...A DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TEENS CHRIS OYAKHILOME LO V E W O R L D P U B L I S H I N G

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3 ...A DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TEENS CHRIS OYAKHILOME LO V E W O R L D P U B L I S H I N G 3

4 All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The New King James Version (NKJV) Thomas Nelson Publishers 1975 KEYS FOR OTHER BIBLE VERSIONS AMPC CEV GNB JMNT KJV MSG NASB NIRV NIV RSV TLB - The Amplified Bible, Classic Edition - Contemporary English Version - Good News Bible - James Murdock s New Testament - The King James Version - The Message Translation - New American Standard Bible - New International Reader s Version - New International Version, 1984 Edition - Revised Standard Version - The Living Bible Published by: LoveWorld Publishing 3, Adebayo Akande Street, Oregun, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria. info@teevotogo.org Website: All rights reserved under International Copyright Law. Contents and/or cover may not be produced in whole or in part in any form without the express written permission of LoveWorld Publishing. ROR TeeVo... a daily devotional for teenagers Copyright 2018 by LoveWorld Publishing DECEMBER 2018 ISSN: UNITED KINGDOM: Believers Loveworld Unit C2, Thames View Business Centre, Barlow Way Rainham-Essex, RM13 8BT. Tel.: +44 (0) Fax.: +44(0) SOUTH AFRICA: 303 Pretoria Avenue Cnr. Harley and Braam Fischer, Randburg, Gauteng South Africa. Tel.: Fax.: NIGERIA: Christ Embassy Plot 97, Durumi District, Abuja, Nigeria. 4 USA: Believers LOVEWORLD, 4237 Raleigh Street Charlotte, NC Tel: +1 (0) CANADA: Christ Embassy Int l Office, 50 Weybright Court, Unit 43B Toronto, ON MIS 5A8 Tel: NIGERIA: LoveWorld Conference Center Kudirat Abiola Way, Oregun P.O. Box Ikeja, Lagos Tel.: ,

5 Dare to be different; dare to make an impact in your world; Rhapsody of Realities TeeVo is a great place to start! Get answers to life s questions from God s Word, as you study the messages in this devotional daily. You can be sure to live a successful and victorious life! Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. 1 Timothy 4:12 NKJV 5 5

6 CONTENTS PASTOR CHRIS SAYS 7 FAN YOUR LOVE EMBERS! 8 WHAT S WORSHIP? 10 SPIRIT-LANGUAGE! 12 THE REAL ZOE 14 HAVE THE RIGHT VALUES 16 PRESERVE YOUR FAMILY 18 CONTRIBUTE OR CRITICISE 20 DID YOU KNOW? 22 BOAST WITH THE WORD! 24 DON T FACE THE FACTS 26 INSPIRED CHOICES 28 SENT AS A HEALER 30 A TONGUE FOR EACH ONE 32 STANDING IN SOVEREIGNTY 34 NO SIN IN HIS EYES 36 CROSSWORD PUZZLE 38 WHY NURSE SICKNESS? 40 I LOVE YOU! 42 BE THE FLYING CHRISTIAN 44 WHEN YOU JUST KNOW 46 WHAT BORN AGAIN MEANS 48 IT S HARVEST TIME 50 GAZE AT JESUS 52 WORDSCOPE 54 I-TESTIFY! 55 SHAKE OFF THAT GRUDGE 56 HE S BEHIND THE SCENES 58 CELEBRATE! 60 IT S CHRISTMAS! 62 MAKE CHRISTMAS MEMORIES TODAY 64 LIVE TO THE FULLEST 66 WORK WITH THE SPIRIT 68 QUIZ 70 BE RIGHTLY POSITIONED 72 OPEN THEIR EYES 74 THANK HIM AS YOU PRAY! 76 6

7 Pastor Chris says W hen you speak in tongues, you re charging yourself in the spirit and stirring up the power of God resident within you. Then strength comes and the glory of God is revealed in your life. If you were weak in your Christian life, as you speak in other tongues, the power of God that has laid dormant within you would be stirred up and you ll be strengthened to do the things of God again. Speaking in other tongues, coupled with the confessions of the Word of God, will make you a spiritual giant. - Culled from The Power Of Tongues 7

8 Saturday, December 1 FAN YOUR LOVE EMBERS (Do The Word And Prove Your Love) T O THE BIBLE John 14:15 MSG If you love me, show it by doing what I ve told you. LE T S T ALK Have you ever sat to wonder about the Lord Jesus Christ: who He is, what He s done, and what He s given to you? He s the crown-jewel of heaven, and the joy of the Father s heart. Everything in the universe is abuzz with Jesus! If you ever want to know who God the Father is and discover His undying love for you, all you need to do is to look at Jesus: He s the total embodiment and fullest revelation of God s love! The more you know Jesus, the deeper you fall in love with Him. Your heart is kept aflame with Him as you know Him, and you should always fan the embers of your love for Him. Let your love and commitment to Him be revealed in the way you talk, the things you do, and in the way you conduct your life! Love Him passionately, even beyond talking and singing about Him. Make Him your eternal focus, for nothing else will ever satisfy. Notice again that Jesus didn t say, If you love me, sing to me, rather He said, If you love me, show it by doing what I ve told you. The proof of your love for Him is in doing what He s told you to do. The question now is, Do you know what He said? Here s why you must study and meditate on the Scriptures continually. It s a call 8

9 for you to a lifestyle of true, heartfelt fellowship with Him. Through that fellowship, the Holy Spirit will flood your heart with the revelation of Jesus the living Word so you can know and keep His Word, and thus prove your love for Him. Go Deeper 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 Pray Dear heavenly Father, I thank you for the gift of your Son Jesus Christ, who died in my place. He s the joy of my heart, my fulfilment and peace, and my everlasting delight! I testify today to the Lordship of Jesus, and the dominion of His Word over my life, which is for your glory! Amen. Daily Bible Reading Act Study and meditate on Colossians 3:16, and put it to work. My Notes ONE YEAR 1 John 2:15-3:1-10, Ezekiel TWO YEAR John 16:23-33, 2 Chronicles 3-4 Share your thoughts on today s article on the TeeVo Review section, go to 9

10 Sunday, December 2 WHAT S WORSHIP? (The Difference Between Praise And Worship) T O THE BIBLE John 4:24 AMP C God is a Spirit (a spiritual Being) and those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth (reality). LE T S T ALK A young guy once asked me, How come the Bible says in Psalm 150:6, Let everything that has breath praise God, yet my puppy can t praise and worship God as I do? In my explanation to him, I said animals don t have spirits and can t worship God in spirit, as only humans can. God is a spirit; therefore, we can only worship Him and relate to Him from, and with, our spirits. This means not every living thing can worship Him. There s a clear difference between praise and worship. Praise requires no consciousness, but worship does. When you praise God, you thank Him and extol His majesty. However, in worship, much more than extolling Him, there s a communion and relationship. It s a drinking together a special kind of recognition between the blesser and the blessed, the greater and the lesser. The greater one receives the lesser one to His place. This is only possible with humans. That s why, for instance, we re not permitted to worship angels. Though they re great and powerful, God, in Christ Jesus, has raised us to the place of His Son, who s higher than angels. We re one with Christ, who s greater than angels, and we re therefore higher 10

11 than angels. This is what the Bible teaches. As He (Jesus) is, so are we in this world (1 John 4:17). We re joint-heirs with Him: The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs; heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ... (Romans 8:16-17). This doesn t make us co-equal with Him, but it describes our inseparable union with Him (1 Corinthians 6:17). He s the head, and we re His body (Colossians 1:18). We re in union with the Father. Glory to God! Go Deeper Ephesians 2:6-7; 1 Corinthians 1:9; 1 John 1:3 Pray Dear Father, thank you for the awesome privilege of being called into fellowship with you. My life is a manifestation of your wisdom, power, and glory. I live from the mountaintop, because I ve been brought into oneness with Christ; seated together with Him in the realms of glory, in Jesus Name. Amen. Daily Bible Reading Act It s time to put to work the Word you ve just learnt: raise your hands and worship the Lord right now. My Notes ONE YEAR 1 John 3:11-24, Ezekiel TWO YEAR John 17:1-10, 2 Chronicles 5-6 Share your thoughts on today s article on the TeeVo Review section, go to 11

12 Monday, December 3 GOD: YOUR SPIRIT-LANGUAGE! LOVING FATHER (You ll Definitely Know When God Speaks To You) T O THE BIBLE John 10:27 MSG My sheep recognize my voice. I know them, and they follow me. LE T S T ALK Alan snickered, as he listened to Frederica s strong invitation to him to come over for a church service the coming weekend. She d mentioned that God had a special Word for him and that he should come hear it, and He didn t quite understand how she had heard God tell her that specifically about him, especially after just meeting her. Notwithstanding, he obliged her, and that decision changed his life forever, as he was healed of a five-year incurable ailment! Sometimes, when we say God said something to us, there re those who get confused and say, Really, God talked to you? What language did He speak? They re ignorant of the fact that man is a spirit and God is a spirit. He speaks spirit-language ; it s a spiritto-spirit communication, which your spirit understands. His language isn t English, French, Portuguese or any other earthly language, but you ll hear Him in whatever language you understand when He talks to you. Language is nothing but coded sound. For example, if I say to you, tata, it ll probably mean nothing to you. But if there s an agreement between two or more people for it to mean come, they ll respond when they hear it. 12

13 With spirit-language, God can talk to anyone or anything. The Bible says, He determines and counts the number of the stars; He calls them all by their names (Psalm 147:4 AMPC). The next time you see a shooting or a falling star, remember that God calls them by name and they understand Him. God and His Word are one, and He only speaks to you in consistency with His Word. The more you study God s Word, the more you familiarize yourself with His voice, and are able to respond to Him when He speaks to you. Go Deeper Psalm 50:1; Psalm 62:11; Isaiah 30:21 Pray Dear Father, I thank you for the ability to hear and recognize your voice. I walk in the spirit, and not in the flesh. Therefore, my spirit is constantly trained by your Word to hear and discern your voice as you lead me in perpetual triumph, in Jesus Name. Amen. Daily Bible Reading Act Meditate on Proverbs 20:27: The spirit of a man is the lamp of the Lord, searching all the inner depths of his heart. My Notes ONE YEAR 1 John 4, Ezekiel 16 TWO YEAR John 17:11-21, 2 Chronicles 7-8 Share your thoughts on today s article on the TeeVo Review section, go to 13

14 Tuesday, December 4 THE REAL ZOE (The Impact Of God s Divine Life In You) T O THE BIBLE 1 John 5:11-12 AMP C And this is that testimony (that evidence): God gave us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who possesses the Son has that life; he who does not possess the Son of God does not have that life. LE T S T ALK I m sure you ve heard some people bear the lovely name Zoe, and asked what it meant. That word is much more than just a name! Reading the opening scripture in its original manuscript, the Greek word for eternal life is Zoe, which is the life and nature of God in Jesus Christ. This is what Jesus brought to the world, and He imparts it to the spirit of the one who believes in Him. Unfortunately, not many know what this glorious eternal life is. They think eternal life is the life you get when you get to heaven, but that s not true. The one who doesn t have eternal life on earth wouldn t even go to heaven. John said, These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life (1 John 5:13). Why is it so important that we live with the consciousness that we have this God-life in us now? It s because of the impact and implication of that God-life in, and for, the one who has it. For example, no disease should thrive in the body of the one who has eternal life. This doesn t mean that you may not be attacked by a disease; but that s all it is: an attack! You don t let it stay; 14

15 rather you tell it to get out of your body! The moment you do, it stops growing and starts shrinking, until it passes out of your body. This is the effect of eternal life in you! Irrespective of the pain you might be feeling, or the situation you find yourself in, keep declaring, Eternal life is at work in me! Refuse to accept anything that s of the devil in your body, because the life in you is the unassailable God-life. Go Deeper 1 Timothy 6:12; 1 John 1:2 Speak Eternal life is at work in me, in every fibre of my being, in every cell of my blood, and in every bone of my body! I live transcendently above sickness, disease, and infirmities! I m superior to Satan and the elements of this world, because divine life works in me! Glory to God! Daily Bible Reading ONE YEAR 1 John 5, Ezekiel TWO YEAR John 17:22-26, 2 Chronicles 9-10 Act Share the news of this Zoe life to your friends today. My Notes Share your thoughts on today s article on the TeeVo Review section, go to 15

16 Wednesday, December 5 HAVE THE RIGHT VALUES (Identify And Prioritise Good Morals, Values, And Relationships) T O THE BIBLE 1 Corinthians 15:33 NASB Do not be deceived: Bad company corrupts good morals. LE T S T ALK B eep, beep, beep, went the blaring sound of Logan s alarm at 5 a.m. which unfortunately couldn t do the job of getting him out of bed. He had set that wake up time, so he could get up early to have his quiet time, do some physical exercises, before preparing for his morning class at 8 o clock. However, he failed to give himself enough rest the night before, staying up late with his friends who spent hours watching a late-night three-hour movie. In making decisions that ll lead you towards success and victory each day, you must identify what your core values are in life. That means you ought to determine the things that are most important to you and have a clear understanding of your purpose on earth. One of the reasons why you must consciously address this issue is that it helps you determine the kind of friendships you should keep. Your relationships have a lot to do with the way your life will eventually turn out. Remember, the Bible says, Do not be deceived: Evil company corrupts good habits (1 Corinthians 15:33). Those with whom you associate will determine whether or not you d be successful in life. Hence, there s 16

17 no use keeping relationships that distract you from fulfilling God s purpose for your life. You should only keep such relationships that can enhance your character and help you achieve your dreams. What s your purpose? What are your values? Now is the right time to ask yourself these essential questions and let the Holy Spirit guide you in answering them. Your success, prosperity and fulfillment depend on them. So, make a deliberate effort to address them now that you re young. Go Deeper Proverbs 27:17; 2 Timothy 3:16 Pray Dear heavenly Father, I commit my dreams, goals and friendships to you today. I receive wisdom, knowledge and understanding to choose the right friends; those that will improve my character and help me fulfill your destiny for my life, in Jesus Name. Amen. Daily Bible Reading Act Re-evaluate your friendships today determine which ones you must redefine. My Notes ONE YEAR 2 John 1:1-13, Ezekiel TWO YEAR John 18:1-9, 2 Chronicles Share your thoughts on today s article on the TeeVo Review section, go to 17

18 Thursday, December 6 PRESERVE YOUR FAMILY (God Blesses Your Family Through You) T O THE BIBLE Genesis 45:4-7 CEV...I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt. Don t worry or blame yourselves for what you did. God is the one who sent me ahead of you to save lives. There has already been a famine for two years, and for five more years no one will plow fields or harvest grain. But God sent me on ahead of you to keep your families alive and to save you in this wonderful way. LE T S T ALK Every human person belongs to a biological family. As an individual, you have a responsibility towards your own family, and you must understand that no matter the kind of family you hail from, it isn t a mistake that you were born there. Your birth was divinely orchestrated by God. One of the essential responsibilities you owe to your family is to maintain and promote its integrity and fortunes. You have to uphold its values and moral standards, always seeking to protect whatever good the Lord has blessed it with. Now, you may say, Pastor Chris, you don t know the kind of family I come from. I have nothing to maintain, uphold, promote, or even inherit. If that s the case, then your job is to turn the situation around in your family. As a child of God, you have the power to change hopeless situations. It makes no difference that your family is poverty-stricken; or that family members are prone to some terminal disease; or that disharmony is the order of the day; you have the 18

19 power as a Christian to put a stop to all these. Stand your ground and see to it that poverty, death, or rancour doesn t continue in your family. Make up your mind to be highly successful and prosperous, so you can empower others. You re a light to your family, because Christ lives in you. Therefore, take His message of life to them and watch their lives transform. Go Deeper Genesis 12:2; Proverbs 29:2 Speak Thank you Father, for making me a shining light to my families, and indeed to my world. As I dispense the message of truth and life to them, their lives are being transformed from glory to glory. There s love, peace, divine health and prosperity in my family, in Jesus Name. Amen. Daily Bible Reading Act ONE YEAR 3 John 1:1-14, Ezekiel TWO YEAR John 18:10-18, 2 Chronicles Spend time today to pray for all the members of your family. My Notes Share your thoughts on today s article on the TeeVo Review section, go to 19

20 Friday, December 7 CONTRIBUTE OR CRITICISE (Provide Solutions And Refuse To Join The Critics) T O THE BIBLE P hilippians 2:14-15 TLB In everything you do, stay away from complaining and arguing so that no one can speak a word of blame against you. You are to live clean, innocent lives as children of God in a dark world full of people who are crooked and stubborn. Shine out among them like beacon lights. LE T S T ALK I t s not perfectly straight, Boris bellowed at the artisan, Can t you do anything right? You don t have to shout at him, Yukov, Boris brother said, He s not through installing the wall bracket, give him more time; the job requires a delicate hand. What do you see in these two brothers? One s helping and the other s not, right? The world is full of two kinds of people - critics and problem-solvers. The critic is quick to condemn without offering any solution regarding the matter at hand. On the other hand, the problemsolver always looks for ways to make things better. Jesus was a solution provider. When He was told that the wine had finished at the wedding ceremony in Cana (John 2), He didn t complain, He solved the problem. On another occasion, when the multitude that came to hear Him became hungry and all they had were five loaves and two fishes (Matthew 14), He didn t criticize them; He solved the problem! You can become a solution provider too, because the power to make positive changes lies within you. 20

21 If you don t like the way something is being done in your school, family, or country, don t complain; rather, change it on your knees! The world is looking for problem-solvers and you ve been called to be just that! Instead of criticizing others for their efforts, no matter large or little they might be, ask yourself, What can I do to make a change? Don t ever find yourself in the gang of naysayers and pessimists. Remember, you re a change-agent; you should leave things better than the way you met them. Go Deeper Romans 8:19 Speak I refuse to be a critic nor a complainer. I m a problem-solver and a solution-provider. I was born to answer questions and meet needs, and I live up to my calling, in the Name of Jesus. Amen. Daily Bible Reading Act What are some of the changes you would love to make in your school, family, and neighbourhood? Write them down and how you intend to go about the change. My Notes ONE YEAR Jude 1:1-25, Ezekiel TWO YEAR John 18:19-27, 2 Chronicles Share your thoughts on today s article on the TeeVo Review section, go to 21

22 SNOW Many love snow (like when you re curled up by the fire on a snowy day) while some others hate it (when you re on the road), but it s a major part of winter for many people, especially during the Christmas season, on some continents. But what is snow, anyway? Snow refers to forms of ice crystals that precipitate from the atmosphere (usually from clouds) and undergo changes on the Earth s surface. It pertains to frozen crystalline water throughout its life cycle, starting when, under suitable conditions, the ice crystals form in the atmosphere, increase to millimeter size, precipitate and accumulate on surfaces, then metamorphose in place, and ultimately melt, slide or sublimate away. Here are some interesting facts about snow: 1. Snowflakes Aren t The Only Form Of Snow. Snow can also precipitate as graupel or sleet. Not to be confused with hail, graupel (or snow pellets) are opaque ice particles that form in the atmosphere as ice crystals fall through freezing cloud droplets meaning cloud particles that are colder than the freezing point of water 22

23 but remain liquid. The cloud droplets group together to form a soft, lumpy mass. Sleet, on the other hand, consists of drops of rain that freeze into small, translucent balls of ice as they fall from the sky. 2. It s A Myth That No Two Snowflakes Are Exactly The Same. In 1988, a scientist found two identical snow crystals. They came from a storm in Wisconsin. 3. Snow Is Translucent, Not White. Snow, like the ice particles it s made up of, is actually colorless. It s translucent, which means that light does not pass through it easily (like it would transparent glass), but is rather reflected. It s the light reflected off a snowflake s faceted surface that creates its white appearance. But why white? The reason we see objects as colors is because some wavelengths of light are absorbed while others are reflected (remember, light is a spectrum of colors). The object takes on whatever color light is reflected. For example, the sky is blue because the blue wavelengths are reflected while the other colors are absorbed. Since snow is made up of so many tiny surfaces, the light that hits it is scattered in many directions and will actually bounce around from one surface to the next as it s reflected. This means no wavelength is absorbed or reflected with any consistency, so the white light bounces back as the color white. 23

24 Saturday, December 8 T O THE BIBLE BOAST WITH THE WORD! (The Scriptures Can t Be Broken) Jeremiah 29:11 NIV For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. LE T S T ALK I was having a chat with some friends many years ago, when I said, I ll never be poor. I ll never be broke. You re just boasting, one of them said. I m not boasting, I replied. But, Chris, you don t know the future. Do you? Oh yes, I do! At this point, the others joined and made light of the issue, saying, Don t mind Chris. He s only joking. He doesn t really mean what he s saying. But I let them know that I meant every iota of what I had said. And so, they asked me to explain. I opened the Bible and showed them a series of scriptures that highlight the prosperity of the Christian. One of the scriptures I read was Psalm 1:1-3, which says, Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper. 24

25 Next, I told them that if anyone would walk in the light of these verses, they wouldn t fail; they d always be successful. But those are mere Bible verses you just read, they said. They re not mere verses, I responded. They re God s truth. And if you d live by it, you d certainly become what it talks about. The Word will give you hope and cause you to prosper irrespective of the existing social structure, political system, or economic condition in your country. Go Deeper Acts 20:32; 3 John 2 Speak I ll always be successful and prosperous, by the virtue of God s Word working in me. The Word is taking me from glory to glory. As I commit myself to live by it, I m transformed into what it talks about, in Jesus Name. Amen. Daily Bible Reading Act Meditate on Acts 20:32: So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. My Notes ONE YEAR Revelation 1:1-20, Ezekiel TWO YEAR John 18:28-40, 2 Chronicles Share your thoughts on today s article on the TeeVo Review section, go to 25

26 Sunday, December 9 DON T FACE THE FACTS (Faith Only Recognises What God Said) T O THE BIBLE James 2:17-18 GNB So it is with faith: if it is alone and includes no actions, then it is dead. But someone will say, One person has faith, another has actions. My answer is, Show me how anyone can have faith without actions. I will show you my faith by my actions. LE T S T ALK When acting in faith, you don t negotiate God s instructions; you act on them. Faith doesn t say, Well, I know the Word of God says thus-and-thus, but let s face the facts! Faith neither faces nor considers the facts; it considers the Word and acts on it NOW! So, the faith that works is that which doesn t negotiate the Word but believes what God says, speaks and acts accordingly. Act on the Word today. Faith gives no consideration to natural circumstances, but leaps at the Word. That s how Abraham got his son Isaac (Romans 4:19). From the natural standpoint, the facts before Abraham were completely in disagreement with God s Word to him that he would be the father of many nations. But Abraham didn t allow those facts to dissipate his faith and confidence in the Word of God. He held tenaciously to God s Word, fully persuaded that God s Word, not the natural facts of life, is absolute reality. Once you receive the Word concerning any area of your life, act accordingly, for faith in the Word must 26

27 have corresponding actions. Each time you pray, rejoice like someone that has received. Notice I didn t say, rejoice so you ll receive ; rather, rejoice, knowing that you ve received! That s the faith principle! Inasmuch as faith doesn t deny natural facts, it doesn t consider them as well! Rather, faith denies those facts the ability or authority to control the circumstances of your existence, while depending on the Word of God as the basis and assurance for action! Go Deeper Romans 4:17-22; James 2:21-22 Pray: Dear Father, your Word is my life, and the light by which I live. I receive with gladness, meekness and faith your Word concerning my success, health, victory and prosperity, and I act in consonance with that Word today! I declare that my faith is alive and producing results as a result of what I ve learnt today, in the Name of Jesus. Amen. Daily Bible Reading ONE YEAR Revelation 2:1-17, Ezekiel TWO YEAR John 19:1-12, 2 Chronicles Act Put your faith to work today; ignore the present facts and declare whatever it is that you desire. My Notes Share your thoughts on today s article on the TeeVo Review section, go to 27

28 Monday, December 10 INSPIRED CHOICES (The Holy Spirit Is Your Sure Guide And Counsel) T O THE BIBLE John 16:13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. LE T S T ALK Why are many dreams shattered, and great human potential squandered in the world today? Why does a prosperous home, with happy and vibrant family members, sometimes plunge into an abyss of poverty suddenly? How did the world ever become such a rendezvous of broken humanity? The answer isn t farfetched. It s all because of bad decisions. There s social disorder, political turmoil and economic quandary in many countries simply because people made unwise choices. And here s the reason: They re spiritually destitute! When people are barren of the presence of the Holy Spirit in their lives; when they aren t led and guided by him, they can hardly make wise decisions. But if you re born again and filled with the Holy Spirit, He helps you to locate the right information in any circumstance and inspires you to take the right decision. As a young person, you re in a significant phase of your life a phase where you d need to make a lot of critical decisions to determine the life you live tomorrow. So, I encourage you to take advantage of the Holy Spirit s presence in you. The Bible says, Trust in the LORD with 28

29 all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths (Proverbs 3:5-6). The Holy Spirit is your secret of success. If you d let him lead you, he d impart to you the wisdom to build a successful, prosperous and influential life. Go Deeper Pray Isaiah 30:21; Psalm 119:105 Dear heavenly Father, I thank you for enlightening me today on the importance of following the footsteps of the Holy Spirit in my daily walk. As I yield myself to his instructions and guidance, your wisdom is released in me, and it causes me to make the right decision at every given time, in Jesus Name. Amen. Daily Bible Reading ONE YEAR Revelation 2:18-3:1-6, Ezekiel TWO YEAR John 19:13-22, 2 Chronicles Act Identify the important decisions you need to make at this period and begin to pray about them. My Notes Share your thoughts on today s article on the TeeVo Review section, go to 29

30 Tuesday, December 11 SENT AS A HEALER (Lay Hands On The Sick And They Shall Recover) T O THE BIBLE Mark 16:17-18 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover. LE T S T ALK I s it possible for me to actually heal anyone I meet who s struck by an ailment? you may ask? Yes, it is! Our theme scripture today clearly gives credence to this fact. Perhaps you tried in the past to put this scripture to work but didn t see the result you expected, and now you re puzzled. Understand that the problem isn t with the scripture, for God s Word is ever efficacious. Jesus said you d lay hands on the sick and they d recover. Your part is to lay your hands on them; you re not to make them recover. If the sick fellow didn t recover, it s because he didn t choose to be well. You already did your part by laying hands on him. Take salvation, for example. Jesus Christ already died for the sins of every human person and made salvation available to all. But why isn t everyone saved today? Because not every person has made the personal decision to accept Christ. The moment any person hears the Gospel and believes, eternal life is theirs. So, the sick guy who doesn t recover after you laid hands on him is 30

31 simply not playing his own role. He needs to also accept what s being given. Every man is an independent spirit, a free moral agent who possesses the will to make personal choices. Just as you can t force him to receive salvation, you can t force him to receive healing either. He has to make the decision for himself. Go Deeper Matthew 16:19; Matthew 10:7-8 Speak I m authorised by Jesus Christ to heal the sick and perform wonders in His Name, to the glory of God the Father. As I preach the Gospel and lay hands on the sick, faith is stirred up in their hearts and they receive divine healing. I declare that God s Word is producing results in my life and ministry, in Jesus Name. Amen. Daily Bible Reading ONE YEAR Revelation 3:7-22, Ezekiel TWO YEAR John 19:23-37, 2 Chronicles Act Write down what you ll do as a result of your informed understanding about healing the sick. My Notes Share your thoughts on today s article on the TeeVo Review section, go to 31

32 Wednesday, December 12 A TONGUE FOR EACH ONE (Speaking In Other Tongues Is For Everyone) T O THE BIBLE Acts 2:1-4 CEV On the day of Pentecost all the Lord s followers were together in one place. Suddenly there was a noise from heaven like the sound of a mighty wind! It filled the house where they were meeting. Then they saw what looked like fiery tongues moving in all directions, and a tongue came and settled on each person there. The Holy Spirit took control of everyone, and they began speaking whatever languages the Spirit let them speak. LE T S T ALK S peaking in other tongues Is it for everyone? Is it compulsory that I do it? These questions and many others come from those who don t speak in tongues. Any Christian who speaks in tongues and understands the great blessings that come from doing so doesn t ask such questions. To speak in tongues is to communicate in a spiritual language inspired by the Holy Spirit. As we saw in our theme scripture, the Spirit gave them utterance. The Message translation says, And they started speaking in a number of different languages as the Spirit prompted them. There are those who believe that speaking in tongues is only for a select group of believers, or for high-ranking ministers of God. Not at all! Every Christian, young and old, male and female should regularly speak in tongues. Some other people think that they can only pray in tongues when they reach a spiritual high. Well, 32

33 that happens simply because they haven t learnt how to be constantly filled with the Spirit. When you receive the Holy Spirit and train yourself to always be filled with His divine presence, you ll have the utterance to speak in tongues whenever and wherever. It will be a natural occurrence in your life on a regular basis. Go Deeper Mark 16:17; 1 Corinthians 14:2 Speak I m constantly filled with the Holy Spirit, and as I speak in other tongues, I m giving instructions to angels and appropriating the blessings of God in my life. I m building up my spirit and ordering my steps along the paths of excellence, in Jesus Name. Amen. Daily Bible Reading Act ONE YEAR Revelation 4:1-11, Ezekiel TWO YEAR John 19:38-42, 2 Chronicles 25 Spend time to speak in other tongues at this moment. My Notes Share your thoughts on today s article on the TeeVo Review section, go to 33

34 Thursday, December 13 STANDING IN SOVEREIGNTY (Reign And Rule Through Jesus Christ) T O THE BIBLE Romans 5:17 AMP C For if because of one man s trespass (lapse, offense) death reigned through that one, much more surely will those who receive [God s] overflowing grace (unmerited favor) and the free gift of righteousness [putting them into right standing with Himself] reign as kings in life through the one Man Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One). LE T S T ALK As a Christian, you have the life and nature of God, and this nature makes you think like Him, talk like Him, and walk like Him; it causes you to reign in life as a king. Through the Word of God, you re trained to reign; you re trained to see and think differently! 2 Timothy 3:16 says, All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. The Word of God is God s instruction manual to train you in the way and life of righteousness, and equip you for greatness. Through the ministry of the Word of God, and the Holy Spirit, you re taught how to be a success in life. With this training, it makes no difference what family background you re from; you ll be exceptional, because you function with the anointing and grace to reign. Romans 5:17 says those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life. Refuse sickness, failure, defeat, and death. Reign in life as a king. Reject everything that s not of God, and endorse 34

35 only that which is consistent with His perfect will for you. Talk differently; see differently. You ve been graced to reign, through righteousness. Go Deeper Romans 5:17; John 10:10 AMPC; Romans 12:2 Speak I reign in life unstoppably, walking in God s abundant grace in Christ! I m like a tree planted by the waterside, with evergreen leaves! I m lifted always, over and above circumstances! Glory to God! Daily Bible Reading Act What scripture lets you know that you re a king? Write at least two here. My Notes ONE YEAR Revelation 5:1-14, Ezekiel TWO YEAR John 20:1-10, 2 Chronicles Share your thoughts on today s article on the TeeVo Review section, go to 35

36 Friday, December 14 NO SIN IN HIS EYES (The New Creation Is No Longer Associated With Sin) T O THE BIBLE Romans 5:1 AMP C Therefore, since we are justified (acquitted, declared righteous, and given a right standing with God) through faith, let us [grasp the fact that we] have [the peace of reconciliation to hold and to enjoy] peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One). LE T S T ALK The Bible lets us know that Jesus wasn t only delivered on account of our sins, He was also raised for our justification: Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification (Romans 4:25). What does it mean to be justified? Firstly, you need to understand that there s a difference between justification and forgiveness. The Apostle Paul, in the opening scripture, wasn t talking about forgiveness, nor was he talking about remission. He was talking about justification. To be justified means to be declared not guilty. It means to be declared righteous. Thus, in the eyes of God, you never sinned because God Himself who should judge you for your wrongdoing, is saying, No, you didn t do wrong; you re clean. That s what it means to be justified. The Bible says, Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new (2 Corinthians 5:17). The new creation is a new being; he s a brand-new species of being that never existed before. For him, old things are passed away and all things are 36

37 become new. He has a clean slate as it were, for he s without a past. That s why God can declare him not guilty because there s nothing to judge since he now has a brandnew life! The Bible says when Jesus died, you died with Him; when He was buried, you were buried with Him; and when God raised Him from the dead, you were raised together with Him in newness of life! That means all your sins are gone! You ve been washed by the blood of the lamb and presented holy and guiltless before the Father. Go Deeper Romans 5:16-18 Pray Dear Father, I thank you for the new life of glory and righteousness that I now have in Christ; I walk in the light of my justification today, for the precious blood of Jesus Christ that was shed for me on the cross of Calvary has washed me white as snow! Amen. Daily Bible Reading Act Meditate on Colossians 1:21-22 for the whole day. My Notes ONE YEAR Revelation 6:1-17, Ezekiel TWO YEAR John 20:11-18, 2 Chronicles 28 Share your thoughts on today s article on the TeeVo Review section, go to 37

38 CLUES Across 2 Daniel s other name [Hint: Daniel 5] (12) 7 Joshua s father [Hint: Joshua 1] (3) 8 He was considered the apostle to the Gentiles (4) 11 This priest read the Law to the people in Nehemiah 8 (4) 12 He said this: Woe is me! For I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips... (6) 13 Paul wrote to Philemon concerning this individual (8) 17 The lawyer mentioned in Titus 3 (5) 19 He helped Peter write his first letter (8) 20 He is the author and finisher of our faith (5,6) 21 Jude s brother [Hint: Jude 1] (5) 22 Jael drove this through Sisera s skull [Hint: Judges 4] (4,3) PUZZLE Down 1 The Roman centurion who got saved with his whole house in Acts 10 (9) 2 He also joined Peter when he refused to eat with the Gentiles [Hint: Galatians 2] (8) 3 According to Obadiah, on Mount shall be deliverance (4) 4 In the fight of faith, the helmet in the whole armour of God represents (13) 5 According to Mark 3, Jesus appointed the apostles here (8) 6 Lazarus sister who wanted to serve Jesus a meal (6) 9 According to 1 Corinthians, for whom are tongues a sign? (11) 10 As a child, Samuel lived with this priest [Hint: 1 Samuel 2] (3) 14 He was sent to the Ephesians by Apostle Paul [Hint: Ephesians 6] (8) 15 Before becoming a king, David s occupation was a (8) 16 The author of 1 John often referred to his readers as (8) 18 One of the ladies who wanted to anoint the Lord at his tomb [Hint: Mark 16] (6) 38

39

40 Saturday, December 15 WHY NURSE SICKNESS? (Take Charge Over Your Body) T O THE BIBLE Luke 10:19 Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. LE T S T ALK As a child of God, your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost and the Spirit of God dwells in you (1 Corinthians 6:19), which means your body is not yours; it s owned by God. However, you re the one to take care of your body: you re to keep watch over your body, keep it in health, and decide what to allow or disallow from your physical body. This is the reason you must learn to exercise authority over your body by rejecting sickness, disease and infirmity. Sometimes we find believers who ignorantly make the wrong confessions over their bodies; like the one who says Oh, I have this growth on my shoulder or I always wake up with headaches. When people talk this way, they re actually nursing and pampering sickness over their bodies without realising it. You ought to exercise your God-given authority and say In the Name of Jesus, I refuse to accommodate headaches. Say, I cut out this growth from my body in Jesus Name. Remember, Jesus said, Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. This should let you know that you re not 40

41 ordinary; refuse to be infected by any sickness, disease or infirmity. When sickness tries to fasten itself to your body, reject it. Tell your body how it should feel, and don t accommodate sickness in your body; cut it out with the Word of God. Tell your body what to do and it will do it. Don t say, I ve got sugar diabetes; rather take charge of the blood-sugar; use your tongue to control every situation. Say, In the Name of Jesus, I refuse diabetes any place in my body ; and your words will come to pass. Go Deeper Matthew 10:5-8; Mark 11:23 Speak My body is the temple of the Holy Ghost; every fiber of my being from the crown of my head to the soles of my feet is vitalized by the Spirit of God. The life of God in me destroys sickness, disease and infirmity; therefore I m uninfectable. Hallelujah. Daily Bible Reading Act With your spoken words, keep your body in subjection to the Word of God, and refuse to give Satan any foothold in your physical body. My Notes ONE YEAR Revelation 7:1-17, Ezekiel TWO YEAR John 20:19-31, 2 Chronicles 29 Share your thoughts on today s article on the TeeVo Review section, go to 41

42 Sunday, December 16 I LOVE YOU! (Love: It s The Manifestation Of The Christ-life In You) T O THE BIBLE 1 John 3:14 GNB We know that we have left death and come over into life; we know it because we love others. Those who do not love are still under the power of death. LE T S T ALK I love you for some Christians is the hardest thing to say, but the truth is, the first manifestation of eternal life in you is the love of God. When you re born again, the love of the Father is awakened in your spirit. There re people who hate us Christians, not because we did anything wrong, but just because of Jesus. Such people aren t born again; they haven t passed from death to life. When you re born again, you can t hate anyone, because there s love in your heart. It s the fruit of your recreated human spirit. 1 John 3:14 says we know we ve passed from death to life, not because we can perform miracles, or because we can prophesy and speak in tongues: it s because we love our brothers and sisters in Christ! As a Christian, you must make the uncompromising choice to walk in love always. It doesn t matter the extent of hatred and animosity you experience from those around you, you have the obligation as a Christian to love and not hate. Reflect on our Lord Jesus: think about how they were cruel to Him, nailing Him to the cross and cursing him, yet He looked up to heaven and said, Father, 42

43 forgive them, for they do not know what they do... (Luke 23:34). That s love! He could have destroyed them all in a moment of time, but His love overlooked their ignorance and forgave their wrong. The love that you have for other believers is a testimony in your spirit; it s a witness within you that you ve passed from death to life. Hallelujah! Go Deeper Romans 5:5 GNB; Luke 23:33-34; 1 John 4:18 Speak I m full of love! The love-nature of God in my spirit causes me to radiate and express love to everyone I meet. I ve made the choice to show them kindness and grace. I speak and believe the best of them always, in the Name of Jesus. Amen. Daily Bible Reading Act Meditate and declare 1 John 4:17 throughout today. Also, make a quality decision that there ll never be anybody anywhere that you ll begrudge, dislike or be bitter against. Walk in the love of God from your heart till it grows to perfection. My Notes ONE YEAR Revelation 8:1-13, Ezekiel TWO YEAR John 21:1-12, 2 Chronicles 30 Share your thoughts on today s article on the TeeVo Review section, go to 43

44 Monday, December 17 BE THE FLYING CHRISTIAN (Develop Your Spirit And Soar High) T O THE BIBLE Acts 20:32 So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. LE T S T ALK Have you ever observed birds, and how they fly? Some can only fly at a certain height. A duck, for instance, may fly higher and longer than a chicken, but it can t sustain itself like a sparrow. And as fast and as wonderfully a sparrow may fly, it can never fly as high as an eagle and sustain itself in the air. It s like airplanes too; some can only fly between thirty to thirty-eight thousand feet above sea level. Some can fly at forty thousand feet, and can t go higher, no matter how they try. But some can fly at sixty thousand feet. Spiritually, it s the same. Some Christians are flying very high while some aren t. Some want to fly high but they can t, because they haven t developed their spirit life for that level; so, when trouble strikes, they re overwhelmed and rattled by the turbulence. But the one who has developed his spirit, soars like an eagle; he has the speed and lift to go above turbulence. It makes no difference what your present situation is; if you d develop your spirit, you ll always rise above the turbulence. 44

45 So how do I develop my spirit? you ask. Well, God tells us in Joshua 1:8 to meditate on His Word. That s the secret for training and developing your spirit for success. That s how you programme your spirit for the triumphant life of ever-increasing glory. Practise meditating on the Word of God. When you study the Word, don t just read through; capture it into your heart, and learn to give the Word first place in your life. Go Deeper 1 Timothy 4:15; Isaiah 40:30-31 Pray Dear Father, I thank you for the glorious life I ve received in Christ Jesus. I keep my gaze on your Word, walking in the consciousness of my divine origin and heritage! Thank you for making me triumphant always, and in every place, in Jesus Name. Amen. Daily Bible Reading Act Spend some time to speak in tongues and prophesy God s Word to yourself right now for at least fifteen minutes, and get your spirit soaring in the spirit. My Notes ONE YEAR Revelation 9:1-21, Ezekiel TWO YEAR John 21:13-25, 2 Chronicles 31 Share your thoughts on today s article on the TeeVo Review section, go to 45

46 Tuesday, December 18 WHEN YOU JUST KNOW (There s An Inward Voice And An Inward Witness) T O THE BIBLE Romans 8:14 NIRV Those who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. LE T S T ALK N ot now, hold on! heard Zia in her spirit, as she wanted to rush out of her car to the shopping mall. She was in a hurry to get a new phone at the store in the mall, but somehow, as she sat still in her car, she knew she wasn t to leave just yet. All of a sudden, to the left side of her car, there was a loud smash at the mall entrance the signage fell off to the ground, and would have fallen on her, if she hadn t waited. God guides you through your spirit, and not your mind, and He seeks to lead you, primarily through the inward witness. This leading of the Spirit of God is available to every Christian. There s a difference between the inward witness and the inward voice. When the inward voice talks to you, it s a little authoritative. You could suddenly hear a voice from inside say, Get up! Go and turn off the gas in the kitchen, just like Zia did. That s the inward voice of your spirit, and some people have lost out on a lot, because they didn t listen. The inward witness, on the other hand, isn t a voice, but a consciousness of guidance from your spirit. Imagine that you had two school degree courses offered to you at the same time and you re not sure which one to take. At such a time, what you need is to recognise the inward witness. You ll discover that when you pray, a consciousness of joy wells up 46

47 in your heart within the direction that God wants you to go. If for any reason, you consider going in the opposite way, you ll find a dampening of your spirit, not your mind. Each time you pray, the witness comes as though with hesitance and reluctance. That means it s a No. Some people have forced themselves to go against the inward witness, some others even wait for spectacular signs, saying, Lord, if a dog barks at 3 a.m. from the right side of my compound, I ll know it s you. God doesn t lead us like that. Through the Word and inward witness, the Holy Spirit leads and guides you from glory to glory. Go Deeper Pray Act Psalm 16:7; Job 32:8 Dear Father, I thank you for guiding me in my spirit through the inward witness. I continually yield myself to your Spirit through the Word and prayer, thereby exercising my spirit to pick the signals from you always, in Jesus Name. Amen. Daily Bible Reading As you speak in tongues and study God s Word, train yourself to listen to the inward witness and the inward voice; it ll save you from unnecessary problems in your life. My Notes ONE YEAR Revelation 10:1-11, Ezekiel TWO YEAR Acts 1:1-11, 2 Chronicles 32 Share your thoughts on today s article on the TeeVo Review section, go to 47

48 Wednesday, December 19 WHAT BORN AGAIN MEANS ((Being a Christian Has Nothing To Do With Religion) T O THE BIBLE John 3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. LE T S T ALK In the Garden of Eden, Adam sinned against God. From then on, darkness came into this world, and man became a stranger to and cut off from the light of God. Ever since, man has longed for a relationship with God, and he s sought different ways to make it happen; it accounts for all the religions of the world. Religion is man seeking his own ways to contact or communicate with God. Sadly, man hasn t and can t find God in religion. Howbeit, God, in His mercy, sent Jesus to the world to reunite man to God; to let us know who He is, what He s like and what He wants. Jesus Christ is the revelation of the Father s will; He s the Father s love manifested; the expression of God s personality, and the outshining of His glory. Now, Jesus came into the world with a new terminology, saying you must be born again. That s where it all begins. For anyone to come into the light of God, have His life and nature, and become one with Him, he must be born again. To be born again means to receive Christ into your heart; it means to receive eternal life into your spirit. Eternal life is the nature of God. It s different from the human life you were born with; it s the incorruptible and indestructible life of God. It s what 48

49 makes us associates of the God-kind! When you re born again, your spirit comes alive to God, and the Kingdom of God becomes real to you. Being born again means you re separated into a life of glory, triumph, success, prosperity, and a blessed assurance. The rudiments of this world no longer govern your life; you ve been disconnected from the domain of darkness and transferred into the glorious liberty of the sons of God. This is beyond religion. Blessed be God! Go Deeper John 3:5-7; 1 Peter 1:23 Pray Dear heavenly Father, I thank you for demonstrating your eternal love for mankind by sending Jesus Christ. Thank you for the precious salvation I have in Him. I m a new creation in Christ Jesus, born with the nature of God in my spirit. I function in the higher, transcendent life in Christ, in Jesus Name. Amen. Daily Bible Reading Act Today, you can get someone else born again. Just turn over to the Prayer Of Salvation on page 76, and guide them to say the words there from the bottom of their heart. My Notes ONE YEAR Revelation 11:1-19, Daniel 1-2 TWO YEAR Acts 1:12-26, 2 Chronicles 33 Share your thoughts on today s article on the TeeVo Review section, go to 49

50 Thursday, December 20 IT S HARVEST TIME (Use Your Words And Call Your Harvest Forth) T O THE BIBLE Romans 1:17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, The just shall live by faith. LE T S T ALK Jesus said in Luke 6:38 (NASB), Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure--pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return. This already indicates that when you give, there s an increase of grace for you to receive. So, when you pay your tithes, give your offerings, or sow special seeds, you re actually opening up your capacity to receive. Also, you have to water the seeds you ve sown with the Word of God and prayer and then call forth your harvest with your faith-filled confessions. So, in sowing your seeds, send them forth by the anointing as you speak God s Word over them, and begin to call forth your harvest. You can call forth your harvest anytime, for harvest is anytime: As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease (Genesis 8:22 NIV). Your harvest is in your mouth; you can call it forth today. Just as nothing hindered you from sowing that seed, you ought to also declare that nothing would hinder your harvest. God already promised a multiplied harvest for 50

51 you when you give, and His Word cannot be broken (Luke 6:38; 2 Corinthians 9:6-8). Therefore, when you give, declare your harvest! Don t speak unbelief or sit idly by with the mentality that whatever will be, will be. Rather, keep speaking words of faith until the harvest of the seeds you ve sown come pouring down on you. Ecclesiastes 11:3 says If the clouds are full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth. Go Deeper Hebrews 11:6; Hebrews 11:1 Speak I declare that I m experiencing increase on every side and mighty harvests of blessings and miracles today from the seeds I ve sown. I receive good measure, pressed down and shaken together today, even as the Lord has made all grace available to me, to have all sufficiency in all things, in Jesus Name. Amen. Daily Bible Reading Act Call forth your harvest of your offerings and seeds sown right away. My Notes ONE YEAR Revelation 12:1-17, Daniel 3-4 TWO YEAR Acts 2:1-13, 2 Chronicles 34 Share your thoughts on today s article on the TeeVo Review section, go to 51

52 Friday, December 21 GAZE AT JESUS T O THE BIBLE (Contemplate The Glory Of God) Hebrews 1:3 NIV The Son (Jesus Christ) is the radiance of God s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. LE T S T ALK Jesus Christ is the brightness of God s glory, and the express image of His person. That means He s the outshining of God s glory, the expression and icon of the Father s glory. 2 Corinthians 3:18 (NIV) says: And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. How important it is to contemplate the glory of God. In the New King James Version, it says, But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. What does this mean? The mirror of God is the Word of God. What happens when we contemplate the glory of God in the mirror of God? What does a mirror do? It reflects whatever is set before it. If you were standing in front of a mirror, you d see your own reflection. The Word of God is that mirror. Therefore, that reflection, that glory you see when you look into the mirror the Word is who you really 52

53 are; you re the glory of God. You re the fruit of Christ s suffering. The Bible talks about the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should be revealed (1 Peter 1:11). You re that glory that He saw that made Him endure the cross and despise the shame (Hebrews 12:2). Have this consciousness; see yourself in, and as, the glory of God! Walk in, and manifest His glory everywhere. Go Deeper 1 John 4:17; 2 Peter 1:2-3; 1 Peter 2:9 Speak As I look into the mirror of God s Word, I see the real me an associate of the God-kind with the life and nature of righteousness in my spirit. I m the effulgence of God s glory, a dispenser of His grace, proof of His love and goodness! He s the light of my life, and in Him I live and move, and have my being. Glory to His Name forever! Daily Bible Reading Act Throughout your day today, testify that you re the glory of God! Declare that every step you take is the step of glory. Study and meditate on John 17:22 and Romans 8:30 as well. My Notes ONE YEAR Revelation 13:1-10, Daniel 5-6 TWO YEAR Acts 2:14-24, 2 Chronicles 35 Share your thoughts on today s article on the TeeVo Review section, go to 53

54 WORD SCOPE MINDSET The word mindset implies a fixed mental attitude. It predetermines how you interpret situations and respond to them. If your mindset is right, you re going to interpret situations rightly and respond to them accurately. But if your mindset is wrong, your interpretations and responses to matters will always be wrong. This suggests, therefore, that the root cause of failure is a wrong mindset; and the key to good success is an excellent mindset. Speaking of John the Baptist as the forerunner of Jesus Christ, the Angel Gabriel said, He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord (Luke 1:17). The Greek word translated wisdom in the Scripture above is phronesis, which implies mindset. Hence, there s a mindset that the just (the righteous) should have. And that s what the Holy Spirit helps you to develop as you meditate on God s Word. A mindset shaped by the Word doesn t think failure or defeat; neither does it recognise fear, sickness or disease. It produces excellence only. 54

55 i-testify! Ever since we started a TeeVo club in PJ Semelane High School, parents have been grateful to us because of their teenagers who have been transformed and encouraged by the Rhapsody of Realities TeeVo devotional. They have noted a significant difference in their behaviour and attitude towards their academics, especially following the recent events of young people being involved in satanism in this area. I m indeed grateful to the ministry of Pastor Chris, for giving us this material to change lives with and give lives a meaning. Mashudo, Soweto. 55

56 Saturday, December 22 SHAKE OFF THAT GRUDGE (Abandon Yourself To God Almighty) T O THE BIBLE John 3:30 AMP C He must increase, but I must decrease. [He must grow more prominent; I must grow less so.] LE T S T ALK Some people get hurt easily, but not me. I ve asked myself what someone can possibly do to hurt me, and I can t think of anything. I wasn t always that way, but I grew to this point through the Word and the Holy Spirit. Now, it s just not possible to hurt me. Let me tell you how and why. I found out that as long as I m in pursuit of God s pursuits and the fulfillment of His dreams and not mine, it doesn t matter what anybody does to me. I abandoned myself to Him a long time ago; that s why it s not possible to hurt me anymore. How do you hurt one who s dead? Like Paul, I ve been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me (Galatians 2:20 CEV). When you let go of your self and become more like Jesus, you ll be amazed at the greater life you ll live. Then, you ll live above all the wrong things others say or do against you. You may remember those things sometimes, but you shouldn t count it against them. Instead, you should remain friendly and courteous toward them. Some might think you re naïve when you act like this, but you re not doing it for anyone but yourself. That s because you 56

57 understand that you can t move with the Holy Spirit while you re carrying all the hurtful things people said or did to you. So, let go of the hurt, and you ll see yourself flowing freely in the anointing of God s Spirit. Go Deeper Hebrews 12:1-3, Hebrews 12:14-15 Pray Dear Father, I thank you for teaching me your Word today, and showing me how to live above offense and bitterness. I will not hold anything against anyone, but I ll be quick to forgive just as Christ forgave me. And I walk in love toward everyone and move in the power of your Spirit every day, in Jesus Name. Amen. Daily Bible Reading Act Are you holding a grudge against anyone? It s time to let go of that baggage: forgive and walk in love towards them, no matter what they ve done or said against you. My Notes ONE YEAR Revelation 13:11-14:1-20, Daniel 7-8 TWO YEAR Acts 2:25-36, 2 Chronicles 36 Share your thoughts on today s article on the TeeVo Review section, go to 57

58 Sunday, December 23 HE S BEHIND THE SCENES (Praise God Every Time And In All Situations) T O THE BIBLE Psalm 18:47-49 MSG This God set things right for me and shut up the people who talked back. He rescued me from enemy anger, he pulled me from the grip of upstarts, He saved me from the bullies. That s why I m thanking you, GOD, all over the world. That s why I m singing songs that rhyme your name. LE T S T ALK Always, it s important that we learn to thank the Lord for all the wonderful things we experience, and also for those things we may not really consider to be very nice. Some people are only joyful and thankful to the Lord when things seem to be going on fine, but gripe in the face of adversity. It ought not to be so. Irrespective and independent of the situation or your immediate circumstances, you should always sing to Him and give thanks to the Father. Worship and praise Him, no matter what! Let me share this with you: Some years ago, a Christian gentleman who worked with the government had been praying and expecting promotions on his job. Then, there was a problem at his office; he was accused of certain things, for which he wasn t really at fault. So, he prayed that God would vindicate him. Instead of being vindicated, he was pronounced guilty, and as a result, he was demoted. Everything went wrong for him. In that state, however, he kept attending Church services, serving and worshipping the Lord, confident that God would vindicate him. Not long afterwards, there was a change of government, and all those who were ahead of him were 58

59 fired, but he was retained! And since he was then the most senior of all those that were retained, he became the new boss. If he had been promoted as he had been expecting, he d have been amongst the senior cadre of staff that were laid off by the new government. Sometimes, we have no idea what the Lord is doing behind the scenes on our behalf, which is why the Bible says, Thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live (1 Thessalonians 5:18 MSG). In every situation, give Him thanks no matter what! Go Deeper Pray Psalm 96:8; Psalm 18:46-49 Dear heavenly Father, I thank you for making 2018 a glorious year for me. You ve filled my heart with praise, worship and thanksgiving. Today, as I render heartfelt songs of worship, praise and thanksgiving to you, they are as a sweet-smelling sacrifice, acceptable and well pleasing to you, in Jesus Name. Amen. Daily Bible Reading Act Take a look at your year 2018 in retrospect, and be thankful to the Lord for the triumphs and glories you expect in the coming year. My Notes ONE YEAR Revelation 15:1-8, Daniel 9-10 TWO YEAR Acts 2:37-47, Ezra 1 Share your thoughts on today s article on the TeeVo Review section, go to 59

60 Monday, December 24 CELEBRATE! T O THE BIBLE (You re The Reason For The Season) Isaiah 7:14 AMP C Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign: Behold, the young woman who is unmarried and a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel [God with us]. LE T S T ALK Usually, at this time of the year, the atmosphere is electrified with the joy, beauty, carols and colours of Christmas. For a lot of Christians, it s their best time of the year. Even non-christians look forward to Christmas and are exceptionally excited once it s Christmas time. If you re one of those who are particularly excited about Christmas, then I ll want you to know that you truly do have a good reason to celebrate and be excited, for you re the reason for His birth. The Living Bible translation of Luke 2:10, lets us know that the birth of Jesus was good news of great joy to all peoples of the earth. He was born to redeem man. He came to set people free from sin, sickness, disease, poverty and death, and to make you a child of God. His death, burial, resurrection and resultant victory over the devil and demons of hell were for you. When you know this, you ll have a better and more fulfilled reason to celebrate and bask in the euphoria of the season. The yuletide to you will become a season of praise. There couldn t be a better time for you to 60

61 genuinely give God praise for all He s done for you through Christ Jesus than now. This is why I m enjoining you to rather make this Christmas season that of praise and thanksgiving. God, in His love gave us the greatest gift of all-his Son Jesus. When your joy, excitement and reason for celebrating Christmas is anchored on this truth, then your gratitude and appreciation to God for what He s done will know no bounds. Celebrate this year s festivities with a difference; make it a season of praise! Go Deeper Psalm 117:1; Psalm 147:1 Pray Holy Father, I thank you for the wonderful gift of life made available to all men through Christ Jesus. I pray that as people celebrate and are excited about Christmas, they would learn to praise you and celebrate Jesus, Who Himself is the author of life. Amen! Daily Bible Reading Act Make today a time to reminisce on the goodness of God. Celebrate and praise Him for giving you health, wealth, righteousness and life in place of sickness, poverty, sin and death. My Notes ONE YEAR Revelation 16:1-21, Daniel TWO YEAR Acts 3:1-11, Ezra 2 Share your thoughts on today s article on the TeeVo Review section, go to 61

62 Tuesday, December 25 IT S CHRISTMAS! T O THE BIBLE (Get To Know Why Jesus Was Born) John 3:16 MSG This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. LE T S T ALK Merry Christmas! I m sure you re in a celebrating mood already. I love Christmas, for it s another great opportunity to remind ourselves once again of the great love God has for us. Some people call it Jesus birthday and as such they say Jesus is the reason for the season. Well, that depends on the way you look at it! When you take a closer look at John 3:16, you ll observe that Jesus was born for a specific reason. He was born so that man wouldn t perish but receive everlasting life. Man was in serious trouble he had become the slave of Satan the moment Adam and his wife committed high treason against God in the Garden of Eden. The blood of bulls and goats that were sacrificed yearly in Israel only offered a temporary solution (Hebrew 10:4). Moreover, several people (non-jews) were ostracised from the covenant that made this temporary solution possible. There wasn t anything that could completely and permanently change man s predicament. This was why God, in His love and mercy, sent His Son: When He came into the world, He said: Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body You have prepared 62

63 for Me. In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You had no pleasure (Hebrews 10:5-6). If there hadn t been any man to save, He needn t have come. Jesus was born that He may become the Mediator of the new covenant (Hebrews 12:24). He also came to make as many as believe in His Name sons of God (John 1:12). He left all His glory and splendour in heaven, came to earth, born of a virgin, so that you and I could receive His life and nature. So you see, Christmas is really a day worth celebrating. Once again, Merry Christmas! Go Deeper Philippians 2:7; 1 John 3:1; Mark 10:45 Pray Dear Lord Jesus, I rejoice in you today, for you re the essence of my joy and celebration. You came not to be ministered to but to minister and give your life for my redemption. I thank you for all you ve done for me. Amen. Daily Bible Reading ONE YEAR Revelation 17:1-18, Zechariah 1-3 TWO YEAR Acts 3:12-26, Ezra 3-4 Act Go ahead, enjoy your day but remember to keep the essence of the day in focus by letting somebody else know the reason we re celebrating this season. My Notes Share your thoughts on today s article on the TeeVo Review section, go to 63

64 Wednesday, December 26 MAKE CHRISTMAS MEMORIES TODAY (Let Be An Unforgettable Christmas) T O THE BIBLE 1 Timothy 1:15 MSG Here s a word you can take to heart and depend on: Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners. I m proof--public Sinner Number One LE T S T ALK This is Paul s testimony and it clearly conveys the reason Jesus was born and the awesome power of the gospel. When a man receives the gospel of Jesus Christ, there s a clear difference in his life. Though Paul called himself the greatest of sinners, there had been a transformation in his life, because he was no longer chief sinner but chief preacher. Indeed, he was going about hunting and persecuting Christians for preaching in the Name of Jesus. After he encountered Jesus and was born again, he found himself preaching the same message he persecuted Christians for, even to the point of death. Hallelujah! There s a depth in God that no man will ever know until he starts winning souls for Jesus. Wealth, fame, and reputation are all meaningless if you can t experience that depth of satisfaction and joy God intended for you. The gospel is the power of God unto salvation (Romans 1:16). It is God s decided way to bring man out of sin, sickness and poverty. The Bible says, The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, 64

65 but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). What better present could you give to the Lord than to lead someone to Christ today? This is the best gift of all! Make up your mind to reach somebody with the gospel today! Bring God s Word alive to someone and touch a life with the Word of God. Make this Christmas an unforgettable one, not only for yourself, your family and friends, but also for the Lord. Go Deeper Romans 1:14-15; Romans 10:13-15 Speak The gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ is committed to my trust. This glorious news is as fire in my bones and I can t keep it back but declare it everywhere I am. As I do so, the power of God is manifested, for the gospel is the power of God to save, heal, deliver, uplift and prosper. Hallelujah! Daily Bible Reading ONE YEAR Revelation 18:1-24, Zechariah 4-6 TWO YEAR Acts 4:1-12, Ezra 5 Act Share the message of salvation with someone today. My Notes Share your thoughts on today s article on the TeeVo Review section, go to 65

66 Thursday, December 27 LIVE TO THE FULLEST (Enjoy The Life Jesus Christ Brought To You) T O THE BIBLE John 10:10 AMP C The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows). LE T S T ALK The New International Version puts our opening verse more appropriately; it says, I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. He came to help us live the good life, which God prearranged, and made ready for us to live (Ephesians 2:10). He s called you into a life of excellence, prosperity, perpetual victory, and righteousness! This is the reason we wish people a Merry Christmas. When we wish others a Merry Christmas, it s not just about how they feel or should feel throughout the day; it s about the beauty and glory that Christ has brought into their lives. He s made your life glorious. He s made you a champion forever. As you celebrate this season, let God s truth find full expression in you. Be bold about the Word of God; dare to believe the Word and declare, I m a success forever. I prosper in all things. The world is mine. I reign and rule over circumstances. Christ has come; He s already been born. He s already died for us, and has risen from the dead! He s already ascended! Now you can live that transcendent life which He brought to us. You have that life now: He 66

67 who has the Son has life... (1 John 5:12); it s not a promise to the one who s born again. If you have the Son, you have the God-life! Go Deeper John 17:3; Romans 6:23; John 10:10 AMPC Pray Dear Father, thank you for the life you ve given me in Jesus Christ! I m thankful that in Christ I live, and move and have my being! He s my life and my all! I declare that His glory, grace, and righteousness, are continually manifested in, and expressed through me, in Jesus Name. Amen. Daily Bible Reading ONE YEAR Revelation 19:1-10, Zechariah 7-8 TWO YEAR Acts 4:13-22, Ezra 6 Act Celebrate the divine life of Christ in you; do something fun today and share the good news about the Lord Jesus with someone else. My Notes Share your thoughts on today s article on the TeeVo Review section, go to 67

68 Friday, December 28 WORK WITH THE SPIRIT (The Holy Ghost Needs Your Cooperation) T O THE BIBLE John 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever LE T S T ALK Even though the Father gave us the Holy Spirit to be with us, and live within us, He (the Holy Spirit) requires our cooperation to carry out His ministry in our lives. He doesn t do His work in you, without you. This somewhat accounts for the reason His manifestations could differ in the lives of Christians. In some Christians, He s manifested in a great measure, while in some others, His work is suppressed; you rarely see the proof of the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit in their lives. This ought not to be. Cooperate with the Holy Spirit; be synchronised with Him. Encourage His work in your life. The ministry of the Holy Spirit is manifested in your life to the extent that you allow Him. The more you cooperate with Him and encourage His work in your life, the more He manifests Himself in, and through you. Remember, He s your helper; so, you need Him. We re the ones with the assignment from the Lord; we re the ones charged to go into all the world to make disciples of all men. And He s been given to us to help us carry out our assignment. Therefore, trust Him. 68

69 Work, and walk with Him! Depend on Him. Without Him, you can do nothing (John 15:5). He s the strength that you need. He s the wisdom you require. The Bible says, for by strength shall no man prevail (1 Samuel 2:9); human abilities and charisma won t work. You must do all that you do with the help and power of the Holy Spirit. He must sanctify and breathe upon your work; otherwise, there ll be no true success. He came to help you fulfil God s plan for you; therefore, be yielded to His leading and guidance always. Go Deeper John 14:16 AMPC; Philemon 1:6 Pray Dear heavenly Father, I thank you for the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit in my life. I acknowledge His presence in me, and I m yielded to His leading and guidance today. I m strengthened and rightly positioned in the centre of your perfect will, because I walk with the Spirit; His wisdom guides and propels me, in Jesus Name. Amen. Daily Bible Reading Act Revelation 19:11-21, Zechariah 9-11 Talk to the Holy Ghost right now; tell Him how much you love Him and want to do His will. My Notes ONE YEAR TWO YEAR Acts 4:23-37, Ezra 7 Share your thoughts on today s article on the TeeVo Review section, go to 69

70 QUIZ 1. Which of the statements below isn t true about Jesus? A. He s the only and true Son of God. B. The more you know Jesus, the deeper you fall in love with Him. C. He s the total embodiment and fullest revelation of God s love. D. He s the crown-jewel of heaven. (Hint: Read the message on December 1, 2018) 2. Which of these statements is true about worship? A. It requires no consciousness. B. Only angels are permitted to worship God. C. It s a special kind of recognition between the blesser and blessed. D. All of the above (Hint: Read the message on December 2, 2018) 3. 1 Corinthians 15:33 states thus: A. Do not be deceived: Good company, good habits B. Do not be deceived: Evil company corrupts good habits C. Be wary of evil company, that corrupts good habits D. Do not be deceived: Evil company corrupts evil habits (Hint: Read the message on December 5, 2018) 4. When you re in faith, you A. Face the facts B. Argue it out with the Lord C. Grumble and complain about your situation D. Believe the Word, speak and act accordingly (Hint: Read the message on December 9, 2018) 5. One of these statements is incorrect about the new creation A. He was born without a past B. He has a newness of life in Christ C. God has declared him not guilty of every sin and offence. D. He is a brand-new person, like Adam was in the beginning (Hint: Read the message on December 14, 2018) 70

71 6. Here are some ways the Holy Spirit can lead the Christian by, except A. The inward voice and witness B. God s Word C. Spectacular sights in the night sky D. All of the above (Hint: Read the message on December 18, 2018) 7. When you give, A. You re opening up your capacity to receive B. There s an increase of grace for you to receive C. B only D. A and B (Hint: Read the message on December 20, 2018) 8. How do you treat those you ve forgiven offences in the past? A. You should recount their offences daily B. You should remain friendly and courteous toward them C. Tell and warn other people about them D. Avenge yourself when the opportunity presents itself (Hint: Read the message on December 22, 2018) 9. We ought to thank the Lord A. In every situation and under every circumstance B. For certain good events that happen to us C. Whenever we are in church D. Anytime we remember to (Hint: Read the message on December 23, 2018) 10. Christmas Day is usually celebrated on. A. 26 December B. 25 December C. 24 December D. 31 December (Hint: Read the message on December 24, 2018) 71

72 Saturday, December 29 T O THE BIBLE LE T S T ALK BE RIGHTLY POSITIONED (Raise Your Spiritual Antenna) Daniel 9:2-4 MSG In the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, was meditating on the Scriptures that gave, according to the Word of GOD to the prophet Jeremiah, the number of years that Jerusalem had to lie in ruins, namely, seventy. I turned to the Master God, asking for an answer praying earnestly, fasting from meals I poured out my heart, baring my soul to GOD, my God. In a matter of days, it ll be And it s important we prepare ourselves, and are rightly positioned by the Spirit, for the glories and victories He s planned for us in the coming year. One of the ways to do this is by praying and fasting; spending time to pray in the spirit, studying and meditating on the Word, and attending diligently to the visions, promptings, ideas and thoughts from the Spirit of God. The Lord has something special for you in the coming year. It s His joy and desire to help you navigate your way and chart your course gloriously and triumphantly. However, your spirit must be conditioned, and your spiritual antenna raised and tuned to receive divine words of blessing, instruction, direction, and counsel from the Lord. His Word in your heart that you take with you into the coming year will give you all the advantage you require for success and excellence throughout the New Year. The most important aspect of fasting isn t that you re staying away from food; it s taking your attention off the food unto God. So, minimize unnecessary activities or 72

73 distractions when you fast. You shouldn t forget that you re fasting; this consciousness helps you to curb the cravings of the flesh, and maintain focus on the Spirit. It helps you to raise your spiritual antenna so you can hear from the Lord. Remember, we pray and fast, not because we want to change God, but because we want to be ushered into greater levels of His glory and operations of the Spirit in our lives. Therefore, as you take out time to pray and fast, have a clear objective and expectation in focus. This will help to guide your prayer, study and meditation time. Go Deeper Ezra 8:21-23; Acts 13:2-5 Pray Dear Father, thank you for the benefits of praying and fasting. As I give myself to this spiritual activity, as instructed by your Spirit, my spiritual acumen is improved; I m more attuned to receive divine signals, instructions, counsels, and ideas to navigate gloriously through the incoming year, in Jesus Name. Amen. Daily Bible Reading Act Spend some time to pray and fast these few days before the end of the year; prepare your heart to hear from Him. My Notes ONE YEAR Revelation 20:1-15, Zechariah TWO YEAR Acts 5:1-11, Ezra 8 Share your thoughts on today s article on the TeeVo Review section, go to 73

74 Sunday, December 30 OPEN THEIR EYES (The Unveiling Power Of The Gospel) T O THE BIBLE Acts 26:16-18 I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you. I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me. LE T S T ALK The Gospel of Jesus Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit, opens men s eyes to see the light of God. When the Word comes to a man, he receives vision; no wonder the Psalmist said, Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path (Psalm 119:105). The first thing the Holy Spirit does to a sinner is to open his eyes, because until a man s eyes are open spiritually, he remains in darkness. Therefore, in praying for people in your environment, in your family, or in the regions beyond who are yet to know the Lord, intercede that their eyes be open to see! The power to open their eyes is the Gospel of Jesus Christ, communicated by the power of the Holy Spirit. When they come to Christ, He opens their eyes; but that s only the beginning; He continues to enlarge their vision of the kingdom through the Word. As they study the Word, hear, and learn more about Him, He further enlightens the eyes of their understanding, to know and 74

75 walk in their heritage and inheritance in Christ. Keep preaching the Gospel; there s no salvation without the Gospel; the power of salvation is in the Gospel, and it works only for the person who believes, and that s where you come in. The Bible says, how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? (Romans 10:14). Do you see why you should have a burning heart to share the Gospel? You re God s agent of salvation, ordained to turn sinners from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God. Praise God! Go Deeper Romans 1:16; Acts 20:32 AMPC Pray Dear Father, I thank you for the power of the Gospel of Christ that grants me insight and foresight into the realities of the Kingdom. I pray that today, the eyes of many around the world, who are in darkness will be open to the light of the Gospel, and they be turned from darkness to light, and into the glorious liberty of the sons of God, in Jesus Name. Amen. Daily Bible Reading Act Share the Gospel of the Lord Jesus with at least two people today. My Notes ONE YEAR Revelation 21:1-27, Malachi 1-2 TWO YEAR Acts 5:12-23, Ezra 9-10 Share your thoughts on today s article on the TeeVo Review section, go to 75

76 Monday, December 31 THANK HIM AS YOU PRAY! (Present Your Requests With Thanksgiving!) T O THE BIBLE P hilippians 4:6-7 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. LE T S T ALK One rainy morning, Cindy woke to take her morning devotion. Instead of thanking the Lord for all the beautiful things He had done for her in the year, she complained and whined about several things she deemed unanswered: Lord, I m so worried about what s going to happen in the new year for my education; I want to get into the university, will you help me? She didn t thank Him in anticipation of an answer after the prayer. There re times people pray and make requests about certain things; maybe about their family or health, or something that deeply bothers them, and it seems things aren t changing. The missing link could be that they re not presenting their requests and supplications with thanksgiving. Read our opening verse again carefully, and you ll notice that your prayer and supplication have to be with thanksgiving. When you present your request in that manner, what follows is the peace of God that surpasses all understanding: And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through 76

77 Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7). This is remarkable! The kind of peace that people wonder at, will guard your heart and mind when you present your requests and supplications to the Lord with thanksgiving. Those around you won t understand why you can be so at peace and in control, in spite of oppositions, challenges and contrary winds that may come your way. Do you have a special request for 2019? Present your requests and supplications to the Lord, with thanksgiving. Don t beg; don t complain. Ask, receive, and be full of joy. Hallelujah! Go Deeper John 16:33; John 14:27; John 16:24 Pray Dear heavenly Father, I thank you for the revelation of your Word today, and for bringing me into the life of peace and unlimited prosperity in Christ Jesus. I declare that your peace that passes all understanding fills my heart and that of my loved ones today, and we prosper tremendously in all our endeavours, in Jesus Name. Amen. Daily Bible Reading Act Spend time to thank God for the past year, and bless His name for the great things He has in store for you in the coming one. My Notes ONE YEAR Revelation 22:1-21, Malachi 3-4 TWO YEAR Acts 5:24-32, Nehemiah 1-2 Share your thoughts on today s article on the TeeVo Review section, go to 77

78 Prayer of Salvation We trust you ve been blessed by this devotional. We invite you to make Jesus Christ the Lord of your life by praying thus: O Lord God, I believe with all my heart in Jesus Christ, Son of the living God. I believe He died for me and God raised Him from the dead. I believe He s alive today. I confess with my mouth that Jesus Christ is the Lord of my life from this day. Through Him and in His Name, I have eternal life; I m born again. Thank you Lord, for saving my soul! I m now a child of God. Hallelujah! Congratulations! You re now a child of God. To receive more information on how you can grow as a Christian, please get in touch with us through any of the contacts below: UNITED KINGDOM: Believers Loveworld Unit C2, Thames View Business Centre, Barlow Way Rainham-Essex, RM13 8BT. Tel.: +44 (0) Fax.:+44 (0) USA: Believers LOVEWORLD, 4237 Raleigh Street Charlotte, NC Tel: +1 (0) CANADA: Christ Embassy Int l Office, 50 Weybright Court, Unit 43B Toronto, ON MIS 5A8 Tel: NIGERIA: Christ Embassy Plot 97, Durumi District, Abuja, Nigeria. NIGERIA: LoveWorld Conference Center Kudirat Abiola Way, Oregun P.O. Box Ikeja, Lagos Tel.: , SOUTH AFRICA: 303 Pretoria Avenue Cnr. Harley and Braam Fischer, Randburg, Gauteng South Africa. Tel.: Fax.:

79 ANSWERS PUZZLE ACROSS: 2 Belteshazzar, 7 Nun, 8 Paul, 11 Ezra, 12 Isaiah, 13 Onesimus, 17 Zenas, 19 Silvanus, 20 Jesus Christ, 21 James, 22 Tent peg. DOWN: 1 Cornelius, 2 Barnabas, 3 Zion, 4 Righteousness, 5 Mountain, 6 Martha, 9 Unbelievers, 10 Eli, 14 Tychicus, 15 Shepherd, 16 Children, 18 Salome. QUIZ 1. A 2. C 3. B 4. D 5. D 6. C 7. D 8. B 9. A 10. B 79

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