Rhapsody of Realities

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

4 Table of Contents Introduction Personal Information vii viii WEDNESDAY 1 Your True Value 1 THURSDAY 2 Walk In His Light 3 FRIDAY 3 Be Inspired To Always Win 5 SATURDAY 4 A Mentality Of Prosperity 7 SUNDAY 5 He Never Leaves You 9 MONDAY 6 Memorising Scriptures Is Good Spiritual Exercise 11 TUESDAY 7 Treasures In The Midst Of Adversities 13 Notes 16 WEDNESDAY 8 Express His Life And Nature Everywhere 17 THURSDAY 9 Square Up To Challenges 19 FRIDAY 10 Reward For Your Work 21 SATURDAY 11 The Helper Is In You 23 SUNDAY 12 Believe In What He s Done For You 25 MONDAY 13 Measuring Your Progress 27 TUESDAY 14 Set Things In Order 29 Notes 32 WEDNESDAY 15 Nurture Your Spirit With The Word 33 THURSDAY 16 Going To Church: How Important Is It To You? 35 FRIDAY 17 A Different Mind-set 49 SATURDAY 18 Let Christ Stand Up In You 51 SUNDAY 19 Strengthen Your Faith With The Word 53 MONDAY 20 Stand For Him 55 TUESDAY 21 Live Happy And Joyful Every day 57 Notes 60 WEDNESDAY 22 Pull From Your Reservoir 61 THURSDAY 23 An Extraordinary Authority 63 FRIDAY 24 Righteousness And Peace 65 SATURDAY 25 Faith The Effect Of Righteousness 67 SUNDAY 26 Triumphant All The Way 69 MONDAY 27 He s The Son Of God Indeed 71

5 TUESDAY 28 Light In A Dark World 73 PRAYER OF SALVATION 76 ABOUT THE AUTHOR 77 Praise Reports 78 Notes 79 Notes 80 Notes 81 Notes 82

6 Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Bible. KEYS FOR OTHER BIBLE TRANSLATIONS USED: NKJV -New King James Version AMP -The Amplified Bible TANT -The Amplified New Translation TLB -The Living Bible CEV -Contemporary English Version NASB -New American Standard Bible ISV -International Standard Version NIV -New International Version MSG -The Message Translation WEB -The World English Bible TNLT -The New Living Translation ASV -American Standard Version TEV -Today s English Version RSV -Revised Standard Version GNB -Good News Bible WNT -Weymouth New Testament NRSV -New Revised Standard Version MOFFAT -Moffatt New Translation WESNT -Wesley New Testament Rhapsody Of Realities...a daily devotional ISSN February 2017 edition Copyright 2017 Christ Embassy (LoveWorld Publishing) a.k.a Believers LoveWorld Inc. FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO PLACE ORDERS: UNITED KINGDOM: Believers Loveworld Unit C2, Thames View Business Centre, Barlow Way Rainham-Essex, RM13 8BT. Tel.: +44 (0) Fax.: +44(0) 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: NIGERIA: Christ Embassy Plot 97, Durumi District, Abuja, 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.: USA: Christ Embassy Houston, 8623 Hemlock Hill Drive Houston, Texas Tel: ; CANADA: 600 Clayson Road North York Toronto M9M 2H2 Canada. Tel/Fax: 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).

7 Introduction Hurray! your favourite daily devotional, Rhapsody of Realities, is now available in 807 languages, and still counting. We trust that the 2017 edition of the devotional has enhanced your spiritual growth and development and positioned you for a resounding success in all your affairs. 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. Enjoy God s glorious presence and victory, as you take a daily dose of his Word! God bless you! -Pastor Chris Oyakhilome

8 Front cover image depicts Rhapsody of Realities partners in Switzerland Name Home address PERSONAL INFORMATION Home telephone Mobile address Business address GOALS FOR THE MONTH

9 Rhapsody of Realities A DAILY DEVOTIONAL

10 WEDNESDAY 1 Your True Value And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth (Luke 12:15). ome people rate or value themselves according to Sthe amount of money they have. So, always, they re punching the calculator to know their financial worth. If your value is according to some money, then you re putting your life at some great risk. How can you subject your life to the uncertain and ever unstable monetary system of the world? Your true value is the Word of God that s in your spirit. You ve got to know and have the Word in you. With the Word in you, your success is assured no matter what happens around you. You ll stay afloat like the ark of Noah that rose higher and higher as it rained and the waters increased, so that the same water that drowned others, buoyed him up. This shows that the circumstances responsible for sinking people s businesses and careers today will be for your promotion! What you need to live victoriously at every count in these latter days is the deposit of God s Word in your spirit. If you deposit the Word in your spirit long enough, others will take notice of you and ask, What manner of man is this? because you ll literally be walking on water. No matter the situation, you stay above only. Colossians 3:16 says, Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. Your confidence should only rest in how much of the Word of Christ you have in you, not how much money you have in your bank account.

11 Remember, you become the Word of God that you receive into your spirit, and that s your real value. As you allow the Word to dominate you, it ll give you the mentality of a victor such that no matter what happens, you ll remain strong and unfazed. PRAYER Dear Father, I thank you for showing me my true value in your Word. The entrance of your Word floods my heart with light and brings brilliance and beauty into my life. Your Word is deeply rooted in my heart and it grows, prevails and produces results in every area of my life, in Jesus Name, Amen 1 YEAR BIBLE Matthew 22:15-46 Exodus YEAR BIBLE Matthew 11:21-30 Genesis 32 FURTHER STUDY: 1 Timothy 6:17 Joshua 1:8 Leave comments on today's devotional

12 THURSDAY 2 Walk In His Light But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin (1 John 1:7). o walk in the light is to walk in the light of God s TWord. It means to walk in the light of those things that are consistent with God s provisions for the new creation as revealed by the Word. If we re not walking in the light, there s no fellowship because light is inconsistent with darkness. The Word reveals, for example, that as new creations, we have justification. You re to walk in the light of your justification. You ve been made the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:21). You re to walk in the light of your righteousness. To walk in the light of your righteousness means that you re walking in consistency with what God thinks; His light about righteousness. God s light about righteousness is that, it s a gift that s imparted into anyone who believes in Jesus Christ. So, you can say, Father, I dwell in your light; in your light, righteousness is a gift that s given to everyone who believes in Jesus Christ; therefore, I have that gift in the Name of Jesus. I am righteous. Hallelujah. That s walking in His light. The carnal man however walks by his senses. He says, I just don t feel like God is with me today; my prayers aren t even going high enough. Oh Father, I m struggling. You see, he contradicts the Word of God by declaring himself a struggler, not conscious that the Bible says those who have entered into God s rest have ceased from their struggles (Hebrews 4:10). He interprets his life through his own senses, and God s Word has nothing to do with your senses.

13 Being born again, you re not of the flesh; they that are in the flesh cannot please God (Romans 8:8). You re to walk by the Spirit, not by your feelings. Romans 8:13 says For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. This isn t talking about physical death; it s talking about spiritual death. That means you ll be cut off from God; you ll find yourself struggling. But if you walk in God s light, in His Word, you ll live, rule and reign as a king. PRAYER Dear Father, I thank you for enlightening me through your Word, to walk on the path of life. Your Word is light and glory; as I meditate and live by the Word, I am transformed into the glorious image that I behold therein. There s no darkness in me; I enjoy a sweet and rich fellowship with the Word and your Spirit, in Jesus Name. Amen. 1 YEAR BIBLE Matthew 23 Exodus YEAR BIBLE Matthew 12:1-9 Genesis 33 FURTHER STUDY: Psalm 36:9 Proverbs 6:23 Psalm 119:105 Leave comments on today's devotional

14 FRIDAY 3 Be Inspired To Always Win Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:13-14). onsider a classroom of students studying the same Ccourse. Among them, some are reading very hard, so they don t fail the exams. Perhaps they had failed in some previous exams. Then you have these other students who are reading very hard as well, because they want to have excellent grades. They want to win a prize. Though all these students are reading hard, their motivations are different. And this is how it is in life. That someone is working so hard doesn t mean he s in the right direction. It all depends on what his inspiration is. You should always be inspired by the dream of success, and not the fear of failure. Refuse to be haunted by past mistakes; rather, be challenged by the opportunity of a greater future. Many whine and grumble about their past, sorrowing about their past, wondering what to do about their past, instead of looking at the future with the hope and the opportunities it presents for greater success. Irrespective of the challenges or shortcomings experienced in the past, be inspired by the joy of winning. See the bright and glorious future ahead. Get into the New Year with this mind-set. Paul said, this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize... Don t think failure. Don t think defeat. Launch out

15 into the year with the power of the Spirit, seeing only victories and endless possibilities. You re born to win; and the Lord is leading you on a victory parade. Forget the past; take a hold of your future, and win! CONFESSION Dear Lord, you ve equipped me with strength. You made my feet like the feet of a deer and set me secure on the heights. You re the strength and glory of my life! In you I live, and move and have my being. I m triumphant today and always by your Spirit. Hallelujah! 1 YEAR BIBLE Matthew 24:1-35 Exodus YEAR BIBLE Matthew 12:10-21 Genesis 34 FURTHER STUDY: Isaiah 43:18-19 Philippians 3:13-14 Leave comments on today's devotional

16 SATURDAY 4 A Mentality Of Prosperity And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not wholly reap the corners of thy field, neither shalt thou gather the gleanings of thy harvest. And thou shalt not glean thy vineyard, neither shalt thou gather every grape of thy vineyard; thou shalt leave them for the poor and stranger (Leviticus 19:9-10). n the above scripture, God was giving some Iinstructions to the children of Israel on what they should do when they harvest their grains. He said to them,..thou shalt not wholly reap the corners of thy field, neither shalt thou gather the gleanings of thy harvest. In other words, Don t harvest everything; don t gather the gleanings. He didn t want them scratching for the leftovers; and it was a law. They were to leave some in the field, for the poor, the fatherless, and the widows. There re people who don t know why they haven t made much progress in their lives. Some of them have prayed and prayed, yet no change. But you see, God doesn t fellowship with a man who has a mentality of poverty. There s a mentality of prosperity and there s a mentality of poverty. For instance, some people would use their clothes until those clothes are torn to tatters. How sad! It could be any personal belonging; they use it until it s not good enough to be given to someone else. Such a mentality attracts poverty, and it has kept many in a despicable state for a long time. Whatever God blesses you with, no matter how small or big it is, when you use it, let it be good enough for someone else. When you give such things to others, be sure they re in an excellent state to be used with dignity. That s the

17 way to live. There should never be anything that you own that you can t give out. God wants you to always be a blessing to others who aren t as blessed as you are. There re things you haven t used in a long while, yet you re keeping them. That s not a prosperity attitude. Do the Word; get into your closet and search out belongings you ve piled up and probably wouldn t even use for another one or two years. Give them out, and watch your life take an upward dive. PRAYER Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed me with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ! I have received of His fullness, grace heaped upon grace. I m a blessing to those around me, and as a result, I grow bigger and stronger in prosperity, in Jesus Name. Amen. 1 YEAR BIBLE Matthew 24:36-51 Exodus 28 FURTHER STUDY: Proverbs 11:24 ESV Luke 6:38 2 Peter 1:3 2 YEAR BIBLE Matthew 12:22-30 Genesis 35 Leave comments on today's devotional

18 SUNDAY 5 He Never Leaves You Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest (Joshua 1:9). scripture above was God s message to Joshua, as The led the children of Israel through the wilderness. God said to him, Be not afraid. Why? Because there were frightful experiences in his way. But God said, Be not afraid. Then He took it further; He said, neither be thou dismayed. When things begin to look like you ve been defeated, don t be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you. What an assurance! Many years ago, I heard a story that s remained indelibly on my mind. A Pastor told a story of how God visited a certain man in a vision. As he and the Lord walked together, the Lord assured him I am with you no matter how difficult the journey may be. Though he couldn t see the Lord, he could see the footprints. As they journeyed, there were two different footprints so, he was sure the Lord was with him. Every now and then, he looked and saw the Lord s footprints, and kept going. At a point, things got tougher and harder. Then he looked, but this time saw only one footprint! He cried and said, Lord, where are you? Things are worse here! How could you leave me now that I need you the most? Then he heard the voice of God, I m still here. But the man said, No, I was seeing your footprints all along; but you ve stopped. All I see now are my footprints. Then God said, No, the footprints that you see aren t your footprints; they re mine, because I m now carrying you.

19 What a soul-stirring response from the Lord! How loving our God is! Even when we re not aware, and it looks like He s left us, He s there. The man was crying because he thought he was alone. But God was carrying him. He has said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee (Hebrews 13:5). At the most difficult part of the journey, He ll carry you. Those times you look around and don t seem to find any sign of His presence, the Lord is there with you. He ll never leave you nor forsake you; even when everyone else deserts you, He s always with you. So, be encouraged; be strengthened, and be full of joy. The Lord your God is with you, and He lives in you. You re never alone! PRAYER Precious and loving Father, thank you for your love and faithfulness. You re gracious, compassionate and kind. I m strong and very courageous in the power of your might; I ll never be weary. Thank you for your grace and everlasting presence. I adore you with all my heart. Amen. 1 YEAR BIBLE Matthew 25:1-30 Exodus FURTHER STUDY: Isaiah 49:15 Hebrews 13:5 Deuteronomy 31:6 2 YEAR BIBLE Matthew 12:31-38 Genesis 36 Leave comments on today's devotional

20 MONDAY 6 Memorising Scriptures Is Good Spiritual Exercise 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). ome Christians can memorise and quote many Sscriptures off by heart, which is commendable. Whereas, some others erroneously assume that memorising scriptures is no longer fashionable. With the introduction of different electronic Bibles and Bible software where scriptures can be located at the click or push of a button, many Christians have relegated the importance of memorising scriptures in personal Bible study. This ought not to be so. Learning to memorise scriptures is a very fundamental part of good Christian growth and development. Even though you have easy access to electronic Bible reference materials, you must exercise your mind to retain the Word of God. Your mind is the doorway to your spirit (2 Corinthians 4:4). The Word of God has to be in your consciousness to produce results in your life. When you have read your Bible, pick out certain verses and recite them by heart. This is the beginning of meditation, and the more you do this, the more the Word will get into your spirit. The same way you took time to learn and memorise things in school, you have to discipline your mind to retain scriptures. You can set a target for yourself for the rest of the year, to memorize at least one scripture per day, and measure your progress in it. You d be amazed at the

21 impact it ll have on your life! PRAYER Dear Father, I thank you for the impact of your Word on my spirit. As I meditate on the Word, and retain those priceless thoughts in my heart and consciousness, my profiting appears to all! I function always from a vantage point of victory, glory, success, and prosperity, where I reign and rule over circumstances, in Jesus Name. Amen. 1 YEAR BIBLE Matthew 25:31-46 Exodus 31 FURTHER STUDY: 1 Timothy 4:8 Deuteronomy 11:18 Jeremiah 15:16 2 YEAR BIBLE Matthew 12:39-50 Genesis 37 Leave comments on today's devotional

22 TUESDAY 7 Treasures In The Midst Of Adversities But I will tarry at Ephesus until Pentecost. For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries (1 Corinthians 16:8-9). he Apostle Paul, in the scripture above Tacknowledged that a great and effectual window of opportunity was open to him for ministry in Ephesus. Howbeit, it was an opportunity in the midst of adversities. He was sensitive enough in his spirit not to see the opportunity alone; he saw the many adversaries as well. It s like finding a treasure amongst thorns and thistles; and in a sense, that s a trap. If you must take that treasure, you must then know what to do with the adversaries. The adversaries that Paul referred to weren t just negligible enemies; they were ferocious! When he recounted his experience later, he said, For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life (2 Corinthians 1:8). Then in 1 Corinthians 15:32, he said he fought with beasts in Ephesus: If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus. The experience was life-threatening, but by yielding to the leading and guidance of the Spirit, he prevailed. Paul preached and taught the Word with such intensity and passion in Ephesus, and the Bible records specifically that the Word of God grew mightily in Ephesus, and prevailed (Acts 19:20). There s much for us to learn in our Christian walk to help us achieve the things God has planned for us, and to live

23 the life of glory and victory that He s given us. But you ve got to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit at all times. He gave us the Holy Spirit to guide us in all of life s affairs. Before you take up that job, or go into that business, or take that major step, let Him guide you and show you the future of whatever you re getting into. Pray in tongues fervently, because lurking around that treasure could be adversities. But as you fellowship with the Spirit, He ll guide you to identify possible adversities pitfalls, barricades, or troubles and navigate you through them triumphantly. CONFESSION The Lord is my refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble! He lives in me and guides me to overcome all the way. Irrespective of the adversaries, adversities, challenges and contrary winds, my heart is stayed on the Lord who is my rock and fortress, my protection, and salvation. I walk in victory, and in the dominion of the Word today. Hallelujah! 1 YEAR BIBLE Matthew 26:1-30 Exodus YEAR BIBLE Matthew 13:1-9 Genesis 38 FURTHER STUDY: Psalm 27:1-3 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 Leave comments on today's devotional

24 The Healing School Autumn Session scheduled to hold in March and April 2017, in Johannesburg, South Africa, provides a unique opportunity for many around the world to be imparted with God s healing power! Through the healing ministry of the man of God, Pastor Chris, many have had their broken bodies completely restored. This session will be another opportunity for such demonstration of God s power in the physical wellbeing of His children. To attend the 2017 Autumn Session of the Healing School in Johannesburg, South Africa, register by sending an to application@healing-school.org, or on your mobile device at For more information, please visit

25 Notes Notes

26 WEDNESDAY 8 Express His Life And Nature Everywhere And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness (Ephesians 4:23-24). T he Amplified version of our opening scripture says, And be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude], And put on the new nature (the regenerate self) created in God s image, [Godlike] in true righteousness and holiness (Ephesians 4:23-24). As one who s born again, you have a new life and a new nature; it s the life and nature of God. You were recreated in righteousness and true holiness, to express the will and nature of the Father; the power has been deposited in your spirit. Your spirit was recreated in the likeness of God. In other words, you were created to be like Him, and to function like Him; it s thus possible for you to express His will and nature, His life and divine attributes that are in your spirit, to your world. In every matter, in every place, at every event, give vent to His righteousness. In anything that you re involved in, give expression to the will and nature of the Father; bear testimony by your life, actions and words, to the character of God! Express God everywhere you go. You re His expression and extension to your world; Hallelujah! So, manifest His glory. Express His virtues and perfections. This has always been the Father s dream: to express Himself fully through you. He already blessed you and made you a blessing; now He seeks to bless the world

27 through you. Only through you can He show forth His goodness, grace, wisdom, and excellence to the world. The natural or unregenerate man can t know who God is until they meet you. Make it your life s dream that through the Holy Spirit, everywhere you are, you ll manifest Christ; you ll manifest the God-life. Let Him laugh, smile, bless and touch the world through you. CONFESSION I ve been recreated in true righteousness and holiness; in the very image and likeness of God. I m walking and living in my new nature, giving vent to the will and nature of the Father, establishing His righteousness in my world. His glory, excellence, wisdom and goodness are expressed through me, in Jesus Name. Amen. 1 YEAR BIBLE Matthew 26:31-56 Exodus YEAR BIBLE Matthew 13:10-23 Genesis 39 FURTHER STUDY: 1 Peter 2:9 2 Corinthians 5:21 Leave comments on today's devotional

28 THURSDAY 9 Square Up To Challenges My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations (James 1:2). here re some Christians who, even though they ve Tbeen born again for a long time, still love to be babied. When facing challenges, rather than squaring up to those challenges by putting their faith to work, they go seeking prayers and encouragement. They like to hear such words as, Don t worry; God is going to turn your worst into your best, and make a way where there seems to be no way. But that s not good enough. Don t stay at the level where you re always being pulled up; always looking for someone to encourage you, hoping that everything would work out for your good. Square up to the problem! The Bible 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). Romans 8:35-37 declares, Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?...nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. You re more than a conqueror; you re a victor in Christ Jesus; no circumstance or situation can overwhelm you, because you re born to win, reign and rule over circumstances. It s your heritage in Christ Jesus. So, stop asking God to make the challenges go away; He s not going to make them go away, because they re for your promotion. That s why He says, Count it all joy when you go through diverse tests. You re in God s army; you can t afford to be a sissy. Face challenges and win. He knows you ll come out

29 unscathed. He already declared, When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee (Isaiah 43:2). Don t pray to God to protect you from the devil; you re superior to the devil. The devil and all his demons are under your feet. So, square up; win, reign, and rule your world every day with the Word. PRAYER Dear Father, I count it all joy when tests and challenges come my way. I remain joyful irrespective of contrary situations and circumstances, for I m assured that the story has already been told, the end determined, and my testimony of victory assured in the Word. Thank you, Lord, in Jesus Name. Amen. 1 YEAR BIBLE Matthew 26:57-75 Exodus FURTHER STUDY: Hebrews 5:12-14 Philippians 4:13 2 Corinthians 4: YEAR BIBLE Matthew 13:24-33 Genesis 40 Leave comments on today's devotional

30 FRIDAY 10 Reward For Your Work For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister (Hebrews 6:10). verything you do or sacrifice for the sake of the EGospel isn t only recorded (Malachi 3:16), the Lord also rewards you for it. So, you can imagine my joy decades ago, when the Lord showed me our theme verse. I had been told I was wasting my time; I had been told I was being foolish for preaching the Gospel and holding crusades in remote villages. I wondered if God really cared about what I was doing, but then I saw this verse and wept for joy. I praised, screamed, worshipped and made a jig for joy. There re times you re about the Lord s work and there seem to be persecutions from all angles. And then it s as though you re wasting your time, and wasting your life; at such times, always remember that God isn t unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love. He ll reward you for all that you do, and have done, in the propagation of the Gospel. He knows and will reward you for all your prayers for souls to be saved, your financial contributions to the spread of the Gospel, your personal evangelical efforts to win souls to Christ, and all your sacrifices. What sacrifices have you made for Christ and the Gospel? It could be your time, money, family, friends and relationships you gave up, whatever it is, God hasn t forgotten. Your blessing isn t deferred until you get to heaven. It begins here on earth: Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and

31 the gospel s, But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life (Mark 10:29-31). Your reward isn t far ahead; it s closer than you think; be confidently assured that He ll reward you in due time. Whatever you re doing for the Lord, keep at it. You re never a fool for your devotion to Christ. Others may call you so, but not God. So, keep riding on with the Lord, spreading His glory in your world, and in the regions beyond. PRAYER I thank you blessed Lord, for the privilege and opportunity to participate in the propagation of the Gospel. I m even more overjoyed knowing that all my services and sacrifices, in and for the Kingdom, are not in vain! I fan aflame my commitment, passion, devotion, contributions, and efforts, towards the expansion of your Kingdom, in Jesus Name. Amen. 1 YEAR BIBLE Matthew 27:1-26 Exodus YEAR BIBLE Matthew 13:34-43 Genesis 41 FURTHER STUDY: Revelation 22:12 Colossians 3:23-24 Leave comments on today's devotional

32 SATURDAY 11 The Helper Is In You And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), to be with you forever (John 14:16 AMP). s a child of God, it s important to know that no one, Abut the Holy Spirit, can and will lead you into your destiny of greatness. Of course, the Lord can use people to bless you; but don t make the mistake of thinking such people can only be found in the palaces or high places of life. Think about it: Where was Joseph when he met the man that introduced him to Pharaoh, and ultimately, his destiny in Egypt? He was in prison! The reason God sent him to the prison was because the man who was to introduce him to Pharaoh would be coming there too. His life was programmed to go that way. In the same way, God has programmed your life. Your life has been predetermined and prearranged by God. Yours is to follow the guidance and leading of the Holy Spirit. Wherever God has placed you, there s greatness there for you. Don t look in the wrong places for help. In Psalm 121:1-2, David said, I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. David knew his help wasn t from man. He looked to heaven. But you know what? Today, our help isn t from above, because the Helper now lives in us! He s the Holy Spirit. He left heaven and came to the earth, to be in us. Jesus was the Helper when He walked the earth, but prior to His ascension, He said, And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper. Your Helper the Holy

33 Spirit is in you now. So, don t look to the hills for help; don t look to heaven for help, for the Helper already came from heaven, to live in you. As you maintain a rich fellowship with the Holy Spirit, He ll guide your steps, and help you fulfil your destiny in Christ. PRAYER Dear Holy Spirit, I m constantly mindful of your indwelling and abiding presence which has made me a victor and a master over circumstances. Fears, worries, darkness, confusion and uncertainty have no place in me. I take advantage of your presence, and bask in the glory and transformation that it brings, in Jesus Name. Amen. 1 YEAR BIBLE Matthew 27:27-44 Exodus 40 2 YEAR BIBLE Matthew 13:44-52 Genesis 42 FURTHER STUDY: 1 Corinthians 3:16 John 14:16-17 Leave comments on today's devotional

34 SUNDAY 12 Believe In What He s Done For You For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich (2 Corinthians 8:9). his verse of scripture is quite instructive; it says Talthough Jesus was rich, He made Himself poor, so that you, through His poverty might be made rich. Someone may say, Oh yes! He became poor for us spiritually ; no. Paul wasn t talking about spiritual riches and spiritual poverty, because Jesus never became any less the Son of God in His physical body than He was in the bosom of the Father. When you study the entire chapter in context, you d understand that He was talking about financial and material prosperity. For our sake, He laid down His reputation, His riches, His wealth; He laid down everything and identified Himself with us, and took our place. He became us. Everything He did was for your sake. He wasn t poor, but He became poor for your sake. In the same way, you weren t rich, but now through Him, you ve been made rich, just as in Him you ve been made righteous. Until you understand this revelation, you ll never enter into your wealthy place in God. Your trust shouldn t be in the government, the society or in the job that you do. Your trust shouldn t be in any banking reform. Your trust has to be in the Word; in whom and what Christ has made you. He s fulfilled His part. He said,...lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God (Hebrews 10:7). He already became poor so that you, through His poverty, might become rich.

35 Now, you re to step into what He s done for you and made you. Believe in what He s done for you, and take advantage of it. PRAYER Dear Father, I m forever grateful for my glorious inheritance in Christ! As an heir of prosperity, I live to bless others and lift them out of the thraldom of lack through the power of your Spirit that s at work in me. I walk in super-abundance, and experience undeniable success in all that I do, in Jesus Name. Amen. 1 YEAR BIBLE Matthew 27:45-66 Leviticus 1-3 FURTHER STUDY: 3 John 1:2 Deuteronomy 8:18 Isaiah 48:17 2 YEAR BIBLE Matthew 13:53-58 Genesis 43 Leave comments on today's devotional

36 MONDAY 13 Measuring Your Progress But you, beloved, build yourselves up [founded] on your most holy faith [make progress, rise like an edifice higher and higher], praying in the Holy Spirit (Jude 1:20 AMP). means advancement; moving forward. PProgress must be measurable, otherwise, it s not progress. You must have goals; if you don t have definite goals, you may not be able to really measure your progress. In making progress there re certain things you must consider. First, locate your present position in that area of your life in which you desire to make progress. Is it in your health, finances, job, business, or your family? Whatever it is, locate your present position. Secondly, envision what the next level will be for you. Thirdly, determine what you must do to get to your next level. That means your input in terms of effort, time, and resources. Resources could refer to money, materials, information, etc. Fourthly and finally, take action; do what you need to do to get you the results you want. Otherwise, your visions, goals and aspirations will fail and come to nothing. I m sure you already have clear-cut goals for the year; stay focused on your goals. Every now and then, pray in the Holy Ghost about your goals; this is so important, because it ll guarantee your progress in achieving them. Our opening verse says, But you, beloved, build yourselves up [founded] on your most holy faith [make progress, rise like an edifice higher and higher], praying in the Holy Spirit. This year, you re going to make progress, and move forward in your life like never before, irrespective of what s been happening with you or around you. It s your time and season of advancement. And it s my prayer that the Spirit of

37 God will inspire and guide you to take the necessary actions that ll cause you to have evident and unprecedented growth, increase, and prosperity in 2017, and beyond, in Jesus Name. CONFESSION My life is like a well-watered garden. I m fruitful and productive; making progress in every area of my life. I m complete in Christ, and every facet of my life is perfected for excellence. The Spirit guides and inspires me to take actions that ll guarantee evident, and unstoppable progress, increase and blessings for me, in Jesus Name. Amen. 1 YEAR BIBLE Matthew 28 Leviticus YEAR BIBLE Matthew 14:1-10 Genesis 44 FURTHER STUDY: Psalm 1:1-3 1 Timothy 4:15 Leave comments on today's devotional

38 TUESDAY 14 Set Things In Order To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour. For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee (Titus 1:4-5). n our opening scripture, the Apostle Paul, writing to ITitus instructed him to set things in order, in Crete. God is a God of order, and when you look through the Scriptures, you d discover how important order is to the Lord; He doesn t tolerate disorder. There s abundance of information given to us in the Bible, on God s response to disorder. If as a Christian, you wish to see the grace of God produce results for you, then order must be a vital factor in your life. There has to be order in your heart. Firstly, bring order into your life as an individual; order in the things you do. Sometimes, we tell people, Put God first in your endeavours, and some don t understand what that means. Putting God first means putting His Word first; what does God think? What does He want? You put Him first; that s order. Also, giving priority to prayer and study of the Word of God in your life, is order. There re many people who have expectations for a new year when it begins. As it is now, the year is still young, and many are excited about the year, and we all should be. But, if at the end of the year, you re going to have testimonies, and experience the blessings of the Spirit as He has said, you ve got to put things in order.

39 Your giving to the Lord is important. Your financial partnership in the Gospel is very vital; what place is that going to take in your life this year? What about church meetings? Can you bring that into order? Set things in order in your life, and you d be setting yourself up for the manifestation of God s grace in a tremendous way. Glory to God! PRAYER Dear Father, I thank you for the enlightenment and inspiration from your Word to me today. Your grace is working in me mightily, producing great success and victory in my life, because there s order in my heart! The Lord has set me on course to do all things right, decently, and in order. I exude the excellence of the Spirit in everything, in Jesus Name. Amen. 1 YEAR BIBLE Mark 1:1-20 Leviticus YEAR BIBLE Matthew 14:11-21 Genesis 45 FURTHER STUDY: 1 Corinthians 11:34 1 Corinthians 14:40 Leave comments on today's devotional

40 This year 2017, Rhapsody partners have identified 441 national days, commemorative days, and major holidays, during which they ll seed the nations of the world with God s Word. They ll spread hope, joy and love to millions en masse by organizing ReachOut campaigns, where they ll distribute the world s No.1 daily devotional, Rhapsody of Realities. Join us to seed the world with the Word on 441 commemorative days and major holidays in 2017 by signing up to organize a ReachOut campaign in your nation or in other nations. To organize a ReachOut Campaign in your city/nation or to sponsor ReachOut campaigns to other nations, please send a mail to reachoutcampaigns@loveworld360.com or please call: , , ,

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42 WEDNESDAY 15 Nurture Your Spirit With The Word And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works (2 Timothy 3:15-17). very Christian needs to learn and understand the EWord of God; without studying the Word, you ll never know it. 1 Peter 2:2 says, As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby. You have to hear the Word; you have to be taught, and then search the Scriptures for yourself. There re people who know so much about everything else, but know nothing about the Word of God; and that s terrible. The most important thing about you is your spirit; that s the real you. When everything in this world is over, your spirit will live on, which means your spirit is eternal. It s therefore important that the spirit is trained and nurtured by the Word. Your spirit was recreated by the Word, and can only be sustained by the Word. The human spirit must be educated to know and relate with spiritual verities. It s one of the reasons the teaching of the Word of God in the Church is so important; it s for the development of your spirit. If you follow the teaching of the Word of God, and also have times of personal meditation, your mind will surely be enlightened, your spirit will be lifted,

43 and you ll be strengthened in the things of God. More so, it ll make your spirit an accurate guide, because he s able to receive light from God; ideas and thoughts that ll make you creative and excellent in all you do. Understand that the highest potential of the human nature isn t in the mind but in the spirit. So, keep educating your spirit with the Word. Discipline yourself to have, and follow, a very healthy and robust Word-study programme, with definite times of meditation. PRAYER Dear Father, thank you for the opportunity and joy of being inspired, taught, educated, trained, and nurtured in and by the Word. I m built up, strengthened, and energised by your Word today, as always, for the ever-winning, victorious, and triumphant life, in Jesus Name. Amen. 1 YEAR BIBLE Mark 1:21-45 Leviticus 8 FURTHER STUDY: Romans 12:2 1 Timothy 4:15 Joshua 1:8 2 YEAR BIBLE Matthew 14:22-33 Genesis 46 Leave comments on today's devotional

44 THURSDAY 16 Going To Church: How Important Is It To You? And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching (Hebrews 10:24-25). ome Christians think they should only go to church Swhen it s convenient. They believe God is everywhere, so you don t necessarily have to go to church to serve or worship Him. It s not right. Our opening scripture expresses the importance of going to church. It chides those who don t and admonishes us not to be like them. There should be a compulsion in your heart to be in church when you should. Cultivate that personal discipline. God says it s important so it must be to you too. In the Old Testament, He said to the children of Israel, Thrice in the year shall all your men children appear before the Lord GOD, the God of Israel. For I will cast out the nations before thee, and enlarge thy borders: neither shall any man desire thy land, when thou shalt go up to appear before the LORD thy God thrice in the year (Exodus 34:23-24). Notice what He told them; He promised them those lands, through their fathers: Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. But the lands were occupied by enemy nations who were naturally stronger than Israel. However, God was going to cast out the nations from before them, give them their possessions, enlarge their borders and protect them. The blessing of verse twenty-four was fully dependent on their

45 obedience in verse twenty-three; their being in the designated place of worship when they should. It s all about priorities. This year, as you make it a priority to be present in your church, fellowship and cell-group meetings, God s mighty hand of protection will rest upon all that you do! His Word that ll come to you will lift you, and keep you perpetually above every evil, destruction, hardship and terror. You ll ride upon the high places of the earth, walking in abundance, and in the wisdom of the Spirit. Hallelujah! PRAYER Dear heavenly Father, I thank you for the opportunity to be instructed by your Word. Not only do I provoke those in my world to good works, I do not forsake the assembling of the church; the blessings of fellowship with you and with fellow believers is seen and manifested in my life, in Jesus Name. Amen. 1 YEAR BIBLE Mark 2:1-22 Leviticus YEAR BIBLE Matthew 14:34-15:1-9 Genesis 47 FURTHER STUDY: Psalm 133:1-3 Psalm 122:1 Leave comments on today's devotional

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58 FRIDAY 17 A Different Mind-set But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it (Numbers 14:24). hen God wanted to train and raise the children of WIsrael after bringing them out of Egypt, He used Moses. Why? The answer is simple: He needed somebody with a different mentality from what the children of Israel had. The children of Israel had the slave mentality, but Moses was different. He had been a prince in Pharaoh s palace. You couldn t take that away from him. Even though he had become a shepherd in the desert, he was a prince inside him; his mind-set was that of a prince. When he saw the strange sight of a bush burning, and yet the thicket wasn t consumed, he didn t run away terrified. Instead, he said,...i will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt (Exodus 3:3). He was fearless. Two other Bible characters after Moses, with a similar mind-set are Joshua and Caleb. They had the mentality of champions; they thought as victors. Read again the Spirit s commendation of Caleb in our opening verse. When they were sent to go spy out the land God had promised the children of Israel, they didn t deny that there were giants in the land. Howbeit, they saw the giants as bread. Their mentality was different. Whereas the other ten spies gave a faithless response when asked to describe the land, Joshua s and Caleb s response was from a standpoint of faith, inspired by a mind-set of victory. This is what the Word of God does in your life; it gives you a different mind-set; the mentality of victory and excellence.

59 The Word of God causes you to think and act right, because it s the wisdom of God; it s a force that propels you to do the will of God. The Word of God produces in you the wisdom (Greek: Phronesis ) of the righteous (Luke 1:17). Some Christians, even though they ve been made righteous, aren t functioning with the wisdom of the righteous. They have a carry-over from the world. And that s been their bane. Don t think sickness; don t think poverty; renew your mind with the Word, and keep declaring what God says about you, irrespective of circumstances. That s the wisdom of the righteous! PRAYER Dear Father, your Word causes me to think, talk, and act right. Your Word enriches me with the right mental attitude to situations and interpretations of those situations. I have the mind-set of the righteous; therefore, I display excellence, and triumph always in all things, in Jesus Name. Amen. 1 YEAR BIBLE Mark 2:23-3:1-12 Leviticus YEAR BIBLE Matthew 15:10-20 Genesis 48 FURTHER STUDY: Romans 12:2 Daniel 6:3 Leave comments on today's devotional

60 SATURDAY 18 Let Christ Stand Up In You 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). he real essence of Christianity is Christ in you, Tmanifesting and expressing Himself in, and through, you. The Christian is one who expresses, exudes, and demonstrates the life, nature, character, and righteousness of Christ. Thus, in appraising your spiritual growth, one of the things you check is how much your life depicts the righteousness or character of Christ. For example, in times of provocations, when you re offended, who stands up in you? You ought to let Christ stand up in you. Remember, as a new creation in Christ, you don t have two natures; you have only one: the Christ-nature. Your recreated human spirit is made in the image and likeness of Christ. Therefore, in all that you do, and at all times, refuse to yield to the flesh; rather, respond from your Christ-nature, with the fruit of the recreated spirit. When you talk, let Christ be heard. Let His love emit and effuse from your words and actions. Let His wisdom and righteousness overwhelm the hearts of your hearers as you speak only gracious and lifting words; let Him talk through you. Let Him see through your eyes. Let Him work with your hands. Violent people allow the beast to take over their lives. Never let the devil show up in you. Be like Jesus who said,...for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me (John 14:30). Remember: Satan has nothing in you; but Christ in you, the hope of glory.

61 PRAYER Dear Lord, thank you for blessing me and filling me with your love, righteousness, and indeed, with Yourself. I m gentle, patient, peaceful, loving, and kind. Your wisdom, grace, and glory are seen and heard in me. I express your beauty and love always. Christ is in me, and as He is, so am I in this world, in Jesus Name. Amen. 1 YEAR BIBLE Mark 3:13-35 Leviticus FURTHER STUDY: Proverbs 25:28 GNB Galatians 3:27 Ephesians 4: YEAR BIBLE Matthew 15:21-28 Genesis 49 Leave comments on today's devotional

62 SUNDAY 19 Strengthen Your Faith With The Word But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people (Luke 21:23). he Word of God is truth, irrespective of what your Texperiences might be. The Word never fails. There re people who say they pray, but never receive answers. Some others lament that they gave so much to God, but never received much in return. There re also those who say, I ve been speaking the Word concerning my healing for such a long time, yet I m sick. Now, if any of these applies to you, then here s something you should know: Your experience should never affect your confidence in the Word. As you grow in the knowledge of the Word, and keep the Word in your mouth, no circumstance can successfully stand against you. Just because it s been several days and there s still no change as you expect, doesn t mean it s failing. The Word never fails. You must understand that Christian growth and maturity are progressive. Acting your faith to get results isn t something you become perfect in at once; it gets better and easier as you keep at it. The reason for this has to do with your limited knowledge at the time, meaning, you don t know enough or there s too much you don t know on the subject you re dealing with. What you re supposed to do is to keep going for the Word, and keep exercising your faith. Keep strengthening your faith with the Word. For instance, at a certain time in your life, you might have tried to use your faith to get a certain amount of money,

63 but it didn t quite work. Don t be discouraged; grow your faith to the level where it can produce that amount when you want it! If it took you six months the first time, tell yourself, Next time, I ll get it in one month, or even less. Then, begin to study and meditate on the Word with your new goal in focus. That s how you train yourself in the faith-life. Never give up on the Word. Stand your ground, and be confident in its ability to prevail over circumstances and put you over all the time. CONFESSION I stand strong in faith, unshakeable and unmovable, because Christ is the solid rock on which I stand. My faith is hinged on God s infallible Word, and I live a life of victory, excellence, dominion, and power. I reign, and excel every day, in Jesus Name. Amen. 1 YEAR BIBLE Mark 4:1-20 Leviticus 15 FURTHER STUDY: 1 Timothy 4:8 1 John 4:4 Hebrews 11:6 2 YEAR BIBLE Matthew 15:29-39 Genesis 50 Leave comments on today's devotional

64 MONDAY 20 Stand For Him Whether any do enquire of Titus, he is my partner and fellowhelper concerning you: or our brethren be enquired of, they are the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ (2 Corinthians 8:23). hen God puts you in a particular place of work or Wbusiness, His interest isn t about your office, because that doesn t count in His Kingdom. What matters isn t whether you re the Managing Director or Chief Executive Officer; it s not about your rank or designation. What matters to God is how effective you are in using your office to promote His righteousness. He wants your passion for the Gospel, for which He sent His Son to die. Everywhere you are, you ought to be busy for the Lord. If you stand for Him, He ll stand for you. The Apostle Paul, in our opening verse, was commending the commitment of Titus and others who were with him on his missionary journeys. Paul was proud of their commitment to the Gospel. He said, they are the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ. What a testimony! They were the apostles of the churches, sent on missionary activities. It makes no difference where you are, and what you do; see yourself as a sent one; a minister of the Gospel. Stand for the Lord. Preach the Gospel. Minister the Word to those in your world. The Bible says He s made us...able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life (2 Corinthians 3:6). You re an oracle of God! You re His mouth-piece. Speak for Him! Do His work. Arise, and shine for the Lord! Do big things for Him. Be bold. Be daring. Nothing should be terrifying or intimidating

65 enough to keep you quiet. Preach the Gospel as though you re the only one the Lord is relying on to do it. Be an activist for Jesus Christ, bearing His message of faith, hope, and love. Fuel your passion for the Gospel and keep preaching it with all fervour, for the end is near. PRAYER Lord, your Word is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens. Your faithfulness continues through all generations, desiring men and women around the world to come to the knowledge of the truth. I stand firm in the faith, unashamed and undeterred to preach the Gospel and spread your righteousness around the world, in Jesus Name. Amen. 1 YEAR BIBLE Mark 4:21-41 Leviticus YEAR BIBLE Matthew 16:1-12 Exodus 1 FURTHER STUDY: 1 Corinthians 16:13 Matthew 10: Corinthians 4:8-9 Leave comments on today's devotional

66 TUESDAY 21 Live Happy And Joyful Every day Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory (1 Peter 1:8). ou re to live happy every day, and your happiness Yand joy should be independent of circumstances. Nothing, and no one, was created to make you happy; you re responsible for your joy and happiness. Never find yourself looking gloomy, and confused. Never carry on through the day with a disconsolate and restless attitude. Confusion and depression are the handiworks of the devil. Never allow them in your life. Instead, always allow the joy of the Lord well up in your heart. Be full of joy always! In John 15:11, Jesus said, These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. His desire is for you to be full of joy twenty-four hours a day, irrespective of the circumstances you face. He doesn t want you worried over anything. Some people love to worry. They think being worried is a sign of being responsible. They re worried about the children s school fees, worried about their job, worried about the state of their health, worried about their spouses, and worried about so many things. That s not the life of a Christian. The Christian has been brought into a life of rest, full of joy and glory. Philippians 4:4 says, Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. Even when you re faced with challenges, you re supposed to rejoice! He didn t say you should rejoice only when everything is all right; no. He said, Rejoice in the Lord always. If you couldn t rejoice

67 always, God wouldn t tell you to do so. It s natural to feel downcast when things don t seem to be all right; but it s the wisdom of God to rejoice even in the midst of troubles. Don t let anything weigh you down. Do what the Word says: Cast all your cares upon the Lord, because He cares for you (1 Peter 5:7). Whether the trouble is in your finances, health, family, academics, whatever it is, cast it on Him, and rejoice. Then, declare like David, The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want (Psalm 23:1). In the face of challenges or unpleasant situations, instead of wondering what to do and what the problem is, laugh! Laugh and laugh! Rejoice in the Holy Ghost, knowing that the joy of the lord is your strength. Hallelujah! CONFESSION The peace of God which surpasses all understanding keeps my heart and mind, in Christ Jesus. Good things are coming to me today from everywhere! I refuse to worry about anything, for the Lord has made all things mine! His joy is expressed lavishly through me today in every place. Glory to God! 1 YEAR BIBLE Mark 5:1-20 Leviticus FURTHER STUDY: Romans 14:17 1 John 1:4 James 1:2 2 YEAR BIBLE Matthew 16:13-20 Exodus 2 Leave comments on today's devotional

68 The Messenger Angel has been on an audacious journey of bringing the light of the Gospel to millions in the language they understand best. Just in 2016, the number of Rhapsody of Realities translations increased from 660 to 807 TRANSLATIONS and still counting! With so many languages available, Rhapsody of Realities partners have made it possible for many around the world to have access to God s Word as language barriers are removed. So much is required however to ensure that all translations of Rhapsody of Realities are distributed every month to everyone, everywhere. That s where you come in. Join Us In 2017 By: Sponsoring the monthly distribution of ALL languages in the mission field Sponsoring the acquisition of more languages Volunteering as a Translator or Editor? Distributing translated editions of Rhapsody of Realities? For more information on how to make a partnership commitment, kindly send an to rortranslators@loveworld360.com or rortranslations@blwinc.org

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70 WEDNESDAY 22 Pull From Your Reservoir Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom (Colossians 3:16). our reaction to challenges and adversities of life will Ybe to the extent of the Word of God you have inside you; the reservoir of the Word that s stored up in your spirit. In the day of crisis, you re to pull from that reservoir of the Word in you; meaning that your response would be ready-made, programmed ahead by the Word. Let s take for instance that a situation has arisen at work or in your finances or your health. What would your reaction be? Your reaction would be entirely based on what you ve stored in your reservoir. If you ve programmed yourself through the years with the Word, to understand, that come what may, greater is He that s in you than he that s in the world, there d be no room for fear. If you ve programmed yourself to understand that you re a partaker of the divine nature; an associate of the God-kind, you d not be afraid. Rather, you d begin to prophesy and declare the Word in and over that situation. The Word of God that you ve learnt, including the one you re learning right now, isn t for nothing. It ll put you over in the day of trouble. That s why the Word shouldn t only be in your head; allow it to permeate every fibre of your being, every bone of your body! Keep it in your heart and in your mouth always. If you notice any anomaly in any part of your body, from the reservoir in your spirit, release the Word: In the Name of Jesus, I m a partaker of the divine nature! The life of God is in every cell of my blood, in every bone of my body, and in every fibre of my being! I am uninfectable ; the

71 Holy Ghost perambulates in my body! The divine life is in my muscles! It s in my bones! It s in my skin! I m fully vitalised by the Holy Ghost! No devil can stand it when you make such bold, faith-filled declarations, from the reservoir of your spirit. Hallelujah! PRAYER Dear Lord, I m yielded to your Word to perfect its ministry in me, to permeate my entire being, producing life in me! Your Word is working in me strong, propelling me in the path of greatness as I fulfil my destiny in you, in Jesus Name. Amen. 1 YEAR BIBLE Mark 5:21-43 Leviticus FURTHER STUDY: Joshua 1:8 NIV Matthew 12:35 1 Timothy 1:18 2 YEAR BIBLE Matthew 16:21-28 Exodus 3 Leave comments on today's devotional

72 THURSDAY 23 An Extraordinary Authority For if by one man s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) (Romans 5:17). he literal translation of the word reign in the verse Tabove is taken from the root word Basileuo (Greek), and it means to king or be king. It s the verb of kingship. So, you could actually say, They which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall king or be kings in life. They re going to carry out the functions of a king; they ll reign and rule in life. That means you have an extraordinary authority. What you have to do is to learn about the authority you have. What s the implication and extent of this extraordinary authority? What does this give you? It bestows on you the gift of righteousness; righteousness makes us masters. The Bible says the law came by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ (John 1:17). He came with grace, and brought us righteousness as a gift. So, when you hear the Gospel and believe in Jesus Christ, you become the recipient and expression of His righteousness. Jesus came to reveal and demonstrate the righteousness of the Father. Now, He gives you that same nature, ability, and authority to carry on His ministry, to reveal and demonstrate His righteousness. He gave you the authority to do it. You have the ability to unveil the will, purpose and character of your heavenly Father. What a life! No wonder He said in John 20:23, Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained. He s made you the dispenser

73 of His goodness: His mercy, grace, love, and righteousness. Remember, you re an associate of the God-kind, in partnership with Him, therefore, it s perfectly legal for the Lord Jesus to give you the authority (the same authority that He had) to dispense good things. You re the expression of His glory, splendour, and divinity. Hallelujah! PRAYER Dear Father, I thank you for the extraordinary authority vested in me, to rule and reign as a king in life. I m a dispenser of your goodness; I manifest your glory, splendour and wisdom; your righteousness is expressed through me today, and always in Jesus Name. Amen. 1 YEAR BIBLE Mark 6:1-29 Leviticus 24 2 YEAR BIBLE Matthew 17:1-13 Exodus 4 FURTHER STUDY: 1 John 4:17 John 20:21-23 Leave comments on today's devotional

74 FRIDAY 24 Righteousness And Peace And the work of righteousness shall be peace (Isaiah 32:17). n the days of Moses, truth and judgment came Itogether; and if truth bore testimony against you, you were judged on the spot. But it s not so with the Gospel. The Bible says, Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other. Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven (Psalms 85:10-11). In the Gospel, mercy and truth have met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other. Romans 5:1 says, Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. The Greek word from where justified is translated is Dikaioo and it means to be acquitted and declared righteous. Which means since we re justified, acquitted, declared righteous and have right standing with God by faith, we have peace with Him through our Lord Jesus Christ. In other words, there s no enmity between you and God; the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ has set you at one with God. That s what the word peace or its Greek equivalent eirene, mean. It s to be set at one again, to be brought into harmony, concord, safety, felicity, and security with God. There s no need for you to be afraid that one day, God will recall all your wrongs and punish you as a result. No. You ve come home to Him; you re now at rest in Him through Christ Jesus. He made it possible; it s the work or result of His righteousness that you ve received: And the work of righteousness shall be peace (Isaiah 32:17). Being born again, you re now one with the Lord; He s brought you to Himself: Righteousness and peace have

75 kissed each other. There s a oneness now. Glory to God! PRAYER Dear Father, I thank you for the oneness I have with you! Being justified by faith; acquitted and declared righteous, I have peace with you; your righteousness has produced peace in me, and for me in your presence; peace with prosperity! I revel in the divine harmony, bliss and joy that you ve brought me into. Thank you for this awesome priviledge, in Jesus Name. Amen. 1 YEAR BIBLE Mark 6:30-56 Leviticus 25 2 YEAR BIBLE Matthew 17:14-21 Exodus 5 FURTHER STUDY: Psalm 85:11-13 John 14:27 Leave comments on today's devotional

76 SATURDAY 25 and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever. (Isaiah 32:17). O Faith The Effect Of Righteousness ur opening verse reminds of the true definition of faith in Hebrews 11:1 which says, Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Faith is the quiet, confident assurance of what we hope for and the reality of things yet unseen. That s the reason Jesus said, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you (Matthew 17:20). The effect of righteousness is faith; mountain-moving faith; with which you affirm that all things are possible unto you, living without fears, worries, conflicts, and agitations. Isaiah 54:14 says, In righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near thee. When you re established by God in righteousness, you become unshakeable and immovable (1 Corinthians 15:58). In the underlined portion of the verse above, the word for means because or whenever. In other words, you shall be far from oppression because you shall not fear. Why will you not fear? Because the effect of righteousness has produced quietness, assurance, and confidence in you forever; it has secured you in Christ. You re no longer in the arena of those who re oppressed by circumstances, situations of life, demon spirits, etc.; you re not under the oppression of

77 the enemy. Rather, you re in charge and in control. To walk in the consciousness of God s righteousness is to walk in glory, dominion, and the strength of God. Hallelujah! PRAYER Dear Father, I thank you for the effect of righteousness in my spirit. I m established in righteousness, therefore, I m far from oppression and from terror. Nothing is impossible to me, for I walk in the might, dominion and liberty of the Spirit, in Jesus Name. Amen. 1 YEAR BIBLE Mark 7:1-23 Leviticus FURTHER STUDY: Hebrews 11:1 (AMP) 2 Corinthians 3:5 1 Corinthians 15:58 2 YEAR BIBLE Matthew 17:22-27 Exodus 6 Leave comments on today's devotional

78 SUNDAY 26 Triumphant All The Way Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place (2 Corinthians 2:14). 1 John 4:4 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. Then Paul, by the Spirit, in a most poetic and inspiring manner submitted in Romans 8:35-37, Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?...nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. With this understanding, when you face tests, trials, and persecutions, when the fierce storms and pressures of life billow against you, refuse to be moved, because you re more than a conqueror. Your testimony is assured, because you re a victor in Christ Jesus. Nothing can overwhelm you, because the greater One lives in you and He causes you to triumph always, and in every place. It doesn t matter how much news of doom and gloom is propagated through the media; don t panic! The hardship, harsh economic conditions, wickedness, and terror in the world are not set against you, because you re not of this world. You belong to Christ. Christ is your country. And in Christ, you re triumphant all the way! Nothing can hinder or limit your victory, progress, and success. Read our opening verse again, this time, from the Message translation: And I got it, thank God! In the Messiah, in Christ, God leads us from place to place in one perpetual victory parade. This is your life in Christ! Your victory,

79 promotion, and prosperity in the midst of recession, inflation, and economic hardship is unstoppable. Blessed be God! CONFESSION I m full of the might and ability of the Spirit, who leads me in a perpetual victory parade. I m like a tree planted by the waters, that spreads out her roots by the river. I don t know when heat comes. I m prosperous and triumphant always in Christ Jesus! Hallelujah! 1 YEAR BIBLE Mark 7:24-8:1-13 Numbers YEAR BIBLE Matthew 18:1-11 Exodus 7 FURTHER STUDY: 1 John 5:4-5 2 Corinthians 2:14 (AMP) Leave comments on today's devotional

80 MONDAY 27 He s The Son Of God Indeed he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? (John 14:8-9). here re still many who don t know who Jesus really Tis; to them, He s a great religious leader. But Jesus isn t a mere religious leader or reformist; He s Himself God. You have to study the Word of God to discover this. In John 5:39, He said, search the Scriptures, for they testify of me. The Scriptures testify of Jesus as Deity; He s co-equal with God. John 1:1 says, In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. This is talking about Jesus; He s the living and incarnate Word. A certain preacher told the story of a professor who came to his church on a Sunday morning. After the sermon, the professor came to greet him, and he asked the professor, I hope you enjoyed the service? The professor replied, Yes I did, but I don t really believe the things you preached. Surprised, the preacher asked, Which amongst the things I said was difficult for you to accept? Well, about everything, replied the professor. Then the preacher said to him, Go and study the Bible for yourself; after you ve read through, come back and let s discuss. The man took the Bible home and spent several weeks reading the Scriptures. After reading from Genesis to Revelation, he made an appointment to see the Pastor again. When they met this time, before the Pastor could say anything, the professor submitted: Pastor, Jesus Christ is God! The Professor continued, You told me to study the Bible for myself, and I ve done that. I studied from Genesis to Revelation; my finding is what I m giving you: Jesus Christ is

81 God. He found out the truth. Glory to God! Jesus said, I and my Father are one (John 10:30). In our opening verse, He said, If you have seen me, you have seen the Father. He s one with the Father; that s the meaning of Son of God. Son of God doesn t just mean somebody born of God; it means one with His nature. You ve got to come to that point in your life where you recognise that Jesus is Himself God. The Bible declares that the fullness of the Godhead dwells in Him bodily; (Colossians 1:19, 2:9) He s the complete embodiment of Deity. Hallelujah! PRAYER Dear Lord Jesus, I worship and extol your majesty, for you re the great King; the Monarch of the universe; the mighty God. I adore you for who you are; the sum total of the divine perfection, powers, and attributes dwell in you permanently. I m forever grateful to be born with your nature, and life in my spirit; I worship you for this awesome privilege. Hallelujah! 1 YEAR BIBLE Mark 8:14-26 Numbers 3-4 FURTHER STUDY: John 1:1-5 Matthew 16:15-17 John 20: YEAR BIBLE Matthew 18:12-20 Exodus 8 Leave comments on today's devotional

82 TUESDAY 28 Light In A Dark World Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world (Philippians 2:14-15). ou re the light of the world; you re a city set on a hill Y(Matthew 5:14); meaning that you re the solution to the darkness in the world. The Bible says, For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people... (Isaiah 60:2). The gross darkness in the world is a sign that it s your time to arise, shine and light up your world. Romans 8:19 says, For the earnest expectation of the creation waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. The world is waiting for you to manifest the glory of God, to free it from the decay and corrupting influences of Satan. Psalm 74:20 says the dark places of the earth are filled with the habitations of cruelty. That s talking about spiritual darkness and wickedness that s prevalent in today s world. But when you show up, the darkness and cruelty are dispelled. When you come into the world of the unsaved, bearing the light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, salvation comes to them. Your light gives meaning, direction and beauty to your world. You re the light in a dark world. Jesus said,...as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you (John 20:21). He came to give our lives a meaning and then sent us as lights to bring glory, excellence and meaning to the lives of those around us. This is your ministry. This is your life. 1 Peter 2:9 AMP

83 declares, But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a dedicated nation, [God s] own purchased, special people, that you may set forth the wonderful deeds and display the virtues and perfections of Him Who called you out of darkness into His marvellous light. PRAYER Dear Father, I fulfil my calling, ministry and responsibility as the light of the world by expressing your righteousness, and impacting my world with the Gospel of your grace. I give meaning, direction, beauty, glory, and excellence to the lives of men in my world, turning them from the power of Satan unto you, and from darkness into light, in Jesus Name. Amen. 1 YEAR BIBLE Mark 8:27-38 Numbers 5 2 YEAR BIBLE Matthew 18: Exodus 9 FURTHER STUDY: Isaiah 60:1-3 Matthew 5:14-16 Leave comments on today's devotional

84 The global Gospel phenomenon, the LoveWorld Festival of Music and Arts, which commenced on the 24 th of April 2015, is a celebration of the beauty in the Body of Christ, highlighting the diverse and multifaceted talents of members of the Believers LoveWorld Nation from all around the world. The festival promotes and celebrates the creative spirit, while unearthing new talents and developing new stars in the areas of creativity such as music, dance, drama, comedy, performing arts, filmmaking, multimedia, and so much more. Get ready for another exhilarating experience with God s Spirit, as He demonstrates Himself in His manifold wisdom through His children at the LoveWorld Festival of Music and Arts 2017, taking place at the expansive Nasrec Expo Center in Johannesburg, South Africa, from April 27 th to 30 th. For more information on how to participate or attend, please visit:

85 PRAYER OF SALVATION We trust you have 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. 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) ;

86 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

87 FREE DISTRIBUTION REPORT MINISTERED TO ME Not so long ago, I was very discouraged, thinking about all the things that weren t going well in my life. I picked up my copy of Rhapsody of Realities and read it till I got to the mid-paged LoveWorld News magazine. There, I read the report of a free distribution of Rhapsody of Realities and it ministered to me. I m full of courage now. Thank you dear partners for making this happen to me; my spirit has been lifted. THE LORD SENT ME AN ANGEL -Patrick; England The Lord is gracious! I experienced a tremendous miracle in my life recently after suffering for a long time. One day, I opened my heart to the Lord Jesus, and prayed a simple prayer, saying: Lord Jesus, my heart is broken. Tell me what to do; send me your Angel to advise me. Soon enough, the Lord Jesus sent me the messenger angel Rhapsody of Realities and my life hasn t been the same ever since. Praise the Lord! -Aliza N.; Belgium GOD S WORD DELIVERED ME FROM INCESSANT LUST Last year, while struggling with incessant lust, I was studying Rhapsody of Realities and came across an article where the man of God talked about inner sins and outward sins. He said God can see inward sins even when others don t see them. I applied the Word to the situation I faced, and meditated intently on other scriptures connected to the Christian s victory over sin. I felt fire going through me, and since then I ve been free from lust. Praise God! -Jacob D.; Ghana

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