Dealing With Enemies
Psalms 27:6 (KJV) And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD. Remi was very aware and conscious of the fact that she had enemies who were against her. She grew up in a polygamous home, and by the time she was a teenager, it became clear to her that her stepmother was her enemy. Apart from her stepmother, she knew she had other enemies who were wicked and envious. She had spent a lot of her time in her life praying against her enemies, and she was always having reasons to pray against them because they always had a way of showing up again and again. But as Remi grew in the Lord, she became more preoccupied with pleasing the Lord than anything else. Because of this, she found that she was no longer obsessed with the fact that she had enemies and was no longer afraid of them. She knew that she was now exalted above her enemies and there was nothing they could do about it. God is very aware that we have enemies, and He has made elaborate arrangements for dealing with them. When we focus on our enemies, we may or may not overcome them, but when we focus on the Lord and live for Him, He would exalt us far above our enemies. They would no longer be the issue of our lives. The only thing that would be strong enough to be our preoccupation would now be matters of God’s Kingdom and no more mundane matters of enemy hostility. Go into today remembering that when we become God’s property and live for Him, our enemies will become God’s enemies, and we wouldn’t need to worry much about them anymore because they would now have the entire host of heaven to contend with. Read Gen 12:3, Exo 23:22, Acts 9:4-5. Prayer: Ask the Lord to help you enter the realm of rest in Him. want to be saved? Click here: streamglobe.org/33 —Abraham Damilola Arigi Yearly Bible Reading: I John 4-5 (In Devotional Audio) Get sermons here: streamglobe.og/34 Streamglobe is interdenominational. Kindly share this Devotional with your contacts and let’s touch lives together. To start getting Streamglobe Devotional Text & Audio early every day, join our WhatsApp Group here: https://chat.whatsapp.com/DKqaVkJMgP82sme4rew7VB Beware of scammers! No one in Streamglobe would call you and request any WhatsApp Code. http://listen.streamglobe.org/Devotional%20Audio%201849.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download ()Subscribe: RSS
The Lordship of Jesus
John 20:28-29 (NET)28 Thomas replied to him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are the people who have not seen and yet have believed.” Memunat claimed that she believed in Jesus, but not as Lord. Because she didn’t believe that Jesus is Lord, she wasn’t saved. She didn’t have power over sin or over the powers of darkness. She was a victim of the spiritual wickedness in her home town and was about to die an untimely death when she had a vision of Jesus and saw that He was no ordinary man but is indeed the Lord. One proof that Jesus is not an ordinary man like everyone else is that His name is the most powerful name in the spirit realm. He is the only one whose name brings salvation(Acts 4:12), casts out demons, heals the sick, etc(see Mark Mark 16:17-18). If anyone accepts Him, he would be able to exert the authority of His name. When Jesus had just resurrected from the dead, some of His disciples had seen Him, but some hadn’t. Those who hadn’t seen Him believed the report of those who had seen Him, all but Thomas who said he would only believe if he could see the Lord Jesus and touch His wounds (to be sure it is not an imposter). But after Thomas saw the Lord Jesus and touched His wounds, he believed and confessed: “My Lord and my God”. Acknowledging that Jesus is Lord(the owner of all things) is the endpoint of believing that God raised Him from the dead after the third day. If you truly believe that Jesus is Lord, then you believe that He is God. Only God can truly be the Lord (owner and controller of all things). If a person truly believes that Jesus is Lord, believing that God raised Him from the dead is no issue. It is interesting to see how difficult it is for those who don’t truly believe that Jesus is Lord to believe that he resurrected, and how easy it is for those who believe that Jesus is Lord to believe that He resurrected. Go into today remembering that what saves a person is receiving the Lordship of Christ Jesus(Romans 10:9). The Lordship of Jesus is not passive, it is most active. It would affect every area of the life of a person who truly believes. Prayer: Lord, help me walk in the blessedness of believing in you, even though I have not seen you. Amen. Want to be saved? Go here: streamglobe.org/33 —Abraham Damilola Arigi Yearly Bible Reading: Acts 19-20 (In Devotional Audio) Streamglobe is interdenominational. Kindly share this Devotional with your contacts and let’s touch lives together. To start getting Streamglobe Devotional Text & Audio early every day, join our WhatsApp Group here: https://chat.whatsapp.com/DKqaVkJMgP82sme4rew7VB Beware of scammers! No one in Streamglobe would call you and request any WhatsApp Code. http://listen.streamglobe.org/Devotional%20Audio%202158.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download ()Subscribe: RSS
Set Your Mind on Things Above
Colossians 3:1-2 (NKJV) If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. Tracy was living in Rwanda as an aid worker from the United States. Because she came from America and her family was still in America, her heart was more set on the things going on in America than the things going on in Rwanda. Even though she was very aware of what was going on in Rwanda, It was very clear that her heart was still at home. For example, she watched more American news than Rwandan news. She did her productive work in Rwanda but her heart was set at home. She was simply a pilgrim and ambassador in Rwanda and she knew it. Before we were raised with Christ, we were first dead in our sins. It is because of our sins that Jesus had to die, and in Him, we all died. We were also buried with Him through [water] baptism (Col 2:12a, Rom 6:5). Through faith in the power of God, we are raised with Christ and now live the life of Christ (Col 2:12b). The perfection [of our resurrection] will be revealed when we are physically raised into our glorious bodies (see Col 3:3). If indeed we live the life of Christ who is in heaven, we must think His thoughts. We must set our hearts on things above and not on earthly things. This does not mean we will not live productive lives here on earth. It means we are pilgrims and strangers on this earth, and we live here with that mindset, while being productive and diligent in serving the Lord through our various ministries: jobs, businesses, occupations, etc. Go into today remembering that your citizenship is in heaven. You are not of this world. You’ve been empowered to shine and not to blend. Prayer: Lord, as I walk this world, please help me never forget that my citizenship is in heaven. Amen. Want to be saved? Go here: streamglobe.org/33 —Abraham Damilola Arigi Yearly Bible Reading: Malachi (In Devotional Audio) Streamglobe is interdenominational. Kindly share this Devotional with your contacts and let’s touch lives together. To start getting Streamglobe Devotional Text & Audio early every day, join our WhatsApp Group here: https://chat.whatsapp.com/DKqaVkJMgP82sme4rew7VB Beware of scammers! No one in Streamglobe would call you and request any WhatsApp Code. http://listen.streamglobe.org/Devotional%20Audio%201478.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download ()Subscribe: RSS
Lean Not On Your Own Understanding
Proverbs 3:5 (KJV) 5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Biola was a very intelligent and hard working person. But the people she started partnering with were in the occult and were very wise in the things of the world. When it became clear to Biola that her new business partners were not sincere at all, and at some point they were even making enchantments to attack her, she had to cry to the Lord for help. Her understanding had failed her and she was now willing to trust in the Lord. The first mistake she made was that in her business, she made herself unequally yoked together with unbelievers. She made the mistake of entering an equal level business partnership with unbelievers. At the beginning, the business deal looked very good and lucrative, so she entered it despite the check she had in her spirit. She entered the business partnership and leaned on her understanding rather than trusting in the Lord and obeying His word. When you trust in the Lord and lean on Him rather than leaning on your own understanding, it means you will obey His word and live according to it. His instruction may look like it is not the smartest thing to do in your current situation, but when you do not lean on your own understanding, you will obey His word rather than acting according to your own understanding. This is how to trust in the Lord with all your heart. Go into today asking the Lord to empower you trust in Him with all your heart. —Abraham Damilola Arigi Bible in 1 Year: Ecclesiastes 11-12 (In Devotional Audio) Streamglobe is interdenominational. Kindly share this Devotional with your contacts and let’s touch lives together. To start getting Streamglobe Devotional Text & Audio early every day, join our WhatsApp Group here: https://chat.whatsapp.com/Eu05YwM3JZYFoDk9snRj2Z http://listen.streamglobe.org/Devotional%20Audio%201477.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download ()Subscribe: RSS
Do Your Part
Ephesians 4:16 (NET) From him the whole body grows, fitted and held together through every supporting ligament. As each one does its part, the body grows in love. (Also read Exodus 17:8-16) The people of Amalek came to wage war against the people of Israel. Joshua rallied the men of war and met the Amalekites at the battlefield. During the battle, the people of Israel would be prevailing and at other times the Amalekites would have the upper hand. After a while, the people of Israel continued to prevail and never slacked until, as Exodus 17 verse 13 puts it, ‘Joshua defeated Amalek and his army with the sword’ But behind the scene on a hill not so far away some key players stood waging the war that Joshua was fighting. They are Moses, Aaron and Hur. Moses went, not with a sword, but with the rod of God in his hand. As he lifted his hand with the rod to the Lord, Joshua and his men had the upper hand. But every time he dropped his hand because of tiredness the Amalekites would gain the upper hand. So, Aaron and Hur made him sit on a stone as they stood holding his hand up. Then Joshua and his men continued to experience victory until the enemy was destroyed. So, the question is, who really won the victory? The Lord did, using all of them. Joshua’s victory in the battlefield was dependent on the intercessory and prophetic work of Moses on the hill. And Moses work on the hill was made more effective by the assistance of Aaron and Hur. In God’s house, there is no one-man-show. One man might be in the limelight but there are others putting oil into the lamp so it can shine on him. Growth/success comes when everyone is playing their part. If you belong to a local assembly (which you should), know that your part is important to the overall success of that assembly, it doesn’t matter how insignificant it appears to you or even others, there is a master weaver at work and He will weave your part into the whole and make a magnificent tapestry from it. Ensure you belong to a unit. So, whether you are an usher or a children Sunday School teacher, do it with joy. Go into today knowing that God is taking your contribution in His house and using it to perfect His work there. Pray like this: Father I thank you for the awesome privilege to serve in your house. I present my body a living sacrifice unto you as I perform my duties with joy. I ask and receive the grace to be diligent in it in Jesus’ name, amen. Want to be saved? Click here: streamglobe.org/33 — Ikechukwu Mpama Bible in 1 Year: Psalms 137-139 (In Devotional Audio) Streamglobe is interdenominational. Kindly share this Devotional with your contacts and let’s touch lives together. To start getting Streamglobe Devotional Text & Audio early every day, join our WhatsApp Group here: https://chat.whatsapp.com/Eu05YwM3JZYFoDk9snRj2Z Beware of scammers! No one in Streamglobe would call you and request any WhatsApp Code. http://listen.streamglobe.org/Devotional%20Audio%202157.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download ()Subscribe: RSS
Partnership With God
Matthew. 16:19 (KJV) And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever, thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever, thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Many times, God will not do what He says He will do except there is a man aligned to partner with Him to see His kingdom come in a particular sphere of influence. God is sovereign and all-powerful but has given the earth to man to rule and dominate (Gen. 1:28, Psalm 115:16). So whatever God wants to do on earth, He looks for vessels who are aligned enough to partner with Him to bring it to pass. Most times we say we wait on God to act and change our situations when God is actually waiting for us to align and partner with Him so we can see the necessary changes we desire (and this could lead to delays of the fulfillment of prophecies). We can enter into partnership with God by believing and confessing God’s word until we see the manifestation of the word. It is not enough to confess the word but our hearts and mouths must agree so that we would not be double-minded (James 1:6-7; Rom.10:10, Prov. 23:7). Go into today knowing that as a child of God you are a partner with God in fulfilling His purposes on earth. Don’t give up, contend in faith for every of God’s promise until you see its fulfillment. Prayer: Dear Lord, help me to continue in faith until I see the manifestation of what you have spoken. Amen. Want to be saved? Click here: streamglobe.org/33 — George .E. Djorhogba Bible in 1 Year: Nehemiah 1-4 (In Devotional Audio) Streamglobe is interdenominational. Kindly share this Devotional with your contacts and let’s touch lives together. To start getting Streamglobe Devotional Text & Audio early every day, join our WhatsApp Group here: https://chat.whatsapp.com/Eu05YwM3JZYFoDk9snRj2Z Beware of scammers! No one in Streamglobe would call you and request any WhatsApp Code. http://listen.streamglobe.org/Devotional%20Audio%202156.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download ()Subscribe: RSS
Fruitful in the Lord 2
John 15:7 (NET) If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you want, and it will be done for you. It was really difficult for Bamidele to leave his dishonest ways, but he knew that if he was going to abide in the Lord and be fruitful, he could not continue in his old ways of sin. Even though he was very intelligent, he was more used to making money through fraud and didn’t know any other way of making a living. But as he continued to be taught and mentored in the way of the Lord, he saw that those who truly abide in the Lord and follow Him wholeheartedly in truth are those whose prayers are most powerful. He understood that this meant he could never be in lack and want if he remained in the Lord and was fruitful because then his prayers would be very powerful. He left his old sinful ways and started following the Lord. Some people thought he was crazy, but he didn’t mind. As time passed and Bamidele became more fruitful in the Lord, he would ask God for some of the most unbelievable things and they would be done for him. He eventually became a very successful honest businessman who made much more profit than he ever made during his days of fraud. One reason why those who abide in the Lord are the ones whose prayers are answered the most is that through abiding in the Lord and being transformed by His word, their motives have been purified and their prayers and desires are now in agreement with God’s will for them. God usually does not answer prayers that are not in accordance with His will. Go into today asking the Lord to multiply grace for fruitfulness in your life. Remember that anyone still conformed to this present world cannot be transformed into the nature that makes him fruitful in the Lord. —Abraham Damilola Arigi Bible in 1 Year: Deuteronomy 20-22 Click here to get audio sermons: 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 early every day, join our WhatsApp Group here: https://chat.whatsapp.com/Eu05YwM3JZYFoDk9snRj2Z streamglobede.org/join http://listen.streamglobe.org/Devotional%20Audio%201843.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download ()Subscribe: RSS
Worship and Physical Posture 4
1 Timothy 2:11-15 (KJV) 11 Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. 12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. 13 For Adam was first formed, then Eve.14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. 15 Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety. Today’s scripture is one of the most misunderstood and contested in modern history. But whenever we see such a command, it is important for us to understand the reason why it was given, so that our obedience would be fruitful. In today’s scripture, Apostle Paul gives the reason why he does not allow women to teach or exercise authority in the church. It is because women can be easily deceived. And we see this trait from the first woman: Eve was deceived and fell for the temptation of the devil. Adam was not deceived, he was simply rebellious. Today, if you see false prophets (the kinds that are not even trying too hard to pretend to be genuine), most of their followers would be women, and the women would be properly deceived. Because of this weakness in women, they become easy targets for lying spirits that know how to masquerade as angels of light in order to deceive God’s people. The devil’s agenda to deceive God’s people would easily be accomplished if the person at the top can easily be deceived. Women are more easily deceived than men. Nevertheless, we see a clause in verse 15 that allows for women to lead, it says “Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety”. Through childbearing, women are delivered from the weakness that makes it dangerous for them to teach and lead God’s people. I believe this applies to spiritual childbearing as well as physical. You see, by the time a woman has brought and established people into the faith, she is no more a child that can easily be deceived and manipulated through her emotions. When a holy and self-controlled woman has had the privilege of bearing and raising children, that demanding and sacrificial experience makes her wiser and more difficult to deceive. God does not proscribe women from church ministry, but there is a process that a woman called into ministry has to pass through in order for her to be delivered from the weakness that makes it dangerous for her to lead in God’s house. Want to be saved? Click here: streamglobe.org/33 — Abraham Damilola Arigi Yearly Bible Plan: Acts 17-18 (In Devotional Audio) 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/IPWhbqxjjf2JTpEjv45ZUh Contact us: +2348034420524 | www.streamglobe.org http://listen.streamglobe.org/Devotional%20Audio%202155.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download ()Subscribe: RSS
Worship and Physical Posture 3
1 Peter 5:8 (KJV) Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour A Christian couple couldn’t have children after over ten years of marriage. This greatly troubled them because the doctors didn’t seem to find anything wrong with either of them. When a servant of God who manifested great grace in the gifts of the Holy Ghost came to minister in their church, they told him about their ordeal. Immediately, the man of God knew by word of knowledge that there was something in their house that was an access point for the demons afflicting their home. After much questioning, it was discovered that they had a sculpture of Buddha in one of their living rooms. The servant of God asked them to get rid of the sculpture and any other sculptures or artworks related to idol worship. They were a little reluctant to do this because these artworks cost them quite a lot, but after the man of God explained to them how those items were used as demonic access points against them, they were ready to get rid of the items. Months after getting rid of the sculpture and paintings, the wife conceived for the first time ever. We have seen previously that religions in the world are very particular about the posture of worship and modes of dressing. It doesn’t end there, religions in the world are also very particular about symbols, signs, and architecture. This is not the case for the believer in Christ. In reality, the Christian faith has no symbol. There is nowhere in the Bible where a symbol was assigned to our faith. The cross is considered a universal symbol for Christianity today because the world needed a symbol to identify Christianity among other religions. When a believer keeps items that carry symbols of other religions and sects, whether he knows it or not, he may be giving certain spirits undue access into his life. The spirit realm is very legalistic, and spirits follow items dedicated to them. After accepting the Lord Jesus, a new believer should get rid of all items related to any religion he practiced in the past. There is a reason the new believers in Acts 19:19 brought out their sorcery books and burned them even though they were very expensive books. Go into today remembering that as a believer, you must be sober and vigilant. Add to your faith knowledge, and don’t suffer unduly because of ignorance. Prayer: Dear Lord, heighten my discernment and help me walk wisely in this world. Amen. Want to be saved? Click here: streamglobe.org/33 — Abraham Damilola Arigi Yearly Bible Plan: Zechariah 8-14 (In Devotional Audio) 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/IPWhbqxjjf2JTpEjv45ZUh Contact us: +2348034420524 | www.streamglobe.org http://listen.streamglobe.org/Devotional%20Audio%202154.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download ()Subscribe: RSS
Worship and Physical Posture 2
1 Timothy 2:9-10 (NET) Likewise the women are to dress in suitable apparel, with modesty and self-control. Their adornment must not be with braided hair and gold or pearls or expensive clothing, but with good deeds, as is proper for women who profess reverence for God. We saw previously that certain postures [of worship] that people of the world assume are meant to attract certain spirits. This is why religions in the world prescribe the posture a person must assume during worship and prayer if their prayer must be acceptable to their deity. The reason God does not give instructions of the posture of worship to believers in Christ is that unlike other deities, our God cannot be summoned. He is omnipresent and does not need us to assume any posture or position/way of bowing or kneeling in order for Him to hear us. This same principle of posture also applies to dress and physical appearance. There is a way a person would dress and appear that will make the spirits of his religion more comfortable to fellowship with him. For this same reason, other religions of the world have their prescribed ways of dressing (and shaving of hair, etc), without which their worship may not be acceptable. Again, God does not give believers in Christ a prescribed way of appearance in order for our worship to be acceptable. The new covenant is not mediated by angels but by God Himself. We have no prescriptions of dressing or color code, but we are to dress decently and in a dignified way as is proper for those who profess reverence to God. God specifically instructed His people of old not to dress and appear in ways the pagans around them did(see Leviticus 19:27-28). I believe it was because God didn’t want His people to unknowingly participate in Idol worship (since worship also involves the way a person appears) and inadvertently summon wicked spirits into their lives by the way they appeared. I believe it is no coincidence that after Apostle Paul recommended the lifting up of hands as an acceptable posture of worship(1 Timothy 2:8), he goes on to the matter of dressing and appearance. The two matters of worship posture and physical appearance are somewhat related. Human beings care about their physical appearance and naturally want to look good–it is more so with Women. Christian women are to be dressed in suitable apparel with modesty and self-control. Many have argued that the Bible verses above proscribe the use of jewelry and braiding (plating) of hair for Christian women. But that would be true if women can put on good deeds as they would hair, jewelry, and clothing because the verse says “[t]heir adornment must not be with braided hair and gold or pearls or expensive clothing, but with good deeds…”. So women should put on good deeds instead of physical apparel? That is the logical inference one would arrive at if he insists that this verse means Christian women should not braid their hair or put on gold jewelry. This verse is clearly showing where the focus of a Christian woman should be. While the unbeliever woman spends her substance on what she would wear and is wholely preoccupied with her outward appearance, a godly woman would rather spend her substance on good deeds- (helping the needy, etc) and would be more preoccupied with how she looks inside–her character. Go into today remembering that the people of this word inadvertently worship and invite the gods of the world by immodest appearances. In Christ, even though we do not have prescribed postures of worship or modes of dressing that are a prerequisite for acceptable worship, we are to assume worship postures and dress in ways that show reverence to our [omnipresent] God. Prayer: Dear Lord, I renounce every way I may have unknowingly invited strange spirits into my life. Help me to be guided by your Spirit in all I do. Amen. Want to be saved? Click here: streamglobe.org/33 — Abraham Damilola Arigi Yearly Bible Plan: Ecclesiastes 9-10 (In Devotional Audio) 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/IPWhbqxjjf2JTpEjv45ZUh Contact us: +2348034420524 | www.streamglobe.org http://listen.streamglobe.org/Devotional%20Audio%202153.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download ()Subscribe: RSS