The Spirit Filled Life
Philippians 4:8 (NET) Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of respect, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if something is excellent or praiseworthy, think about these things. After Olamide was filled with the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues, she felt so much joy and liberty in her heart that she determined to do everything it took to stay filled with the Holy Spirit at all times. She had read teachings about being filled with the spirit several times but she wanted a practical guide to actually walk in a spirit-filled life. She realized that what she allowed to dwell in her mind was key to controlling the mood of her heart. Today’s Bible verse became a guide for her. I have come to notice that a heavy and depressed countenance does not engender a spirit-filled life. If you put on the television or read the newspaper, you will notice that most of the news there will attempt to take away your joy and send you to a mood of depression or sadness. It is good to be informed by the news, but guard your heart and don’t let it control your countenance. If you ponder on the behavior of many people you have to deal with(even certain Christians), you would realize that being joyful does not come naturally. But we are instructed to “rejoice in the Lord always”(see Phil 4:4). The spirit-filled life is a joy-filled life (read Ephesians 5: 19-21). This is not because there are no sorrows in the world or things that can keep us depressed and moody, but because the presence of God the Holy Spirit within us is bigger than anything that is happening outside us. What we focus on will determine the outcomes of our lives. Today’s Bible verse instructs us on the things we should ponder upon. Do not let your mind dwell long on thoughts that do not inspire thanksgiving and praise. Discipline your mind to always find the good in every situation and dwell on it. Find a reason to give thanks in all things because this is the will of God for us in Christ Jesus. Go into today remembering that the Spirit-filled life is a joy and thanksgiving-filled life. You cannot control the Holy Spirit but you control what your mind ponders on which in turn controls your mood and determines whether you will be Spirit-filled or not. Prayer: Lord, help me lead a spirit-filled life, In Jesus’ name. Amen —Abraham Damilola ArigiBible In One Year: Job 5-6 (In Devotional Audio) Streamglobe is nondenominational. Kindly share this Devotional with your contacts and let’s touch lives together. Send inquiries, testimonies, and prayer requests here(WhatsApp): +2348021680251, +2348138224547 Download our sermons here: www.streamglobe.org/34 http://listen.streamglobe.org/Devotional%20Audio%202450.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download ()Subscribe: RSS
Baptism and the Conscience
Acts 2:38-39 (NET) Peter said to them, “Repent, and each one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. After Olamide accepted that all her sins had been forgiven and the deep-rooted guilt in her heart was washed away, she received the gift of the Holy Spirit and started to speak in tongues as the Spirit gave her utterance. She had believed in the Lord for several years but just could not receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit. This was because of some level of guilt she still retained in her conscience. This was dealt with through the miracle of water baptism. You will see that in today’s Bible verse, Apostle Peter tells the people to repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of their sins, and then they would receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Many have been able to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit even before they were baptized in water because they believed that their sins had been forgiven and they got rid of all deep-rooted guilt in their consciences after they believed(this was usually easier for the Gentiles because they did not have an elaborate consciousness of sin like the Jews who had the law). But many others have found that their consciences received the required freedom needed for them to be able to be filled with the Holy Spirit after they were baptized in water. Indeed, the baptism of the Holy Spirit has come to some immediately after their baptism in water. That was the case with our Lord Jesus Christ(Matthew 3:16). In 1 Peter, we see that water baptism is a pledge [or answer] of a good conscience to God. There is clearly a connection between it and the conscience. 1 Peter says: “And baptism, which is a figure [of their deliverance], does now also save you [from inward questionings and fears], not by the removing of outward body filth [bathing], but by [providing you with] the answer of a good and clear conscience (inward cleanness and peace) before God [because you are demonstrating what you believe to be yours] through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 3:21 AMPC. Go into today remembering that you cannot walk in the fullness of the spirit[and your spiritual gifts] if your conscience is still weighed down by any level of guilt. Deal with the guilt in your conscience through the water(the word of God) and the blood(remembering and depending on the sacrifice of Christ) and you will receive an outpouring of the Holy Spirit in a new measure. Prayer: Lord, deliver me from all guilt so I may walk in the fulness of the Spirit. Amen. —Abraham Damilola Arigi Bible In One Year: Psalms 6-8 (In Devotional Audio) Streamglobe is nondenominational. Kindly share this Devotional with your contacts and let’s touch lives together. Send inquiries, testimonies, and prayer requests here(WhatsApp): +2348021680251, +2348138224547 To start getting Streamglobe Devotional Text & Audio early every day, join a Streamglobe WhatsApp Group here: https://chat.whatsapp.com/KXfyDJ5Un2SIfWenO7qeuN http://listen.streamglobe.org/Devotional%20Audio%202449.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download ()Subscribe: RSS
The Spirit and Character of Christ 2
Romans 8:9 (NET) You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, this person does not belong to him. After Zoe believed in the Lord and was baptized in the Holy Spirit, she was empowered to learn of Christ and receive His Spirit(become like Christ in character and nature). But because she was distracted by the cares of this life and the deceitfulness of riches, she did not remain in the Lord but went back to the world. Two years passed and certain bad things happened to her that brought her back to the Lord in tears and repentance. At this point, she knew that even though the gifts of the spirit she received the day she was baptized still remained, she was not safe because she didn’t have the Spirit[and character] of Christ. The Holy Spirit we have received [as a gift] empowers us to walk in the Spirit and nature of Christ. It is possible to refuse to yield to the Holy Spirit and go back to the world. The gifts of the Spirit may remain and manifest if we know how to work them, but they are no guarantee that we belong to Christ. On the last day, many will appear before the Lord and think that because they have received the power of the Holy Spirit and gifts, they would be qualified to enter the kingdom, but many who did not cooperate with the Holy Spirit to birth the spirit and nature of Christ in them would be sorely disappointed. Here’s what the Lord says will happen: Matthew 7:22-23(KJV) Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Go into today remembering that what God looks out for is our fruits. The Spirit [and character] of Christ is the real proof that we have truly been born of God. —Abraham Damilola Arigi Bible In One Year: Joshua 11-15 (In Devotional Audio) Streamglobe is nondenominational. Kindly share this Devotional with your contacts and let’s touch lives together. Send inquiries, testimonies, and prayer requests here(WhatsApp): +2348021680251, +2348138224547 Download the Audio Version Here☞ http://bit.ly/aud2448 To start getting Streamglobe Devotional Text & Audio early every day, join a Streamglobe WhatsApp Group here: https://chat.whatsapp.com/KXfyDJ5Un2SIfWenO7qeuN http://listen.streamglobe.org/Devotional%20Audio%202448.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download ()Subscribe: RSS
Don’t Live Like Them
Ephesians 4:17 (KJV) This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind. We were told first how to walk in verse 1, and now we are told in this verse how not to walk. We are to stop walking “as other Gentiles [unbelievers] walk.” When Christians become carnal, they no longer are controlled by the Spirit of God, and they act just like the world. There should be a distinct separation between the outward life of a Christian and that of a sinner. Sin is sin, and God hates it. This scripture is a command against carnality for Christians. Paul was the apostle to the Gentiles. The Ephesians were Gentiles. Paul is not talking about walking according to the law of Moses because the Gentiles were never given the law. He is showing a distinction between the Gentile Christian and the Gentile unbeliever. We are Gentiles also and well acquainted with sin. We live in a world full of sin. Our earth is perverted by the devil and the world’s system. But as Christians, we should show a distinction and a separation in our outward lives because of the knowledge of the Word inside of us. There is a process of growing to go through in order to come to the place of laying aside every sin. When you are born again, the seed is planted inside. The seed will grow as you study the Word and pray. As it grows, the new life will be manifested in the outward life. Walk each day in the knowledge you have, and the Lord will forgive the sins you commit in ignorance. When you do commit a sin you know about, ask the Lord to forgive you. He promises He will (See 1 John 1:7, 9). The Lord has commanded you to learn when you are born again: Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden [sinners], and I will give you rest [new birth]. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me (Matt. 11:28-29). Knowledge brings growth. As you grow, there will be a new area each day you will have strength to lay aside. Like a child growing up, you will come to the place where you no longer stumble and fall. You can “walk circumspectly” (Ephesians5:15). Go into today knowing that when the Word is in you in abundance, you have no excuse for sinning. Your life is to be an example to the world. Prayer: Father, help me to hunger for the word that I may grow thereby —George Evuarherhe Djorhogba Bible In One Year: Genesis 8-11 (In Devotional Audio) Streamglobe is nondenominational. Kindly share this Devotional with your contacts and let’s touch lives together. Send inquiries, testimonies, and prayer requests here(WhatsApp): +2348021680251, +2348138224547 http://listen.streamglobe.org/Devotional%20Audio%202447.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download ()Subscribe: RSS
Doers of the Word 2
James 1:22 (KJV) But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. Sandra did not know that she had been deceiving herself because she felt that because she could still speak in tongues, all was well. Also, she was a very faithful tither. The day she found out she was deceiving herself was when she joined the Evangelism unit and they went for prison evangelism. They came in contact with a young man who asked them to pray for him because he knew he was demon-possessed. As they started to pray, the demon inside him started to cry out. But she noticed that when she prayed, the demon had no regard for her voice, but reacted when even some younger Christians commanded it come out. It became clear to Sandra that she had no spiritual authority even though she had been in the church for a long time. She was not a doer of the word but was living in sin. Yesterday we saw that those who continue to hear the word of God but do not do what it says but continue to come back to church usually do so because they believe that even though they are not doers of the word, they are still saved and would inherit the kingdom of God. Unknown to them, they are simply deceiving themselves. The problem with self-deception is that the person will be sincerely convinced that what they have deceived themselves into believing is the truth. Believers who are not controlled by God’s word will not be able to walk in the power of God’s word and kingdom. The degree to which we are submitted to God is the degree to which His power and authority would be in our lives. There are people that if they resist the devil, he will have no choice but to flee from them. These people are those who are submitted to God (See James 4:7). Go into today remembering that being a doer of the word is the secret to true spiritual authority. Prayer: Lord, help me be a doer of your word and be fruitful in every good work. Amen. —Abraham Damilola Arigi Bible In One Year: Romans 5-6 (In Devotional Audio) Streamglobe is nondenominational. Kindly share this Devotional with your contacts and let’s touch lives together. Send inquiries, testimonies, and prayer requests here(WhatsApp): +2348021680251, +2348138224547 Download the Audio Version Here☞ http://bit.ly/aud2446 To start getting Streamglobe Devotional Text & Audio early every day, join a Streamglobe WhatsApp Group here: https://chat.whatsapp.com/KXfyDJ5Un2SIfWenO7qeuN http://listen.streamglobe.org/Devotional%20Audio%202446.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download ()Subscribe: RSS
Doers of the Word
James 1:22 (KJV) But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. Sandra was in church for every meeting. She kept coming to hear the word of God because she believed she was a believer who was on her way to heaven. The problem was that she was not a doer of the word, she was merely a hearer only. Somehow she had deceived herself to believe that her conduct as a person does not matter. She was living [in sin] with her boyfriend, but she was a regular hearer of God’s word in the church and had convinced herself that she was heaven-bound. In today’s verse, notice that the Holy Spirit talks about hearers of the word, not those who simply heard once. The reason a person can be called a hearer of the word is that he keeps hearing the word, not just that he heard it once. A hearer who is not a doer of the word is one who keeps coming back to church to hear the word because he somehow believes that despite the fact that he is not living according to the word of God, he is saved and going to heaven. The Bible says that such a person is only deceiving himself. Believers who refuse to live in obedience to God’s word are simply deceiving themselves when they believe they will inherit the kingdom of God (1 Cor 6:9, 1 John 3:7). See what our Lord Jesus says in Matthew: Matthew 7:21 (KJV) Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. The will of God is contained in His word, We must be doers of His word. Go into today remembering that a person who deceives himself is one who doesn’t live in obedience to the word, but believes that he is safe because he is in church hearing the word. Prayer: Dear Lord, please deliver me from self-deception. Help me to live in obedience to your word and be fruitful in every good work. Amen. —Abraham Damilola Arigi Bible In One Year: Matthew 3-4 (In Devotional Audio) Streamglobe is nondenominational. Kindly share this Devotional with your contacts and let’s touch lives together. Send inquiries, testimonies, and prayer requests here(WhatsApp):+2348021680251, +2348138224547 Download the Audio Version Here☞ http://bit.ly/aud2445 To start getting Streamglobe Devotional Text & Audio early every day, join a Streamglobe WhatsApp Group here: https://chat.whatsapp.com/KXfyDJ5Un2SIfWenO7qeuN http://listen.streamglobe.org/Devotional%20Audio%202445.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download ()Subscribe: RSS
The Ministry Gifts
Ephesians 4:11, 12. (KJV) And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers. For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. The “He” that gave the gifts is the Lord Jesus, the one who descended, ascended, and completed all things. In 1Corinthians 12:28, we find that He gave these gifts to the church. As long as we still have the church, we still have all five of the ministry offices. However, these gifts were given to actualize God’s intended purpose in the church. The original Greek (of verse 12) has no commas or punctuation marks. If you remove the first comma, the sentence might make more sense. The ministry gifts are “for the perfecting of the saints for the work of the ministry.” The ministry gifts are not to do the work of the ministry [alone]. They are to perfect the saints so they can go do the work of the ministry. This is called discipleship. Jesus told us to go into all nations and make disciples of them (Matthew 28:19-20). Ministers are not to do the work alone but are to teach the people to do the work. The minister should not have to come to your house and witness to your neighbor. He should instruct you in the Word so you can witness to your neighbor. The ministry offices are not doormats for you to walk over and use for your own whims. They are called by God to stand in their appropriate offices and instruct you in the ways of ambassadorship for the kingdom of God. The ministry gifts are set in the body of Christ. Yes, God can and will give you personal revelations but not like those He will give you through a ministry gift. He has called and anointed that person to that office. Your own personal revelations during times of personal study will increase as your life comes into order and you submit to a pastor. Also, when you recognize the God-given authority in other known ministers, your own prayer and study life will be more effective. God into today with this understanding; God has set the ministry gifts in the church for my edifying and perfecting so that, as I grow, I can win others and do the work of the ministry. Prayer: ask God for grace to be humble to receive the ministry gifts sent to you. —George Evuarherhe Djorhogba Bible In One Year: Isaiah 7-11 (In Devotional Audio) Streamglobe is nondenominational. Kindly share this Devotional with your contacts and let’s touch lives together. Send inquiries, testimonies, and prayer requests here(WhatsApp):+2348021680251, +2348138224547 http://listen.streamglobe.org/Devotional%20Audio%202444.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download ()Subscribe: RSS
Because You Have Kept My Admonition
Revelation 3:10 (NET) Because you have kept my admonition to endure steadfastly, I will also keep you from the hour of testing that is about to come on the whole world to test those who live on the earth. As Femi started to seek the Lord in prayer and fasting for the year, one of the first things he did was to ask the Lord what improvements he needed to make in his life to walk better in pleasing the Lord. He sensed the Lord leading him to be more committed to prayers this year. When he got to church in the evening, he received confirmation to that admonition. It was now clear to Femi that he needed to set aside some time every night to pray and spend time with the Lord henceforth. In today’s Bible text, Jesus talked about an hour of testing. IN 1 Cor 7:26, Apostle Paul also made reference [by the spirit of prophecy] to an Impending crisis. History has it that around that period, Christians everywhere were persecuted by the very powerful Roman Empire which ruled the world. The Empire made it a duty to persecute and kill Christians everywhere, and they used their very vast resources to do this. But the Church in Philadelphia was going to be spared from this testing because they always kept the Lord’s admonition to them. The Lord has the power to preserve His own from global or national occurrences that appear inescapable. When a person honors the Lord, the Lord honors him and would dedicate special resources for His peace and prosperity(see 1 Sam 2:30). The church at Philadelphia honored the Lord and Kept His admonition. Because of this, they were spared. I do not know what admonition you have recently received from the Lord, but as you go into today, determine to keep the Lord’s admonition, and see His preserving grace and power multiply in every area of your life. —Abraham Damilola Arigi Bible In One Year: Job 3-4 (In Devotional Audio) Streamglobe is nondenominational. Kindly share this Devotional with your contacts and let’s touch lives together. Send inquiries, testimonies, and prayer requests here(WhatsApp): +2348138224547, +2348021680251 Download the Audio Version Here☞ http://bit.ly/aud2442 To start getting Streamglobe Devotional Text & Audio early every day, join a Streamglobe WhatsApp Group here: https://chat.whatsapp.com/KXfyDJ5Un2SIfWenO7qeuN http://listen.streamglobe.org/Devotional%20Audio%202443.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download ()Subscribe: RSS
Forbearing One Another in Love
Ephesians 4:2 (KJV) With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love. “Meekness” is a “teachable attitude.” A meek person is not a doormat or a weak person but someone who has a teachable spirit. James tells us to “receive with meekness the engrafted word” (James 1:21). In Matthew 5:5 Jesus says that the meek will inherit the earth. Meek or teachable people are well rewarded in this lifetime and in eternity to come. Never come to a place in your Christian walk where you think you know it all. Until you come into heaven with the Lord, you will always be learning. If you think you can be taught no more, then you have just admitted your ignorance. The more you learn in this life, the more you find out you do not know. The word “longsuffering” here means “patience.” It is the same word translated as “patience” in Hebrews 6:12, where it is stated that we are to be “followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” We all need patience in this life because it is a partner to the successful life of faith. You can be teachable and patient, and yet stand your ground for something you know is right, but you always should do it in an attitude of love. I envision someone who is immovable in love when I read the way David describes a righteous person as a “tree planted by the rivers of water” (Psalm 1:3). These trees are the strongest because they always have a constant supply of water. They also outlive other trees because they have no fear of drought. A strong tree bends in the wind but is never uprooted. As [abiding] believers, we are trees planted by streams of living water. We have to stand for the truth, but we must do so in an attitude of love, “forbearing one another in love.” Go into today with the consciousness that as a believer, you have the responsibility to uphold the truth in a manner of love with forbearance. Prayer: God, endow me with a heart that is broken and contrite, expressing your character at all times. —George Evuarherhe Djorhogba Bible In One Year: Psalms 3-5 (In Devotional Audio) Streamglobe is nondenominational. Kindly share this Devotional with your contacts and let’s touch lives together. Send inquiries, testimonies, and prayer requests here(WhatsApp): +2348138224547, +2348021680251 Download the Audio Version Here☞ http://bit.ly/aud2442 To start getting Streamglobe Devotional Text & Audio early every day, join a Streamglobe WhatsApp Group here: https://chat.whatsapp.com/KXfyDJ5Un2SIfWenO7qeuN http://listen.streamglobe.org/Devotional%20Audio%202442.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download ()Subscribe: RSS
Look! An Open Door
Revelation 3:7-9 (NET) 7 “To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write the following: “This is the solemn pronouncement of the Holy One, the True One, who holds the key of David, who opens doors no one can shut, and shuts doors no one can open: 8 ‘I know your deeds. (Look! I have put in front of you an open door that no one can shut.) I know that you have little strength, but you have obeyed my word and have not denied my name. Folakemi wanted an open door so much because she understood that an open door meant opportunities for greater blessings and promotions. She did not know that an open door was already set before her. Her problem was that she couldn’t see it. She was working in a place where she literally had to deal with thousands of campus students every week, and they all held her in very high esteem. When her eyes were opened, she now saw that her influence over the students was an opportunity for her to do what the Lord had been impressing on her heart for years. It is worthy of note that Jesus told the saints in Philadelphia to ‘LOOK! I have put in front of you an open door’. One of the biggest problems hindering people from walking into open doors is that they have not seen the doors set before them by the Lord. An open door represents every new great opportunity provided for you to make spiritual and physical increase. One very important thing about this is that you have to see it. Secondly, you have to understand that if a particular door has been opened for you by the Lord, no person or devil can close it. This is the confidence you need to walk into your open doors. Go into today asking the Lord to help you see every open door set before you in this season of your life. Ask for wisdom to make the best use of every opportunity set before you. —Abraham Damilola Arigi Bible In One Year: Joshua 6-10 (In Devotional Audio) Streamglobe is nondenominational. Kindly share this Devotional with your contacts and let’s touch lives together. Send inquiries, testimonies, and prayer requests here(WhatsApp): +2348138224547, +2348021680251 Download the Audio Version Here☞ http://bit.ly/aud2441 To start getting Streamglobe Devotional Text & Audio early every day, join a Streamglobe WhatsApp Group here: https://chat.whatsapp.com/KXfyDJ5Un2SIfWenO7qeuN http://listen.streamglobe.org/Devotional%20Audio%202441.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download ()Subscribe: RSS