1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN 2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN. Further Study: Leave comments on today s devotional at

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1 1-YEAR BIBLE 2-YEAR BIBLE Further Study: Leave comments on today s devotional at

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3 Rhapsody of Realities... A DAILY DEVOTIONAL Chris Oyakhilome LOVEWORLD PUBLISHING (BELIEVERS LOVEWORLD INc.)

4 Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Bible. KEyS for other BIBLE translations USEd: NKJV AMP TANT tlb CEV NaSB ISV NIV MSG WEB tnlt asv tev rsv GNB WNt -New King James Version -The Amplified Bible -The Amplified New Translation -the Living Bible -Contemporary English Version -New american Standard Bible -International Standard Version -New International Version -the Message translation -the World English Bible -the New Living translation -american Standard Version -today s English Version -revised Standard Version -Good News Bible -Weymouth New testament Rhapsody Of Realities...a daily devotional ISSN September 2014 edition Copyright 2014 Christ Embassy (LoveWorld Publishing) a.k.a Believers LoveWorld Inc. for MorE INforMatIoN and to PLaCE orders: United Kingdom: Christ Embassy Int l Office Loveworld Conference Centre Cheriton high Street folkestone, Kent. Ct19 4QJ tel.:+44 (0) fax: USa: Christ Embassy Int l Office, 200 E arrowhead drive Suite W-3 Charlotte, NC tel.:+1 (0) canada: Christ Embassy Int l Office, 50 Weybright Court, Unit 43B toronto, on MIS 5a8 tel.: SoUth africa: 303 Pretoria avenue Cnr. harley and Braam fischer, randburg, Gauteng South africa. tel.: USa: Christ Embassy houston, 8623 hemlock hill drive houston, texas tel.: ; canada: 600 Clayson road North york toronto M9M 2h2 Canada. tel/fax: nigeria: P.o. Box Ikeja, Lagos. tel.: , , info@rhapsodyofrealities.org all rights reserved under International Copyright Law. Contents and/or cover may not be reproduced in whole or in part in any form without the express written permission of Christ Embassy (LoveWorld Publishing).

5 Introduction hurray! your favourite daily devotional, rhapsody of realities, is now available in 402 languages, and still counting. the 2014 edition of the devotional has been packaged to enhance your spiritual growth and development and position you for resounding success throughout the year. the life-changing thoughts in this edition will refresh, transform and prepare you for a very fulfilling, fruitful, and rewarding experience with God s Word. - how to USe this devotional for maximum impact - read and carefully meditate on each article. Saying the prayers and confessions aloud to yourself daily will ensure the results of God s Word that you re speaking come to pass in your life. Go through the entire Bible in one year with the one-year reading plan, or in two years with the two-year reading plan. you can also split the daily Bible reading portions into two parts morning and evening reading. Use the devotional to prayerfully write out your goals for each month, and measure your success as you accomplish one goal after another. We invite you to enjoy God s glorious presence and victory, as you take a daily dose of his Word! We love you! God bless you! -Pastor Chris Oyakhilome

6 Name: Home address: Front cover image depicts Rhapsody of Realities partners in Cape Town, South Africa. Personal InforMatIon: Home telephone: Mobile: address: Business address: Goals for the Month:

7 Rhapsody of Realities... A DAILY DEVOTIONAL

8 1MONDAY His Words Are Spirit And Life - PASTOR CHRIS the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life (John 6:63). The words of the Master above let you understand the power, characteristics, and ability of God s Word. Everything that proceeds from God, is God ; that doesn t mean His Person, but that it carries His life: His characteristics. It s like the human DNA, which can be traced from something as little as a follicle of hair from your body. That tiny strand of hair has your unique identity in it. In the same way, everything that comes out of Jesus His Word has His identity, power, and life in it. His Word that comes to you carries His DNA, as it were. This is the limitless power of God s Word. Not every man s words are life. But it s remarkable to know that Jesus said His words are spirit and life. No wonder His Word never returns to Him void. See how beautiful the Message translation puts it: So will the words that come out of my mouth not come back empty-handed. They ll do the work I sent them to do, they ll complete the assignment I gave them (Isaiah 55:11). If His Word to you is the Word of healing and health, it ll work in you and complete its assignment of perfecting your health. If it s about your finances, it ll do the same. His Word of righteousness perfects

9 the righteousness of God in you when you receive it. When the Apostle Paul received the words of Jesus, the life of the Word permeated His entire being, so much so that when handkerchiefs and aprons taken from his body were placed on the sick, miracles took place (Acts 19:11-12). You ve been born again by the same Word that carries the divine life (1 Peter 1:23); therefore, not only are you indestructible, everything about you is also blessed. Everything that emanates from you carries the life of God in it. Everything about you has been touched by divine energy, and preserved by the life and power of God that s at work in you. Be conscious of this, and live the supernatural life every day. Confession I thank you Father for the efficacy of your Word and its ability to produce life in me, causing all I do to prosper. I ve been perfected in righteousness, through the power and life of your Word; besides, my life is a testimony of the wonder-working power of the Word. Halleluiah! 1-YEAR BIBLE 1 Corinthians 15:35-58 Proverbs YEAR BIBLE 1 thessalonians 2:10-20 Jeremiah 18 Further Study: Isaiah 55:10-11; 2 Corinthians 3:18 Leave comments on today s devotional at

10 TUESDAY 2 The Impartation Of His Power - PASTOR CHRIS And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them (Acts 19:11-12). In our previous study, we understood that the Word of God carries the life and power of God in it. We also referenced how diverse miracles ensued, as a result of the handkerchiefs and aprons that were taken from the body of Paul and placed on the sick. Those handkerchiefs and aprons didn t have the Person of the Holy Spirit in them; rather, they had the impartation of His power. Being born again, you re the temple of the Holy Spirit; you contain, and can transmit or transfer His power. Just as the impartation of His power came on the materials that were taken from the body of Paul, everything that comes from you, or in contact with you, is imparted by the power of God. With such impartation comes an extraordinary potential. There s nothing that comes in contact with you that doesn t have the residue of the Spirit on it, because you carry God s divine presence. If you were sharing the Word with someone, you could literally impart the anointing to that person

11 through your words. Such an impartation leads to transformation. The Spirit of God in you imparts His power and authority to your words, making an impact in the lives of those whom you minister to; His love, compassion, and presence flows from you to them, bringing them God s presence. Prayer Dear Father, I thank you for the presence of the Holy Spirit in my life. His power is activated in me to impact my world, and impart your grace to many today. I walk in the supernatural always, by your Spirit, and through the Word, in Jesus Name. Amen. 1-YEAR BIBLE 1 Corinthians 16:1-24 Proverbs YEAR BIBLE 1 thessalonians 3:1-13 Jeremiah Further Study: Philemon 1:6; romans 1:11 Leave comments on today s devotional at

12 WEDNESDAY 3 Your Success And Joy Are His Dream - PASTOR CHRIS Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content (Philippians 4:11). Someone once asked me, Is it really possible to be full of joy all the time? Very quickly, I responded, I m joyful all the time! Then, he said, Don t you think that s a bit unrealistic? It depends on what reality is to you, I responded. For some people, reality is their human experience, but our reality is Christ. In Christ, it s possible to be joyful all the time. You can be joyful every day, and be successful every day, irrespective of what happens to you or around you, because that s God s desire for you. He wants you to be joyful and successful. The Bible says, Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth (3 John 1:2). Jesus came, lived, died, was buried, and resurrected; all for your sake! He suffered that you might live in the glory of His sufferings. That means you should live joyfully every day, enjoying your life. That s what He died for: for you to live the best life, be the Father s dream, and be a success in life and in everything you do, irrespective of the challenges that you might face. James 1:2 says, My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations. The challenges

13 that come your way are described in God s Word as light afflictions: For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory (2 Corinthians 4:17). There s nothing that can overwhelm you. The distress is for a moment; it ll surely turn out for your good! The problems you encounter that seem to be contending with your joy are temporary; they re the springboards for your promotion and the next level of glory. Therefore, refuse to yield to pressures and adversities; subdue them with the Word. Stir up the joy of the Lord from within your spirit and laugh on in victory. Satan and his demons are discomfited in an atmosphere of joy, love, and laughter. So, live at the top all the time by maintaining a joyful heart. Confession My life is an expression of the glory of God. I live independent of the circumstances and situations around me, because I know that all things work together for my good. Therefore, I rejoice always in the Lord, conscious that I m a victor for life. Glory to God! 1-YEAR BIBLE 2 Corinthians 1-2:1-4 Proverbs YEAR BIBLE 1 thessalonians 4:1-8 Jeremiah 21 Further Study: romans 8:28; 1 Peter 1:8 Leave comments on today s devotional at

14 THURSDAY 4 Making Your Way Prosperous - PASTOR CHRIS This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success (Joshua 1:8). The Lord is interested in your prosperity, and He shows in our opening verse how you can make your way prosperous and have good success. It s by meditating on the Word and observing to do what it says. Observe again what the Word says; first, it says, but thou shalt meditate therein day and night showing you that it s your responsibility to meditate; not the Lord s. Secondly, it concludes by saying, thou shalt make thy way prosperous. This also shows that you re the one, not God, that ll make your way prosperous. God s responsibility is to give you the recipe for prosperity, success and the good life, and He already did that through His Word. Now, you re to use the Word to make your life glorious. Yes, you can, because you re a child of God. You re made in His image; you belong in His class. You have His creative ability; therefore, create your victorious life, using the material He s made available to you for that: His Word. Remember, you being created in the likeness of God means He made you to function like Him; and

15 how does God function? He functions by faith. Jesus said in Mark 11:22,...Have the God-kind of faith. So, God is the God of faith; He created the whole world through words. As you study the account in Genesis chapter one, you d observe that before He spoke creation into being, He first had moments of meditation. The Bible says the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. However, the Spirit of God brooded upon the face of the waters (Genesis 1:2). That was meditation. Afterwards, He began to say, Let there be, and everything He said came into being. This is the same principle and power He s given you to create your prosperous and victorious life. It s up to you to meditate on the Word: think, talk, and roar the Word in every situation, and watch yourself prosper and deal excellently in life. Prayer Dear Father, I thank you for making me in your image and likeness, and for the ability you ve given me to recreate my world and make my life the epitome of your grace. I m constantly transformed from glory to glory, and my greatness is evident because of the power of your Word in my life, in Jesus Name. Amen. 1-YEAR BIBLE 2 Corinthians 2:5-3:1-6 Proverbs YEAR BIBLE 1 thessalonians 4:9-18 Jeremiah 22 Further Study: Psalms 35:27; 1 timothy 4:15 Leave comments on today s devotional at

16 5FRIDAY Commended To The Word - PASTOR CHRIS And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified (Acts 20:32). The Apostle Paul couldn t think of a better way to bless the brethren at Ephesus than to commend them to the Word of God. As Christians, we re born of the Word (1 Peter 2:23); the Word gave birth to us; therefore, our lives can only be built and sustained by the Word. From the moment you made Jesus the Lord of your life, the building process began; the Word builds you spiritually, mentally, physically, financially, and in all areas of life. Furthermore, the Word is able to give you an inheritance among all those that are sanctified. This is quite an interesting thought. The Spirit of God, through the Apostle Paul, wrote this to the Church. Why would He say this to Christians who already have an inheritance in Christ Jesus? First, understand that He wasn t talking about the ownership of the inheritance; rather, he was talking about the inheritance being delivered into your hands. For example, you might be the rightful owner of an inheritance, e.g., a landed property, and never be able to get into it, perhaps because of litigations due to difficult individuals claiming ownership of the

17 same property. In the same way, though all things are legally yours in Christ Jesus, there re rebel holders of authority Satan and his cohorts who often try to sway God s people from enjoying their inheritance. The Word of God is able to literally deliver your inheritance into your hands, to enjoy, irrespective of the activities of the adversary. If you d constantly meditate on the Word, not only will you be built for success, excellence and the victorious life, the Word will also deliver into your hands that which is rightfully yours in Christ. So, open up your appetite for the Word. Bombard your mind with Scriptures until you re completely inundated, and you re configured to think from the Word s perspective only. Prayer Dear Father, with faith, meekness, and gladness, I receive your engrafted Word, which is able to build me up and deliver unto me what rightfully belongs to me in Christ. Your Word is effectual in me today, producing in me what it talks about, in Jesus Name. Amen. 1-YEAR BIBLE 2 Corinthians 3:7-4:1-18 Proverbs YEAR BIBLE 1 thessalonians 5:1-11 Jeremiah 23 Further Study: James 1:21; 1 timothy 4:15-16 Leave comments on today s devotional at

18 SATURDAY 6 No Such Thing As Too Late - PASTOR CHRIS If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth (Mark 9:23). The story of Abraham and his wife Sarah is a perfect example that there s no such thing as too late with God. The Bible says, against natural hope, Abraham believed in hope that he might be the father of many nations, according to the Word of God (Romans 4:18-21). He was about a hundred years old, while Sarah was ninety years (Genesis 17:17). Yet, God told Him he was going to have a child through Sarah. Abraham believed, and at the appointed time, Sarah brought forth Isaac. Some people often lose hope, wondering why they didn t get the job, contracts, promotion or money for which they had prayed and fasted. Some others gripe about the promises of God taking too long to be fulfilled in their lives. Well, both groups of people have one common problem: unbelief. The issue isn t with God. He s never late. Consider the Lord Jesus: a message was sent to Him that His friend, Lazarus, was sick (John 11:3) and He promised to go over to see him. The Master waited four more days, until Lazarus died and was buried. It doesn t get any more hopeless than that. Jesus had said Lazarus sickness wasn t unto death (John 11:4), but

19 he died. He had said He was coming but didn t show up until four days later. When the Master eventually showed up, he requested to be taken to the grave of Lazarus, undaunted by the fact that he had been dead for four days. He instructed that the tombstone be rolled away and called out with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth! The dead man came back to life (John 11:41-44). It makes no difference how hopeless you might think your situation is; there s no such thing as too late with God. Simply trust Him, for He s the God who gives life to the dead, and calls things that don t exist as though they already existed. He lives in eternity where there s no past or future. With Him, everything is in the NOW ; and He proves Himself Master over all circumstances, no matter how late, dead, or impossible they might seem in the eyes of men. Prayer Dear Father, I thank you for the faith that your Word bolsters in me even now! I believe all that your Word says about me; I put my entire trust in you, knowing that no situation is beyond the authority and power of your Word by which I live, and dominate circumstances, in Jesus Name. Amen. 1-YEAR BIBLE 2 Corinthians 5:1-6:1-2 Proverbs YEAR BIBLE 1 thessalonians 5:12-28 Jeremiah 24 Further Study: John 11:25-26; hebrews 7:25; hebrews 10:35-36 Leave comments on today s devotional at

20 7SUNDAY Diligence: A Pathway To Greatness - PASTOR CHRIS The hand of the diligent will rule, but the slothful will be put to forced labor (Proverbs 12:24 AMP). Slothfulness is one of the antonyms of diligence. That means the one who isn t diligent is slothful, and will of necessity live a hard life, while the diligent receives promotion. The New Living Translation puts it this way, Work hard and become a leader; be lazy and become a slave. It makes no difference what you do; if you work hard, you ll be a leader and a champion. When it says, Work hard, it means to diligently do whatever is required to be done to achieve excellence in what you do. The slothful ending up a slave doesn t mean he s going to be a slave to somebody else, but to a system. That means he ll be hemmed-in in life a slave of the system whipped by the vagaries of life. The diligent, on the other hand, will rule ; that means they shall have authority. If you re a writer, a news correspondent, a journalist, a schoolteacher, a student, whatever it is you are, be diligent. If you want to be successful in anything, whether it s about gaining some more weight or shedding some thereof, or perhaps about your health or finances, diligence is what you need. Diligence means careful, persistent and determined actions to achieve a definite

21 purpose. Proverbs 22:29 says, Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men. The Lord is telling us that the diligent is not only going to stand tall among kings, he s going to walk among them. Whether he becomes a king or not, he s going to be known among kings. Isn t that wonderful? You re not going to be among obscure men when you re diligent. God cares about your life and what happens to you; He wants you to have excellent results in all that you do, that s why He wants you to be diligent. You may have set goals for yourself in the area of your finances, health, spiritual or career development; pursue those goals with diligence. To fulfil God s destiny for your life, you have to work on being diligent in every area of your life. Diligence is a pathway to greatness. Prayer Dear Father, I thank you for granting me through your Spirit and through the effectual working of your Word in me, the discipline and ability to be diligent in all I do. Thank you for bringing me into places of influence and authority as I channel my energies into achieving excellence and perfection in all that I do, in Jesus Name. Amen. 1-YEAR BIBLE 2 Corinthians 6:3-7:1 Proverbs YEAR BIBLE 2 thessalonians 1:1-12 Jeremiah 25 Further Study: Proverbs 12:24 amp; romans 12:11 Leave comments on today s devotional at

22 Get Ready For The In a few weeks, thousands of ministers and church leaders from around the world will journey to Lagos, Nigeria, for the International Pastors and Partners Conference Delegates at the week-long Conference will receive the anointed ministration of God s Word that ll keep them in the path of everincreasing success in life and ministry. They ll be energized from within to do greater exploits for the Kingdom! Ministry partners will also be recognized for their immense contributions to the spread of the Gospel around the world in the year They ll be celebrated amidst great pomp and pageantry, and be energized by the Spirit to be more effective in their ministry work. Start preparing for the International Pastors And Partners Conference For more information on how to register, visit

23 Notes Notes

24 8MONDAY Dealing Wisely In Life s Affairs - PASTOR CHRIS This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success (Joshua 1:8). The Septuagint rendering of the latter part of the verse above is more enlightening. It didn t just say you d have good success; rather, it goes on to say you ll become perceptive. The Greek word used is suniemi ; it means to be sagacious and perspicacious; to have high intelligence; to have your thinking level elevated to a high class! It also means to be acutely insightful, possessing the ability to mentally put things together. That s what the Word of God does in your life. It makes you wise and penetratingly discerning. The Amplified version says, you shall deal wisely and have good success. Meditating on the Word makes this happen for you. You become excellent in your dealings with people, in business, in your finances, etc. The Spirit of God, through the Word, brings extraordinary sagacity into your life. Every Christian needs this. Psalm 119:98 says, Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me. The Word makes

25 you wiser than your adversaries. Then Psalm 119: says, I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts. His testimonies are His declaration of Himself: What He said about Himself, about us, and about His kingdom. As you meditate on all that, your mindset is elevated to make accurate decisions and choices. Everything you do will turn out excellently. Prayer Dear Father, I thank you for your Word, which is able to make me wise unto salvation through faith, which is in Christ Jesus. Your Word imparts wisdom to me to deal excellently in all affairs of life, in Jesus Name. Amen. 1-YEAR BIBLE 2 Corinthians 7:2-16 Proverbs YEAR BIBLE 2 thessalonians 2:1-10 Jeremiah 26 Further Study: 2 timothy 3:15; 1 timothy 4:15 Leave comments on today s devotional at

26 TUESDAY 9 Advancing In Life - PASTOR CHRIS Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all (1 Timothy 4:15). The Word of God has a ministry in our lives, and this is something that needs to be emphasized in the body of Christ. The Christian ought to be voracious for the Word. You have to always open your heart and mind to the Word to build, strengthen, and establish you permanently to enjoy all that God has made available to you in Christ. We read the Apostle Paul s admonition to the young man Timothy, saying, Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them. What things was he referring to? In the preceding chapters of 1 Timothy, Paul had shared specific and vital truths from God s Word with Timothy; it was those revelations he urged him to meditate upon. If the Spirit thought it fit to give Timothy such vital counsel through the Apostle Paul, then it s equally befitting to us today. We re to constantly meditate on the revelation of God s Word that we ve received. Notice also that he said to him, give thyself wholly to them That means, yield yourself completely to the Word. Allow the Word to have power over your life. Let it dominate your thinking, influence your words, and propel your actions. Yielding yourself

27 to the Word is a conscious and deliberate response, initiated from your spirit to the Word of God. Imagine that someone said to you, Get up, and you promptly obliged, especially upon due contemplation of the instruction, and consideration of the one from whom it came, you ve yielded yourself to that instruction. As a result, you ll then enjoy the benefits of the instruction. The benefit of yielding yourself wholly to the Word is that your profiting will appear to all. The Greek word translated profiting is prokope, which means furtherance, progress or advancement. This means you ll make advancement by the Word; your progress becomes apparent when the Word is final authority in your life. The phrase, may appear in our opening verse actually means more than something coming casually into sight ; the Greek term is Phaneros, which means, to spread abroad. Your advancement, furtherance, and prosperity will spread abroad, become widely and openly known, as you meditate and yield yourself wholly and completely to the Word of God. Prayer Dear Father, I thank you for the transforming power of your Word as I meditate on, and yield myself completely to, its influence and dominion. My progress and advancement spread abroad, evident for all to see, in Jesus Name. Amen. 1-YEAR BIBLE 2 Corinthians 8-9 Proverbs YEAR BIBLE 2 thessalonians 2:11-17 Jeremiah 27 Further Study: Psalms 143:5, Psalms 1:1-3 Leave comments on today s devotional at

28 WEDNESDAY 10 The Joy Of A Glorious Finish - PASTOR CHRIS Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work (John 4:34). Imagine if the Lord Jesus didn t finish the work He was sent by the Father to do, salvation wouldn t have been consummated. His focus was on fulfilling the Father s will and purpose: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly (John 10:10). He knew the importance and eternal significance of His assignment, and committed Himself to it with extraordinary discipline and diligence, against all odds. Hence, He boldly proclaimed at the end, It is finished (John 19:30). His discipline, diligence and commitment to His assignment made it possible for salvation and eternal life to be available through the Gospel to everyone who believes. Some people never seem to get through on any assignment or task given to them; they perform the task halfway and never bring it to an excellent finish. This shouldn t be the case with you. When a responsibility is assigned to you, ensure you put your best into it and discipline yourself to finish it excellently. This should be your objective, not only in the work God has given you, but also in the affairs of your life. The Bible says, Better

29 is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof (Ecclesiastes 7:8). Of what use is an enterprise that s started, but not completed? Emulate Jesus; He said,...my meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work (John 4:34). He didn t just set out to do the work, He was also determined to finish it. Hebrews 12:2 tells us that for the joy that was set before Him, He endured the cross, disregarding its shame. This should be your attitude as well. In your organization, be the one who can be depended upon to see a project through to an excellent end, even when the odds are against you. Be motivated by the joy of a glorious finish. Be known as one who sticks with something until it s excellently accomplished. Prayer Thank you Lord, for you re the One at work in me, both to will and to do of your good pleasure. I have extraordinary staying power, and I m able to focus and bring every assignment I m given to excellent completion, in Jesus Name. Amen. 1-YEAR BIBLE 2 Corinthians 10:1-18 Proverbs YEAR BIBLE 2 thessalonians 3:1-10 Jeremiah 28 Further Study: 1 Corinthians 4:2; Philippians 2:13 Leave comments on today s devotional at

30 THURSDAY 11 Divinity At Work In You - PASTOR CHRIS The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly (John 10:10). Everyone born into the world is born with the natural human life. Man, however, is a spirit being and needs the supernatural life to function to his full potentials. That s the reason Jesus came to give us another kind of life the God-kind of life. Anyone that has received Jesus as Lord has this life (1 John 5:11). The Apostle John, emphasizing this, declared, These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life (1 John 5:13). God wants you to have the consciousness of the divine life in you. He wants you to be aware that because of this divine life working in every fibre of your being, no one, and nothing, can destroy you. Ephesians 2:1 says, And you [He made alive], when you were dead (slain) by [your] trespasses and sins (AMP). Think about that: you were dead, but now you re alive in Christ. Can you see why you re indestructible and invincible? Life works in you. This is the right mindset for the believer in Christ; the Lord Jesus Christ came to this world, died in your place, and was raised from

31 the dead to give you a new life that s not susceptible to defeat, failure or death. You should therefore live happy, joyful and in glory, victory, righteousness, dominion, and excellence. Live the triumphant life for which the Lord Jesus died. He didn t die for nothing; He died for you to enjoy the benefits of the new life He s given you. Therefore, refuse to be defeated or mesmerized by Satan; refuse to let sickness ravage your body! Say no to poverty and lack. Everyday, be conscious that divinity is at work in you! Glory to God! Confession I m life-conscious; life works in me! Every fibre of my being, every bone of my body, and every cell of my blood, is inundated with divine energy! I will never be defeated in this life; divinity is at work in me. Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world. I m alive to God! Halleluiah! 1-YEAR BIBLE 2 Corinthians 11:1-15 Proverbs YEAR BIBLE 2 thessalonians 3:11-18 Jeremiah 29 Further Study: 1 timothy 6:12; John 5:26; 1 John 5:11 Leave comments on today s devotional at

32 FRIDAY 12 Reprogramming Your Mind For Success - PASTOR CHRIS And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God (Romans 12:2). As one who s born again, you re not supposed to live like the rest of the world; don t conform to their ways of doing things. For example, you might be in a place where people generally cheat or are dishonest; don t imitate them. Don t say, But everybody is doing it ; that everybody is doing it doesn t make it okay. Besides, you re not everybody; you re a new creation; you re special; you re one of a kind. Our opening verse doesn t just tell us not to conform to this world, it also informs us on what to do to stand out and live the life of righteousness. It says, be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind. It s talking about a metamorphosis, a transfiguration or change from glory to glory. This change happens by the renewing of your mind. This means it s really up to you to change your state, to move from your present glory, to yet another level of glory and excellence. Perhaps you ve had fears in your life, now with the Word of God you can reprogramme your mind against fear. Maybe you used to be pointlessly talkative, that also can change.

33 The Lord isn t saying, Try to change, because He knows that won t work; rather, He lets you know how the necessary change can come about: it s by the renewing of your mind. The renewing of your mind will alter your personality. If you wanted to become a bold person, it wouldn t happen by saying, Okay, from today, I m bold ; no. First, be conscious that you re the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. The consciousness of your righteousness in Christ will transform you into a bold and courageous person. If you ve been experiencing failures and difficulties, you can transform into a man or woman of success by changing your way of thinking. Receive and process new information from God s Word that ll reprogramme your spirit for success and position you for greatness. Confession The Word of God gives light to my spirit, guiding me in the way that I should go. As I meditate on the Word, my mind is renewed, my thoughts are upgraded, and my life is the revelation of God s glory, righteousness, and excellence, in Jesus Name. Amen. 1-YEAR BIBLE 2 Corinthians 11:16-33 Ecclesiastes YEAR BIBLE 1 timothy 1:1-7 Jeremiah 30 Further Study: Psalms 119:11; Proverbs 23:7; Ephesians 4:22-24 Leave comments on today s devotional at

34 SATURDAY 13 Give Honour And Relevance To What You Do - PASTOR CHRIS For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify my office (Romans 11:13). The Apostle Paul made the statement above because the Gentiles were considered Heathens, by the Jews. The Jews were the ones chosen of God; hence, they saw the rest of the world as unclean. When the Lord Jesus came, He came as a Jew and picked His apostles from among the Jews. After He left, and sent out these apostles as ministers, they ministered only to the Jews, the chosen people of God. Subsequently, God opened the door for the Gentiles to receive the Gospel and sent Peter to the house of Cornelius, a Roman Centurion. Peter ministered the Gospel to Cornelius and his household, and the Holy Ghost came on all of them, to the astonishment of the Jewish believers that accompanied Peter. Afterwards, the other apostles rebuked Peter Saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them (Acts 11:3). Peter had to explain to them how he was led of the Lord to the house of Cornelius (Acts 11:4-14). Having listened to Peter, they held their peace, and glorified God, but not without wondering how

35 God could also grant the Gentiles repentance unto eternal life (Acts 11:18). God then raised another apostle by the name of Paul to preach to the Gentiles. Paul, being the apostle to the Gentiles, didn t see his calling as a menial one, even though the Jews disdained the Gentiles. He said, I m an apostle to the Gentiles; I magnify my office. He magnified his responsibility. He respected his office, and honoured what God told him to do. Never look down or belittle your work or Godgiven responsibilities. As an individual, there s a uniqueness to your personality; you have grace given to you to fulfil God s purpose; so it s important that you find your place and be the best in whatever you do. It doesn t matter what opinion others might have of your assignment; what really counts is how you see and do what you do; you re the one to give relevance, and honour to your work and calling. So magnify your office. Prayer Dear Father, I thank you for making me special and for the supernatural gifts you ve endowed me with. Thank you for helping me discover, develop and put these gifts to use for the expansion of your Kingdom and the good of all, in Jesus Name. Amen. 1-YEAR BIBLE 2 Corinthians 12:1-21 Ecclesiastes YEAR BIBLE 1 timothy 1:8-14 Jeremiah 31 Further Study: Ephesians 2:10; Ecclesiastes 9:10 Leave comments on today s devotional at

36 SUNDAY 14 Pray With Understanding - PASTOR CHRIS Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven (Matthew 18:19). There s such a thing as praying with understanding, just as we can praise God with understanding. Now this is different from praying or praising with the understanding. Praying with the understanding is praying to God through your mind, in the language that you can understand. In other words, you re not praying in tongues. 1 Corinthians 14:14 says, For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful. On the other hand, praying with understanding means, you understand the principles of that particular prayer; you re praying according to God s Word, and your prayer has a definite direction; you know the reason for praying as well as the result! You re praying, knowing who you are: a joint heir with Christ and also knowing the one to whom you re praying: the Monarch of the Universe. Consequently, you pray with reverence and in faith, confident that there s nothing too difficult for Him to do. Hebrews 11:6 says, But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God

37 must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Thus, in praying with understanding, you have a knowledge of who you are in Christ; you have knowledge of the Father, and you have the knowledge of the truth that without faith it s impossible to please God. In addition, you know that without the Word of God in operation, your prayer is empty; so you pray the Word. Even when you speak in tongues, you re aware that you re not speaking to men but to God; you re speaking mysteries concerning the situation: For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries (1 Corinthians 14:2). This is how you pray when there s a matter. When something is happening in your life or in your country that s not consistent with the will of God, pray with understanding and you ll have results. Prayer I thank you Lord for the enlightenment and impartation of knowledge that I received today on prevailing prayer. My faith is strong, as I pray with understanding to change negative circumstances to align with your perfect will for me, in the Name of Jesus. Amen. 1-YEAR BIBLE 2 Corinthians 13:1-14 Ecclesiastes YEAR BIBLE 1 timothy 1:15-20 Jeremiah 32 Further Study: Luke 18:1; Jude 1:20 Leave comments on today s devotional at

38 RHAPSODY MISSIONS IMPACTING 300,000 CITIES WITH THE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST The Rhapsody Missions International is an outreach of the Rhapsody of Realities Partnership arm, dedicated to sharing the transforming truth of God s Word to nations where the light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ shines dim. This year, we re on course to reaching 300,000 cities with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, using the Rhapsody of Realities devotional as the tool for change. Every day, we re penetrating into new cities. We ve reached all the 176 islands of Tonga, several cities in Brazil, 97 cities in Pakistan including Taliban communities, and so many more. Try to imagine the great impact we would have made around the world when we reach 300,000 cities with the Gospel. So many destinies will be altered and turned around for good. Don t be left out of this special drive to take the Gospel to 300,000 cities. Become God s outstretched hand of hope to the hopeless by sponsoring the distribution of Rhapsody of Realities to these cities. To be a part of this drive, please call the following numbers: , , , , or rhapsodymissions@loveworld360.com or visit, for more details.

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40 MONDAY 15 Sanctified For The Master s Use - PASTOR CHRIS But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master s use, and prepared unto every good work (2 Timothy 2:20-21). As it can be seen in our opening verses, there re different qualities of vessels in God s house: vessels of silver and gold, and vessels of wood and of earth. Being born again, we re all vessels in the house of God, made for honouring Him. None of us was made unto dishonour ; each one of us has been raised for His glory, but you can decide if you re going to be a vessel of honour, or a vessel of dishonour. That s what Paul meant when he said, If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master s use. To be sanctified means to be separated or set apart unto God for His sacred use, while to be meet means to be qualified. We ve already been sanctified: By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all (Hebrews 10:10). He has also qualified us (made us meet), to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light (Colossians

41 1:12). Therefore, you ve been purged and cleansed from all that s ignoble and unclean. You re fit for the Master s use. However, you must place yourself where you ought to be, and be available for Him to use you. The responsibility is yours, to be in a constant state of readiness, and be willing to take on more responsibilities for the Lord. You may never know what more the Lord intends to do with your life, which is why you must be willing and ready to do more all the time. Make yourself available for greater responsibilities in the house of God, and do all you re asked to do faithfully, with a sincere heart. Prayer Dear Father, I thank you for your love and grace, which you ve lavishly bestowed upon me, in sanctifying me for your sacred use, and qualifying me to be the partaker of the inheritance of the saints in light. I yield completely to you and declare that my life is for your glory, in Jesus Name. Amen. 1-YEAR BIBLE Galatians 1:1-24 Ecclesiastes YEAR BIBLE 1 timothy 2:1-15 Jeremiah 33 Further Study: 2 timothy 2:15; John 15:3; 1 Corinthians 6:11 Leave comments on today s devotional at

42 TUESDAY 16 Testify! - PASTOR CHRIS And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death (Revelation 12:11). As a Christian, it s important you testify of God s goodness and the victories He has wrought through you. Our opening verse says, they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. Learn to testify always! Let your environment feel the impact of your testimonies. Testify of the power of God s Word. Testify of the miracles of God that you ve witnessed and experienced in your personal life. One important reason you must always testify is because not all the demons of darkness know you. Of course, they know you re a believer in Christ Jesus, but they don t know your personality. Therefore, they ll test you to know whether you re full of fear or not; they ll want to test you to know whether or not you re trained. So, when you get to a new environment, the first thing you should do is to start testifying. Testify of the workings of the Word of God in your life. Testify of the triumphs of your faith. When you testify, the demons that are close by will hear your words and begin to transmit your profile

43 to other demons. Soon enough, they ll become careful not to toy with you or anyone connected to you. Do you know why? Demons are proud figures who don t like to be disgraced; so they ll stay off you. However, if you don t testify, they wouldn t know what God has done in your life and with your life, and so, they ll be hanging around occasionally, throwing darts at you; maybe in the form of fever or headache, or even stir up issues against you at work, because they don t know who you are. But when they know you, they back off. So, be quick to always share your testimonies. Confession The Lord is my light and my salvation; He s made me an overcomer and more than a conqueror! Greater is He that is in me, than he that is in the world. I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me. Glorious things are spoken of me. Halleluiah! 1-YEAR BIBLE Galatians 2:1-21 Songs of Solomon YEAR BIBLE 1 timothy 3:1-7 Jeremiah 34 Further Study: Psalms 27:1-2 Leave comments on today s devotional at

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56 WEDNESDAY 17 Two Ways To Give Him Glory - PASTOR CHRIS He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God (Romans 4:20). There re two major ways of giving glory to God. The first one is to testify. And how do you testify? There re three ways to testify; the first is by declaring what God did for you before the Lord Himself. Secondly, you testify with your offering. Many don t understand the power of the offering; it s a testimony. When you give God your offering, it s not a collection; it s a sacred thing, holy unto the Lord. As you give it, you re testifying and giving glory to Him in your life. Read about Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, and his son Solomon; they all gave offerings upon offerings in worship to God. From time to time, these patriarchs would worship with offerings. The third way to testify is to tell others; make known to others that which the Lord has done in, with, and for you. Thus, you live your life before others every day, in faith, and manifesting His righteousness. So, when people see you and say, This fellow never gets discouraged no matter what happens. He always stands his ground on the Word. He must really trust in the Lord! That s a testimony. These three form the

57 number one way of giving glory to God. The second way of giving glory to God is by speaking or shouting Glory! This is revealed in Psalms 29:9 (NIV): And in his temple all cry, Glory! Did you notice it doesn t say, every one should whisper Glory! You can therefore imagine how Abraham must have lived; he was constantly shouting Glory, in spite of his precarious condition in the eyes of other men. We do that too a lot of times when we re led by the Spirit to shout Glory! It makes no difference where you are, or what you re facing; irrespective of the daunting task or challenges, shout Glory! As you do, the Lord s presence and power will be manifested in your situation! Prayer Dear Father, I thank you for your kindness, faithfulness, and love. I thank you for the miracles you ve wrought in my life, and the testimonies that abound. I ll declare your mighty works and tell of your grace to all around me. Great are you, Lord, and greatly to be praised, now and forever, in Jesus Name. Amen. 1-YEAR BIBLE Galatians 3:1-14 Songs of Solomon YEAR BIBLE 1 timothy 3:8-16 Jeremiah 35 Further Study: Luke 17:17-19 Leave comments on today s devotional at

58 THURSDAY 18 Christ Revealed In You - PASTOR CHRIS To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27). There re those who argue that Christianity is the imitation of Christ, but they re wrong. Christianity isn t the imitation of Christ. Those who are trying to imitate Christ are working from the outside. In Colossians 1:26-27, the Bible tells us, Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Christianity is the revelation of Christ in you. That s God s dream; that s His plan and desire: Christ revealed in you! Romans 3:23 says, For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God ; this was due to Adam s transgression. Now that salvation has been consummated, we re no longer short of the glory; we ve been given the glory of the Second Adam, Christ Jesus. Christ in you is the hope of glory. The life of Jesus Christ is made manifest in our physical bodies (2 Corinthians 4:10); what an awesome reality! When He died, you died in Him, and when He was raised

59 from the dead, you were raised up together with Him, unto the transcendent life. This is Christianity! You re in Christ; He s in you. You re the revelation of His righteousness, glory and grace. No wonder the Word says His intent is to unveil His manifold wisdom to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, through the Church (Ephesians 3:10). True spiritual growth is determined by the extent to which Christ is revealed or manifested through you. The revelation of Christ in us is much more than the imitation of Christ; it s the understanding and expression of His character; His life and glory through us. Thus, we see that Christianity is not the imitation of Christ, but there s an imitation of Christ in Christianity. Prayer Dear Father, I thank you for the life of Christ in me that makes me supernatural. I was born to live the Christ-life and unveil your character, glory and life! I live above all the limitations of the human realm by the ability of your Spirit that s at work in me, in Jesus Name. Amen. 1-YEAR BIBLE Galatians 3:15-25 Songs of Solomon YEAR BIBLE 1 timothy 4:1-8 Jeremiah 36 Further Study: 2 Corinthians 4:10-11; Philemon 1:6 Leave comments on today s devotional at

60 FRIDAY 19 We Imitate The Father Through The Spirit! - PASTOR CHRIS Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children (Ephesians 5:1). We made a very vital point in our previous study that in Christianity, we don t try to imitate Christ. What we re called to do is to live Christ. We re, however, admonished to be followers or imitators of our heavenly Father. Now, is this possible? Can we imitate the Father in our daily life? Yes, we can and should: but how? First, understand that Christ lives in you; He s your life; therefore, all you have to do is live out the Christ-life. However, we don t see the Father. The Father never really lived here in the earth, per se. When Jesus was physically present in the earth, He said, I do what I see my Father do (John 5:19). Jesus healed the sick because that was what He saw the Father do. He emulated the Father. Now, where was the Father? And who s this Father He was referring to? It s the Holy Spirit! In John 14:10, Jesus called the Holy Spirit the Father that dwells in me. So, the way to follow or emulate the Father is by following the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit brings you the presence of the Father; that s why you can know the Father, even though you ve never seen Him. He helps us know His ways, making

61 it easy for us to copy Him. The Holy Spirit lives through us, speaks to us, and gives us the right picture of the Father, so we can see Him and emulate Him. Prayer Dear Father, through your Word and by the Spirit, my life is an expression of your Person; your love, kindness, grace, wisdom and glory are revealed in, and through, me to my world, in Jesus Name. Amen. 1-YEAR BIBLE Galatians 3:26-4:1-20 Isaiah YEAR BIBLE 1 timothy 4:9-16 Jeremiah 37 Further Study: 1 Peter 2:21-23 Leave comments on today s devotional at

62 SATURDAY 20 He s Your Salvation, Healing And Strength! - PASTOR CHRIS The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? (Psalm 27:1). Most Christians know Jesus Christ as their SAVIOUR, which is wonderful, but knowing Him as your SALVATION will completely revolutionize your life and take your walk with Him to a whole new level. Observe the words of David in our opening verse; he said, The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? As your saviour, you re hoping that He will deliver you from something, perhaps, your enemies; but as your salvation, you transcend that arena where he rescues you from danger or difficulty; you lose your fears, because you re in Him. Psalm 27:2 further shows the result of the Lord being your salvation. It says, When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. The Christian isn t one who needs to be delivered from anything; you don t need to be bothered about your adversaries. When they come out against you, they ll stumble and fall, because the Lord is your salvation. He s your Rock of defence; your protection. Halleluiah! This is different from you asking Him to protect you. This was what He wanted Israel to see and know

63 so they could relate to Him as such, but they couldn t. As a result, He brought the revelations to them in bits and pieces. For example, in Exodus 15:26 He said,...i am the LORD that healeth thee ; beautiful revelation! It means you can receive healing anytime because He s the God that heals. This, however, is for the babe in Christ. Discover Him, not as your healer, but as your healing. When you do, you ll realize that you re no longer in need of healing because He s your health, just as He s your wisdom, your love, your ability, and your strength. When you have Him, you have it all. When Thomas, one of the disciples, said to Him, Lord, show us the way, the Master, unequivocally replied, I am the way (John 14:6). Jesus Christ doesn t show you the way, He s the way. When you find Him, you arrive; your search ends, because He s the totality of divinity. Prayer Dear heavenly Father, I thank you for filling me with your Spirit who reveals the Word to me, causing me to abound in the knowledge of Christ, who s my Salvation, Strength, Healing, and Wisdom! Thank you for helping me discover myself in Christ, and to live the supernatural life of glory in Him, in Jesus Name. Amen. 1-YEAR BIBLE Galatians 4:21-5:1-15 Isaiah YEAR BIBLE 1 timothy 5:1-10 Jeremiah 38 Further Study: Philippians 3:10; 2 timothy 2:15 Leave comments on today s devotional at

64 SUNDAY 21 Revealing Christ - PASTOR CHRIS For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh (2 Corinthians 4:11). Christianity is the revelation of Christ in you, the manifestation of the Christ-life in you. It s so important that you understand this. For example, as a Christian, when you act humbly, it isn t just because you made an effort to be humble. When you show love, care, and kindness to people, it s much more than you trying to be nice or uphold good moral standards; rather, it s the manifestation of the life of Christ in you. It s because the humility of Christ is in your spirit. That outward show of love, kindness, humility, etc., that others experience from you is the manifestation of the life of Christ in your spirit. All that God wants to be manifested in you is Christ; Christ alive in you: working through you, touching and changing lives through you. Understanding this reality will change your thinking and your communication, as well as your perception, both of Christ and of yourself. Then you can really understand how to let Him show Himself alive in you. Suddenly, all your struggling to do things through your own efforts will cease.

65 Becoming a Christian means Christ has taken up His abode in your spirit; you ve become His living headquarters and operational centre. Whatever He needs to do in the earth today is through you. You re His beauty, His trophy, and outstretched arm. Jesus said in John 15:5, I am the vine, ye are the branches. The branches are the fruit-producing part of the vine. Thus, you reveal the glory and beauty of Christ. What God wants you to be conscious of is the glory within: Christ in you; that s what produces the glory that s seen on the outside. The glory within is greater. If you d only look inwards, into your spirit, you ll be amazed at what s inside and reveal the same to your world. Prayer Dear Father, I thank you for Christ taking up His abode in my spirit; and now, I ve become His living headquarters, and operational centre. Through me, His glory, beauty, wisdom, perfections, and righteousness are revealed to the world, in ever-increasing measure, in Jesus Name. Amen. 1-YEAR BIBLE Galatians 5:16-26 Isaiah YEAR BIBLE 1 timothy 5:11-18 Jeremiah 39 Further Study: Colossians 1:27; Colossians 3:3-4; 1 Peter 4:13 Leave comments on today s devotional at

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67 Notes Notes

68 MONDAY 22 Believe In Perfection - PASTOR CHRIS Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect (Matthew 5:48). There re many who don t believe that perfection is possible. When you try to talk to them about perfection, they don t want to hear it. With a sneer, they accuse you of being a perfectionist, because in their erroneous belief, nobody can be perfect. Yet, when you study the Word, there s no place that suggests to us the impossibility of perfection. God doesn t give us a chance not to be perfect. Everything about Him calls for perfection; He requires us to be perfect, not when we get to heaven, but here and now in the earth! The reason most people don t think perfection is possible, which is why they re not perfect, is that they don t know what perfection is. Perfection is like success, which can be measured at different stages of your life, according to the set-out objectives, purpose, and goal. Perfection is measured according to the light, instruction, or information that you have with respect to the underlying objectives. Our opening verse says, Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. The word perfect here is the Greek teleios, which describes perfection in your heart; a completeness;

69 measuring your heart with the heart of God. The way to do this is through the Word. Think, love and forgive as God wants you to let your heart be like the Father s heart. The word perfect is also used in 2 Corinthians 13:11; it says, Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect. This time, another Greek word, katartizo is used for perfect. It means to do things perfectly. This is not the perfection in the heart (teleios) but of your actions: the things you do and how you do them. The emphasis here is on doing things impeccably right the first time. And the first step in achieving this is learning to pay attention to details! Believe in perfection and don t be intimidated by it. Your perfection will be judged according to the training and information that you ve received, not the one you didn t get. So, practise being perfect; think and talk perfection, because the Lord requires it of you. Prayer Dear Father, I thank you for revealing to me your desire for me to be perfect; I affirm my faith in your Word and declare that by reason of your Spirit of excellence that s at work in me, I think, talk and do perfect things, in Jesus Name. Amen. 1-YEAR BIBLE Galatians 6:1-18 Isaiah YEAR BIBLE 1 timothy 5:19-25 Jeremiah 40 Further Study: 1 Corinthians 2:6; Ephesians 4:13 Leave comments on today s devotional at

70 TUESDAY 23 The Importance Of Knowledge - PASTOR CHRIS My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge (Hosea 4:6). Sad as this may sound, it s true nonetheless! God s people suffer in life, not because they don t pray enough or love God enough, but because they lack accurate and adequate knowledge of the Word. Reiterating this, the Lord Jesus said in Matthew 22:29,...Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures. When people lack accurate and relevant spiritual information from God s Word, they experience defeat and failure. This isn t because they re weak Christians or because God couldn t deliver them; it s just the plain and inevitable result of ignorance. Psalms 82:5-7 is so touching; it describes the debacle and despondency of the one who s ignorant of his heritage and identity in Christ. It says, They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course. I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High. But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes. Pathetic! Now you can better understand why in the lives of some people, things aren t just happening the way they should; they re putting in all the efforts they could, yet, nothing productive is coming out. What s the

71 problem? Ignorance: they know not, neither do they understand; they walk on in darkness, destroyed by sickness and plummeted by the harsh elements of this world. Is this the lot for the Christian? Emphatically no! The Bible declares but through knowledge shall the just be delivered (Proverbs 11:9). If you have knowledge, there ll be a difference in your life. The knowledge of God s Word will build you up, and deliver your God-given inheritance into your hands (Acts 20:32). If you ve been wondering why your experiences haven t been as victorious as the Word describes, you need to spend more time studying and meditating on the Word. Build your faith with the Word of God, for faith comes by hearing (Romans 10:17). As the Word comes to you, don t just agree by way of mental assent, respond by confessing the same things. Soon enough, you ll change the situation. Prayer Dear Father, I thank you for granting me understanding and insight into your will, purpose and plans as I study your Word. My heart is flooded with wisdom and spiritual understanding, not just to know, but also to walk in your perfect will today and always, in Jesus Name. Amen. 1-YEAR BIBLE Ephesians 1:1-14 Isaiah YEAR BIBLE 1 timothy 6:1-16 Jeremiah 41 Further Study: 2 Peter 1:2; Proverbs 11:9 Leave comments on today s devotional at

72 WEDNESDAY 24 Being Born Again - PASTOR CHRIS Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God (John 3:3). The term born again wasn t coined by certain denominations as some people think; it was originally used by Jesus to express the necessity for man s spiritual rebirth. The Lord Jesus used the term when He addressed Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. The expression puzzled Nicodemus, who then sought to know if being born again required a man going back into his mother s womb to be born a second time. Read the Master s response in John 3:5-6: Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. It s important to understand the dichotomy of expression when He said, except a man be born of water and of the Spirit... He was dealing with the same substance: spiritual rebirth. The original rendering actually says, Except a man is born of water, even the spirit. Water is a type of the Spirit. When you were born of your mother, you were born of the flesh. Hebrews 12:9 talks about the fathers of our flesh and the Father of spirits. Your earthly

73 father is the father of your flesh, but God is the Father of spirits. Your spirit came alive to God when you were born again. The Master was quite emphatic about being born again; He said, Ye must be born again (John 3:7); so it isn t something to be taken lightly. If you re born again, be glad about it, for it means you hail from Zion. David wrote about this in Psalms 87:5. He said, And of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was born in her: and the highest himself shall establish her. David was a prophet of God, and spoke prophetically about Zion, the city of God. Coming to the New Testament, the Bible says, But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels (Hebrews 12:22). You re now established as a bona fide citizen of God s own city Zion. You re a fellow citizen with the saints, and belong to the household of God (Ephesians 2:19). You re now an heir of God, and a joint-heir with Christ. Confession I m a new creation in Christ Jesus, a bona fide citizen of Zion the city of the living God. I m no longer a stranger but qualified to be a partaker of the inheritance of the saints in the light. Halleluiah! 1-YEAR BIBLE Ephesians 1:15-2:1-10 Isaiah YEAR BIBLE 1 timothy 6:17-21 Jeremiah 42 Further Study: Ephesians 2:19; Psalms 87:3 Leave comments on today s devotional at

74 THURSDAY 25 Not Subject To the Elements! - PASTOR CHRIS Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances (Colossians 2:20). When you were born again, you were delivered from the power of darkness, and translated into the Kingdom of God s dear Son (Colossians 1:13). You re therefore no longer subject to the elements of this world. This means that you must refuse to be snowed-under by infirmities and harsh elements of this world that make life unbearable for the ordinary man. From our opening scripture, it s clear that it s the babe in Christ the spiritually immature that can be subject to the elements of this world. This is why you must keep growing in the Lord unto a mature man in Christ. Then you ll be knowledgeable enough to walk in the consciousness of your inheritance in Him. In John 8:32 the Lord Jesus said, And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. If you walk in ignorance of the truth of God s Word, you ll remain in bondage and suffer the same things that the people of the world suffer. You might even think that God is the one punishing you, but He isn t. Why will He punish you after He has punished Jesus in your place? The Bible says,...he was wounded for

75 our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities (Isaiah 53:5). Your punishment was already laid on Jesus. Therefore, refuse to be dominated by cancer, diabetes, heart trouble, headaches, or any other kind of infirmities. Rise up in your spirit and take the dominion. Tame the world with your faith-filled confessions. Perhaps, as a businessperson, there s been so much corruption or unfavourable policies that tend to militate against your success; refuse to be discouraged. No system or policies can work against you; you re greater than them all; therefore, rise above them. Function above the system. Remember what the Scripture says, Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world (1 John 4:4). You were dead with Christ, from the rudiments or elements of this world; refuse to be subject to them. You play by a different set of rules. Have this consciousness always. Confession I refuse to be subject to the elements of this world because greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world. I take my place of authority in Christ, and declare that the world is under my dominion, in Jesus Name. Amen. 1-YEAR BIBLE Ephesians 2:11-22 Isaiah YEAR BIBLE 2 timothy 1:1-18 Jeremiah 43 Further Study: John 17:16; 1 John 5:4 Leave comments on today s devotional at

76 FRIDAY 26 Don t Neglect Spiritual Details - PASTOR CHRIS Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life (Proverbs 4:13). As you walk with the Lord, and carry out that which He instructs you to do, you must painstakingly pay attention to spiritual details because of their importance. Moses, for example, learnt this the hard way. In Numbers 20:8, God instructed him, Take the rod, and speak ye unto the rock and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water. Moses didn t know how important it was when God told him to talk to the rock. The instruction to speak to the rock was of spiritual significance which he ignored and struck the rock instead. It was the mistake of his life. The instruction seemed so light to Moses, but the rest of his ministry was hinged on it; he didn t know it. Moses, however, wouldn t be the one to lead the children of Israel to the Promised Land, because of this error. In serving the Lord, it s very important that you always listen to the details of His instructions, however insignificant to the flesh they might sound. God s Word is God s instruction. Live your life, not according to man s instructions, information or opinions, but

77 according to the Word. God leads you in the path of greatness by giving you clear and specific instructions to follow. It s not about what somebody advises or instructs you to do; the question is, What is God s instruction in His Word about it? This is why I love the Bible, because it s God s instruction manual for a glorious life. 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. Do you want to have an excellent life, full of glory and success? There s a way: Follow God s Word; don t neglect the details in His instructions. Always remember that His wisdom is greater than man s wisdom; therefore, be sensitive to the guidance He gives you through the Word, and by the Holy Spirit, and you ll have a beautiful and exceptional life, and gloriously fulfil His calling and destiny for your life. Prayer Dear Father, I thank you for your Word, which has in it the ability to cause me to do what it says and be all that you want me to be. By the help of your Spirit, my heart is attuned to your directives and I m guided to attend to even the minutest detail of your instructions, for therein lies the blessing of a glorious life in Christ, in Jesus Name. Amen. 1-YEAR BIBLE Ephesians 3:1-21 Isaiah YEAR BIBLE 2 timothy 2:1-10 Jeremiah 44 Further Study: Proverbs 8:33; Proverbs 23:12 Leave comments on today s devotional at

78 SATURDAY 27 Use Your Talent For The Gospel - PASTOR CHRIS So we are to use our different gifts in accordance with the grace that God has given us. If our gift is to speak God s message, we should do it according to the faith that we have (Romans 12:6 GNB). As God s children, there s something unique about each one of us; we re all so uniquely graced and gifted by God. The Bible says, But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that (1Corinthians 7:7). Everything you are in Christ all the gifts, talents, and abilities God has given you are to be used for His glory. Whatever the Lord has taught you or is teaching you; whatever He has exposed you to and helped you to know, are all for the furtherance of the Gospel. Therefore, find the opportunity to use them to advance His righteous cause. Don t hide what you know; don t hide your abilities; don t hide your talents. Prayerfully consider what more you can do for the ministry. How can you contribute? Your abilities and talents are required in the Kingdom. Become available; let others benefit from the Lord s investment in you. You may not even know what you can do, but as you make yourself available, God s Spirit will help you bring your gifts and talents

79 to the fore. The Spirit of God is bringing you this message today because this is the time to take action: use your talents for the Gospel. The Lord is counting on you; He s counted you faithful, putting you in the ministry: And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry (1 Timothy 1:12). He believes in you. Look out for the need around you; find out what s necessary to be done in the house of God and be inspired to action. There re still many souls to be won. Put all you ve got into the furtherance of the Gospel. Be willing to spend and be spent for the Gospel. The gifts and talents that you have are for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:12). Prayer Dear Lord, I thank you for the grace you ve granted me to be effective in the furtherance of the Gospel. My passion for the Gospel is fuelled more than ever before, and I dedicate my all to ensuring that your righteousness covers the earth and is established in the hearts of men, in Jesus Name. Amen. 1-YEAR BIBLE Ephesians 4:1-16 Isaiah YEAR BIBLE 2 timothy 2:11-26 Jeremiah 45 Further Study: Matthew 25:15; Colossians 3:23-24 Leave comments on today s devotional at

80 SUNDAY 28 Passion For Soul-Winning - PASTOR CHRIS For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek (Romans 1:16). As a child of God, you must be passionate about soul-winning; it must burn in your heart to take the Gospel to the lost. You re the custodian of the Gospel. It s therefore your divine responsibility to publish it around the world. When you understand that Jesus is the only way, you ll stand up for the Gospel. The Apostle Paul, in Acts 13:38-39 said, Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man (Jesus) is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. There re no options to the Gospel. No wonder David said, Send us around the world with the news of your saving power... (Psalms 67:2 TLB). In David s day, the Gospel hadn t been fully made manifest, but he had insight into the revelation of Christ the Messiah. The time hadn t come and the redemptive work of Christ hadn t been consummated, but Christ now has come. He has died and has risen, and now

81 lives in our hearts. Halleluiah! No Christian is left out of the instruction to preach the Gospel. It should be your passion! Fuel your passion for the Gospel. Keep preaching and talking to others about Jesus. Discuss the Gospel continually with those who are also fired up in their spirits for the Gospel and intercede in prayer for the lost who are yet to hear the Word of salvation. Prayer Dear Father, I thank you for the news of your saving power, the Gospel. I m grateful and honoured for the privilege to be a minister of reconciliation. Through me, many are coming to the knowledge of the Gospel of Christ, which you ve graciously committed to my trust, in Jesus Name. Amen. 1-YEAR BIBLE Ephesians 4:17-5:1-2 Isaiah YEAR BIBLE 2 timothy 3:1-17 Jeremiah 46 Further Study: Matthew 28:19 Leave comments on today s devotional at

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84 MONDAY 29 There s A Reason For Your Being - PASTOR CHRIS Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king s house, more than all the Jews and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this? (Esther 4:13-14). Have you ever wondered why you were born in this generation and not in the 1800s, for example? You have to understand that God has something to do with your being alive at this time. He has a purpose for your being. The children of Israel were in a terrible predicament, in the days of king Ahasuerus. A certain man named Haman hated the Jews, and he happened to be a very influential figure, and wielded so much authority at the behest of king Ahasuerus. The king promoted and elevated him above all the princes in his kingdom and so all the servants in the king s gate bowed and reverenced Haman whenever he walked by (Esther 3:1-2). Thus, Haman had the political might and influence to annihilate the Jews whom he hated, as Mordecai the Jew would not bow to him. However, Esther, who was also a Jew, and married to the king, was relishing the glory of the palace, completely oblivious of Haman s hatred and quest to destroy the Jews. Mordecai, her uncle, sent

85 a touching message to Esther which we read in our theme scripture. He told Esther, Who knows, perhaps, you have come to royal position to prevent this from happening. Indeed, Esther s timely intervention prevented Haman from actualizing his wicked plot against the Jews. Maybe you re the Esther that God has placed in Government today, in that strategic position, where you can be of help to God s people. Sometimes, it might even be for you to help an individual, or the work of the Kingdom in your locality, country or region to progress further. Perhaps God placed you there because He knew a time of need would come, and you d rise to the occasion. Don t fail Him. Don t neglect any opportunity to help. Don t think about yourself only; think about the Gospel, and its spread around the world through your personal contribution. Prayer Dear Father, I m grateful for the opportunities you ve made available to me to be of help to others and be relevant in the spread of the Gospel around the world. I recognize and take advantage of your grace in me to win for others and fulfil my role in the ministry of reconciliation, in Jesus Name. Amen. 1-YEAR BIBLE Ephesians 5:3-21 Isaiah YEAR BIBLE 2 timothy 4:1-10 Jeremiah 47 Further Study: romans 15:1; Galatians 6:8; Esther 4:16 Leave comments on today s devotional at

86 TUESDAY 30 The Gospel Unveils God s Righteousness - PASTOR CHRIS For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith... (Romans 1:16-17). Through the years, men have sought righteousness, wanting to be righteous before God. However, the latter part of our opening scripture explains the reason for their inability to attain righteousness or even comprehend what it means. The righteousness of God is only revealed in the Gospel of Christ. The Gospel of Christ is the unveiling of God s righteousness; it s the Gospel of God s righteousness. Therefore, until one accepts the Gospel of Christ, he or she will never be able to live a righteous life or know what the righteousness of God is. Righteousness gives you the ability to stand in the presence of God without condemnation, guilt, fear or sense of inferiority. It s the ability to stand in fellowship with God and having the rightness of God in your spirit. There s no other way to come into this extraordinary life of righteousness and oneness with the Lord except through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This is why we can t afford to be quiet about the Gospel. It s the answer to man s cry. Let s not act as

87 though there s another way. There s no other way for men to learn of the righteousness of God, receive the righteousness of God, or understand the righteousness of God, outside of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. So, don t be quiet in your locality, city, town, or nation; make the message of salvation known. You hold the key to the salvation of men; therefore, preach the Gospel and unveil the righteousness of God to them. Be the answer to their search for God s righteousness. Prayer Dear Father, I thank you for your righteousness revealed in the Gospel of Christ. As the message of salvation gets into the hearts of men today, I pray that faith be ignited in them to receive and become the effulgence of your righteousness, as eternal life is imparted to their spirits, in Jesus Name. Amen. 1-YEAR BIBLE Ephesians 5:22-6:9 Isaiah YEAR BIBLE 2 timothy 4:11-22 Jeremiah 48 Further Study: romans 3:22; romans 4:5 Leave comments on today s devotional at

88 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 come to you in the Name of Jesus Christ. your Word says,...whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved (acts 2:21). I ask Jesus to come into my heart to be the Lord of my life. I receive eternal life into my spirit and according to romans 10:9, That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved, I declare that I am saved; I am born-again; I am a child of God! I now have Christ dwelling in me, and greater is he that is in me than he that is in the world (1 John 4:4)! I now walk in the consciousness of my new life in Christ Jesus. halleluiah! Congratulations! You are 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: tel.:+44 (0) nigeria: tel.: canada: tel.: ; tel/fax: south africa: tel.: usa: tel.:+1 (0) ;

89 ABOUT THE AUTHOR Rev. Chris Oyakhilome, the President of Believers LoveWorld Inc. is a dedicated minister of God s Word whose message has brought the reality of the divine life to the hearts of many. Millions have been affected by his television broadcast, Atmosphere For Miracles, his outreaches, crusades, magazines, as well as several books and audio-visual materials, which minister the reality of the Word of God in truth, simplicity and power. Learn more about Christ Embassy a.k.a. Believers LoveWorld Inc. on

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92 Reading The Devotional Helped Me Speak In Tongues! For a long time, I tried to speak in tongues but couldn t. This persisted until I came across Rhapsody of Realities and read a teaching on How To Increase Your Spiritual Vocabulary. My heart leapt for joy because I realized I could start speaking in tongues the same way others could increase their vocabulary. As instructed in the devotional, I began to listen to the words in my spirit and thereafter, I burst out, speaking in tongues! -H. Kimambo, Tanzania The Growths Have Disappeared! I m an inmate of one of the prisons in Zimbabwe. My wife brings me copies of Rhapsody of Realities monthly. One of the editions she brought taught me about using the word of faith in any situation. This gave me the understanding of faith in a new dimension! I had had warts on my body, but I applied my faith in the Word of God by placing my hand on the growths, and commanding them to disappear. I did this for a period until they all disappeared! - M. Nkomo, Zimbabwe The Devotional Answered My Questions! I can never express enough with words, the effect Rhapsody of Realities has had in my life. I m very educated, and I ve worked for major corporations. My so-called knowledge puffed me up with pride so much that, when I got my first copy of Rhapsody of Realties, I read it with reservations because I had intelligent questions. However, as I studied, I began to understand spiritual realities by the help of the Holy Spirit. I also learnt that I could communicate with the language of the Spirit. The devotional has changed my life for the better! -Z. Vincent Ndzala, South Africa

93 Rhapsody of Realities FEEDBACK FORM We trust the Rhapsody of Realities devotional has blessed you. Please take a few minutes to complete this form and return it to us at any of the addresses below. Date: / 2014 Name: Address: address: Tel.: Postcode: Country How did you receive this copy of Rhapsody of Realities devotional? Personal Purchase: Chaplain/Pastor/Priest: Hotel reception: Hospital reception: Other: Do you want to subscribe for copies of Rhapsody of Realities for a year? For yourself For a Friend Do you want to pay for free copies of Rhapsody of Realities for people in: Prisons Hospitals Orphanages Hotels Do you want to subscribe for Rhapsody of Realities for Kids? 1 2 more (indicate) Do you want to subscribe for Rhapsody of Realities Topical Compendium? 1 2 more (indicate) Mode of Payment Cash Cheque Credit Card United Kingdom: Christ Embassy Int l Office Loveworld Conference Centre Cheriton high Street folkestone Kent. Ct19 4QJ tel.:+44 (0) fax: USa: Christ Embassy Int l Office, 200 E arrowhead drive Suite W-3 Charlotte, NC tel.:+1 (0) for more information on how to order or pay, please call, or check our website: USa: Christ Embassy houston, 8623 hemlock hill drive houston, texas tel.: ; canada: Christ Embassy Int l Office, 50 Weybright Court, Unit 43B toronto, on MIS 5a8 tel.: SoUth africa: 303 Pretoria avenue Cnr. harley and Braam fischer, randburg, Gauteng South africa. tel.: , canada: 600 Clayson road North york toronto M9M 2h2 Canada. tel/fax:

94 FEEDBACK FORM FEEDBACK FORM of Rhapsody Realities We will like to know how this devotional has blessed your life. Please write a brief testimony of the impact of Rhapsody of Realities on your life and any prayer request(s) that you may have. We will be happy to pray with you. Thank you for taking time to complete this form. We appreciate your efforts. God bless you. Please return this form to any of the addresses overleaf. cut along this line...

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