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Tag: Faith Nwachukwu

  • THE FULL ARMOUR OF GOD (15)

    Sub-Theme: The Strong Belt of Truth

    Topic: The Spirit of Truth

    I hated the word ‘born again’ because I looked at the lives of those who say they were and did not want to be like them; I did not want to look like them. Another reason could be that nature in most humans that will make them disbelief/disregard those truths beyond their reasoning. We are to believe every word of God and focus on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith who is also our perfect example to follow. We should not let the lifestyles of people who claim to be Christians but are not, to discourage us. The word of God (the Bible) should be our reference point as rightly interpreted.

    It was after I read in the Bible, Jesus’ explanation to Nicodemus, on the meaning of the word born again, and the need to be born again if one desires to enter heaven, did I understand this truth. I understood that the new life Jesus gives to those who believe and accept Him as their Lord and saviour is a ‘BORN AGAIN” life; the life I now have and live, I began to proclaim this truth to those I love and to those who want to enter heaven.

    The born again new life in Jesus Christ is a spiritual life, not a fleshly life. This spiritual life enables one to live a righteous life, without which it is impossible to be truly righteous. As you continually trust in Jesus and through the power of the Holy Spirit, you will be able to love Him and obey Him.

     

    Not by your power nor your might but ONLY by the Spirit of God, can you and I live righteous in this corrupt generation.

     

    Apostle Paul relates his own experience as a Christian; his struggles with his sinful nature and the reality of God’s victory to him and us through Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit. He narrated thus, “I don’t understand myself at all, for I really want to do what is right, but I cannot. I do what I don’t want to do, what I hate is what I’m doing.  I know perfectly well that what I am doing is wrong, but I cannot help myself, it is no longer I who do it but It is sin inside me that is stronger than I am that makes me do these evil things.

    I know I am rotten through and through so far as my old sinful nature is concerned. No matter which way I turn I can’t make myself do right. I want to but I can’t.  When I want to do good, I don’t; and when I try not to do wrong, I do it anyway.  Now if I am doing what I don’t want to, then it means that sin still has me in its evil hold.

     I love to do God’s will so far as my new nature is concerned; but there is something else deep within me, in my lower nature, that is at war with my mind and wins the fight and makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. In my mind I want to be God’s willing servant, but instead I find myself still in bondage to sin. So you see how it is: my new life tells me to do right, but the old nature that is still inside me loves to sin. Oh, what a terrible situation I’m in! Who will free me from my slavery to this deadly sinful nature?

     

    Thank God! It has been done by Jesus Christ our Lord. He has set me free. So there is now no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.  For the power of the Holy Spirit which is mine through Christ Jesus, has freed me from the vicious circle of sin and death.  We are not saved from sin’s hold by knowing the commandments of God because we cannot and do not keep them, but God put into action a different plan to save us. He sent his own Son in a human body like ours (except that ours are sinful) and destroyed sin’s control over us by giving himself as a sacrifice for our sins.  So now we can obey God’s laws if we follow after the Holy Spirit and no longer obey the old evil nature within us.

    Those who let themselves be controlled by their lower natures (their flesh) live only to please themselves, but those who follow after the Holy Spirit find themselves doing those things that please God.  

     

    Following after the Holy Spirit leads to life and peace, but following after the old nature leads to death(death comprises all the miseries arising from sin, both here and hereafter)because the old sinful nature within us is against God. It never did obeys God’s laws and it never will.  That’s why those who are still under the control of their old sinful selves, bent on following their old evil desires, can never please God.

    But you are not like that. You are controlled by your new nature if you have the Spirit of God living in you. And remember that if anyone doesn’t have the Spirit of Christ living in him, he is not a Christian at all.  Yet, even though Christ lives within you, your body will die because of sin; but your spirit will live, for Christ has pardoned it. And if the Spirit of God, who raised up Jesus from the dead, lives in you, He will make your dying bodies live again after you die, by means of this same Holy Spirit living within you. So, dear brothers/sisters, you have no obligations whatever to your old sinful nature to do what it begs you to do.  For if you keep on following it you are lost and will perish, but if through the power of the Holy Spirit you crush it and its evil deeds, you shall live.  For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. And so we should not be like cringing, fearful slaves, but we should behave like God’s very own children, adopted into the bosom of His family, and calling to Him, “Father, Father.”  For his Holy Spirit speaks to us deep in our hearts and tells us that we really are God’s children.”

     

    It was when Paul began to look beyond his own ability in obeying the law and started looking to Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit within him, did he gain victory over his sinful nature. Knowing God’s provision for his deliverance through Jesus and the Holy Spirit he regained his strength and victory over sin.

     

    Though our old sinful nature will always want to rear its head; seeking to control us, we should always put it to death through faith in the victory Jesus obtained for us and in the power of the Holy Spirit choosing to obey the Spirit of Truth.

    My utmost heart desire is to be a spirit controlled woman, this is my daily prayer.

     

    TEXT: Ephesians 6:10-18, John 8:32, John 3:1-21, Romans 7:15-25, Romans 8:1-17.

    FROM: FAITH NWACHUKWU

     

  • THE FULL ARMOUR OF GOD (13)

    Sub-Theme: The Strong Belt of Truth

    Topic: The word of Truth

    You see, God has given you and me all that we need to be able to stand strong and live in victory on earth. Unfortunately, many neglect the very help God has graciously given and chase after the wrong things that can never make them victorious but be victims of all kinds of deceit by agents of darkness.

    I recollect my encounter with a lady and her friends in her shop in the market place; she told of a medical doctor’s counsel that the most important needs of a person in this life is first, to have a good medical doctor and secondly to have a spiritualist. This the doctor told her after narrating a disturbing story of someone who died mysteriously because according to her, she didn’t have a medical doctor to monitor her health and a spiritualist who sees beyond the doctor. This lady believed the doctor and took her counsel wholeheartedly; spreading it to others.

     

    I tried to make her know I don’t agree with her but she quickly cut me short saying, “I know you want to tell us we need God first” She and her friends are ‘Christians’ who feel comfortable to live in error. I perceived they see themselves as not qualified to seek, know, and hear God for themselves. I told them the importance of knowing and fellowshipping with God personally and that He is able to reveal great and mighty things to them as they seek Him whole-heartedly in total dependence, patience, and trust. This, they eventually agreed with me, as the best way and they desired such intimacy with God. I wish people would be discipled aright, being pointed to Jesus rather than to the worship of fellow humans and some fetish means to get their problems solved.

     

    We discussed the importance of studying God’s word for ourselves by creating time alone with God (Quiet time), in order to grow to know Him more and have Him speak to us directly through the Bible. The how of Quiet time was explained in the last edition. The earlier we begin to do the right thing the better for us, as delay will make things worse.

     

    God’s divine power has given us all things that pertains to life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue. As you seek to personally know God better and better, He will give you, through His great power EVERYTHING you need to live godly, such that you will have His divine nature which makes you live differently from the lust and corruption of this generation and you will enjoy more of His kindness and peace.

     

    True knowledge of God is found in the scriptures, for the whole Bible was given to us by inspiration from God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives; it straightens us out and helps us do what is right. Note also that, the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. The word capable of such glorious transformation of lives is in our hands, why won’t we cherish it and study it day and night? The devil knows the power in the word, so he will do everything within his power to prevent us from studying it for ourselves, so to remain in his bondage of deceit and defeat. Through God’s word, we get to know the victory Jesus brought us.

     

    Any country that begins to live by the teachings of the word of God in the Bible will prosper and have good success, the kind of success that leads to eternity in heaven. Nigerians need to know the word of God and live by its teaching; therein will our dear nation know peace, prosperity, and good success. The enemy of our progress is using people to fight against the true word of God; among them are those who use it to deceive.

     

    There are so many calamities in the land threatening to destroy our nation: corruption, kidnapping, child trafficking, terrorism, fighting, divisions/agitations, armed robbery, murder, lying, dishonesty, rape, child molestation, sexual immorality/perversions, homosexuality, and the like. These are on the increase; we need help so we are not totally consumed.

     

    The knowledge of a nation’s law and its outlined punishments to offenders cannot keep people away from committing crimes; it will not even stop criminals from committing more crimes. Although, some really want to obey the law but they cannot because they lack the power to do so, they try in their own strength but still find themselves going back to their old ways of breaking the law; their strength fail them. The ONLY solution to this is – believing in God’s Son, Jesus Christ whom God sent to set us free from the bondage of sin, giving us the power of the Holy Spirit to help us live righteous. As we follow Jesus through His teachings in the Bible, we shall never again walk in the darkness of sin but will walk in the light.

     

    The word of God builds our faith and this in turn leads to right living.

     

    TEXT:  Ephesians 6:10-18, 2Peter 1:2-4, Hebrews 4:12, 2Timothy 3:16, Psalm 119:11, Mark 1:35, Psalm 119:105.

    FROM: FAITH NWACHUKWU

     

  • THE FULL ARMOUR OF GOD (8)

    Sub-Theme: The Strong Belt of Truth

    Topic: The word of Truth

    God chose Joshua to be the next leader of Israel after Moses, to him was given the overwhelming task of leading the Israelites to possess their promised inheritance. Joshua knew Moses’ shoes were too big for him to fill. Someone who understands what leadership entails will not be quick to throw a party and celebrate when chosen to be a leader in whatsoever capacity. Leadership positions call for sober reflection; it is huge and never to be taken lightly because everything has to be done according to God’s pattern. Joshua understood this truth, he desired to be a leader after God’s own heart who would lead and succeed God’s way. The task ahead of him was enormous and challenging; there were strong nations to be defeated, he would need the acceptance and cooperation of the people he is to lead, and for God to be with him as He was with Moses.

     

    Joshua waited to hear from God before embarking on his assignment. God told him to ARISE! from his fear and despair and get set for the work, He then gave him his job description and told him how he will prosper and have good success as the next leader of Israel. God said to him:

     

    • “This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to ALL that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then have good success”

     

    Joshua will have to study and know the word of God (the book of the law). He will meditate on it day and night so it will become part of him; he has to live by the word of God; in total obedience to do what God tells him to do and He will teach it to the people. Then and only then would Joshua be sure of God’s presence, prosperity and good success during his reign. God’s word will also build his faith, dispel his fear, and make him strong and courageous.

     

    Note that before Joshua embarked on his task, he waited to get instructions from the God who made him a leader; he did not trust in his own understanding.  He is to commune daily with God to get full direction on how to carry out each task and obey Him fully in order to experience good success.

     

    There is good and bad success. Good success is God’s success; you get it through godly means. God gives good success when you chose to honour/obey Him in all your ways. Good success does not have expiry date; it is everlasting, it will lead you to heaven at last, while Bad success is the success acquired through ungodly means. It is the success attained without honouring God in one’s actions. Many call on God with their mouths but do not live as God wants them to; they do not obey God, they do not do the right things God wants them to do to succeed. Bad success has an expiry date and it will lead one to hell fire someday. Let us be warned!

     

    The fortified Jericho was the first city they destroyed, except for Rehab and her family who were saved because she believed in the God of Israel and His word.

     

    God gave Joshua an unconventional strategy to defeat Jericho. Jericho was a fortified city with a double stone wall of about 12-15 feet high and 14 feet wide. It was virtually unconquerable. God instructed Joshua to march around the city with his army once daily for 6 days with seven priests walking ahead of the Ark of God’s Covenant, each carrying trumpet made from ram’s horn. On the seventh day they were to walk around the city 7 times and the priests shall blow the trumpets. When the priests give a long, loud blast, all the people were to give a mighty shout and the wall of the city will fall down. To most people this strategy will sound foolish and unreasonable but this was a test of Joshua’s full obedience to God’s word. Joshua summoned the people and gave them the instructions, they followed God’s instructions, and wall of Jericho fell down flat. Jericho was defeated.

     

    The next city to be conquered is Ai, a small city. They confidently went into battle against Ai with few soldiers but they were soundly defeated by small Ai, they fled from them and 36 Israeli soldiers were killed. Why the defeat? God’s command to destroy everything in Jericho except that, which was reserved for the Lord’s treasury, was disobeyed. For Achan took some loot for himself and this brought trouble for Israel.

     

    Joshua cried out to God and God spoke to him, saying, “Israel has sinned, and they have also transgressed My covenant which I commanded them. For they have taken some of the accursed things and have both stolen and deceived; and they have also put it among their own stuff. Therefore, the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they have become doomed to destruction. Neither will I be with you anymore, unless you destroy the accursed from among you.”

     

    It was when Israel destroyed the accursed in their midst they experienced peace and victory again. God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, enemies will defeat someone who will not fully obey God.

     

    If you truly want to win battles, prosper, and have good success, then you have to study God’s word (The Bible) daily to know Him and His ways, to know how He wants you to live, so you can fully obey Him. By so doing, our nation too will prosper and have good success.

     

    TEXT: Ephesians 6:10-18, John 8:32, Joshua 1:8, 6-8, Hebrews 4:12, Psalm 119, Psalm 119:11

     

     

  • The Strong Belt of Truth (6)

    The Nigerian national anthem “Arise, O Compatriots” was adopted in 1978, replacing the previous one “Nigeria, We Hail Thee.” John A. Ilechukwu, Eme Etim Akpan, B. A. Ogunnaike, Sota Omoigui and P.O. Aderibigbe wrote the lyrics. Their submission was the best in a national contest.

    God Himself, who created all things and gave us this great nation Nigeria, inspired the writing of our national anthem especially the second stanza.

    Arise, O compatriots

    Nigeria’s call obey

    To serve our fatherland

    With love and strength and faith

    The labour of our heroes past

    Shall never be in vain

    To serve with heart and might

    One nation bound in freedom, peace, and unity.

     

    Oh God of creation

    Direct our noble cause

    And guide our leaders right

    Help our youth the Truth to know

    In love and honesty to grow

    And living just and true

    Great lofty heights attain

    To build a nation where peace

    And justice shall reign.

     

    The stanza “Oh God of creation…” honours God who brought us together to be one nation; it calls on Him to shepherd, direct, and help us. For without God we can do nothing.

    A very important message and prayer in the anthem is directed to our youth- the future of Nigeria. This prayer calls for the Nigerian youth to know the Truth, in order to grow in love, honesty, righteousness, truthfulness, achieving great lofty heights and being used to build a Nigeria where there will be peace and justice.

     

    In order to attain all the good virtues mentioned in the anthem- love, honesty, righteousness, truthfulness, peace, justice and greatness, the Nigerian youth need TO KNOW THE TRUTH.

     

    The Truth as we now know from previous editions is a person and that person is JESUS. Jesus is in our national anthem. Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life, no one comes to the Father (God) except through Him. If you know the Truth, He will set you free from the bondage of sin and as you abide in Him, He will make you remain free, ‘Therefore if the Son (Jesus) makes you free, you shall be free indeed’

     

    The Nigerian youth needs to know, believe, and abide in the Truth, to be set free and made completely free from sin. Sin draws us back as a nation. Where there abounds dishonesty, corruption, unrighteousness, hatred, fighting, killing, terrorism, injustice, sexual immorality etc., we will not prosper.

     

    Knowledge of the law of a land with the corresponding punishment for breaching the law cannot stop people from disobeying it and cannot save people from sin. Man was born with the nature of sin, we were all born in sin, and that nature has to die before man can be free from sin. This freedom is what Jesus accomplished for us; God presented Him as a sacrifice to die for us, thereby crucifying our nature of sin. Through His death, the power of our sinful nature was shattered, and we were set free from the nature and bondage of sin- this is to them that believe. Your own sinful nature will die as you accept and believe in the price Jesus paid to save you by His death on the cross, and as you follow Jesus, you will live the life of righteousness. No power, no law can save someone from sin, Only Jesus can save from sin. Have you ever wondered why an armed robber after release from a long stay in the prison, still goes back to crime almost immediately? That nature of sin has to die, for one to be set free from the bondage of sin.

     

    It is only when a youth knows the Truth (Jesus) as rightly captured by the anthem, will he be set free from his sinful nature, and then be given a new life and a new spirit- the Holy Spirit of God. His heart is changed from a stony, stubborn heart to a heart capable of love- loving God with all his heart, soul and strength and loving his neighbour as himself- incapable of causing anyone harm in any way; he will love his enemies and pray good prayers for them. Only through Jesus is this possible

     

    Every citizen of Nigeria needs to know the Truth to have this new life. A life of love, peace, honesty, righteousness, truthfulness, and impartiality.

     

    Oh, Father let the Nigerian youth and all Nigerians know Jesus the Truth that we may grow in love and honesty, living just and true, great lofty heights attain, to be used to build a nation where peace and justice will reign, In Jesus name- Amen!.

     

    TEXT: Ephesians 6:10-18, John 8:32, John 14:6, Romans 6: 1- 23.

    FROM: FAITH NWACHUKWU

     

  • Follow in His steps (8)

    There is the need to trust God as you follow Him; to do whatever He tells you. Most times fear keeps us from fully following God, especially when faced with some difficult situations and when He tells us to do seemingly difficult things which are contrary to our will and most times man tend to go by our his own understanding, even after knowing God’s will concerning a matter. The Scriptures says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.”

    After Jesus miraculously fed 5,000 men with just 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish, He made His disciples get into a boat and go before Him to the other side of the Lake…the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves and the sea was turbulent. Jesus came to them walking on the water, they cried out for fear for they thought He was a ghost. But Jesus immediately spoke to them saying, “Do not be afraid!” then Peter said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” And Jesus said, “Come”, Peter came out of the boat and walked on the water to go to Jesus. But he looked to the wind and saw that it was boisterous, he became afraid and began to sink, and then he cried out, “Lord save me!” And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” and when they got into the boat the wind ceased. Then those who were in the boat came and worshipped Jesus saying, “Truly You are the Son of God.”

    For me and you to follow our good shepherd, we need to trust Him fully and commit our lives totally to Him, give it all up to Him without fear. You see, as long as Peter trusted Jesus he was able to walk on the water but as soon as he gave his attention to the high waves tossing the sea, he became afraid and distracted from focusing on Jesus. Peter forgot Jesus’ word telling them not to be afraid, he doubted Him who bid him COME. At this point Peter disobeyed and he began to sink. Fear is contrary to faith- faith keeps you strong to trust God to do the ‘impossible’ but fear brings you down. Don’t give fear a chance, have faith in God. Follow fully Jesus’ command/will, therein lies good success.

    Many believers in Christ Jesus act out of fear. I’ve heard many single ladies decide to adopt a child or just get pregnant and have a child/children out of fear. They reason and ask, ‘who will take care of me at old age and who will bury me when I die”? Some of those who acted thus out of fear ended up piercing themselves through with many sorrows- a lot of them in their old age have ended up being the ones still taking care of these ‘children’; feeding and housing them. Then again, I’ve seen parents who had many children seeing them as investments and retirement benefit but ending up losing those children- those children eventually abandon them.

    I have witnessed and read about women who had just one child or no children at all but not lacking anything; some of whom are being celebrated by children they didn’t physically birth all because they focused on following Jesus and doing His will. You can never loose when you obey God’s commands, don’t ever live your life by the expectation of the society but live your life according to God’s command to you. Seek to know God’s will concerning every matter and ask Him for the grace to submit to it, therein lies rest, peace, joy and good success- with no regrets at all because God is the one in control of your life- what a glorious place to be.
    Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass. He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday. Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him; do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; do not fret—it only causes harm. For evildoers shall be cut off; But those who wait on the Lord, They shall inherit the earth.

    Note that as soon as Peter started sinking he called out to Jesus to save him and He saved him- this is a great lesson for us. Call upon Jesus in every sinking situation you find yourself and He will answer you.

    People of faith always did something:
    * Faith is active not passive
    * Faith is confident that God will do what He says
    * Faith follows God implicitly
    * Faith looks to God; it doesn’t trust in itself or in personal abilities or strength.
    * Faith takes God at His word and obeys without hesitation or reservation
    * Faith never panics
    * Faith leads one to: Claim a promise, Take a stand, Accept a difficult assignment, Surrender to go to a far-off land.

    TEXT: Proverbs 3:5-6, Matthew 14:22-33, Psalm 37: 3-9.
    FROM: FAITH NWACHUKWU

  • Follow in His Steps (7)

    FOLLOW IN HIS STEPS (7)
    In the last edition, we got to know the need to hear and obey the voice of the good shepherd-JESUS, to be able to be His follower. Only His word has the power to transform us and make us like Him as we obey Him through the power of the Holy Spirit at work in us.

    To fully understand the scriptures one must first believe in Jesus Christ, He is God’s plan to take away the veil of misunderstanding of the word of God. Some people’s hearts and minds are still covered with thick veil making it impossible for them to understand the word of God- the scriptures. This veil was taken away by the death of Jesus on the cross. So for anyone to understand fully THE WORD OF GOD and His ways, such MUST believe in Jesus Christ- as the Son of God who died to save us from the power and bondage of sin, making us a light of the world and giving us the hope and assurance of making heaven at last. Without believing in Jesus one’s understanding remains dulled.
    For a believer in Christ Jesus, we have no veil covering our hearts and minds so we are to reflect God’s glory as the Spirit of the Lord works within us to become more like Christ.

    In the last edition, I also wrote about how God took me to a remote village for my NYSC just to get my full attention and how He taught me to practice QUIET TIME.
    What is Quiet Time and how is it practiced: As the name implies Quiet Time is a time which is QUIET, devoid of distractions and disturbances; a time set aside to hear the good shepherd and also relate with Him intimately. This builds in us a live long, ever abiding loving relationship with God. Quiet Time should be a daily practice.
    What you will need/How of Quiet Time:
    • Prayer: Ask for God’s grace for without Him it will be very impossible. For we are weak bodily but He is strong- only Him will help you wake at your chosen time and empower you to study, revealing deep truths in His word to you.
    When God was asking me to make my Quiet time earlier than it used to be, at first, it was quite difficult for me to accept mentally. I had so many excuses and reasons I couldn’t do it; waking at such early time. As long as I didn’t accept it mentally and believe in God’s strength to make it possible I couldn’t do it and I was going to miss out of a great opportunity of deeper intimacy with God. The truth remains that for every one who desires to be used to do great things on earth, thereby fulfilling purpose, such cannot do without his/her time alone with God. Until I accepted it and began to pray for God’s help was I able to do it and for years now, God has remained faithful.
    One fateful day, prior to my dad’s demise, we had an emergency; we had to transfer him from the hospital he was in to another one, because he needed to be in the intensive care unit- that night we got back home very late after a very hectic day. I didn’t have up to 2hours to sleep before my quiet time but when it was time, God woke me up very strong, after which I started another round of a hectic day. God’s grace makes it possible, not by might or power. For we are weak but He is ever strong and His power will be at work in you if you believe.
    • To create a regular time- a time you will not be disturbed or distracted. Most ideally, early/ wee hours of the morning; set aside at least one hour daily.
    • A quiet place: where you will not be disturbed.
    What kept Jesus strong to finish His assignment on earth and end well was His intimacy with His Father; His quiet time habit- continually Jesus withdrew from the crowd, daily life activities and the demands of His ministry to be alone with His Father and communicate with Him.
    Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed. Mark 1:35. To be like Him, u must find it important too.
    • A Bible: in a simple translation you can understand. It will be nice to have other translations to compare readings for better understanding.
    • A notebook: where you write down lessons learnt from your study and also your daily dealings with God.
    • Pen and ruler: I usually divide my note book by ruling 2 lines in the middle of the page; on the right I write the lessons learnt and God’s word for me for that day while on the left I write down fully the Bible passage that ministered to me most from the text read. In the middle of the lines, I write the verse of the Bible that ministered most to me.
    Date: Text:
    Sample:

    • Your reading note/devotional booklet: refer to your booklet for more insight on the text. There are a lot in circulation but prayerfully seek the best for you; one that will help you read/study the Bible daily, systematically and deeply. I’ve found DAILY GUIDE to be very good for adults, DAILY POWER for youths and DAILY MILK for children. There are other good ones you can choose from. NOTE: Your devotional booklet should NEVER replace your Bible, it’s meant to help refer you to the text to read from the Bible as systematically arranged for full and better understanding of God’s word, it’s wrong to read only the booklet.

    Aside quiet time, we need to study God’s word always. God’s word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.

    TEXT: I Corinthians 3, John 10, Mark 1:35, Psalm 119:105.

  • Follow in His steps (3)

    “I am the Light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life”. Jesus said this after He set free an adulterous woman brought to Him by her accusers (the Scribes and the Pharisees) who believe she should be stoned to death for her sin as commanded by the Law of Moses. Jesus then showed the world the reason God sent Him; to deliver the world from the bondage and power of the prince and ruler of darkness- Satan, and to give a new life- a life born of the spirit of God as seen in the last edition. God didn’t send Jesus to condemn anyone but to save everyone so we can be at peace with God.
    “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life”

    The woman must have been dreadfully afraid the day she was caught in the very act of adultery, knowing what her fate will be. Knowing the verdict on adultery, still couldn’t stop her from committing the crime; the knowledge of the law can’t save from sin, only Jesus can save. Jesus knew she was under the bondage of sin and needed most to be set free and become a child of God to be able to live a godly life. For this purpose God sent Him to die; to destroy the power of sin and the bondage of Satan, therefore setting free as many that receive and believe in Him. Jesus told her to go and sin no more, thereby setting her free from the bondage of sin, she received the grace to sin no more.

    The earth from the beginning was in a state of bondage before God sent the LIGHT- for in the beginning before God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was formless and void, and covered in darkness, the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be Light” and there was light. Notice that God didn’t start by dealing with the earth’s state of formlessness and emptiness, He started dealing with its state of darkness, knowing that as long as there was darkness the earth would remain formless and empty. So what the earth needed most at creation was the LIGHT. The Light came and gave life to the earth, so the formlessness and emptiness were dealt with, then God created everything else, the heavens and the earth as it is today. God then divided the Light from the darkness, so darkness could not comprehend the Light.

    Before anything else existed, there was Christ with God. He has always been alive and is himself God. He created everything there is—nothing exists that he didn’t make. Eternal life is in him, and this life gives light to all mankind. His life is the light that shines through the darkness—and the darkness can never extinguish it. The Light whom God sent from the beginning at creation is actually a person and this person is Jesus and anyone who has the Light has life and cannot walk in darkness. Rejecting Jesus is rejecting the Light that God sent to the world to give life and take away every formlessness and emptiness. A state of formlessness and emptiness can be said to be a state of nothingness, vainness, of no effect, no purpose and deadness.

    The people that brought the adulterous woman to Jesus unknowing to them did her a lot of good because she met with the Light who delivered her instantly from the power of darkness/Satan and death, giving her life eternal. Do you have this life?

    I once was under the control of the prince and ruler of darkness until Jesus the Light saved me, Satan wanted me to die in my sins and end up in hell but God’s mercy prevailed. So also Satan wants to hold everyone in his bondage but this is if you continue to allow him, call on the name Jesus and be saved. I still see some people still arguing and rejecting salvation, not believing in God’s plan to help them, yet struggling with the state of darkness.

    In the case of physical gross darkness one can’t find his way; one’s steps will be chaotic, unguided, and disorderly, in fact such person is stagnated, just like the state of the earth before the coming of the Light. When light comes everything changes for
    good, that person receives life and his steps will be ordered aright.
    To get out of darkness is through the LIGHT-JESUS.

    Receive, believe and follow the Light and you will never walk in darkness-NEVER!

    May Nigeria be filled with the Light- Amen.

    TEXT: John 8:1-12, John 3:16, John1:1-5, Isaiah 53: 1-12.

    F

  • Follow in His steps

    Jesus teaches us to love unconditionally, during His time on earth He showed us in many ways how to love and urged us to follow in His steps. Before His final departure from earth He gave us a commandment saying, “a new commandment I give to you that you love one another, as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love one for another” for Nigeria to be the leading nation in the world in all good aspects, we have to love one another as Jesus loves us. Christ’s love for us is not dependent on a quality in us that makes us lovable. He loves because He is love regardless of our strengths or weaknesses.

    Jesus knew that one of His disciples would betray Him, He knew Judas was the one but He still showed him unbelievable love, He didn’t withhold anything good from him; He was patient to teach him like He taught others, He gave him powers over unclean spirits, to heal all manner of sicknesses and diseases as other disciples, though Judas demonstrated his greed for money yet Jesus endured him, rather seeking ways to win him. Judas’ name was not mentioned as the one who would betray Jesus but he put himself in that position. It baffles me that Judas, being among the 12 who received directly from the Master wasn’t affected by God, the time he spent in such a glorious fellowship was wasted…hmm!

     

    Jesus knew on the evening of Passover feast that it would be His last night on earth before returning to His Father. During supper the devil had already suggested to Judas Iscariot, that this was the night to carry out his plan to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had given Him everything and that He had come from God and would return to God. And how He loved His disciples! So He got up from the supper table, took off His robe, wrapped a towel around His loins, poured water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel He had around him. Jesus washed even Judas’ feet knowing that he would betray Him in such a painful manner. This shows truly that Jesus loved His disciples unconditionally just as He loves us. And Jesus said “…I have given you an example that you should do as I have done to you”. When someone betrays you, betrays your trust and confidence in him/her -do as Jesus, don’t stop loving keep on showing love. Remember what Jesus said, “By this the world will know that you are My disciples, if you have love one for another”, if truly you are God’s child you will show unconditional love to all and truly make a difference in the world, for the world will love only those who love them and hate those who hate them, this is not the teaching of Jesus. Jesus teaches, “ You have heard the saying, ‘Love your friends and hate your enemies.’ But I say: Love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you,  In that way you will be acting as true sons of your Father in heaven. For He gives His sunlight to both the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust too. If you love only those who love you, what reward have you? Even scoundrels do that much.  If you are friendly only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even the heathen do that”.  If you love like the world there is no reward for you but if you love like Christ then you shall be blessed. Christianity preaches love to ALL and this is how to spread the gospel all over the world.  To be able to love like Jesus Christ then we’ve got to ask for the grace to do so, you can’t do it in your strength and understanding, you will be frustrated trying on your own, only Jesus can help you. Jesus promised “if you ask ANYTHING in My name I will do it”. Ask in prayer and keep asking for the grace to show love to the unlovable.

     

    Jesus’ teaching that ‘a servant is not greater than His master. If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you…’ shows that people will definitely betray and hurt you and me even those closest to us, this is truly painful but Christ has already prepared us for this and told us how to handle it so the devil doesn’t destroy or distract us from our call and relationship with God. Have you ever experienced God’s love though you didn’t merit it? Just as He showed you love, show unmerited love to others too. Never harbour hatred for anyone. To follow in His steps by loving the unlovable is what distinguishes me and you from the rest of the world where deep hatred, terrorism, violence of all sorts exist. For this to stop spread the GOODNEWS OF PEACE WITH GOD by loving one another irrespective of our differences and not living in revenge paying evil for evil. Let Nigeria see Jesus in your life.

     

    Jesus did everything possible to win Judas to Himself, he was given specific warnings of his impending act of betrayal. The realization that the Master was aware of his evil thoughts should have stopped him- NO, he chose to hide his evil thoughts not confessing it to Jesus and eventually Satan entered him; possessing him to carry out the betrayal. God doesn’t force anyone to do anything, He has given us the freewill to choose what we want to believe and do but advised us to choose the right path by believing in Jesus His Son and following in His steps.

     

    Many today still choose the wrong path of hardening their hearts, this is very dangerous. To follow the right path as highlighted above is the key to having peace as a person. When you and I are peaceful and we spread peace across our nation Nigeria then our progress as a nation will spring forth.

    Where there is Love there is Unity and Faith, Peace and Progress.

     

    TEXT: John 13: 18-35, Matthew 5:43-47, Matthew 10:1, John 15:20.

     

  • Love…the most excellent way (8)

    The topic love is inexhaustible, there is so much to know and only God will teach us all we need to know about love and the grace to apply them.

    A certain lawyer asked Jesus a question, though his motive was to test Him, he asked “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus said to him, “what does the law of Moses say? So he answered and said, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbour as yourself.” And Jesus said to him you have answered rightly; do this and you will live” The man wanting to justify his lack of love for some kinds of people, asked “who is my neighbour?” Jesus replied with an illustration: “A certain man going on a trip from Jerusalem to Jericho fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing wounded him and departed, leaving him half dead. By chance a Jewish priest came along; and when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by. A Levite (a Jewish Temple-assistant) walked over and looked at him lying there, but then went on. But a despised Samaritan (the ones seen as having a polluted religion) came along and when he saw him had compassion, so he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring oil and wine; and set him on his donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he gave the inn keeper two denarii and said ‘take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.’ “So which of these do you think was neighbour to him who fell among the thieves?” And the lawyer said, “he who showed mercy on him, and Jesus said to him, “GO AND DO LIKEWISE”

    You see, irrespective of our differences- religion, tribe, culture, tradition, social status etc. We are to show love to all. Your actions show who you are and the God you worship. If you serve the living God, then you will love for God is love. A young girl once said to me that she hated a certain group of people; insinuating an alliance to dislike them because of their behaviour. She was shocked when I said to her that I love them, teaching her that God doesn’t want us to hate anybody irrespective of our differences. Even if someone we know isn’t behaving the right way, our duty is to pray continuously for the person to change and never get tired of praying (remember love suffers long; it’s very patient and doesn’t give up easily), also counsel such in love. Hatred can lead to violence and we are not to give room to violence (violence is never a solution to issues, it will rather fuel it), don’t join in evil behaviours but live in love for love doesn’t rejoice in evil but rejoices in the truth.

     

    If you truly want to live eternal life in heaven, then show love…

    “When Jesus comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit on His glorious throne.  All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.  He will put the sheep on His right and the goats on His left.

    Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.  For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

    The righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?  When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

    The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

    Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.  For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’

    They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

    You see, Jesus teaches us THE MOST EXCELLENT WAY to live; a way leading to heaven at last.

    To be able to live in love we need first to accept God’s son Jesus Christ who He sent to set us free from sin, teaching and helping us to live a life pleasing to Him; a life of true, unconditional, undying and unending love. Love perfects all things leading us to eternal life in heaven.

    So dear friends, if you truly love God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and you love your neighbour as yourself, it will show in your good works. Good works is a result of a good heart, a godly heart given only by Jesus.

    Whether Hausa, Igbo or Yoruba…Teach love, speak love and show love. Say No to hatred and No to violence.

    LET LOVE REIGN IN NIGERIA!

    Song: LOVE IN ANY LANGUAGE

    Love in any language

    Straight from the heart

    Pulls us all together

    Never apart

    And once we learn to speak it

    All the world will hear

    Love in any language

    Fluently spoken here.

    TEXT: Luke 10:25-37, Matthew 25:31-46, John 3:16.

     

  • Love… The most excellent way (7)

    Cain and Abel were brothers. Abel was a shepherd while Cain was a farmer. At harvest time Cain brought the Lord a gift of his farm produce and Abel brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat, he gave God the very best. The Lord accepted Abel’s offering, but not Cain’s. This made Cain dejected, he was very angry and hated his brother. The Lord asked him “why are you angry, why is your face so dark with rage? It can be bright with joy if you will do what you should. But if you refuse to obey, watch out, Sin is waiting to attack you, longing to destroy you. But you can conquer it!”. God actually gave Cain another chance to make right his wrong doing but he was so full of anger and hatred that he couldn’t reason well anymore, or accept correction. Sure enough, this led him to other things.

    He became jealous of his brother. For us too there is this tendency to be jealous of another’s success. If you notice this in you, be sincere and admit that weakness and beg God to help you overcome it. Choose to rejoice at somebody’s success then yours will surely come. Cain wasn’t like that he didn’t take God’s counsel, and then…

    One day he suggested to his brother, “let’s go out into the fields.” And while they were together there, Cain attacked and killed his brother. Afterwards the Lord asked Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He answered, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?”, he lied to God. Cain truly had no honour for God, it’s not surprising he gave just anyhow to God; his heart was not right with God. Some people are like this; they are involved in all kinds of crime because they don’t fear God neither do they honour Him.

    There was God giving Cain yet another opportunity to confess his sins, but he chose to remain in them and be rebellious. And God said to him, “what have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground. So now you are cursed from the earth, which you have defiled with your brother’s blood from your hand. When you till the ground, it shall no longer yield its crops for you. A fugitive and a vagabond you shall be on the earth”; Cain will not progress in life and he will be wandering from place to place. Truly there’s no peace for the wicked.

    The seed of anger and hatred in Cain for his brother grew into other things: jealousy and eventually murder- he killed his brother. Is this not what we find in our society today? Taking another’s life means nothing to some people, killing is even being upheld by some leaders and groups as the solution to their ‘problems’ – for no reason whatsoever should anyone take another’s life, or be lured to do so. Taking a life you can’t create is a very serious offence before God which will not go unpunished- take a cue from Cain’s life. Repent and forsake your evil ways. The land is so polluted with continuous bloodshed bringing about retrogression to Nigeria- a nation that should be among the greatest in the world, it’s up to us to let the glory of Nigeria shine. Know that whatsoever you do in your little corner either builds or destroys Nigeria. That person next to you (a child or an adult) is Nigeria, the company where you work is Nigeria, the business you do is Nigeria. The way you deal with these shows whether you are building or destroying Nigeria- deal with all in love and honesty. Represent Nigeria well in whatsoever you do and wherever you go then Nigeria will be the greatest in the world. So help me God!

    The true solution to any problem is first to be at peace with God which is only possible by accepting and believing in His son Jesus whom He sent to reconcile us (the sinful man) to Himself, giving us power to be true children of God; living in love just as He is love. Love conquers all!

    Note the characteristics of love:

    • Love is very patient
    • Love is kind
    • Love is never jealous or envious
    • Love is never boastful or proud
    • Love is never rude
    • Love is never selfish
    • Love is not provoked, irritable or touchy
    • Love thinks no evil
    • Love does not hold grudges
    • Love does not rejoice in iniquity but rejoices in the truth
    • Love bears all things
    • Love believes all things. It will cause you to believe in someone without giving up on him/her.
    • Love endures all things
    • Love never fails.

    Cain didn’t love his brother, for where there is no love, there is:

    • Impatience/Intolerance
    • Hatred
    • Jealousy/Envy
    • Pride
    • Rudeness
    • Selfishness
    • Anger
    • Grudge
    • Injustice
    • Iniquity/lawlessness- murder, terrorism, immorality, stealing, rivalry etc.

    All these are sin and they bring about disunity, lack of peace and of course NO PROGRESS. The nation Nigeria has brought us together to be brothers- let us be willing to allow God uproot the evil seed of anger and hatred in us and help us live in love so we can progress.

    May God create in us a clean heart and renew a right spirit within us in Jesus name. BE YOUR BROTHER’S KEEPER!

    Text: Genesis 4, 1 Corinthians 13, 1 John 4:7-16, John 3:16, John 1:12.

     

    From: Faith Nwachukwu