RHAPSODY OF REALITIES DAILY DEVOTIONAL

26TH MAY, 2018; PASTOR CHRIS OYAKHILOME;

DOMINION OVER DEVILS

And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils… (Mark 16:17).

There’re no Christians specially anointed or gifted to cast out demons. Jesus said, “…these “…these signs shall follow them that that believe; believe; In In my name shall they cast out devils…” (Mark 16:17). The only qualification needed for you to be able to cast out devils is to be a believing one; it’s to be in Christ. Every Christian has authority to cast out devils, including the one that just got born again minutes ago.

Someone might say, “How can that be? Don’t we need to prepare ourselves and pray ‘powerful prayers’ before we can cast out devils?” No! Jesus didn’t even ask us to pray about the devil. He said, “Cast him out!” You never need to tell God to do anything about the devil, because He already did everything He needed to do about the devil, and demons of darkness, and gave you authority over them.

In Mark 6:7, the Bible says, “And “And he (Jesus) called unto him the twelve, twelve, and…gave  them power over unclean spirits.” spirits.” The Greek word for “power” is “exousia,” and it means “authority.” Jesus gave us authority over unclean spirits. Read what He did to them in hell: “Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in  it” (Colossians 2:15 NKJV).

Jesus rendered Satan and his cohorts incapacitated; powerless and useless. But guess what? When He did it, you were in Him.

In Luke 10:19, He said, “Behold, II give unto you power (authority), to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power (ability) of the enemy:  and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” You have the authority to control and tame Satan and his cohorts; to put them in check; and that authority is perfect and absolute. No demon can resist it.

Remember what we read in our opening verse, “And “And these signs shall follow them that that believe; believe; In In my name shall they cast out devils…”; it’s a law in the realm of the spirit. When you ask a demon to come out in the Name of Jesus, it’s as though Jesus Himself were speaking. Live in the authority of His Name. Refuse to allow the devil run rampage in your environment.

PRAYER

Dear Father, I thank you for the victory of Jesus over the devil and the entire host of darkness, which He wrought on my behalf. Now, I live in in the victory and authority of Jesus Christ; Satan and his cohorts are no factors for my success. I live triumphantly in in Christ, every day, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

 

FURTHER STUDY

Matthew 10:7-8; Luke 10:17-19

1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:

John 12:20-50 & 2 Kings 18-19

2 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:

1 Corinthians 12:22-31 & Proverbs 22

RHAPSODY OF REALITIES DAILY DEVOTIONAL

25^TH MAY, 2018; PASTOR CHRIS OYAKHILOME;

LIVE THE TRUE CHRISTIAN LIFE

To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27).

Christianity is the outworking of divinity in humanity; the revelation of Christ in you. A Christian is one in whom Christ literally dwells, and who is Christ? As a person, Christ is the embodiment of deity; the fullness of the Godhead, represented in Jesus. And the Bible says He’s above all things; He’s the head of all principality and power, and He lives in you.

Now if this is true, and thank God it is, why should any Christian be afraid or intimidated by demons? Some are even traversing from church to church seeking to be delivered from demons and demonic oppressions. How sad! The Lord said in Hosea 4:6, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge….” No Christian needs deliverance from Satan. A Christian who believes he or she requires deliverance from the devil isn’t living the true Christian life.

The Christian is superior to Satan and shouldn’t have trouble with demons. As a Christian, once you find out that the devil is responsible for a problem or situation, it makes it easy to solve: just cast him out. Jesus said in Mark 16:17, “And “And these signs shall follow them that that believe; believe; In my name shall they cast out devils…” devils…”; it’s the first thing He said we could do in His Name.

Moreover, the Bible says, “Giving  thanks unto the Father…Who Father…Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son”  (Colossians 1:12-13). Before you were born again, you were already delivered from the power of darkness, and transferred into the Kingdom of God’s Love-Son; it happened legally, for Jesus did this for the whole world. Now that you’re born again, it has become a vital reality. Satan, or darkness, has no control over you; you’re not under their influence or jurisdiction.

Howbeit, if you’re not living for the Master, and you choose to live under Satan’s influence, then you’re going to have trouble. “What if you strayed into Satan’s jurisdiction, and now you’re having trouble with demonic oppression?” someone wonders. That’s not a problem. Just say, “Jesus Christ is the Lord of my life, and I’m done with the devil.” That’s all! Glory to God!

PRAYER

Dear Father, I  thank you for translating me from the kingdom of darkness, to the kingdom of your love-Son, Jesus. I’m in the Kingdom now,  and no devil can have its way in my life, because greater is He that’s in me, than he that’s in the world. I exercise control, and authority over anything that’s inconsistent with the provisions of the Gospel in my life,  in Jesus’  Name. Amen.

FURTHERSTUDY:

Luke 10:17-19; 1 John 4:4; Romans 5:17

1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN

John 12:1-19 & 2 Kings 16-17

2 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN

1 Corinthians 12:12-21 & Proverbs 21

RHAPSODY OF REALITIES DAILY DEVOTIONAL

24^TH MAY, 2018 ; PASTOR CHRIS OYAKHILOME;

THE CREATIVE POWER OF THE WORD

And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified (Acts 20:32).

John 1:1 says, “In “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

If the Word was God, and God doesn’t change, it means that the Word is still God. In verse 14 of the same chapter, the Bible says, “The “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. us. We have seen his glory, glory, the glory of the one and only Son,  who came from the Father, full of grace and truth” truth” (John 1:14 NIV).

Recall that before Jesus was born, the Holy Ghost had come upon the Virgin Mary, and the Word she received from God, which was spoken to her by an angel, became flesh in her. That Word became a child, and grew to become the man, Christ Jesus. So Jesus, indeed, is the Word of God become flesh; He’s the result of the Word that was spoken to Mary.

Today, when the Word of God comes to you, it still has the same effect and produces the same result. God’s intent is for the Word to become one with you, to become flesh in you. If it’s a word of healing, it’s meant to destroy the sickness, and take its place.

The Word can recreate a broken or amputated arm. The Word can change your genotype. The Word can become new kidneys in you, and literally give you a new heart, if you’ve had issues with your kidneys or your heart. Receiving God’s Word is receiving the power of God into your life; the creative power of God.

Don’t accept that your situation is hopeless. Don’t despair or become despondent because of your financial situation; change things with the Word. Get into meditation; chew the Word; ponder and contemplate the Word until it literally forms in you the message it bears. You’ll know when it happens: your mind will be renewed to only see, think, and accept the results that the Word is supposed to produce for you and in you.

PRAYER

Blessed Father, I thank you for the efficacy of your Word in in my life. life. Through meditation, the Word mingles with my spirit, soul, and body, producing in my life and in my situation the message that it bears. Your divine power is at work in in me through and today, and always, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

FURTHERSTUDY:

Psalm 107:20; Hebrews 4:12 AMPC; Isaiah 55:11

1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN

John 11:17-57 & 2 Kings13-15 2

2 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN

1 Corinthians 12:1-11 & Proverbs 20

RHAPSODY OF REALITIES DAILY DEVOTIONAL

23^RD MAY , 2018 ; PASTOR CHRIS OYAKHILOME

MINISTERS OF LIFE

But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not steadfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious (2 Corinthians 3:7-8).

The Apostle Paul, in our theme scripture was comparing the awesome difference between the Old and the New Testaments. Without mincing words, he calls the ministration of the Old Testament “the ministration of death.” What does this mean?

Now, understand something about the Law: it came that condemnation might stand. When the Law was read, death was ministered; people were condemned; spiritual death became a consciousness. Recall Paul’s words in Romans 7:9, “For I was alive without the law once: once: but when the commandment came, came, sin revived, revived, and I died.” died.” The law was given because of sin, so that sin might be shown to be what it really is (Read Romans 7:13).

Now, the Old Testament couldn’t fulfill God’s intention which was to give life to men. Rather, it brought death, because of the imperfections of the flesh. No one could fulfill the Law; none could totally rise to the level that the law prescribed. But thanks, be unto God! Christ Jesus is the fulfilment of the Law. The Bible says through Him, all are justified from all things from which they couldn’t be justified by the Law of Moses (Acts 13:39).

The Bible says He’s brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel (2 Timothy 1:10). So, today, when we preach the true New Testament, we’re ministering the Spirit; the Spirit of life. 2 Corinthians 3:6 says we’re able ministers of the New Testament: “…not “…not of the letter, letter, but of the spirit: spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.” life.”

This should be your dream and desire: you want your ministration to be a ministration of life; a ministration of the Spirit. Someone who doesn’t yet know Jesus should hear you, and be transformed, because of the release of the spirit of life in your ministration that leaves salvation, healing, deliverance, and other blessings in its wake!

PRAYER

Dear Father, I thank you for the privilege given to me to preach the unsearchable riches of Christ,  and minister life to those in my world, through the Gospel. Thank you for the power of the Spirit and the life in in your Word released as many hear the Gospel today, bringing about a complete transformation in in their lives, in Jesus’  Name. Amen.

FURTHER STUDY

Numbers 6:23-26; Ecclesiates 8:4; Colossians 4:6

1 1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:

John 11:1-16 & 2 Kings 10-12 2

2 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:

1 Corinthians 11:30-34 & Proverbs 19

RHAPSODY OF REALITIES DAILY DEVOTIONAL

22ND MAY , 2018 ; PASTOR CHRIS OYAKHILOME;

MINISTERING THROUGH THE SPIRIT

It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life (John 6:63).

Someone can have a word of prophecy, and then go ahead to give it, but the words spoken come out empty, inoperative and ineffective, even though the prophetic message is true. The reason is that the words spoken are devoid of the power of the Spirit.

This is one of the reasons we’re required to spend quality time praying in the Spirit, to be filled with the Spirit. Ephesians 5:18 says, “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be (being) filled with the Spirit.”

Those words were originally written to the Christians in Ephesus, people who were already filled with the Spirit. So, it’s obvious that the Spirit of God, through the Apostle Paul, is referring to us being constantly under the influence, control or sway of the Spirit. That way, your message and your preaching wouldn’t be with enticing or persuasive words of man’s wisdom, or clever rhetorics, but in the demonstration of the Spirit and of power.

When you’re filled with the Spirit, you minister the Spirit; your words are impregnated with divine energy. Your communication is such that people are never able to forget or get over their encounter with you; they’re impacted greatly by the love and person of Jesus; His wisdom, power and righteousness that effuse and exude from your words.

2 Corinthians 4:5 says, “For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord…”; meaning that no matter what you prophesy, preach or teach, it must be Christ Jesus, and you can’t preach or minister Christ without the power of the Spirit. It’s the reason sometimes you should pray and fast, soaking your spirit more into the Holy Spirit, so you can speak as the oracle of God.

We’re required to always walk in oneness and in sync with the Spirit, with His glory and power revealed in, and through, us. But that won’t be your experience until, and unless, you’re given to intense study of, and meditation on, the Word, and deep fellowship with the Spirit.

Be filled with the Spirit, again and again! Encourage the ministry of the Spirit in your personal life, and your words will be operative, effective, laden with divine power to alter situations and transform destinies.

PRAYER

Thank you Father, for your Spirit infuses my words with power; therefore, I speak life always. My words bless and transform destinies, bearing your love, wisdom, power and righteousness, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

FURTHER STUDY

1 Peter 4:11; 1 Corinthians 2:4-5

1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN

John 10:22-42 & 2 Kings 8-9

2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN

1 Corinthians 11:20-29 & Proverbs 18

RHAPSODY OF REALITIES DAILY DEVOTIONAL

20TH MAY , 2018 ; PASTOR CHRIS OYAKHILOME;

CHAMPIONS FOR LIFE

Not that we are fit (qualified and sufficient in ability) of ourselves to form personal judgments or to claim or count anything as coming from us, but our power and ability and sufficiency are from God (2 Corinthians 3:5 AMPC).

The words of the Spirit in our opening verse are so sublime; such an extraordinary present-hour reality: our competence is of God! We’ve been called, anointed, and sent by the Spirit; therefore, He doesn’t expect us to carry out His work through the flesh, but by His divine power.

The Greek word translated, “sufficiency” in the verse above is “hikanotēs,” and it means “competence.” Just as Paul said of himself and other ministers who worked with him, you too can say that your competency is of God. You’re competent to do all things; everything that God has called you to do.

Paul and Silas and Timothy have all gone to heaven; you’re the one on the scene today, spreading His righteousness, and establishing His Kingdom on earth and in the hearts of men.

Perhaps, you’ve been assigned a particular project or task, and you’re wondering, “Where do I even begin? This task is so huge and daunting.” Relax. You’re up to the task. You have what it takes to make that project an excellent success, because you’re sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency. Make that your confession.

How could you have such an assurance from the Holy Spirit, and be wondering whether or not you can achieve a target; He’s your ability. By your own human wisdom and strength you might not be up to par.

But with the Holy Ghost, you can do all things; you always win; you’re fruitful and productive in all things (Colossians 1:10); you’re competent in any field. You can say with delight and assurance, “Put me anywhere, I’ll shine; I’ll always be a success, because I’m sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency.”

Zechariah 4:6 says, “…Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.” By the Holy Ghost, you’re a champion for life! Hallelujah!

CONFESSION

Dear Father, what a privilege to be imbued with the requisite and adequate ability to carry out to completion, and with excellence, all tasks and projects to your glory. I can do all things through your anointing that’s at work and fully operational in me. Blessed be your Name forever!

FURTHER STUDY

2 Corinthians 4:7; Philippians 4:13; Ephesians 2:10 AMPC

1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN

John 9:1-41 & 2 Kings 4-5

2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN

1 Corinthians 11:1-11 & Proverbs 16

RHAPSODY OF REALITIES DAILY DEVOTIONAL

19TH MAY;2018 ; PASTOR CHRIS OYAKHILOME;

THE LORD IS GRACIOUS AND KIND

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:16).

Satan has oppressed a lot of God’s children by making them feel unqualified to receive answers to their prayers. Understand that the Lord is more willing to meet your needs than you are to receive from Him. Romans 8:32 (AMPC) says, “He who did not withhold or spare [even] His own Son but gave Him up for us all, will He not also with Him freely and graciously give us all [other] things?”

Sadly, some believers, because of their ignorance of the Scriptures, assume God is always mad at them because of their sins. “I’ve sinned; I can’t have fellowship with the Father or ask Him for anything until I settle issues with Him,” they’d say. Some others believe they’re not “holy” enough to talk directly to the Father, and therefore require some “saints” to pray to Him on their behalf.

If only they understood His Word! In Isaiah 1:18, He said, “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” The Lord Jesus came and made this a reality. He’s washed you in His precious blood as white as snow: “…but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:11).

2 Corinthians 5:19 says, “To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them….” God isn’t mad at you, and could never be. Romans 5:10 says, “For if, when 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.” Hallelujah!

What you need is to take advantage of His grace; be confident in His love. That way, you’d always be bold to approach Him, knowing that you have a right of hearing with Him. You’re ordained to receive answers when you make petitions or decrees in the Name of Jesus (John 15:16). Let this truth inspire faith in you, and strengthen your confidence to ask whatever you will; the Father is more willing to give to you than you’re willing to ask and receive. He’s gracious and kind.

PRAYER

Dear Father, I thank you for your abundant grace that’s always available to me. Thank you for the blessings you’ve made available to me in Christ, and the right of hearing I have in your presence, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

FURTHER STUDY

Jeremiah 31:3; John 16:23-24; Lamentations 3:22-23

1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN

John 8:48-59 & 2 Kings 1-3

2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN

1 Corinthians 10:22-33 & Proverbs 15

RHAPSODY OF REALITIES DAILY DEVOTIONAL;

18TH MAY , 2018 ; PASTOR CHRIS OYAKHILOME;

INVEST IN YOUR PERSONALITY

A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength (Proverbs 24:5).

There’re some people who feel they’re disadvantaged, perhaps, because they don’t have an academic degree; they didn’t quite go to school or maybe they dropped out at some point. If this describes you or someone you know, it’s not the end of the world.

Even if you lost an opportunity to go to school, you haven’t lost an opportunity for education. Just begin by investing in your personality. Listen to the right things; read the right books; open your mind and thinking to the right knowledge and information. What defines your life isn’t so much your academic qualification as it is the quality of your personality; the investments and deposits you’ve made in your mind and in your heart.

Daisy Osborne once said, “Work on being, not on having, for with what you are, you will have.” How true! Put differently, that simply means, “Don’t work on having anything; instead, work on being something.” By investing in yourself, you won’t just walk through this world unnoticed, but would have actually impacted the world with the investment of your personality. That’s success.

Polish yourself. Improve your value. The world is changing fast; you must therefore inundate your mind with the right information that’ll put you over and give you the advantage. When you study the Bible carefully, you’ll discover that knowledge is power. Our opening verse says, “…a man of knowledge increaseth strength.” The same word translated “strength” is also translated “ability” in some other places. Thus, with knowledge, you multiply your abilities; you see your endless potentials.

It doesn’t matter where you’ve been or how you’ve lived before you were born again. It might have been that in your biological family, no one has ever been successful, but with you, that jinx is broken. Now that you’re born again, all things are possible to you, the believing one (Mark 9:23). Blessed be God! The difference is knowledge. With the knowledge of the Word, and right investment in your personality, the Lord can do anything with your life.

CONFESSION

I have extraordinary amplitude of comprehension, and every information for a glorious life is accessible to me, because God has given me wisdom and knowledge and joy. I’m a success, and a wonder to my world! My abilities are limitless; I’m positioned by the Spirit for success, greatness, and glory. Hallelujah!

FURTHER STUDY

1 Samuel 2:8; Proverbs 18:15; 2 Peter 1:2; Acts 20:32

1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN

John 8:31-47 & 1 Kings 22

2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN

1 Corinthians 10:14-21 & Proverbs 14

RHAPSODY OF REALITIES DAILY DEVOTIONAL

17TH MAY , 2018 ; PASTOR CHRIS OYAKHILOME;

PRACTISE BEING FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT ALWAYS

And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18).

Our opening verse gives us the secret to living the transcendent life: it’s being filled with the Spirit. This isn’t an option for you as a Christian, if you’re going to be effective in your Christian walk. You must be filled with the Spirit always. You might ask, “Is that really possible? Can we always be perpetually ‘high’ on the Holy Ghost?”

Emphatically yes! The Word says we can, and shows us how in the ensuing verses 19-21 of our opening scripture. It reads, “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.”

Every day, practise being filled with the Spirit. Before you leave home, get full of the Holy Ghost! Before you lead in worship, before you go out for evangelism, before you go to work, be filled with the Spirit.

When you’re full of the Spirit, the words that come out of you aren’t your words but God’s. Therefore, everything you say will come forth with power and surely come to pass.

When you’re full of the Holy Ghost, no matter what happens to you or around you, you’re unflustered. Like Paul, you’d say, “None of these things move me.” This is life beyond the ordinary plane of perception; life beyond the comprehension and ability of the human mind; life beyond this world!

This super life is what Jesus brought to us. He said, “The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)” (John 10:10 AMPC). You’re not an ordinary person.

Many Christians live ordinary lives, because they don’t get themselves filled with the Spirit often. If you’re continually filled with the Spirit, your life will be an unending stream of the supernatural.

We’ve been called into a life of unending success. The secret is being filled with the Spirit: You’d be enabled supernaturally to see things at a higher plane and live the higher life in Christ.

CONFESSION

I live the higher life in Christ; I walk in absolute victory and dominion over this world! I live above, reign over, and subdue life’s circumstances and situations, to the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal King of glory. Hallelujah!

FURTHER STUDY

2 Timothy 1:6; Jude 1:20; Luke 4:1

1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN

John 8:12-30 & 1 Kings 20-21

2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN

1 Corinthians 10:1-13 & Proverbs 13