Category: Devotional

“The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus. …..But Peter and John replied, “Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than him? We cannot stop telling about everything we have seen and heard.” Acts 4:13, 19-20

Passion is your ability to pursue what gives you satisfaction at all cost. Mission is what you have set out to achieve. The mission Jesus came to undertake is bringing humanity back to the kingdom they have left.

Jesus with passion preached the kingdom gospel. “And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people” Matthew 9:35.

No sickness and disease is in his kingdom. So after the people heard the kingdom gospel he healed them.

Jesus didn’t only preached the gospel of the kingdom passionately. He also died for the mission for which he came. “For Christ also has once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit” 1Peter 3:18.

The Sanhedrin couldn’t resist Peter. Peter was ready to die for his mission. He told the Sanhedrin: “For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard” Acts 4:20.

Nothing stops a person with passion from achieving his mission. Passion puts the readiness to die in achievers such that nothing stops them.

Let’s look at Paul’s passion. “Then Paul answered, What mean you to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus” Acts 21:13.

For you to undertake your mission, you need passion. That’s, the readiness to die for your pursuit. God honours the passion with which you pursue your mission. Inject passion into your desire to achieve your mission to win divine approval.

LET’S PRAY
O’ Lord, give me grace enough to know that, passion for souls is mission for saints in the glorious name of Jesus Christ. Amen Amen Amen. Fountain to your life.

“and they called the whole community together on the first day of the second month. The people registered their ancestry by their clans and families, and the men twenty years old or more were listed by name, one by one, as the Lord commanded Moses. And so he counted them in the Desert of Sinai:……. Numbers 1:18-27

Solomon has discovered by divine mysteries that the best time to work for God is one’s youthful days. Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when you shall say, I have no pleasure in them – Ecclesiastes 12:1.

When the Israelites were in transit to Canaan, they would enlist you for battle when you turn twenty. So were all those that were numbered of the children of Israel, by the house of their fathers, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war in Israel – Numbers 1:45.

African youths are becoming latecomers in rising to manifest their destinies. He is twenty-eight and he is still praying for God’s direction as if God himself is lost. He is forty-six, he is now thinking about doing something for God.

Look at this chronicle of youthful exploit makers. Alexander the great was twenty years when he became the king of Macedon. He used twelve years to conquer the world to create Hellenistic dynasty. What are you waiting for, you that are twenty-five?

Michael Faraday never had a formal education yet at age of twenty-two, he headed an institution. He went on to discover the nature of electricity and magnetism leading to the invention of generators and transformers. He was a son of a blacksmith. You that have read the whole Bible, what are you waiting for?

Steve Jobs founded apple company at the age of twenty-one though he was a school dropout. What are you waiting for, my dear youth. It is as if you don’t want to make any mistake. God is waiting for you when you think you’re are rather waiting for him.

When at age twenty Israeli youths are ready for battle, christian youths at age thirty are now planning and praying to win a soul. Jesus sent us into world to cast out devil and win the souls in their custody but christian youths have prayed in tongues for eleven years and haven’t cast out a single demon let alone win a soul.

Let a youth listen! Salvation delayed is salvation denied. A minute late to save a soul registers him in hell when he dies the next minute. Youths can’t afford to be pew warmers in church. Youths are discoverers and exploit makers. Rise up to the task! Don’t be afraid of making mistakes.

LET’S PRAY
O Lord help to Know that, he who never makes a mistake also never makes a discovery. Holy Spirit lead us to focus on Your on guidance in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen Amen Amen. Fountain to your life.

“The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren; And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram; And Aram begat Aminadab; and Aminadab begat Naasson; and Naasson begat Salmon; And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse; And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias;” Matthew 1:1-6

God seems to be making his breaking news out of those neglected and rejected. You doubt it? Jesus came out of Pharez. Pharez was a bastard. And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram – Matthew 1:3.

Pharez was the offspring of Judah sleeping with Tamar his daughter in law. Judah was suspended from leadership of Israel for having that incestuous relationship for ten generations. A bastard shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD; even to his tenth generation shall he not enter into the congregation of the LORD – Deuteronomy 23:2.

Though Pharez was a bastard, his generation brought in David and Jesus came out of David. Those believers that are rejected and neglected because of sins committed should rather be nursed and healed with the balm of Gilead. A person can fall twenty times but God will still use him because of election.

It was an unlisted soldier that killed Goliath. The way Saul encouraged David, the young ones have to be encouraged to do exploits. When Jesus saw the crowd of about five thousand men, it was just a lad that God used to feed them. There is a lad here, which has five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many? – John 6:9.

Despise that lad and the crowd would be left hungry. God can use anything for something. Mary Magdalene the one from whom Jesus cast out seven demons was one of those who sponsored Jesus’ ministry.

When Elijah concluded that he was the only one left who had the fear of God, God corrected him and said: Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which has not kissed him – 1 Kings 19:18. You’re not God’s only star. Many stars are around apart from you.

I pray that God gives us his eyes so we can see the virtues buried in others. Just as God deposits gold and other minerals in the soil, he has equally deposited virtues in everyone that should be explored and exploited.

LET’S PRAY
May you get this revelation to know, the world’s attention is always on whoever is exploring and exploiting the virtues God has deposited in him. Amen Amen Amen. Fountain to your life.

“Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. Then said I, Ah, Lord God! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child. But the Lord said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak. Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the Lord. Then the Lord put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the Lord said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth. See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.” Jeremiah 1:5-10

Many might be admiring David for his bravery in killing Goliath. But there was some fear in David that could prevent him from comfortably being a king over Israel. This secret fear was exposed when he was to marry the king’s daughter.

Look at David’s secret fear. And David said: Seem it to you a light thing to be a king’s son in law, seeing that I am a poor man, and lightly esteemed? – 1 Samuel 18:23. His inferiority complex was in he being poor and disrespected.

The disease of inferiority complex has the capacity of draining the superiority out of you. It takes away your market value. As long as you battle with inferiority, your potential to excel is obscured.

Most great persons have inferiority complexes buried in their secret fears. Let’s file out a litany of them.

Moses
And Moses said unto the LORD, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since you have spoken unto your servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue – Exodus 4:10.

Moses had leadership potential but his fear was that he was a stammerer. Could a stammerer become a leader? Has someone done it before? How much time would he spend to speak a sentence for his people to hear? To lead people, it is impossible! Moses battled his plight of being a stammerer until his call exposed it.

Jeremiah
Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child – Jeremiah 1:6. Jeremiah knew that God was calling him. But how could a young man at his age speak to the aged about their wrongdoings. Was that possible? So Jeremiah battled with age difference.

Saul
And Samuel said, When you were little in your own sight, were you not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the LORD anointed you king over Israel? – 1 Samuel 15:17. King Saul was described as the tallest in Israel. Though people admired his height, he was feeble in his mind.

What is your fear? That secret fear has the capacity to silence you in the class of achievers. That secret fear is the void for which you need God. God will ever ask you to do something for others because he has what it takes to help you overcome your secret fears.

LET’S PRAY
May the Lord give you grace to Know that, having the fear to fail is the assurance that you’ll succeed when you attempt in the glorious name of Jesus Christ. Amen Amen Amen. Fountain to your life.

“And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou? And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ. And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No. Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself?” John 1:19-22

John the Baptist was more respected than Jesus by the priests and the religious sects of the day because John came from a priestly lineage. In their minds, the probability of Jesus ever being used by God was very slim because he lacked priestly credentials. Look at how they saw Jesus:

“Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him” – Mark 6:3. It is because of you and me that’s why God sent Jesus into this world from a very common and degrading background.

When Nathaniel was invited by Philip to come and see the Messiah who hailed from Nazareth, hear the derogatory comment he made: “And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?” – John 1:46.

You see people define your worth by where you come from, or by who your parents are. Jesus’ father was carpenter and therefore his life’s definition in people’s mind is a carpenter nothing more, nothing less. The reason people give you such definition is that they don’t know your true identity.

God is your source. “In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him” – Genesis 5:1. You’re the replica of God. He is a creator. So, you’re also a creator. This is your identity. Your family is poor because you’re born into it to create wealth. Your family is unknown because you are born to give it a new name and make it known. That’s what a creator does.

With a transformed mentality, Jesus changed people’s mind about him. Look at it: “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people” – Luke 24:19. Let one person reject you, the total world population minus one is waiting to make you their king.

You’re born to tell the world who you actually are. You are into the pursuit of your life’s agenda to change your mistaken identity in people’s mind. You are not born to be lost in others. Rather you’re born to be found in others. Your story is not that which others write and give it to you to sign. Rather, your story is what you write and give to your patronizers to announce!

Know this, there’s always a void you are born to fill in people’s lives to announce your value. Rise up to the task!!!

Fountain to your life.

The master will return unannounced and unexpected, and he will cut the servant in pieces and banish him with the unfaithful. “And a servant who knows what the master wants, but isn’t prepared and doesn’t carry out those instructions, will be severely punished. But someone who does not know, and then does something wrong, will be punished only lightly. When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required. Luke 12:46 – 48

Romans 3:23 reminds us that we have *all* sinned and *fallen short* of *God’s expectations.* We have compiled a long list of transgressions, proven ourselves incapable of living up to the glorious plans He has for us.

In His *mercy* , God sent Jesus to *save us.* His blood *washed* away our sins, and He *adopted us as His own children.*

Jesus told of a master who wished to settle his *accounts* . He summoned a *slave who owed billions of Cedis.* His master commanded that his family and everything he owned be sold to pay the debt. When the servant *fell down and begged for mercy, he released him and forgave the debt.*

Afterwards, the servant found a fellow servant who owed him a small sum of money. *He grabbed him by the throat, demanded payment, and threw him into debtors’ prison.* When this news reached his master, he turned the ungrateful servant over to the tormentors until his debt was repaid.

*Mercy and forgiveness are wonderful to receive* but can be difficult to extend to another. Remember the great debt of sin that *Jesus has forgiven you,* and be quick to extend *mercy to the one who offends.* Much has been given, and much will be required.

LET’S PRAY.
I pray be generously forgiving, and it will come back to you in the same measure. May it be pressed down, shaken together, and running over in Jesus glorious name. The love of God moves one to live the life of self denial; the life of self-sacrifice. My Sisters and Brothers God will surely manifest His power and glory in you to become great in every thing you do in Jesus mighty name, Amen Amen Amen! Fountain to your life.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23

Paul the apostle places the “Fruits of the Spirit” in comparison to the “work of the flesh”

The word “Fruit” is singular, a fact which serves to show that all elements of character spoken of in these verses are a unity, making for a well-rounded and complete Christian Life. All the “Fruit” grows uniformly, which means that the growth rate is the same for all, i.e., whatever growth there is of the “Fruit” in one’s life, it is the same across the board. One cannot have more “love” than one has “faith,” etc.

Also, this is the “Fruit of the Spirit” which means it’s not the fruit of someone else, or even one’s self. This means that development and growth rate are brought about exclusively by the Holy Spirit.

So, how is the development and the growth rate of the “Fruit of the Spirit” brought about in the heart and life of the Believer?

Only one way, which refers, once again, to our Faith in Christ and what He did at the Cross! As l have said more earlier, this gives the Holy Spirit latitude to work within our lives. This alone gives Him such latitude. He will work in no other manner!

If it’s not Christ and the Cross, the Holy Spirit simply will not work, which means there is no development or growth of the Fruit of the Spirit. The Cross is the means by which everything comes to us from the Lord, and Christ is always the Source (John 14:6). Jesus proclaims in no uncertain terms exactly Who and What He is. He declares positively that this idea of God as Father, this approach to God for every man is through Him- through what He is and what He has done.

LET’S PRAY.
Your waking up this morning shall begin with a great miracles in Jesus mighty name, may your lamp of glory burn brighter, your ocean of joy flow ceaselessly, your rainbow appear more colourful and consistently.
You will triumph over all challenges and troubles, you will become unstoppable as the Almighty God will release an excellent spirit upon you to succeed in all your endeavours. May His Grace fill your heart and life with the Fruit of the Spirit now and always in Jesus mighty name. Amen Amen Amen! Fountain to your life.

“During the reigns of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed or conquered. It will crush all these kingdoms into nothingness, and it will stand forever That is the meaning of the rock cut from the mountain, though not by human hands, that crushed to pieces the statue of iron, bronze, clay, silver, and gold. The great God was showing the king what will happen in the future. The dream is true, and its meaning is certain.” Daniel 2:44 – 45

When Daniel interpreted King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, he saw an unstable kingdom represented by toes made of iron and clay – a strange mix of strength and weakness, interconnection, and division. Today, we are a culture that is globally connected but wracked with conflict.

How can we overcome the dissension that plagues our world? Will the correct candidate help us overcome our issues? Will the right legislation finally unite us in peace and justice?

Daniel said that no assistance would rise from one party or nation. Instead, help will come from heaven above. Our great God sees the affairs of earth, and He carved a Stone from His holy mountain. That Stone that the builders rejected is now the Chief
Cornerstone – Jesus Christ (I Peter 2:6).

That Cornerstone was the seed of the woman that God spoke of in Genesis. He was the rock in the wilderness from which living water flowed. David called Him a rock of refuge, a strong tower, and an always-present help in times of trouble.

That same Stone will grow into a great mountain that fills the whole earth and will crush all previous empires. His will be an indestructible kingdom that will stand forever.

LET’S PRAY
May your feet be established on the Rock of our Salvation until we reign with Him in His eternal kingdom. Hallelujah to the Stone that is coming! Amen Amen Amen! Fountain to your life

“So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him. The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance. Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists.” Acts 12:5-7

Herod had probably spread the word all over Jerusalem that he was going to put on a show, which would be the death of the great Apostle Peter. ln that situation, Peter was sleeping, even though he was supposed to die the next day; he wasn’t worried because the Lord had told him that he would not die young, but old. (John 21:18)

Beloved, in the Scripture when GOD did something significant, many times it happened suddenly, such as when the angel appeared in Peter’s prison cell. There wasn’t any sign of things changing on that dark night, but suddenly everything changed. GOD can turn things around without any warning.

God can increase you when you don’t see any sign of it happening. It was unexpected, out of the ordinary. You were just doing the right thing, not complaining about the difficulty, and then suddenly, your business took off, suddenly your health turned around. It may not be a gradual process. One touch of God’s favor will thrust you to a new level.

When you understand that God has some “suddenlies,” then even when it’s taking a long time, you’ll still have an expectancy knowing that any minute your suddenly could show up. One phone call, one good break, meeting one right person, and you’ll come out of the waiting period into your season of blessing.

LET’S PRAY.
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your unlimited favor and supply of everything I need in this life. Thank You for Your strength in difficult times and the expectancy that at any moment You can turn things around. Whether You do it gradually or suddenly, I will rest in You in the glorious name of Jesus Christ. Amen Amen Amen. Fountain to your life.

“Then Jonah prayed unto the Lord his God out of the fish’s belly, And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the Lord, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice.” Jonah 2:1-2

Jonah was the first of Prophets after Elijah and Elisha. He was the only Prophet sent to the Gentiles, and he was the only Prophet who tried to conceal his Message. The reason for that attempt at concealment was that, the prosperity of Nineveh, the city to which Jonah was being sent, meant the subjection of Israel. Conversely, the destruction of Nineveh would mean the prosperity of Zion. So Jonah had great problems going to preach to the people of Nineveh.

Nineveh was founded by Nimrod (Genesis 10:11). The name signifies “City of Nimis,” i.e. Nimrod.

The Book of Jonah is unique, in that it is more concerned with the Prophet himself than with his Prophecy. The condition of his soul and God’s loving discipline of him instruct and humble the Reader.

Despite Jonah’s effort to get away from God and thereby not have to preach the Message of repentance to Nineveh, the Holy Spirit declares that Jehovah is still Jonah’s God. When disciplined and restored in soul, Jonah could say “My God.” Fellowship may be broken, but relationship? Never! That is if the person keeps believing.

In the belly of the whale, Jonah begins to cry to God. He said “But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the Lord.” Jonah 2:9

“Salvation is of Jehovah.” This is the lesson that proud man consent to learn; for it teaches him that he cannot contribute to his own salvation – for what could Jonah do inside the great fish? And so if man is to be saved, the Salvation must be wholly Divine.

Jonah was a “sign” to the people of Nineveh, that is he was a personal illustration of the Wrath and the Grace of God. The word “sign” makes it evident that the facts of his entombment in the fish and his deliverance preceded him and were known to the people of Nineveh. Hence, their acceptance of his message.

The Message was straight and to the point. Unless Nineveh repented, in forty days judgement would come. It is not stated exactly how this judgement would come, but evidently, knowing of Jonah’s experience, the Holy Spirit used this to bring about one of the few times in history that, true Repentance was forthcoming upon the announcement of impending judgement.

The last two Verses, Jonah 4:10-11 contain the great lesson of the Book. Jonah needed the gourd, which he himself had not made and grieved at its destruction. God created the inhabitants of Nineveh; His love needed them. How much greater, therefore, would be His grief in their destruction, as it is with any soul!

LET’S PRAY.
Oh Lord, give me grace enough to be obedient and to do Your Will. Help me to submit myself, heart, soul, mind and body unto You fully in Jesus’ glorious name. Amen Amen Amen. Fountain to your life.