Rhapsody of Realities 25 February 2019 By Pastor Chris Oyakhilome – Spirit-Controlled At All Times
Topic: Spirit-Controlled At All Times
…be filled with the [Holy] Spirit and constantly guided by Him(Ephesians 5:18 AMP).
A dear lady was very angry with another Christian sister, and as they bandied words, she said to her neighbour, “Any more word from you, I will drop this Bible, and smack your face!” Meanwhile, she wasn’t holding a physical Bible, but she meant that she’d keep aside whatever caution the Bible gives, and hit her.
What does that show? It shows the Word wasn’t yet in her heart; it was still in the Bible. When the Word is in you, you can’t drop it; it’s your life. Every Christian wants, and should live the life that’s Spirit-ruled and Spirit-controlled; the life that’s filled with God. That’s what Christianity is: Christ alive and at work in you, such that you’re always under the sway and regulation of the Spirit; not such things as anger, wrath and malice.
Don’t be controlled by your feelings or emotions; be Spirit-ruled. It makes no difference how angry you are; hold yourself in; it’s called in 2 Peter 1:6 “egkrateia” (Greek). The Bible says, “Be ye angry, and sin not…” (Ephesians 4:26). In other words, “Manage your anger.” You can be tempted to be angry, tempted to act in a way that’s inappropriate for a Christian, but if you walk in the spirit, you’ll not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
How do you walk in the spirit? It’s by walking in the Word of God; walking in the light of God’s Word. You’re in Christ now; walk in love. Be Spirit-ruled, and Spirit-controlled at all times. Read our opening verse again and notice how often we should be filled with the Spirit: always! When you’re filled with the Spirit, you have a Spirit-controlled life. Hallelujah!
CONFESSION I’m full of the Spirit. I’m patient and full of divine wisdom; I express the beauty and excellence of divinity through my words and actions every day, being continually led of the Spirit, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY: Romans 8:13; Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 4:1 NIV
1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Mark 7:1-23 & Leviticus 26-27
2 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Matthew 17: 22-27 & Exodus 6
Rhapsody of Realities 25th February 2019 Devotional was written by Pastor Pastor Chris Oyakhilome (D.Sc., D.D.). President of Loveworld Inc. aka Christ Embassy Int’l.
The Cuban government has accused church leaders of being mercenaries and counter-revolutionaries by not giving their overwhelming support for the new document.
If introduced, the constitution would re-introduce the role of a prime minister, limit the president to two five-year terms, protect private property and establish discrimination laws. State media have largely supported ‘yes’ to adopting it.
Clergy have been less enthusiastic because of a fear that it will weaken the rights to freedom of religion.
Many Church leaders have reported receiving phone calls threatening them with arrest and imprisonment if they do not instruct their congregations to vote ‘yes’ in the vote on 24th February.
On Wednesday, the president of the Western Baptist Convention received a call from the Deputy Head of the Office of Religious Affairs, Sonia García García, who belongs to a wing of the Cuban Communist Party.
She told him:”from now on Carlos Sebastián [the president’s colleague, the General Secretary] will no longer be treated as a pastor, but as a counter-revolutionary.”
After that, General Secretary Rev. Carlos Sebastián Hernández Armas told the religious freedom charity Christian Solidarity Worldwide: “I have total confidence that, even in Cuba, God reigns. Pray for me and my family…my wife and I have spoken and prayed because at any moment they could take me prisoner.”
Meanwhile, a Baptist pastor in Baracoa, Revd Michel García Avilés, has…
Fast Facts: Brushy Creek will celebrate its 225th anniversary next month on March 17, 2019. The church was founded in 1794, when George Washington was president. It’s also known as the “Mother Church of Greenville,” having planted several churches throughout South Carolina during its long history. Please pray for the anniversary celebration as well as their upcoming Easter service at the local minor league baseball park, Fluor Field, in downtown Greenville, SC.
“Pray for . . .” is the Sunday blog series at ThomRainer.com. We encourage you to pray for these churches noted every Sunday. Please feel free to comment that you are praying as well.
Francis also pledged to end the cover-ups by their superiors and prioritise victims of this “brazen, aggressive and destructive evil”.
Francis delivered his remarks at the end of Mass before 190 Catholic bishops and religious superiors who were summoned to Rome after more abuse scandals sparked a credibility crisis in the Catholic hierarchy and in Francis’ own leadership.
The Jesuit pope noted that the vast majority of sexual abuse happens in the family.
And he offered a global review of the broader societal problem of sexual tourism and online pornography, in a bid to contextualise what he said was once a taboo subject.
But he said the sexual abuse of children becomes even more scandalous when it occurs in the Catholic Church, “for it is utterly incompatible with her moral authority and ethical credibility”.
“We need to recognise with humility and courage that we stand face-to-face with the mystery of evil, which strikes most violently against the most vulnerable, for they are an image of Jesus,” he said.
Francis summoned the bishops from around the world to the four-day meeting to impress upon them that clergy sex abuse and cover-ups are not just a problem in some countries but a global problem that threatens the very mission of the Catholic Church.
“Brothers and sisters, today we find ourselves before a manifestation of brazen, aggressive and destructive evil,”…
The lobby group Christian Action Research and Education (CARE) say the law should change to criminalise the buyer, not the seller, of sex.
Currently, it is only possible for a purchaser of sex to be committing a crime if the ‘seller’ is subjected to force, either by them, the owner of a brothel or someone who trafficked them into it. The buyer can be prosecuted regardless of whether they knew of the exploitation or not.
It is also illegal to sell someone else’s body for sexual services, to use exploitation or to gain from someone else’s sexual services.
In Northern Ireland though, buying sex, whether the seller is willing or not, became illegal in June 2015.
CARE argue that whether a prostitute has been ‘subjected to force’ is not always obvious and want to see similar laws to those in Northern Ireland in the rest of the UK.
They say many women (and some men) have fallen into prostitution after being abused as children, difficult or traumatic childhoods or after suffering from other vulnerabilities such as substance abuse, debt or homelessness.
This is something the Crown Prosecution Service highlight in their approach to prostitution, saying: “The CPS focuses on the prosecution of those who force others into prostitution, exploit, abuse and harm them. Our joint approach with the police, with the support of other agencies, is to help those involved in…
Engaging the Force of Prayer for Fulfillment of Prophecy! By David Oyedepo
Topic: Engaging the Force of Prayer for Fulfillment of Prophecy!
Welcome to the final teaching for the month! I hope you were blessed by the last teaching. Today, we shall focus on: Engaging the Force of Prayer for Fulfillment of Prophecy!
We understand from scriptures that prayer is a force in the hand of the believer when approached scripturally. It is one of God’s covenant tools for the realisation of our glorious destinies in Christ. Jesus told His disciples in Matthew 13:24-28: Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? Everything contrary to good in the life of the believer is the work of the enemy. The devil is the believer’s number one enemy and the Bible warns us against him: Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8). So, behind that setback, that unending struggle and those continuous breakdowns is ‘an enemy’. But why is he so determined and hell-bent in seeing us fail? The Bible gives us the answer in Isaiah 5:1-2: Now will I sing to my wellbeloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard. My wellbeloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill: And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes. That is why the enemy is interested in us! He is jealous because we are God’s choicest vine. By redemption, through the blood of Jesus, we are planted on a most fruitful hill. Not only that, we are fenced and protected. God has invested His best in us. The Bible also tells us in Psalm 92:13-14: Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing; No wonder the enemy is so jealous! He wants us down like himself. Just like he did not rest until he got Adam out of the Garden of Eden, he has vowed not to rest until he gets us off the course of our destiny. However, the devil can be stopped and arrested. Since force is the only language he understands, God has placed the force of prayer in our hands, to put him where he belongs.
How then can we engage the Force of Prayer for Fulfillment of Prophecy?
Arise: It takes knowledge to have victory in any conflict of life. The first thing we need to know in the war against the thief of our glorious destiny is that we must arise. As it is written: Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him (Psalm 68:1). If the enemies will not scatter until God arises, how then do we think they will scatter in our case without us arising? We can’t keep watching that unpleasant situation in our lives go on, we must arise. No matter how great the revelation we have received from God, if we don’t build up a resistance against the enemy, we will never have a breakthrough. God has spoken some things to us and we are sure of His leading and instructions, but the enemy is standing on the way, saying, ‘You won’t get in there.’ Then we need to arise to the challenge because if we do nothing, we will get nothing. If we fold our hands at the opposition, we will end up in stagnation and deprivation. Right now, certain forces might seem to be resisting every move we make or everything might seem to be working against us, in spite of all our input. I’m glad to let you know that prayer is a major force for fighting all oppositions off your territory and consequently triumphing in life. A time came in Matthew 17, when the disciples of Jesus could not cast out an evil spirit even though they had been empowered to do so in chapter 10. Satan was blocking their access to results in ministry. They asked Jesus “Why could not we cast him out?” He answered them saying: …Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, 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. Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting (Matthew 17:20-21). The three forces outlined for victory are faith, prayer and fasting. These forces enhance effectual prayers.
In summary, many erroneously think that in Christianity everything is delivered on a platter of gold, it is not so. Things don’t just happen; they are made to happen (1 Corinthians 1:9). However, being a Christian does not exempt us from warfare; it only gives us an edge over the opposition. Warfare is inevitable, but victory is guaranteed. So, the obstacles are real, the victories are also real. Thus, you must be born again. Are you born again? If you are not, this is an opportunity to do so. Simply say the following prayer: Lord Jesus, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me my sins. Cleanse me with Your precious Blood. Today, I accept You as my Lord and personal Saviour. Thank You Jesus for saving me! Now I know I am born again!”
For further reading, please get my books: Winning Prayer, Satan Get Lost, and Born to Win. I invite you to come and fellowship with us at the Faith Tabernacle, Canaanland, Ota, the covenant home of Winners. We have four services on Sundays, holding at 6:00 a.m., 7:50 a.m., 9:40 a.m., and 11:30 a.m. respectively. I know this teaching has blessed you.
Write and share your testimony with me through: Faith Tabernacle, Canaanland, Ota, P.M.B. 21688, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria; or call 01-4548070, 01-4548280; or E-mail:[email protected]; Face book: www.facebook.com/davidoyedepoministries/; Twitter: @DavidOyedepoMin
David O. Oyedepo is a Nigerian Christian author, architect, preacher, and the founder and presiding bishop of the mega church, Living Faith Church Worldwide, also known as Winners’ Chapel
The church’s governing body, the General Synod, voted in favour of a motion on Saturday to speak out publicly against racism and hate crimes directed against Gypsies, Irish Travellers and Roma.
The Synod voted overwhelmingly in favour of the motion, with 265 supporting it and one voting against.
The Bishop of Chelmsford, Stephen Cottrell – who put forward the motion, told the synod: “If one of us in any situation was to use racist language about some other person or group, it is very likely in today’s society that we would, and rightly so, be immediately called out.
“Racism against Travellers and Roma and Gypsies is still tolerated.
“The Equality and Human Rights Commission have found that discrimination and racism towards Gypsies and Travellers is common, frequently overt and seen as justified.
“The police have said that a prejudice against Gypsies and Travellers in endemic in our society, and often fuelled by stereotypes in the media.”
A report by Anglia Ruskin University was cited, which found that nine out of every 10 Traveller children had experienced racist abuse.
He then added: “Sorrowfully, we, the church of God are no exception, there are examples of the racist hostility and exclusion meted out by the church.
“Gypsy, Traveller and Roma people deserve particular support, hence the motions call to the leadership of the church to speak on these issues for…
The church’s governing body, the General Synod, voted in favour of a motion on Saturday to speak out publicly against racism and hate crimes directed against Gypsies, Irish Travellers and Roma.
The Synod voted overwhelmingly in favour of the motion, with 265 supporting it and one voting against.
The Bishop of Chelmsford, Stephen Cottrell – who put forward the motion, told the synod: “If one of us in any situation was to use racist language about some other person or group, it is very likely in today’s society that we would, and rightly so, be immediately called out.
“Racism against Travellers and Roma and Gypsies is still tolerated.
“The Equality and Human Rights Commission have found that discrimination and racism towards Gypsies and Travellers is common, frequently overt and seen as justified.
“The police have said that a prejudice against Gypsies and Travellers in endemic in our society, and often fuelled by stereotypes in the media.”
A report by Anglia Ruskin University was cited, which found that nine out of every 10 Traveller children had experienced racist abuse.
He then added: “Sorrowfully, we, the church of God are no exception, there are examples of the racist hostility and exclusion meted out by the church.
“Gypsy, Traveller and Roma people deserve particular support, hence the motions call to the leadership of the church to speak on these issues for…
Congregations will be asked to pray for the country as Britain approaches 29th March.
Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby said “life will go on” after Brexit and the nation must rise to the challenge and unite around a common good that cares for the most vulnerable.
A church spokesman said the move would wedge support behind politicians, with healthy conversations taking place to try to ease unrest.
The Synod members urged churchgoers to pray for “all who are in high positions, as it is easier to stand on the sidelines and judge, as we do not have to make the decisions”.
Speaking at the meeting of the Church of England’s General Synod, he said Britain was facing signs of division “more clearly than for generations”.
The Archbishop said: “Today we see signs of division, perhaps more clearly than for generations in peace time, they concern inequality and injustice and they obscure hope for many.
“There is exclusion from the sense of common purpose and of equal rights in our society, politically, economically and socially.
“Life will go on, and God’s mission is not stopped by such events, rather we are called to rise to the challenge here and across Europe, where the diocese is particularly affected.
“Brexit has revealed how our politics and society have for many decades not paid sufficient attention to the common good that is shared life in a society in which…
Topic: We Are Priests and Kings [TREM Devotional 24 February 2019]
“And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.” Revelation 5:10 KJV
According to our scriptural text today, in Christ, we have been made kings and priests so that we can reign on earth. The Bible doesn’t say we will reign in heaven. We shall reign on the earth. There is only one person that will reign in heaven: that is the King of kings and the Lord of lords. Jesus is the only person that will reign in heaven. To Him alone be all the glory. When we get to heaven, it will not be two of you struggling for the throne. All of us will cast down our crowns at His feet because He alone deserves all the glory.
We shall reign on earth! What does that really mean? It means: rule in the midst of your enemies. It means to rule in the midst of sickness. Rule over barrenness! Rule over miscarriage. Rule over every disappointment. Rule in the midst of any challenge. Rule in the midst of witches and wizards. I don’t get it when I hear believers magnify witches above Jesus or believers magnifying native doctors above Jesus. Someone tells you: “you shall see” and you are frightened. Someone takes off his shoes and says ‘I curse you’ and you are frightened. When you should just walk away because of whom you know you are, and say: “I won’t dignify you with an answer because I know in whom I have believed. I know who is living inside me. I know who I am.”
Do you know that as a believer, your mere presence frightens the devil? But if you don’t know it and you are afraid, that is what strengthens him against you. The devil knows a believer who knows his rights and privileges. He knows the believer who refuses to give him any respect. Whatever the enemy has packaged against you is destroyed. Your story will not end in shame.
Further Reading: Revelation 1:4-8; 5:9-14
Daily Bible Reading: Morning- Numbers 7-8; Evening- Mark 4:21-41
Written by Dr. Mike Okonkwo; Is the Presiding Bishop of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM); a versatile man of God with over 30 years of dedicated service unto the Lord.
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