Christian Daily Devotional

“MAKARIOS” (In Christ Jesus, You’re Supremely Blessed)

DON’T OVER-INDULGE

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(You Shouldn’t Get Lost In “The World”)

Distinguishing God’s Thoughts From Carnal Thoughts

TO THE BIBLE: Luke 21:34 AMPC
“…Take heed to yourselves and be on your guard, lest your hearts be overburdened and depressed (weighed down) with the giddiness and headache and nausea of self-indulgence, drunkenness, and worldly worries and cares pertaining to [the business of] this life, and [lest] that day come upon you suddenly like a trap or a noose”

LET’S TALK
A young man once told me he couldn’t make out time to go to church on Sunday because he had to go play soccer. How sad! The Lord Jesus Christ wouldn’t want us to over-indulge in the things we’re interested in or like to do, so much so that we get lost in them, and forget what’s most important. 1 John 2:15-17 says, “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world–the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does–comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever” (NIV).

Playing soccer or getting involved in any other kind of sport or recreational activity is good, but it’s only profitable to you in this life. Therefore, you shouldn’t let such engagements take pre-eminence over being in Church when you ought to. If you give your wholehearted attention to such transient endeavours, you’ll miss out on the most significant things of life: “…bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come” (1 Timothy 4:8). So, to miss Church services for soccer or another kind of meeting isn’t the best for you.

Even if you were ordered to go for soccer practice on a Sunday morning, show yourself to be different and request a change in the schedule! Show yourself to be spiritual. Take it as an opportunity to prove your love for God by letting everyone else know you value the worship of God more than anything else in the world. Don’t let the things of the Spirit be relegated to second place in your life.

Go Deeper
Romans 8:5-8; Hebrews 10:25

Pray
Dear Heavenly Father, I’m so thankful to you for your Word and the peace and comfort I derive therein. Nothing in this world is worth anything compared to the fullness of joy and the pleasures of your presence. You alone are my heart’s desire and I worship and adore you today and forever, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Daily Bible Reading
ONE YEAR
Matthew 21:33-22:1-14, Exodus 20-21

TWO YEAR
Matthew 11:11-20, Genesis 31

Act
Make out time today for a diligent study and meditation on the Word.

My Notes
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NO ASKING NEEDED

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(He Already Knows What You Need!)

RHAPSODY OF REALITIES DAILY DEVOTIONAL BY PASTOR CHRIS OYAKHILOME

TO THE BIBLE: Matthew 6:7-8 AMPC
“And when you pray, do not heap up phrases (multiply words, repeating the same ones over and over) as the Gentiles do, for they think they will be heard for their much speaking. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him”

LET’S TALK
God never intended for you to wear yourself out in prayer just to get Him to do something for you. As a matter of fact, He never asked you to pray so He could do whatever it is you’re asking for, because there’s nothing He hasn’t already done for you. He asked us not to pray like the unbelievers, using vain repetitions, why? It’s because He already knew everything you’d ever need, ever before you came on the scene, and made them available to you. So, why then does He want you to pray?

The reason for prayer is to get you synchronised with God’s will and destiny for your life, not so you can ask Him for things. The privilege and opportunity granted us to pray in the Holy Ghost and groan in the spirit is to help position us in God’s place, in God’s time, for God’s purpose in God’s way. So, whenever you spend time to fast and pray, do so with this understanding. Make it a time of fellowship; a moment of divine ecstasy and intimate worship of the Lord, in spirit and in truth.

Really, what would you want to ask of someone who already gave you everything? According to the provisions of the Gospel, there’s nothing today that you’ll like to have that you don’t already have. The Bible says, “…all things are yours” (1 Corinthians 3:21). When you know this, it becomes really superfluous, and even foolish to start asking God for things. I get ashamed to ask God for anything; there’s nothing for me to ask for. He already gave us all things in Christ Jesus. He won’t wait for you to ask. He’ll see to it that whatever you need at every point is available to you, and that takes the stress out of your life.

Go Deeper
2 Peter 1:3; Romans 8:32

Pray
Dear Father, I thank you for knowing and supplying everything I need to live the life you’ve called me to and fulfil my destiny in you! I refuse to stress or struggle for anything in life, for you’ve brought me into the place of rest, where all my needs are met, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Daily Bible Reading
ONE YEAR
Matthew 19:16-20:1-16, Exodus 15

 TWO YEAR
Matthew 10:23-33, Genesis 28

Act
Pray in the Holy Ghost for at least fifteen minutes today.

My Notes
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LIGHTS IN THE DARK

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(Commissioned To Reach The Whole World!)

Christ Embassy

TO THE BIBLE: Luke 1:76-79
“And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest; For you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways, to give knowledge of salvation to His people By the remission of their sins, through the tender mercy of our God, with which the Dayspring from on high has visited us; to give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace”

LET’S TALK
The opening Scripture tells how excited the man of God, Zechariah, was at the birth of John, his new born son and prophesied about him (Luke 1:76-79). I remember praying with these words many years ago as the anointing of God was stirred within me. I realised it was my assignment to preach the Gospel to the whole world. John was sent at the first coming of Christ, to preach a message which wasn’t to the whole world, but to Israel. Now, we all have been sent ahead of the second coming of Christ to give the knowledge of salvation to ALL people.

This was what Jesus came to do; He came with a message to the whole world, and after preaching it to a certain point, He went to heaven and commissioned us to carry on from where He left off (Isaiah 53:10). We bring glory to Him today as we go as lights to those in darkness and the shadow of death.

You’re the light of the world, but you’ll never know how brightly your light could shine until you reach out to those living in darkness. You’ll never know how powerful the gifts of God in your life are until you come to those in the shadow of death. Get committed to preaching the Gospel today; we’ve been commissioned to preach it to the whole world!

Go Deeper
Psalms 22:27-28; Acts 1:8; Matthew 24:14

Speak
I’ve been called to go forth and give the knowledge of salvation to all people by the remission of their sins, through the tender mercy of our God. I’m the light of the world, and I give light to those in my world today and guide their feet into the way of peace. Amen.

Daily Bible Reading
ONE YEAR
Matthew 18:15-35, Exodus 10-12

TWO YEAR
Matthew 10:1-11, Genesis 26

Act
Spend some time to pray for those who haven’t heard the Gospel around you, and make a conscious decision to talk to them today.

My Notes
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WORDS OF ENERGY

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(The Holy Spirit Makes You Speak Words of Power)

THE IMPORTANCE OF MEDITATION BY PASTOR CHRIS OYAKHILOME

TO THE BIBLE: Joel 2:28
“And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions.”

LET’S TALK
In the Scripture above, Joel prophesied that God’s children, after they received the Holy Spirit, would be able to prophesy. This means they would speak words of power; words full of divine energy. Put differently, whatever they said would happen. As God’s child, your words stopped being ordinary from the moment the Holy Spirit came into your life. The words you speak now are anointed and filled with power! Isn’t that awesome?

As the Spirit of God works in you and you’re filled daily with His fullness, you won’t need to try to muster boldness to say or do things. You won’t need to try to stir up some power or remember some scriptures in the face of trouble. No! When you open your mouth to speak, you’ll speak words that are divinely inspired of God’s Spirit. You won’t speak idle, inoperative or non-working words.

The life you have is one of boldness and dominion over all circumstances. As you speak God’s Word to yourself, the Holy Spirit will cause the anointing to well up strong within you. At such times, the words you speak become the sword of the Spirit with which you cut the devil down and overcome every adversity in life (Ephesians 5:18, 6:17).

Go Deeper
Job 22:28, Isaiah 55:10-11, John 6:63

Speak
The words I speak are divinely inspired; they’re full of divine energy. My words are not empty! When I decree anything in the Name of Jesus, it happens, because the words I speak are faith-filled and backed by the power of the Holy Spirit. Hallelujah!

Daily  Bible  Reading
ONE YEAR
Matthew 17:14-18:1-14, Exodus 8-9

TWO YEAR
Matthew 9:27-38, Genesis 25

Act
Meditate on the “Go Deeper” scriptures above. Also, take time to prophesy about your day or week, use your tongue to order the circumstances of your life aright.

My Notes
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WHO IS JESUS?

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(The Divinity Of The Lord Jesus Christ)

RHAPSODY OF REALITIES DAILY DEVOTIONAL BY PASTOR CHRIS OYAKHILOME

TO THE BIBLE: John 14:6-7
“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.””

LET’S TALK
“Is Jesus really God?” Many still ask this one question today. They believe He was just a great prophet and teacher, but find it difficult to accept that He is Himself God, but He is. The Bible says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1). That “Word” that the Bible says, “was God” became flesh—Jesus—and dwelt among us: “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).

Now, the prophecy that came forth before the birth of Jesus also foretold His divinity: ““Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us”” (Matthew 1:23). It was Jesus who walked the streets of Galilee, as “Emmanuel—God with us.” When the people saw Him, the mighty miracles and great signs and wonders that He did, notice what they said “…God has visited His people” (Luke 7:16).

The Bible tells us that the fullness of the Godhead bodily dwells in Jesus. So, when you see Jesus, you wouldn’t need to look out for the Holy Spirit or the Father; He’s the complete embodiment of Deity. Colossians 1:19 says, “…it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell.” So, Jesus is the outward expression of the Godhead. When we get to heaven, we won’t find the Father, Son and Holy Spirit sitting on different thrones; we’ll only find one seated in the fullness of God on the throne, and His name is Jesus (Revelation 7:17).

So today, celebrate the divinity of Jesus, His Lordship and rulership over your life. He’s the joy of heaven and hope of the earth. He’s the Most High, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is worthy of all praise, worship and adoration.

Go Deeper
Revelation 1:12-18; Hebrews 1:3

Pray
Dear Lord Jesus, I thank you for the awesome privilege of being identified with you. It’s a great honour to know you, serve you, worship you and live for you. I boldly confess today that you’re my Lord and Master. You’re my everything, and the reason for my existence. Amen.

Daily Bible Reading
ONE YEAR
Matthew 15:29-16:1-12, Exodus 3-5

TWO YEAR
Matthew 9:1-13, Genesis 23

Act
Say this to yourself: “I’m complete in Christ Jesus, who is the head of all principality and power. As He is divine, so am I in this world.”

My Notes
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TRIALS EQUALS PROMOTION

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(Don’t Faint In The Day Of Trouble!)

VICTORY EVERY DAY! YOU'VE BEEN CALLED TO THE VICTORIOUS LIFE

TO THE BIBLE: Proverbs 24:10 AMPC
“If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small.”

LET’S TALK
Christianity is a bed of roses, with tests, trials and challenging times in the journey of faith. Such challenging times are what the Bible refers to as “the evil day” (Ephesians 6:13), or “the day of adversity” as read in our opening verse. Some believers dread such periods and specifically pray to God never to allow them go through trials and challenges. To avoid situations that challenge your faith is to checkmate your chances of promotion.

James 1:2 says, “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials.” Why would God admonish you to rejoice when tests and challenges come at you on all sides? It’s because He knows that victory is in your spirit. Having been born again, you’ve become an overcomer and more than a conqueror. Consequently, no situation that you face should overwhelm you.

God knows what stuff you’re made of, that’s why He said, “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10:13). You have what it takes to overcome any trial, temptation or adversity. So you must not cower, give in or faint under any pressure whatsoever. Be tough because Jesus was tough.

There’re things that make you tough as a Christian, and if you don’t welcome them, you’d remain at the same level of faith and maturity. This means, your adversaries are important in the toughening process, so don’t pray against them, no matter what troubles or difficulties they bring your way. Welcome them as necessary challenges to strengthen your faith-muscles and you’ll discover they’re the agents for your promotion.

Go Deeper
Romans 8:28; Ephesians 6:10-13

Pray
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for helping me see through your Word how the challenges that come my way strengthen my faith and result in my promotion, as I handle them with the right attitude. I’m fully convinced of my eternal victory over satan, the world and every adversity that may come my way, therefore, I rejoice, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Daily Bible Reading
ONE YEAR
Matthew 15:1-28, Exodus 1-2

TWO YEAR
Matthew 8:23-34, Genesis 22

Act
Meditate on 2 Corinthians 2:14.

My Notes
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TRUST IS A GIFT

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(Trust Is Not Earned, It Is Given)

pastor-chris-oyakhilome

TO THE BIBLE: 1 Timothy 6:20
“O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge”

LET’S TALK
Just right after I said to someone once, “Trust is not just given to you; you earn it,” the Spirit of God interrupted me and said, “No, son, you’re wrong. You don’t earn trust; it is a gift.” I was surprised because, prior to that time, I thought trust was earned. But here was God saying no man could earn trust. He then guided me through the Scriptures, and I saw things I didn’t realise and came to the conclusion that trust was indeed a gift, as He had taught me.

No one deserves to be trusted, no matter how trustworthy he or she seems. If you’re honest to yourself, you’ll discover that even you are not totally trustworthy. For example, there may have been times when you said you would pray for someone, and you didn’t. What if that one’s life for whom you were to pray depended solely on your prayers at that time? Nevertheless, God has chosen to trust you with the Gospel (2 Corinthians 5:18).

The Bible says, the glorious Gospel of the blessed God has been committed to our trust (1 Timothy 1:11), not because we earned it but because God chose to trust us to take His message of salvation to the ends of the earth. When I think about this, I’m touched by the love of God. He paid such a great price for our salvation by sending His Son to die, and afterwards committed the Gospel into the hands of people who didn’t deserve to be trusted. Nonetheless, He counted us faithful, and entrusted us with the Gospel, why? It’s because trust is a gift!

You trust people because you love them and you expect the best of them. When you see the way God sees, you’ll start learning to trust people and not rate them according to who they are and what they do (2 Corinthians 5:16), but according to your expectation of them.

Go Deeper
Luke 22:31-34; 1 Corinthians 13:5-7 CEV

Pray
Dear Father, thank you for giving me your trust as a gift. I operate in this high level of life today by choosing to trust others as a gift, whether or not they deserve it. I make provisions for their errors and see them with the eyes of love, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Daily Bible Reading
ONE YEAR
Matthew 13:44-14:1-12, Genesis 46-48

TWO YEAR
Matthew 8:1-11, Genesis 20

Act
Meditate on Psalm 37:3, in the Amplified Bible’s classic version.

My Notes
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ALWAYS GIVE THANKS

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(Stay In A Perpetual State Of Thanksgiving)

TO THE BIBLE: Hebrews 13:15
“Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.”

LET’S TALK
Jesus taught on the importance and benefit of worship and thanksgiving using the story of the ten lepers: “And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole” (Luke 17:12-19 KJV).

He commended the one who returned to give glory to God, and said unto him, “Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.” By coming to thank God for his miracle, he got something more than healing; he was made whole. Everything he had lost as a result of the leprosy was completely restored.

Never complain, grumble, or reminisce over the failures and disappointments of yesterday! Rather, let your heart be in a continuous state of gratitude, praise, joy and thanksgiving. Count your blessings and worship the Lord specially and passionately from your spirit each day.

Pastor Chris Digital Library

It’s important that you do so continually: celebrate His goodness and many blessings upon your life. Worship Him from the very depths of your heart, for His great love, kindness, mercy and grace revealed to you from His Word. Be in perpetual joy every day of your life!

Go Deeper
Philippians 3:3; Psalm 68:3-4

Pray
Dear heavenly Father, I worship you today from my heart, for your love, kindness, grace and tender mercies! You’re glorious and worthy to be praised; may your Name be glorified forever in my life and in all the earth, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Daily Bible Reading
ONE YEAR
Matthew 12:22-50, Genesis 40-41

TWO YEAR
Matthew 7:1-12, Genesis 17

Act
Spend quality time today to speak in tongues, and bless the Lord for all His goodness towards you.

My Notes
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WHAT PRAYER DOES FOR YOU

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(It’s A Fellowship And Communion With The Spirit)

Pastor Chris Oyakhilome - Rhapsody Of Realities 2017

TO THE BIBLE: James 5:16
“Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”

LET’S TALK
Some Christians often castigate themselves for not being able to pray for long hours. What’s the significance of long prayer times? God never insisted we spend long hours in prayers for Him to hear and answer our prayers. He never told us how long our prayers should be and doesn’t demand from us many hours of prayers as the definition of “time” by some is. However, if you spend long hours, that’s great. Remember, He lives in eternity; therefore, He’s not regulated by minutes and hours, as we are in the earth. Thus, in a sense, the significance or essence of prayer is not in its protraction in terms of the number of hours spent praying. It’s not “how long” you pray that really makes an impact; it’s “how right” you pray.

Others spend long hours in prayer, saying the wrong things, hence they live unfulfilled lives, being void of the spiritual results and impact of prayer. They have missed the true essence of prayer, which is fellowship and communion with the Lord. That communion not only builds your relationship with Him, but also helps transform your personality from glory to glory.

So, what God wants is for you to spend quality time alone with Him, away from everything else. For example, you’d be amazed how much impact a fifteen or thirty minute time alone with the Lord, spent praying intensely in the Spirit, will produce in your life. Of course, it’s desirable and advisable to spend longer periods with the Lord in fellowship. All that’s required is discipline and learning to stay at the place of prayer. The significance of prayer is therefore not in its length, especially in the eyes of others; it’s the beauty of fellowshipping with the Most High, away from everything else. That fellowship enriches and strengthens your spirit, while improving your life in a tremendous way.

Go Deeper
Matthew 6:5-8

Pray
Dear Father, I love you and appreciate every opportunity I have to fellowship with you in prayer. I thank you because those moments I spend alone with you are significant in improving my life, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Daily Bible Reading
ONE YEAR
Matthew 8:28-9:1-17, Genesis 27-28

TWO YEAR
Matthew 5:21-30, Genesis 11

Act
Study the book, “How to Pray Effectively,” and learn the different kinds of prayer elaborated on within its contents.

My Notes

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PRAY WITH ALL YOUR HEART

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(Continue To Pray Earnestly)

LIVE SUPERNATURALLY.

TO THE BIBLE: James 5:16 AMPC
“…The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working].”

LET’S TALK
Elijah was just like any other human being who had feelings and affections. The Bible says he prayed that there would be no rain and the earth went without rain for three and a half years. He prayed again, and the heavens supplied rain. How was he able to do it? The Bible says in James 5:17 that he prayed earnestly.

The earnest prayer of a righteous man produces results. Some good definitions for the word “earnest” are “to be intent and direct in purpose,” “to be zealous or fervent, marked by a deep feeling of conviction.” The Classic Amplified version of the Bible goes further to explain it as, “heartfelt” and “continued.” In other words, an earnest prayer is a sustained kind of prayer that is marked by a deep feeling of conviction. It’s not the kind of prayer you pray at the dining table or in a hurry!

Now, you can begin to understand the kind of prayer Elijah prayed. He didn’t just pray once and give up. He continued seriously in prayer with a deep feeling of conviction. Many people don’t pray this way yet expect to get the kind of results Elijah got.

You need to learn how to pray earnestly in private so that you can have the power of the Holy Ghost work on your behalf publicly. Before Elijah told King Ahab that there would be no rain in the land, he’d already talked to the Lord and “settled” the matter (James 5:17). He prayed earnestly and continued until he got the answer!

Have you prayed earnestly and continued long enough to get answers? Don’t give up now that you’re so close to getting them! Get up and continue in earnest prayer, for the earnest prayer of the righteous man always works!

Go Deeper
Matthew 6:6; 1 Thessalonians 5:17

Pray
Dear Father, I thank you because I know that I can pray and have results. Therefore, I continue in fervent prayer by the ability of the Spirit and I effect changes in every area of my life that requires a change, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Daily Bible Reading
ONE YEAR
Matthew 24:36-51, Exodus 28

TWO YEAR
Matthew 12:22-30, Genesis 35

Act
Speak in tongues for an hour today, and do so with your whole heart and attention fixed on the Lord.

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