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
The Power of Doctrine
2 Peter 2:1-2 (NASB)But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. 2 Many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned. When Bidemi and her fiance traveled home to see her parents, her stepmother found a way of letting him know that Bidemi was not a legitimate child. She also told him that Bidemi was pregnant when she was 16 and aborted it. Unknown to her stepmother, Bidemi and her fiance had no secrets between them, so her wicked plot did not work. Bidemi’s stepmother was a leader in their church. She was very committed to the church, but she was not truly a Christian. This was not entirely her fault, it was the fault of the false teachers that they had in their church. Because of her stepmother, it was initially very difficult for Bidemi to accept the Lord Jesus. She thought Christians were like her stepmother. But thank God she had the opportunity of meeting real Christians later in her life. False doctrines usually have many followers because they are usually more appealing to the flesh and to the carnal believer. Go into today remembering that the easiest way to identify false prophets and false teachers is by their fruits (see Matthew 7:15). The fruit of a person’s life is his character and his integrity. The fruit of a ministry is the quality of disciples produced through that ministry. If you observe that most of the members of a particular ministry you know are bankrupt in morality and integrity, please stay away from that ministry. Use this link to join the Streamglobe Interactive Bible Study Via ZOOM: 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) —Abraham Damilola Arigi Bible In One Year: Zechariah 1-7 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
The Coming Glory
Rom 8:18-19 [NLT]18 Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later. 19 For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are. Theo’s boss was to make recommendations for someone in the department to be promoted, and Theo was the most qualified, but his boss refused to recommend him. Theo had prayed and prayed, but it appeared the Lord was doing nothing about the persecution he faced at work because he was a Christian. Theo eventually stopped complaining and started thanking God daily when he realized that a time will come(after the resurrection) when he would be exalted above all earthly rulers and be glorified as ruler and judge of this earth with Christ Jesus (see 1 Cor 6:2-3). As thanksgiving filled his heart, he was more fruitful and the Lord blessed him above those that sought to frustrate him. Child of God, there is no suffering you can face here on earth that is compared to the glory that the Lord will bring to you if you continue to follow Him. The devil understands this and he knows that if you lose hope and start complaining and grumbling, you will end up like the Israelites who didn’t make it to the Promised Land( see 1 Cor 10:10). There are demons specially commissioned to constantly send thoughts of depression and despondency to Christians so that they would lose hope and begin to grumble against God in their hearts because of the [temporary] hard situations and trials they may be facing. As you go into today, ask the Lord to open your eyes to see the riches of His inheritance for you [who believe in Him]. When this happens, you will have nothing but thanksgiving in your heart, no matter what trials you face in this time where everything is temporary. Don’t forget that God is able and willing to bring us the first fruits of this glory, even in this time and age. Prayer: Heavenly Father, please open my eyes to see the riches of your Inheritance for me. Help me by your spirit to partake in the first fruits of this glorious inheritance. —Abraham Damilola Arigi Yearly Bible Plan: Ecclesiastes 7-8 (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/E7naBSkTmmdE5ywKwVONOC Contact us (WhatsApp): +1 (515) 519-5600, +2348138224547 www.streamglobe.org Download Today’s Audio Here ☞ https://bit.ly/aud2730 http://listen.streamglobe.org/Devotional%20Audio%202730.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download ()Subscribe: RSS
Love Also Receives 1
Hebrews 6:7 (NET), “For the ground that has soaked up the rain that frequently falls on it and yields useful vegetation for those who tend it receives a blessing from God”. “Sweetheart, you complain too much, didn’t you say you love me? If you truly love me, you will overlook my faults and mistakes because love always forgives. When God wanted to show his love for the world, he gave his son and remember too, that love covers a multitude of sins. Babe, if you truly love me, you’ll stop complaining about my faults”. This was Mrs. Rachel Raymond’s response when her husband told her he did not like the attitude she has been putting up lately. Just like Mrs. Rachel Raymond said, what is commonly heard is, “if you love, you will give” and nearly nothing is said about the other side of love, “love receives”. While it is true that God proved his love to the world by giving us his son Jesus Christ who died for our sins, it is also true that he did that expecting something in return; he wants you back on his side, he wants your affection, loyalty, and dedication, he wants your life. You see, love is double-sided, having two ends; the giver on one end and the receiver on the other end. The giver gives and the receiver receives, then the receiver also proves their love for the giver by giving back to the giver. Jesus emphasize this when he said “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15 KJV), then in John 15:10 (KJV) He said, “If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love”. The statement, “if you love, you will give”, becomes a statement of truth when it applies to both parties, the giver and the receiver alike. Go into today knowing that love also receives and that God is expecting a harvest of love from you. Prayer: Father, help me to love you the way you love me. Amen! —Dr. Emmanuel James Yearly Bible Plan: Psalms 131-133 (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/E7naBSkTmmdE5ywKwVONOC Contact us (WhatsApp): +1 (515) 519-5600, +2348138224547 www.streamglobe.org http://listen.streamglobe.org/Devotional%20Audio%202729.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download ()Subscribe: RSS
Greater Riches – Choices
Hebrews 11:24-26 (MSG) “By faith, Moses, when grown, refused the privileges of the Egyptian royal house. He chose a hard life with God’s people rather than an opportunistic soft life with the oppressors. He valued suffering in the Messiah’s camp far greater than Egyptian wealth because he was looking ahead, anticipating the payoff” A complete consecration to God (and His divine cause) will spur the believer to do some things which a non-consecrated believer will not do. We will observe them in the life of Moses (and even other servants of God). Moses did three things: He refused: The bible says when Moses came of age, he refused the privileges of the Egyptian royal house (Heb 11:24 MSG). When you are totally committed to God (and his cause), it will show in the things you refuse. The things you refuse might not necessarily be unlawful, but for the sake of Christ, you are willing to let go of them (1Cor 10:23; Phil 3: 7, 8) He chose: Moses chose a hard life as opposed to a soft life. Choosing between two good things is an easy choice compared to choosing between suffering and enjoyment. The world has pleasures to offer, even sin has its pleasures, but the consecrated believer has turned his back on all that. By choosing God, he has chosen whatever comes with his commitment to God. So be it pleasure, comfort, hardship, shame, or ridicule, it makes no difference to him. He has made his choice: God. He valued: Moses valued suffering FAR GREATER than Egyptian wealth, why? Christ. He didn’t just value suffering, no, he valued suffering in God’s camp FAR GREATER than the best the world had to offer. This is how to value in consecration; make up your mind to do God’s will, and that whatever comes as a result of obeying God and doing his will is FAR GREATER than whatever pleasure or good that can come from not obeying His will. Go into today remembering that there’s no middle ground, you cannot serve two masters at the same time. Serve the Lord. —Ikechukwu Mpama BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Acts 15-16 Credits: Bible(Bible Experience, Zondervan), Music(Jaci Velasquez – I Will Call) 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/E7naBSkTmmdE5ywKwVONOCContact us (WhatsApp): +1 (515) 519-5600, +2348138224547 www.streamglobe.org http://listen.streamglobe.org/Devotional%20Audio%202728.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download ()Subscribe: RSS
Live Ready
2 Peter 3:14 (NET) Therefore, dear friends, since you are waiting for these things, strive to be found at peace, without spot or blemish, when you come into his presence. Derek had a dream in which he saw the Lord Jesus return, but he was not prepared and was not raptured. It was not a good experience. He woke up with so much fear and terror that he could not eat. He thus went into a fast and started examining his ways and making the appropriate adjustments. There were relationships he knew he had to sever, inordinate affections he had to terminate, unjust business dealings he had to forsake, and laziness towards the things of God he had to repent of. His neighbors and friends called him pastor, but he knew that he was not truly ready for the Lord’s return. But after he made the right adjustments and began to live in the expectation of the Lord’s return (which motivates holiness), his friends and neighbors did not merely call him pastor, many of them were now convicted and brought to the point of repentance because of the Lord’s glory that was now radiating through Derek’s life Unfortunately, many believers are like Derek who needed a wake-up call to be alert and live ready for the Lord’s return. Living ready does not mean living in fear and uncertainty, it means you’re living in faith and having a clear conscience before God and before man. It means you’re living in obedience to the Lord and there is no known sin staining your spiritual garment. Go into today remembering that God has supplied all the grace you need to keep your garment spotless and free from every blemish. A blemish is an imperfection you were born with, but a spot is an imperfection you adopt along the way. The blood of Jesus is strong enough to deal with both spots and blemishes. The key is remaining in Christ. Prayer: Lord Jesus, please help me always live ready for your coming. Deliver me from every manipulation of the devil. —Abraham Damilola Arigi Yearly Bible Plan: Deuteronomy 13-15 (In Devotional Audio) Credits: Bible(Bible Experience, Zondervan), Music(Maranatha Praise Band – I Will Trust In You) 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/aud2727
Grounded In His Love
Ephesians 1:5-6 (KJV) Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. Bidemi grew up with a feeling of worthlessness and insecurity because she was an “illegitimate” child, and her stepmother made sure she understood that. Because of this, she would react harshly to situations and would be very rude and difficult to communicate with. She always felt like she was in a deep dark pit, and could amount to nothing in life. But this all changed when she accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior. For the first time in her life, she knew she was accepted. She no longer felt like her life was a mistake, she knew God had a purpose for creating her, and she was happy to be alive. One thing we must never forget as believers is that God accepted us before we accepted Him, that is why we could accept Him. Your salvation was not your own idea; it was God’s idea before you were born. This knowledge will help you rest in God’s love. It is very important that believers are grounded in the love of God. Many times, before the devil can get a believer to fall, he will first get him to doubt the love that God has for him. This he does because he knows the power the knowledge of God’s love produces in the life of the believer. See what Ephesians 3:19 (NLT) says: May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Go into today remembering that you are beloved of God. You are accepted in His beloved family. —Abraham Damilola Arigi Yearly Bible Plan: I Peter 4-5 (In Devotional Audio) Download Today’s Audio Here ☞ https://bit.ly/aud2382 http://listen.streamglobe.org/Devotional%20Audio%202726.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download ()Subscribe: RSS