Freedom In Christ
Galatians 5:1 (NET) For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not be subject again to the yoke of slavery. Because Azubike didn’t want to go back to the bondage of the flesh, he now became legalistic. He noticed that it was easier for him to manage a life controlled by rules and regulations, and he started trusting in those rules and regulations as the reason why he is saved. His focus was no more on Christ Jesus.It didn’t take him long to realize that he was no more filled with the Holy Spirit. The joy of the Lord that once filled his heart was no more there, and he was now becoming a very judgmental and unloving Christian. There are two kinds of bondage believers can get entangled in. The first is the bondage of legalism. Paul talks about this in Gal 5:1-12. This bondage makes the believer think he receives his salvation because of certain rules and regulations that he now follows. Such a ‘believer’ is not free in Christ, but has gone back to bondage. The second kind of bondage is the bondage of licentiousness or bondage to the flesh. Paul talks about this in Gal 5:13-26. This makes the believer think that because he has been set free from the bondage of the law, he can now indulge the flesh without any consequences. People in this bondage are those who use the grace of God as a license to sin. Such ‘believers’ are not free in Christ, but have gone back to bondage. Go into today knowing that true freedom comes by believing in Christ, continuing to believe in Him, and living under His Lordship (authority) through the Holy Spirit. This means you will obey His word and desire to please Him in the way you live your life. Righteousness for the believer is not primarily administered by rules and regulations, but by our relationship with God through His Spirit. —Abraham Damilola Arigi Yearly Bible Plan: I John 1-3 (In Devotional Audio) Credits: Bible(Bible Experience, Zondervan) Streamglobe is nondenominational and 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/EXNQdP9Oklz3WxCHcnUf3U Listen to our 24/7 Christian Radio Here: www.streamglobe.org/radio http://listen.streamglobe.org/Devotional%20Audio%201474.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download ()Subscribe: RSS
What Time Is It?
2 Kings 5:26 (KJV) And he said unto him, went not mine heart with thee, when the man turned again from his chariot to meet thee? Is it a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and oliveyards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and maidservants? Kelvin was a big boy, everyone knows him as the tall, handsome, well-built Adonis of the Biochemistry department. Even those who have never quite met him have seen his sparkling silver Honda Muscle usually parked beside Dr. Idemudia’s quasi-rickety Mazda. Anyone who knew Kelvin knew he was the Casanova of the department, he was smooth with words and had a way with women, and it didn’t help that he had a lot of money to throw around, and so he was never in short supply of willing ladies who clung to him like acne to the face of a teenager. Which made it very surprising to see him, in Refinery Campus Fellowship midweek service, sitting silently and attentively in the middle row. And more surprising when he began to sob like a baby during the sermon and walked up to the altar to commit his life to Jesus. He had come to fellowship on the account of Ruth after he experienced a miraculous recovery from a strange disease when Ruth had prayed for him. He was so appreciative and had asked what he could do for her to which she had insisted that she wanted nothing from him but to see him saved. His persistent insistence would not sway her, and this was an attitude that was strange to Kelvin. This is why he decided to go to her fellowship and see what exactly goes on there. Ruth receiving a gift from Kelvin wouldn’t have been wrong in itself, but Kelvin would not have been saved if she did. We need discernment to understand times and seasons. There is a proper time for every legitimate thing on the earth (Eccl 3:1). Naaman was still so steeped in the idolatry ways of his people and needed some certain encounters to surgically cut open his eyes and heart fully to appreciate the uniqueness and person of the God of Israel, and Gehazi allowed his greed to blind his own eyes and therefore (almost) truncate that process. You have the need for discernment. Ask the Lord to help you allow the wisdom of God, which is built on the understanding of the will of God (see Ephesians 5:17), to always direct and redirect your heart so you can act wisely and rightly all the time as a faithful witness of Christ. Go into today meditating on this truth. —Ikechukwu Mpama Yearly Bible Plan: I John 1-3 (In Devotional Audio) Credits: Bible(Bible Experience, Zondervan) Streamglobe is nondenominational and 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/EXNQdP9Oklz3WxCHcnUf3U http://listen.streamglobe.org/Devotional%20Audio%202738.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download ()Subscribe: RSS
God Promotes
2 Kings 11:1-3 (KJV), “And when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal. But Jehosheba, the daughter of king Joram, sister of Ahaziah, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him from among the king’s sons which were slain; and they hid him, even him and his nurse, in the bedchamber from Athaliah, so that he was not slain. And he was with her hid in the house of the Lord six years. And Athaliah did reign over the land”. The way Sydney rose through the hierarchy in her workplace to become the manager of the biggest branch was amazing. She got employed in one of the most competitive companies in her State and at the age of twenty-three, after working with this company for only four years, became the manager of the biggest branch. Being the youngest ever and the first female. Meanwhile, the other persons who had managed that branch in the past had worked with the company for at least twenty years coupled with a nearly impeccable record of their wealth of experience from the other companies they had managed. Because of these rigorous requirements, the managers of that specific branch were usually in their sixties, but Sydney’s case was an exception. Her Dad, being the highest shareholder in the company, had used his influence to get her to this towering position. From today’s story, it is obvious that men can promote other men, and from our text, a man can even promote himself just like the king’s mother did when she killed all the royal seed and made herself ruler over Judah. Because of these possibilities, many no longer wait for God’s promotion, but disregard God’s commandments and simply do whatever gets them the opportunity they desire. A third option however exists; God Promotes. He promotes those who obey him. For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another (Psalm 75:6-7 KJV). David was a man promoted by the Lord, and unlike Athaliah who promoted herself, his dynasty has lasted and his influence eternal. Go into today knowing that God promotes. He promotes those who please him just like he did to the Lord Jesus when He obeyed Him even to the point of death (read Ephesians 2:8-11). Prayer: Father, I ask for the grace to always obey you in Jesus’ name. Amen —Dr. Emmanuel James Yearly Bible Plan: Acts 17-18 (In Devotional Audio) Credits: Bible(Bible Experience, Zondervan) Streamglobe is nondenominational and 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/EXNQdP9Oklz3WxCHcnUf3U Download Today’s Audio Here ☞ https://bit.ly/aud2737 http://listen.streamglobe.org/Devotional%20Audio%202737.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download ()Subscribe: RSS
The Holy Spirit
Romans 8:9 (KJV)But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. When you believed, you received the Lord Jesus as your personal Lord and savior. This means you now allow the Lord to rule your life through His Holy Spirit that is now within you. If a person claims to be born again but is not practically submitted to the Lordship of Christ over his life, that person is a baby Christian at best or is not born again at all. Now, being a baby Christian should be a very temporal state in the life of a believer because it is a very dangerous place to remain as a believer. This is the reason why a believer can still be under the oppression and authority of demons and demonic circles and patterns may still find expression in his life. Every believer has the Holy Spirit, and the Kingdom of God is administered in his life through the Holy Spirit. The most important mark of being a believer is the Holy Spirit living within you. The Holy Spirit dwells in you and administers the kingdom and government of God within you. He controls you, teaches you, counsels you, and comforts you. He intercedes for you with groaning’s that cannot be uttered (see Rom 8:26). He is the earthly executor of the heavenly ministry of Christ; He appropriates everything that Christ is to you and for you. Go into today knowing that you cannot be a Christian without the Holy Spirit, you can only be a religious legalist void of the life and power of God that produces true holiness. Prayer: Ask the Lord to fill you with the Holy Spirit again. Ask God to help you always remain in the sweet fellowship of the Holy Spirit (see 2 Cor 13:14). Amen. -Abraham Damilola Arigi Yearly Bible Plan: Zechariah 8-14 (In Devotional Audio) Credits: Bible(Bible Experience, Zondervan) Streamglobe is nondenominational and 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/EXNQdP9Oklz3WxCHcnUf3U http://listen.streamglobe.org/Devotional%20Audio%202736.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download ()Subscribe: RSS
Living For Christ
Philippians 1:21-24 (NET) For to me, living is Christ and dying is gain. Now if I am to go on living in the body, this will mean productive work for me, yet I don’t know which I prefer: I feel torn between the two, because I have a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far, but it is more vital for your sake that I remain in the body. Dozie used to be very sickly and was always on very expensive medication. He attended a youth conference and discovered that life as a believer meant living for the purpose of Christ. He thus decided that he was henceforth going to live for Christ and fulfill his God-given assignment. With the help of God, he discovered God’s assignment for him per season and did his best to fulfill it. Over time, Dozie observed that he was no longer sickly, and was no more needing those expensive medications to survive. He knew he was now walking in divine health. He later found that this was because he was now living for Christ. In the Bible verses above, we see Apostle Paul deciding whether he was ready to die or whether he wanted to keep on living. It is clear here that Apostle Paul’s life was not at the mercy of anybody or of any disease. But what was Apostle Paul’s secret? Why did he have such control over his life and when he could die? Paul had such great control over life because he lived for Christ. That is what he meant when he said ‘living is Christ’. Go into today remembering that believers launch into their orbit of power when they stop living for themselves and start living for Christ (see 2 Cor 5:15). Prayer: Ask the Lord to help you live for Him and fulfill purpose and destiny —Abraham Damilola Arigi Bible In One Year: Ecclesiastes 9-10 (In Today’s Audio) Credits: Bible(Bible Experience, Zondervan) Streamglobe is nondenominational and 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/EXNQdP9Oklz3WxCHcnUf3U Contact us (WhatsApp): +1 (515) 519-5600, +2348138224547 www.streamglobe.org Download Today’s Audio Here ☞ https://bit.ly/aud2735 http://listen.streamglobe.org/Devotional%20Audio%202735.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download ()Subscribe: RSS
The Believer and His Tradition 2
1 Corinthians 11:2 (NET) I praise you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions just as I passed them on to you. Akogun became so sick that it was looking like he would die. This illness started after he came back from his journey to the village for the holidays. As the intercessors in the church prayed for him, someone saw a vision that revealed that the reason he was afflicted was that he exposed himself to certain elemental spirits when he innocently partook in some cultural practices for a festival in his village during the holidays. I have heard of believers who got themselves into big trouble because they exposed themselves to some pagan traditions of their culture of birth after becoming believers. When you became a believer in Christ Jesus, you became reconciled with God through faith in Christ Jesus. Because of this, you became a friend of God. But this meant you also became an enemy of the world- the prince of this world (the devil) and his company. Traditions that were born out of pagan worship were designed to connect people with demons and keep them under the domain of principalities. If through a cultural practice, a believer (who is now an enemy of the devil and his kingdom) brings himself under their authority, he would be greatly attacked. Some believers have fallen asleep before their time because of this. Before the coming of the gospel, every ethnic group on earth had a culture, and these cultures were shaped by their religion and gods. The only group of people who were relatively free from cultures and traditions inspired by demons was the people of Israel because they worshiped the one true God. Being an apostle to the Gentiles, there were many things Apostle Paul had to teach and explain to the Gentile believers because they grew up in cultures that were antithetical to the divine life. In discipling people, it is expedient that you are diligent to identify unwholesome cultural practices and traditions that the enemy may seek to use to trap them. When you take away a bad tradition, it should be replaced with a good one. Go into today remembering that because you are of a kingdom that is higher and better than any other, you are not to submit yourself to any cultural practice that does not glorify God and uphold His righteousness. Prayer: Ask the Lord to deliver you from falling into the trap of practicing demonically inspired traditions. —Abraham Damilola Arigi Bible In One Year: Psalms 134-136 (In Today’s Audio) Credits: Bible(Bible Experience, Zondervan) Streamglobe is nondenominational and 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/EXNQdP9Oklz3WxCHcnUf3U Contact us (WhatsApp): +1 (515) 519-5600, +2348138224547 www.streamglobe.org Download Today’s Audio Here ☞ https://bit.ly/aud2734 http://listen.streamglobe.org/Devotional%20Audio%202734.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download ()Subscribe: RSS
The Believer and His Tradition
1 Corinthians 11:2 (NET)I praise you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions just as I passed them on to you. Sandra had a lingering misunderstanding with her mother-in-law because she and her husband were believers and they decided not to follow certain traditions that were not spiritually edifying. For some reason, Sandra’s mother-in-law insisted that Sandra was to blame for this (because she was from another ethnic group). With patience, great wisdom, and a show of love, Sandra succeeded in winning her mother-in-law’s heart. There are hundreds of different traditions and cultures in the world today, and many of them stem from the religion of the people that practice them. It is often said that culture is the cloak of religion. For the believer, every tradition must be screened through the lenses of scripture. If a tradition or custom is contradictory to the truth of God’s Word, it must be discarded by the believer. But if a tradition is not in contradiction to the truth of God’s Word, it shouldn’t be discarded. As believers, we are a Holy nation (1 Pet 2:9), and we have our own traditions that are peculiar to us everywhere. Even though some outward interpretations of them can vary because of cultural influences, the spirit of every Christian tradition must be understood and upheld by believers. Walking in these ensures that we walk in the blessing. Underlining principles and pillars of the Christian tradition are virtues such as love, honor, kindness, diligence, compassion, self-control, moral purity, justice & fairness, patience, humility, orderliness. Any human tradition that contradicts any of these principles should be discarded. Go into today remembering that you are first and foremost a citizen of heaven. Every custom and tradition you practice must be vetted by the truth of God’s Word and not found wanting. Some traditions must be rejected and done away with because they are mediums through which demons invade people’s lives. —Abraham Damilola Arigi BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Deuteronomy 16-19 (In Today’s Audio) Credits: Bible(Bible Experience, Zondervan) Streamglobe is nondenominational and 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/EXNQdP9Oklz3WxCHcnUf3U Contact us (WhatsApp): +1 (515) 519-5600, +2348138224547 www.streamglobe.org Download Today’s Audio ☞ bit.ly/aud2390 http://listen.streamglobe.org/Devotional%20Audio%202390.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download ()Subscribe: RSS
Living Circumspectly 3
Ephesians 5:15-17 (NET) Therefore be very careful how you live – not as unwise but as wise, taking advantage of every opportunity, because the days are evil. For this reason do not be foolish, but be wise by understanding what the Lord’s will is. Michael and David were both security men in Mr. Amadi’s organization. Mr. Amadi really liked David and would say “that boy is very wise”. That wasn’t really the case with Micheal, even though Michael was very dutiful and obeyed all the rules. They had a rule in the organization that everyone coming into the complex must first show their ID card or visitors card before allowed entry. On a certain day, Mr. Amadi’s close friend and business partner really needed to see him urgently. This friend was known to all the security men, and everyone understood that he was close to the boss. Michael was on duty that day and did not allow this Mr. Amadi’s friend to enter the office because he did not present an ID card or visitors card. Mr. Amada was so angry when he heard that a security man prevented his friend from entering the complex. He said ‘I’m sure if David were the one on duty, he wouldn’t do that nonsense’. David was a wise worker because he did not just know the laws, he understood why the laws were put there in the first place. The law of ID was put in place to prevent unknown men(who could be criminals) from entering the office complex. If a person was already known to the security men as a staff or someone who is not an intruder, he shouldn’t need to present an ID to gain entry. Micheal didn’t know this because he did not understand the reason for the law. It is one thing to know the Lord’s will, but it is another to understand the Lord’s will. It is good to know what the Lord wants, but it is better to understand why the Lord wants what He wants. We see in today’s Bible verse that understanding the Lord’s will is the definition of wisdom. You cannot truly walk circumspectly if you don’t understand the Lord’s will. Go into today remembering that it is only those who understand the will of the Lord that will truly fulfill it. Prayer: Lord, help me truly understand your will concerning every area of life. Help me live wisely in this world. —Abraham Damilola Arigi Bible In One Year: II Peter Credits: Bible(Bible Experience, Zondervan) Streamglobe is nondenominational and 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/E7naBSkTmmdE5ywKwVONOC Contact us (WhatsApp): +1 (515) 519-5600, +2348138224547 www.streamglobe.org Download Today’s Audio Here ☞ https://bit.ly/aud2733 http://streamglobe.org/listen/Devotional%20Audio%202733.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download ()Subscribe: RSS
Living Circumspectly 2
Ephesians 5:15-16 (KJV) See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. When Dara realized that the TV shows he watched really impacted his soul negatively because they were mainly godless programs, he decided to go on a TV fast, after which he determined to only watch Christian Television and the news. He now realized how important it was for him to protect his heart from the garbage on TV. His spiritual life experienced a boost because of this simple decision. You cannot redeem the time if you don’t walk circumspectly. Walking circumspectly means you’re particularly careful with the way you live your life. It means you guard your heart with all diligence. What entertains you enters your heart. If you spend time watching a worldly TV show or having a carnal conversation, you have just wasted time that you cannot take back. We all have a total number of heartbeats that our hearts will beat. Every day gone is expended out of the total number of days you will spend on earth. And yet we all have kingdom assignments that we can only fulfill within this framework of this time. It is therefore wise to be careful how you spend your time. Being filled with the Holy Spirit is the equipping you need to fulfill the assignments the Lord has given you within this time, no matter what the assignment may be. But you cannot maintain a Spirit-filled life if you don’t walk circumspectly. As you go into today, ask the Lord to help you maintain a Spirit-filled life so that you will be able to fulfill your divine destiny. Pray that on that day, you will not appear before the Lord ashamed because you failed to fulfill His assignments for you with the time he has given you. Prayer: Lord, please help me fulfill the assignments you have for me within the time you have given me. —Abraham Damilola Arigi Join the Streamglobe Interactive Bible Study Today Via ZOOM. Zoom ID: 838 4974 7426 Passcode: Jesus TIME: 2:00pm(Nigeria WAT- GMT +1) Bible In One Year: Acts 15-16 Credits: Bible(Bible Experience, Zondervan) Streamglobe is nondenominational and 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/E7naBSkTmmdE5ywKwVONOC Contact us (WhatsApp): +1 (515) 519-5600, +2348138224547 www.streamglobe.org Download Today’s Audio Here ☞ https://bit.ly/aud2732
Living Circumspectly
Ephesians 5:15-18 (KJV) See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit Dara attended a very good church assembly where they were trained to live Spirit-filled lives. Whenever he attended church services, he usually came back home filled with the spirit. But in just a matter of hours, he would lose that in filling and be ordinary again. He struggled with depression, but he realized depression disappeared when he was Spirit-filled. Dara wanted to know why he couldn’t live a Spirit-filled life even though he sincerely wanted to. As he sought the Lord to understand why? The Lord revealed to him that it was because he wasn’t living circumspectly but carelessly. When he got back home from church and put on the TV, most of the programs he watched were worldly(godless) programs that, unknown to him, drained his spiritual power. Even though his closest friends were professed Christians, they were very worldly believers whose value system was the same as that of unbelievers. His communion with them was a drain to his spiritual life. As Dara made the appropriate adjustments, he was now able to remain filled with the Spirit and live a fruitful life. It is instructive that today’s scripture admonishes us to be careful to walk circumspectly before admonishing us to be filled with the Spirit. A believer who doesn’t walk circumspectly cannot stay filled with the spirit. Careless living drains the power of the spirit within the believer. There are things you can say that would drain you fast. There are TV programs and movies that if watched would drain you. There are thoughts and imagination that if accommodated, would drain you and keep you from living a Holy Spirit-filled life. Go into today remembering that your fruitfulness is dependent on your being filled with the Spirit. Being careful to only do and say the things that please the Lord is the way to keep your spirit from draining the power that makes for fruitfulness. Confession: I live a Spirit-filled life. I cut off everything that drains my power. I am fruitful in every good work. In Jesus’ name. Amen. —Abraham Damilola Arigi Join the Streamglobe Interactive Bible Study Today Via ZOOM. Join via this Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83849747426?pwd=ODU1ZUM0OEJNR2xCU3M0dzRTN2xZQT09 Or use Zoom Meeting ID: 838 4974 7426 Passcode: Jesus TIME: 2:00pm(Nigeria WAT- GMT +1) Bible In One Year: Ezra 1-5 Credits: Bible(Bible Experience, Zondervan) Streamglobe is nondenominational and 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/E7naBSkTmmdE5ywKwVONOC Contact us (WhatsApp): +1 (515) 519-5600, +2348138224547 www.streamglobe.org Download Today’s Audio Here ☞ https://bit.ly/aud2731