The Word of God

Spirit & Life Devotional
Saturday, January 31
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

The Word of God

Revelation 19:13 NKJV "He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God."

When we talk about the Word of God, we think about the Bible and the sermons we hear and read. But the Word of God is first a Person! The Word of God is actually one of the names of Jesus. That's why the Word of God is all about Him!

John 1:1-3 says, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made."

Start relating with the Word as a Person. In other words, see Jesus every time you read the word, hear the word or profess the word. Don't treat the word as common; it is life! It is powerful! It is glorious! And it is life changing! Honour the word, celebrate it, appreciate it, fellowship with it! I love what David said, "My heart stands in awe of Your word. I rejoice at Your word as one who finds great treasure." Hallelujah!

Twitter: @PastorChinae
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God Is A Rewarder

Spirit & Life Devotional
Friday, January 30
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

God Is A Rewarder

Hebrews 11:6 NKJV "But without faith it  is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him."

I get asked some really difficult questions especially after I share the devotionals; people often want to know why there's a difference between what the Word says and their experiences. For instance, after I shared on Having Plenty yesterday, a dear brother asked, "What about someone like me? I've given so much, Tithe from September 1993, seeds, firstfruit, giving my car for His work, prayed, fasted for days, (3days dry three times) etc, and yet am struggling, what's the issue there? I even share the word daily... sometimes I feel maybe, there is a sin I've committed that God does not want to forgive me or so... Am so discouraged with issues, am just putting up appearance."

I'm sure that so many feel the same way and are asking similar questions. Is the word true? Is God serious about fulfilling His promises? Is there a guarantee that if we do what the word says it would work for us? How long do we have to wait for the fulfillment of His promises to us?

Well, don't be discouraged! God is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him! Delays are not denials! Weeping may endure for a night, but joy will surely come in the morning! God doesn't lie, if He said it, then it will come to pass! He makes all things beautiful in His time! Look at Abraham, he held on to the promise for about twenty five years, refusing to stagger at the promise in unbelief, refusing to be discouraged, but giving glory to God; against hope he believed in hope! Hebrews 10:35-36 says, "Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise." He who promised is faithful!

Twitter: @PastorChinae
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Having Plenty

Spirit & Life Devotional
Thursday, January 29
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

Having Plenty

Proverbs 3:9-10 NKJV "Honor the Lord with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase; so your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine."

Do you want to have plenty? Give to God deliberately. You can't keep giving excuses of not having enough, or not earning enough; why don't you try God? Or don't you really believe that He is as powerful as He says He is?

See, some of us have secured our futures! We have given God even our last kobo! We didn't care about how or where the next meals would come from, we put our resources into the work of God to honour Him and to bless lives, and we still do! You can't keep honouring Him without actions! Lip service can only take you so far; sign that cheque, make that withdrawal, package something really befitting for the King of kings and Lord of lords and drop it at the altar! This is not the year to give God change as you have been doing, stop it at once!

Giving is the appropriate response to the blessing. When you receive a blessing, give. We learn that from Abraham: "Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was  the priest of God Most High. And he blessed him and said: 'Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; And blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.' And Abraham gave him a tithe of all." Don't be cajoled to give; don't wait to hear a message on giving before you are stirred up to give; honour God by giving to Him, so shall you be filled with plenty! Hallelujah!

Twitter: @PastorChinae
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Far From Oppression

Spirit & Life Devotional
Wednesday, January 28
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

Far From Oppression

Acts 25:2-4 NKJV "Then the high priest and the chief men of the Jews informed him against Paul; and they petitioned him, asking a favor against him, that he would summon him to Jerusalem— while they lay in ambush along the road to kill him. But Festus answered that Paul should be kept at Caesarea, and that he himself was going there shortly."

Paul was oblivious of the evil plots of the high priest and elders of the Jews, but God kept him! Job 5:12 says that God frustrates the devices of the crafty, so that their hands cannot carry out their plans. Hallelujah!

When the king of Syria was making war against Israel; when he planned any move, Elisha would know by revelation, and reveal it the king of Israel; thereby thwarting the plans of the Syrians. The Bible says that the heart of the king of Syria was greatly troubled by that; and said to his men, “Will you not show me which of us is for the king of Israel?” But one of his servants said, “None, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom.” Hahaha

Isaiah 54:14-15 says, "In righteousness you shall be established; you shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear; and from terror, for it shall not come near you. Indeed they shall surely assemble, but not because of Me. Whoever assembles against you shall fall for your sake." That's God's promise to you and your family. Say Amen!

Twitter: @PastorChinae
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The Willingness To Obey God

Spirit & Life Devotional
Tuesday, January 27
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

The Willingness To Obey God

I Samuel 15:9 NKJV "But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings, the lambs, and all that  was good, and were unwilling to utterly destroy them. But everything despised and worthless, that they utterly destroyed."

The operative word, for me, in the verse above is "unwilling". When you are unwilling to do a thing, you are not ready, not eager, and not prepared to do it. It's different from being unable to do something; being unable has to do with ability, but being unwilling is an attitude, it has to do with your mind, your will. Saul and the people could do what God asked them to do, but they chose not to obey God. How did God react? He said to Samuel, “I GREATLY REGRET that I have set up Saul as king, for he has turned back from following Me, and has not performed My commandments.”

Why didn't Saul do exactly what he was asked to do? Because he wanted to be popular with the people! He said to Samuel, “I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord and your words, because I FEARED THE PEOPLE AND OBEYED THEIR VOICE." The question is who are you going to choose to obey? Your friends, your flesh, your boss, or your partner? Saul couldn't be excused because he was king, and he had both power and authority over the people.

Proverbs 3:7 says, "Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and depart from evil." God sent Isaiah to say to the Israelites, "If you are willing and obedient, You shall eat the good of the land; But if you refuse and rebel, You shall be devoured by the sword”. There's nothing God has asked us to do that we cannot do. I John 5:3 says that His commandments are not burdensome. If you are willing, you will.

Twitter: @PastorChinae
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You Will Laugh!

Spirit & Life Devotional
Monday, January 26
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

You Will Laugh!

Job 8:21 NKJV "He will yet fill your mouth with laughing, and your lips with rejoicing."

Remember The Rich Also Cry? It was a telenovela that was aired in the 90's here in Nigeria, though originally produced in 1979. The point I'm trying to make is that both the rich and the poor have problems! Just that the kind of problems might be different. We all have needs; there are issues that make us worried; there are challenges that money cannot solve, and they rob us of our joy and happiness. But God is a Restorer! Hallelujah!

Imagine being married and unable to give birth to children for over forty years! That's a very long time. Sarah must have soaked her pillow with tears countless times. Her maid, Hagar, even made matters worse by despising her, after she had Ishmael. But thank God! He visited Sarah, and she had her own child! And Sarah said, “God has made me laugh, and all who hear will laugh with me.” She also said, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? For I have borne him a son in his old age.” Hallelujah!

I prophesy to you in the name of Jesus, that you will laugh! I heard about people who have lost their jobs as a result of the current economic situation; you will laugh again! Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning! Those who sow in tears will reap with joy! He will yet fill your mouth with laughing, and your lips with rejoicing! Cheer up, God is already at work!

Twitter: @PastorChinae
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Fitting Words

Spirit & Life Devotional
Sunday, January 25
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

Fitting Words

I Kings 12:13, 16 NKJV "Then the king answered the people roughly, and rejected the advice which the elders had given him; Now when all Israel saw that the king did not listen to them, the people answered the king, saying: “What share have we in David? We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse. To your tents, O Israel! Now, see to your own house, O David!” So Israel departed to their tents."

Israel was divided into two just because a young and stupid king answered a question foolishly. He had three whole days to think carefully about the only one question asked him, and to consider all the options; not many of us are given that privilege, we are often told to respond almost immediately, at work and elsewhere; nowhere were we told that he even consulted God; Rehoboam threw away that golden opportunity to secure the throne, he rejected good counsel and suffered the consequences, both him and his generations.

How many wonderful relationships have been destroyed by words. In a swift moment of anger and sadness we said words that pierced through to the innermost sections of the other person's heart and left indelible scars, words though once said, but with eternal life-changing implications.

Proverbs 15:1 says that "A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." Trust me, it is not beneficial for you to stir up anger in the hearts of so many people against you. Sometimes you just have to listen and say what people expect you to say! How you say whatever you say matters too! Be quick to apologize. Say you are sorry when necessary! There are people who never think that they are wrong or at fault at anytime; that's pride; those two words, I'm sorry, can change your entire life! Ephesians 5:4 warns us against foolish talking and coarse jesting, "which are not fitting". Be wise, don't work against yourself with your own mouth!

Twitter: @PastorChinae
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