PURGE OUT THE LEAVEN 2
1 Corinthians 5:7-8 (KJV) Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. When Tare found out that the reason lust was in his heart was because Tega his new best friend was an acute womanizer, Tare decided to become a mouthpiece for Christ. He decided that he was going to ensure that all his conversations with Tega were centered on the word of God. He was no longer going to hide his faith and love for the Lord. After two weeks, Tega started avoiding him because he was not interested in ‘all that Jesus talk’. It wasn’t easy for Tare, but he knew he had purge out the old leaven of immorality by letting go of his close friendship with Tega, since Tega was not willing to be purged by the word. There are two kinds of leaven identified in today’s Bible verses. There is the old leaven which Apostle Paul was talking about when he was refereeing to the immorality in the church, and there is the other kind of leaven which is similar to the old leaven, but is more subtle and common among self-righteous believers. This leaven is called the leaven of malice and wickedness. Malice happens when believers refuse to forgive those that have offended them. Wickedness is when believers refuse to walk in love; let their light shine; and witness for Christ to a perishing world. In the Parable of Talents, the servant who hid and refused to use his talent was called a wicked servant (see Matt 25:26). Go into today remembering that it is as we escape the yeast of corruption that we become partakers of the divine nature through faith (see 2 Pet 1:4). Bible in 1 Year: II Thessalonians (in today’s audio) To get Streamglobe Devotional Text & Audio daily, join our WhatsApp Group Here☞ https://chat.whatsapp.com/6jUj1xYszMUG0f1vXtObwQ or Telegram Group☞ https://t.me/streamglobe1 Not sure you’re saved? Go Here☞ streamglobe.org/33 Streamglobe is nondenominational. Kindly share this Devotional with your contacts and let’s touch lives together. WhatsApp: +2348079816967 www.streamglobe.org Source: Devotional
The Tale of LeBron James and John Harvard
Lebron James Foundation: Free tuition-free uniforms, free transportation within 2 miles, free breakfast, lunch, & snacks. Guaranteed college tuition for every student who graduates. Food pantry for families. GED’s and job placement services for parents, free bicycle and helmet. HARVARD UNIVERSITY: “And as we were thinking and consulting how to effect this great work, it pleased God to stir up the heart of one Mr. Harvard (a godly gentleman and a lover of learning, there living among us) to give the one-half of his estate (it being in all about 1700 £) toward the erecting of a college, and all his library. After him, another gave 300 £; others after them cast in more, and the public hand of the state added the rest.” I write this to add my voice to the debate about private universities built by donations from church members, more so, as comparisons grow with the free ‘I Promise’ school of Lebron James. However, I wish to address a deeper issue which concerns seeing ‘free’ as the only charitable or good cause. The story of these two men (Harvard and Lebron) is as old as time and as new as now. It is the story of the good white guy vs. the good black guy; the story of the developed world vs. the underdeveloped; the wealthy society vs. the poor society; capitalist vs. socialist mind-set; right vs. left, Caucasian vs. people of color. Over time, the accumulated evidence has become overwhelming: “Only economically sustainable models are sustainable.” Charity does not always mean free, John Harvard gave up half his wealth for the building of a University that charged heavily and was still appreciated by Americans. In the same light, it is time to appreciate the free giving of church members towards the creation of financially sustainable Universities that do not depend on government funding (Many of whom are gradually changing the tides of education). Indeed, my children may never attend these schools, but they will be employed by the jobs created from the resulting inventions; treated with the drugs from the researches and ultimately live in the robust economy that the graduates from this institution contribute to. Yes, we have given from our little to build several church universities, and I am glad that Nigerians are not weary of giving. For the giving is for posterity or as the founders of Harvard University put it “dreading to leave [an] illiterate [country] when our present ministers shall lie in the dust”. John Harvard and company were apparently concerned about the literacy level in the society, just like Lebron James and indeed a lot of us. However, the approaches could not have been more different. While the Church leadership in Nigeria seem to be blessed by the wisdom of John Harvard, some members and a lot of Nigerians (sadly even people of color around the world) seem to be lacking and even upset by this wisdom. #Selah. NB: This does not in any way seek to undermine the good work of Mr. Lebron James or disparage the goodness of free things such as scholarships (e.g. Harvard scholarships, Orphanages). However, it is no secret that regardless of the intent, third world countries and people of color have achieved less than desired with its approach and policies and I believe it starts with not knowing the difference between ‘free’ and ‘affordable’. —Dr. Ohize Stephen. Email: ohizeso@gmail.com For Streamglobe Devotional to the Church.
PURGE OUT THE LEAVEN
Download Audio Version☞ bit.ly/audio1727 1 Corinthians 5:7 (KJV) Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us When Tare moved from Warri to Lagos, he got in touch with Tega his best friend on campus. They were so excited to meet again and they continued their friendship as before. But Tare was now happily married while Tega was a womanizer who could not keep his marriage together. Tare really loved his wife and had eyes for no other woman. But after living six months in Lagos, with continuous fellowship with Tega, he noticed that his love for his wife was now waxing cold. And he was becoming drawn to other ladies in the office. He couldn’t understand what was happening to him. He had vowed never to cheat on his wife, but it was now becoming very difficult to keep his vow. After almost falling into adultery with a lady in the office, he decided it was time to seek help. He talked to his pastor about his struggles while he waited on the Lord concerning this issue. Through the guidance of his pastor, he discovered that he had been affected by the spiritual disease of his new best friend. He was advised to break close fellowship with this friend if he wanted his marriage to survive. There were two reasons why Apostle Paul commanded that the man who was cohabiting with his father’s wife be removed from fellowship with the church. The first reason was so that he would come to repentance after he had suffered the consequences of separation from the spiritual covering of the church. The second reason was because Apostle Paul didn’t want the yeast of his iniquity to spread among the brethren. Iniquity is like a contagious disease. That’s why believers are warned not to be unequally yoked together with unbelievers (see 2 Cor 6:14) and not to keep company with ‘believers’ who behave like unbelievers (see 1 Cor 5:11). —Pastor SD Abraham Bible in 1 Year: John 1-2 (in today’s audio) To start getting Streamglobe Devotional Text & Audio on your WhatsApp, join our WhatsApp Group Here☞ https://chat.whatsapp.com/6jUj1xYszMUG0f1vXtObwQ or Telegram Group☞ https://t.me/streamglobe1 Not sure you’re saved? Go Here☞ streamglobe.org/33 Streamglobe is nondenominational. Kindly share this Devotional with your contacts and let’s touch lives together. WhatsApp: +2348079816967 www.streamglobe.org Source: Devotional
THE AUTHORITY OF THE CHURCH
Download Audio Version☞ bit.ly/audio1726 1 Corinthians 5:5-6 (NET) turn this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord. Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little yeast affects the whole batch of dough? In the Corinthian Church, there was a man who was cohabiting with his father’s wife, and this man was still freely fellowshipping with the church without any shame. I don’t know why they didn’t appear to see anything wrong with this. Clearly, those who reported the matter to Paul did, but for some reason, the church was still moving on as if nothing was wrong. In judging this matter, Paul commanded that this man should be turned over to Satan for the destruction of his flesh. What does this mean? You see, every true church assembly (as represented by the leadership) has great authority in heaven because the church is the body of Christ. Jesus told the Apostles that whoever’s Sin the church forgives is forgiven and whoever’s Sin the church retains is retained (see John 20:23). He also told them that whatever the church binds on earth is bound in heaven (see Matt 18:17-18). Such is the authority of the apostolic church.Every believer has protection from Satan (the prince of this world) because he or she becomes a member of Christ’s body by virtue of his faith in the Lord. But if a church assembly decides to [temporarily] sever themselves from a member because of his embarrassing and shameful conduct, such a believer will no longer enjoy the covering and protection of the church, and will now be exposed to Satan’s assault. If that believer was rightly judged by his church assembly, but rebelliously goes to join himself to another group of believers, if that group accepts him in spite of his rebellion, that group will share in his iniquity and share in his judgement because they have refused to discern the body of the Lord and have ‘laid hands on him suddenly'(see 1 Tim 5:22).Go into today remembering that the church of Christ has more authority than any human government and every member of this body has access to the authority of Christ. —Pastor SD Abraham Bible in 1 Year: Ezekiel 43-48 (in today’s audio) To start getting Streamglobe Devotional Text & Audio on your WhatsApp, join our WhatsApp Group Here☞ https://chat.whatsapp.com/6jUj1xYszMUG0f1vXtObwQ or Telegram Group☞ https://t.me/streamglobe1 Get free sermons here☞ streamglobe.org/34 Streamglobe is nondenominational. Kindly share this Devotional with your contacts and let’s touch lives together. WhatsApp: +2348079816967 Source: Devotional
LIGHT YOUR WORLD
Audio Version☞ bit.ly/audio1725 Isaiah 60:2 (KJV) For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. As Janet grew older, she observed that the world became more and more evil. Iniquity seemed to have taken over many places, and there were now so many people who claimed to be believers but who really were not. Because of this, she almost became burdened and depressed because she was troubled about the kind of life her grandchildren would have to live. She decided to stop complaining and do her part in reducing the darkness in this world. She started a Bible club for the young children in her neighborhood. Because she provided free snacks and drinks, many of them attended. With time, most of them were led to the Lord and became bright lights in their generation. She became a very cheerful and happy old lady because of this. You may have observed that in this world, things are not really getting better. Nations are changing their laws in rebellion to the order of God. Wickedness and terrorism seem to be a new reality. Darkness indeed covers the earth and gross darkness the people. But remember that the thicker the darkness, the more relevant the light becomes. God who is the Father of all lights has promised to arise upon you and cause His glory to be seen in you. Sinners shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising if you let your light shine. Light is the solution to darkness. You are the solution to the darkness of this world. Go into today deciding to let your light shine by being a witness for Christ in every place God has planted you. —SD Abraham Bible in 1 Year: Proverbs 14-15 (in today’s audio) To start getting Streamglobe Devotional Text & Audio on your WhatsApp, join our WhatsApp Group Here☞ https://chat.whatsapp.com/6jUj1xYszMUG0f1vXtObwQ Or Telegram Group☞ https://t.me/streamglobe1 Get free sermons here☞ streamglobe.org/34 Streamglobe is interdenominational. You can kindly share this Devotional with your contacts and let’s touch lives together. WhatsApp: +2348079816967 Source: Devotional
THE SUPERNATURAL DIMENSION 3
Acts 9:10 (WEB) Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias!” He said, “Behold, it’s me, Lord.” Before Dean received the Lord Jesus, it was commonplace for him to see spirits and talk with them. There were many demons under his control and he had even had encounters with Satan more than once. The widow the Lord used to bring him to Christ was no novice in the things of the spirit herself. She had had angelic encounters several times. She had also had encounters with the Lord Jesus more than once. So after Dean accepted the Lord Jesus, many demons were still appearing to him and threatening him to come back, but this his neighbor could help him through this period without any fear because, like him, she was no stranger to the supernatural dimension. In today’s Bible verse, we see that a certain believer in the early church had an encounter with the Lord Jesus in a vision. These kinds of supernatural encounters were commonplace in the early church. Angelic encounters were not strange. So much so that when Peter was arrested and the church was praying for his release, when he came to them in the night and a lady in their midst said he was at the door, they all assumed she merely had an encounter with Peter’s angel (see Acts 12:15). It was not strange for Paul to say things like ‘the angel of the Lord appeared to me and said…’(see Acts 27:23), or for Peter to say ‘the Lord said to me in a vision’ (see Acts 10:10-14, 28), or for Phillip to say ‘the angel of the Lord said to me that…’(see Acts 8:26). Go into today remembering that Christians are supernatural and not natural people. Every sign that Jesus said would follow those who believe in Him are supernatural signs (see Mark 16:17-18). Ask the Lord to remove every stronghold in your heart that hinders the supernatural dimension. —SD Abraham Bible in 1 Year: Psalms 90-92 (in today’s audio) To start getting Streamglobe Devotional Text & Audio on your WhatsApp, join our WhatsApp Group Here☞ https://chat.whatsapp.com/6jUj1xYszMUG0f1vXtObwQ Or Telegram Group☞ https://t.me/streamglobe1 Get free sermons here☞ streamglobe.org/34 Streamglobe is interdenominational. Kindly share this Devotional with your contacts and let’s touch lives together. WhatsApp: +2348079816967 Source: Devotional
THE SUPERNATURAL DIMENSION 2
Download Today’s Audio☞ http://bit.ly/audio1723 1 Corinthians 12:1 (WEB) Now concerning spiritual things, brothers, I don’t want you to be ignorant. Dean had become a grandmaster in the occult. He gave himself so much to the occult because he wanted power. He thought he had power until one prayerful widow moved next door to him within the same apartment. This woman had more power than Dean had ever seen. She was a real prayer warrior. Many times she prayed in the night, Dean saw strange things like powerful angels whose presence terrified the demons that normally empowered him. Because she was his next door neighbor and her presence and prayers kept terrifying and subduing him, he eventually surrendered to Christ because of her influence. This woman could lead Dean to the Lord and effectively disciple him because she was not ignorant concerning the things of the spirit and the supernatural dimension of the faith. The first night she slept in that apartment, she knew who Dean was in the spirit, and she intentionally demobilized him spiritually. That was what ultimately led him to salvation. She would have never been able to lead a man like Dean to the Lord if she was not exposed to the supernatural and prophetic dimension of her walk with the Lord. Revelations, spiritual gifts, angelic encounters, etc, were not strange to her. Go into today remembering that you are more effective in life and ministry when you are not ignorant concerning spiritual things. Prayer: Ask the Lord to guide you into all truth so that you may experience the supernatural and power dimension of His kingdom. —SD Abraham Bible in 1 Year: II Kings 21-25 (in today’s audio) To start getting Streamglobe Devotional Text & Audio on your WhatsApp, join our WhatsApp Group Here☞ https://chat.whatsapp.com/6jUj1xYszMUG0f1vXtObwQ Or Join Our Telegram Group☞ https://t.me/streamglobe1 Get sermons here☞ streamglobe.org/34 Streamglobe is interdenominational. Kindly share this Devotional with your contacts and let’s touch lives together. WhatsApp: +2348079816967 Source: Devotional
THE SUPERNATURAL DIMENSION
1 Corinthians 5:3-4 (KJV) For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ When Elisha told Gehazi that he was there in the spirit when he went back to collect items from Naaman(see 2 Kings 5:26), this was not ‘word of knowledge’ but a function of the same reality apostle Paul talks about in today’s verses (regarding his spirit being with the Corinthians). These are spiritual realities available to God’s people who take advantage of their prophetic heritage. Now, these dimensions are not the main thrust of our faith but are realities that we can experience as we grow in intimacy with the Lord and as the need arises. Believers don’t follow these signs but signs follow us when we are properly aligned to God’s will and purpose for our lives. People have tried to explain away the reality of these supernatural dimensions of our faith, just like some ministers have tried to explain away the reality of divine healing and spiritual gifts because they do not have them in their ministries. But angelic encounters, spirit transport, and many other mind-blowing supernatural experiences seen in scripture are available for the believer even today. As a believer grows in the knowledge of God, the supernatural becomes more and more natural and normal to us. That’s the way it should be if we do not close our hearts to the supernatural dimensions of our faith.Go into today knowing that the fact that you have not experienced a reality in God does not mean it does not exist. Open your heart to the supernatural dimensions of your walk with God as you remain guided by the word of God and the Spirit of Truth. —SD Abraham Bible in 1 Year: Leviticus 22-24 (in today’s audio) To start getting Streamglobe Devotional Text & Audio on your WhatsApp, join our WhatsApp Group Here☞ https://chat.whatsapp.com/6jUj1xYszMUG0f1vXtObwQ Or Join Our Telegram Group☞ https://t.me/streamglobe1 Download Today’s Audio☞ http://bit.ly/audio1722 Get sermons here☞ streamglobe.org/34 Streamglobe is interdenominational. Kindly share this Devotional with your contacts and let’s touch lives together. WhatsApp: +2348079816967 streamglobe.org streamglobedevotional.com Source: Devotional
ONCE SAVED ALWAYS SAVED?
1 Corinthians 5:1-2 (NET) It is actually reported that sexual immorality exists among you, the kind of immorality that is not permitted even among the Gentiles, so that someone is cohabiting with his father’s wife. And you are proud! Shouldn’t you have been deeply sorrowful instead and removed the one who did this from among you? Femi now decided he was in the wrong church when he witnessed two ladies in his pastor’s office arguing over a man. One of them claimed the other stole him from her. Femi was surprised that in the presence of their pastor, the two ladies were not even ashamed of the fact that they were both sleeping with the man in question. You see, their pastor had started teaching certain new doctrines concerning ‘grace’, and he had subscribed to the “once saved always saved” doctrine. A doctrine that is nothing but a concoction of half-truths and whole lies. Whenever you see believers unashamedly walking in immorality or any other sin in any Christian community, it is a sign that something is terribly wrong with that Christian community. Apostle Paul was embarrassed by the behavior of the Corinthians because, despite the shameful conduct of one of them, they were still proud. They probably felt the brother’s eternal life was secure no matter what, but they were wrong. They needed to take a desperate measure in order to ensure that they do not lose that brother eternally (see 1 Cor 5:5). Go into today remembering that unrepented sin in the life a believer is not a small matter in the sight of God. We are to lay aside weights and sins that easily entangle (see Heb 12:1). We are never to use grace as an excuse to continue in sin (see Rom 6:1-2). —SD Abraham Bible in 1 Year: I Thessalonians 4-5 (in today’s audio) To start getting Streamglobe Devotional Text & Audio on your WhatsApp, join our WhatsApp Group Here☞ https://chat.whatsapp.com/6jUj1xYszMUG0f1vXtObwQ Or Join Our Telegram Group☞ https://t.me/streamglobe1 Download Today’s Audio☞ http://bit.ly/audio1721 Get sermons here☞ streamglobe.org/34 Streamglobe is interdenominational. Kindly share this Devotional with your contacts and let’s touch lives together. WhatsApp: +2348079816967 streamglobe.org streamglobedevotional.com Source: Devotional
THE POWER OF THE GOSPEL
To start getting Streamglobe Devotional Text & Audio on your WhatsApp, join our WhatsApp Group Here☞ https://chat.whatsapp.com/6jUj1xYszMUG0f1vXtObwQ Or Join Our Telegram Group☞ https://t.me/streamglobe1 Download Today’s Audio☞ http://bit.ly/audio1720 1 Corinthians 4:20 (NET) For the kingdom of God is demonstrated not in idle talk but with power. One of the most remarkable things about true faith in the Lord Jesus is the power it produces. I have seen drug addicts delivered from their addiction because of the power of the cross. I have seen very vile sinners transformed into holy saints because of the power of the cross. People who everyone (including their family members) gave up on have become useful members of their families and societies because of the power of the cross. But this power is only released when people receive the kingdom of God and not merely a gospel that excludes the kingdom life. When people receive a gospel that excludes repentance and submission to the authority of Christ, what they received is not the gospel of the kingdom of the kingdom of God but merely exciting but idle talk, and the power of God does not accompany that kind of gospel. But when the gospel of the kingdom is preached, the power of Christ is deployed to bring people out of the domain of darkness into the kingdom of Christ. Certain arrogant teachers arose in the Corinthian church (see 1Cor 4:19), and these teachers preached a gospel that excluded the kingdom of God. They were partly responsible for the sorry state of the Corinthian church when Paul penned 1 Corinthians. He had to admonish the church about the conduct of those who inherit the kingdom of God (see 1 Cor 6:9-10). Go into today remembering that the gospel of the kingdom of God is one that establishes righteousness in the life of the believer, peace with God and with his neighbors, and is one that celebrates the Holy Ghost (see Rom 14:17). —SD Abraham Bible in 1 Year: Luke 23-24 (in today’s audio) Get sermons here☞ streamglobe.org/34 Streamglobe is interdenominational. Kindly share this Devotional with your contacts and let’s touch lives together. WhatsApp: +2348079816967 streamglobe.org streamglobedevotional.com