Don't Be Idle

Spirit & Life Devotional
Saturday, 7 November 2015
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

Don't Be Idle

"One day Ruth, the Moabite, said to Naomi, 'I think I will go to the fields. Maybe I can find someone who will be kind to me and let me gather the grain they leave in their field.' Naomi said, 'Fine, daughter, go ahead.'" Ruth 2:2 ERV

It is said that an idle mind is the devil's workshop. Global unemployment rates are quite high that's why there are so many evils. But it's not just about the evils associated with idleness, idleness is not in anyway encouraged, especially for the children of God.

We're looking unto Jesus, right? Jesus was a very hardworking Man while here on earth. And that's why the Pharisees disliked Him, because He refused to be idle even on the Sabbath days. Jesus said, “My Father never stops working, and so I work too.” John 5:17. You see, even God never stops working! So if we're His children, we too must love and enjoy working.

Refuse to be idle. That there's no job is not an excuse to be idle! There might be no job, but there's always work. You may not be able to create a job, but you can create work for yourself by solving problems for other people with your skills, talents and ideas! And then you can grow to create employment for others.

May you find favour in the name of Jesus. As you step out, men and women will be willing to help and patronize you, in Jesus name. Amen.

Twitter: @PastorChinae
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Called To Teach

Spirit & Life Devotional
Friday, 6 November 2015
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

Called To Teach

"For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food." Hebrews 5:12 NKJV

Just before Jesus left the earth, He gave us what is called The Great Commission. He said, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

Everyone one of us was commissioned to teach. And we must all understand how important the teaching ministry is. Jesus, while He was here, spent a lot of time teaching. The Holy Spirit is also called a Teacher. But we don't start as teachers; we are first students. To be a great teacher, you must first be well taught. There's a problem though, when people remain students forever.

Wise people keep learning until they die; but a time must come when you are fit to teach others. Some people don't even know the basics of the faith despite being saved for years! So what have you been learning? Movies or fashion? Come on! It's OK for a baby to suck milk from his mother's breasts for a while, but as the baby grows, he stops sucking and begins to eat solid foods. That's what God expects of us; that we should all grow up strong and sound in faith and to fulfill our responsibilities. Amen.

Twitter: @PastorChinae
PIN:568E2E56

Praying For Increased And Greater Impact Of The Gospel

Spirit & Life Devotional
Thursday, 5 November 2015
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

Praying For Increased And Greater Impact Of The Gospel

"Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you." II Thessalonians 3:1 NKJV

In only two years, Apostle Paul and his team of a few men preached the gospel, "so that all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks." The Bible says that the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed!

How is it that Paul was able to achieve such a remarkable result when despite the fact that there are so many professing Christians today, there are still lots of people who haven't heard the gospel? We've got the technology, we've got better education, we too have the Holy Spirit!

The harvest is still plenty! Make no mistake about it; there are still many remote areas yet to receive the gospel; there are also nations with devilish policies that have prevented the penetration of the gospel: that's why we've got to pray. We've got to pray for speedy growth of the gospel; we've also got to pray that the gospel that is preached have greater impact on the lives of the hearers. We don't want the gospel falling by the wayside, on rocks and among thorns; we want the gospel to be sown in good soils as the gospel is being preached. Amen.

Twitter: @PastorChinae
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Able For The Work

Spirit & Life Devotional
Wednesday, 4 November 2015
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

Able For The Work

"And their brethren, heads of their fathers’ houses—one thousand seven hundred and sixty. They were very able men for the work of the service of the house of God." I Chronicles 9:13 NKJV

Proverbs 20:29 says that "The glory of young men is their strength." Now, being young has nothing to do with ability: at eighty five Caleb was still doing exploits! He said to Joshua: "As yet I am as strong this day as on the day that Moses sent me; just as my strength was then, so now is my strength for war, both for going out and for coming in."

You've got to get yourself involved in whatever work that's being done in the kingdom. Don't be the one to always give excuses. Don't see yourself as being incapable either. God has graced you with sufficient wisdom, unction and abilities to do whatever service He's leading you to do.

You are able! Yes, you are. God said to Jeremiah: “Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’ For you shall go to all to whom I send you, and whatever I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of their faces, for I am with you to deliver you,' says the Lord." Hallelujah!

Twitter: @PastorChinae
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Meeting Kingdom Needs

Spirit & Life Devotional
Tuesday, 3 November 2015
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

Meeting Kingdom Needs

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

There was a need: a multitude of people pressed about Jesus to hear the word of God, Jesus, standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, saw two boats standing by the lake; He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat. The Bible lets us know that Peter got his reward immediately Jesus was done teaching the people.

There are always needs in the kingdom of God here on earth; and you've got to realize that every need is an opportunity to be blessed. Things did not go well for Peter the night before Jesus used his boat, but there was an immediate turnaround as soon as he solved a problem for the Lord.

Maybe there's a need in your life; is there something not working? Is there something that you want the Lord to fix for you? Your children, your marriage, your job, your business, etc? Try meeting a need in the kingdom. Hebrews 6:10 says that God is not unjust to forget whatever we do for Him. Sometimes the rewards are instant, and at other times they come later; whatever the case, keep meeting the needs of the kingdom because you will surely be rewarded. Amen!

Twitter: @PastorChinae
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Doing Good To The Glory Of God

Spirit & Life Devotional
Monday, 2 November 2015
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

Doing Good To The Glory Of God

"Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin." James 4:17 NKJV

We were called by God to do good. Jesus said, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." Even Jesus went about doing good.

Now, Apostle James said that it is a sin to know to do good and not to do that good. If we were called to good, then it means that we know what is good; the Holy Spirit will always show us ways we can do good; but if we don't do those good works, we are sinning!

Wondering how many of us are innocent. When last did you support a worthy cause financially? When last did you do good to someone? When last did you provide for the needy? When was the last time you assisted the disabled and the fatherless? If Jesus went about doing good, then we too should be known for doing good. The Bible says that the strong should support the weak, it says that we should bear one another's burdens. With whatever God has blessed you, physical strength, financial strength, intellectual strength, etc, use it to do good, to the glory of God.

Twitter: @PastorChinae
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Understanding Miracles

Spirit & Life Devotional
Sunday, 1 November 2015
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

Understanding Miracles

"So the man of God said, 'Where did it fall?' And he showed him the place. So he cut off a stick, and threw it in there; and he made the iron float." II Kings 6:6 NKJV

I asked Google if iron can float on water; he's the first response I got: "A block of wood will float, but a lump of iron exactly the same size will sink. This is because a piece of wood of a certain size weighs less than the same volume of water, so wood floats on water. However, iron is much heavier than either wood or water." Iron floating on water was a miracle!

The common Hebrew word for miracle is nes ( נס ), which translates as something that is raised up or elevated. So a miracle is an elevated and elevating event. It is something extraordinary that happens, where we see God's hand clearly. In English, a miracle is defined as an event not explicable by natural or scientific laws; an effect or extraordinary event in the physical world that surpasses all known human or natural powers and is ascribed to a supernatural cause. A miracle is an unusual or wonderful event that is believed to be caused by the power of God. 

God did so many miracles in Bible days, both in the Old and New Testaments: John 20:30 says that a lot of them were not even recorded! Our God is a God of miracles, never to be limited by natural, scientific or any other known laws. For with God, nothing shall be impossible. Hallelujah!

Twitter: @PastorChinae
PIN:568E2E56