The Joy Of The Lord In Your Spirit Saturday, April 21th

These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full (John 15:11).

In life, people naturally seek to be joyfully fulfilled. Some try to find it in their job, family, possessions or friends. Some others live in servitude to the judgments or opinion of others about them. When others say or do nice things to them or for them, they’re happy; but at the slightest feeling of rejection they become bitter, resentful and frustrated. Never live your life that way. Your joy should be independent of circumstances and the opinions of others about you.

James 1:2 says, ‘’…count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations.’’ The Apostles, and even the Lord Jesus endured serious persecution and rejection, yet they remained undaunted in their resolve to fulfill God’s dream. Even after the Apostles were openly ridiculed and beaten for preaching the Gospel, the Bible says they were filled with joy to be counted worthy to suffer shame for His Name (Acts 5:40-41). That wasn’t ordinary joy; it was the joy of the Lord in their spirits. If you ever feel discouraged, downcast, or rejected, all you have to do is to consciously activate the joy of the Lord from within and you’ll be strengthened. You don’t have to wait for anything or anyone to make you joyful; evoke joy from within.

Never be dissatisfied or unhappy because of the challenging circumstances you might be facing or the ill treatment you get from others! You’re more than a conqueror; therefore no adversity can overwhelm you. When trouble comes, laugh; and then say like Paul, ‘’None of these things move me…’’ (Acts 20:24), because you know you’re a victor. God has given you joy that isn’t dependent on the situations around you; joy that flows from your spirit as gushers of living water. So live joyfully every day and be exuberant about life.

Prayer

The joy of the Lord is my strength, and I rejoice in Him today, for He has filled my life with His goodness. I refuse to be perturbed about anything because I’ve cast all my cares upon the Lord, who is my caretaker and provider! Amen.

Further Study

Psalm 16:11; John 14:27

1 Year Bible Reading Plan:

Luke 19:1-27

1 Samuel 14-15

2 Year Bible Reading Plan:

Romans 14:1-11

Psalm 119-1-64

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See And Receive Friday, April 20th

Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Jeremiah, what seest thou? And I said, I see a rod of an almond tree. Then said the Lord unto me, Thou hast well seen: for I will hasten my word to perform it. (Jeremiah 1:11-12).

Ephesians 1:3 tells us that God has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. The Apostle Paul refers to them as the things that are freely given to us of God (1 Corinthians 2:12). These include spiritual, physical, and material blessings. Being born again, you’ve become Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise’’ (Galatians 3:29).

You’ve been blessed with faithful Abraham (Galatians 3:9); there’s not a blessing from God that’s not already yours in Christ Jesus. However, you have to first see and lay hold of God’s blessings with your spirit, through the eyes of faith, to enjoy them. God’s Word is spiritual, and it’s made for the human spirit; it imparts faith to your spirit. No one can fully describe from a human point of view how the Word of God imparts faith! There’s a spiritual chemistry to it; a reaction of the spirit to the Word of God that produces undeniable results.

Faith comes through the Word (Romans 10:17), and as you keep hearing the Word, it brings you a picture of your desires; a picture of possibilities. At such times, it’s important you apprehend what you see. Faith is the substance of things hoped for; that hope is the picture of your desire, and it will come to you through the Word. When it comes, and you accept, confess and endorse the reality of what you’ve seen, it becomes established. If it’s healing you need for your body, or increase in your finances; whatever it may be, see and receive it from the Word. This is how you receive all of the spiritual blessings contained in God’s Word for you.

Prayer

Dear Father, thank you for all the blessings that are mine in Christ Jesus; thank you for opening my eyes to recognize and take a hold of them by faith! I walk in divine health, promotion and prosperity today, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Further Study

Genesis 13:15; 2 Corinthians 3:18 (WEB)

1 Year Bible Reading Plan:

Luke 18:15-43
1 Samuel 11-13

2 Year Bible Reading Plan:

Romans 13:1-14

Psalm 115-118

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True Success Foundation Thursday, April 19th

For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 3:11).

There’re several books and teachings on success written by men without spiritual insight or scriptural foundation. Sadly, some Christians spend a great deal of time brooding through such materials in search of success principles, not caring to find out if these authors themselves succeeded through their own prescriptions on success. Only God’s Word can make you a true success.

Human knowledge of wisdom can’t make you a permanent success in life. You need the Holy Spirit, the author of life Himself, to teach you through His Word, how to be successful in life. Psalm 39:5, says ‘’…verily, every man at his best state is altogether vanity.’’ Human wisdom or expertise is not enough to put you over in life. You’d have to go for the wisdom of God. Proverbs 4:7 says, ‘’wisdom is the principle thing; therefore get wisdom…’’ and wisdom is the Word of God.

The world’s economies are in shambles today, in spite of the great works of the best economists and financial teachers of the world. All the economic theories and postulations are crumbling because they were founded on man’s wisdom. God has given us His Word to teach us how to live a joyous, successful, vibrant, and prosperous life on earth! If you’d only follow the Lord and live by His Word, you’ll be a success and you’ll have no fear of tomorrow!

Joshua 1:8 unveils God’s tested and guaranteed recipe for unending success: ‘’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.’’ God has given you everything you’d ever need for a successful life; but they’re all wrapped up in the Word. So get the Word into your spirit; it’s the only sure foundation for a successful, victorious and prosperous life; there’s none other.

Prayer

My life is built on the Word of God; the sure foundation for success. When the storms of life billow against me, I’ll not be moved because I stand secure in the Word, conscious that the greater One indwells me! Of the increase of my success and progress, there shall be no end, because I have made the Word my stay and my meditation! Blessed be the Name of the Lord!

Further Study

2 Peter 1:3; 1 Timothy 4:15

1 Year Bible Reading Plan:

Luke 17:20-18:1-14
1 Samuel 8-10

2 Year Bible Reading Plan:

Romans 12:5-21

Psalm 111-114

dont-settle-for-less

The Only Hope For Salvation Wednesday, April 18th

Pastor Anita

Salvation is to be found through him alone; in all the World there is no one else whom God has given who can save us (Act 4:12 BNB).

Some people say Jesus is to the Christians what certain religious leaders are to the various religions of the world; but this is not true. First, Jesus is not a religious leader, He is God. He is ‘’The Way, The Truth, and The Life!’’ He didn’t come to establish or spearhead a religion; for Christianity is not a religion. He was the only one perfect enough to be sacrificed for the sins of the whole world. It’s wrong for any one to call him a great religious leader because He’s Himself God; and except by Him, no one can be saved!

Notice Acts 4:12 doesn’t say, ‘’There is no other name under heaven given among Christians whereby they must be saved’’; rather it says ‘’given among men…’’ That’s referring to every man, woman, boy and girl on the face of the earth; Jesus is their only hope for salvation. The words of the Lord Jesus in John 14:6 clearly emphasizes this: ‘’…I am the way, the truth, and the life, no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.’’

God only answers when you pray in the Name of Jesus. No matter how long a man may pray or how ‘’dedicated’’ he may seem, he has no communication link with the Father except through Jesus. So for the dying and hurting world, Jesus isn’t one of the ways; He is the only way. Irrespective of ones background, colour, ethnicity or geographical location, there’s only one way of salvation. It’s confessing the Lordship of Jesus over your life and believing in your heart that God raised Him from the dead (Romans 10:9-10).

Prayer

Dear Father, I worship you today for your greatness and goodness in my life. Thank you for your grace of salvation, which you’ve made available to all men. May your Name be forever glorified, worshipped, adored and celebrated as more and more people embrace the knowledge of salvation that’s in Christ, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Further Study

Romans 10:9-10; Romans 1:16

1 Year Bible Reading Plan:

Luke 17:1-19
1 Samuel 3-7

2 Year Bible Reading Plan:

Romans 11:25-36; 12:1-4

Psalm 109-110

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 saved-in-childbearing

Live Stress-free Tuesday, April 17th

Pastor Chris

Take my yoke upon you…For my yoke is easy. And my burden is light (Mathew 11:29-30).

The instructions and responsibilities God gives you are not burdensome at all. 1 John 5:3 says His commandments are not grievous. He’ll never ask you to do something that’s beyond your ability. All He asks is that you trust in His Word and act your faith. That’s how simple the kingdom life is; you don’t have to toil.

Think about it: All the sins you ever committed were automatically blotted out by the blood of Christ! As numerous and terrible as they were, all you had to do was to confess with your mouth the Lordship of Jesus, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, and you became a new creation (Romans 10:9). You became righteous in an instant, and were translated into the glorious liberty of the sons of God. Now, you have dominion over Satan and the cohorts of darkness; glory to God!

If it was that simple for you to receive salvation and have eternal life imparted to your spirit, then you have to agree that life in the kingdom is that way too. All you have to do is receive and appropriate for yourself all the wonderful blessings of salvation: wholeness, preservation, health, peace, deliverance, safety, security, victory, success, and prosperity! All these and more are included in the salvation package!

The Word ‘’Lord’’ doesn’t only mean boss; it also means bread-provider, protector and caretaker. So when you declare that Jesus is Lord of your life, you’re saying His your bread-provider, Protector, Caretaker and the One who has responsibility over your life. It’s that easy. Don’t think it’s too simple to be true. Live without stress today and always.

Prayer

Precious Father, I thank you for your goodness and the opportunity you’ve given me to bask in your blessings and live the good life you’ve freely made available to me in Christ. I lay all burdens at your feet, and choose the stress-free life! Thank you for taking charge of my family, health, finances and all that concerns me; I live in absolute joy today, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Further Study

Psalms 84:5; Proverbs 3:5

1 Year Bible Reading Plan:

Luke 16
1 Samuel 1-2

2 Year Bible Reading Plan:

Romans 11:10-24

Psalm 107-108

It Pays To Act Your Faith Monday, April 16th

Pastor Chris

For as the body without spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also (James 2:26).

Faith is active, not passive. It’s the action you take as the result of the Word of God that has come to your spirit. So when you say you have faith, you must act on the word, because faith without corresponding action is dead. It’s like the guy who after he had prayed, said, ‘’I believe that I have received’’; and then he goes away crestfallen; looking forlorn and dejected. His action shows that he didn’t receive. When you receive from God, you must act like it. Jesus said, ‘’…ask, and ye shall receive…’’ (John 16:24). That means ask and take it; and if you have actually taken it, you start acting like it.

When you start acting your faith, you may look foolish for a while, but not acting your faith at all will make you truly foolish. Look at blind Bartimaeus; he cried out, ‘’Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.’’ Everyone tried to hush him up, but he wouldn’t give up; he yelled even louder, until his cry of faith got the Master’s attention, and He healed him (Luke 18:40-43). Remarkably, in the forty-third verse, the same people who had tried to stop him, rejoice and gave praise to God after they saw his miracle: ‘’…and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.’’ No one is ever a fool for faith.

It reminds me of something that happened many years ago while we went out on a crusade. During the meeting, I asked those who couldn’t walk to be brought forward, so I could pray for them. An elderly woman, who was blind, raised her stick and started yelling out, ‘’Jesus, open my eyes.’’

I said, ‘’no, I’m only calling for those who couldn’t walk,’’ but she wouldn’t budge. She kept yelling, ‘’Jesus open my eyes,’’ using her walking stick as a guide to make her way to the front. The ushers tried to stop her, but like Blind Bartimaeus, she yelled even louder. That night! She received her sight; her blind eyes opened up!

You may be ridiculed for acting your faith, but it’s for the moment; wait until you get what you’re asking for. The glory and joy of that miracle will completely overwhelm the ridicule. I was told of a certain woman who, as she made her way into one of our meetings, said to the cameraman, ‘’Record me now, because when I go into the meeting, I’m coming out different.’’ She was sick, invalid, but full of faith; and sure enough, during the service, she received a touch from the Lord and was gloriously healed, It pays to act your faith.

Confession

My faith is active, producing results and prevailing over circumstances as I put it to work today! I walk in victory, dominion and strength because I live by the faith of the son of God; His Word dwells richly in my heart, building my faith strong. I’m thus positioned for the triumphant life in Christ; blessed be God!

Further Study

James 2:20-26

1 Year Bible Reading Plan:

Luke 15:11-32

Ruth 1-4

2 Year Bible Reading Plan:

Romans 10:16-21; 11:1-9

Psalm 105-106

Create Your Victorious Life Sunday, April. 15th

Pastor Anita

And Jesus said unto them…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 (Mathew 17:20).

For the new creation in Christ, nothing is impossible. You can change the circumstances and conditions of your life and environment to suit you. There’re those who thing it’s impossible to live triumphantly, reigning and winning every day in life; but that’s the life Jesus brought to us.

If your current experience in life isn’t consistent with what the Word teaches, you can effect a change. The first thing you have to do is to picture yourself living in the reality of what the Word says about you. Contemplate the level of success and victory you want to attain and see yourself functioning at that level. When circumstances around you seem to contradict what you see in your spirit, compel your mind to focus on the right picture and declare God’s Word concerning you and that situation.

Have confidence in the Word and be bold to dream big. Have a picture of the way you want your life to be: Your job, business, accommodation, transportation, dressing, communication; all the detail about your life! Have an excellent picture for each of them and talk them into being! You may ask, ‘’Is it that simple?’’ Of course; you can create the kind of life you want to have through the imaginative power of God that has been deposited in you.

During one of our nights of Bliss programmes in the United Kingdom, Pastor Chris taught on the ‘’The Power Of Thoughts’’; a very enlightening message! You can order a copy at www.christembassyonlinestore.org; it’ll further help you to understand how you can create your victorious life of success and fulfillment for yourself and others through the Word.

Prayer

Blessed Father, I thank you for your Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. I refuse to be troubled or worried by circumstances because with the Word in my mouth, I can change negative situations and create a suitable life of glory, victory, and fulfillment, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Further Study

Joshua 1:8; Mark 11:23

1 Year Bible Reading Plan:

Luke 14:25-15:1-10

Judges 19-21

2 Year Bible Reading Plan:

Romans 10:1-15

Psalm 103-104