REDEMPTION IS GOD’S NATURE IN US

“To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues” 1Corinthians 12:10.

LIGHT FOR THE NOW: At new birth, the nature of God was deposited in your inside.

Redemption is the act of atoning for a fault or mistake. It also means to repurchase, deliver or rescue. It is seen as the idea of making something or someone better or more acceptable. It is also the exchange of something by using something else of value.

Romans 5:6-8 says; “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die, yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.  But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us”.Apostle Paul continued; “For if we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement” (Romans 5:10-11). To be reconciled unto God was made possible by the death of His son and this reconciliation was done through Jesus, by His death on the cross. Apostle Paul says that; “Since, therefore, we have now been justified by His blood, much more shall we be saved by Him from the wrath of God” (Romans 5:9). When Apostle Paul said we are saved from God’s wrath, he reveals that it was by Jesus’ blood that we were not only redeemed but we were justified. God looks at us as having the same righteousness as Jesus has.

Therefore, all you need as a believer had already been put in place by Christ. Jesus redeemed you by paying the ransom on the cross of Calvary and by His death, He had repurchased you. The devil has no right to keep you bound because Jesus died for you. “So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for Him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation” (Hebrews 9:28). As many that look upon Him shall He appear without sin. Therefore, as you look upon Him, you shall take over territories.

INSTRUCTION: Be spiritually alert at all times.        

PRAYER: Lord, let your Spirit guide me through life, in Jesus Name. Amen!

QUOTE: It takes only a spiritual man to understand spiritual things.

DAILY BIBLE READING: MORNING: JOHN CHAPTER 9; EVENING: JOB CHAPTER 9

YOU ARE BORN OF THE WORD

   

“Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God which liveth and abideth forever” 1Peter 1:23.

LIGHT FOR THE NOW: A new creation is the product of the Word.

A new creation is made of the Word and redeemed by the precious blood of Jesus. Peter speaking in 1 Peter 1:18-25 says, “For as much 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…Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God which liveth and abideth forever”. A new creation is not a product of sperm, blood or the will of man, but of God (John 1:13-14). It is that same Word that became flesh and dwelt among men. Jesus Christ is that Word. Christ is a product of the spoken word (Genesis 1:3; John 1:1).  There is no difference between a new creation and Christ. Both are products of the Word. The power that brought about resurrection is the same power that brought about new birth. A new creation is a product of the Word of God. A new creation is not a continuation of Adam. He is not a sinner saved by grace. He is forever saved. The problem of Christianity is not sin but sin consciousness.

The price of sin was paid in full. Sin was dealt with by the birth, suffering, death, burial and resurrection of Christ. Christ paid the ultimate sacrifice of death for our sins. It is your belief in the finished work of Christ that distinguishes you from the unbelievers. The greatest creation of God is the creation of God in a man. Of all that God created, a new creation is the greatest. The devil cannot handle seeing God in a man. He cannot comprehend it. This is why the devil remains defeated because a new creation is a mystery to him. A new creation is not traceable to Adam but he is traceable to Christ. A new man in Christ is better and higher than Adam in his perfect state. A new creature is a partaker of the divine nature of God (2 Peter 1:4). He is a co-creator. A new creation has what it takes to bring what has never been into existence. The Word of God is the raw material that produces a new creature. The realm of a new creature is the realm of the Word.

INSTRUCTION: Discover your content in the Scripture.

PRAYER:  I am who God says I am and I do what the Word says I do, in Jesus name!

QUOTE: The content of a New Creature is the content of the Word.

DAILY BIBLE READING: MORNING: MARK 4; EVENING: 2 CHRONICLES CHAPTER 35

THERE IS NO LIFE OUTSIDE CHRIST

“For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord” Romans 6:10-11.

LIGHT FOR THE NOW: The life we have in Christ is eternal and it is not corrupt.

When we receive Christ, we receive His death. We were also buried with Him. The life we live now in Christ is called a new life which is eternal life and eternal life is not corrupt. Christ redeemed us from sin, sickness and death. A born again child of God has no sin to transgress. Jesus is the end of the law (Romans 10:4). The law is not for the righteous man (1Timothy 1:9-10). Jesus came to fulfil the law. In the New Testament, whatever is not of faith is sin. If you doubt, you are damned (Romans 14:23). We are saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9). What makes you a believer in Christ is faith. Anything about your life that is out of faith is sin. As a born again child of God, you have been accepted in the beloved (Ephesians 1:6). Being born again means you are dead to sin and come alive in Christ (John 5:24). When you live by the law, you live a defeated life. A born again child of God lives his life by what Jesus did and not on family traditions and customs. The Bible speaking in 1 Peter 1:18 says, “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:’

If God is the Head of the body of which you are a member, then you have everything. God can provide all your needs. All you need to do is to trust and reverence Him. It makes no sense to say that the head is well but the body is sick or that the head is rich but the body is in lack. As Jesus is, so are you in this world (1 John 4:17). The more you begin to see that you are one with Christ, the more you will realize that whatever you need right now, He is dispensing it to you. In God’s perfect will, there is no sickness, poverty nor death. So there should be no sickness, poverty nor death traceable to you. There should be nothing missing, broken or lacking in you because in Him you live, move and have your being. Beloved, have the rich mind-set and revelation that Christ and you are one. You can never be separated from Christ your head from whom comes all the supply you need.

INSTRUCTION: Look to Jesus and live.

PRAYER: Lord, I receive life in abundance in Jesus Name.

QUOTE: A true son trusts the Father for all he needs.

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

YOUR POSITION IN CHRIST

“And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded to them in all the scriptures the things concerning Himself” Luke 24:27.

LIGHT FOR THE NOW: A new man in Christ has only one foundation and that is Christ.

The moment you receive Jesus into your life, you are rapturable. You do not have to be afraid of rapture. As a believer in Christ Jesus, you should be excited about rapture. The entire scriptures point to Jesus. Therefore, whenever you read the Bible, you must read it with the revelation of Jesus. When you do not read the scriptures with the revelation of Jesus, the Bible becomes nothing more than a story book to you. The scriptures give us an understanding of our rights as believers in Christ Jesus. If you do not understand your right as a believer in Christ Jesus, you will still be tossed about by the doctrine of men. We must know that the foundation of every born again child of God has no fault. A regenerated man has his foundation in Christ who is a sure foundation (2 Corinthians 3:14). The New Covenant foundation in Christ cannot be faulty, wrong nor destroyed. 1 Corinthians 3:11 says, ‘For other foundation can no man lay that is laid, which is Jesus Christ’.

Therefore, as a regenerated man, you can only be traced to God because you are in Christ and Christ is God. Consequently, you are not a product of the flesh; neither are you a product of repentance. You are God in a man. The whole headquarters of God has been relocated into your system. “Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature, old things has passed away; behold all things are become new” (2Corinthians 5:17). Now that you are in Christ, you cannot be traced to Adam. Everything traceable to Adam in your system has been nullified. You are a new generation. Generational curses cannot be traceable to you. You have become a co-creator. You are no longer living your own life but you are living for Christ; the God kind of life (Galatians 2:20). Therefore, begin to walk in victory because you are born of God and you can overcome anything because, “Whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith” (1 John 5:4).

INSTRUCTION: Awake to your new position in Christ Jesus.

PRAYER: Lord, I thank you for my new position in Christ Jesus, in Jesus Name.

QUOTE: What you do not know will never benefit you.

DAILY BIBLE READING: MORNING: MATTHEW 15; EVENING: 2 CHRONICLES CHAPTER 17

SHOW KINDNESS TO ONE ANOTHER

“What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?” 1 Corinthians 6:19.

LIGHT FOR THE NOW: A new creature is not limited by anything.

If God’s love does not dwell richly in your heart, it will be impossible for you to be kind to others. It is God that motivates you to live a self-sacrificing life. God showed you how to love others. He took the initiative and loved you by giving Himself to you. What better way can you imitate God? Uprightness means have a right standing before God. Walking uprightly in effect involves living your life for others by being kind to them. Today’s text says “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you” Ephesians 4: 32. Therefore, it is God’s desire that you become a helper or a blessing to another man.

If you do not imbibe by this kingdom principle, you are far from God’s nature. If all that you have is strictly meant for you and your immediate family members, then you don’t know God. Learn to give to others. Take steps to ask about the welfare of other people. Invest in their lives. Consciously affect people’s lives. As God blesses you, don’t hold back the blessing from people then God who knows how best to reward you will certainly not withhold anything good from you. Above all, don’t look down on the poor. Never cast them out, because if you do so, you are looking down on the God who created them. Be wise! Be smart and kindhearted! The moment you start practicing this, then the nature of Christ is beginning to manifest in you.

Being kind to others is saying thanks and showing appreciation to God in practical terms. You must know that appreciation is an application for more. Don’t forget that nothing dies in the hand of a grateful person. Tabitha would have been buried but for the fact that she was kind to others. It was her kindness that brought her back to life and not just the prayer of Peter (Acts 9:36-43). Loving people is you loving God because your love for God is measured on the way you love and care for others.

INSTRUCTION: Constantly practice kindness for it is your new nature in Christ

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for the spirit of kindness at work in me, in Jesus Name.

QUOTE: kindness to others is an appreciation to God

DAILY BIBLE READING: MORNING: 2 CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 7; EVENINGS: ECCL. CHAPTER 8

BE KIND TO ONE ANOTHER (2)

“And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.” Ephesians 4: 32.

LIGHT FOR THE NOW: Being kind to others is showing appreciation to God in practical terms.

If God’s love does not dwell richly in your heart, it will be impossible for you to be kind to others. It is God that motivates you to live a self-sacrificing life. God showed you how to love others. He took the initiative and loved you by giving Himself to you. What better way can you imitate God? Uprightness means have a right standing before God. Walking uprightly in effect involves living your life for others by being kind to them. Today’s text says “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you” Ephesians 4: 32. Therefore, it is God’s desire that you become a helper or a blessing to another man.

If you do not imbibe by this kingdom principle, you are far from God’s nature. If all that you have is strictly meant for you and your immediate family members, then you don’t know God. Learn to give to others. Take steps to ask about the welfare of other people. Invest in their lives. Consciously affect people’s lives. As God blesses you, don’t hold back the blessing from people then God who knows how best to reward you will certainly not withhold anything good from you. Above all, don’t look down on the poor. Never cast them out, because if you do so, you are looking down on the God who created them. Be wise! Be smart and kindhearted! The moment you start practicing this, then the nature of Christ is beginning to manifest in you.

Being kind to others is saying thanks and showing appreciation to God in practical terms. You must know that appreciation is an application for more. Don’t forget that nothing dies in the hand of a grateful person. Tabitha would have been buried but for the fact that she was kind to others. It was her kindness that brought her back to life and not just the prayer of Peter (Acts9:36-43). Loving people is loving God because your love for God is measured on the way you love and care for others.

INSTRUCTION: Constantly practice kindness for it is your new nature in Christ

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for the spirit of kindness at work in me, in Jesus Name.

QUOTE: kindness to others is an appreciation to God

DAILY BIBLE READING: MORNING: 2CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 7; EVENINGS: ECCL. CHAPTER 8

BE KIND TO ONE ANOTHER (1)

“And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.” Ephesians 4: 32.

LIGHT FOR THE NOW: Kindness is the nature of a believer.

Though there are various ways of expressing kindness, the major avenue through which kindness is exhibited is giving. Giving is an act of kindness and it is the nature of believers, hence Apostle Paul exhorts; be ye kind one to another… The gift of God – Jesus Christ – is an expression of God’s kindness to the entire world. For God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life...’(John 3; 16-17). God had kindly purposed that all who believes in Christ are saved from sin and death, and have eternal life. He made this provision by freely giving his only begotten son. Thus, the summary of the indwelling life of God is giving.  No believer is expected to live if he is not a giver. As believers, we are profitable in giving.  This way, we are releasing our nature. Giving is the nature and the realm of believers. Hence Christ through Paul instructs us to manifest the realm. Be kind to one another just as Christ had kindly forgiven you. Believers share the same nature with Jesus for as He is, so are we here on earth. If Christ is the best giver, believers are also expected to be best givers.

 Everything in you belongs to God. There is nothing you have that you did not receive from God. If there is nothing you have which you did not receive from God, then it’s expected of you as a believer to be kind enough to share with those who are in need. Don’t forget that until you give, men may not know how much you care. Paul said in Phil. 2:1-5 (Easy-to-Read Version), “Think about what we have in Christ: the encouragement he has brought us, the comfort of his love, our sharing in his Spirit, and the mercy and kindness he has shown us. If you enjoy these blessings, then do what will make my joy complete: Agree with each other, and show your love for each other. Be united in your goals and in the way you think. In whatever you do, don't let selfishness or pride be your guide. Be humble, and honor others more than yourselves. Don't be interested only in your own life, but care about the lives of others too” The mission of Jesus Christ is to save the world from the dominion of Satan via love and kindness. It is our love and kindness towards others that brings people to the Kingdom and not our preaching only. Our action is a direct definition of our word

INSTRUCTION: Don’t let a day pass without showing kindness to somebody

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for the spirit of kindness at work in me, in Jesus Name.

QUOTE: Until you give, men may not know how much you care.

DAILY BIBLE READING: MORNING: 2CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 6; EVENING: ECCL. CHAPTER 7

    

GOOD THINGS ARE IN CHRIST

“And I am praying that you will put into action the generosity that comes from your faith as you understand and experience all good things we have in Christ  ” Philemon 1:6(NLT).

LIGHT FOR THE NOW: The greatest need of a believer is knowledge.

Your Christian walk on earth is as effective as the knowledge you have. As a believer, you need to have a precise knowledge of who you are in Christ Jesus. In as much as children need food for growth, believers also need an accurate knowledge of Christ for growth. The greatest need of a believer is not miracle, financial breakthrough nor healing but that of knowledge. When knowledge is in place, the world gathers for you. All you need to know is the good thing in you – that good thing in Christ is also in you (Colossians 1:9-11; Ephesians 1:17-19; Philippians 1:9-11; Acts 20:32). It takes knowledge for you stand the test of trails. The understanding you have about spiritual things puts you on top of physical situations (1Peter 5:10). You can only address your problems from the standpoint of knowledge.  Anytime you assume a position you don’t know, you become an obstruction.  Position has a way of revealing incompetence. You must understand that as a new man in Christ, a good thing has been deposited in you and that good thing is Jesus. In salvation, you only receive Christ into your life and not give your life to Christ.

John 1:12 says, “But as many as received him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe in his name. Believing is not giving, but receiving. In salvation, a man receives life by faith in the gospel (John 3:16). Apostle Paul speaking in Ephesians 2:8-10 (NLT) says, “God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it; for we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus so we can do the goods things he planned for us long ago”. Salvation is God coming to man. We didn’t have what it takes to go to God. A dead man has nothing to give. Dead people don’t have respect. The unsaved man (unbeliever) has nothing to offer. He has no life to give. Ephesians 2:1 (NLT) says, “Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins”. When you believe and receive Christ, you automatically receive life. We are only made alive in Christ.

INSTRUCTION: Live in the consciousness of all good things in Christ.

PRAYER: Lord, I receive my portion of all good things you have provided, in Jesus name.

QUOTE: Everybody can hear the gospel, but not everybody accepts the gospel.

DAILY BIBLE READING: MORNING: AMOS CHAPTER 3; EVENING: 2 KINGS CHAPTER 10

JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH

“Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” Romans 5:1.

LIGHT FOR THE NOW: Freedom is connected to the truth you know.

Before the arrival of Jesus, sin had been the god of this world. A perfect understanding of why Jesus came would give you freedom from the strongholds of religion. For you to win and rule there is a need to know. Freedom is connected to the truth you know. Enough knowledge is what you need to succeed in life. A perfect understanding of the finished work on the cross will put you on the fast lane of life where no works of the enemies can slow you down. You need to know that Jesus took care of your sins once and for all. Hebrews 1:3 says, “Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high”. Jesus sat down on the right hand of the Father because He was done with sin. He is God’s anointed and appointed. His triumph over sin was our freedom from death (Galatians 2:20). What produced Jesus is the Word (John 1:14). Your feelings can neither condemn nor save you. It is what you believe that either condemns or saves you. God is not emotional.  As believers, we must wake up into our rights in Christ Jesus. The devil only takes advantage of our ignorance of what Jesus has done for us.

Destiny is not fulfilled in feelings but in enough knowledge. You have no sin as recorded in Romans 8:3 which say, “For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own son in the likeness of the sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh”. Everything God provided through Christ is eternal. Christ solved the problem of sin once and for all because it takes only a sinless life to solve the problem of sin. There is no end for a man who knows what Jesus did for him at the cross. He does not live in anxiety neither is he moved by present circumstances because he believes that his saviour lives in eternity controlling space, time and seasons. He is confident that where Christ is, he is also there. Ephesians 2:6 says, ‘And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus’. Having reconciled man through redemption by Christ, God desires that all men be reconciled to Him. “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. 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”. You must of a necessity focus on the finished work of Christ on the cross for you.

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

PRAYER: Lord, by your sacrifice, I silence powers questioning my freedom, in Jesus Name.

QUOTE: Everything God provided through Christ is eternal.

DAILY BIBLE READING: MORNING: LUKE 23; EVENING: ESTHER CHAPTER 9

PARTNER WITH DIVINITY (2)

“And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon’s, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship” Luke 5:3

LIGHT FOR THE NOW: Every believer is called.

God has only been interested in men and not things. God needs men to reach out to the dying world. Even Simon Peter in our anchor scripture partnered with Jesus to teach the gospel to the people. Jesus speaking to his disciples in Matthew 9:37 says, “…the harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few”. The word, ‘harvest’ refers to the souls of men and they are plenty. Hence, there is need for more laborer's because there is work to be done. The word, ‘labourers’ also refers to men. In Matthew 28:18-19, “And Jesus came and spake unto them saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost”. Also, in Mark 16:15, “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature”. The word, ‘creature’ here refers to men who are yet to come into Christ. Every believer is the called (Romans 1:6).

Isaiah 2:2 says, “And it shall come to pass in the last days that the mountain of the LORD’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it”. The last days refers to the age of the church which began from the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  There can be no church without resurrection. The mountain of the Lord’s house is Christ because He has risen. When you arrive in Christ, you arrive in faith and walk in faith. This is because nothing can withstand faith. Men are the primary tools needed to reach out to the world. The only time God benefits from men is when they give themselves to the work of the Kingdom. So, not giving yourself to the Kingdom work is you denying God an opportunity in your life. Giving yourself to the work of the kingdom involves your time, ideas, imagination, creativity, resources, strength, money, etc. Most church folks complain of lack but they don’t lack excuse in the place of giving. Excuse is you accusing yourself to yourself and to God. If you don’t have cash, at least you have time. You must not lack something to give for the expansion of the kingdom here on earth.

INSTRUCTION: Give yourself to the gospel of Christ.

PRAYER: Lord, I give myself away so you can use me, in Jesus Name.

QUOTE: You are useful as God uses you.

DAILY BIBLE READING: MORNING: 2 CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 3; EVENING: ECCL. CHAPTER 4

PARTNER WITH DIVINITY (1)

“Praying us with much entreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. And this they did not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God” 2 Corinthians 8:4-5

LIGHT FOR THE NOW: Whatever money can solve is not a prayer point.

End-time giving for the harvest of souls cannot be overemphasized. According to our text for today, the Corinthian church first gave themselves to the Lord. This emphasizes the fact that you cannot give what you do not have. They gave because giving is a command, and they also understood their nature. The Apostle Paul speaking to the Corinthian church in 2 Corinthians 8:8-9 (NLT) says, “I am not commanding you to do this. But I am testing how genuine your love is by comparing it with the eagerness of the other churches. You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty, he could make you rich”.

 Giving is beyond money. We are to give from what we have and not from what we do not have (2 Corinthians 8:12-13 NLT). Fortunately, everyone has something to give: You can give your time, ideas, skills, resources, money e.t.c. for the work of the Kingdom. But unfortunately, the devil has blindfolded the eyes of many church folks that they conclude in their minds that they don’t have anything to give.

We give for the gospel of Christ to be spread to all nations of the world. Giving for the gospel also means supplying the equipment or the means for the gospel to be spread. God blesses you so you can expand His kingdom by making your resources available for the propagation of the Gospel of Christ. Giving is a sign that you have not forgotten God. Scriptures advised you should remember the Lord your God for it is He that gives you power to create wealth (Deut. 8:18). Forgetting that everything you have in your life beginning from your health to your investment, resources and children are from God is the reason why you don’t give for the expansion of the Kingdom of God here on earth. But when you are conscious of God’s kindness in your life, your giving life towards His work can never be a struggle for you.

INSTRUCTION: Do not stop giving for the propagation of the gospel.

PRAYER: Lord, I obey the law of giving from now on, in Jesus Name.

QUOTE: Giving is a sign that you have not forgotten God.

DAILY BIBLE READING: MORNING: 2 CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 2; EVENING: ECCL. CHAPTER 3