The Lord Is My Shepherd

Spirit & Life Devotional
Monday, April 6
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

The Lord Is My Shepherd

Psalms 23:1 ERV "The Lord is my shepherd. I will always have everything I need."

I will always have everything I need! Hallelujah! Because the Lord is my Shepherd; my Provider; my Supplier! I don't need a sugar daddy or sugar mummy, I don't need rich friends or rich members or rich relatives, I don't need to know anyone in Aso Rock or in the White House; whether I work with an oil company or not is irrelevant; I know God, and He is all I need!

Philippians 4:19 says, "My God will use his glorious riches to give you everything you need. He will do this through Christ Jesus." That's the first level of blessing; having just what you need. But God can also give you excess! 2 Corinthians 9:8 says, "And God can give you more blessings than you need, and you will always have plenty of everything. You will have enough to give to every good work." Yeah!

Let me tell you; God doesn't need to use anyone to bless you, you've got to take your mind off people and just look up to Him alone; relax and let Him decide how He will do it. When there was no rain, the Bible says that "ravens brought Elijah food every morning and every evening, and he drank water from the stream." That was supernatural supply! He's still doing miracles today! Jesus said, “Don’t worry and say, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ That’s what those people who don’t know God are always thinking about. Don’t worry, because your Father in heaven knows that you need all these things. What you should want most is God’s kingdom and doing what he wants you to do. Then he will give you all these other things you need." Amen!

Twitter: @PastorChinae
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Walking In Newness Of Life

Spirit & Life Devotional
Sunday, April 5
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

Walking In Newness Of Life

Romans 6:4 NKJV "Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life."

Something is wrong if after everything Jesus did you are still living and sinning as if you were never saved; something is wrong if after the sufferings of Christ before and on the cross you are still suffering and in the same condition you were before you got born again. Jesus gave us a new life, we should be walking in it now!

Today, a lot of us are celebrating the fact that Jesus died for us, but not many realize that we were in Him the entire time! When He died, we died with Him; when He was buried, we were buried with Him; and when He rose from the dead, we rose with Him! No wonder it says that if any man be in Christ he is a new creature! We are new creatures with a new life, the God life, and God expects us to live it here and now!

Brothers and sisters, if the Son set you free, you are free indeed! Sin has no dominion over you; poverty has no dominion over you; failure has no dominion over you; sickness has no dominion over you; curses have no dominion over you; even death has no dominion over you! Stop living the old life! Get rid of the mentality of the old man; the old man was crucified with Jesus! Choose to enjoy this new life; decide that from today you will walk in it and live it to the full. Become aware of it! Walk in righteousness, holiness, dominion and love.

Happy Easter!

Twitter: @PastorChinae
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The Words Of Your Mouth

Spirit & Life Devotional
Saturday, April 4
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

The Words Of Your Mouth

Psalms 19:14 NKJV "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer."

You must have heard of the Miranda warning, "You have the right to remain silent when questioned. Anything you say or do may be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to consult an attorney before speaking to the police and to have an attorney present during questioning now or in the future." What many of us haven't realized is that every single day, the words we speak are working for or against us in the court of life! How I wish we consult the word before speaking!

It's not only in the day of judgment that our words would matter; even here, even now! It has always mattered. Apostle Peter said that "he who would love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit." You can actually determine the quality of life you'd have! Your life is a fulfilment of all the words you've been speaking!!! You've been prophesying all your life and they have been coming to pass!

Mind what you say! James 3:2 says, "For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body." Some words should never come out of your mouth whether you are joking or not, or even when you are afraid. Your job is not responsible for how your life is or will be; the government of the day isn't responsible either; I don't care if the Naira is getting stronger or weaker, or if the price of crude oil is crashing: God responds to your words! Job 22:29 says, "When they cast you down, and you say, ‘Exaltation will come!’ Then He will save the humble person." Say it and God will do it! Keep saying it and God will keep doing it! Hallelujah!

Twitter: @PastorChinae
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No Power Against You

Spirit & Life Devotional
Friday, April 3
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

NO POWER AGAINST YOU

John 19:11 NKJV "Jesus answered, 'You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above. Therefore the one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.'”

This was one of the few recorded statements Jesus made during His trial. It was in response to what Pilate said; “Do You not know that I have power to crucify You, and power to release You?” Jesus, Who had been quiet all along replied immediately that Pilate had no power at all against Him, or over Him, and that he could do nothing to Him without God's approval.

I came to tell you today that nothing and no one has the power on their own to hurt you in any way. If they didn't have power against Jesus then they don't have power against you! Remember Job? The Bible says that God made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side! You may not know, but you are very secure! There's a hedge around you and your loved ones, and around everything you own! Believe it, you are well protected than the President of your country! For God has given His angels charge over you so that you will not even dash your feet against a stone!

It doesn't matter who it is that doesn't like you; it doesn't matter how many people have ganged up against you; it doesn't matter who is plotting your downfall; they will not succeed because they will never secure God's approval! Saul tried and tried to destroy David; he used everything at his disposal, including the army and the resources of the State, but still failed! Jesus suffered enough for you and I! Therefore, no weapon formed against you shall prosper and when they gather together for your sake they shall scatter and fall! So shall it be! In Jesus name.

Twitter: @PastorChinae
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WE WILL NOT BE CONSUMED

Spirit & Life Devotional
Thursday, April 2
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

WE WILL NOT BE CONSUMED

Malachi 3:6 NKJV “For I am the Lord, I do not change; therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob."

What's God saying there? That even though we may change; that even though we might fail Him and disappoint Him, because He doesn't change from Who and What He is, we will not be destroyed. He saying that when He has made a promise to you, even when you don't qualify for it, and when you deserve to be punished, because He doesn't change, you will not be consumed! The NET says, "Since, I, the LORD, do not go back on my promises, you, sons of Jacob, have not perished." Hallelujah!

You see, it's not about us right now, neither is it about what we've done; it's about the faithfulness of God, it's about His mercies and about His love! 2 Timothy 2:13 says that if we are unfaithful, He remains faithful, since He cannot deny Himself. God is not like man who says, "if you do me I do you": no, Psalm 103:10 says, "He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities." Hallelujah!

God is merciful! The Bible says that "For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him." Wow! Lamentations 3:22-23 "Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They  are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness." Glory to God! I declare that you will not be consumed in Jesus name! Surely His mercies will follow you all the days of your life! He will never cease being merciful to you! 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." Hallelujah!

Twitter: @PastorChinae
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ON THE ELECTION OF GENERAL MUHAMMADU BUHARI

ON THE ELECTION OF GENERAL MUHAMMADU BUHARI

A CHOICE WAS MADE

I'm a strong believer in choice. I believe in the power of choice, and that when people who are mature enough have chosen what they want, their choice(s) must be respected. I learnt that from God: when the people of Israel wanted a king, Samuel was sad, but God asked him to give them a king even though He was being rejected. God respected the choice of the people. Just as I believe in the power of choice, I also believe that every choice has its consequences. We do not only choose our actions, we also choose to enjoy or to suffer the consequences of our choices.

In the presidential elections that held on March 28, 2015, majority of Nigerians made a choice; a choice for a change of government and also, hopefully, for a change of things in our country. With our votes, we have chosen Retired General Muhammadu Buhari as our President for the next four years. Today, I congratulate the President-Elect and wish him well. It is my duty to pray for my leaders; that I shall always do.

For many years, Nigeria was a one party state. That was certainly not good for us as a nation. But what was worse, is the fact that our votes didn't always matter. But that has changed (or is changing)! The electorates are now more informed and have understood that ultimate power is theirs. For that, I am very happy. And also for that, I congratulate every Nigerian who voted. I also salute all those, living and dead, who fought tirelessly to make today a reality. I thank President Goodluck Jonathan too, for a job well done. Sir, your contributions to the strengthening of our democracy will always be remembered. Fellow Nigerians, we must continue to use this power to bring about positive change and development in our dearly beloved country.

I believe in the unity of Nigeria. We are brothers irrespective of our religion and tribe. I have a dream, that one day, we all will be able to live wherever we desire, whether in the North or South, East or West, without fear and be able to contest for elective positions wherever we reside, a day when an Igbo man can become governor of Katsina State and a Yoruba woman governor of Imo State. I was very pleased with the fact that Chief Oghene Egboh, Mrs. Rita Orji and Mr. Tony Nwoolu were elected as members of the Federal House of Representatives for Amuwo Odofin LGA, Ajeromi-Ifelodun LGA and Oshodi/I solo Federal Constituency, Lagos. I'm very excited that my dreams are coming to pass!

Finally, I wish to remind us that true change begins with you and I. Changing a government will amount to nothing if you and I continue to live, work, trade and relate with one another as we have always done. We must not be forced to change our ways else it won't last, we must willingly change ourselves. Our attitude to work must change; we must be more patriotic, putting Nigeria first and above every other interests; our politicians must change and begin to see politics as a means of offering service and improving lives; our police must change; lawmakers and judges must change; students, traders, contractors, and everyone else must change! We must stop stealing and corruption; we must stop vandalism; we must stop exam malpractices; and all other vices if we would be a great and prosperous country. Yes we can because we have all it takes.

I am proud to be a Nigerian.

God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria!

Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim
Author, Spirit & Life Devotional
Pastor, Able Ministers
April 1, 2015

Twitter: @PastorChinae
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ILLIMITABLE GOD

Spirit & Life Devotional
Wednesday, April 1
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

ILLIMITABLE GOD

I Samuel 14:6 NKJV "Then Jonathan said to the young man who bore his armor, “Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised; it may be that the Lord will work for us. For nothing restrains the Lord from saving by many or by few.”

When God is set to move, He doesn't need a multitude of people on His side, neither does He need many resources; He's unrestrained, unlimited, nothing at all hinders Him; many times, all He needs is just a man, or a few who are willing to trust in Him. When God is leading you to do something, it's a mistake for you to think that you must have enough of everything before you make a move; understand that God Himself is everything you need!

God does not like to share His glory with anyone. That's why He will rather use one man to achieve the results that would have required one thousand men to achieve! That's what God said to Gideon, “The people who are with you are too many for Me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel claim glory for itself against Me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’" When God is moving you to do anything, don't say that you don't have supporters, or enough capital, or sponsors; God is more than enough to get the job done!

Don't restrain God with your thinking! When Elisha prophesied, “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.’ An officer on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God and said, “Look, if the Lord would make windows in heaven, could this thing be?” That man did not know God! No wonder Jesus said we err because we do not know the scriptures or the power of God.

Jesus fed thousands of people with five loaves and two fish; God used Samson to defeat thousands; He used Jonathan and his armour bearer to deliver a nation, and He used a little boy, David, to defeat a giant called Goliath. I encourage you today to trust God. Ignore the mountains, ignore the challenges, ignore all the reasons why it shouldn't work; when God is on your side, anything is possible.

Twitter: @PastorChinae
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