He Does Great Things

Spirit & Life Devotional
Saturday, March 7
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

He Does Great Things

Job 5:9-11 NKJV "Who does great things, and unsearchable, marvelous things without number. He gives rain on the earth, and sends waters on the fields. He sets on high those who are lowly, and those who mourn are lifted to safety."

I was in Lagos, Nigeria in the middle of 2011 and decided to visit Household of God Church pastored by Rev. Chris Okotie. I used to watch Chris Okotie on LTV or NTA while growing up; more than anything else, I enjoyed the songs he sang. On this particular day, as Rev. Chris Okotie got to his pulpit, he sang a song that will always be one of my favourites:

Bless the Lord, Oh my soul
And all that is within me
Bless His holy name

He has done great things
He has done great things
He has done great things
Bless His holy name.

Hallelujah! God has done great things! Job said God does great things, and unsearchable, marvelous things without number! I feel like telling someone that you ain't seen nothing yet! Yes, I know that God has been good to you, I know that God has blessed you with a few things, but brother, what God is about to do for you is very great! The scripture says He does them without number! You've been believing for just one thing, but you will not be able to count the blessings of God by the end of this year! No more will you be called small, because God is lifting you up! From today, you are becoming a reference point in your society!

Psalms 126:3 says, "The Lord has done great things for us, and we are glad." From today, no more sorrow, but continual gladness, in Jesus name!

Twitter: @PastorChinae
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Delivering Yourself

Spirit & Life Devotional
Friday, March 6
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

Delivering Yourself

Proverbs 6:5 NKJV "Deliver yourself like a gazelle from the hand of the  hunter, and like a bird from the hand of the fowler."

We've all made mistakes, and will most likely make more, even though we don't have to if we allow ourselves and our actions to be guided by the word of God, which is called a lamp. But when we do make mistakes, we don't have to be consumed by them. There are things we can do to save ourselves, quickly! before things get worse.

The wise king said to his son, "My son, if you become surety for your friend, if you have shaken hands in pledge for a stranger, you are snared by the words of your mouth; you are taken by the words of your mouth. So do this, my son, and deliver yourself; for you have come into the hand of your friend: go and humble yourself; plead with your friend. Give no sleep to your eyes, nor slumber to your eyelids."

The first thing to do is to realize that you have erred. Some people, for reasons known to them, find it difficult to admit that they have erred, so they continue in their errors. That's pride. The first thing to do is to humble yourself. Then apologize if you need to. Our actions may have hurt people we care for, it may have also affected our colleagues and employers; it may have also affected our churches; whatever, just say you are sorry.

When President Bill Clinton was to be impeached for his adulterous affair with Monica Lewinsky, he saved himself by apologizing: he said, "It is important to me that everybody who has been hurt know that the sorrow I feel is genuine: first and most important, my family; also my friends, my staff, my Cabinet, Monica Lewinsky and her family, and the American people. I have asked all for their forgiveness." Bill Clinton was forgiven by his countrymen and his speech is recorded as one of the greatest.

Do what you have to do, and do it fast! Delaying to act could be more devastating that the mistake itself. May God continue to deliver us in Jesus name.

Twitter: @PastorChinae
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He Knows Your Needs

Spirit & Life Devotional
Thursday, March 5
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

He Knows Your Needs

Mark 8:1-2 NKJV "In those days, the multitude being very great and having nothing to eat, Jesus called His disciples to Him and said to them, “I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat."

Notice that the multitude didn't complain that there were hungry, neither did they ask for food to eat; but Jesus knew they had had nothing to eat, had compassion on them, and miraculously provided food for them to eat. Hallelujah!

There's nothing about you (physically, spiritually, financially, emotionally and otherwise) that God is unaware of. You need to understand that and begin to relate with Him with that understanding. He knows that you need a car, He knows you need a house, He knows you need a job, He knows you need children and He knows you need a husband - He knows all your needs both big and small; and He's already doing something about it! So quit worrying yourself!

Jesus said, "And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him." He also said, “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things." And Philippians 4:19 says, "And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." Amen!

Twitter: @PastorChinae
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Fishing In Deep Waters

Spirit & Life Devotional
Wednesday, March 4
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

Fishing In Deep Waters

Luke 5:4 NKJV "When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch."

Jesus asked Simon to launch out into the deep - that got my attention. I need you to understand today that the most precious things are found in the deep. The reason many people are searching and not getting anything meaningful is because they are looking in shallow places! If you want your situation to change significantly, then start fishing in the deep.

Look at Psalms 107:23-24. It says, "Those who go down to the sea in ships, who do business on great waters, they see the works of the Lord, and His wonders in the deep." His wonders where? In the deep!

Look again at Psalms 135:6; "Whatever the Lord pleases He does, in heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deep places." Where does He do them? In all deep places!

Deuteronomy 33:13 ISV says, "About Joseph he said: "May the blessing of the LORD be on his land: dew from the choicest of the heavens, and from the depths beneath." Aha! The best things come from above and from the deep!

You've got to move from the shallow places where you are right now if you want to achieve great success. People are comfortable in shallow places because there are little or no risks there; but you must be courageous! Embark on that journey, launch out into the deep, you will not drown, go deeper and deeper! I like what Psalms 95:4 says, "In His hand are the deep places of the earth; the heights of the hills are His also." Meaning that God knows where your breakthroughs are, and He can lead you safely there. Today, ask God to guide you to all the deep places where you should be.

Twitter: @PastorChinae
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Beauty For Ashes

Spirit & Life Devotional
Tuesday, March 3
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

Beauty For Ashes

Ezekiel 16:9-13 NKJV “Then I washed you in water; yes, I thoroughly washed off your blood, and I anointed you with oil. I clothed you in embroidered cloth and gave you sandals of badger skin; I clothed you with fine linen and covered you with silk. I adorned you with ornaments, put bracelets on your wrists, and a chain on your neck. And I put a jewel in your nose, earrings in your ears, and a beautiful crown on your head. Thus you were adorned with gold and silver, and your clothing was of fine linen, silk, and embroidered cloth. You ate pastry  of fine flour, honey, and oil. You were exceedingly beautiful, and succeeded to royalty."

God was reminding the Israelites of how they were before He changed them using the analogy of a new born baby. He said that when they were born, no eye pitied them, instead they were thrown out. He passed by and saw them struggling, and He said to them, ‘Live!’ He made them thrive like a plant in the field; they grew, matured, and became very beautiful. That's what God does; according to Isaiah 61:3, He gives beauty for ashes. Hallelujah!

God said to David, “I took you from the sheepfold, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people, over Israel. And I have been with you wherever you have gone, and have cut off all your enemies from before you, and have made you a great name, like the name of the great men who are on the earth."

You reading this devotional today, maybe there's been nothing beautiful about your life up till now; your story is about to change! God is giving you beauty for ashes, taking you from where you are right now to greatness! Hear me, where you are right now is not you final destination; God is lifting you up and making you someone to be reckoned with, in the name of Jesus!

Twitter: @PastorChinae
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We Have An Advocate

Spirit & Life Devotional
Monday, March 2
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

We Have An Advocate

Hebrews 9:24 NKJV "For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us."

Christ is in the presence of God for us! Hallelujah! I hope you understand what that means. You know, back in the Old Testament, whenever God wanted to punish the Israelites, Moses would stand in the presence of God on their behalf, interceding for them, and giving God reasons why He should not get rid of them. Moses was being their advocate.

An advocate is "a person who speaks or writes in support or defense of a person, cause, etc. An advocate of peace is "a person who pleads for or in behalf of another; intercessor; a person who pleads the cause of another in a court of law." That's what the Bible says Jesus is! John wrote, "My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." I like how God's Word Translation says it, "My dear children, I'm writing this to you so that you will not sin. Yet, if anyone does sin, we have Jesus Christ, who has God's full approval. He speaks on our behalf when we come into the presence of the Father." Wow!

You see, we didn't employ Jesus to be our Advocate, God Himself did! So God listens to all Jesus says on our behalf because Jesus has His full approval! And there couldn't have been a better Advocate for us: Hebrews 4:15-16 says, "For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." Glory to God!

Twitter: @PastorChinae
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Ever God's Choice

Spirit & Life Devotional
Sunday, March 1
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

Ever God's Choice

Isaiah 14:1 NKJV "For the Lord  will have mercy on Jacob, and will still choose Israel, and settle them in their own land. The strangers will be joined with them, and they will cling to the house of Jacob."

God said to David concerning Solomon, "I will be his Father, and he shall be My son. If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of men. But My mercy shall not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from before you."

You know, sometimes, as a result of our sins, we feel that God is so angry with us that He never wants to have anything to do with us ever again; no dear, God is not like your ex! Maybe you've sinned again and again, you might even be haunted by the very terrible things you did many years ago, even after you have confessed your sins and asked for forgiveness: I need you to understand today, that God doesn't even remember that you ever did those things, and that He will never use them against you!

Hear God, “For a mere moment I have forsaken you, but with great mercies I will gather you. With a little wrath I hid My face from you for a moment; but with everlasting kindness I will have mercy on you,” Says the Lord , your Redeemer. “For this is like the waters of Noah to Me; for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah would no longer cover the earth, so have I sworn that I would not be angry with you, nor rebuke you. For the mountains shall depart and the hills be removed, but My kindness shall not depart from you, nor shall My covenant of peace be removed,” Says the Lord , who has mercy on you." Hallelujah!

Twitter: @PastorChinae
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