Christian Daily Devotional

"The Pleasure of the Lord Shall Prosper in His Hand." Isaiah 53:10.

DON’T BEG WITH HIS NAME

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Christ Embassy

*RHAPSODY OF REALITIES DAILY DEVOTIONAL

*DON’T BEG WITH HIS NAME .*

Thursday, August 10th .

Pastor Chris

_*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 (2 Corinthians 5:20).*_

The Word of God describes us as “Christ’s ambassadors.” This means we’re officially appointed and designated as His legal representatives in the earth. We’ve been given the power of attorney to use the Name of Jesus. We act in His Name. When we affirm anything or make a decree in the Name of Jesus, it’s as though Jesus Himself decreed it. We speak for Him, or speak in His place, when we use the Name of Jesus.

Some people resort to begging with that Name, and that’s wrong. How can you beg using the greatest and most powerful name there is? The Name of Jesus is the biggest Name in all the universe, because it belongs to the One who has all power and authority. And He gave you His Name to live by.

Read Paul’s submission in Philippians 2:9-10, as he describes that Name: _*“Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth.”*_ Don’t beg with that name or in that name; rather, make decrees.

Recall what Peter did with that name in Acts 3. He used it as an instrument against lameness and paralysis. He eyeballed a man who had been lame from birth and said, _*“…Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk”*_ (Acts 3:6). This wasn’t prayer; Peter didn’t beg God to heal the man. What he did was to use the Name of Jesus as an instrument.

When you make demands on the basis of the instrumentality of the Name of Jesus, He sees to it that it happens (John 14:14). Use His Name to put the devil and his cohorts under your feet—where they belong. Use it to establish yourself in the triumphant life, in all-around success, health, prosperity, and joy. Use it to make your life glorious!

*CONFESSION*
*Dear Father, thank you for granting me the power of attorney to use the Name of Jesus. I take advantage of this wonderful instrument to put the devil and his demons, sin, sickness and death in their place—defeated! The circumstances of life are compelled to work for my good, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.*
*FURTHER STUDY:* *||* *John 14:13* And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. *||*
*||* *Philippians 2:9* Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: *||*
*||* *Acts 3:16* And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all. *||*
*DAILY SCRIPTURE READING*
*1-Year Bible Reading Plan:* Romans 12:1-16,
Psalms 85-88
*2-Year Bible Reading Plan:* Luke 14:25-35,
Judges 18
*EXTRACT FROM: RHAPSODY OF REALITIES DAILY DEVOTIONAL*

KEEP THE EARTH PRESERVED FOR JESUS CHRIST

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You’re the salt of the earth; your presence here on earth keeps the world from rotting out!

To The Bible Matthew 5:13 TLB

“You are the world’s seasoning, to make it tolerable. If you lose your flavor, what will happen to the world? And you yourselves will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.”

LET’S TALK

Salt is used the world over as a seasoning for food, but besides adding flavour to meals, it’s also used as a preservative. It helps prevent certain foods from decaying. Little wonder Jesus refers to us as the salt of the earth.  He wants us to know that part of our function and purpose in life as Christians is to preserve the earth.

The moment you were born again, you became the salt of the earth. In other words, you became a preservative for the world. This is why the entire world has not been overturned by evil. You’re the force restraining satan from unleashing terror on the earth. Your prayers and the prayers of other saints have frustrated the evil workings of the enemy in the world, and will continue to do so until Jesus comes.

Therefore, don’t be lax; take your place as a preserving agent of the world. Refuse to let evil prevail around you by continuing steadfastly in prayer and soul winning. Always remember that your presence in your school, neighbourhood and family is for the salvation and preservation of everyone there.

Go Deeper 2 Thessalonians 2:7-8

RELATE:

Speak

I am the salt of the earth. I am called and chosen to preserve the lives of those around me, and to bring them to the knowledge of Christ’s salvation. Therefore, I forbid the enemy from perpetrating evil in my sphere of contact, in the Name of Jesus!

Act

Write out the names of people in your sphere of contact–your class, family, neighbourhood who have not yet known the Lord. Pray for them and win them to Christ.

MAKE JESUS YOUR CLOSEST PAL

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MAKE JESUS YOUR CLOSEST PAL

(Talk To The Lord One-On-One)

One beautiful thing about the Lord Jesus is how He loves relating with you as though you’re the only one in the world.

To The Bible Luke 12:6-7 TLB

“What is the price of five sparrows? A couple of pennies? Not much more than that. Yet God does not forget a single one of them. And he knows the number of hairs on your head! Never fear, you are far more valuable to him than a whole flock of sparrows.”

LET’S TALK

The Lord Jesus is interested in you, yes you! He loves you personally and relates with you as though you’re the only one in the world. He doesn’t need anyone to remind Him about you: He loves you passionately, more than your closest pal on earth ever could (John 15:12-15). That’s why He died in the first place–because of His great love for you (John 3:16), and if you had been the only one on earth, He would still have come to die for you.

He loves you as a person; He knows your name and relates with you as a unique individual. Nobody was ever like you before you were born; no one is like you today in the whole world, and nobody will ever be like you. You’re the only one of you that God ever had and will ever have. You’re personal to him and special.

Life is personal, just like your salvation and relationship with the Lord. Don’t use the experiences of others to determine how you ought to live your life. What matters is how you hear from the Lord and respond to Him. This is why He wants you to relate with Him personally, as you would with your closest friend.

Go Deeper Isaiah 49:16

RELATE:

Speak

I’m special to God and He relates with me in a unique way. Therefore, I go about today with the consciousness that I have all of God’s attention, and He loves me deeply and passionately.

Act

Study the lives of great men in the Bible–Abraham, Moses and David–and see how the Lord related with each of them personally.

SENT IN HIS NAME.

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Christ Embassy

RHAPSODY OF REALITIES DAILY DEVOTIONAL

MONDAY, 7TH AUGUST. 2017

SENT IN HIS NAME.

But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you (John 14:26).

The opening verse simply implies that the Holy Spirit was sent by the Father in the Name of Jesus. The Holy Spirit doesn’t have a name; His name isn’t “Holy Ghost” or “Holy Spirit.” That’s just a description of His person or character. Howbeit, He answers to the Name of Jesus.

When you call the name, “Jesus,” the Holy Spirit goes into action. He would have had no right to function in the earth the way He does, had He not come in the Name of someone who had a right to the earth—Jesus. Jesus bought the whole world. He’s called the Son of man and the Son of God; He’s hundred percent man, and hundred percent God. He’s the One that has the right to the whole world. He’s the Seed of Abraham, and heir of all things (Hebrews 1:2).

Today, the Holy Spirit takes the place of the absent Jesus here on earth. He’s here to do whatever Jesus would have done. He’s not less powerful than Jesus. In fact, He was the One who empowered Jesus. The Bible says in Acts 10:38, “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.” He was that Power!

Now, Jesus is gone to heaven, but the Holy Spirit is here with us, to help us claim everything that belongs to Jesus, and live triumphantly to the glory of God, fulfilling our callings and destinies in Christ. We’re His heirs. The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 2:12, “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.” The One with whom we’re dealing owns the whole world. He’s here in the Name of the Seed of Abraham—Jesus.
Remember, God Almighty willed the whole world to Abraham and to his Seed (Romans 4:13). The Bible says that the Seed of Abraham is Christ, and if you belong to Christ, you’re Abraham’s seed and therefore, an heir according to the promise (Galatians 3:29).

PRAYER
Dear Father, I thank you for the privilege to use and live in the Name of Jesus. I’m always assured of answers, knowing that the Holy Spirit immediately goes to work on my behalf! Thank you for this wonderful blessing, in the Name of Jesus. Amen.

FURTHER STUDY:
Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
John 14:16-19 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17 [Even] the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. 18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. 19 Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.
1-Year Bible Reading Plan:
Romans 9:30-10:1-21, Psalms 78
2-Year Bible Reading Plan:
Luke 13:31-35, Judges 13-14

WHEN YOU SEE JESUS, YOU SEE GOD!

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TO THE BIBLE: Colossians 1:15-16

“He (Jesus) is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.”

LET’S TALK

How awesome and inspiring this scripture is! Christ Jesus is the image of the invisible God. Now, that word “image” is the Greek “eikon,” which is translated “icon” in English. Think about your computer or mobile device, for example. You may not see the application in the system, but you can see its icon—a quickly-comprehensible symbol—that helps you easily navigate to that application on your computer or mobile device as you click on it.

Colossians 1:15 tells us that Jesus “…is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation”; that means He’s the outward expression of the invisible God. To see Jesus, is to see God. In John 14:8-9, when Philip asked, “…Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, “Show us the Father”?” He also said in John 10:30, “I and My Father are one.” When He said this, the Jews, not knowing who He was, attempted to stone Him to death for blasphemy (John 10:31-33). But Jesus knew He was one with the Father; He was, and is, the complete embodiment of Deity!

Jesus is the perfect image and replica of the Godhead. He’s the express image of the Father’s person. The Father joyfully appointed Him to be the Heir of all things, including His throne. The Bible says it pleased the Father, that in Him (Jesus) should all fullness dwell (Colossians 1:19). Then Colossians 2:9 lets us know that in Him (Jesus) dwells the fullness of the Godhead bodily. So, if you’ve seen Jesus, you’ve seen the Father. Glory to God!

Go Deeper

Colossians 2:9-10; 1 John 4:17

Pray

Dear Father, thank you for your life and nature of righteousness that’s been imparted into my spirit. This gives me the ability to think, act, and live as the effulgence of your glory and your perfect representation, because as Jesus is, so am I.

Daily Bible Reading

ONE YEAR

1 Corinthians 11:2-34, Psalms 142-145

TWO YEAR

Luke 19:11-19, 1 Samuel 15

Act

Say this to yourself continuously: “I’ve been initiated into the same kind of life; I have His character, and the same essence of divinity, having become one with Him. Hallelujah!”

YOUR LOVE FOR JESUS IS WHAT REALLY MATTERS

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TO THE BIBLE: 2 Corinthians 5:14-15

“For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.”

LET’S TALK

Every Christian is called into the ministry of reconciliation. If you’re born again, then recognise that God has called you. The Bible says, “Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:18). You might argue, “But I never heard any voice ‘calling’ me into the ministry.” The question is: Do you love Jesus? If you do, then it doesn’t matter whether or not you heard a voice. What counts with God is your true and sincere love for Jesus, and what that love motivates you to do for Him.

The devil might taunt you and say, “You’re not called into ministry; stop wasting your time.” But you should tell him, “I’m doing all I’m doing for the Lord, because I love Him!” You responded to Love’s call when you gave your heart to Christ and committed yourself to the ministry of the Gospel. You can’t love Jesus, follow Him passionately, and not be a success in life. Therefore, let all that you do for Him be because you love Him. Let His love be the compelling force in your life.

He said, “My son, give me your heart…” (Proverbs 23:26). Stir up your love for Him always; keep it afire. If you’re propelled by your love for the Master, you’ll always win; His glory will always be revealed in you and through you. Remember what He said, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him” (John 14:23).

Go Deeper

1 John 4:19; Mark 12:30

Pray

Blessed Lord Jesus, I deeply appreciate the depth and magnitude of your love for me! I’m propelled by your love in all I do. I’m forever grateful to be the object of your great and eternal love; thank you for the blessing and ability to love you in return.

Daily Bible Reading

ONE YEAR

1 Corinthians 4, Psalms 113-116

TWO YEAR

Luke 17:20-30, 1 Samuel 4

Act

From time to time, through your day, sing a song to the Lord from your heart.

LIVING IN HIS NAME.

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Christian Devotional - Rhapsody of Realities

RHAPSODY OF REALITIES DAILY DEVOTIONAL

THURSDAY, 13TH JULY. 2017

LIVING IN HIS NAME.

For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ (Galatians 3:27).
From the very moment you were born again, the Name of Jesus was named upon you; you were baptized into, and have become a part of that Name. Hebrews 1:4 says He obtained His glorious name by inheritance: “Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.” Then Romans 8:17 says we’re joint-heirs with Him: “And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ….” This means whatever belongs to Jesus belongs to you, including His Name.
The importance of a name is the power behind it and all what that name represents. Philippians 2:9-10 tells us God has vested all authority in the wonderful and matchless Name of Jesus: “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth.” Thus, Christianity is living in the Name of Jesus—in His authority.
At the mention of that Name, every knee bows, in heaven, in the earth, and under the earth. Use that Name to cast out devils, heal the sick, raise the dead, and live triumphantly every day to His glory. Jesus said, “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” (Mark 16:17-18).
The Master gave us the power of attorney to use His Name. We have the authority to act in His stead as His full legal representatives. This means you can go anywhere in the Name of Jesus and have heaven’s honour. You can pray in the Name of Jesus and be heard. No demon, sickness or trouble could ever stand against that Name! In His Name, you’re more than a conqueror, a victor, and a champion forever.
Therefore, just as the Bible says, “…whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him” (Colossians 3:17).

CONFESSION
I’m eternally triumphant, living the transcendent life in Christ; I live in, and experience the supernatural every day, because I live in the Name of Jesus. In His Name, I heal the sick, raise the dead, cast out devils, preach the Gospel with power, and manifest His glory everywhere. Blessed be God!

FURTHER STUDY:

Mark 16:17-18 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 18 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.
Luke 9:1 Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.
Acts 3:16 And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.
1-Year Bible Reading Plan:
Acts 21:37-22:1-21, Job 32-35
2-Year Bible Reading Plan:
Luke 8:26-39, Joshua 9

PRAY BOLDLY IN JESUS’ NAME AND BE HEARD

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TO THE BIBLE: 1 John 5:14

“Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.”

LET’S TALK

Some people will look at 1 John 5:14 and conclude erroneously that God picks the prayers He hears and answers, provided that they’re “according to His will.” But that’s not what John is saying here. When you study the entire chapter properly, you’ll see it’s not talking about whether or not your request is consistent with the Father’s will; rather, it’s dealing with the Father’s will for making a request. It’s about having a hearing before the Father. The emphasis actually is “How do we ask according to His will?”

The answer is simple: It’s by asking the Father in the Name of Jesus! In John 16:23-24, the Lord Jesus said, “And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.” Here, He introduced the disciples to a new way of asking, letting them know of the new day when they would ask the Father directly for whatever they desired, in His Name. He wanted them to understand that His Name connected them directly to the Father, and that He had given them the right to use it in prayer.

Today, we’re living in that day Jesus spoke of. All you need to do for God to hear and answer your prayer is to ask boldly in the Name of Jesus. That’s asking according to His will, and this guarantees you a hearing. Moreover, 1 John 5:15 assures that if you know that you’re heard, you’re also sure that your requests are granted. Isn’t it great to know that you can boldly ask anything of the Father—in the Name of Jesus—and receive an answer? He’s more willing to hear and answer you than you’re willing to ask. Therefore, be bold to ask what you will, in the Name of Jesus!

Go Deeper

Matthew 21:22; Luke 11:9; 1 Peter 3:12

Pray

Dear heavenly Father, I thank you for the revelation of your Word to me today. Now I know how to ask in order to have a hearing, and I’m confident that I have the answer to every request I make in the Name of Jesus. Amen.

Daily Bible Reading

ONE YEAR

John 3:1-21, 2 Samuel 22

TWO YEAR

Mark 8:10-21, Numbers 9

Act

Make bold requests of the Father, using the Name of Jesus.

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF JESUS’ DEATH TO YOU

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TO THE BIBLE: 1 Corinthians 11:25-26

“In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me. For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.””

LET’S TALK

“Why do Christians always take the Holy Communion? I mean, I don’t get why we have to do it so often,” Marcia said to Fiona.

Fiona replied, “Every time we take the Communion, we’re proclaiming that Jesus died in our place; we’re saying to the world that He shed His blood for us, so we can live, and live to the fullest!”

Perhaps, like Marcia, you may have wondered what the significance of the Holy Communion is. Well, as you’ve just read in 1 Corinthians 11:26, partaking in “the bread and the cup” means you’re announcing, proclaiming, declaring, and making known the Lord’s death; you’re partaking of the body and blood of the Lord Jesus. His blood is like no other; it’s divine! That’s the blood that reconciled you to God, and by which you received eternal life. You’ve been justified and saved from wrath by the blood of Jesus (Romans 5:9).

Your salvation was granted on the basis of His shed blood. So, when you proclaim His death by the Communion, you’re also affirming that God raised Him from the dead for your justification. His death is the testimony of the New Testament that has been endorsed, by which you’ve received all of the Abrahamic blessings. Your faith in His resurrection is an affirmation and declaration of His death: for if there were no death, there would have been no resurrection.

Go Deeper

Matthew 26:26-28; 1 Corinthians 10:16; 1 John 2:2

Pray

Dear Father, I’m forever grateful for the blood of Jesus Christ that was shed for me. His blood cleanses me from all unrighteousness, and speaks glorious things on my behalf. Every time I take the Communion, I announce, declare, and proclaim the Lord’s death, which has ushered me into the divine life of unending victory, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Daily Bible Reading

ONE YEAR

Luke 24:13-35, 2 Samuel 9-11

WE’RE THE GENERATION OF JESUS CHRIST.

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Christian Devotional - Rhapsody of Realities

RHAPSODY OF REALITIES DAILY DEVOTIONAL

WEDNESDAY, 14TH JUNE. 2017

WE’RE THE GENERATION OF JESUS CHRIST.

And God said unto him, I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins (Genesis 35:11).

The nations and kings that’ll come from Abraham as our opening verse declares, aren’t the nations in the Middle East as some people think; those are earthly nations. God is dealing here with something spiritual; His promise to Abraham was an eternal covenant, and the heir of that covenant is Jesus Christ, with whom we’re joint-heirs.

Galatians 3:16 says, “Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.” Then, the twenty-ninth verse says, “And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” 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.” Having been born again, you’re born into Christ; you belong to the generation of Jesus Christ! Therefore, the promises that were made to Abraham belong to you.

When you look through the teaching of God’s Word about the generation of Jesus Christ, from Abraham to David, you’ll observe that there’re fourteen generations, even when you count into the carrying away to Babylon (Matthew 1:1-17). However, from the carrying away to Babylon unto Christ, when you count the generations listed, you’ll discover that they’re actually thirteen generations. Is there a contradiction? Not at all! Thirteen is listed instead of fourteen, because the Bible says a seed (a generation) shall serve Him, which is the Church.

Isaiah 53:10 says, “…He shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hands.” That’s referring to the Church; we’re the seed of Jesus Christ. We’re His generation. There’re two generations in Christ: Jesus Himself, and the Church. The Bible says to the Lord we’re counted for a generation. So, we’re the ones He was referring to in Genesis 35:11 when He said, “…a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins.”

CONFESSION
I belong to Christ; therefore, I’m the seed of Abraham and an heir according to the promise. I’m Christ’s extension in the earth, His outstretched arm to a dying and hurting world. I unveil His blessings and dispense His goodness, wisdom and love; I’m His light in a dark world. Hallelujah!

FURTHER STUDY:
Romans 12:4-5 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: 5 So we, [being] many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
1 Corinthians 12:27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
Psalm 145:10-13 All thy works shall praise thee, O LORD; and thy saints shall bless thee. 11 They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and talk of thy power; 12 To make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of his kingdom. 13 Thy kingdom [is] an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion [endureth] throughout all generations.
1-Year Bible Reading Plan:
Acts 4:32-5:1-11, 2 Chronicles 20-22
2-Year Bible Reading Plan:
Luke 1:39-56, Deuteronomy 12
👉 Please don’t stop at reading, join us today let’s take God’s divine presence into every man’s world. God bless you.

FINANCE AND PROSPERITY

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