GET-RICH-QUICK SCHEMES 2
Get Audio Version(More explanations in the Audio): bit.ly/aud1820 Proverbs 13:11 [NLT] Wealth from get-rich-quick schemes quickly disappears; wealth from hard work grows over time. The smartphone or device with which you are reading or listening to this devotional was purchased because it meets your needs of communication and entertainment. The manufacturer has made money because he has met a need. Christians are righteous and just people. God blesses us by giving us ideas that help us solve problems. Wealth is generated when problems are solved. Unproductive forms of making money include schemes that promise to produce gain but have no productivity. They include gambling and Ponzi schemes. As attractive as unproductive forms of making money may look, they are what the Bible calls get-rich-quick schemes. They ultimately bring every society to its knees economically. Imagine that everyone in the world was only involved in such schemes to make money; there would be no more food to eat, no new clothes to wear and no machines to use. The world will shut down because there would no more be productivity but only greed. A Ponzi scheme is one that promises to provide money and help, yet it has no form of productivity. The only thing a Ponzi scheme does is to use the money new people bring in to pay those who have already brought in money. When there are no more new people in the system, it is bound to crash and produce great loss and pain to the investors; people who invested with the expectation to make gains. Everyone who makes a profit through a Ponzi scheme or betting makes money from the potential loss of someone else. I believe one of the demonic assignments of Ponzi schemes (betting, gambling, some forms of financial speculation) is to take the power to make real wealth from the people of God. Go into today knowing that as a Christian, it is not everything the world does to make money that you can do. God empowers you to make enduring wealth according to His principles of righteousness and justice. -Pas SD Abraham Get sermons Here: streamglobe.org/34 BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: I Peter 1-3 Streamglobe is interdenominational. Kindly share this Devotional with your contacts and let’s touch lives together. To start getting Streamglobe Devotional Text & Audio daily, join our WhatsApp Group here: https://chat.whatsapp.com/GSa5SON9Zol8FhmnZz155r join us on Telegram: streamglobe.org/join www.streamglobe.org Source: Devotional
GET-RICH-QUICK SCHEMES 1
Get Audio Version(More explanations in the Audio): bit.ly/aud1819 Luke 16:11 (KJV) If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? I believe there is something about money that made Jesus call it mammon of unrighteousness (also see Luke 16:9). Let’s take a look at the history of money. Before money was invented (around 1500 BC), humankind did business by barter. People exchanged goods for goods, goods for services, or services for services. But since money was invented, people now exchange goods for money and services for money, etc. The problem with this is that as long as a person has money, he can have its value in goods or services, regardless of how he got the money or whether he truly has the requisite service or good whose value he posses in form of cash. Money, therefore, provided accommodation for unrighteousness in the world more than ever before. Unproductive ways of getting money like Get-rich-quick schemes: Ponzi schemes, gambling, etc. became possible or easier because money now existed. Money now gave proper expression to the spirit called mammon. This spirit seeks to be worshiped rather than God. Any system that generates money without any form of productivity is an unrighteous system. Such a system will have to generate money by robbing some people to pay other people. Satan loves such thieving systems, he is the thief (see John 10:10). It is no hidden truth that financial speculation has been considered by many nations around the world as an economic canker because it has the capacity of making people who are not really productive in the economy very rich just because they know how to move money around. The future ripple effect of this is economic loopholes that would have to be plugged by wanton government spending in bailouts and debts. I believe the climax of such unchecked economic activities is what would pave way for the coming of the antichrist, who would come to ‘save’ the world from economic woe. A person who gambles hopes to generate money not by being productive, but by taking advantage of other people’s loss. Ponzi schemes and pyramid schemes also fall into this category. Online betting is a form of gambling. These are unrighteous ways of making money because they are thieving methods sanctioned by the prince of this world. They are fueled by greed and nothing else. We know that greed (lust of the eyes) is of the world and not from God (see 1 John 2:16). Nothing of the world should be found in a Christian because they give the prince of this world sway (see John 14:30, 1 John 2:15-16). Go into today remembering what God says in Proverbs 13:11 (NLT): Wealth from get-rich-quick schemes quickly disappears; wealth from hard work grows over time. -Pas SD Abraham Not yet saved? follow this link: streamglobe.org/33 BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Acts 11-12 Streamglobe is interdenominational. Kindly share this Devotional with your contacts and let’s touch lives together. To start getting Streamglobe Devotional Text & Audio daily, join our WhatsApp Group here: https://chat.whatsapp.com/GSa5SON9Zol8FhmnZz155r join us on Telegram: streamglobe.org/join www.streamglobe.org Source: Devotional
THE SWEET TRUTH
Download Audio Version: bit.ly/aud1818 Revelation 10:10 (KJV) And I took the little book out of the angel’s hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter. While reading an online article on why bitter foods are good for the stomach, I learned that they help keep the body balanced, countering sluggishness that could arise from too many sweet things. And that they contain nutrients that stimulate the liver into producing bile for optimal digestion and detoxification. Unlike some foods or pills that are bitter from the onset, to the spiritually healthy, God’s word as food or medicine is sweet to taste and better when fully digested. It benefits one at every point in time: from its ingestion (head knowledge) to its digestion (heart conviction), there are blessings (Psa 119:103, Jer 15:16). As one studies and meditates on the truth of God’s word, he receives true life and spiritual enlightenment, which elevates him from just knowing about God’s precious promises, to the euphoria of actually experiencing them (Psa 119:130, Jh 14:6, 2Cor 1:20, 2Pet 1:4). Unlike the popular worldly saying that the truth is always bitter, we must know that each time we yield ourselves to sin, the truth of God’s word at that moment, will be distasteful as it chastizes us. Nevertheless, it purifies and makes us truly free, that we might live spiritually healthy and happy lives (Jh 8:32, Jh 17:17, Heb 12:11) Stay hungry for the truth of God’s word, and as you feed on it daily, you will experience growth and a life of peace and vitality in spirit, soul, and body (Pro 4:20-22, 1Pet 2:2, 2Pet 1:2). -Chibo E.C. Not yet saved? follow this link: streamglobe.org/33 BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Zephaniah Streamglobe is interdenominational. Kindly share this Devotional with your contacts and let’s touch lives together. To start getting Streamglobe Devotional Text & Audio daily, join our WhatsApp Group here: join us on Telegram: streamglobe.org/join www.streamglobe.org Source: Devotional
BEWARE OF EVIL, SUCCESS MERCHANTS
Download Audio Version(More explanations in the Audio): bit.ly/aud1817 Ezekiel 13:17 – 19 MSG“And the women prophets—son of man, take your stand against the women prophets who make up stuff out of their own minds. Oppose them. Say ‘Doom’ to the women who sew magic bracelets and head scarves to suit every taste, devices to trap souls. Say, ‘Will you kill the souls of my people, use living souls to make yourselves rich and popular? You have profaned me among my people just to get ahead yourselves, used me to make yourselves look good—killing souls who should never have died and coddling souls who shouldn’t live. You’ve lied to people who love listening to lies.’ There’s an evil spreading quickly, where social media especially, is expertly used to advertise sorcery. Due to an insatiable quest for money, fame, security, etc, many now openly solicit the services of sorcery, fancifully repackaged as jewelry, cosmetics, elixirs, lotteries, etc, to fuel their hedonistic lifestyles. The ultimate aim of their craft is to turn men away from God. They appear harmless but will covertly ensnare and enslave those caught by their deceit into endless cycles, in pursuit of vanity. Therefore, God in His displeasure has issued out a strong warning to such success merchants, who are very clever in disguising idolatry (Acts 8:9-11; 18-23, 1Tim 6:6-10). The spiritual media of God’s word is the truth, greater than the deceitfulness of social media, which portrays all that glitters as gold. We mustn’t envy those who are engaged in deeds sponsored by fear or spiritual beguiling, but rather, expose them by living for Christ (Matt 5:13-16, Acts 13:6-12). Go into today, defined, not by the many “likes” online but by the real “Love” of One Divine, who died so that you can have true success (Pro 8:12-21, Jh 10:10). -Chibo E.C. Not yet saved? follow this link: streamglobe.org/33 BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Ecclesiastes 3-4 Streamglobe is interdenominational. Kindly share this Devotional with your contacts and let’s touch lives together. To start getting Streamglobe Devotional Text & Audio daily, join our WhatsApp Group here: https://chat.whatsapp.com/HGcGMnjiDAN9ZKRCaez88u join us on Telegram: streamglobe.org/join www.streamglobe.org Source: Devotional
THE LORD WILL RESTORE
Download Audio Version(More explanations in the Audio): bit.ly/aud1816 Luke 22:31-32 (KJV) And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. Desmond backside so terribly that he became a prayer point for many of his converts. He went back to the bad habits of his old life and was now living like an unbeliever. It wasn’t that he didn’t still love God but he found that he was now overpowered by the flesh, and it was as if he was in a pit that he couldn’t come out of. Because of the prayers and love of the brethren around him, he was restored and rehabilitated from his drug addictions. After the Lord restored him, he became a mighty tool in the hand of the Lord to restore many others. The major trick the devil uses to cause people to fall and remain on the ground is his lies that bring condemnation. If the devil can distract and hinder a believer from the ministry of prayer and the word for a long time, that believer will become spiritually weak and might not be able to withstand the temptations of the devil. He may be able to withstand normal temptations sponsored by the flesh, but when demons are empowering the temptations (as they often do), he may not stand a chance because he is spiritually malnourished and weak. If the believer falls into a temptation powered by demons, they would ensure that his fall comes with a level of condemnation that is unusual. They will make the believer feel worthless and so dirty that he may not even have the courage to pray. This means more weakness and more falls. Go into today remembering that there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. If you fall, rise up and move on. Don’t let the devil keep you on the ground with his lies that bring condemnation. Open up to believers who can help pull you back up if an issue becomes too stubborn for you to handle. Prayer: heavenly father, do not let me fall into temptation, and deliver me from [doing] evil. — SD Abraham Kindly consider Partnering with us to print free Devotional Booklets for secondary school students. Click here to learn more about this: www.streamglobe.org/partner BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalms 125-127 Streamglobe is interdenominational. Kindly share this Devotional with your contacts and let’s touch lives together. To start getting Streamglobe Devotional Text & Audio daily, join our WhatsApp Group here: https://chat.whatsapp.com/HGcGMnjiDAN9ZKRCaez88u Join us on Telegram here: streamglobe.org/join Source: Devotional
THE BELIEVER AND MONEY
Download Audio Version: bit.ly/aud1815 Ecclesiastes 5:10 (NET) The one who loves money will never be satisfied with money, he who loves wealth will never be satisfied with his income. This also is futile. I recently had a conversation with a friend, and he was complaining about a certain wealthy man who was a believer he knew. So stingy was this man that those who worked with him complained and groaned bitterly. My friend went ahead to explain to me how wealthy this man was, yet the workers that worked closest to him were in terrible lack. The way this man behaved in relation to money, it was practically impossible for him to win a soul for the Lord in his place of work. People would only care about what you have to preach when they believe that you care. Our conversation got me thinking. I realized that some of the stingiest people are some of the richest. When I read today’s Bible verse, it became clearer to me that those who love money are never satisfied with it. They would always want to get more. Some billionaire would not mind impoverishing and taking from the very poor who can hardly feed. People reflect the image of who they love. Those who love money will unwittingly reflect the mean, selfish and wicked nature of the spirit called mammon. But those who love God will radiate his benevolent, kind and gracious nature. It is unfortunate when Christians are found to love money. Jesus made it very clear that you cannot love God and love money (Matt 6:24, Luke 16:13). It is possible to have a lot of money and not love money but use money. But those who love money are used and controlled by money. They are not rested and do not enjoy the money in the right sense because they are never really satisfied. That is futile. Go into today knowing that a believer who is still controlled by the love of money cannot be a true witness of the Lord Jesus. A believer who cannot be an effective witness because of his love of money is actually seen as wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked in the Lord’s sight (see Rev 3:17). Ask the Lord to help you walk above the love of money and be an effective witness for Him. — SD Abraham Kindly consider Partnering with us to print free Devotional Booklets for secondary school students. Click here to learn more about this: www.streamglobe.org/partner BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: II Chronicles 29-32 Streamglobe is interdenominational. Kindly share this Devotional with your contacts and let’s touch lives together. To start getting Streamglobe Devotional Text & Audio daily, join our WhatsApp Group here: https://chat.whatsapp.com/HGcGMnjiDAN9ZKRCaez88u Join us on Telegram here: streamglobe.org/join Source: Devotional
FOOLISH SHEEP, WISE SHEPHERD
Download Audio Version: bit.ly/aud1814 Jeremiah 17:11 (NIV)Like a partridge that hatches eggs it did not lay are those who gain riches by unjust means. When their lives are half gone, their riches will desert them, and in the end they will prove to be fools. Over the years sheep have been stereotyped as being foolish or lacking a sense of direction. Today, this same reputation of being foolish is used to describe people of a similar sheeplike attitude in a derogatory term known as ‘Sheeple’. The natural man like sheep is foolish. It’s quite clear that he needs a Shepherd; one who will give him wisdom. Jesus is our Shepherd and He has secured for us wisdom that is critical for us not to be in want (Psa 23:1, Pro 4:7, 1Cor 1:30, Jas 1:5). The problem of many today is the problem of choosing or staying with a wrong shepherd. Instead of Jesus Christ, so many have been deceived into trusting hirelings for their needs. Hirelings are people, systems and things outside of God that men depend on to feel secure (eg Money, Idols, Cults, Charms, etc). Safety in such hirelings last only temporarily and when the wolves of life attack, they soon fall apart, and those who trust in them are abandoned. The saying that “a fool and his money are soon parted” now appears true, as what they think they’ve gained is lost and exposed as a foolish move (Pro 1:7, Pro 17:16, Jh 10:12-13). But in Christ our Good Shepherd, we are guaranteed wisdom to lead us aright. Just as He became poor that we might be rich, He by a seemingly foolish death on the cross also secured for us the access to God’s wisdom that exceeds that of men (Isa 48:17, 1Cor 1:18-25, 2Cor 9:8). Today, because the Lord is your Shepherd, you shall flourish in wisdom, and by trusting in His Word, be in lack of nothing (Ps 34:9-10, Jer 23:4). Prayer: ask the Lord to help you walk in His wisdom and do exploits — Chibo E.C. Kindly consider Partnering with us to print free Devotional Booklets for secondary school students. Follow this link: www.streamglobe.org/partner BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Deuteronomy 7-9 Streamglobe is interdenominational. Kindly share this Devotional with your contacts and let’s touch lives together. To start getting Streamglobe Devotional Text & Audio daily, join our WhatsApp Group here: https://chat.whatsapp.com/GQtRmMjts0467gq8EqeFwQ To start getting the audio version with audio Bible, Join us on Telegram here: streamglobe.org/join Source: Devotional
FIGHTING IS NOT OF THE KINGDOM
Download Audio Version: bit.ly/aud1813 John 18:36 (KJV)Jesus answered, my kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. In the kingdom of this world, servants fight for their masters and even fight among themselves, but in the kingdom of God, it is not so. Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burning for burning, wound for wound, and stripe for stripe (Exodus 21: 24-25) was the order of the day before the arrival of the kingdom of God. The order was changed when the kingdom of God arrived. Matthew 5:38-39 (KJV), “Ye have heard that it hath been said, an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, that ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.” Every kingdom has its culture which determines what is generally acceptable or not acceptable for its citizens. In the kingdom of God, fighting and violence is not our culture. This was said of Jesus in Matthew 12:18 (KJV), “He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets.” He is our master and Lord, we are to be like him Matthew 10:25. Galatians 5:22-23 (KJV) “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” Go into today remembering that fighting and strife is alien to our kingdom culture. ‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God’ — Dr. Emmanuel James BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: James 4-5 Download Sermons Here: streamglobe.org/34 Streamglobe is interdenominational. Kindly share this Devotional with your contacts and let’s touch lives together. To start getting Streamglobe Devotional Text & Audio daily, join our WhatsApp Group Here: https://chat.whatsapp.com/GQtRmMjts0467gq8EqeFwQ Join us on Telegram here: streamglobe.org/join Kindly consider Partnering with us to print free Devotional Booklets for secondary school students. Follow this link: www.streamglobe.org/partner Source: Devotional
IMPENDING JUDGMENT
Download Today’s Audio here☞ bit.ly/aud1812 Acts 24:25 (NET) While Paul was discussing righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment, Felix became frightened and said, “Go away for now, and when I have an opportunity, I will send for you.” When Lamar accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior, he didn’t accept Christ because someone told him that that was a ticket to a better life (that gospel could never appeal to Lamar because he was born into great wealth), he believed in Christ because he now realized that Christ was the only one who could shield him from the judgment that was sure to come. He had several dreams before a preacher brought the gospel to him, and in those dreams, he saw himself descending into hell fire. He knew he was doomed but didn’t know the way out until the gospel came to him. Today, there is a conscious effort by some to remove the warning about the judgment of God from the preaching of the gospel. Any gospel message that does not properly explain the ramification of Jesus’ salvation from impending judgment is a weak gospel. One main point of the gospel message is that receiving Jesus is the only way to escape the impending damnation (see John 3:18). From today’s Bible verse, we can clearly see that one element of the gospel message preached by the apostles was ‘The Judgment of God’. When in the days of the apostles, people they preached to asked ‘what shall we do [to be saved]?’(see Acts 2:37, 16:30) they asked this question because they understood that there is impending judgment and doom, and they wanted to be saved from it. Go into today remembering that there is coming judgment on all humankind. The only way to escape it is through the salvation of Christ Jesus. Prayer: Ask the Lord to make you more effective in helping people escape eternal damnation by preaching the gospel to them — SD Abraham Get free audio sermons here☞ streamglobe.org/34 BIBLE IN 365 DAYS: Habakkuk Streamglobe is interdenominational. Kindly share this Devotional with your contacts and let’s touch lives together. To start getting Streamglobe Devotional Text & Audio daily, join our WhatsApp Group Here☞ https://chat.whatsapp.com/GQtRmMjts0467gq8EqeFwQ Join us on Telegram here☞ streamglobe.org/join www.streamglobe.org Source: Devotional
KNOWLEDGEABLE EXPERIENCE
Download Today’s Audio here☞ bit.ly/aud1811 1 Timothy 3:6 KJVNot a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. Many, especially in Africa are unemployed and are in poverty, sometimes not for lack of jobs or education. Even with higher degrees, many see their foreign counterparts with diplomas only become their bosses. It is a pointer that with the right technical know-how, degrees are no longer the main requirements for jobs, as seen with certain employers lately. Enthusiasm without knowledge is hollow and knowledge without the right application is a recipe for disaster. A skilled craftsman with experience is safer to work with than a proud novice with a degree. 2 Timothy 2:15 talks about the workman that studies. The defining quality of the man there is that he applies the truth of what he studies. It means having knowledge of Bible principles only won’t be so profitable if one doesn’t work or walk in them, thereby gaining experience. Some others, in fear of judgment from men, especially if they show weakness, have sadly chosen to remain novices, instead of allowing the power of God to flow in spite of or through their weaknesses (1Cor 4:3-5, 2Cor 12:9). This shouldn’t be so, for how can one gain mastery in the things of God without one first learning from past trials? Believers who prefer to remain in their comfort zones (unwilling to grow or pass faith’s test), will fail if they are errantly put in roles requiring maturity in the spirit (1Cor 9:25, 1Tim 5:22, Heb 5:12-14, Jas 1:25). A novice will take pride in titles but a true and knowledgeable servant of Christ will value his humbling experience in God over any religious title or qualification. Which one are you (Phil 3:3-11)? Prayer: Lord, help me to walk in the knowledge of your word I have received. — Chibo E.C. Partner with Streamglobe and let’s print Devotional booklets to freely distribute to secondary school students. Click here to learn more☞ www.streamglobe.org/partner BIBLE IN 365 DAYS: Acts 9-10 Streamglobe is interdenominational. Kindly share this Devotional with your contacts and let’s touch lives together. Contact us: +2348079816967 contact@streamglobe.org www.streamglobe.org To start getting Streamglobe Devotional Text & Audio daily, join our WhatsApp Group Here☞ https://chat.whatsapp.com/GQtRmMjts0467gq8EqeFwQ Join us on Telegram here☞ streamglobe.org/join Source: Devotional