RHAPSODY OF REALITIES DAILY DEVOTIONAL

THURSDAY, 25TH MAY. 2017

PRESENT-HOUR TRUTHS.

Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart (2 Corinthians 3:3).

The epistles are special out-breathings of the Spirit addressed to the new man in Christ, and they mostly consist of present-hour truths. When you study the Pauline revelations, Peter’s epistles and some of John’s Spirit-inspired thoughts, you’d discover truths that are operative in the “now” of our lives.

For example, Paul tells us, Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature…”(2 Corinthians 5:17). This isn’t history, a prophecy, or a promise. You aren’t going to become a new creation when you get to heaven or after you’ve prayed hard enough; you’re a new creation NOW! It’s a fact for today.

Another beautiful present-hour fact is 1 Peter 2:9. It says, But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.” You were created to display and manifest the beauty, glory, excellence, holiness, grace, and righteousness of God. This is your calling in Christ Jesus.

When you study Revelation 1:6, you find yet another operative truth: “And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”This isn’t something to hope for; it’s already happened. You’re a king-priest, ordained of God to reign in life; to decree a thing and have it established unto you.
Another of such glorious realities is that you’re an heir of God, and a joint-heir with Christ! And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ… (Romans 8:17). This means everything that belongs to Him belongs to you in the same way and degree that they belong to Him. Both of you own everything one hundred percent together! Therefore, like Him, you’ve also been appointed heir of all things. It’s for the same reason that Paul said, all things are yours” (1 Corinthians 3:21).

These are some of the truths about the new creation, which, as a Christian, you must be conscious of and live by. Study the Word to know more, and live in the reality of who you are in Christ!

PRAYER.
Dear Father, I thank you for imparting me with the knowledge of the truths in your Word, which are operational in the “now” of my life. I’m enlightened in my spirit to grasp deeper and higher truths in your Word, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Further Study:
2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
2 Peter 1:12 Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know [them], and be established in the present truth.
1-Year Bible Reading Plan:
John 12:1-19, 2 Kings 16-17
2-Year Bible Reading Plan:
Mark 12:35-44, Numbers 28

23RD APRIL, 2017

THE SHOUT OF VICTORY

O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph (Psalm 47:1).

Our opening verse is talking about the shout of victory. Some people shout out of fear, but in Christianity we shout in victory. We shout unto the Lord with the voice of triumph. It’s like the shout the children of Israel gave in conquering Jericho. As they journeyed to the Promised Land, they got to Jericho, but the city was shut with thick and imposing walls (Joshua 6:1).

The Lord, however, gave Joshua the strategy to conquer Jericho. It was the “shout strategy”: “…And it shall come to pass, that when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, and when ye hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall SHOUT WITH A GREAT SHOUT; AND THE WALL OF THE CITY SHALL FALL DOWN FLAT, AND THE PEOPLE SHALL ASCEND UP EVERY MAN STRAIGHT BEFORE HIM” (Joshua 6:2-5). When the people did as the Lord instructed, the walls came down flat (Joshua 6:20).

Some people don’t understand it when we shout; it’s spiritual. The Bible tells us about Jesus, that He “… shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:” (1 Thessalonians 4:16). It’s like the kind of shout He gave at the tomb of Lazarus; the Bible says He yelled with a loud voice, “…Lazarus, come forth” (John 11:43).

Lazarus, having been dead, and buried for four days, already believed to be putrefying, came out of the grave alive! When we shout in victory, the enemy is discomfited; the dead come back to life. Some people only shout out of fear; and that’s the wrong shout; ours is the voice of triumph. We shout ahead of the battle; ahead of the challenges; therefore, when they come, they’re walkovers.

There’s no victory without a shout. When you face challenges, shout, not in exasperation, but in triumph. Even when you’re not happy, shout! Even now, shout aloud with the voice of triumph; it’s an act of faith. Shout and declare that you’ve won. The future can depend on your shouting; so don’t keep quiet; shout your victory.

PRAYER
Dear Father, I thank you for the revelation of your Word to my spirit today. I triumph always and in every place, by the power of the Holy Ghost, and the shout of rejoicing is forever in my mouth, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Further Study:
Joshua 6:16 And it came to pass at the seventh time, when the priests blew with the trumpets, Joshua said unto the people, Shout; for the LORD hath given you the city.

1 Samuel 4:5 And when the ark of the covenant of the LORD came into the camp, all Israel shouted with a great shout, so that the earth rang again.
Psalm 5:11 But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.
1-Year Bible Reading Plan:
Luke 20:1-19, 1 Samuel 18-19
2-Year Bible Reading Plan:
Mark 4:30-41, Leviticus 23

RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY, 4TH MARCH.

UNDERSTANDING TRUE WORSHIP.

God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth (John 4:24).
When we talk about worship, there’re those who don’t understand what it is. They wonder, “Who do you worship?” “Why do you worship?” “What are the benefits of worship?”

Worship is the recognition and appreciation of the goodness, blessings, kindness and righteousness of God. It’s the recognition, appreciation or confession of His character. For example, when you give thanks to God and say, “Lord, you’re good; you’re kind; you’ve blessed me; you’re righteous,” etc., you’re defining, recognizing, and appreciating His character.

God likes it when you worship Him like that because it shows who He is in your life; it separates Him from everyone else and from everything else. When you thank Him for His goodness, provisions, blessings, and all the wonderful things He’s given you, and done for you, you’re attributing those beautiful works to Him. The necessary result is that He’ll do more in your life.

Furthermore, worship brings to us a greater revelation of God. This is why we worship God and not men, angels or things. Neither men nor angels have the capacity or ability to reveal themselves beyond what they themselves can perceive. You can’t grow spiritually from knowing an angel or another human being; no human can reflect you to you, because every human being is unique to himself. But in fellowship, God reveals Himself to you, and in that process, He reveals you to you, and also reveals your future, your life, your personality, your value and then His purpose for your life.

That’s why when you study the Bible and read of men and women who encountered God, they all had a divine revelation of God’s purpose for their lives, an understanding of the future that God was leading them into, and a revelation of God Himself. Thus, worship for us is something much more than a form, a ritual or mere religious activity. When we worship God, there’s true recognition, a true perception, and real encounter with Deity.
When you’re in church and it’s time for worship, or when you worship in your closet, give it your attention; worship the Lord in reality, with this understanding.

PRAYER
Dear Father, I recognize and appreciate your goodness, blessings, kindness, and righteousness. I worship you from my spirit for making me an excellent person, and decorating my life with your glory. I extol your majesty and praise you for your blessings and wondrous works in my life, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Further Study:
Psalm 138:2 I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.
Revelation 4:10-11 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
Philippians 3:3 For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.
1-Year Bible Reading Plan:
Mark 10:32-52, Numbers 14-15
2-Year Bible Reading Plan:
Matthew 20:1-16, Exodus 13

RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY, 21ST FEBRUARY.

LIVE HAPPY AND JOYFUL EVERY DAY.

Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory (1 Peter 1:8).
You’re to live happy every day, and your happiness and joy should be independent of circumstances. Nothing, and no one, was created to make you happy; you’re responsible for your joy and happiness. Never find yourself looking gloomy, and confused. Never carry on through the day with a disconsolate and restless attitude. Confusion and depression are the handiworks of the devil. Never allow them in your life. Instead, always allow the joy of the Lord well up in your heart. Be full of joy always!

In John 15:11, Jesus said, “These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.” His desire is for you to be full of joy twenty-four hours a day, irrespective of the circumstances you face. He doesn’t want you worried over anything. Some people love to worry. They think being worried is a sign of being responsible. They’re worried about the children’s school fees, worried about their job, worried about the state of their health, worried about their spouses, and worried about so many things. That’s not the life of a Christian.

The Christian has been brought into a life of rest, full of joy and glory. Philippians 4:4 says, “Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.” Even when you’re faced with challenges, you’re supposed to rejoice! He didn’t say you should rejoice only when everything is all right; no. He said, “Rejoice in the Lord always.” If you couldn’t rejoice always, God wouldn’t tell you to do so. It’s natural to feel downcast when things don’t seem to be all right; but it’s the wisdom of God to rejoice even in the midst of troubles.

Don’t let anything weigh you down. Do what the Word says: Cast all your cares upon the Lord, because He cares for you (1 Peter 5:7). Whether the trouble is in your finances, health, family, academics, whatever it is, cast it on Him, and rejoice. Then, declare like David, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want” (Psalm 23:1). In the face of challenges or unpleasant situations, instead of wondering what to do and what the problem is, laugh! Laugh and laugh! Rejoice in the Holy Ghost, knowing that the joy of the lord is your strength. Hallelujah!

CONFESSION

The peace of God which surpasses all understanding keeps my heart and mind, in Christ Jesus. Good things are coming to me today from everywhere! I refuse to worry about anything, for the Lord has made all things mine! His joy is expressed lavishly through me today in every place. Glory to God!
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FURTHER STUDY:
Romans 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
1 John 1:4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.
James 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:
Mark 5:1-20 Leviticus 19-21
2 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:
Matthew 16:13-20 Exodus 2