to criticize us; we only want to hear pleasant things. But that's so unrealistic! There are people who will never believe in what you're doing; they don't even believe in you! Many times it will be you against the rest of the world! But read the stories of successful men, they believed in themselves and never gave up.

When Nehemiah heard the mockery he didn't respond, he simply prayed to God about it: "Hear, O our God, for we are despised; turn their reproach on their own heads, and give them as plunder to a land of captivity!" Believe in yourself, never back down especially when it is God who laid it in your heart to do it. Let them call you stupid and crazy; it's their own opinion not yours, not God's, so ignore them, pray, and remain focused on getting the job done!

Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim
Twitter: @PastorChinae
PIN:568E2E56

Ugly Situations In Beautiful Places

Spirit & Life Devotional
Saturday, 23 July 2016

Ugly Situations In Beautiful Places

"And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple." Acts 3:2 NKJV

Remember the popular telenovela titled The Rich Also Cry? We unconsciously think that all is well with the rich, but the rich also cry. I'm not really talking about the rich here; there are people we admire, people with great jobs, people in seemingly perfect relationships, people in important positions, etc, who we think that they have all they could ever ask for; they are in beautiful places but with very ugly situations.

Just like Naaman. A commander of the army of the king of Syria, a great and honorable man in the eyes of his master, a mighty man of valor, but a leper! But a leper! Yours may not be leprosy; you may be all that at work, in society, in school, but unhappy, harassed, threatened, embarrassed. You might even have a terrible health condition.

The lame man was placed at the gate called Beautiful. And he was there for years until he came in contact with two men who had just received the Holy Spirit! They said to him, Rise up and walk! They grabbed him and pulled him up, and he walked! Today, I say unto you, Be free of every ugly situation in your life, in the name of Jesus!

Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim
Twitter: @PastorChinae
PIN:568E2E56

What God Can Do

Spirit & Life Devotional
Friday, 22 July 2016

What God Can Do

"I have given you a land for which you did not labor, and cities which you did not build, and you dwell in them; you eat of the vineyards and olive groves which you did not plant." Joshua 24:13 NKJV

The truth is that we have a hard time believing that God can take care of all our needs as He promised in the Scriptures that He would. And I sincerely wonder why. So we are struggling and trying to do so much by ourselves.

We read stories of divine provision in the Bible, they seem fantastic but we quickly tell ourselves that those were "Bible days". What exactly does that mean? That God is no more as active and powerful as He used to be? That the world has become more complicated for God to perform? Or that God is not as interested in the affairs of His children as He once was?

No! God is the same yesterday, today and forever! What He did yesterday in Bible days are nothing compared to what He is capable of doing today! He is omnipotent! He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted. Jesus can still bring money out of the mouth of fishes; He still multiplies food; God can still give us lands we didn't labour for, and houses we did not build! All we have to do is believe.

Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim
Twitter: @PastorChinae
PIN:568E2E56

Made By Jesus

Spirit & Life Devotional
Thursday, 21 July 2016

Made By Jesus

"Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus." Acts 4:13 NKJV

Jesus met some men at their working place and said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." They obeyed Him, left everything and followed Him. About three years later those men were made, and they shook their world.

That's the power of Jesus! Note that those men were uneducated and untrained. What that tells me is that there's no man or woman that's unfit to God. Your CV is awesome; for a job, yes! But God doesn't recruit people based on the contents of their CVs!

What matters most is spending quality time with Jesus. When you follow Jesus wholeheartedly He will bring out the best in you! Men listened to the apostles and they marvelled: you too will make men marvel in Jesus name.

Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim
Twitter: @PastorChinae
PIN:568E2E56

Who's With You?

Spirit & Life Devotional
Wednesday, 20 July 2016

Who's With You?

"So his armorbearer said to him, 'Do all that is in your heart. Go then; here I am with you, according to your heart.'" I Samuel 14:7 NKJV

Which people have you surrounded yourself with? People who encourage you to take giant steps or people who instill fear in you? How are the people with you - your aides, colleagues, workers, etc - influencing you?

Jonathan was going to do something which many will say it's stupid; just him and his armourbearer going to attack an entire army! But guess what; the armourbearer said, “Do what you think is best. Whatever you decide, I am with you all the way.”

Reminds me of Naaman, he wouldn't have been healed but for the people around him: first, it was the mistress of his wife who told him about Elisha; and after Elisha told him to go wash in river Jordan and he was angry, his servants spoke to him, and said, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do something great, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he says to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?” He listened to them, washed in the river and was made whole.

Surround yourself with people of faith and wisdom; people who will encourage you to obey God and do the impossible no matter how crazy and unreasonable it seems.

Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim
Twitter: @PastorChinae
PIN:568E2E56

Sowing And Reaping

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

Sowing And Reaping

"And 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." II Corinthians 9:8 NKJV

We love to quote this verse and claim it, but the truth is that we cannot separate it from verse 6 which says "But this I  say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully."

You can't be sowing sparingly and be believing for "sufficiency in all things" and "abundance for every good work". No, it won't work. To have abundance you must first be someone who consistently sows bountifully.

The economy is not a problem at all! It doesn't matter how terrible the economy is, it should never bother you. You have to stop living by sight and start living by faith. God's ability to provide is not dependent on the economy of your state or country; all He has to do is to speak it into existence! Where there is dryness, just one word from God will make it a fruitful place! Hallelujah! As you begin to sow bountifully, prosperity shall be yours in Jesus name. Amen.

Twitter: @PastorChinae
PIN:568E2E56

You Are An Anointed Problem Solver

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

You Are An Anointed Problem Solver

"So Solomon answered all her questions; there was nothing so difficult for Solomon that he could not explain it to her." II Chronicles 9:2 NKJV

The queen of Sheba heard about the wisdom of king Solomon in her land and decided to test him with very hard questions. I believe that she must have had those questions in her heart for a while, and must have tried to get answers from other men, but didn't.

What fascinates me is that Solomon answered all her questions, and none was difficult for him! What the queen of Sheba and others considered to be tough questions were so easy for Solomon! That's how excellent the wisdom of God is.

God has anointed you with a sound mind and an excellent spirit; and He has enabled you where you are now to solve problems, no matter how tough they are. Have that mindset in you. Don't be a person who runs away from difficult situations; learn to commune with the Holy Spirit within you, and you will see yourself doing wonders.

Have a blessed day.

Twitter: @PastorChinae
PIN:568E2E56

Desirous Of The Word

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

Desirous Of The Word

"Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors." Proverbs 8:34 NKJV

People who get the most of the word are those who are hungry for it. They don't just stumble upon it, they have a great desire for it, and they make effort to hear it. Just imagine Zacchaeus climbing a tree just to see Jesus; that got the attention of Jesus, Jesus went with him to his house and gave him full attention.

When Jesus visited Martha's house, she busied herself with trying to entertain the Lord: I don't blame her at all, it's not every day you get to have Jesus in your house! But her sister, Mary, wasn't bothered about being a good hostess, she was more interested in being in His presence and hearing His words. Martha complained, but Jesus said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”

We must become hungry and passionate about the word of God. David said in Psalm 119:162, "I rejoice at Your word As one who finds great treasure." Hallelujah!

Happy Sunday!

Twitter: @PastorChinae
PIN:568E2E56

Desirous Of The Word

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

Desirous Of The Word

"Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors." Proverbs 8:34 NKJV

People who get the most of the word are those who are hungry for it. They don't just stumble upon it, they have a great desire for it, and they make effort to hear it. Just imagine Zacchaeus climbing a tree just to see Jesus; that got the attention of Jesus, Jesus went with him to his house and gave him full attention.

When Jesus visited Martha's house, she busied herself with trying to entertain the Lord: I don't blame her at all, it's not every day you get to have Jesus in your house! But her sister, Mary, wasn't bothered about being a good hostess, she was more interested in being in His presence and hearing His words. Martha complained, but Jesus said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”

We must become hungry and passionate about the word of God. David said in Psalm 119:162, "I rejoice at Your word As one who finds great treasure." Hallelujah!

Happy Sunday!

Twitter: @PastorChinae
PIN:568E2E56

The Liberal Church

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

The Liberal Church

"Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so." James 3:10 NKJV

When I was in the university I didn't allow my roommates use my radio to play ungodly music; I used it to listen to Christian music, to glorify God, so I didn't think that it should also be used to glorify the devil. I remember too when we were children, we were hardly allowed to attend parties, and if we did we dared not dance to ungodly music.

I think that a lot of us Christians have become too liberal, if that's the right word to use; and I don't mean to be judgemental. Our favourite songs and music artists are the ungodly ones; many of us can't even lead praise and worship for more than 5 minutes but we can sing ungodly songs for hours! Even our worship leaders are guilty, we get our inspirations from ungodly musicians: so we sing praise and worship songs and dance in church, and then go to club on Friday night, and every other day! You see the way our very little children dance these days and you are shocked!

It's something we all need to really think about: how exactly are we worshipping God? Shouldn't there be remarkable differences between us and the world? With our mouths we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men; with our bodies we glorify God and with it we promote ungodliness. Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Let God be true and every man a liar. Amen.

Twitter: @PastorChinae
PIN:568E2E56

Love Wisely

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

Love Wisely

"Afterward it happened that he loved a woman in the Valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah." Judges 16:4 NKJV

When you love someone, you have a soft spot for them, and it ends up being your weakness. The same thing happens when you love "things" - money, power, pleasure, etc, you have a soft spot for it, and it becomes a weak point.

In other words, the easiest way to get to you is by who or what you love! When the devil wanted Job to curse God, who did he send to him? His wife! When he, the devil, tried to make Jesus not to die on the cross, he didn't send a stranger, he used Peter to try to talk him out of it! And of course, you know how Adam fell; Satan got him through his wife that he loved.

Demas' love for the world made him backslide. Are you getting the point? If you have love for the wrong persons or things, that is, persons without the fear of God, persons not genuinely saved, and things that are contrary to the Spirit, they could result in your downfall. Samson loved Delilah and it cost him his strength, his ministry and his life! Who are you in love with? What are you in love with? Be not unequally yoked, dear brothers and sisters; love not the world.

Twitter: @PastorChinae
PIN:568E2E56

Crucifying The Flesh

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

Crucifying The Flesh

"And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires." Galatians 5:24 NKJV

Walking in the flesh has to do with being ruled and controlled by our flesh to do whatever it desires. And the truth is that we cannot walk in the flesh and please God at the same time: it is impossible, because the flesh only does things which grieve the Spirit.

Committing sexual sin, being morally bad, doing all kinds of shameful things, worshiping false gods, taking part in witchcraft, hating people, causing trouble, being jealous, angry or selfish, causing people to argue and divide into separate groups, being filled with envy, getting drunk, having wild parties, and other things like those mentioned are the works of the flesh, and the Bible warns that people who do these things will not have a part in God’s kingdom.

Hence the need to crucify the flesh. Brothers and sisters, we have to crucify our flesh. What's the difference between us and the world if we still live as they live, talk like them and do as they do? Most importantly, we must crucify our fleshly passions and desires to have a fruitful relationship with God and spend eternity with Him. His grace is sufficient for us. Amen.

Twitter: @PastorChinae
PIN:568E2E56

Inspire

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

Inspire

"Then Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took the timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances." Exodus 15:20 NKJV

Miriam's action inspired every other woman to praise the Lord; she must have been quite influential and people looked up to her.

There are people, Christians, with great influence over people, people with multitudes of followers, who are not inspiring their followers in the things of God; they'd rather spend their time, and devote their platforms to things that are of no real significance!

Even if you have influence over only one person - your child, employee, neighbour, etc - how inspiring have you been to that one person? Are you inspiring that one person to be a better Christian? Are you inspiring that one person to be a good Christian worker and worshipper? We must make it one of our goals to inspire people around us positively, and in the things of God. Amen.

Twitter: @PastorChinae
PIN:568E2E56

Man May Not Forget, But God Does

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

Man May Not Forget, But God Does

"And Jesse begot David the king. David the king begot Solomon by her who had  been the wife of Uriah." Matthew 1:6 NKJV

The author of Matthew, many years later, just had to restate the fact that David gave birth to Solomon through another man's wife; Matthew had to remind the world of David's sin, or David's error if you like; Matthew wouldn't let it go; he had to remind the world and generations to come that David was an adulterer, a murderer and wife snatcher! Even Rahab was still referred to as a harlot in Hebrews!

I'm sure you've met people like that; I guess it's a part of our human nature; sometimes it's our parents and friends who are quick to remind us of the wrong things we did years ago; sometimes, it's even members of church who should have the mind of Christ; sometimes it's even your pastor, or colleague at work who uses your past to determine your present and future. And of course Satan specialises in reminding us of our past.

But I've got good news for you today; man may not forget but God does! Man may tag you to your past wrongs permanently but I assure that what men think and say about your past is absolutely meaningless and strange to God! Psalm 103 verse 12 says that "As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us." Hallelujah! So don't let whatever men may say or call you affect you; walk in the light of God's present opinion of you. Amen!

Twitter: @PastorChinae
PIN:568E2E56

Jesus Is Coming Soon

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

Jesus Is Coming Soon

“Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.” Revelation 16:15 NKJV

That phrase is obviously a cliche to a lot of people, it's something that has been said for over two thousand years; not many believe it anymore; and some believers are living as though the day will never come.

Perhaps, it's pertinent to state that God's love for man is the reason why Jesus is yet to return. The Bible says that God is not willing that anyone should perish, but that all should come to repentance. The second coming of Christ is being delayed that a few more might be saved!

But the sad truth is that not every man will be saved. The second coming of Christ will not be delayed for ever. Jesus is coming very soon; the end of all things is at hand. And He will come as a thief in the night. There'll be no announcements; there'll be no signs in the sky; neither will there be a stoppage of events on the earth; the sun and moon would shine on that day, it might even rain; we might be at work, or be sleeping at night, and suddenly, the trumpet will sound, the dead in Christ will rise first, and those who are ready will be caught up to meet with the Lord in the sky. Will you be ready?

Twitter: @PastorChinae
PIN:568E2E56

You Can't, But He Can

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

You Can't, But He Can

“Hear, O Israel: You are to cross over the Jordan today, and go in to dispossess nations greater and mightier than yourself, cities great and fortified up to heaven." Deuteronomy 9:1 NKJV

I know we always preach and teach that "you can", but the truth is that we can't do everything all by ourselves; in fact there's so much that we can't do all by ourselves! If we could do everything then we wouldn't need God.

God rarely asks us to do what we can do all by ourselves: instead He instructs us to do great things, very challenging things, amazing things! Now that should get us worried, but no it shouldn't because when God asks us to do anything He goes ahead of us to get the job done! Hallelujah!

So when God says to go, that's not the time to begin to feel weak and incapable; neither is it a time to give excuses: God knew all that before He spoke to you! Yet He chose you. Quit looking at yourself; look at the God in you! Great is He that is in you! You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you!

Twitter: @PastorChinae
PIN:568E2E56

Doors Of Prosperity

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

Doors Of Prosperity

"A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes merry; but money answers everything." Ecclesiastes 10:19 NKJV

Many years ago, I wrote that anyone who says money isn't important has never had a great vision or dream. Make no mistakes about it, money is very important in this world. Money actually solves a lot of problems.

Does having money make people happy? Yes! So why are the rich not always happy? Because money is not the only thing that makes a person happy! You can have all the monies in the world and still be miserable, but I assure you that if you receive money whenever you have a need of it, it will make you very happy!

God desires to bless us with money. I see financial doors opening up! God is releasing financial blessings to His children; let me tell you, some of you reading this will begin to receive unexpected monies from today! Your businesses will suddenly begin to flourish and you will prosper! Take what I'm saying seriously; refuse to be moved by the economic condition of your country, prosperity is yours in the name of Jesus!

Twitter: @PastorChinae
PIN:568E2E56

Not Your Fault

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

Not Your Fault

"Jesus answered, 'Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him.'" John 9:3 NKJV

Jesus saw a man who was blind from birth, as He passed by. And His disciples asked Him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” You see, the disciples were raised to think that it's when all is not well, it must have been a result of something wrong that they did. So as soon as they saw the blind man they began looking for faults.

It's like when someone loses a job, or something or someone dear; and you immediately begin to think that it's a result of something wrong that you did that God is punishing you for. No dear, it's not so, God is not like that. Don't blame yourself for every unpleasant thing that happens to you; avoid having an unnecessary guilty conscience; stop putting yourself under undue pressure. It's not your fault!

Job's friends blamed him for what he experienced; they pronounced him guilty of secret sins, when he was actually innocent. Well, God knew the truth, and later blessed him with twice as much as he had before his ordeal. I've got good news for someone today; a greater blessing is on the way! God permitted it to happen in order to have a reason to bless you abundantly and to be glorified. It might take a while, but if you endure to the end and maintain a good attitude before God, you will surely come out better, stronger and greater! Hallelujah!

Twitter: @PastorChinae
PIN:568E2E56

Making Eternal Investments

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

Making Eternal Investments

"For when he dies he shall carry nothing away; his glory shall not descend after him." Psalms 49:17 NKJV

I heard the story of a man who willed that he be buried with all his money. Well, his wife wrote him a cheque for him to cash all his money! What a smart woman.

My pastor in Assemblies of God Church, Ijede, years ago, used to say that he wore his new clothes as soon as he got them so that he would be the first to wear them, instead of unbelievers, should rapture happen suddenly. Funny, right?

Here's the point: whether we leave the world by death or through the rapture, we will leave without all these things we are struggling so hard to accumulate. Then, even gold would be worthless; in heaven the streets are paved with gold! Live therefore with understanding. Pursue what matters most. Set your affections on things above. Store your treasures in heaven. Make eternal investments.

Twitter: @PastorChinae
PIN:568E2E56

A Thousand And One Ways

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

A Thousand And One Ways

For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”
Esther 4:14 NKJV

God has a thousand and one ways, a million and one ways actually, to bless you, to provide for you, to deliver you and to get any other thing done for you. And it doesn't matter if it has never happened before; God will do a new thing if needs be! Hallelujah!

At one time Moses parted the sea by stretching his rod over it; at another time Joshua parted the sea by getting the priests with the ark in the sea first; and then we see Elijah and Elisha parting the sea with a mantle! Never limit God! He fed Elijah through an angel, at another time using ravens, and then by a widow. God is too much!

That's why we don't put our trust in man, but in the living God! Man fails, man disappoints, man gives excuses, man tells stories; but God is capable, dependable and creative. There are some of you who have been disappointed recently, certain persons who promised to help you did not; cheer up, God will do it for you. Glory to God!

Twitter: @PastorChinae
PIN:568E2E56

Let No One Despise You

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

Let No One Despise You

"Speak these things, exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you." Titus 2:15 NKJV

Twice, the Bible says that we should let no one despise us; the first in Titus 2:15 and in 1 Timothy 4:12: "Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity."

1 Timothy 4:12 has inspired me so much since I was a child. You see, I didn't let anyone make me feel inferior or incapable or unqualified for whatever reason, and I didn't despise myself either! I determined long ago to be an example, not only in the things of God; even in school, and at work, I worked with the same mindset. I live and strive to be the one who inspires others to be the best.

There are people who will attempt to despised you: even Jesus, with all He did some still referred to Him as a carpenter and they couldn't just accept Him as the Son of God! Let no one despise you wherever you find yourself; they may look down on you, but it's your response and your own perception of yourself that really matters! Never despise yourself; there's nothing wrong with you; nothing at all! Lean on the Holy Spirit and let Him take you farther than you ever imagined. Amen.

Twitter: @PastorChinae
PIN:568E2E56

You Are About To Be Discovered

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

You Are About To Be Discovered

"There is a man in your kingdom in whom is the Spirit of the Holy God. And in the days of your father, light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, were found in him; and King Nebuchadnezzar your father—your father the king—made him chief of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers." Daniel 5:11 NKJV

When a distressing spirit troubled Saul, his servants said to him, “Let our master now command your servants, who are before you, to seek out a man who is a skillful player on the harp. And it shall be that he will play it with his hand when the distressing spirit from God is upon you, and you shall be well.” So Saul said to his servants, “Provide me now a man who can play well, and bring him to me.” Then one of the servants answered and said, “Look, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing, a mighty man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a handsome person; and the Lord is with him.”

Daniel was discovered in a time of distress; David too, and Joseph! Troubled times and distressing moments are divine opportunities for your discovery!

I have a witness in my spirit that some of you reading this are about to be discovered; men will hear about you and come from far and near to look for you! Listen, what separates you from others is not just your skills; but the Spirit of God in you! It's your time to shine! Hallelujah!

Twitter: @PastorChinae
PIN:568E2E56

The Need For Unity

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

The Need For Unity

"Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment." I Corinthians 1:10 NKJV

The reason that the church is not making as much impact in the world as we ought to is no other reason than disunity. The Early Church was one and you can read for yourself all the exploits they did because they were united. When they gathered together, the Bible said severally that they were together in one accord: can we say same about our local churches today? Not to even talk about the universal Church.

There were contentions in the church in Corinth which had to do with personalities; some said, “I am of Paul,” others said, “I am of Apollos,” and the rest, “I am of Cephas,” or “I am of Christ." It seems like what we do today, right? And Paul asked them, "Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?" He also said to them, "you are still carnal. For where there  are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not carnal?"

Brothers and sisters, it's time for us to grow up! If having more churches will further divide us then I dare say that there's really no need for more churches! But having more churches shouldn't be a problem if we stop glorifying ourselves and exalting mere men instead of Christ, the One Who died for us. Jesus prayed that we may be one, and it's my prayer today that God will unite us. Amen.

Twitter: @PastorChinae
PIN:568E2E56

God Knows Your Address

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

God Knows Your Address

"When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was." Matthew 2:9 NKJV

Never say that you have no one because you have God! Listen, God knows where you are at every point in time and He can get anything across to you anywhere, anyhow and anytime. It doesn't matter if men cannot reach you; even in the deepest depths, God can get anything to you from another end of the world!

God knows your address! The angel who spoke to Cornelius gave him a perfect description of Peter's address; he said, "Now send men to Joppa, and send for Simon whose surname is Peter. He is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea. He will tell you what you must do." And when the Lord spoke to Ananias about Saul, He said to him, “Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying."

I prophesy to you today in the name of Jesus, that God will locate you in the next seven days! I don't care where you are, favour will locate you there, help will locate you, money will find you, strangers with good news will pay you a visit in the name of Jesus! Amen!

Twitter: @PastorChinae
PIN:568E2E56

Holy Is The Lord

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

Holy Is The Lord

And one cried to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!” Isaiah 6:3 NKJV

One very important revelation of God that everyone of us must have is the revelation of His holiness. We know that God is love, but a lot of us are yet to understand that He is holy, because if we did we would walk in the light of it.

Listen people, if we must walk with God as closely as we ought to; if we sincerely desire to see His power and His wonders, then we must walk in the light of His holiness. He said to Abram when He appeared to him, “I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless. And I will make My covenant between Me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly.” Holiness activates the covenant and the blessing! God will not withhold His blessing and His power from the man who is upright before Him.

Titus 2:14 says, "He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds." And 2 Corinthians 7:1 says, "Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." Amen.

Happy New Month!

Twitter: @PastorChinae
PIN:568E2E56