The Power Of A Gift

Spirit & Life Devotional
Tuesday, 21 June 2016
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

The Power Of A Gift

"A man's gift makes room for him and brings him before great men." Proverbs 18:16 AMP

People have used this verse of the Bible to teach about skills and talents, but it's not about using your skills and talents, it's about the importance and power of giving gifts, something a lot of us tend to overlook.

Are you aware that big and successful corporations make budgets for gifts? And that's one of the reasons why they continue to succeed. People respond to gifts! I have visited men who attended to me quickly while others were waiting; it's not because I had more important reasons for seeing them at that moment, it's just that my gifts were speaking for me. You won't get everything from books, sometimes you need to spend time with the authors.

I Kings 10:24‭-‬25 says that "all the earth sought the presence of Solomon to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart. And each man brought his present: articles of silver and gold, garments, armor, spices, horses, and mules, at a set rate year by year." That's wisdom! Open doors with your gifts; gain access to the presence of greatness with your gifts. If you keep giving great gifts you would soon become great as you continue to associate with the great. You will be great in Jesus name. Amen.

Twitter: @PastorChinae
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Carry Your Cross

Spirit & Life Devotional
Monday, 20 June 2016
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

Carry Your Cross

"And He, bearing His cross, went out to a place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha." John 19:17 NKJV

You know, some people's idea of Christianity is so twisted; they think it's all about fun, and money, living a better life, having the good things of life, living in health, and claiming all the good things of life. If that's what you think Christianity is all about then you don't know anything! You've been wrongly taught! Let me tell you, because I vowed to always teach the truth; there are crosses to carry, there are painful decisions to make, there will be persecutions and tough times, you will sometimes be required to forfeit a good life and comfort, and sometimes it could even cost you your life! That's what Paul called "the fellowship of His suffering"!

Jesus was telling His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things, and be killed; Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!” But Jesus turned to him and said, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.” And He said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?"

Jesus said in Luke 14:27‭‭, ‬33  "And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple... So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple."

Luke 9:23 says, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross DAILY, and follow Me."

Twitter: @PastorChinae
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Moved By The Spirit

Spirit & Life Devotional
Sunday, 19 June 2016
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

Moved By The Spirit

"For prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they  were moved by the Holy Spirit." II Peter 1:21 NKJV

When there was an issue in the Early Church that had to do with the distribution of food, the apostles said to the people, “It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business."

It's interesting that being full of the Holy Spirit was a criterion for serving food! Merely serving food required that the deacons were filled with the Holy Spirit! That's note worthy. That just tells you and I that there's no room for flesh in the service of God. Your experience, talents, skills and intelligence are secondary; what matters most is that you can be led by the Spirit to accomplish His desires.

If you sing, please ensure that you are moved by the Spirit to sing the songs that you sing! If you teach, be moved by the Spirit to teach! Even the cleaners and instrumentalists should be moved by the Spirit; because it is only then that our service can really be a blessing to men and acceptable to God. It's not by might, not by power, but by the Spirit of God! Hallelujah!

Twitter: @PastorChinae
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Giving To The Lord

Spirit & Life Devotional
Saturday, 18 June 2016
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

Giving To The Lord

"Then you shall keep the Feast of Weeks to the Lord your God with the tribute of a freewill offering from your hand, which you shall give as the Lord your God blesses you." Deuteronomy 16:10 NKJV

Years ago, in the university, I went to fellowship with the sum of Five Thousand Naira which I withdrew from the bank; as I was about to enter the venue, a lady met me and asked me to lend her money so that she could give, and she promised to repay as quickly as possible. I obliged, but she didn't keep her word; she's yet to repay me over ten years later. I had to write it off.

Now, was she blessed for that seed she sowed? No! God is not unjust. She merely gave to the church, not to God. You see, I have given many times to God: I have sold my things to give; and when I had no money I have given my belt and shoes! But here's what I have never done: I have never given to God what He did not first give to me! Please take note of what I said.

Here's the truth: you may impress your pastors and leaders but you don't impress God by giving what you don't have. I've seen countless dishonoured cheques that were issued to churches. Does that speak well of us as Christians? It shows that a lot of us lack integrity. God expects us to give as He blesses us! It's that simple. If God wants me to give more He will first increase my capacity to give! Paul wrote to the Corinthians, "Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, AS GOD HATH PROSPERED HIM, that there be no gatherings when I come." 1 Corinthians 16:2

David said that he wouldn't give to God something that cost him nothing. In other words, something he got free from someone else; if you really want to give a sacrificial offering, the honourable thing to do is to work very hard to earn that amount of money! People must begin to give with understanding!

May God prosper you in Jesus name.

Twitter: @PastorChinae
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Presents And Gifts

Spirit & Life Devotional
Friday, 17 June 2016
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

Presents And Gifts

"As the days on which the Jews had rest from their enemies, as the month which was turned from sorrow to joy for them, and from mourning to a holiday; that they should make them days of feasting and joy, of sending presents to one another and gifts to the poor." Esther 9:22 NKJV

Giving to one another is not so common these days, in my opinion; I may be wrong. But it's a custom that was prevalent in Bible days. Most of our giving these days are to churches and pastors, not to the poor, and not to other brethren. Now, I haven't asked you not to give to the church or to ministers of God; I'm a pastor and I don't mind receiving things, but it's more important to me that we give with the right intentions and do not neglect those who need our gifts the most.

A lot of us do not realize that Jesus gave to the poor. When Judas was going to betray Him, Jesus said to him, “What you do, do quickly.” The Bible says that the other disciples didn't know the reason for that statement; so some thought that because Judas had the money box, Jesus meant, “Buy those  things we need for the feast,” or that he should give something to the poor.

When you are happy and celebrating is the best time to give. Every time is actually a good time to give! Nehemiah 8:10 says, “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Surprise someone who you know wouldn't be expecting anything from you this weekend. God is challenging us to give!

Twitter: @PastorChinae
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Acceptable Meditations

Spirit & Life Devotional
Thursday, 16 June 2016
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

Acceptable Meditations

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

Someone said that God will not judge us by our thoughts but by our words. Well, even though it sounds reasonable to an extent, I don't think that he considered the correlation between our thoughts and our words and actions. Words and actions are products of our thoughts; while we may not say and do every thing we think, the truth is that we are bound to go in the direction of our predominant thoughts.

God cares about what we think about. There were times that Jesus reacted based on His perception of the thoughts of people. He did not wait for them to speak; He spoke about whatever they were thinking while it was still a thought in their hearts.

We can't just think whatever we desire and expect to produce great fruit. We can't occupy our hearts with unholy and unwholesome thoughts and not expect it to manifest in our words and actions in the long run. No wonder we are told what to think about: "Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are  just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things."

Twitter: @PastorChinae
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Let God Use You

Spirit & Life Devotional
Wednesday, 15 June 2016
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

Let God Use You

"Now when they had come and gathered the church together, they reported all that God had done with them, and that He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles." Acts 14:27 NKJV

They reported all that God had done with them. They were men used by God; they were men who yielded themselves to God to be used by Him.

I'm actually looking forward to when I'll get to heaven, and I'll sit with Paul, Peter, David, Daniel, Joseph, Philip, Stephen and other mighty men of God in Bible days, and I'll share with them stories of what I did for God and what He did through me! I don't know about you, but that's what excites me the most; the opportunity to be used by God!

God wants to use you: there's no doubt about that. And you mustn't be a preacher like me! There's so much that God needs to do in the world; there are so many lives that need to be transformed, so many hungry people who need to be fed, so many homeless people, so many abandoned people, sick people who need to be cared for, people who need to be clothed! Oh, please let God use you!

Twitter: @PastorChinae
PIN:568E2E56