Fruitful in the knowledge of Christ
2 Peter 1:8 (NET) For if these things are really yours and are continually increasing, they will keep you from becoming ineffective and unproductive in your pursuit of knowing our Lord Jesus Christ more intimately. Ben wanted so much to know the Lord and walk in His mighty power. He learned that in order for this to happen, he was to be devoted to prayer and fasting, and the ministry of the Word. He thus had a very good prayer schedule that included praying in the spirit for hours every day. He was always listening to sermons too. But as time passed, it became clear to Ben that he was not really fruitful in his pursuit of the knowledge of Christ. Grace wasn’t multiplying in His life even though he did all these things in order to know the Lord more and walk more in His grace. You see, even though Ben was devoting more time to spiritual disciplines, he was not building up his character. He was still the same deceptive, unloving, arrogant, and self-centered Ben. As he sought the Lord to find out why his pursuit of knowing Him was unfruitful, he found that the reason was that his character was not consistent with the nature of Christ. One thing is clear in today’s Bible verse above, it is possible for a person to be ineffective and unproductive in his pursuit of knowing our Lord Jesus Christ more intimately. If you read 2 Peter 2 from verse 5, you will see that we are to keep adding virtues to ourselves. We are to add excellence to our faith, knowledge to excellence, self-control to knowledge, perseverance to self-control, godliness to perseverance, brotherly affection to godliness, and unselfish love to brotherly affection. Refusing to keep building up our Christian character is the reason why people may be given to a lot of spiritual disciplines that would have helped them know the Lord more and experience multiplied grace, but it doesn’t happen. Go into today remembering that if you have the spirit and character of Christ, it would be very easy to fellowship with Him and grow in grace. Prayer: Heavenly Father, I want to be like Jesus in my heart. Deliver me from everything that hinders me from this goal. —Abraham Dami Arigi Bible Yearly: Luke 9-10 Streamglobe is interdenominational. Kindly share this Devotional with your contacts and let’s touch lives together. If you wish to start getting Streamglobe Devotional Text & Audio early every day, Send us a message or Click here to join a Streamglobe WhatsApp Group☞ https://chat.whatsapp.com/JdWGpHgmir4ES2RHP4N7Nx Send WhatsApp message to: +2348034420524, +2348138224547 (send Testimonies and Inquiries here too) Click here for the Audio Version: https://bit.ly/aud2587 http://listen.streamglobe.org/Devotional%20Audio%202587.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download ()Subscribe: RSS
Appropriating the Promise of His Manifest Presence
Matthew 28:18-20 (NET) Then Jesus came up and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Dorine had a reputation for being one of the best dermatologists in her city. As a doctor who had the trust of her patients, she could talk to them and they would listen. Many would try to talk to her about personal issues medical science cannot fix, and she would show them the light that she had found in Christ Jesus. It was through her that a very notorious pop star in that city came to know the Lord. She was able to disciple him and he was now known to be a preacher of the gospel. Many very high profile people like him that wouldn’t have listened to the gospel from a preacher were led to the Lord through her because the peace of God radiated through her life and her patients wanted to know about the hope that was the source of such peace(see 1 Peter 3:15). As time passed, Dorine understood why the Lord made her a doctor, gave her exceptional skills, and planted her in that strategic city – she was there to be a witness unto Him. The most important thing you can be found doing under the sun is making disciples of Jesus Christ. This is the way by which our lives would be measured when we stand before the judgment seat of Christ(2 Corinthians 5:10). We must never lose focus on our agenda. In order to do this effectively, God plants us in different places as His kingdom advancement agents. Some of us are preachers and teachers while most of us aren’t. But we are all expected to be witnesses unto the Lord wherever we find ourselves and in whatever jobs we do. Our work is to be witnesses unto the Lord. Go into today remembering that as you determine to be a witness unto the Lord in the most usual and unusual places, you are guaranteed of His unbreakable fellowship and tangible presence. He promises that He will be with us always(see Matthew 20:20). This promise is appropriated by those who are committed to His kingdom’s advancement agenda of making disciples everywhere. Prayer: Thank the Lord for the opportunity to be a bearer of his life. Ask the Lord for wisdom and grace to be an effective soul winner in whatever place He has planted you. —Abraham Damilola Arigi Bible Yearly: Lamentations Streamglobe is interdenominational. Kindly share this Devotional with your contacts and let’s touch lives together. If you wish to start getting Streamglobe Devotional Text & Audio early every day, Send us a message or Click here to join a Streamglobe WhatsApp Group☞ https://chat.whatsapp.com/JdWGpHgmir4ES2RHP4N7Nx Send WhatsApp message to: +2348034420524, +2348138224547 (send Testimonies and Inquiries here too) Join our Daily Zoom Bible Study. 2pm-3pm(WAT) Everyday except Sundays. Zoom Meeting ID: 838 4974 7426 | Passcode: Jesus http://listen.streamglobe.org/Devotional%20Audio%202586.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download ()Subscribe: RSS
Quickened to New Life
Ephesians 2:1-2 (KJV) And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience Anyone who has not accepted Christ is still under the dominion of Satan the prince of the power of the air. It is interesting that apostle Paul refers to Satan this way. In the Greek world, they understood very well the power of elemental spirits and how they controlled the elements. There are water elementals, fire elementals, land/earth elementals, and one more. These spirits were considered to have control over the elements, and they can use their power to manipulate those operating within their sphere of influence. The devil, who is their master is called the prince of the power of the air. He seeks to control everywhere there is air– the whole earth. The only power that can deliver a person from his influence and control is the power of Christ. As long as he breathes air, anyone who is not in Christ is ultimately under the control of the prince of the power of the air, whether he likes it or not. Just like physically, we breathe air without ceasing, those who are in christ survive and have power over the kingdom of darkness by praying without ceasing– that’s how we breathe spiritually. We practice the presence of God everywhere we go. Just like we feed on food and water physically to survive, those who are in Christ survive and have power over the influence of elemental spirits by feeding their spirits with God’s word. “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). Because they don’t only exist through their flesh life(that depends on the elements) but are now sustained through the life of the spirit, those who are in Christ can overcome the prince of the power of the air. The life that truly sustains us does not draw its power from the elements but from God. Go into today remembering that if you must live above the influence of elemental spirits, you must be deliberate and intentional in your commitment to prayer and the ministry of the word. Prayer: Lord, help me live by the spirit and fulfill your purpose for me. Amen. —Abraham Damilola Arigi Bible Yearly: Proverbs 2-3 Streamglobe is interdenominational. Kindly share this Devotional with your contacts and let’s touch lives together. If you wish to start getting Streamglobe Devotional Text & Audio early every day, Send us a message or Click here to join a Streamglobe WhatsApp Group☞ https://chat.whatsapp.com/JdWGpHgmir4ES2RHP4N7Nx Send WhatsApp message to: +2348034420524, +2348138224547 (send Testimonies and Inquiries here too) Click here for the Audio Version: https://bit.ly/aud2585 http://listen.streamglobe.org/Devotional%20Audio%202263.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download ()Subscribe: RSS
Conquering Fear
Psalms 23:4 (KJV) Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Danladi accepted the Lord Jesus when he was in the military because of the way some of his Christian colleagues were bold and unafraid in the midst of the enemy fire. When he was away in war with some of his colleagues, he observed that they were full of courage and confidence and were not afraid of untimely death even in the midst of the fiercest battle. Donald was particularly one guy he liked fighting side by side with because he always felt safe when he was with him. Most other soldiers were afraid and the fear could be felt, but these Christian soldiers were always quoting Bible verses like Psalm 23 and their courage was contagious. After they were deployed back home from battle, Danladi decided to become a Christian because he was convicted by the faith of his Christian colleagues. Unfortunately, unlike Danladi’s colleagues, there are many Christians who fear exactly the way unbelievers fear because they do not understand that if the Lord is their shepherd then He would be with them even if they walk through the darkest valley. Because of this fear, they disconnect from the grace and covering of the Lord(Hebrews 11:6). The victory with which we overcome the dark forces of this world is appropriated through our faith. Continued fear is usually an indication of failing faith. Go into today remembering that if you truly believe that the Lord is with you, it is an insult on Him to be constantly afraid of what the enemy can do to you. The reason why we shouldn’t live fearful lives as believers is that we understand that the Lord is with us. Prayer: Ask the Lord to forgive every faithlessness in your heart and give you the understanding never again to live in fear. —Abraham Dami Arigi Yearly Bible Reading: Psalms 66-68 Streamglobe is interdenominational. Kindly share this Devotional with your contacts and let’s touch lives together. If you wish to start getting Streamglobe Devotional Text & Audio early every day, Send us a message or Click here to join a Streamglobe WhatsApp Group☞ https://chat.whatsapp.com/JdWGpHgmir4ES2RHP4N7Nx Send WhatsApp message to: +2348034420524, +2348138224547 (send Testimonies and Inquiries here too) http://listen.streamglobe.org/Devotional%20Audio%202584.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download ()Subscribe: RSS
Brought Into Life
Ephesians 2:1-2 (GNT) In the past you were spiritually dead because of your disobedience and sins. At that time you followed the world’s evil way; you obeyed the ruler of the spiritual powers in space, the spirit who now controls the people who disobey God. Before David accepted the Lord Jesus, he lived a very busy life full of sin. He attended all the happening parties and was a member of the most notorious and prestigious club in his city. Almost every weekend was another party where he and his friends would display how much money they’ve got. But after he accepted the Lord Jesus, he realized that even though his life was full of activities, he was spiritually dead before he received new life in Christ. As he grew in his knowledge of God and the kingdom, he realized that indeed he was now spiritually alive towards God. He could fellowship with almighty God and walk in the reality of the new life. Unlike when he was spiritually dead, he found that he was no more afraid of death and failure. He was living in liberty and had a purpose for life. He was now living for a purpose that was bigger than himself and was no more condemned to the system of vanity(Ecclesiastes 1:12). The closer he was to Lord and the eyes of his understanding enlightened, the more grateful he was to be part of the kingdom of God and the more valuable the kingdom became to him. No sacrifice was too great for him to make in order to win the prize for which Christ Jesus has already won him to Himself(Philippians 3:12). Unlike many Christians today, David’s walk with the Lord was very fruitful because his eyes were set on the prize for which Christ won him to Himself. He knew that there was a race to be run and victories to be won. He understood that Christ called him to inherit crowns and thrones as a reward for faithful service, but he understood that in order for him to truly inherit these, he needed to do the work for which he was ordained. Jesus did not just save us to escape hellfire, he brought us into his kingdom and He has expectations of us. He has ordained unto us eternal thrones that we would only be able to inherit when we fulfill our assignments in this side of eternity. An understanding of this will keep us on our feet serving the Lord with all we’ve got. Time here is short and it’s all we’ve got to make our eternal investments. Go into today remembering that we would all stand before the judgment seat of Christ one day and receive our rewards. On that day, all that would matter is what manner of lives we lived in pleasing the Lord and fulfilling His purpose. Prayer: Lord, help me find my unique place in you and be fruitful in your body. Please help me never forget that I’m on a mission here. Amen. —Abraham Damilola Arigi Yearly Bible Reading: I Kings 5-9 Streamglobe is interdenominational. Kindly share this Devotional with your contacts and let’s touch lives together. If you wish to start getting Streamglobe Devotional Text & Audio early every day, Send us a message or Click here to join a Streamglobe WhatsApp Group☞ https://chat.whatsapp.com/JdWGpHgmir4ES2RHP4N7Nx Send WhatsApp message to: +2348034420524, +2348138224547 (send Testimonies and Inquiries here too) You’re Invited to Join the Livestream of Streamglobe Word Encounter Today. Time: 11:30an(WAT, GMT +1). Video Streaming: https://youtube.com/c/Streamglobe Audio Streaming: https://mixlr.com/streamglobeworld Click here for the Audio Version: https://bit.ly/aud2583 http://listen.streamglobe.org/Devotional%20Audio%202582.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download ()Subscribe: RSS
The Believer’s Mindset
Galatians 3:13-14 (NET) Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us (because it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”) in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham would come to the Gentiles, so that we could receive the promise of the Spirit by faith. Jim, Andrew, and Benjamin were close friends in college. With time, Andrew who was a believer observed that Benjamin had a certain sense of superiority. He actually believed that he was better than everyone around him and that whatever he did would prosper. As Andrew continued to observe, he noticed that Benjamin believed so much that he would be successful and excel in what he does because he was a Jew and he believed that he walked in the blessing. As things turned out before everyone’s eyes, Benjamin was always the most successful one in the lot. It was clear to Andrew that there was a spiritual force working for the favor and success of Benjamin in all things. As Andrew studied the scriptures and prayed about this, he found that as a believer in Christ, he had more access to the blessing of Abraham than a Jew who does not believe in Christ. What the unbelieving Jew has is the shadow, but what the believer in Christ (whether Jew or Gentile) has is the fullness of the blessing. This blessing produces peace and prosperity and gives us the inheritance of eternal life. As Andrew changed his mindset, and like Benjamin, started believing that he was blessed indeed, he noticed that the blessings started manifesting in his life. He even noticed that the manifestation of God’s grace and blessing in his life was stronger than what Benjamin had enjoyed all these years. Go into today remembering that in Christ, you have the fullness of God’s blessing and have been redeemed from all curses. This blessing is activated in your life by faith. Start expecting things to work well because of you. It is the expectation of the righteous that is not cut short, not merely his desires. Prayer: Lord, help me walk the earth with the right mindset. Order my steps in Your word. Amen. —Abraham Damilola Arigi Yearly Bible Plan: Exodus 37-40 Streamglobe is interdenominational. Kindly share this Devotional with your contacts and let’s touch lives together. If you wish to start getting Streamglobe Devotional Text & Audio early every day, Send us a message or Click here to join a Streamglobe WhatsApp Group☞ https://chat.whatsapp.com/JdWGpHgmir4ES2RHP4N7Nx Send WhatsApp message to: +2348034420524, +2348138224547 (send Testimonies and Inquiries here too) Join our Daily Zoom Bible Study. 2pm-3pm(WAT) Everyday except Sundays. Zoom Meeting ID: 838 4974 7426 Passcode: Jesus http://listen.streamglobe.org/Devotional%20Audio%202582.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download ()Subscribe: RSS
Benefits of Serving the Lord
Isaiah 54:17 (NET) No weapon forged to be used against you will succeed; you will refute everyone who tries to accuse you. This is what the Lord will do for his servants – I will vindicate them,” says the Lord. When Kara was working in the city and living in the suburbs, unlike most of her colleagues, she got to the office and started work very early but closed as early as she could because she didn’t want to miss evening fellowships in the church. She was thus committed to attending church meetings because she understood that she was first and foremost a servant of almighty God. Unlike her, most of her colleagues came to work late and also closed really late because they didn’t have such commitments to church as she did. Because of this (closing from work late), many of them would fraternize and go from the office to bars and clubs and parties while Kara was either at home with her family or in church with her bigger family. The time came for promotion and Kara was the most qualified to be promoted as head of her department. Her records were impeccable and she was very efficient at her job. But Ben, her immediate boss who was to approve her promotion, was not willing to do so because he wanted Joe, who was his clubbing buddy, to get the promotion instead. They discussed this among themselves in the club and decided that the best way to prevent Kara from the promotion was for Ben to issue her a query. This he did promptly. Even though the query was unjustifiable, it was so cleverly written that it took the wisdom of God for Kara to refute it. When Kara read the frivolous query her immediate boss gave her, she understood exactly what was going on. She remembered today’s scripture and had the boldness that it applied to her because she could identify ways in which she was serving the Lord. The Lord gave her wisdom to respond to the query, and her response revealed that her boss wrote that query for no justifiable reason. Because she copied the chief executive of the organization in the email with which she responded to the query (since she knew he was going to see everything during the promotion interview), the chief read the query and her response and as a result, issued Ben a serious query for giving such a diligent worker that frivolous and unjustifiable query. By the time God was through with Kara’s enemies in that organization, they were all very afraid of her and she became promoted above them. All these benefits accrued to her because she was a servant of the Lord who knew her rights in the Lord. Go into today remembering that because you’re a servant of the Lord, you will refute every tongue risen up against you in judgment, whether spiritually or physically. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord. God is the one who vindicates His servants. If you’re not sure if you’re a servant of the Lord, it is not too late to begin to live a life that exists for the purpose of the kingdom. Prayer: Lord, help me serve you and walk in all my privileges as your servant. —Abraham Damilola Arigi Yearly Bible Reading: Galatians 4-6 Streamglobe is interdenominational. Kindly share this Devotional with your contacts and let’s touch lives together. If you wish to start getting Streamglobe Devotional Text & Audio early every day, Send us a message or Click here to join a Streamglobe WhatsApp Group☞ https://chat.whatsapp.com/JdWGpHgmir4ES2RHP4N7Nx Send WhatsApp message to: +2348034420524, +2348138224547 (send Testimonies and Inquiries here too) Join our Daily Zoom Bible Study. 2pm-3pm(WAT) Everyday except Sundays. Zoom Meeting ID: 838 4974 7426 Passcode: Jesus http://listen.streamglobe.org/Devotional%20Audio%202581.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download ()Subscribe: RSS
Not Worthy To Be Compared
Romans 8:18 (KJV) For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. If you think about who God is and all His has, it is simply too awesome for our 1.5kg brain to fully comprehend. Yet, we are going to inherit all that belongs to God as heirs of God through Christ Jesus(Romans 8:7, Revelation 21:7). What we know is that we shall be as He is because we shall see Him face to face(1 John 3:2). We shall rule and reign with Him and even judge the angels(see 1 Corinthians 6:3). We shall inherit all things (Revelation 21:7). Even though we know that it is those who live for Christ and [are willing to] suffer for Him that would be counted worthy to reign with Him in glory, it is foolishness to think that our suffering for Him is able to earn us His eternal glory. The sufferings of this present time cannot be compared to the glory. If we suffered for Christ to the point of death in one billion lifetimes, it still wouldn’t be sufficient to earn the glory that we would receive. God is not interested in our suffering, He is interested in our faithfulness. It is just that being faithful to Him would require denial of the flesh and may incur persecution from those still controlled by the Prince of this present world who is an enemy of Christ. As you are reading this Devotional today, many of our brethren in Pakistan, parts of India, and the Middle East are experiencing great persecution because of their faith in Christ. Many in the middle east are even denied passports so that they cannot get visas to flee their countries where they are being persecuted for their faith. Even in certain parts of northern Nigeria today, believers who are qualified for promotion in public service are denied a promotion because they are believers. Qualified students are denied admission into government-owned subsidized tertiary institutions because they have Christian names. We can go on and on, but the point is this: those who would not deny the faith because of worldly pressures are proving that they are faithful in the little, and much more would be given to them (Luke 16:10-12). They would rule and reign with the Lord in the eternal kingdom that is coming to sweep away every other kingdom in this earth. Go into today asking the Lord for the grace to be faithful to Him in the face of pressures. Prayer: Dear Lord, please help to be faithful to you until the end. Please help me to not miss my eternal reward but reign with you in glory on that day. Amen. —Abraham Damilola Arigi Yearly Bible Reading: Luke 7-8 Streamglobe is interdenominational. Kindly share this Devotional with your contacts and let’s touch lives together. If you wish to start getting Streamglobe Devotional Text & Audio early every day, Send us a message or Click here to join a Streamglobe WhatsApp Group☞ https://chat.whatsapp.com/JdWGpHgmir4ES2RHP4N7Nx Send WhatsApp message to: +2348021680251, +2348138224547 (send Testimonies and Inquiries here too) http://listen.streamglobe.org/Devotional%20Audio%202580.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download ()Subscribe: RSS
No To Slavery
Romans 6:15-16 (NET) What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Absolutely not! Do you not know that if you present yourselves as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or obedience resulting in righteousness? Because Tom understood that the grace of God was abundant and because of it there was always forgiveness of sins in God, he started flirting with sin and invoking grace. He didn’t take him long to realize that he was now a slave to certain sins he used to enjoy. Even though he wanted to be free, he found that he did not have the ability to break free. If a believer willfully gives himself to any sin for a period of time, that sinful work of the flesh will ultimately open the door to the dominion of demons that impose that sin. And when this happens, such a person would become a slave to that kind of sin. This is the kind of situation that would require deliverance. And in certain cases, the person involved may have to confess to another believer who will help administer deliverance to him. Go into today remembering that sin of any kind is never to be allowed to continue in the life of a believer because it leads to spiritual slavery to darkness. Prayer Confession: Sin shall have no dominion over me in Jesus’ name. —Abraham Damilola Arigi Yearly Bible Reading: Jeremiah 47-52 (In Devotional Audio) Streamglobe is interdenominational. Kindly share this Devotional with your contacts and let’s touch lives together. If you wish to start getting Streamglobe Devotional Text & Audio early every day, Send us a message or Click here to join a Streamglobe WhatsApp Group☞ https://chat.whatsapp.com/JdWGpHgmir4ES2RHP4N7Nx Send WhatsApp message to: +2348021680251, +2348138224547 (send Testimonies and Inquiries here too) http://listen.streamglobe.org/Devotional%20Audio%202578.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download ()Subscribe: RSS
Serving the Lord: Key to Divine Health
Exodus 23:25 (KJV) And ye shall serve the LORD your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee. Dante was so sickly that the health insurance company sent him an email saying that they could no longer keep up with his medical bills and he would have to upgrade his insurance plan. After he accepted the Lord Jesus, he learned the word of God and realized that the Lord would bless his food and water and take sickness and disease away from him. This was yet another motivation to serve the Lord. He became committed to the service of the Lord in his local church. Because of this, he had boldness and faith that the Lord was going to preserve him from his frequent illnesses. As he continued in the word and refused to change his confessions of faith, he found that he was no longer a sickly person. He now enjoyed divine health. For Dante, serving the Lord was what preserved his life from untimely death. Today’s Bible verse contains a covenant promise of God. As we commit to serving the Lord in truth, He will bless our food and water and take sickness and disease away from us. It is possible to think you’re serving the Lord when indeed you are not. Serving the Lord must be done at His terms and in His way. Go into today remembering that one sure way to enjoy divine health is to be sure that you are serving the Lord in truth. A person serving his belly but who thinks he is serving the Lord may not be able to benefit from the covenant promise in today’s main text. Prayer: Lord, teach me to serve you acceptably. Deliver from the distraction of worldliness. Amen. —Abraham Damilola Arigi Yearly Plan: Proverbs 1 (in Audio Devotional) Streamglobe is interdenominational. Kindly share this Devotional with your contacts and let’s touch lives together. If you wish to start getting Streamglobe Devotional Text & Audio early every day, Send us a message or Click here to join a Streamglobe WhatsApp Group☞ https://chat.whatsapp.com/JdWGpHgmir4ES2RHP4N7Nx Send WhatsApp message to: +2348021680251, +2348138224547 (send Testimonies and Inquiries here too) Click here for the Audio Version: https://bit.ly/aud2576 http://listen.streamglobe.org/Devotional%20Audio%202577.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download ()Subscribe: RSS