LIFE IN GOD’S WORD

‘‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men.’ – John 1:1-4

LIGHT FOR THE NOW:A life outside the word of God is a life devoid of God.

Until you receive light, your life remains in darkness. Today’s text describes Jesus as the source of life. In Jesus there is life. Also in Jesus is the light of men. Wisdom, understanding and discernment are pre-requisite elements which make life easy. Except you receive Jesus your life will remain useless. The arrival of light is the beginning of life. Therefore, Jesus is the ultimate source of life.

The account of John 1:4specifically says, ‘In him was life; and the life was the light of men’. The pronoun used for the Word of God is not ‘it’ but ‘him’ – signifying an intelligent creature with a personality. Gladly, yesterday, I established that light emanates from the Word of God and that the Word of God is Jesus. We can simply put the verse this way: ‘ln Him (Jesus Christ) is life; and the life is the light of men’. When Jesus walks into your life everything in you comes alive. You cannot be in Christ and you experience death.

How can the Light or the Word of God be of benefit to you? What are the blessings attached to your association with this Light? First, putting God’s word to work enhances your worth. Your worth in life is a function of the Word of God you practice. A life outside the word of God is worthless. A life outside Jesus (the Light) is not worth living.

If you want to be blessed you have to engage in the works of the Word of God. It is vital that you accept that the essence of your existence is to serve the Lord. Jesus Christ deserves your worship. One reason is that He is your creator. ‘All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made’. Surely, He is the light that emits life to all those who identifies with Him. Christ is the living light that shines in the dead darkness. When He shows up in your dark world, your world will be illuminated with His glorious presence. His light is the source of eternal life. If you have Him, you will have that indestructible life.

INSTRUCTION: Never detach yourself from the light that guarantees eternal life..

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, I rely on you. I have life because I believe in you, in Jesus name.

QUOTE: Life has no value without the light of God’s Word.

DAILY BIBLE READING: MORNING: MARK 15; EVENING: EZRA CHAPTER 8

UNDERSTANDING SALVATION (2)

“ And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” Romans 12:2

LIGHT FOR THE NOW: Everyone born of God is born of the Word and of the spirit.

Salvation is beyond forgiveness of sins neither is it all about escaping hell fire. It is about being free from condemnation (John 3:16). Everyone born of God is born of the Word and of the Spirit. Salvation is a total package. Whatever saves you from sin has to capacity to produce whatever you need to succeed here on earth. But, that you are saved spiritually is not a guarantee that you will prosper here on earth. You need a regenerated mind to prosper. Our text for today clearly shows that our minds have a lot to do with our salvation. Our body is only the container; our mind is the content while the spirit is the source of the content. When we become born again, the spirit is regenerated but our mind is not. The Word of God is the light that renews the mind. Your mind can only be renewed and not born again. Whatever occupies your mind constantly will determine what you are engaged in and that will influence your destiny.

You can never be better than your thought realm. The battles of life are in the mind. In fulfilling your destiny, God only regenerates your spirit and renews your mind. Whatever your mind cannot conceive, your hands cannot carry. The mind is the center of productivity. Prosperity answers to mental ability. Power to get wealth is a function of God’s idea (Deuteronomy 8:18). That power is the idea, concept, creativity, imagination, wisdom, insight and foresight. This comes with the ability to see what others cannot see. Revelation is the answer to all problems and it can only come from a renewed mind. Whatever controls your mind controls the outcome of your life. There are no impossibilities in a renewed mind. The Bible records that all things are possible to those who believe. Belief is a function of a renewed mind.

INSTRUCTION: Renew your mind.

PRAYER: Lord, I receive a renewed mind where all things are possible, in Jesus name.

QUOTE: Life and destiny move in the direction of your thought.

DAILY BIBLE READING: MORNING: MARK 14; EVENING: EZRA CHAPTER 7

UNDERSTANDING SALVATION (1)

“And that from a child, thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” 2Timothy 3:15

LIGHT FOR THE NOW: If it is not written, then it is not needful.

Our salvation can only be through faith in Christ. For you to be saved, you have to believe in the finished work of Christ on the cross of Calvary. The word, ‘doctrine’ means ‘explanation’ or ‘teachings’. It is only the scriptures that help to explain or teach about salvation. Everything written in the scriptures is inspired by God. The subject of salvation is centered on the person of Jesus. The word, ‘reproof’ as seen in 2 Timothy 3:16 means ‘evidence.’ The scriptures were given for evidence. If it is not written, then it is not needful. Believers are not expected to live by assumptions, feelings nor hearsays. Feelings do not change any situation. When you walk into a dark room, you don’t feel for light to turn on, rather, you locate the switch and turn on the light. Salvation is not an assumption neither is it a feeling. Those utterances about Jesus made faith available in the Old Testament. The message of Moses and the prophets carry only one person which is Jesus and that was to make faith available. Prophet Isaiah explained everything about Jesus coming (Isaiah9:2-7) and his suffering and death (Isaiah 53:2-6).

What builds your spiritual life is not prophecy but the word of eternal life. Any prophecy that is not based on the Word of God is no prophecy but a statement to induce fear. A deeper understanding of your salvation is what brings the glory. When you understand the subject of salvation, the veil is removed from you. There is a life before the cross and a life after the cross. Life before the cross is the life of Adam where man was still subject to sin and could not access God. By life after the cross, man dominates and reigns and has free access to God.

INSTRUCTION: Discover who you are in Christ.

PRAYER:I am what the Word says I am, in Jesus name.

QUOTE:A deeper understanding of your salvation is what gives you a glorious life.

DAILY BIBLE READING: MORNING: MARK 13; EVENING: EZRA CHAPTER 6

THE MYSTERY OF ETERNAL LIFE

                       

“That whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have eternal life”.  John 3:15

LIGHT FOR THE NOW: Eternal life is the product of the life of God.

With eternal life, it is impossible for anyone in Christ to perish. The coming of Jesus Christ reversed the activities of the devil. Jesus Christ brought eternal life and planted it in the hearts of men through new birth (John 3:2-3). The operation of eternal life in your system makes a live a kingdom lifestyle. With eternal life, it is impossible to perish. To perish means to suffer decay, to be destroyed, to expire, to be stripped off all glory and dignity, to make one naked, to be ashamed. Eternal life is not an event. Eternal life is a person and that person is Jesus. Eternal life is resurrection and life. Eternal life is the product of the life of God. The arrival of eternal life in your system is the arrival of God. Eternal life preserves us from death. It protects us from evil forces. Eternal life is the greatest gift and it has no expiration. Eternal life qualifies one for rapture and resurrection. Salvation is eternal. Those that have received eternal life by faith automatically become an offspring of God, a product of God. Through eternal life, we are identified with God.

It is only the faith you release in the finished work that makes eternal life available to you. The resurrection of Jesus makes eternal life available to all. Eternal life is the pure work of Grace. You don’t merit it. Jesus is eternal life. When you accept and receive Jesus Christ, you receive eternal life and when you reject Jesus, you reject eternal life and that is not what takes people to hell and not sin. Therefore, the absence of eternal life in a person takes him or her to hell. Eternal life has what it takes to make your life beautiful and colorful if only you know it. What generates power in a believer is knowledge. Spiritual death is a function of lack of knowledge. Therefore, there is need to know. Eternal life is the very life of God. It is the life that has no sin, no stain, and no death in it. Eternal life is a pure life of God.  Eternal life is a light-giving life.  John 1:4 says, “in Him was life, and the life was the light of men”.

INSTRUCTION: Stay saved

PRAYER: Lord, I receive Christ as Eternal Life into my spirit, in Jesus name.

QUOTE:A worded Christian is a winning Christian.

DAILY BIBLE READING: MORNING: MARK 12; EVENING: EZRA CHAPTER 5          

THE GOSPEL OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith”   Romans 1:16-17

LIGHT FOR THE NOW:  The righteousness of God is revealed in the Gospel of Christ.

The Gospel of Christ is the unveiling of God’s righteousness. Until one accepts the Gospel of Christ, he or she will not be able to live a righteous life or know the righteousness of God. The righteousness of God is revealed only in the Gospel of Christ. Righteousness is the nature of God that gives a believer the ability to stand in His presence without condemnation, guilt, fear or inferiority complex. It’s the ability to stand in fellowship and rightness with God. There is no other way to come into this extraordinary life of righteousness and oneness with God except through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This is why we cannot afford to be quiet about the Gospel. It’s the answer to man’s problem. There are no options to the Gospel. There is no other way for men to learn of, receive, or understand the righteousness of God outside the Gospel of Christ.

The gospel is not emotional good news. It is not a Good News that makes you happy for a moment. It is not about temporary happiness. The Gospel is the message of Christ. It is the message of the entire Bible. Inside the gospel, there is power, healing, prosperity and miracles. The power of God is not about people falling down. The power of God is not an event. The power of God is a person. Whenever we talk about the power of God, we are referring to the person of Christ. It is about the salvation, redemption and forgiveness of sins. The gospel is so important that God Himself had to preach the gospel to Abraham. The reason we are traced to Abraham is because Abraham, received, accepted and believed the gospel (Galatians 3:8).  For the news to be good, it must be relevant to hearer’s condition.  It must be for all if the news must be good. It is not all that are poor, sick or in need of help but it is on record that all have sinned (Romans 3:23). This is why the gospel is for all. The gospel is about the remission of sins.

INSTRUCTION: Don’t be quiet in your locality about the Gospel; preach it with boldness.

PRAYER: Father, I receive eternal life and I have life in abundance, in Jesus name.

QUOTE: The Gospel is the answer to man’s problem.

DAILY BIBLE READING: MORNING: MARK 11; EVENING: EZRA CHAPTER 4

GROW YOUR FAITH

“….according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith”   Romans 12:3

LIGHT FOR THE NOW:  Faith is the basis of our Christian walk.

As believers, we walk not by sight but by faith (2Corinthians 5:7). The Bible clearly emphasizes that without faith, it is impossible to please God (Hebrew 11:6). There is Christian without faith as we have all received the same measure of faith. You only need to grow your measure of faith. The Scripture reveals how we can grow great and effectual faith. First, you have to stay continually in the Word; the Word stirs faith in your spirit. “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God” (Romans 10:17). The more you hear God’s Word, the more faith you will have. The less of God’s Word you hear, the less faith you will have. The less of God’s word you receive into your spirit, the less faith you will be able to express when you are faced with the challenges of life.

Your faith is also built as you consistently attend church services and fellowship with other believers (Hebrews 10:25). In church, you are taught the Word and also enjoy the rich fellowship of the Spirit in a way that energizes your faith. The scriptures admonishes that we neglect not the fellowship of the brethren. You can also grow your faith by constantly meditating on, and putting the Word to work in your life.

Acting on the Word is faith expressed, and our faith is the victory that overcomes the world. Faith that is not expressed is faith that will not prevail. Faith must always come with a corresponding action. “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also” (James 2:26). You must always express your faith in words and in actions. Stop complaining or crying over that situation; act on the Word! Use your faith. Jesus said if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can tell a mountain to move and it will obey you. The faith you have is enough. Do something with it. Use your faith. It is the currency for whatever you desire.

INSTRUCTION: Grow your faith by putting the faith you have into use.

PRAYER: Father, I receive eternal life and I have life in abundance, in Jesus name.

QUOTE: Faith is the currency you use to purchase in the realm of the spirit.

DAILY BIBLE READING: MORNING: MARK 10; EVENING: EZRA CHAPTER 3

ETERNAL LIFE: GOD’S GIFT TO BELIEVERS (3)

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life”   John 3:16

LIGHT FOR THE NOW:  The arrival of eternal life is the power that gives birth to a new man.

Eternal life is neither an event nor a feeling but it is a person and that person is Jesus Christ. The arrival of Jesus Christ into the world was the arrival of eternal life. This is the God-kind of life. Eternal life is the greatest gift of God to man. Just as Adam made man a sinner, so does Jesus Christ make you righteous (Romans 5:19). The arrival of eternal life in you deletes the old, Adamic, sinful nature in you. When you receive Jesus into your life, you are created anew. It is called re-birth. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new”. Eternal life gives you a new identity in God because you are born again at new birth. You are born of God and not by the will of man which makes you a spirit-being because God is a spirit. Jesus is eternal life given to us. Outside Jesus, you are not sanctified (Romans 6:23). Eternal life is a proof of God’s ownership. When you receive eternal life, you begin to know God in different dimensions. If you do not have eternal life at work in you, you will never know the Word of God. Nobody is permitted to access divine mysteries outside the knowledge of Christ. It is only through eternal life that you will begin to understand the operations of divinity.

Eternal life is what makes you a mystery here on earth. When you have eternal life at work in you, you cannot be reduced to nothing. Whatever seems impossible in life, at the arrival of eternal life, all things become possible. You cannot receive anything from God outside eternal life (Ephesians 2:8). Jesus was eternal life walking and living with men (John 17:6-8). As the resurrected, highly exalted King of Kings and Lord of Lords, He is the Eternal Life. Eternal life cannot live in you and men do not know your identity. This means that as a believer, you cannot be hidden from men. It is in the place of intimacy with God that the best of God is revealed to you. No one can have true fellowship with God outside eternal life.

INSTRUCTION: To operate in eternal life, come to Jesus.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, I thank you for the gift of eternal life at work in my life, in Jesus name.

QUOTE: It is in the place of intimacy with God that the best of God is revealed to you.

DAILY BIBLE READING: MORNING: MARK 9; EVENING: EZRA CHAPTER 2

ETERNAL LIFE: GOD’S GIFT TO BELIEVERS (2)

“And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand”   John 10:28

LIGHT FOR THE NOW:  Eternal life is the greatest gift from God to mankind.

Eternal life is neither an event nor a feeling but it is a person and that person is Jesus Christ. The arrival of Jesus Christ into the world was the arrival of eternal life. This is the God-kind of life. Our text clearly makes us to understand that eternal life is attainable only through the person of Jesus Christ. He is the source of eternal life. No one can give what he/she does not have. Jesus is the eternal life. John 1:4 says,” in him was life, and the life was the light of men”. You might ask what kind of life was in him. John 3:16 provides the answer. It reads, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life”. Eternal life is synonymous with everlasting life. From the context of these two scriptures, it is logical to say that in Jesus is eternal life or that the personality of Jesus Christ is eternal life. The scripture in 1John 5:11 says, “And this is the record that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his son”. Eternal life is the portion of those who believe in the name of Jesus Christ.

Our text today gives us an assurance; that as believers, no man will be able to pluck us out of the hands of Jesus Christ. In His hand, there is life, security and prosperity. It therefore means that eternal life preserves you from death because your life is hid in Christ Jesus (Colossians 3:3). Whatever cannot destroy Jesus cannot destroy you. When you operate in this realm, you will be constantly aware of your Believer’s Bill of Rights. Therefore, nothing and nobody has the right to look down on you or molest you. Eternal life has the capacity to make you who you want to be in life.

INSTRUCTION: Believe in Christ Jesus and have eternal life.

PRAYER: Father, I receive eternal life and I have life in abundance, in Jesus name.

QUOTE: Eternal life has the capacity to make you.

DAILY BIBLE READING: MORNING: MARK 8; EVENING: EZRA CHAPTER 1

ETERNAL LIFE: GOD’S GIFT TO BELIEVERS (1)

“Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live”  John 11:25

LIGHT FOR THE NOW:  Jesus Christ was made a sinner so He could die for man.

Resurrection is not an event. It is a personality. Jesus speaking to Martha concerning the death of Lazarus said ‘I am the resurrection and the life. The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, made eternal life available to all persons. Eternal life is made available to all who believe in the suffering, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. Faith in the finished work of Christ is what makes eternal life accessible to man. Eternal life is the pure work of Grace. No man can earn it. If you receive Jesus, you receive eternal life. If you reject Jesus, you have rejected eternal life. Sickness, poverty, frustration and death cannot handle eternal life. When the force of eternal life entered the grave, the grave had no option than to vomit Lazarus. Abraham and other saints of old were kept in paradise awaiting the arrival of eternal life when they died because they did not have eternal life. This separated them from hell. Paradise was a place where al the saints of old were kept before the arrival of eternal life (Luke 16:19-22).

At the Cross of Calvary, the dying criminal believed in Christ and confessed Him. Jesus instantly assured him that he will be with Him in Paradise. This way, Jesus demonstrated that a time would come when people would just believe in Christ and are saved instantly! Jesus kept the thief in Paradise (Luke 23:39-43). He proceeded to Hell to pay for the sins of humanity. No sinful man can redeem himself. If Jesus did not bear the sins of the world, He would not have died. In order for Him to die, He needed to be made a sinner. It is on this note, that 2 Corinthians 5:21 says, “for he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him”. This is to attest that Jesus Christ died because eternal life was temporarily removed from Him.

INSTRUCTION: Appreciate the finished work of Christ on the cross.

PRAYER: Lord, I thank you for the eternal life I have through you, in Jesus name.

QUOTE: The grave could not handle eternal life.

DAILY BIBLE READING: MORNING: MARK 7; EVENING: 2CHRONICLES CHAPTER 36

THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF FOREKNOWLEDGE

“Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory”   1Corinthians2:8

LIGHT FOR THE NOW: The end you know is the peace you have.

When you know the future, you will not panic at the present. What made Jesus Christ so unique was the knowledge He had before He came to the earth. For instance, Jesus knew that He will not die on the water, but on the cross. This foreknowledge made Him to sleep on a pillow even in the midst of the storm (Mark 4:38-41). On the contrary, His disciples panicked in fear, for the raging storm almost sank the boat – hence they cried out ‘Carest thou not that we perish? They deemed Jesus to be insensitive to their plight. But this was not the case. Jesus knew who He was. He knew when, how, where and why He will die. So He was not perturbed about the storm because He knew the events that would lead to His death. The foreknowledge you have about yourself gives you an edge over any dire circumstances surrounding you. The end you know is the peace you have.

By foreknowledge, Jesus refused to struggle the kingdom of the world with Satan when He was tempted by the devil.  At His trial leading to the cross, He told Pilate in clear terms that His kingdom is not of this world. By foreknowledge, God did not refrain from sacrificing His only begotten Son. He knew that upon resurrecting Jesus Christ, He would reap many sons to Himself. Today, the sons of God are located round the globe. And these sons have accomplished far greater works in comparison to what Jesus did while on earth! Foreknowledge prevents you from engaging in unnecessary battles and debates. Your ability to identify who you are in Christ stops you from all time-wasting and unprofitable engagements!

INSTRUCTION: You need to know that a born again child of God does not need deliverance.

PRAYER: Father, may I not go through life without the revealed knowledge of you, in Jesus name.

QUOTE: The greatest need of the church is not prayers but knowledge.

DAILY BIBLE READING: MORNING: MARK 6; EVENING: 2CHRONICLES CHAPTER 35

THE OPERATIONS OF THE SPIRIT

“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world”   1John 4:1

LIGHT FOR THE NOW:  The Spirit of God does not reveal men situation in order to shame them.

The activities of the spirits are not without human cooperation. You cannot identify the spirits outside of human activities. Spirits always seek to be believed and they are discerned primarily by words. It takes a person who knows and has the understanding of God’s word to identify false spirits at work in the life of a person or a ministry. No one can understand the way the devil operates and is still outshined by the devil. The Holy Spirit does not violate the Word of God as contained in the New Testament (1Corinthians 12:3). Utterances from the Spirit that goes contrary to the Word of God and goes against the character of God cannot be from the Holy Spirit. For instance, God does not keep records of the sins of believers. Christ’s resurrection is our justification. The gift of the Holy Spirit is not given to shame people. This means that the Spirit of God does not reveal the situation of men in order to shame them. The primary work of the gift of prophecy is to brighten or lighten the countenance of a believer. It is also to inspire, build up, encourage and comfort a believer (1Corinthians 14:3). The gift of prophecy comes with inspiring teachings or preaching. The word of knowledge, word of wisdom and the discerning of spirits are classified as revelation gifts because their primary assignment is to reveal things when they are in operation.

You cannot discern the spirit if the knowledge of the word of God is not at work in your life. As a believer and as a child of God, you must be able to discern the spirits. To discern means to be aware of the spirit in operation. It also means to be conscious of the spirit operating in a person or place. This discernment is independent of the spirit. It is via revelation.  The gift of discernment does not teach you anything on its own. You are only aware by seeing, hearing or perceiving. There are two kinds of discernment. The first is the discernment that is a product of the revealed knowledge (1Corinthians 2:14-15). The second is by the operation of the spirits at the spur of the moment (1 Corinthians 12:10). The Spirit refers to spiritual matters only. It also refers to spiritual symbols and spirit beings. The first spirit being is God (John4:24). Man is another spirit being (1Thessalonians 5:23). There is a spirit and soul inside man. Angels are also spirit beings. The Bible refers to them as spirit beings.  Demons too are spirits. This is why the devil cannot die no matter how hard you pray for the devil to die because he is a spirit and spirits don’t die.

INSTRUCTION: You need to know that a born again child of God does not need deliverance.

PRAYER: Father, may I not go through life without the revealed knowledge of you, in Jesus name.

QUOTE: The greatest need of the church is not prayers but knowledge.                  

DAILY BIBLE READING: MORNING: MARK 5; EVENING: 2CHRONICLES CHAPTER 34

THE KNOWLEDGE OF CHRIST BRINGS FREEDOM

“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot ” 1Peter 1:18-19.

LIGHT FOR THE NOW: The knowledge you have about who you are in Christ brings freedom.

The Bible speaking in John 8:32 say, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free”. It is the truth that you know that makes you free. Spiritual freedom brings about physical manifestations in all your endeavors. You need to know that Christ had fully paid the price for you. He had authoritatively announced your freedom when he declared on the cross that it is finished. Christ gave us victory free of charge. We could never have been able to buy ourselves back. “But God commendeth his love towards us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Romans 8:15 says, “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father”. It is the redemption that brings the totality of your freedom. Through freedom, you have the power to overcome sin. You need to know this, accept this and live in this knowledge. Galatians 5:1 says, “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage”. You need to constantly develop yourself through the study of the Word of God. Let it dwell in you richly and believe in what you have learned (Colossians 3:16).

Your life on earth is a function of your faith. Faith is the spiritual center of gravity. The absence of faith in your life is the arrival of every ugly circumstance in your life. A new creation cannot be justified outside faith because his entire life functions in faith. Faith is the spiritual energy that controls all the activities of God here on earth. It is the engine room that drags the desires of God into your life. Faith is the spiritual power God uses to prove Himself in the midst of His people. With faith, you can design your world and interpret your mental picture into reality. Let the knowledge of Christ be the basis of your faith.

INSTRUCTION: Make effort to know more about Christ.                                                            

PRAYER:  Lord, grant me a deeper knowledge of Christ, in Jesus name!

QUOTE: Christ based knowledge frees you from law based knowledge.

DAILY BIBLE READING: MORNING: MARK 4; EVENING: 2CHRONICLES CHAPTER 34

THE WORD IS IN YOUR MOUTH: SPEAK IT

  

“But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is the word of faith which we preach” Romans 10:8.

LIGHT FOR THE NOW: Men who speak word of faith in their situation can never sink with that situation in this world

The Word of God is the bedrock for the force of faith. Words are containers of spiritual forces. When you release positive words, situations change for the better. Anytime you want to enter a new level, words are needed to push you there. When you speak faith into any situation, that situation can never remain the same. The way you react to God’s Word matters a lot. If you must overcome the challenges of life, you must learn to always respond in faith to God’s word. You must learn to function in the arena of faith where the only thing that matters is the Word of God. No matter the storms of life, you must always speak positive words for when men say there is a casting down, you shall say there is a lifting up (Job 22:29). As a believer, you must consciously speak life into any situation you find yourself for the words we speak are spirit and they are life (John6:63). Never allow your physical senses (what you see, feel, or hear) determine the circumstances of your existence.  2Corinthians 4:8 says, “While we look not at things that are seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

Life exists in the realm of speaking the word. You cannot take anything in the realm of the spirit without your faith. Faith is speakable. Prayer is taking God’s word back to Him for an answer. Thus, faith is the Word of God. You can overcome the battles of life through speaking faith. Therefore, you must hold fast to your confession of faith. Ephesians 6:16 says, “Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.”Faith shields you from all evil enchantments. But if you don’t speak it, remain a victim. When you believe right, you speak right and achieve the right results. Never allow the circumstances of life make you confess negatively for your words are the compass of your life. Speak life right now to that dead situations for the word is nigh thy mouth!

INSTRUCTION: Use the word in your mouth.               

PRAYER:  Lord, I command situations to change, in Jesus name!

QUOTE: Unspoken word can never manifest the required results.

DAILY BIBLE READING: MORNING: MARK 3; EVENING: 2CHRONICLES CHAPTER 33

CREATED FOR DOMINION (2)

“For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith” 1John 5:4

LIGHT FOR THE NOW: A regenerated man lives a higher life.

At new birth, we receive the life of God. This life is called the higher life. It is a spiritual life. It is an error for a new man in Christ to still live an ordinary life or become a victim of life. A regenerated man is not ordinary. He cannot be predicted. Just as no man can predict the wind, a regenerated man is totally unpredictable and unstoppable. He is not in this world as a victim but he tackles situations of life from a victory point of view. The Bible speaking in 2 Corinthians 2:14 says, “Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place”. This is the life of a new man in Christ. He is victorious everywhere, every day and in all things. A new man in Christ walks in constant victory. It is out of ignorance that believers accept sufferings and disappointments. As believers in Christ Jesus, you are to be victorious in every situations of life. The sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross made you one with God and brought you into this lifestyle of victory.

The Scriptures record that God “raised him (Jesus) from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come” (Ephesians 1:20-21). If we are in Christ Jesus, it means we have also been raised up to have dominion over all the situations of life. Ephesians 2:5-6 says that, “God hath also raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus”. God has also raised us together with Christ. We are seated with Christ in heavenly places far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come. You are seated with Christ in the place of His glory and authority and this is the very reason you cannot fail nor be defeated in the battles of life. It is the reason nothing can put you down, for greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world (1John 4:4). It does not matter how long you have suffered, or going round in circles; once you locate the realm of the new creation, light has automatically come to you. The truth has been unveiled. Christ is your new world. He is your strength and your victory. “For in Him you live, move and have your being” (Acts 17:28). If you are in Christ, you are more than a conqueror. You were created to have dominion and live triumphantly here on earth.

INSTRUCTION: Consciously live a life of dominion here on earth.

PRAYER: Father, as a new man in Christ, I enforce my victory over all situations of life, in Jesus name.

QUOTE: The greatest need of the church is not prayers but knowledge.

DAILY BIBLE READING: MORNING: MARK 2; EVENING: 2CHRONICLES CHAPTER 32

CREATED FOR DOMINION (1)

“For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God” Romans 8:19

LIGHT FOR THE NOW: A new creature lives a life of dominion.

A new creation is God in a man. Of all that God created, a new creation is the greatest (John 1:14). You cannot be profitable until you locate the realm of the new creation. You must understand who you are in Christ before you are able to impart your generation. There is no profitability outside Christ. Everything is packaged in him. “For in Him you live, move and have your being” (Acts 17:28). What produces a child of God is spirit and spirit cannot be restricted (John 3:6). New creation is God becoming a man and a man becoming God. In all God has created, we are the latest. As a new creation, we are created to impact our generation. The spirit of God that dwells in us at new birth is what empowers us to live an overcoming life. If God cannot fail, then a new man in Christ cannot fail. Failure is not in the DNA of God. As much as Jesus Christ came into the world and the world has not recovered, we are to impact our world. As new creatures, we are not permitted to leave that situation the same way we met it. We are to settle matters.

The Spirit of God is Christ living inside of you. If Christ cannot be limited, you are not permitted to be limited. If Christ does not need deliverance, any person who is born again does not need deliverance because there is no difference between Christ and anyone who is in Christ. You cannot be possessed except you are not born again. You are a new creation and everything that you need to impact your generation has been deposited into you. Therefore, let this mind be in you that you are created for impact. The world is waiting for your manifestation. “For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God” (Romans 8:19).

INSTRUCTION: Consciously live a life of impact.

PRAYER:Lord, I must affect my generation in Jesus Name, Amen

QUOTE: A life without Christ is a life full of crisis.  

DAILY BIBLE READING: MORNING: MARK 1; EVENING: 2CHRONICLES CHAPTER 31

AUTHORITY IN THE NAME OF JESUS (3)

“And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject to us through thy name” Luke 10:17

LIGHT FOR THE NOW: Deliverance is a one-time event and not a process.

Casting out devils is the will of God for you. As believers in Christ Jesus, you have the authority over evil spirits to cast them out. You have been empowered by the name of Jesus to cast out devils. You do not need any special deliverance prayer sessions in order to cast out the devil. The Name of Jesus is no longer in alphabets but an office. There is no way you call the name of Jesus with the knowledge of what it represents and still doubt if the devil will flee.

The devil has no choice but to flee at the mention of the Name of Jesus. You must always call on the Name of Jesus with respect because He is highly exalted. Philippians 2:9-10 says, “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every other name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things on earth, and things under the earth”. When you call on the Name of Jesus, see Him in His throne and situations of life cannot stand. You must understand that casting out devils is not deliverance. Demons can be cast out of a person and that person is not delivered (Luke 11:24-26). Jesus never used the word deliverance to mean casting out devils.

In Luke 10:17, the seventy disciples returned and brought reports of how the devils were subject to them through the name of Jesus. As believers in Christ Jesus, the Name of Jesus empowers us to do exploit. Casting out demons does not need prayer and fasting. You need to understand that the Name of Jesus is an authority before and after His death and resurrection. The Greek translation for ‘deliverance’ is ‘aphesis’ meaning ‘release’, ‘to send away’, ‘ to take away’ summarized as ‘remission’ or ‘rescue’.

 Deliverance is either taught or preached and not prayed. When you pray deliverance, you are acting in ignorance. You cast out and preach deliverance. You are not delivered until you receive the forgiveness of sins through belief. Deliverance is therefore a one-time event and not a process. Repeated deliverance is a proof of unbelief. To be delivered means to be moved from one place and stirred into another place. When you received the forgiveness of sins, you were moved from the kingdom of darkness to the authority of Christ. Therefore, the moment a person receives the forgiveness of sins, he has been delivered.

INSTRUCTION: You need to know that a born again child of God does not need deliverance.
PRAYER: Father, may I not go through life without the revealed knowledge of you, in Jesus name.
QUOTE: To be delivered is to have your sins forgiven.

DAILY BIBLE READING: MORNING: MATTHEW 28; EVENING: 2CHRONICLES CHAPTER 30

AUTHORITY IN THE NAME OF JESUS (2)

“And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with the spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: the same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, these men are the servants of the most high God, which shew us the way of salvation. And this did she many days. But Paul being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the Name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour” Acts 16:16-18

LIGHT FOR THE NOW: You do not need a special prayer session to handle the devil because the name of Jesus is an authority.

Believers in Christ Jesus cannot be possessed by demons because the spirit of Christ is at work in them. One of the signs that follow believers is the demonstration of the authority that is in the Name of Jesus. The same way Jesus cast out the devils is the same way he healed the sick by just speaking over them. Matthew 8:16 says, “When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick”. You do not need a special prayer and deliverance session to cast out the devil. All you need is knowledge. You need to know that the Name of Jesus is an authority and therefore, whatever you declare in the Name of Jesus stands. In Mark 1:22-23, the devil wanted to get into a conversation with Jesus; but Jesus knowing his authority did not discuss with him but he rather cast him out. Your authority functions in your position. Therefore, you need to know your position in Christ. Never allow the devil to bring you into a conversation. If you do that, it means that you do not know your right in Christ.

You do not need the Holy Ghost to cast out devils. All you need is the Name of Jesus. Luke 10:17 says, “And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject to us through thy name”. One of the signs that follow a believer is demonstrating the authority of the Name of Jesus by casting out devils. If this sign is not in you, there is need to check what you believe. Jesus speaking to his disciples in Mark 16:17-18 says, “And these signs shall follow them that believe; in my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover”. 

INSTRUCTION: The Name of Jesus is not common. Never see it as common.

PRAYER: Father, I enforce my right as a believer in Christ Jesus, in Jesus name.

QUOTE: Your authority functions in your position.

DAILY BIBLE READING: MORNING: MATTHEW 27; EVENING: 2CHRONICLES CHAPTER 29

AUTHORITY IN THE NAME OF JESUS (1)

“And these signs shall follow them that believe; in my name shall they cast out devils…” Mark 16:17-18

LIGHT FOR THE NOW: You don’t have to be a Christian for twenty years to cast out devils.

Someone who received Christ into his life just moments ago can cast out devils. This goes to prove how much Satan has been defeated. Satan is no longer a factor. He has become very insignificant. Every born again child of God is superior to Satan. He lives the God-kind of life. Therefore, keeping Satan in check isn’t a question of how strong or spiritual you think you are; it’s about Jesus and the authority He’s given you. For you walk and live in His Name. Satan has no right to run things in your life or that of your family. Exercise your authority over Satan by casting him out. You can cast out demons any day, anytime and anywhere simply by using the Name of Jesus. When you address Satan and his cohorts of darkness in the Name of Jesus, they respond as though they were hearing directly from Jesus. So, in dealing with Satan and his cohorts, you don’t have to negotiate. Simply cast him out! The devil has no choice than to flee when you use the name of Jesus because the Name of Jesus is an authority. You do not need any special prayer sessions to cast out devils. Jesus only cast out devils with his words. As a born again child of God, you simply need to command the devil out and he will obey simply because you use the Name of Jesus.

Authority is in the name of Jesus. Walking in His Name is you recognizing the power and authority of that Name; living in the consciousness of what that Name represents. Philippians 2:9-10 says, “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every other name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things on earth, and things under the earth”. The Name of Jesus has moved from being just letters to an office. You can’t call his name in the knowledge of what that name represents and still debate whether or not the demons will respond when you want to cast them out; they have no choice but to flee. The Word of God settles it: your role is to cast the devil out, and the devil’s responsibility is to flee! There is no basis for argument or debates.

INSTRUCTION: Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers; raise the dead, cast out devils. You have been empowered.

PRAYER: Lord, I exercise my authority in Christ to keep the principalities and rulers of darkness perpetually under my feet, in Jesus name.

QUOTE: The Name of Jesus is an authority.

DAILY BIBLE READING: MORNING: MATTHEW 26; EVENING: 2CHRONICLES CHAPTER 28

THE REAL YOU IN YOU

“God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth”

John 4:24

LIGHT FOR THE NOW: There is a spirit in man, but the Spirit of God gives utterance.

Just as God is a Spirit, man is also a spirit, and was made in the image and likeness of God. Therefore, your body isn’t you. Your body is just a house accommodating your spirit. It is not with your physical eyes that you see the world. The two sockets in front of your face are not your real eyes. They are just windows through which your spirit sees the world around you. There is more to you than your physical body. You are a spirit being. The real you is who Peter calls the “hidden man of the heart” (1Peter 3:4). He is the same as what Apostle Paul calls the “inward man” (2Corinthians 4:16). The inward man is the human spirit; the one who cannot be seen with the physical eyes. The “outward man” is the body with its five senses. The real “you” is the inward man and not the outward man. When you speak, it is the inward man that talks through your mouth.

Unfortunately, too many people are only concerned about what is going on in their bodies, not giving the required attention to developing and educating their spirits. It is the man inside your spirit that God deals with and relates to, not the physical body. God relates with your spirit in leading and guiding you. He contacts you through your spirit. You must therefore walk in this consciousness and live beyond physical circumstances. Your spirit is where the life of God resides. When you received the Holy Spirit, He mingled with your spirit and became one with your spirit, in an inseparable union (1Corinthians6:17). It is your spirit that really matters to God. It is therefore important to learn how to function from your spirit, and the only way to do this is to keep your focus on the Word of God, and live from inside out, refusing to be moved by the dictates of your physical senses.

INSTRUCTION: Constantly feed your spirit man with the Word of God.

PRAYER: Lord, reveal the real me to me, in Jesus name.

QUOTE: There is a you in you.

DAILY BIBLE READING: MORNING: MATTHEW 25; EVENING: 2CHRONICLES CHAPTER 27

JESUS: THE TRUTH AND YOUR FREEDOM

  

“And ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free”   – John:8:32

LIGHT FOR THE NOW:A nation without the truth will remain in the bondage of falsehood.

Truth is not an event. It is a personality. Christ is the truth that carries the freedom of every country, nation and tribe. Nigeria needs this truth. We have been deceived for too long by those who occupy political positions because they do not know the truth. They do not know Christ. But if a nation like Nigeria could turn to Christ, she can recover all her lost grounds. The Bible says, “if my people, which are called by my name shall humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their ways; then will I hear from heaven and I will forgive their sins and heal their land” (2Chronicles 7:14). Nigeria is in dire need of this personality called the Truth. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). Jesus remains the truth we need as a nation. Our progress, prosperity, unity, values and peace are all embedded in Christ. No man can successfully fight corruption outside Christ. It takes the Spirit of Christ, which is the power and spirit of truth to give a new mind-set to people; both leaders and the led.

Corruption is a spirit and it will only take a higher spirit which is the Holy Spirit of God, to purge the system, keep it clean and safe from all forms of corruption. Jesus is waiting to enter if only we can welcome Him into the system. Our freedom is in His hand and He is the Truth we need to gain our total freedom as a country. It is therefore imperative that believers in Christ Jesus take up positions of authority in the society so as to permeate the country with the Truth which is Christ Jesus. The Gospel of Christ must be preached in the top echelons of the country. Until the Truth is accessible in a place, such a location can never see light. Physically speaking, the emergence of light is the automatic exit of darkness. This is applicable to all situations and at all locations globally. The Word of God has a transforming power in the lives of believers. Also, the Word of God redeems people from bondages. The light emanating from the Word of God frees people; enabling them to know whom they are in Christ Jesus. John 8:32 says ‘And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free’. And again, ‘If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed’ (John 8:36).

INSTRUCTION: Actively participate in choosing believers as your leaders.

PRAYER: Lord, bless our country, Nigeria with leaders who fear you and have the Truth in them, in the name Jesus name.

QUOTE: The Truth believed and confessed sets free indeed.

DAILY BIBLE READING: MORNING: MATTHEW 24; EVENING: 2CHRONICLES CHAPTER 26

GOSPEL: THE CURE FOR MAN’S PROBLEM

“And this gospel of the kingdom must be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come” Matthew 24:4

LIGHT FOR THE NOW: Wherever you find the gospel, you must find miracles following.

The gospel is called the Good news. In the Old Testament, it was called the glad tiding which was coded. Everything about the Old Testament is coded. Isaiah in his prophecy as found in Isaiah 61:1 says, “The spirit of the Lord is upon me for he has anointed me to preach good tidings”. Glad tidings mean Good news. Jesus himself in Luke 4:18 confirmed this prophecy.  Therefore, Gospel simply means good news. Solomon in Proverbs 25:25 described the gospel as water that quenches the thirst of a man, “as cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country”. 

The far country here refers to heaven or the spirit realm. This glad tidings is from the spirit realm manifesting here in the physical. Jesus came from heaven and is solving our problems. This is what Jesus preached all through his ministry here on earth (Matthew 4:23; Matthew 9:35). Wherever you find the gospel, you must find miracles. Before any miracle, the gospel must first be taught or preached. It is also important to note that as Jesus was about ascending, He commanded His disciples to continue from where He stopped. The Gospel must therefore be the message of the church (Mark 16:15). Unfortunately, the church has been distracted from the command of Jesus which was on the teaching of the gospel and focused on miracles.

The gospel is not emotional good news. It is not a Good News that makes you happy for a moment. It is not about temporary happiness. The Gospel is the message of Christ. It is the message of the entire Bible. Inside the gospel, there is power, healing, prosperity and miracles. The power of God is not about people falling down. The power of God is not an event. The power of God is a person. Whenever we talk about the power of God, we are referring to the person of Christ. It is about the salvation, redemption and forgiveness of sins. The gospel is so important that God Himself had to preach the gospel to Abraham. The reason we are traced to Abraham is because Abraham, received, accepted and believed the gospel (Galatians 3:8).  For the news to be good, it must be relevant to hearer’s condition.  It must be for all if the news must be good. It is not all that are poor, sick or in need of help but it is on record that all have sinned (Romans 3:23). This is why the gospel is for all. The gospel is about the remission of sins.

INSTRUCTION: Stay on the Gospel of Christ.

PRAYER: Lord, let the message of Christ be evident in my life, in Jesus name.

QUOTE: The Gospel dispels negativity.

DAILY BIBLE READING: MORNING: MATTHEW 23; EVENING: 2CHRONICLES CHAPTER 25

YOUR WORDS AND YOUR LIFE

“Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth” Proverbs 6:2

LIGHT FOR THE NOW: Your words are the compass of your life.

The words we speak are very powerful. Words have potent force to build or destroy. Words are so powerful that the entire universe was created with words (Genesis 1:3). The Bible records that when God created the heavens and the earth, God only spoke words. This is a clear example of how potent words can be. As a born again child of God, you must be loaded with the right word. You ought to have the Word of God constantly on your tongue.  Jesus speaks in John chapter 6:63 that the words he speaks are spirit and they are life. The words you speak have the capacity to give life to any dead situation. Likewise, it can destroy whatever you have built up over the years. In Matthew 12:36-37, Jesus said, “But I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the Day of Judgement. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned”. It is by the words we speak that we are saved or condemned. According to Paul in Romans 10:8-10; “If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Words are the compass of your life. Your life is a function of what you say continually. If your confessions are positive, you harvest positive results. If you always confess negative, you will always get negative results. The Apostle James in James 3:4-5 likened the tongue to the rudder of a great ship, which the captain uses to direct the ship wherever he wants. A wholesome life is a product of wholesome words. What you say is what you get (Mark 11:23). Therefore, you must consciously watch what you say. What you say determines the course of your life. You can keep yourself in good health, safety, prosperity and victory with your words. Consciously stir your life in the direction of God’s destiny for you with faith-filled confessions. Proverbs 18:21 says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof”. You must create and sustain the good life with your words. You can be anything you want to be, or have anything you want to have only with your words. Therefore, speak into the atmosphere. Speak life and you will have life. Whatever you declare is what will come to you. Speak it and have it!

INSTRUCTION: Always speak the right words.

PRAYER: Lord, I consecrate my mouth to make only positive confessions over my life,  in Jesus name.

QUOTE:A closed mouth is a closed destiny.

DAILY BIBLE READING: MORNING: MATTHEW 22; EVENING: 2CHRONICLES CHAPTER 24