• Matthew 21:1-17

    Now Jesus has determined to enter the final phase of his earthly ministry, elsewhere in Luke in the King James vernacular He “set His face toward Jerusalem”. It is here that in Matthew's own style to point to Jesus as the prophecied Messiah using the verse from Zechariah while describing Jesus's actions.

    Zechariah 9:9
    [9] Rejoice greatly, daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; He is righteous and endowed with salvation, Humble, and mounted on a donkey, Even on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

    Zechariah is writing a list of things to come while addressing the situation with the rebuilding of the walls and temple to replace the first destroyed Solomons temple. Don't forget that the first hearers and readers of Zechariah had no king.

    Both the northern and southern kingdoms have been destroyed and there is no king in either. So when Zechariah says a King is coming, there is no doubt Zechariah anticipated this King to be the Messiah. The Jews understood this, so when Jesus rode that donkey into Jerusalem they clearly understood this to be the receiving of the Messiah.

    Now here's the part where my ADHD brain begins asking, was there some supernatural knowledge that this colts owner was privy to regarding this or did he just faithfully accept, “The Lord has need of this” as a valid reason?
    We will never know for sure but it is fun to think about.

    The actions of the crowd are those of a city welcoming a king after a great victory or anointing. The laying out of cloaks, palm leaves and more were to not allow this arriving king to soil the feet of even the animal he's riding in on.

    The children are calling out, “Hosanna” which means “God save us”. Let's make this clear, there was NO confusion about Jesus's claim here. The Jewish Leaders were well aware of the Messianic claim here. So when He dismounts in Jerusalem and begins what is considered the second cleansing of the temple there is no debate, Jesus is claiming to be the Messiah in no uncertain terms.

    So when the leaders approach Him with the question, “Do you hear what they are saying?” Jesus quotes Psalm 8:2 in response.

    Psalm 8:2
    [2] From the mouths of infants and nursing babies You have established strength Because of Your enemies, To do away with the enemy and the revengeful.

    In the Hebrew, the word used means strength from the root word for stronghold. Here, Jesus is quoting the Septuagint or Greek version where the word ‘praise’ is used. It's this praise that acts as a source of strength against God's enemies.

    Yes, Jesus is calling the Jewish leaders the enemies of God. And without even attempting a debate with them, Jesus turns his attention to healings amidst the destruction.

    Some Jews believed He was there to act as King and they were ready and willing to go to war against Rome to have a king back. They were willing to die for this new king. But He didn't take a throne they could see, didn't receive a crown of a king and simply continued preaching. And this event took place roughly a week prior to the cross.

    So the calls took a week to devolve from Hosanna to “Crucify Him” because the Kingdom Jesus ushered in was the Kingdom of Heaven, not Israel. How many times in our lives do we go from thanking and praising Him to neglecting Him, because the answer to our praise and prayers isn't the answer we expected? It doesn't take much to turn someone from God. A week? God, please give us the strength to continue in faith.



    [1] When they had approached Jerusalem and had come to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus then sent two disciples, [2] saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied there and a colt with it. Untie them and bring them to Me. [3] And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them on immediately.” [4] Now this took place so that what was spoken through the prophet would be fulfilled: [5] “Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold your King is coming to you, Humble, and mounted on a donkey, Even on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’ ” [6] The disciples went and did just as Jesus had instructed them, [7] and brought the donkey and the colt, and laid their cloaks on them; and He sat on the cloaks. [8] Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others were cutting branches from the trees and spreading them on the road. [9] Now the crowds going ahead of Him, and those who followed, were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David; Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest!” [10] When He had entered Jerusalem, all the city was stirred, saying, “Who is this?” [11] And the crowds were saying, “This is Jesus the prophet, from Nazareth in Galilee.” [12] And Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all those who were selling and buying on the temple grounds, and He overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves. [13] And He *said to them, “It is written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer’; but you are making it a den of robbers.” [14] And those who were blind and those who limped came to Him in the temple area, and He healed them. [15] But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that He had done, and the children who were shouting in the temple area, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they became indignant, [16] and they said to Him, “Do You hear what these children are saying?” And Jesus *said to them, “Yes. Have you never read, ‘From the mouths of infants and nursing babies You have prepared praise for Yourself’?” [17] And He left them and went out of the city to Bethany, and spent the night there.

    Matthew 21:1-17 Now Jesus has determined to enter the final phase of his earthly ministry, elsewhere in Luke in the King James vernacular He “set His face toward Jerusalem”. It is here that in Matthew's own style to point to Jesus as the prophecied Messiah using the verse from Zechariah while describing Jesus's actions. Zechariah 9:9 [9] Rejoice greatly, daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; He is righteous and endowed with salvation, Humble, and mounted on a donkey, Even on a colt, the foal of a donkey. Zechariah is writing a list of things to come while addressing the situation with the rebuilding of the walls and temple to replace the first destroyed Solomons temple. Don't forget that the first hearers and readers of Zechariah had no king. Both the northern and southern kingdoms have been destroyed and there is no king in either. So when Zechariah says a King is coming, there is no doubt Zechariah anticipated this King to be the Messiah. The Jews understood this, so when Jesus rode that donkey into Jerusalem they clearly understood this to be the receiving of the Messiah. Now here's the part where my ADHD brain begins asking, was there some supernatural knowledge that this colts owner was privy to regarding this or did he just faithfully accept, “The Lord has need of this” as a valid reason? We will never know for sure but it is fun to think about. The actions of the crowd are those of a city welcoming a king after a great victory or anointing. The laying out of cloaks, palm leaves and more were to not allow this arriving king to soil the feet of even the animal he's riding in on. The children are calling out, “Hosanna” which means “God save us”. Let's make this clear, there was NO confusion about Jesus's claim here. The Jewish Leaders were well aware of the Messianic claim here. So when He dismounts in Jerusalem and begins what is considered the second cleansing of the temple there is no debate, Jesus is claiming to be the Messiah in no uncertain terms. So when the leaders approach Him with the question, “Do you hear what they are saying?” Jesus quotes Psalm 8:2 in response. Psalm 8:2 [2] From the mouths of infants and nursing babies You have established strength Because of Your enemies, To do away with the enemy and the revengeful. In the Hebrew, the word used means strength from the root word for stronghold. Here, Jesus is quoting the Septuagint or Greek version where the word ‘praise’ is used. It's this praise that acts as a source of strength against God's enemies. Yes, Jesus is calling the Jewish leaders the enemies of God. And without even attempting a debate with them, Jesus turns his attention to healings amidst the destruction. Some Jews believed He was there to act as King and they were ready and willing to go to war against Rome to have a king back. They were willing to die for this new king. But He didn't take a throne they could see, didn't receive a crown of a king and simply continued preaching. And this event took place roughly a week prior to the cross. So the calls took a week to devolve from Hosanna to “Crucify Him” because the Kingdom Jesus ushered in was the Kingdom of Heaven, not Israel. How many times in our lives do we go from thanking and praising Him to neglecting Him, because the answer to our praise and prayers isn't the answer we expected? It doesn't take much to turn someone from God. A week? God, please give us the strength to continue in faith. [1] When they had approached Jerusalem and had come to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus then sent two disciples, [2] saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied there and a colt with it. Untie them and bring them to Me. [3] And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them on immediately.” [4] Now this took place so that what was spoken through the prophet would be fulfilled: [5] “Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold your King is coming to you, Humble, and mounted on a donkey, Even on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’ ” [6] The disciples went and did just as Jesus had instructed them, [7] and brought the donkey and the colt, and laid their cloaks on them; and He sat on the cloaks. [8] Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others were cutting branches from the trees and spreading them on the road. [9] Now the crowds going ahead of Him, and those who followed, were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David; Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest!” [10] When He had entered Jerusalem, all the city was stirred, saying, “Who is this?” [11] And the crowds were saying, “This is Jesus the prophet, from Nazareth in Galilee.” [12] And Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all those who were selling and buying on the temple grounds, and He overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves. [13] And He *said to them, “It is written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer’; but you are making it a den of robbers.” [14] And those who were blind and those who limped came to Him in the temple area, and He healed them. [15] But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that He had done, and the children who were shouting in the temple area, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they became indignant, [16] and they said to Him, “Do You hear what these children are saying?” And Jesus *said to them, “Yes. Have you never read, ‘From the mouths of infants and nursing babies You have prepared praise for Yourself’?” [17] And He left them and went out of the city to Bethany, and spent the night there.
    0 Commentaires 0 Parts 26 Vue
  • The Kitchen Newsletter

    Good day,
    Welcome to The Kitchen, where we explore, prepare and serve the contents in the Body of the Word as the delicacies of God—to create the form of the Father on the earth, to make the earth in His likeness, and to take charge of the economic destinies of nations for God.

    Relax, and let's journey through the scriptures to see the Body of the Word.

    What does God look like?

    It is a simple question, but Scripture gives us an answer that is far more concrete than we often realise.

    The Bible calls God invisible. Yet Scripture also tells us that the invisible God has made Himself known—not merely through ideas, doctrines, or written sentences, but through a Person.

    John, on the island of Patmos, saw Him.

    “I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me…”

    And what John saw was astonishing: a figure with a head and hair, eyes, feet, a voice, hands, a face and a mouth. John was describing the appearance of Jesus Christ—the living Word of God.

    Revelation 1:12–17

    This is why Scripture says:

    “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being.”

    Hebrews 1:3

    And again:

    “Christ, who is the image of God.”

    2 Corinthians 4:4

    So we can say:

    The Body of the Word is the image of the invisible God.

    The Scriptures Reveal a Person

    This changes the way we should read Scripture.

    We are accustomed to reading the Bible primarily as a collection of words, teachings, commandments, promises and historical accounts. But Scripture itself tells us that the Scriptures testify about a Person.

    Jesus said:

    “These are the Scriptures that testify about me.”

    John 5:39

    The Scriptures are therefore not merely information about God. They testify about Jesus Christ, the living Word.

    Consider one example.

    John saw the eyes of Christ and wrote:

    “His eyes were like blazing fire.”

    Revelation 1:14

    That is a detailed description of the Body of the Word.

    But Scripture also says:

    “Our God is a consuming fire.”

    Hebrews 12:29

    The description of the Body therefore becomes a revelation about God Himself.

    The same principle runs through the Scriptures: the details of the Body of the Word testify about the Person of the Word and reveal the invisible Father.

    Paul writes:

    “God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.”

    2 Corinthians 4:6

    The “face of Christ” becomes a point of revelation—the Body of the Word revealing the invisible God.

    Scripture Must Be Unfolded

    This is where something particularly provocative begins to emerge.

    What if the Scriptures are not simply information about God, but the Father's script for revealing Himself?

    Psalm 119:130 says:

    “The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.”

    Psalm 119:130

    The Word must be unfolded.

    We can read a Scripture without necessarily seeing the revelation contained within it.

    We can know the sentence without knowing the Person whom the sentence reveals.

    That is the difference between merely reading Scripture and receiving revelation.

    The detailed descriptions of the Body of the Word are therefore not decorative language. They are scriptural descriptions that can be unfolded to reveal the Father.

    Paul describes this revelation as:

    “the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.”

    2 Corinthians 4:6

    So the purpose of the unfolding is not simply to give us more biblical information.

    It is to give us the revelation knowledge of the Father.

    The Body of the Word: White Like Wool and Snow

    Consider the description John gives:

    “His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow.”

    Revelation 1:14

    This is a detailed description of the Body of the Word.

    But John is not alone in seeing this.

    Daniel saw the Ancient of Days and wrote:

    “His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool.”

    Daniel 7:9

    Then Song of Solomon gives another description:

    “His appearance is like Lebanon.”

    Song of Solomon 5:15

    Lebanon was associated with its mountainous, snow-covered appearance.

    The Scriptures are therefore giving us a repeated picture.

    The Body of the Word is white like wool, as white as snow.

    And because Christ is:

    “the exact representation of his being”

    Hebrews 1:3

    the description of Christ also becomes a revelation concerning the invisible God.

    This is why the details matter.

    The head matters.

    The hair matters.

    The eyes matter.

    The face matters.

    The hands matter.

    The feet matter.

    The mouth matters.

    The voice matters.

    The entire Body becomes a vocabulary through which Scripture speaks about the Person of the Word.

    The Body Is More Than a Description

    Every detailed description of the Body of the Word is also a Scripture because it testifies about the Person of the Word.

    Jesus said:

    “These are the Scriptures that testify about me.”

    John 5:39

    Therefore, the description of His whiteness is not simply a physical observation.

    It is a testimony.

    It is a Scripture.

    It is a figure of speech.

    It is a revelation waiting to be unfolded.

    And Scripture gives us a principle for understanding this:

    “I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world.”

    Matthew 13:35

    God uses visible and natural things to communicate invisible and spiritual realities.

    The Body of the Word is therefore not merely something we look at.

    It is something Scripture teaches us to understand.

    The Father Is Speaking Through the Body

    Isaiah gives us another remarkable statement:

    “The hand of the Lord will be made known to his servants.”

    Isaiah 66:14

    Why the hand?

    Because the hand is part of the body.

    The hand becomes a doorway into understanding the Body of the Word.

    And the Body becomes a doorway into understanding the Person of the Word.

    And the Person of the Word reveals the invisible Father.

    Body → Person → Father.

    This is why I believe Jesus Christ, the Head of the Church, is addressing His Church through the detailed descriptions of His Body.

    He is continually making the Father known.

    Jesus said:

    “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.”

    John 14:9

    And the Holy Spirit does not speak independently of Christ. Jesus said:

    “He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you.”

    John 16:14

    The Spirit takes what belongs to Christ and makes it known.

    And Paul tells us:

    “The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.”

    1 Corinthians 2:10

    So there are depths in God that the Holy Spirit searches and reveals.

    Scripture Is God's Script for His Work

    There is another dimension to this revelation.

    The Scriptures are not merely records of what God has done. They are also the script through which His purposes are fulfilled.

    Again and again, Jesus said:

    “It is written…”

    Matthew 4:4, 7, 10

    And concerning His ministry:

    “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

    Luke 4:21

    The Scriptures therefore have a relationship with God's performance on Earth.

    When the Father has an intention, He opens Scripture according to that intention.

    When He is doing a work, He brings particular Scriptures into revelation.

    When the Spirit speaks to the churches, He speaks through what is being revealed:

    “Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

    Revelation 2:7

    This makes the present question very important:

    What is the Spirit saying to the Church through the Scriptures He is opening?

    And if Christ is presently revealing Himself through the detailed descriptions of His Body, then these revelations deserve our attention.

    The Body of the Word Is Our Inheritance

    The Father has not given us Christ merely so that we can know facts about Him.

    He has given us Christ so that we can know Him.

    The Body of the Word is therefore not something we should approach casually.

    It is an inheritance.

    It is a revelation.

    It is an invitation to know the Person of the Word in greater detail.

    The Scriptures testify about Him.

    The Holy Spirit reveals Him.

    The Father is seen in Him.

    And the more the Scriptures are unfolded, the more light we receive concerning the Person of Christ and the glory of the invisible Father.

    So perhaps the question is no longer simply:

    “Do you read the Bible?”

    The deeper question is:

    “Do you recognise the Person whom the Scriptures are revealing?”

    Because the Bible is testifying.

    The Spirit is speaking.

    The Scriptures are being unfolded.

    And behind the revelation stands a Person:

    Jesus Christ, the living Word of God—the image of the invisible God.

    Listen to The Kitchen Podcast

    Continue this exploration of The Body of the Word on The Kitchen Podcast by Omodolapo Ogunye, available on Audible, Spotify, Deezer, Amazon Music and Apple Podcasts.

    Please share and spread the Revelation Knowledge of the Body of the Word.

    celebrating the Body of the Word

    #foodmoneyshow
    #bodyoftheword
    #marketplace
    #worldwide
    #moneymindset
    The Kitchen Newsletter Good day, Welcome to The Kitchen, where we explore, prepare and serve the contents in the Body of the Word as the delicacies of God—to create the form of the Father on the earth, to make the earth in His likeness, and to take charge of the economic destinies of nations for God. Relax, and let's journey through the scriptures to see the Body of the Word. What does God look like? It is a simple question, but Scripture gives us an answer that is far more concrete than we often realise. The Bible calls God invisible. Yet Scripture also tells us that the invisible God has made Himself known—not merely through ideas, doctrines, or written sentences, but through a Person. John, on the island of Patmos, saw Him. “I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me…” And what John saw was astonishing: a figure with a head and hair, eyes, feet, a voice, hands, a face and a mouth. John was describing the appearance of Jesus Christ—the living Word of God. Revelation 1:12–17 This is why Scripture says: “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being.” Hebrews 1:3 And again: “Christ, who is the image of God.” 2 Corinthians 4:4 So we can say: The Body of the Word is the image of the invisible God. The Scriptures Reveal a Person This changes the way we should read Scripture. We are accustomed to reading the Bible primarily as a collection of words, teachings, commandments, promises and historical accounts. But Scripture itself tells us that the Scriptures testify about a Person. Jesus said: “These are the Scriptures that testify about me.” John 5:39 The Scriptures are therefore not merely information about God. They testify about Jesus Christ, the living Word. Consider one example. John saw the eyes of Christ and wrote: “His eyes were like blazing fire.” Revelation 1:14 That is a detailed description of the Body of the Word. But Scripture also says: “Our God is a consuming fire.” Hebrews 12:29 The description of the Body therefore becomes a revelation about God Himself. The same principle runs through the Scriptures: the details of the Body of the Word testify about the Person of the Word and reveal the invisible Father. Paul writes: “God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.” 2 Corinthians 4:6 The “face of Christ” becomes a point of revelation—the Body of the Word revealing the invisible God. Scripture Must Be Unfolded This is where something particularly provocative begins to emerge. What if the Scriptures are not simply information about God, but the Father's script for revealing Himself? Psalm 119:130 says: “The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.” Psalm 119:130 The Word must be unfolded. We can read a Scripture without necessarily seeing the revelation contained within it. We can know the sentence without knowing the Person whom the sentence reveals. That is the difference between merely reading Scripture and receiving revelation. The detailed descriptions of the Body of the Word are therefore not decorative language. They are scriptural descriptions that can be unfolded to reveal the Father. Paul describes this revelation as: “the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.” 2 Corinthians 4:6 So the purpose of the unfolding is not simply to give us more biblical information. It is to give us the revelation knowledge of the Father. The Body of the Word: White Like Wool and Snow Consider the description John gives: “His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow.” Revelation 1:14 This is a detailed description of the Body of the Word. But John is not alone in seeing this. Daniel saw the Ancient of Days and wrote: “His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool.” Daniel 7:9 Then Song of Solomon gives another description: “His appearance is like Lebanon.” Song of Solomon 5:15 Lebanon was associated with its mountainous, snow-covered appearance. The Scriptures are therefore giving us a repeated picture. The Body of the Word is white like wool, as white as snow. And because Christ is: “the exact representation of his being” Hebrews 1:3 the description of Christ also becomes a revelation concerning the invisible God. This is why the details matter. The head matters. The hair matters. The eyes matter. The face matters. The hands matter. The feet matter. The mouth matters. The voice matters. The entire Body becomes a vocabulary through which Scripture speaks about the Person of the Word. The Body Is More Than a Description Every detailed description of the Body of the Word is also a Scripture because it testifies about the Person of the Word. Jesus said: “These are the Scriptures that testify about me.” John 5:39 Therefore, the description of His whiteness is not simply a physical observation. It is a testimony. It is a Scripture. It is a figure of speech. It is a revelation waiting to be unfolded. And Scripture gives us a principle for understanding this: “I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world.” Matthew 13:35 God uses visible and natural things to communicate invisible and spiritual realities. The Body of the Word is therefore not merely something we look at. It is something Scripture teaches us to understand. The Father Is Speaking Through the Body Isaiah gives us another remarkable statement: “The hand of the Lord will be made known to his servants.” Isaiah 66:14 Why the hand? Because the hand is part of the body. The hand becomes a doorway into understanding the Body of the Word. And the Body becomes a doorway into understanding the Person of the Word. And the Person of the Word reveals the invisible Father. Body → Person → Father. This is why I believe Jesus Christ, the Head of the Church, is addressing His Church through the detailed descriptions of His Body. He is continually making the Father known. Jesus said: “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.” John 14:9 And the Holy Spirit does not speak independently of Christ. Jesus said: “He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you.” John 16:14 The Spirit takes what belongs to Christ and makes it known. And Paul tells us: “The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.” 1 Corinthians 2:10 So there are depths in God that the Holy Spirit searches and reveals. Scripture Is God's Script for His Work There is another dimension to this revelation. The Scriptures are not merely records of what God has done. They are also the script through which His purposes are fulfilled. Again and again, Jesus said: “It is written…” Matthew 4:4, 7, 10 And concerning His ministry: “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” Luke 4:21 The Scriptures therefore have a relationship with God's performance on Earth. When the Father has an intention, He opens Scripture according to that intention. When He is doing a work, He brings particular Scriptures into revelation. When the Spirit speaks to the churches, He speaks through what is being revealed: “Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Revelation 2:7 This makes the present question very important: What is the Spirit saying to the Church through the Scriptures He is opening? And if Christ is presently revealing Himself through the detailed descriptions of His Body, then these revelations deserve our attention. The Body of the Word Is Our Inheritance The Father has not given us Christ merely so that we can know facts about Him. He has given us Christ so that we can know Him. The Body of the Word is therefore not something we should approach casually. It is an inheritance. It is a revelation. It is an invitation to know the Person of the Word in greater detail. The Scriptures testify about Him. The Holy Spirit reveals Him. The Father is seen in Him. And the more the Scriptures are unfolded, the more light we receive concerning the Person of Christ and the glory of the invisible Father. So perhaps the question is no longer simply: “Do you read the Bible?” The deeper question is: “Do you recognise the Person whom the Scriptures are revealing?” Because the Bible is testifying. The Spirit is speaking. The Scriptures are being unfolded. And behind the revelation stands a Person: Jesus Christ, the living Word of God—the image of the invisible God. Listen to The Kitchen Podcast Continue this exploration of The Body of the Word on The Kitchen Podcast by Omodolapo Ogunye, available on Audible, Spotify, Deezer, Amazon Music and Apple Podcasts. Please share and spread the Revelation Knowledge of the Body of the Word. celebrating the Body of the Word #foodmoneyshow #bodyoftheword #marketplace #worldwide #moneymindset
    Love
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    0 Commentaires 0 Parts 49 Vue
  • OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

    DATE: MONDAY 24TH AUGUST 2026

    TOPIC: NOTHING GOOD TO OFFER

    MEMORIZE:
    "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." James 4:7 (KJV)

    BIBLE READING: LUKE 11:24-26
    24 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out.

    25 And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished.

    26 Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.

    MESSAGE:
    The devil has two types of captives: the willing captives and the unwilling captives. An unwilling captive is someone who has entered either willingly or unwillingly into the trap of the devil but now wants to be delivered. Such a fellow will be set free from the devil’s hold when an anointed child of God prays for him or her.

    A willing captive, on the other hand, is someone who also gets into the devil’s hold either willingly or unwillingly but refuses to repent or be delivered because of the perceived benefits he or she is getting by serving satan. Even if such a fellow is forcefully delivered, he or she will return to the devil’s camp, and this time around, the bondage will be much worse because the demon(s) that were previously cast out will be multiplied sevenfold (Matthew 12:43-45).

    Many years ago, we discovered that a witch was among us in the church. We prayed for her to be delivered; however, she remained in bondage. We then asked her if she wanted to be free, and she said, “No. Do you want me to lose the power that I use to control my husband?” Such thinking is very unfortunate because those who serve the devil are headed for eternal damnation if they do not repent.

    A woman whose children were dying one after the other went to seek help from a prophet because she needed him to pray to God for their protection.
    While waiting for him, his wife asked her why she wanted to see her husband. She explained why she had come, and the prophet’s wife gave her a kolanut to eat, telling her it would solve her problem and that she didn’t need to wait for her husband again.

    When she went to sleep that night, she suddenly found herself among some witches in the spirit realm. They welcomed her and promised to protect her children if she joined them. She agreed based on their promise, and after some time, it became her turn to supply the blood that the coven would drink. At that point, she surrendered her husband to be sacrificed.
    More time passed, and it became her turn again to supply blood. This time, however, the witches asked her to sacrifice her children. That was when she decided to seek God’s help to save her children from the devil’s plan. Thank God she came to the church, and God delivered her.

    Beloved, the devil offers nothing good or lasting. For everything he gives, he takes a thousandfold in return. I pray that God grants you the grace to avoid his traps, and if he currently has any hold over you and you are willing to be set free, I decree your liberty now, in Jesus’ name.

    KEY POINT:
    The devil has nothing good to give. Those who serve him are headed for eternal damnation.

    BIBLE READING IN ONE YEAR: EZEKIEL 1-4

    AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

    HYMNAL 23 : ALL TO JESUS, I SURRENDER
    1. All to Jesus I surrender all to Him I freely give; I will ever low and trust Him, in His presence daily live.

    CHORUS:
    I surrender all,
    I surrender all:
    All to Thee, my blessed saviour
    I surrender all

    2. All to Jesus I surrender,
    Humbly at His feet l bow;
    Worldly pleasures all forsaken.
    Take me, Jesus, take me now.

    CHORUS:

    3. All to Jesus I surrender. Lord, I give myself to Thee; Fill me with Thy love and power, Let Thy blessing fall on me.

    CHORUS:

    4. All to Jesus I surrender,
    now I feel the sacred flame
    o the joy of full salvation!
    Glory, glory to His name!

    CHORUS:


    ‎PRAYER POINTS ON TODAY'S OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL
    MONDAY, 24TH AUGUST, 2026
    *NOTHING GOOD TO OFFER*

    1.Father, thank You for the offer of eternal life, peace, joy and holiness in Christ Jesus. I worship You, for every good and perfect gift comes from You above.

    2.Father, please fill me with the fullness of Your Holy Spirit, and let there be no room for the devil to occupy in me, in Jesus' name

    3.Father, please help me to humble myself before You, and to constantly resist the devil, in Jesus' name.

    4.Father, please deliver me from every form of captivity that my life might be in, and help me never to return into such captivity again, in Jesus' name.

    5.Father, as many captives that are unwilling victim of the devil, and are ready to be set free, I send Your word to them today, let them be set free totally, in Jesus' name.

    6.Father, please deliver all Your children from the deceits of the devil, and let them accept the free gift of eternal life offered through Christ Jesus.

    7.Father, please grant me the grace to avoid satanic traps that may lure me into captivity, in Jesus' name.

    8.Father, please frustrate the plans of the devil to put me or any member of my household into captivity, in Jesus' name.

    9.Father, as many that are currently under satanic hold and they are willing to be free, please set them all at liberty and make them Your children indeed, in Jesus' name.

    10.Father, please no matter how enticing the offer from the devil might be, help me never to trade my soul for his fake promises, in Jesus' name.

    11.Father, thank You for the life of Your son, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye.

    Help him to abide in You till You come again in glory, in Jesus' name. Bless his children (biological and spiritual). Help him to continue to produce sons and daughters to Your glory, in Jesus name

    ‎12.Father, please bless Your son that You have been using to prepare these prayer points, with wisdom and favour. Answer all his prayers beyond measure, and all those who have been broadcasting them, in Jesus' name.

    ‎13.Father, please let every challenge and temptations, hindrance and obstacles of getting these prayer points across to Your children, timely, and on daily basis be removed, in Jesus name.

    ‎14.Your personal petitions.
    ‎(Philippians 4:6)

    ‎15.In Jesus name I pray.
    ‎(John 14:13-14; 15:16)

    #GodBlessOurNation

    *These prayers have no expiry date! Please join us in prayer, irrespective of the time they get to you. Remain blessed, in Jesus’ name.
    OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL DATE: MONDAY 24TH AUGUST 2026 TOPIC: NOTHING GOOD TO OFFER MEMORIZE: "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." James 4:7 (KJV) BIBLE READING: LUKE 11:24-26 24 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out. 25 And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished. 26 Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. MESSAGE: The devil has two types of captives: the willing captives and the unwilling captives. An unwilling captive is someone who has entered either willingly or unwillingly into the trap of the devil but now wants to be delivered. Such a fellow will be set free from the devil’s hold when an anointed child of God prays for him or her. A willing captive, on the other hand, is someone who also gets into the devil’s hold either willingly or unwillingly but refuses to repent or be delivered because of the perceived benefits he or she is getting by serving satan. Even if such a fellow is forcefully delivered, he or she will return to the devil’s camp, and this time around, the bondage will be much worse because the demon(s) that were previously cast out will be multiplied sevenfold (Matthew 12:43-45). Many years ago, we discovered that a witch was among us in the church. We prayed for her to be delivered; however, she remained in bondage. We then asked her if she wanted to be free, and she said, “No. Do you want me to lose the power that I use to control my husband?” Such thinking is very unfortunate because those who serve the devil are headed for eternal damnation if they do not repent. A woman whose children were dying one after the other went to seek help from a prophet because she needed him to pray to God for their protection. While waiting for him, his wife asked her why she wanted to see her husband. She explained why she had come, and the prophet’s wife gave her a kolanut to eat, telling her it would solve her problem and that she didn’t need to wait for her husband again. When she went to sleep that night, she suddenly found herself among some witches in the spirit realm. They welcomed her and promised to protect her children if she joined them. She agreed based on their promise, and after some time, it became her turn to supply the blood that the coven would drink. At that point, she surrendered her husband to be sacrificed. More time passed, and it became her turn again to supply blood. This time, however, the witches asked her to sacrifice her children. That was when she decided to seek God’s help to save her children from the devil’s plan. Thank God she came to the church, and God delivered her. Beloved, the devil offers nothing good or lasting. For everything he gives, he takes a thousandfold in return. I pray that God grants you the grace to avoid his traps, and if he currently has any hold over you and you are willing to be set free, I decree your liberty now, in Jesus’ name. KEY POINT: The devil has nothing good to give. Those who serve him are headed for eternal damnation. BIBLE READING IN ONE YEAR: EZEKIEL 1-4 AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE HYMNAL 23 : ALL TO JESUS, I SURRENDER 1. All to Jesus I surrender all to Him I freely give; I will ever low and trust Him, in His presence daily live. CHORUS: I surrender all, I surrender all: All to Thee, my blessed saviour I surrender all 2. All to Jesus I surrender, Humbly at His feet l bow; Worldly pleasures all forsaken. Take me, Jesus, take me now. CHORUS: 3. All to Jesus I surrender. Lord, I give myself to Thee; Fill me with Thy love and power, Let Thy blessing fall on me. CHORUS: 4. All to Jesus I surrender, now I feel the sacred flame o the joy of full salvation! Glory, glory to His name! CHORUS: ‎PRAYER POINTS ON TODAY'S OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL MONDAY, 24TH AUGUST, 2026 *NOTHING GOOD TO OFFER* ‎ 1.Father, thank You for the offer of eternal life, peace, joy and holiness in Christ Jesus. I worship You, for every good and perfect gift comes from You above. 2.Father, please fill me with the fullness of Your Holy Spirit, and let there be no room for the devil to occupy in me, in Jesus' name 3.Father, please help me to humble myself before You, and to constantly resist the devil, in Jesus' name. 4.Father, please deliver me from every form of captivity that my life might be in, and help me never to return into such captivity again, in Jesus' name. 5.Father, as many captives that are unwilling victim of the devil, and are ready to be set free, I send Your word to them today, let them be set free totally, in Jesus' name. 6.Father, please deliver all Your children from the deceits of the devil, and let them accept the free gift of eternal life offered through Christ Jesus. 7.Father, please grant me the grace to avoid satanic traps that may lure me into captivity, in Jesus' name. 8.Father, please frustrate the plans of the devil to put me or any member of my household into captivity, in Jesus' name. 9.Father, as many that are currently under satanic hold and they are willing to be free, please set them all at liberty and make them Your children indeed, in Jesus' name. 10.Father, please no matter how enticing the offer from the devil might be, help me never to trade my soul for his fake promises, in Jesus' name. 11.Father, thank You for the life of Your son, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye. ‎ Help him to abide in You till You come again in glory, in Jesus' name. Bless his children (biological and spiritual). Help him to continue to produce sons and daughters to Your glory, in Jesus name ‎ ‎12.Father, please bless Your son that You have been using to prepare these prayer points, with wisdom and favour. Answer all his prayers beyond measure, and all those who have been broadcasting them, in Jesus' name. ‎ ‎13.Father, please let every challenge and temptations, hindrance and obstacles of getting these prayer points across to Your children, timely, and on daily basis be removed, in Jesus name. ‎ ‎14.Your personal petitions. ‎(Philippians 4:6) ‎ ‎15.In Jesus name I pray. ‎(John 14:13-14; 15:16) #GodBlessOurNation *These prayers have no expiry date! Please join us in prayer, irrespective of the time they get to you. Remain blessed, in Jesus’ name.
    0 Commentaires 0 Parts 24 Vue
  • Colossians 4:1, NASB
    “Masters, grant to your slaves justice and fairness, knowing that you too have a Master in heaven.”

    Goodness gives birth to goodness. Badness gives birth to badness! What you give to others will be given back to you. This is the rule of God's Creation! Take Care!

    Prayer:
    Luke 6:38, NASB
    “Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure--pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.”

    May we give out of Your Goodness, Mercy and Grace, out of the Heart of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. Amen.
    Colossians 4:1, NASB “Masters, grant to your slaves justice and fairness, knowing that you too have a Master in heaven.” Goodness gives birth to goodness. Badness gives birth to badness! What you give to others will be given back to you. This is the rule of God's Creation! Take Care! Prayer: Luke 6:38, NASB “Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure--pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.” May we give out of Your Goodness, Mercy and Grace, out of the Heart of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. Amen.
    0 Commentaires 0 Parts 22 Vue
  • **JESUS IS CALLING TODAY**

    Why do you call me, Lord, Lord, and do not do what I say?

    This question from Jesus, in Luke 6:46, needs to touch your heart deeply. We live in a time when much is said about the love of Jesus, about blessing, healing, and prosperity, but little is said about repentance, obedience, and holiness.

    It is true that Jesus is love, for those who also love him (Proverbs 8:17), but the same Jesus who said come to me also declared that if you want to follow him, you must deny yourself and take up your cross daily. Following Christ has a cost: dying to sin and living for Jesus. He himself said that whoever loves him keeps his commandments.

    I ask you, you who say you are a Christian: are you truly following Jesus, or just using his name?

    The Word of God does not call sin a weakness; it calls it sin, and it confronts the attitude of those who claim to be Christian yet live out, day to day, practices such as lying, greed, envy, pride, hatred, adultery, sexual immorality, idolatry, theft, addictions, corruption, slander, and hypocrisy. Paul, in 1 Corinthians 6, lists several of these practices. But right after, he reminds us that some of the believers in Corinth had once lived this way, and were washed, sanctified, and justified in the name of Jesus.

    Jesus says to you: repent and turn away from sin.

    Jesus told the parable of the rich man who built bigger barns, thinking he had many years ahead, and God said to him: Fool, this very night your soul will be required of you; then who will own what you have prepared?

    You may have a house, a car, a job, a good salary, plans but what does it profit you to gain the whole world and lose your soul?

    If you are in Jesus Christ, you are a new creation, and the evil one cannot touch you or your household.

    The book of Acts 3:19 says: Repent and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out.

    Jesus does not look only for those who call him Lord, but for those who follow him and do what he commands, being doers of the word and not hearers only. Your life is short, eternity is real. Do not treat grace as a license to sin, and do not put it off until tomorrow.

    If today you hear his voice, do not harden your heart.
    **JESUS IS CALLING TODAY** Why do you call me, Lord, Lord, and do not do what I say? This question from Jesus, in Luke 6:46, needs to touch your heart deeply. We live in a time when much is said about the love of Jesus, about blessing, healing, and prosperity, but little is said about repentance, obedience, and holiness. It is true that Jesus is love, for those who also love him (Proverbs 8:17), but the same Jesus who said come to me also declared that if you want to follow him, you must deny yourself and take up your cross daily. Following Christ has a cost: dying to sin and living for Jesus. He himself said that whoever loves him keeps his commandments. I ask you, you who say you are a Christian: are you truly following Jesus, or just using his name? The Word of God does not call sin a weakness; it calls it sin, and it confronts the attitude of those who claim to be Christian yet live out, day to day, practices such as lying, greed, envy, pride, hatred, adultery, sexual immorality, idolatry, theft, addictions, corruption, slander, and hypocrisy. Paul, in 1 Corinthians 6, lists several of these practices. But right after, he reminds us that some of the believers in Corinth had once lived this way, and were washed, sanctified, and justified in the name of Jesus. Jesus says to you: repent and turn away from sin. Jesus told the parable of the rich man who built bigger barns, thinking he had many years ahead, and God said to him: Fool, this very night your soul will be required of you; then who will own what you have prepared? You may have a house, a car, a job, a good salary, plans but what does it profit you to gain the whole world and lose your soul? If you are in Jesus Christ, you are a new creation, and the evil one cannot touch you or your household. The book of Acts 3:19 says: Repent and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out. Jesus does not look only for those who call him Lord, but for those who follow him and do what he commands, being doers of the word and not hearers only. Your life is short, eternity is real. Do not treat grace as a license to sin, and do not put it off until tomorrow. If today you hear his voice, do not harden your heart.
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    0 Commentaires 0 Parts 33 Vue
  • TODAY'S KINGDOM INSIGHTS:

    SERMON TOPIC:

    HOW CAN YOU PRAY SO THAT GOD HEARS YOU?

    Main Text: Psalm 66:18–20; 1 John 5:14–15
    Supporting Texts: Matthew 6:5–13; James 5:16; Proverbs 15:29; Mark 11:24–25

    GOD IS STILL LISTENING.

    One of the deepest questions a believer can ask is:
    “When I pray, does God really hear me?”
    You may have prayed for months and seen no answer. You may have cried in secret, knelt beside your bed, prayed in church, prayed while travelling, prayed when nobody knew what you were going through—and still wondered, “God, are You hearing me?”
    Here is the good news:
    God hears prayer.
    But the Bible also teaches us that there is a way to approach God in prayer.
    Prayer is not merely talking loudly.
    Prayer is not using many religious words.
    Prayer is not trying to manipulate God.
    Prayer is fellowship with the Father.
    Jesus said:
    «“Your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.” — Matthew 6:8»
    So the question is not simply, “How much do I pray?”
    The deeper question is:
    “How do I position my heart when I pray?”
    1. PRAY WITH A SINCERE AND HUMBLE HEART
    God is not impressed by religious performance. He looks at the heart.
    Psalm 51:17 says:
    «“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart…”»
    David understood something important: God values the condition of the heart more than the appearance of the prayer.
    You can pray beautiful words with a proud heart and miss the heart of prayer.
    But you can come before God with tears, weakness, and simple words and experience His presence.

    Jesus' illustration

    In Luke 18:9–14, Jesus told the story of two men who went to the temple to pray.
    One was a Pharisee. He boasted about himself.
    The other was a tax collector. He simply cried:
    «“God be merciful to me a sinner.” — Luke 18:13»
    Jesus said the humble man went home justified.

    Spiritual lesson

    God is not looking for impressive prayers; He is looking for surrendered hearts.
    Come to God honestly.
    If you are hurting, tell Him.
    If you are confused, tell Him.
    If you have failed, confess it.
    If you are afraid, tell Him.
    Prayer begins when pretending ends.
    2. PRAY WITH FAITH
    James 1:6 says:
    «“But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering.”»
    Faith does not mean that you dictate to God what He must do.
    Faith means that you trust who God is, even when you do not understand what He is doing.
    Mark 11:24 says:
    «“What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.”»
    Faith says:
    “Father, I believe You are able.”
    And when the answer does not come immediately:
    “Father, I still trust You.”
    Faith does not disappear because the answer is delayed.
    Remember the three possible answers to prayer:

    YES — God grants the request.

    WAIT — God is working, but the timing is different.

    NO — God knows something you do not know.
    A “no” from God is not proof that God has abandoned you.
    Sometimes God's refusal is protection.
    Sometimes His delay is preparation.
    Sometimes His silence is developing your spiritual maturity.
    3. PRAY ACCORDING TO GOD'S WILL
    One of the most powerful scriptures on prayer is:
    «“And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us.” — 1 John 5:14»
    Notice the words:
    “According to His will.”
    Prayer is not about making God's will submit to ours.
    Prayer is about bringing our desires into alignment with God's will.
    Jesus demonstrated this in Gethsemane.
    He prayed:
    «“Nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.” — Luke 22:42»
    Jesus was facing the cross, yet He surrendered to the Father's will.
    That is mature prayer.
    A child may say:
    “God, give me what I want.”
    But spiritual maturity says:
    “God, give me what You know is best.”
    A powerful prayer to learn:
    “Lord, if this desire is from You, establish it. If it is not from You, remove it. And if I must wait, give me grace to wait.”
    4. DEAL WITH UNFORGIVENESS AND SIN

    We must be careful here.

    The Bible does not teach that every unanswered prayer means a person has committed some hidden sin.
    Job suffered greatly without being guilty of the accusations brought against him.
    However, Scripture clearly teaches that deliberate, unrepentant sin can affect our relationship and fellowship with God.
    Psalm 66:18 says:
    «“If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.”»
    And Isaiah 59:2 says:
    «“But your iniquities have separated between you and your God…”»
    God is merciful, but we should not treat sin casually.
    What about unforgiveness?
    Jesus taught:
    «“And when ye stand praying, forgive…” — Mark 11:25»
    You cannot continuously ask God for mercy while deliberately refusing to show mercy to others.
    Forgiveness does not mean saying that what happened was acceptable.
    Forgiveness means releasing vengeance into God's hands.
    Ask yourself:
    “Is there somebody I need to forgive?”
    “Is there something God has been asking me to surrender?”
    “Am I asking God to bless something He has already told me to leave?”
    5. PRAY WITH PERSISTENCE
    Some answers require persistent prayer.
    Jesus taught this through the parable of the persistent widow in Luke 18:1–8.
    The purpose of the parable was clear:
    «“Men ought always to pray, and not to faint.” — Luke 18:1»
    Do not stop praying simply because you have not yet seen the answer.
    Daniel gives us another powerful example.
    In Daniel 10, Daniel prayed and fasted. His answer was delayed, but heaven had heard him from the beginning.
    The angel told him:
    «“From the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand… thy words were heard.” — Daniel 10:12»
    Think about that!
    Daniel was praying on earth while heaven was already responding.
    The delay did not mean God had ignored him.

    BIBLICAL CASE STUDY:

    HANNAH — A WOMAN WHO POURED OUT HER SOUL

    Hannah's story in 1 Samuel 1 is one of the clearest pictures of persistent prayer.
    She was deeply troubled because she had no child.
    She went to the house of the Lord and prayed.
    She didn't simply perform a religious ritual.
    She poured out her soul before God.
    Eli initially misunderstood her.
    But Hannah kept praying.
    Eventually, God answered her prayer and gave her Samuel.
    Her story teaches us:
    1. You can bring your deepest pain to God.
    2. People may misunderstand your prayer, but God understands your heart.
    3. Delay does not mean denial.
    4. God can turn tears into testimony.
    Hannah went into the presence of God carrying sorrow.
    She came out carrying peace.
    The circumstances had not immediately changed—but something had changed inside her.
    That is one of the miracles of prayer.
    Sometimes prayer changes the situation.
    Sometimes prayer changes the person going through the situation.
    And sometimes God does both.

    WHAT DOES IT MEAN THAT GOD "HEARS" PRAYER?

    When Scripture says God hears prayer, it means far more than God simply detecting our words.
    It means God attends to, receives, and responds according to His wisdom and will.
    God hears the prayer of His children.
    Proverbs 15:29 says:
    «“The LORD is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous.”»
    And James 5:16 declares:
    «“The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”»
    Your prayer may look small on earth, but it is not small when it reaches heaven.

    PRACTICAL ACTION STEPS

    1. SET A CONSISTENT PRAYER TIME
    Do not pray only when there is an emergency.
    Build a prayer life.
    2. BEGIN WITH WORSHIP
    Before presenting your shopping list to God, acknowledge who He is.
    “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name…” — Matthew 6:9
    3. CONFESS YOUR SINS
    Ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart.
    Psalm 139:23–24
    4. PRAY SCRIPTURE
    Use God's Word as the foundation of your prayers.
    5. ASK SPECIFICALLY
    Instead of only saying, “Lord, bless me,” tell God what you are trusting Him for.
    6. LEARN TO LISTEN
    Prayer is not a one-way conversation.
    After speaking, become quiet before God.
    Read Scripture.
    Pay attention to the convictions and guidance of the Holy Spirit.
    7. KEEP A PRAYER JOURNAL
    Write down your requests.
    Record dates.
    Record answers.
    One day you will look back and realize how many prayers God answered.

    DEEP SPIRITUAL INSIGHTS

    1. God's silence is not necessarily God's absence.
    You may not hear anything, but God may still be working.
    2. Prayer is not primarily about getting things; it is about knowing God.
    The greatest answer to prayer is not always a possession.
    Sometimes it is God Himself.
    3. Prayer changes the atmosphere of the person praying.
    You may enter prayer anxious and leave with peace.
    4. God's answer may be different from your expectation.
    Never limit God to one method of answering.
    5. The strongest prayer is surrendered prayer.
    “Lord, have Your way” is one of the deepest expressions of faith.

    QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION

    1. When I pray, am I seeking God's will or only demanding my own will?
    2. Is there any known sin I need to confess?
    3. Is there someone I need to forgive?
    4. Have I stopped praying because my answer is delayed?
    5. Do I genuinely trust God when His answer is different from what I expected?
    6. Is my prayer life based on relationship with God or only on emergency needs?
    7. What prayer have I abandoned that God may be asking me to continue bringing before Him?

    POWERFUL PRAYER POINTS

    1. PRAYER FOR A DEEPER PRAYER LIFE
    Father, awaken in me a fresh hunger for prayer. Take away spiritual laziness and teach me to seek Your face consistently, in Jesus' name.
    2. PRAYER FOR A PURE HEART
    Lord, search my heart. Reveal anything that is displeasing to You and give me grace to repent and walk in righteousness.
    3. PRAYER FOR FAITH
    Father, increase my faith. When answers are delayed, help me trust You. When I cannot see the way, help me believe that You are still working.
    4. PRAYER FOR GOD'S WILL
    Lord, deliver me from insisting on my own way. Align my desires with Your purpose and give me grace to say, “Your will be done.”
    5. PRAYER FOR PERSISTENCE
    Father, give me strength not to faint in prayer. Help me continue believing until Your appointed time.
    6. PRAYER FOR FORGIVENESS
    Lord, give me grace to forgive those who have hurt me. Heal my heart and remove bitterness from my spirit.
    7. PRAYER FOR DIVINE ANSWERS
    Father, concerning every legitimate request I have brought before You, let Your perfect will be established. Open the right doors, close the wrong doors, and lead me according to Your purpose.
    8. PRAYER FOR SPIRITUAL SENSITIVITY
    Holy Spirit, teach me to recognize Your voice. Help me distinguish Your leading from my emotions, fears, and human desires.

    DON'T JUST PRAY—BUILD A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD

    Beloved, prayer is not a religious emergency button.
    Prayer is relationship.
    Do not wait until everything is falling apart before you seek God.
    Pray when you are happy.
    Pray when you are confused.
    Pray when you have money.
    Pray when you have nothing.
    Pray when the door opens.
    Pray when the door closes.
    Pray when you understand.
    Pray when you don't understand.
    And above all, pray with a heart that trusts God.
    Remember:
    A delayed answer is not necessarily a denied prayer.
    God's silence is not necessarily God's absence.
    God's “no” is not a rejection of you.
    And God's “wait” is not a waste of your time.
    There is a God who hears.
    There is a God who sees.
    There is a God who knows.
    There is a God who answers.
    So keep praying. Keep believing. Keep trusting. Keep walking with God.

    FINAL DECLARATION

    I will not give up in prayer.
    I will not allow delay to destroy my faith.
    I will seek God's face, not merely His hands.
    I will surrender my will to His will.
    I will forgive.
    I will believe.
    I will persevere.
    And I will trust the God who hears me.
    In Jesus' mighty name, Amen!

    If you have not given your life to Jesus kindly do so by joining a Bible believing Church.
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    TODAY'S KINGDOM INSIGHTS: SERMON TOPIC: HOW CAN YOU PRAY SO THAT GOD HEARS YOU? Main Text: Psalm 66:18–20; 1 John 5:14–15 Supporting Texts: Matthew 6:5–13; James 5:16; Proverbs 15:29; Mark 11:24–25 GOD IS STILL LISTENING. One of the deepest questions a believer can ask is: “When I pray, does God really hear me?” You may have prayed for months and seen no answer. You may have cried in secret, knelt beside your bed, prayed in church, prayed while travelling, prayed when nobody knew what you were going through—and still wondered, “God, are You hearing me?” Here is the good news: God hears prayer. But the Bible also teaches us that there is a way to approach God in prayer. Prayer is not merely talking loudly. Prayer is not using many religious words. Prayer is not trying to manipulate God. Prayer is fellowship with the Father. Jesus said: «“Your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.” — Matthew 6:8» So the question is not simply, “How much do I pray?” The deeper question is: “How do I position my heart when I pray?” 1. PRAY WITH A SINCERE AND HUMBLE HEART God is not impressed by religious performance. He looks at the heart. Psalm 51:17 says: «“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart…”» David understood something important: God values the condition of the heart more than the appearance of the prayer. You can pray beautiful words with a proud heart and miss the heart of prayer. But you can come before God with tears, weakness, and simple words and experience His presence. Jesus' illustration In Luke 18:9–14, Jesus told the story of two men who went to the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee. He boasted about himself. The other was a tax collector. He simply cried: «“God be merciful to me a sinner.” — Luke 18:13» Jesus said the humble man went home justified. Spiritual lesson God is not looking for impressive prayers; He is looking for surrendered hearts. Come to God honestly. If you are hurting, tell Him. If you are confused, tell Him. If you have failed, confess it. If you are afraid, tell Him. Prayer begins when pretending ends. 2. PRAY WITH FAITH James 1:6 says: «“But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering.”» Faith does not mean that you dictate to God what He must do. Faith means that you trust who God is, even when you do not understand what He is doing. Mark 11:24 says: «“What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.”» Faith says: “Father, I believe You are able.” And when the answer does not come immediately: “Father, I still trust You.” Faith does not disappear because the answer is delayed. Remember the three possible answers to prayer: YES — God grants the request. WAIT — God is working, but the timing is different. NO — God knows something you do not know. A “no” from God is not proof that God has abandoned you. Sometimes God's refusal is protection. Sometimes His delay is preparation. Sometimes His silence is developing your spiritual maturity. 3. PRAY ACCORDING TO GOD'S WILL One of the most powerful scriptures on prayer is: «“And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us.” — 1 John 5:14» Notice the words: “According to His will.” Prayer is not about making God's will submit to ours. Prayer is about bringing our desires into alignment with God's will. Jesus demonstrated this in Gethsemane. He prayed: «“Nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.” — Luke 22:42» Jesus was facing the cross, yet He surrendered to the Father's will. That is mature prayer. A child may say: “God, give me what I want.” But spiritual maturity says: “God, give me what You know is best.” A powerful prayer to learn: “Lord, if this desire is from You, establish it. If it is not from You, remove it. And if I must wait, give me grace to wait.” 4. DEAL WITH UNFORGIVENESS AND SIN We must be careful here. The Bible does not teach that every unanswered prayer means a person has committed some hidden sin. Job suffered greatly without being guilty of the accusations brought against him. However, Scripture clearly teaches that deliberate, unrepentant sin can affect our relationship and fellowship with God. Psalm 66:18 says: «“If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.”» And Isaiah 59:2 says: «“But your iniquities have separated between you and your God…”» God is merciful, but we should not treat sin casually. What about unforgiveness? Jesus taught: «“And when ye stand praying, forgive…” — Mark 11:25» You cannot continuously ask God for mercy while deliberately refusing to show mercy to others. Forgiveness does not mean saying that what happened was acceptable. Forgiveness means releasing vengeance into God's hands. Ask yourself: “Is there somebody I need to forgive?” “Is there something God has been asking me to surrender?” “Am I asking God to bless something He has already told me to leave?” 5. PRAY WITH PERSISTENCE Some answers require persistent prayer. Jesus taught this through the parable of the persistent widow in Luke 18:1–8. The purpose of the parable was clear: «“Men ought always to pray, and not to faint.” — Luke 18:1» Do not stop praying simply because you have not yet seen the answer. Daniel gives us another powerful example. In Daniel 10, Daniel prayed and fasted. His answer was delayed, but heaven had heard him from the beginning. The angel told him: «“From the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand… thy words were heard.” — Daniel 10:12» Think about that! Daniel was praying on earth while heaven was already responding. The delay did not mean God had ignored him. BIBLICAL CASE STUDY: HANNAH — A WOMAN WHO POURED OUT HER SOUL Hannah's story in 1 Samuel 1 is one of the clearest pictures of persistent prayer. She was deeply troubled because she had no child. She went to the house of the Lord and prayed. She didn't simply perform a religious ritual. She poured out her soul before God. Eli initially misunderstood her. But Hannah kept praying. Eventually, God answered her prayer and gave her Samuel. Her story teaches us: 1. You can bring your deepest pain to God. 2. People may misunderstand your prayer, but God understands your heart. 3. Delay does not mean denial. 4. God can turn tears into testimony. Hannah went into the presence of God carrying sorrow. She came out carrying peace. The circumstances had not immediately changed—but something had changed inside her. That is one of the miracles of prayer. Sometimes prayer changes the situation. Sometimes prayer changes the person going through the situation. And sometimes God does both. WHAT DOES IT MEAN THAT GOD "HEARS" PRAYER? When Scripture says God hears prayer, it means far more than God simply detecting our words. It means God attends to, receives, and responds according to His wisdom and will. God hears the prayer of His children. Proverbs 15:29 says: «“The LORD is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous.”» And James 5:16 declares: «“The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”» Your prayer may look small on earth, but it is not small when it reaches heaven. PRACTICAL ACTION STEPS 1. SET A CONSISTENT PRAYER TIME Do not pray only when there is an emergency. Build a prayer life. 2. BEGIN WITH WORSHIP Before presenting your shopping list to God, acknowledge who He is. “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name…” — Matthew 6:9 3. CONFESS YOUR SINS Ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart. Psalm 139:23–24 4. PRAY SCRIPTURE Use God's Word as the foundation of your prayers. 5. ASK SPECIFICALLY Instead of only saying, “Lord, bless me,” tell God what you are trusting Him for. 6. LEARN TO LISTEN Prayer is not a one-way conversation. After speaking, become quiet before God. Read Scripture. Pay attention to the convictions and guidance of the Holy Spirit. 7. KEEP A PRAYER JOURNAL Write down your requests. Record dates. Record answers. One day you will look back and realize how many prayers God answered. DEEP SPIRITUAL INSIGHTS 1. God's silence is not necessarily God's absence. You may not hear anything, but God may still be working. 2. Prayer is not primarily about getting things; it is about knowing God. The greatest answer to prayer is not always a possession. Sometimes it is God Himself. 3. Prayer changes the atmosphere of the person praying. You may enter prayer anxious and leave with peace. 4. God's answer may be different from your expectation. Never limit God to one method of answering. 5. The strongest prayer is surrendered prayer. “Lord, have Your way” is one of the deepest expressions of faith. QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION 1. When I pray, am I seeking God's will or only demanding my own will? 2. Is there any known sin I need to confess? 3. Is there someone I need to forgive? 4. Have I stopped praying because my answer is delayed? 5. Do I genuinely trust God when His answer is different from what I expected? 6. Is my prayer life based on relationship with God or only on emergency needs? 7. What prayer have I abandoned that God may be asking me to continue bringing before Him? POWERFUL PRAYER POINTS 1. PRAYER FOR A DEEPER PRAYER LIFE Father, awaken in me a fresh hunger for prayer. Take away spiritual laziness and teach me to seek Your face consistently, in Jesus' name. 2. PRAYER FOR A PURE HEART Lord, search my heart. Reveal anything that is displeasing to You and give me grace to repent and walk in righteousness. 3. PRAYER FOR FAITH Father, increase my faith. When answers are delayed, help me trust You. When I cannot see the way, help me believe that You are still working. 4. PRAYER FOR GOD'S WILL Lord, deliver me from insisting on my own way. Align my desires with Your purpose and give me grace to say, “Your will be done.” 5. PRAYER FOR PERSISTENCE Father, give me strength not to faint in prayer. Help me continue believing until Your appointed time. 6. PRAYER FOR FORGIVENESS Lord, give me grace to forgive those who have hurt me. Heal my heart and remove bitterness from my spirit. 7. PRAYER FOR DIVINE ANSWERS Father, concerning every legitimate request I have brought before You, let Your perfect will be established. Open the right doors, close the wrong doors, and lead me according to Your purpose. 8. PRAYER FOR SPIRITUAL SENSITIVITY Holy Spirit, teach me to recognize Your voice. Help me distinguish Your leading from my emotions, fears, and human desires. DON'T JUST PRAY—BUILD A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD Beloved, prayer is not a religious emergency button. Prayer is relationship. Do not wait until everything is falling apart before you seek God. Pray when you are happy. Pray when you are confused. Pray when you have money. Pray when you have nothing. Pray when the door opens. Pray when the door closes. Pray when you understand. Pray when you don't understand. And above all, pray with a heart that trusts God. Remember: A delayed answer is not necessarily a denied prayer. God's silence is not necessarily God's absence. God's “no” is not a rejection of you. And God's “wait” is not a waste of your time. There is a God who hears. There is a God who sees. There is a God who knows. There is a God who answers. So keep praying. Keep believing. Keep trusting. Keep walking with God. FINAL DECLARATION I will not give up in prayer. I will not allow delay to destroy my faith. I will seek God's face, not merely His hands. I will surrender my will to His will. I will forgive. I will believe. I will persevere. And I will trust the God who hears me. In Jesus' mighty name, Amen! If you have not given your life to Jesus kindly do so by joining a Bible believing Church. You can get inspirational ebooks from my sela shops below https://selar.com/m/umoh-edem1 https://selar com/m/umoedem https://www.amazon.com/author/umohedembooks https://afrikdp.com/author/9128a016-dd79-4f17-9e60-bf11f65f1a34 CONTACT - WhatsApp +2349024173027, +2349055447540 Email pastor.umoedem@gmail.com
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  • St. Bartholomew

    St. Bartholomew was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ. He is the same person of Nathaniel mentioned in the Gospel of John. When Philip told Nathaniel about Jesus, "We saw the Messiah as told in scriptures, who is the Jesus of Nazareth", Nathaniel then told "Can anything good come from Nazareth". Then Philip introduced Nathaniel to Jesus and Jesus told about him "Israelite……..incapable of deceit". Bartholomew is mentioned as one of the disciples of Jesus in gospel of Mathew (10: 1 \- 4), in the gospel of Mark (3: 13\-19) and in the gospel of Luke (6: 12\-16). He is mentioned as Nathanael in the gospel of John (1: 45\-51). Eusebius of Caesarea and St. Jerome says that Bartholomew went on missionary work to India also. Then along with Apostle Jude, Bartholomew went to Armenia in the first century. By his missionary work, Bartholomew converted Polymius, the king of Armenia to Christianity. But the king's brother Astyages ordered the execution of Bartholomew. He was martyred in Armenia (Albanopolis) by crucifixion, head downward. St. Bartholomew and St. Jude are considered as the patrons of the Armenian Apostolic Church.
    #followjesus #Catholic #trust #hope #world peace #kingofpeace
    St. Bartholomew St. Bartholomew was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ. He is the same person of Nathaniel mentioned in the Gospel of John. When Philip told Nathaniel about Jesus, "We saw the Messiah as told in scriptures, who is the Jesus of Nazareth", Nathaniel then told "Can anything good come from Nazareth". Then Philip introduced Nathaniel to Jesus and Jesus told about him "Israelite……..incapable of deceit". Bartholomew is mentioned as one of the disciples of Jesus in gospel of Mathew (10: 1 \- 4), in the gospel of Mark (3: 13\-19) and in the gospel of Luke (6: 12\-16). He is mentioned as Nathanael in the gospel of John (1: 45\-51). Eusebius of Caesarea and St. Jerome says that Bartholomew went on missionary work to India also. Then along with Apostle Jude, Bartholomew went to Armenia in the first century. By his missionary work, Bartholomew converted Polymius, the king of Armenia to Christianity. But the king's brother Astyages ordered the execution of Bartholomew. He was martyred in Armenia (Albanopolis) by crucifixion, head downward. St. Bartholomew and St. Jude are considered as the patrons of the Armenian Apostolic Church. #followjesus #Catholic #trust #hope #world peace #kingofpeace
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  • August 24 - The Redemptive Element of Jesus’ Impartial Healings

    #LifeOfChrist

    “‘Your faith has made you well’” (Matthew 9:22).

    In many instances in the gospels, the words translated “healed,” “made well,” or similar variations, are from the Greek word meaning salvation or saved from sin. For instance, when blind Bartimaeus came to Jesus to regain his sight, the Lord told him, “Go; your faith has made you well” (Mark 10:52). That Bartimaeus repeatedly called Jesus “Son of David,” a common messianic title, suggests that his physical healing included spiritual salvation.

    In the account of the ten lepers, Luke reports that all of them “were cleansed” (Luke 17:14), but this was from a word that means essentially physical cleansing. However, of the one who glorified God and returned to give thanks, Jesus used the same expression (see v. 19) as He did to Bartimaeus and the woman with the hemorrhage. Ten men received cleansing, but only one obtained salvation. This indicates that salvation and physical healing were sometimes linked, even if in the example of the ten lepers, only one man realized both.

    In addition to a strong redemptive element, Jesus’ healings were impartial. That Christ ministered equally to the leading synagogue elder and the outcast woman clearly proves this. The woman’s touching His garment with unclean hands did not offend Him. Nor did her presumption to obtain His help while He worked through the crowd to reach Jairus’s daughter bother Him. True needs never interfered with our Lord’s sovereign and impartial approach to ministry. “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Matt. 20:28).

    Ask Yourself

    Would you describe your feelings and interactions with others as being impartial? Are there people who (though you might never admit it aloud) are considered beneath you and unworthy of your notice and attention? Confess this as sin before the Father, and model Jesus’ brand of ministry.
    August 24 - The Redemptive Element of Jesus’ Impartial Healings #LifeOfChrist “‘Your faith has made you well’” (Matthew 9:22). In many instances in the gospels, the words translated “healed,” “made well,” or similar variations, are from the Greek word meaning salvation or saved from sin. For instance, when blind Bartimaeus came to Jesus to regain his sight, the Lord told him, “Go; your faith has made you well” (Mark 10:52). That Bartimaeus repeatedly called Jesus “Son of David,” a common messianic title, suggests that his physical healing included spiritual salvation. In the account of the ten lepers, Luke reports that all of them “were cleansed” (Luke 17:14), but this was from a word that means essentially physical cleansing. However, of the one who glorified God and returned to give thanks, Jesus used the same expression (see v. 19) as He did to Bartimaeus and the woman with the hemorrhage. Ten men received cleansing, but only one obtained salvation. This indicates that salvation and physical healing were sometimes linked, even if in the example of the ten lepers, only one man realized both. In addition to a strong redemptive element, Jesus’ healings were impartial. That Christ ministered equally to the leading synagogue elder and the outcast woman clearly proves this. The woman’s touching His garment with unclean hands did not offend Him. Nor did her presumption to obtain His help while He worked through the crowd to reach Jairus’s daughter bother Him. True needs never interfered with our Lord’s sovereign and impartial approach to ministry. “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Matt. 20:28). Ask Yourself Would you describe your feelings and interactions with others as being impartial? Are there people who (though you might never admit it aloud) are considered beneath you and unworthy of your notice and attention? Confess this as sin before the Father, and model Jesus’ brand of ministry.
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  • HELP RJ MOTIVATIONAL EDU REACH 1,000 SUBSCRIBERS
    SUBSCRIBE HERE Please
    https://youtube.com/@rjmotivationaledu?si=bm4hdrmyxqmdDuB5

    “For with God nothing shall be impossible.” — Luke 1:37

    Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

    I’m working toward 1,000 subscribers on RJ Motivational Edu.

    This channel is created to share motivation, education, English learning, life lessons, encouragement, and messages of hope inspired by faith in God.

    When life becomes difficult, don’t lose hope.
    Trust God.
    Keep moving forward.
    Believe that God has a purpose for your life.

    If you feel blessed or encouraged by my content, please support the channel:

    SUBSCRIBE HERE:
    https://youtube.com/@rjmotivationaledu?si=bm4hdrmyxqmdDuB5

    Subscribe and turn on notifications.
    Share with your friends and family.

    OUR GOAL: 1,000 SUBSCRIBERS

    Every subscription is more than a number—it is encouragement to continue spreading hope, faith, knowledge, and positive messages.

    God bless you and your family.

    RJ MOTIVATIONAL EDU
    Learn • Believe • Grow • Trust God • Never Give Up
    🙏 HELP RJ MOTIVATIONAL EDU REACH 1,000 SUBSCRIBERS 🙏 👉 SUBSCRIBE HERE Please https://youtube.com/@rjmotivationaledu?si=bm4hdrmyxqmdDuB5 ✝️ “For with God nothing shall be impossible.” — Luke 1:37 Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, I’m working toward 1,000 subscribers on RJ Motivational Edu. ❤️ This channel is created to share motivation, education, English learning, life lessons, encouragement, and messages of hope inspired by faith in God. 🌿 When life becomes difficult, don’t lose hope. 🙏 Trust God. 💪 Keep moving forward. ❤️ Believe that God has a purpose for your life. If you feel blessed or encouraged by my content, please support the channel: 👉 SUBSCRIBE HERE: https://youtube.com/@rjmotivationaledu?si=bm4hdrmyxqmdDuB5 🔔 Subscribe and turn on notifications. 📲 Share with your friends and family. 🎯 OUR GOAL: 1,000 SUBSCRIBERS Every subscription is more than a number—it is encouragement to continue spreading hope, faith, knowledge, and positive messages. ✝️ God bless you and your family. 🙏❤️ RJ MOTIVATIONAL EDU Learn • Believe • Grow • Trust God • Never Give Up ✝️
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  • Loving and Gracious in All Things

    “There are those people who would say, ‘I’d rather deal with somebody who is rude, antagonistic and sarcastic, but when it really matters, is there for us in the big challenges of life.’

    But when one reads the Holy Bible, Old and New Testament, the character of God is such that He expects us not only to be loving and gracious on the big things, but also on the little things. To be loving and gracious only when it really matters, or only when it is convenient, is not the character of Christ. We must be loving and gracious in all things—big and small.”

    Christian Character Is Revealed in the Little Things

    It is easy to admire someone who stands beside us during a great crisis. Faithfulness in difficult times matters. But Christianity calls us to something deeper.

    God does not ask us to love only when the circumstances are serious. He calls us to love in the ordinary moments of everyday life.

    Jesus said:

    “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much.” — Luke 16:10

    The little things matter because the little things reveal the heart.

    How do we speak when we are irritated?
    How do we treat someone who inconveniences us?
    How do we respond when someone disagrees with us?
    How do we speak about people who aren’t present?

    These things may seem insignificant to the world, but they are not insignificant to God.

    Love Is Not Selective

    Jesus gave His followers a standard far higher than simply being decent when it is convenient:

    “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you.” — John 13:34

    Christ’s love was not reserved for emergencies. It was woven into everything He did.

    Paul says:

    “Let all your things be done with charity.” — 1 Corinthians 16:14

    Notice the word all.

    Not some things.

    Not the important things.

    All things.

    Our speech, our attitudes, our reactions and our relationships are all opportunities to reflect Christ.

    Paul also says:

    “Let your speech be always with grace.” — Colossians 4:6

    Always.

    Not only when we are preaching.

    Not only when we are dealing with someone we love.

    Not only when someone is watching.

    Always.

    Even When People Are Difficult

    Christian love is tested most when people are difficult.

    Jesus said:

    “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you.” — Matthew 5:44

    This does not mean Christians must tolerate abuse or refuse to confront wrongdoing. But even when we must establish boundaries or correct someone, we are not permitted to abandon Christlike love.

    Proverbs tells us:

    “A soft answer turneth away wrath.” — Proverbs 15:1

    And Paul commands:

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

    Kindness is not weakness. Grace is not weakness. Forgiveness is not weakness.

    These are marks of someone being transformed by Christ.

    The Fruit of the Spirit Should Be Seen Every Day

    Paul describes the fruit produced by the Holy Spirit:

    “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance.” — Galatians 5:22–23

    Notice how many of these qualities are revealed in ordinary interactions.

    Longsuffering. Gentleness. Goodness. Meekness.

    A person may demonstrate extraordinary courage during a crisis and still need the Holy Spirit to teach them patience in everyday life.

    Someone may sacrifice greatly for another person and yet continually wound others with their words.

    Christianity is not merely about doing great things occasionally. It is about becoming a person whose ordinary life reflects Jesus Christ.

    Christ in the Big and the Small

    Paul writes:

    “Whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus.” — Colossians 3:17

    Whatever you do.

    That includes the dramatic moments of life—and the mundane ones.

    So yes, be the person who stands beside someone when tragedy strikes.

    Be the person who answers the call when someone is hurting.

    But also:

    Be kind when nothing important is happening.

    Be patient when you are irritated.

    Speak graciously when you could speak harshly.

    Forgive the small offenses.

    Refuse to return sarcasm with sarcasm and hostility with hostility.

    Because the Christian calling is not simply to be loving when “it really matters.”

    It is to be loving because Christ lives in us.

    Jesus said:

    “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” — John 13:35

    The world should see Christ not only in how we respond to life’s greatest tragedies, but in how we behave on an ordinary Tuesday afternoon.

    Love in the big things.

    Love in the little things.

    Grace in the big things.

    Grace in the little things.

    Mercy in the big things.

    Mercy in the little things.

    Because there are no insignificant moments when we are called to represent Jesus Christ.

    “Let all that you do be done in love.” — 1 Corinthians 16:14

    That is the Christian life: not occasional goodness, but a life increasingly shaped by the character of Christ.
    Loving and Gracious in All Things “There are those people who would say, ‘I’d rather deal with somebody who is rude, antagonistic and sarcastic, but when it really matters, is there for us in the big challenges of life.’ But when one reads the Holy Bible, Old and New Testament, the character of God is such that He expects us not only to be loving and gracious on the big things, but also on the little things. To be loving and gracious only when it really matters, or only when it is convenient, is not the character of Christ. We must be loving and gracious in all things—big and small.” Christian Character Is Revealed in the Little Things It is easy to admire someone who stands beside us during a great crisis. Faithfulness in difficult times matters. But Christianity calls us to something deeper. God does not ask us to love only when the circumstances are serious. He calls us to love in the ordinary moments of everyday life. Jesus said: “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much.” — Luke 16:10 The little things matter because the little things reveal the heart. How do we speak when we are irritated? How do we treat someone who inconveniences us? How do we respond when someone disagrees with us? How do we speak about people who aren’t present? These things may seem insignificant to the world, but they are not insignificant to God. Love Is Not Selective Jesus gave His followers a standard far higher than simply being decent when it is convenient: “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you.” — John 13:34 Christ’s love was not reserved for emergencies. It was woven into everything He did. Paul says: “Let all your things be done with charity.” — 1 Corinthians 16:14 Notice the word all. Not some things. Not the important things. All things. Our speech, our attitudes, our reactions and our relationships are all opportunities to reflect Christ. Paul also says: “Let your speech be always with grace.” — Colossians 4:6 Always. Not only when we are preaching. Not only when we are dealing with someone we love. Not only when someone is watching. Always. Even When People Are Difficult Christian love is tested most when people are difficult. Jesus said: “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you.” — Matthew 5:44 This does not mean Christians must tolerate abuse or refuse to confront wrongdoing. But even when we must establish boundaries or correct someone, we are not permitted to abandon Christlike love. Proverbs tells us: “A soft answer turneth away wrath.” — Proverbs 15:1 And Paul commands: “Be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” — Ephesians 4:32 Kindness is not weakness. Grace is not weakness. Forgiveness is not weakness. These are marks of someone being transformed by Christ. The Fruit of the Spirit Should Be Seen Every Day Paul describes the fruit produced by the Holy Spirit: “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance.” — Galatians 5:22–23 Notice how many of these qualities are revealed in ordinary interactions. Longsuffering. Gentleness. Goodness. Meekness. A person may demonstrate extraordinary courage during a crisis and still need the Holy Spirit to teach them patience in everyday life. Someone may sacrifice greatly for another person and yet continually wound others with their words. Christianity is not merely about doing great things occasionally. It is about becoming a person whose ordinary life reflects Jesus Christ. Christ in the Big and the Small Paul writes: “Whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus.” — Colossians 3:17 Whatever you do. That includes the dramatic moments of life—and the mundane ones. So yes, be the person who stands beside someone when tragedy strikes. Be the person who answers the call when someone is hurting. But also: Be kind when nothing important is happening. Be patient when you are irritated. Speak graciously when you could speak harshly. Forgive the small offenses. Refuse to return sarcasm with sarcasm and hostility with hostility. Because the Christian calling is not simply to be loving when “it really matters.” It is to be loving because Christ lives in us. Jesus said: “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” — John 13:35 The world should see Christ not only in how we respond to life’s greatest tragedies, but in how we behave on an ordinary Tuesday afternoon. Love in the big things. Love in the little things. Grace in the big things. Grace in the little things. Mercy in the big things. Mercy in the little things. Because there are no insignificant moments when we are called to represent Jesus Christ. “Let all that you do be done in love.” — 1 Corinthians 16:14 That is the Christian life: not occasional goodness, but a life increasingly shaped by the character of Christ.
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