diariesofagirlinlovewithjesus: Recent Episodes
Phelister Onyango
DATE: THURSDAY 18 MAY 2023TOPIC: FAITH AND A GOOD CONSCIENCEKEY VERSE: _Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck (1 Timothy 1:19)._MESSAGE:From our theme scripture, we observe the connection between faith and a good conscience. You need both for a balanced and effective Christian life. Your conscience is the voice of your spirit. Your conscience can be trusted, but it’ll only be dependable if your spirit is educated with the Word of God.Some people do terrible things; they sponsor or participate in acts of wickedness, violence and bloodshed. And their conscience allows them to do such things. Why? It’s because of the condition of their spirits. Their conscience has been educated to permit such evil and wickedness. Their conscience has been seared with a hot iron (1Timothy 4:2). But if your spirit is conditioned by the Word of God, you’ll have the voice of God in your heart, and it’ll be different.The Bible says out of your heart-your spirit-are the issues of life (Proverbs 4:23). It’s therefore important that you train your spirit with the Word to be a sure guide. Never allow negative thoughts and ideas – thoughts of bitterness, wickedness, evil, violence or terror-grow in you.Colossians 3:16 says._“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly….”_ Store the Word of God richly in your heart, and you’ll be able to bring every negative thought into captivity to the obedience of the Word (2 Corinthians 10:5). Hallelujah!CONFESSION:The Word of God has imparted wisdom to my spirit and renewed my mind to think divine thoughts; thoughts that are consistent with God’s eternal purpose and will for my life! I bring forth good things from within my spirit today, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.FURTHER STUDYProverbs 4:20-23_20- My son, attend to my words; consent and submit to my sayings.__21- Let them not depart from your sight; keep them in the center of your heart.__22- For they are life to those who find them, healing and health to all their flesh.__23- Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life._1 Timothy 1:19 AMPC_19- Holding fast to faith (that leaning of the entire human personality on God in absolute trust and confidence) and having a good (clear) conscience. By rejecting and thrusting from them [their conscience], some individuals have made shipwreck of their faith._1 Timothy 4:15 AMPC_15- Practice and cultivate and meditate upon these duties; throw yourself wholly into them [as your ministry], so that your progress may be evident to everybody._1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:John 8:31-47 &1 Kings 222-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:Mark 11:1-11 & Numbers 21
DATE: WEDNESDAY 17 MAY 2023TOPIC: PROPHECY AS A WEAPONKEY VERSE: _This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare (1 Timothy 1:18)._MESSAGE:The Bible says,_“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not was after the flesh”_ (2 Corinthians 10:3). In other words, though we live in the human body, our war isn’t according to the flesh. Then the 4th verse tells us about the weapons of our warfare:_“(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds).”_ These weapons aren’t manmade or invented by human understanding; rather, they operate through God to the pulling down of strongholds.It doesn’t matter what kind of strongholds they are; whether they be intellectual strongholds, mental strongholds, political strongholds, scientific strongholds, or medical strongholds! We have weapons to dislodge these evil strongholds and render them ineffective and futile. Hallelujah!The Holy Spirit, through the Apostle Paul, tells us about one of these effectual weapons of our warfare in our opening scripture- prophecy! Use prophecies as a weapon as you wage spiritual warfare by faith. God’s Word about you is prophecy. Therefore, always speak forth His Word.The Word of God from your lips is the sword of the Spirit (the “rhema” of God. This is an inspired utterance of the Word of God from your mouth. It’s a prophetic word. With it, you chart your course in life from glory to glory. You can re-frame and re-plan your life. You can override the sequence of unpalatable events in vour life or circumstances.What has God said about vou? What has He said about lost souls? What has He said about your situation? Use those words to make war and cause His will to be established in your life, in your nation, and in the lives of men and women around the world.PRAYER:I declare that righteousness is established in the hearts of people around the world; and through the truth of the Gospel, salvation, healing and health, prosperity and success, deliverance, wholeness, preservation, peace, and joy spread in the nations of the earth, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.FURTHER STUDY1Corinthians 14:3-5_3- But one who prophesies strengthens others, encourages them, and comforts them.__4- A person who speaks in tongues is strengthened personally, but one who speaks a word of prophecy strengthens the entire church.__5- I wish you could all speak in tongues, but even more I wish you could all prophesy. For prophecy is greater than speaking in tongues, unless someone interprets what you are saying so that the whole church will be strengthened._1 Corinthians 14:39 NLT_39- So, my dear brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and don’t forbid speaking in tongues._1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:John 8:12-30 & 1 Kings 20-212-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:Mark 10:46-52 &Numbers 20
DATE: MONDAY 15 MAY 2023TOPIC: DON’T BE A PRISONER OF YOUR PASTKEY VERSE: _Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new (2 Corinthians 5:17)._MESSAGE:There are those who are haunted by quit and memories of the past. They’re fighting so hard to overcome painful memories. They’re in bondage to their past, probably because of some terrible things they had done or the hurt they suffered, and they’ve been living with the pain ever since.You need to understand what it means to be born again, to be a new creation: you’re a brand new person. You’re not the same person who had those horrible experiences. That person died in Christ. The new “you” is absolved of all guilt; free of errors and imperfections.Romans 5:18 says,_“Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.”_ Jesus wasn’t only delivered on account of our sins, He was also raised for our justification (Romans 4:25). What does this mean?It means you were declared “not guilty”; no charge against you. The reason is simple: you’re a new creation; a brand new person without a past. So, even if you did something wrong in the past that still makes you feel guilty, it’s all based on memory and emotions. In Christianity, we don’t walk by our feelings; we walk by faith. We live on the affirmation of God’s Word.Don’t recollect a bitter experience you might have had many years ago and start crying that God should forgive you. Refuse to be held captive by guilt or memories of the past.Romans 4:25 AMPC says Jesus was raised from the dead for _“(our acquittal), making our account balance and absolving us from all guilt before God].”_ When you come to Jesus, He makes you free from every kind of bondage:_“If theSon therefore shallmakeyou free, ye shall be free indeed”_ (John 8:36). Hallelujah!PRAYER:Dear Father, I thank you for my new life in Christ; your divine nature in me has made me a master over circumstances, with dominion over the systems of this world. I serve you always with joy unspeakable and full of glory, unencumbered by sin or reproach! Thank you for making me righteous, holy, and irreproachable in your sight, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.FURTHER STUDYGalatians 6:14-16_14- May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.__15- Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation.__16- Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule—to the Israel of God._John 1:12-13_12- Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God__13- children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God._Romans 6:4_4- We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life._1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:John 7:1-24 & 1 Kings 15-172-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:Mark 10:23-31 & Numbers 18
DATE: FRIDAY 12 MAY 2023TOPIC: KNOWLEDGE IS IMPORTANTKEY VERSE: _But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him (1 Corinthians 2:9)._MESSAGE:There’s so much that the Lord wants to do through His children in the earth in these last days, but the limiting factor for many has been knowledge. How do you hope for something that you don’t even know exists? You can’t expect something that your imagination can’t fathom.But thanks be unto God! The Bible says in the last days, knowledge shall be increased. Through this knowledge, we’re doing the impossible, the unthinkable, and the unimaginable. The Holy Spirit is helping and preparing the Church for what He wants to do by availing us of true, accurate, and precise knowledge of His Word.Through Him, we know the things that are freely given to us by God:_“Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God”_ (1 Corinthians 2:12). Life is limited by your knowledge or understanding. There’s a whole lot that happens to you when you get the right knowledge, the knowledge of God’s Word. Your capacity is tremendously increased; you become aware and are able to comprehend the wonderful blessings God has prepared for you to enjoy.Acts 20:32 declares,_“And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.”_ You already have an inheritance bequeathed to you in Christ, but through the knowledge of God, you’re able to take a hold of what’s rightfully yours. I admonish you today,_“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”_ (Colossians 3:16). Hallelujah!PRAYERDear Father, I’m furnished with the requisite knowledge for life in Christ, through the Word. The eyes of my understanding are being enlightened. Therefore, I have insight into mysteries and secrets; there’s nothing that I can’t know. Christ is my wisdom, and the Word of God informs me daily, through the Holy Spirit, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.FURTHER STUDY:1 Corinthians 2:9-10_9- But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”__10- But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God._Ephesians 1:18 NKJV_18- the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,_Proverbs 11:9_9- The hypocrite with his mouth destroys his neighbor, But through knowledge the righteous will be delivered._1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:John 6:1-24; 1 Kings 92 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:Mark 9:38-50; Numbers 15
DATE: THURSDAY 11 MAY 2023TOPIC: SENT TO TELL HIS STORYKEY VERSE: _Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? (John 14:9)_MESSAGE:AIl over the world, people pray in the Name of Jesus. They preach Him on the streets and every week in churches. Some have written books about Him, sung about Him, and prophesied in His Name.But a very painful reality is that many don’t know who He really is. True, they’ve heard about Him, but He’s not merely “a great religious leader” that many know Him as; He is God. Sadly, even among preachers, some only know Him as Saviour who saved us from our sins. But Jesus is much more than that. He’s Himself God: the omnipotent, immortal God, living in unapproachable light of divine glory, coequal with the Father and the embodiment of the Godhead. (Colossians 1:19; 2:9; 1 Timothy 6:14-16).Jesus is the King of kings and Lord of all, who has all authority in heaven, in earth, and under the earth. We’re His witnesses, and we have to let the world know that He’s real and that He came to die as a man for all men; He was raised from the dead and lives forever. Let’s get busy, telling the whole world about Him.The work we’re doing here on earth isn’t an end in itself. One day, we would have told the last person; we would have held the last conference or the last church service; we would have completed everything He asked us to do, and then we’ll hear that trumpet sound. The Lord will appear and we’ll receive crowns of glory:_“And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away”_ (1 Peter 5:4). Glory to His Name forever!PRAYERBlessed Lord Jesus, how great you are! You’re the immortal God, the King of kings and Lord of all, with all authority in heaven, in earth, and under the earth. You’re the Master and Ruler, the One with supreme authority and pre-eminence. I believe with all my heart and declare with my mouth that you’re my Lord; you’re God over all, and the One who made all things! I love you Lord!FURTHER STUDYJohn 17:3_3- And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent._2 Corinthians 4:5-6_5- For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake.__6- For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ._2 Corinthians 5:18-20_18- Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation,__19- that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.__20- Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God._1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:John 5: 37-47 & 1 Kings 7-82 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:Mark 9: 30-37 & Numbers 14
DATE: WEDNESDAY 10 MAY 2023TOPIC: LET PATIENCE HAVE ITS FULL EFFECTKEY VERSE: _when it seems as though you are facing nothing but difficulties, see it as an invaluable opportunity to experience the greatest joy that you can! For you know that when your faith is tested it stirs up in you the power of endurance. And then as your endurance grows even stronger, it will release perfection into every part of your being until there is nothing missing and nothing lacking (James 1:2-4 TPT)._MESSAGE:Trials and temptations, as difficult as they are, are for your good. You’ll ultimately find joy in them. Your faith blossoms under pressure and you learn true patience as you endure. Sometimes we want God to effect a change right away. We’re praying about a situation or something we want to prevent from happening, and we want instant answers. But there’re times when patience is needed while expressing your faith. God never wants us to panic at such times.James 1:4 in the Voice Translation says,_“…true patience brought on by endurance will equip you to complete the long journey and cross the finish line— mature, complete, and wanting nothing.”_Yes, there’ll be challenging times and uncomfortable circumstances, but the Word encourages us to count them all joy, knowing that the trying of our faith produces patience in us. Then the 4th verse tells us what patience, in turn, produces in us when we allow it to do its work and have its full effect. So don’t keep pushing and agitating; you could miss out on God’s plan.Let’s read James 1:4 again, this time, in the Amplified Classic. It says,_“But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be [people] perfectly and fully developed [with no defects], lacking in nothing.”_ This is what patience produces in us: we become perfectly and fully developed [with no defects], lacking in nothing.” Glory to God!PRAYERDear Father, I thank you for my faith prevails over circumstances, and I live victoriously and triumphantly above sickness, disease, fear and terror. I’m in charge and in control of my life and circumstances. I’m strong, bold and courageous, functioning from a vantage position of rest, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.FURTHER STUDY:Philippians 4:6-7_6- Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;__7- and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus._Proverbs 24:10_10- If you faint in the day of adversity, Your strength is small._Hebrews 12:1_1- Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,_1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:John 5:1-30; 1 Kings 4-62 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:Mark 9:14-29; Numbers 13
DATE: TUESDAY 09 MAY 2023TOPIC: PREDESTINATION AND PERSONAL CHOICEKEY VERSE: _For we are God's [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live] (Ephesians 2:10 AMPC)_MESSAGE:Sometimes people ask if there’s such a thing as predestination. “Can I really say that God prearranged my life?” they wonder. Absolutely! The Bible says He did; we just read it!Also, Romans 8:29 says,_“For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate….”_ The question then arises: Is God, therefore, responsible for everything that happens in my life? Not really, because you’re a free moral agent; you’re responsible for your decisions and actions. Once you become an adult, you have a responsibility for your life, and the onus is on you to make the right decisions in line with God’s destiny and perfect will for you.Just because God predestined your life for something doesn’t mean you’ll fulfil it. People don’t necessarily become what God planned for them to be. It’s a personal choice you make to fulfil God’s plan for your life and be all that He’s destined you to be.Paul, in his letter to the Colossian church, sent a specific instruction to Archippus, telling him:_“…Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfill it”_ (Colossians 4:17). If the man didn’t have the responsibility of fulfilling the ministry that God committed to him, Paul wouldn’t have instructed him to see to it that he fulfilled it. This also meant it was possible for him not to fulfil it.Make up your mind you’ll be everything God has destined you to be, you’ll do all that He’s predestined you to do, and you’ll walk in His preordained pathways.CONFESSIONI’m walking in preordained pathways, rightly positioned in God’s place of opportunity and set on the path of success, glory, victory and divine destiny! The course of events in my life has been structured by God to bring Him glory, for He’s the One at work in me both to will and to do His good pleasure. Hallelujah!FURTHER STUDY: Romans 8:29-30 TPT_29- For he knew all about us before we were born and he destined us from the beginning to share the likeness of his Son. This means the Son is the oldest among a vast family of brothers and sisters who will become just like him.__30- Having determined our destiny ahead of time, he called us to himself and transferred his perfect righteousness to everyone he called. And those who possess his perfect righteousness he co-glorified with his Son!_Deuteronomy 30:19_19- I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live;_Ephesians 1:11_11- In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will,_1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: John 4:27-54; 1 Kings 2-32 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:Mark 9:2-13; Numbers 12
DATE: MONDAY 08 MAY 2023TOPIC: CHRIST IN YOU—THE WONDER OF CHRISTIANITYKEY VERSE: _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)._MESSAGE:To have the vital knowledge and live with the consciousness that Christ lives in you is one of the greatest blessings of Christianity. It is, in fact, your solution to all problems and answer to all questions. Christ in you is the wonder of Christianity.When Jesus walked the earth, He was with the disciples as Emmanuel, God with us. But the Father’s dream was yet to be consummated. He wanted all of divinity in us, not just with us. He wanted His Spirit in us.It’s the reason Jesus said,_“And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you”_ (John 14:16-17). The desire of the Father was actuated on the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came to live in us.Consider the amazing truth in Romans 8:11:_“But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.”_This means Christ in you—the Holy Spirit in you—is the life of your physical body; it’s your health, your deliverance, wholeness, and preservation. Christ in you is your right to walk out of any pain. Christ in you is your power over every crisis; it’s your dominion over darkness, poverty, lack and want. Hallelujah! Christ in you is the greatest blessing of all. Blessed be God!CONFESSIONGlory, wholeness, perfection, success and prosperity are guaranteed in my life because Christ is in me! He’s in every fibre of my being, in every bone of my body, and in every cell of my blood! I’ve been granted the grace and ability in Christ to reign and rule over all circumstances. I’m shielded from all evil and harm because I’m in Christ and Christ is in me! Hallelujah!FURTHER STUDY1 John 4:4_4- You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world._Romans 8:10 ESV_10- But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness._1 Corinthians 6:19_19- Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,_1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLANJohn 4:1-26; 1 Kings 12-YEAR BIBLE READING PLANMark 8:34-9:1; Numbers 11
DATE: SUNDAY 07 MAY 2023TOPIC: EVERLASTING LIFEKEY VERSE: _For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16)._MESSAGE:Our opening verse is about the most popular verse of the Bible. It contains the most powerful and most informative words in the entire Scripture. It says anyone who believes in the Son of God has everlasting life, meaning they’re separated from destruction, waste, failure, damage, etc.What is everlasting life? Is it just life that goes on and on? No; that definition doesn’t even scratch the surface of what it is. To understand everlasting life, you first have to know what eternal life is. This might come as a surprise to some people who thought they were the same; but there’s a difference.To be eternal is to be ageless: ageless without a beginning and ageless without an end. It’s a life that has no beginning and it has no end; it’s timeless. Eternity, thus, refers to timelessness and agelessness. More specifically, it’s a life that’s incorruptible, indestructible, imperishable, unending, and not subject to failure or death. This is the life and nature of God.That’s why He’s called the Eternal One. The Bible says in Psalm 90:2,_“Before you created the hills or brought the world into being, you were eternally God, and will be God for ever”_ (GNB).Everlasting life is eternal life with a beginning; it has a beginning but no end. The angels, for instance, have eternal life with a beginning. Though they live forever, they had a beginning. God, however, has no beginning; He’s absolutely eternal. The angels became eternal because God, the Eternal One, made them everlasting. To make them everlasting, He had to impart them with eternal life.When you’re born again, you receive eternal life and become everlasting. You’re brought from your humanity into eternity. Receiving that life is your first entry into it; that’s the beginning of your life in eternity. From there on, you become a part of an endless life that’s imperishable, indestructible and incorruptible.PRAYERI have received eternal life, and I’m absolutely death-free, incorruptible, indestructible, imperishable, not subject to failure, depravities and diseases because the law of life is operational in me! Divinity dwells in me, and I live the transcendent life! Glory to God!FURTHER STUDY1 John 5:11-13_11- And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son._ _12- He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.__13- These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God._John 3:36_36- He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”_John 5:24_24- “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life._1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLANJohn 3:22-36; 2 Samuel 23-242-YEAR BIBLE READING PLANMark 8:22-33; Numbers 10
DATE: SATURDAY 06 MAY 2023TOPIC: YOU’RE ON A UNIQUE ASSIGNMENTKEY VERSE: _But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness…(Acts 26:16)_MESSAGE:There are billions of people on earth today and no all uniquely gifted, blessed and called of God. So, let your joy be in fulfilling the calling that God has given you. You’re on a unique assignment; stay in the grace that God gave you, as no one can do it exactly like you.Think about Paul: He was an apostle to the Gentiles; that wasn’t something fashionable in his day, but he celebrated his unique assignment. He said in Romans 11:13,_“…I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office.”_ He didn’t wish to have been sent to the Jews; Peter had that.It’s like Joshua too; though He walked closely with Moses before Moses died, he understood the uniqueness of what God wanted him to do. In Joshua Chapter 1, God said to him:_“…go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them…for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them”_ (Joshua 1:2-6).When Joshua got those marching orders, he understood that his assignment was unique from that of Moses. God had earlier told Moses, “I want you to bring my people out of Egypt” (Exodus 3:7-10). Moses brought them out of captivity in Egypt all right, but it was Joshua who took them into the land of promise and divided it for their inheritance (Joshua 1:2 & 6).Have you established your unique assignment in that country, city, town, village, neighbourhood, school, or office? Don’t think you’re there just like everyone else, to do the same things they’re all doing. Understand that you’re on a unique assignment; fulfil your purpose with poise!PRAYERDear Father, I’m immensely grateful and excited about the uniqueness of my assignments in the earth. I fulfil my purpose in Christ and walk in preordained paths that you planned before the foundation of the world, that I may serve and live for you. Through me, your Kingdom reigns and expands in the earth, and in the hearts of men, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.FURTHER STUDYActs 26:16_16- ‘Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of me._Colossians 4:17_17- Tell Archippus: “See to it that you complete the ministry you have received in the Lord.”_Ephesians 2:10 AMPC_10- For we are God's [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live]._1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:John 3: 1 – 21 & 2 Samuel 222 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:Mark 8: 10 – 21 & Numbers 9
DATE: FRIDAY 05 MAY 2023TOPIC: A HERITAGE OF VICTORYKEY VERSE: _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)_MESSAGE:In Christ, we don’t pray to be victorious; victory is our heritage; it’s our life! We were born to be triumphant always and in every place. That’s what the Word says and it’s immutable. Let your spirit get a hold of this truth, and live accordingly. This doesn’t mean you won’t encounter challenges; but it sure means you’ll always win, regardless of the challenges.So, it makes no difference what happens, where you find yourself or who’s against you; you’re more than a conqueror. You can never be disadvantaged. God has given you everything it takes to live victoriously every day. He gave you the Holy Spirit, gave you His Word, and gave you the Name of Jesus. Then, He also gave you the ability to speak, to use words.By your words, you can chart your course in victory and success. You can make your life permanently triumphant. Whatever you say will surely come to pass. Therefore, in the face of adversity, declare God’s Word.Every so often, affirm that good things are coming your way and happening for you and around you because the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord. Use your mouth- your words to keep yourself on the victory highway, to transform circumstances, and to change situations to conform to God’s perfect will for you.PRAYERDear Father, I thank you for your Word by which I live triumphantly today and always. It doesn’t matter what happens around me; I win always! I enjoy my days in success, progress, peace, joy, health and unending prosperity. With my faith-filled words, I transform circumstances and change situations to conform to your perfect will for me, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.FURTHER STUDY1 John 4:4_4- You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world._1 Corinthians 15:57_57- But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ._1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:John 2: 1 – 25 & 2 Samuel 20 – 212 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:Mark 8: 1 – 9 & Numbers 8
DATE: THURSDAY 04 MAY 2023TOPIC: SUPREME AUTHORITYKEY VERSE: _And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues (Mark 16:17 NKJV)._MESSAGE:There’re two things I’ll like you to observe in the theme verse. The first is the fact that the Lord Jesus gave us authority over demons. What is authority? Authority is delegated power; it’s the right to command and be obeyed or the ability to command and enforce obedience. It’s the right to command something, someone or anything, and be obeyed! For example, when we use the Name of Jesus to effect a change or make a command, that’s authority!Secondly, He also gave us power of attorney, that is, the legal right to act on His behalf or in His stead as His agent: the legal right to act in His Name. So, having been given the power of attorney, how much power do you wield? How much force can you exercise? And how much authority do you really have? It depends on how much power is behind the one that gave it to you.It doesn’t matter how much power you’ve got; if someone with a higher authority than the one who authorized you comes, you have to submit.Matthew 28:18-19 lets us in on the Master’s authority. It says,_“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.”_ Notice He doesn’t say some power, but ALL power; also observe that He didn’t say all power is given unto Him to exercise in Israel or some parts of the world; no! He said in heaven and on earth.The Lord Jesus has supreme and unrivalled authority. Hallelujah! When you issue commands to Satan, his demons, and the elements of this world in His Name, they’ll hear and obey you because you function in Christ’s supreme authority and dominion.PRAYERDear Father, thank you for giving me the ability to command and enforce obedience and the power of attorney to use the Name of Jesus to effect changes and control circumstances. That name wields all power in heaven and on earth. Therefore, I declare, in the Name of Jesus, that the gospel shall have free course in the nations of the world. Amen.FURTHER STUDYMark 16:17-18_17- And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;__18- They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover._Acts 3:16_16- And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all._John 16:24_24- Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full._1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:John 1:1-18 & 2 Samuel 15-172 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:Mark 7:14-23 & Numbers 6
DATE: WEDNESDAY 03 MAY 2023TOPIC: THERE'S A DIVINE PURPOSE FOR YOUR LIFEKEY VERSE: _And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it (Colossians 4:17)._MESSAGE:Several years ago, the Lord told me that one of the most important things for men to do is to discover their purpose and fulfil it, but most never do. Therefore, they live empty lives, never realizing that there was a divine plan for them. Ephesians 2:10: AMPC says,_“For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live].”_How important it is for you to discover your purpose! What joy and peace will flood your heart when you find yourself in the preordained paths in which you were born to walk! God doesn’t just do things; He has a purpose for everything. He has a purpose for the world, and He sure has a purpose for your life. It’s important that you find out God’s purpose for you.A generic purpose for all of God’s children is that we were born for His glory; we were born to walk with God and bring Him honour. Let that basic purpose become established in your heart from today, and declare, “Lord, I thank you, because I was born for your glory.”Beyond that, however, there’s a specific purpose for which you were created and placed on this earth. And it is in fulfilling that purpose that you truly bring glory and honour to God.If you haven’t discovered that specific purpose, you can today. Be bold to ask the Lord and He’ll tell you. Sometimes, He’ll speak expressly as He did to Paul the Apostle (read: Acts 26:13-16). Other times, He’ll guide you into it, and every day, you’ll discover more and more of His purpose for your life as you walk by faith in accordance with His Word in all things.CONFESSION:Thank you, Father, for revealing to me the specific purpose for which I was created and placed on this earth. I’m a witness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, sent from your heavenly Kingdom for the salvation of souls in the earth. My daily passion is to establish the Kingdom of God in the earth and in the hearts of men and thus bring you glory and honour, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.FURTHER STUDYEphesians 1:4-5_4- Even as [in His love] He chose us [actually picked us out for Himself as His own] in Christ before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy (consecrated and set apart for Him) and blameless in His sight, even above reproach, before Him in love.__5- For He foreordained us (destined us, planned in love for us) to be adopted (revealed) as His own children through Jesus Christ, in accordance with the purpose of His will [because it pleased Him and was His kind intent]_2 Corinthians 5:18-20_18- But all things are from God, Who through Jesus Christ reconciled us to Himself [received us into favor, brought us into harmony with Himself] and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation [that by word and deed we might aim to bring others into harmony with Him].__19- It was God [personally present] in Christ, reconciling andrestoring the world to favor with Himself, not counting up andholding against [men] their trespasses [but cancelling them], and committing to us the message of reconciliation (of the restoration to favor).__20- So we are Christ’s ambassadors, God making His appeal as it were through us. We [as Christ’s personal representatives] beg you for His sake to lay hold of the divine favor [now offered you] and be reconciled to God._Colossians 3:1-2_1- If then you have been raised with Christ [to a new life, thus sharing His resurrection from the dead], aim at and seek the [rich, eternal treasures] that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.__2- And set your minds
DATE: TUESDAY 02 MAY 2023TOPIC: QUIT THE STRUGGLEKEY VERSE: _For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his (Hebrews 4:10)._MESSAGE:Everything that God has placed in this world isn’t for the angels or for Himself, but for us! If this is true, why should any Christian labour endlessly in prayer just to get God to give him something which belongs to him in Christ? Think about it!Sadly, I’ve heard those who gripe, “I’ve prayed for five years, with intense fasting, and even sown seeds just to get healed of this ailment!” Life, to them, has become a spiritual warfare, or as it were, an endless struggle in prayer, just to live in health, pay a meagre house rent, pass their exams, or to even have a decent job.The problem usually stems from their ignorance of what rightfully belongs to them in Christ. Psalm 82:6-7 says,_“I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High. But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes.”_ Why would they die like men? Why would they fall like one of the princes? It’s because “they know not”; that is, their ignorance!First, you belong to a great and winning Kingdom. So, square up, chest out and chin up because Jesus already paid the full price for you to walk in victory and enjoy all the blessings. How would you talk, walk, or act if you knew that you’re superior to sickness, disease and infirmities? It’ll put an end to these unnecessary health struggles!If you found out that you’re the seed of Abraham, an heir of blessings untold, and have been imbued with a life that’s incapable of poverty or failure—a life that can’t be defeated or destroyed—wouldn’t that immediately change the contents of your prayer? Get to know the Word for yourself; be acquainted with these truths. Remember, the life of blessings is your heritage in Christ Jesus. God already blessed you beyond measure (Ephesians 1:3). Hallelujah!CONFESSION:I walk in the truths of God’s Word, getting acquainted with my inheritance in Christ and enjoying all of these numerous, multifaceted blessings. I live in the fulfilment and reality of God’s blessings. I’ve been brought into God’s rest. All things are mine. I take full advantage of all that’s available to me in Christ, and by my faith, I triumph gloriously always and in every place. Amen.FURTHER STUDY1 Corinthians 3:21-22 AMPC_21- So let no one exult proudly concerning men [boasting of having this or that man as a leader], for all things are yours,__22- Whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas (Peter), or the universe or life or death, or the immediate and threatening present or the [subsequent and uncertain] future—all are yours,_Hebrews 4:3 AMPC_3- For we who have believed (adhered to and trusted in and relied on God) do enter that rest, in accordance with His declaration that those [who did not believe] should not enter when He said, As I swore in My wrath, They shall not enter My rest; and this He said although [His] works had been completed and prepared [and waiting for all who would believe] from the foundation of the world._1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:Luke 24:36-53; 2 Samuel 12-142-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:Mark 7:1-13; Numbers 5
DATE: MONDAY 01 MAY 2023TOPIC: ALL THE BLESSINGS OF HEAVEN IN YOUKEY VERSE: _Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ (Ephesians 1:3)._MESSAGE:I would to God every Christian grasps the import and profundity of what we just read in our opening verse! In 2 Corinthians 6:16, the Apostle Paul quoted God’s promise in the Old Testament to indwell man and the ensuing fulfilment of that promise. He said,_“…for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.”_What a blessing! What glory it is to have the Holy Spirit in our lives today! He’s the greatest blessing of all; your greatest advantage. He knows everything and owns everything. Having Him in you means you’re made for life. He’s all you need to be everything God destined you to be and fulfil your destiny in life and in the Gospel.1 Corinthians 2:12 says,_“Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.”_ Without Him, you can’t know all that God has blessed and endowed you with in Christ. There’re blessings and benefits from God for you every day (Psalm 68:19, Matthew 6:11, Luke 11:3). The Holy Spirit guides you into these blessings and sees to it that you enjoy them.Live every day with the consciousness that you’re indeed the temple of the Holy Spirit. He’ll perfect His work and ministry in your life. He’s the Spirit of grace; He’s the Spirit of excellence. His joy is to make your life excellent and full of glory, and to perfect everything that concerns you.The Holy Spirit in you is your assurance of an extraordinary life of victory, dominion, abundance and infinite possibilities. He’s the power and glory of your life. Become more conscious of Him, and of His presence in you. In you abides all the graces, blessings, wisdom, and goodness of heaven, because the Holy Spirit lives in you. Therefore, live from within. Praise God!CONFESSION:In me abides all the graces, blessings, wisdom and goodness of heaven, because the Holy Spirit lives in me. I’m His living tabernacle. Everything I require for life and godliness is in me by the Holy Spirit. He’s the power and glory of my life. Hallelujah!FURTHER STUDYEphesians 1:3 AMPC_3- May blessing (praise, laudation, and eulogy) be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) Who has blessed us in Christwith every spiritual (given by the Holy Spirit) blessing in the heavenly realm!_1 Corinthians 3:21-23_21- So let no one exult proudly concerning men [boasting of having this or that man as a leader], for all things are yours,__22- Whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas (Peter), or the universe or life or death, or the immediate and threatening present or the [subsequent and uncertain] future—all are yours,_2 Peter 1:3_3- For His divine power has bestowed upon us all things that [are requisite and suited] to life and godliness, through the [full, personal] knowledge of Him Who called us by and to His own glory and excellence (virtue)._1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:Luke 24:13-35; 2 Samuel 9-112-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:Mark 6:45-56; Numbers 4
DATE: THURSDAY 23 FEBRUARY 2023TOPIC: HIS NATURE IN USKEY VERSE: _Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy (Ephesians 4:24 NLT)._MESSAGE:In Ephesians 5:1, we’re admonished to be “imitators of God” as His beloved children. His life and nature in us makes this possible. We can walk in absolute mastery and dominion in the earth as Jesus did, for as He is, so are we in this world (1 John 4:17).Being born again, you’re born after the Second Adam, Jesus Christ; you were created after Him in righteousness and true holiness. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says,_“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature….”_ This new creature has the God-nature. This is the reason you can please God and live the Christ-life.No matter how much you train a dog to act like a human, it can never be human, because it doesn’t have the human life. To be human, you have to be born that way. We’re Godlike, and can emulate our heavenly Father, because we were born with His life and nature in us. It’s the reason we can do the same things Jesus did.He said in John 14:12,_“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do….”_ You can heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers and cast out devils as Jesus did. He gave you the authority in His Name.Moreover, we can emulate Him in our love-walk. Ephesians 5:2 says,_“And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.”_ His nature in you makes it possible to express love to those in your world, whether or not they deserve it. Hallelujah!CONFESSION:My divine nature causes me to live, love and talk like my heavenly Father; the beauty and compassion of Jesus is seen in and expressed through me, for as He is, so am I in this world.FURTHER STUDY:2 Corinthians 5:17_17- Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:The old has gone, the new is here!_Ephesians 5:1 NIV_1- Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children_1 John 4:17_17- This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus._1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:Mark 6:1-29 & Leviticus 242-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:Matthew 17:1-13 & Exodus 4
DATE: WEDNESDAY 22 FEBRUARY 2023TOPIC: LIVE ABOVE THE WORLDKEY VERSE: _If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you (John 15:19)._MESSAGE:God expects you to live above this world because you’re not of this world. No wonder the Spirit, through the Apostle Paul, cautioned in Colossians 2:20:_“Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in theworld, are ye subject to ordinances.”_Refuse to allow your actions, reactions, thoughts, words and responses to be influenced or conditioned by the elements and rudiments of this world. The world is subject to you.Now that you’re born again, you live in two worlds: the physical world and the spiritual world. Be more conscious of the spiritual realm into which you’re born of God, and function therein. Live the life of heaven on earth, because you’re a citizen of heaven:_“But our citizenship is in heaven…”_ (Philippians 3:20 ESV).Your outlook on life, and your contemplations should be guided by the Word. That way, no matter what happens, you’ll always win. Recall the words of Jesus in John 16:33,_“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”_You overcame the world in Him. Therefore, dominate this world with the principles of God’s Kingdom and with your faith:_“For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith”_ (1 John 5:4).CONFESSION:I'm born of God; therefore, I’ve overcome the world! I live in the victory and dominion of Christ over this world. I’m in rest, health, wealth, security and peace with prosperity. I influence my world with the principles of God’s glorious Kingdom. Blessed be God!FURTHER STUDY:Colossians 1:12-13_12- Giving thanks to the Father, Who has qualified and made us fit to share the portion which is the inheritance of the saints (God’s holy people) in the Light.__13- [The Father] has delivered and drawn us to Himself out of the control and the dominion of darkness and has transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,_John 16:33_33- I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]_Colossians 3:1-2_1- If then you have been raised with Christ [to a new life, thus sharing His resurrection from the dead], aim at and seek the [rich, eternal treasures] that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.__2- And set your minds and keep them set on what is above (the higher things), not on the things that are on the earth._1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:Mark 5:21-43 & Leviticus 22-232-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:Matthew 16:21-28 & Exodus 3
DATE: MONDAY 20 FEBRUARY 2023TOPIC: THE FIRSTBORN OF THE FATHERKEY VERSE: _And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence (Colossians 1:18)._MESSAGE:Notice that the Bible didn’t call Jesus the firstborn from Mary; rather, He’s called “the firstborn from the dead.” It’s talking about spiritual death, because Jesus died spiritually. Our sins were laid on him (Isaiah 53:6; 1 Peter 2:24) as He was the representative of all sinners. But upon fulfilling the righteous demands of justice, God raised him from the dead. Hallelujah!When He was raised from the dead, God declared:_“…Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee”_ (Acts 13:33). That’s why He’s called the first begotten or firstborn of the Father. Before His death, He was called the only begotten of the Father.Jesus being the firstborn of the Father means He’s the Head and we, the Church, are His Body. God raised Him from the dead together with His Body. We’re therefore inextricably one with Him. He heads up the new creation who are begotten of the Father.The Bible says _“For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren”_ (Romans 8:29). He’s the first among us, and as He is, so are we in this world! Hallelujah!He is the glory of God; and like Him, we’re the glory of God. The Bible says He has brought many sons to glory(Hebrews 2:10). He was the first to be born again; and like Him, we’ve been born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God, which lives and abides forever (1 Peter 1:23). Blessed be God!PRAYER:Dear Father, I thank you for the vicarious death of Jesus in my behalf, who was delivered for my offences, and was raised again for my justification. Now, I walk in the consciousness of my oneness with Him, walking in, and manifesting your righteousness; reigning and ruling with Christ from the heavenly realms, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.FURTHER STUDY:Ephesians 2:19-22_19- Therefore you are no longer outsiders (exiles, migrants, and aliens, excluded from the rights of citizens), but you now share citizenship with the saints (God’s own people, consecrated and set apart for Himself); and you belong to God’s [own] household.__20- You are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Christ Jesus Himself the chief Cornerstone.__21- In Him the whole structure is joined (bound, welded) together harmoniously, and it continues to rise (grow, increase) into a holy temple in the Lord [a sanctuary dedicated, consecrated, and sacred to the presence of the Lord].__22- In Him [and in fellowship with one another] you yourselves also are being built up [into this structure] with the rest, to form a fixed abode (dwelling place) of God in (by, through) the Spirit._Hebrews 2:11_11- For both He Who sanctifies [making men holy] and those who are sanctified all have one [Father]. For this reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren;_John 20:17_17- Jesus said to her, Do not cling to Me [do not hold Me], for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to My brethren and tell them, I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God._1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:Mark 4:21-41 & Leviticus 16-182-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:Matthew 16:1-12 & Exodus 1
DATE: FRIDAY 17 FEBRUARY 2023TOPIC: UNITED BY THE SPIRIT OF THE WORDKEY VERSE: _…being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation; And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad (John 11:51-52)._MESSAGE::The verses above bring to mind the words of Jesus in John 10:16. He said, “And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.” He made this statement in reference to the Jews and the Gentiles who would believe in Him. He was going to get all of them together as onefold to be their shepherd. Blessed be God!How the Lord Jesus wants the Church to be one! He wants us to speak with one voice, to have the same vision, knowing that we have one Father and one Lord, Jesus Christ. Praying to the Father for all God’s children, He said,_“… that they may be one, even as we are one”_ (John 17:22).God’s dream is to gather His children together in the spirit of unity. Don’t mix this up with the One World Religion that elitist globalists are trying to set up. Understand that when God does something, Satan always wants to come up with counterfeits. God is gathering us together, not necessarily in the physical, but in our hearts—uniting us by the Spirit and the Word.Today, many of us, God’s people around the world, think the same things about the Lord, love Him the same way with so much passion, preach the Gospel and win souls like never before. We love one another more, and understand better, the mystery of the Body of Christ in the unity of the spirit. This is God’s dream, and each one of us must strive for the unity of the Body of Christ.Think about it: with so many of us working together from around the world, we’ve made God’s Word, through Rhapsody of Realities, available in every known living language in the world. We’ve been united by the Spirit for the same vision and by the same message.Through the Holy Spirit, we understand and proclaim the same message. This will continue even in greater measure as the Church age comes to a close. Glory to God!PRAYER:Dear Father, I thank you for the perfection and edification of the Body of Christ. Thank you for the insight you’ve given your children to understand and share the same message, as we fulfil your dream, and attain the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto the stature of the fulness of Christ, in Jesus’ Name. AmenFURTHER STUDY:Ephesians 4:13_13- [That it might develop] until we all attain oneness in the faith and in the comprehension of the [full and accurate] knowledge of the Son of God, that [we might arrive] at really mature manhood (the completeness of personality which is nothing less than the standard height of Christ’s own perfection), the measure of the stature of the fullness of the Christ and the completeness found in Him._1 Corinthians 12:12-13_12- For just as the body is a unity and yet has many parts, and all the parts, though many, form [only] one body, so it is with Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).__13- For by [means of the personal agency of] one [Holy] Spirit we were all, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free, baptized [and by baptism united together] into one body, and all made to drink of one [Holy] Spirit._Philippians 1:27_27- Only be sure as citizens so to conduct yourselves [that] your manner of life [will be] worthy of the good news (the Gospel) of Christ, so that whether I [do] come and see you or am absent, I may hear this of you: that you are standing firm in united spirit and purpose, striving side by side and contending with a single mind for the faith of the glad tidings (the Gospel)._1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:Mark 2:23-3:1-12 & Leviticus 11-122-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:Matthew 15:10-20 & Genesis 48
DATE: WEDNESDAY 15 FEBRUARY 2023TOPIC: BUILDING ACCORDING TO HIS DESCRIPTIONKEY VERSE: _ …Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: “See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain (Hebrews 8:5 NIV)._MESSAGE::When God told Moses to build a tabernacle, He gave him a clear description and instructed him to build according to the description:_“According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it”_ (Exodus 25:9).In your walk with the Lord and work in His Kingdom, don’t just run off with every idea just because you think it’s nice. Be sure that you’re following God’s blueprint; the pattern and description that He’s given. It’s one of the reasons you must know the Word for yourself.In His Word, you find samples, patterns and descriptions of how He wants us to live, the things He wants us to do and how to do them. The psalmist said in Psalm 127:1,_“Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it…”_; we must build according to His plan.In these last days, the Lord Jesus is building His Church. He said,_“…I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it”_ (Matthew 6:18). There’s a description given to us in the Word of God that shows how He’s doing this. The Bible says He (Christ Himself),_“…gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up”_ (Ephesians 4:11-12 NIV).His plan is to build through these leaders, but everyone is involved; each one of us contributes to the building of this great body of Christ:_“From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love”_ (Ephesians 4:16).Every time you lead someone to Christ, you’re adding to the building of the Body of Christ, and it’s a magnificent building. Hallelujah! Keep playing your role by winning souls into the Kingdom. You’ll be contributing to the building of the magnificent structure according to the description given.PRAYER:Dear Father, I thank you for the ability of your Word in my spirit. I’m a doer of the Word, not just a hearer. The results of living in and by the Word are evidently manifested in every area of my life today, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.FURTHER STUDY:Hebrews 8:5 AMPC_5- [But these offer] service [merely] as a pattern and as a foreshadowing of [what has its true existence and reality in] the heavenly sanctuary. For when Moses was about to erect the tabernacle, he was warned by God, saying, See to it that you make it all [exactly] according to the copy (the model) which was shown to you on the mountain._1 Samuel 15:22_22- Samuel said, Has the Lord as great a delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams._1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:Mark 1:21-45 & Leviticus 82-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:Matthew 14:22-33 & Genesis 46
DATE: MONDAY 13 FEBRUARY 2023TOPIC: HE NEVER COMPELS YOUKEY VERSE: _I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live (Deuteronomy 30:19)._MESSAGE::As you study the Scriptures, you’ll discover that God gave man the power to choose. He may give several options and show you which one is right for you, but He never forces you to make a choice. In our theme scripture, He told Israel what to choose: life over death; blessings and not curses; but He didn’t force them.This is an important lesson for leaders. Only tyrants compel or force obedience. In Matthew 20:25 AMPC, Jesus said,_“…You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men hold them in subjection [tyrannizing over them].”_ The Lord isn’t that way.Think about Jesus and His message of love: He gave His own life for all. Through the ages, many rulers and religious leaders forced people to accept their beliefs through intimidation, fear and terror. But the Lord Jesus gave His own life in our place and still lovingly lets us know we have a choice to accept or reject Him. Think about that!However, even though He doesn’t force us into the choices we make, He lets us understand the consequences of making the wrong choices. What you must do, therefore, is to live according to His Word and by His Spirit.To the one who’s yet to be born again, I encourage you to do so NOW. Don’t live another day without making Jesus Christ the Lord of your life! You have the power to choose; so, make this right choice NOW. The Bible says, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved” (Romans 10:9). It’s so simple, yet so powerful.To be born again is to have the very nature of God in your spirit; it’s to have the active life of Christ in every fibre of your being—in your spirit, soul and body. Hallelujah!PRAYER:Dear Father, by the Holy Spirit and through the guidance from your holy Word, I make wise and accurate choices in line with your perfect will and destiny for my life. Your Word is my all-time guide, and Christ has been made unto me wisdom; therefore, I make only godly and Spirit- inspired decisions, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.FURTHER STUDY:Isaiah 30:21_21- And your ears will hear a word behind you, saying, This is the way; walk in it, when you turn to the right hand and when you turn to the left._Joshua 24:15_15- And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord._Deuteronomy 30:19_19- I call heaven and earth to witness this day against you that I have set before you life and death, the blessings and the curses; therefore choose life, that you and your descendants may live_1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:Matthew 28 & Leviticus 4-52-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:Matthew 14:1-10 & Genesis 44
DATE: THURSDAY 09 FEBRUARY 2023TOPIC: THE SOURCE OF LIFEKEY VERSE: _For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us (1 John 1:2)._MESSAGE::All around us are living things: people, plants, animals and even microscopic organisms. But what gives them life? What’s the substance of life? Men may have been able to form the human body and to create plants, but no one has ever created life. The best they’ve done is to take life from a living thing and put it into another, as the very source of life is unknown to man; he can’t create it.The opening verse above says, “For the life was manifested….” What a construction! This is referring to Jesus Christ; He’s the embodiment of life. He’s the real essence. Life in its entirety was encapsulated in a human body and manifested to us in the Person of Jesus Christ.He is that life which was with the Father and was manifested to us (1 John 1:2). Everything gets life from Him. When He walked the earth, He didn’t need life from God; He was life! In John 5:26, He said,_“For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself.”_ This explains why He’s able to give life to anyone and to everything.1 John 5:11-12 says,_“And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.”_ Blessed be God! The life that Jesus gives destroys and repels the works of darkness in the human body.Always be more conscious of your divinity and walk in victory, for Christ our life is now in you, and as He is, so are we in this world. Amen.PRAYER:I have the very life and nature of God in me, because I’m born again. This God-life makes me impregnable, causing me to walk in victory, glory, dominion and excellence always. My body is inundated with the life of God, and I walk in divine health and victory, living above sickness, disease, infections and the destruction that ravage the ordinary man. Hallelujah!FURTHER STUDY:John 14:6_6- Jesus said to him, I am the Way and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except by (through) Me._John 10:10 AMPC_10- The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)._1 John 5:11-13 NIV_11- And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.__13- I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life._1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:Matthew 26:57-75 & Exodus 36-372-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:Matthew 13:24-33 & Genesis 40
DATE: TUESDAY 07 FEBRUARY 2023TOPIC: GLORIFIED IN CHRISTKEY VERSE: _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)._MESSAGE::In His prayer to the Father in John 17, the Lord Jesus made some of the most enthralling statements that encapsulate His love for us and oneness with us. Think about what He said in verse 22:_“And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one.”_ This is huge! Jesus has given you glory.Glory means beauty, excellence, success, greatness and prosperity. Glory includes health. The Bible says_“Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth”_ (3 John 1:2). God doesn’t want you sick; He wants you healthy all the time. That’s a life of glory.2 Peter 1:3 says, “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue.” Your life is for the glory of God.Talking about you, the new creation, the Bible says:_“Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified”_ (Romans 8:30). You’ve been glorified! Many Christians have believed that God predestinated them, called them, and justified them; but not many know they’ve been glorified.Manifest the glory of God in your job, in your finances, and your family. Every so often, declare, “I’m glorified inChrist. The dominion of sin, darkness and sickness is broken from my life. There’s joy in my life and my home. I walk in the glory of God always!” Blessed be God!CONFESSION:I was born to reign and manifest the glory of the Kingdom of God in the earth. My life is the expression of divine beauty, excellence, success and greatness. I’m glorified in Christ; thus, I walk in health, prosperity, wholeness and wellness, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.FURTHER STUDY:Hebrews 2:10_10- For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering._1 Thessalonians 2:12 ESV_12- we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory._1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:Matthew 26:1-30 & Exodus 32-332-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:Matthew 13:1-9 & Genesis 38
DATE: MONDAY 06 FEBRUARY 2023TOPIC: THERE'S AN URGENCYKEY VERSE: _And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come (Matthew 24:14)._MESSAGE::One important thing the Holy Spirit is causing the Church to do in these last days is to speed up the preaching of the Gospel. This Gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. This is God’s mission for the Church today. The time is short.We all must understand the urgency of the hour, the day we’re living in, and get serious about the things of the Kingdom. Preach the Gospel; preach it with all your heart and with all the boldness and love that God has given you.In Matthew 28:18-20, Jesus said,_“…All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world, Amen.”_ What an assurance!Nothing could bolster more confidence in us to speed up the preaching of the Gospel and take it to the ends of the earth than the words of the Master in the verses we just read. We’re in the times of the signs, and the final sign is already unfolding before our eyes, which is the massive salvation of souls around the world!Already, we’ve taken the Gospel to billions of people around the world and in every known living language, through Rhapsody of Realities. But we must keep at it until we’ve reached everybody, just as the Lord instructed. Remember, the Holy Spirit is in us, and brought us this far; He’ll take us to the finish line.PRAYER:Dear Father, I thank you for the opportunities I have to preach the Gospel and reach more people with the message of salvation. I move with the speed and urgency of the Spirit, guided by your wisdom in leading many to righteousness. I receive increased grace and ability to fulfil the ministry of reconciliation to those in my world, and in the regions beyond, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.FURTHER STUDY:2 Timothy 4:2_2- Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction._Mark 16:15-16_15- He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation._ _16- Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned._1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:Matthew 25:31-46 & Exodus 312-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:Matthew 12:39-50 & Genesis 37
DATE: SATURDAY 28 JANUARY 2023TOPIC: THE HOLY SPIRIT IS THE DIVINE ESSENCEKEY VERSE: _That is why I would remind you to stir up (rekindle the embers of, fan the flame of, and keep burning) the [gracious] gift of God, [the inner fire] that is in you by means of the laying on of my hands [with those of the elders at your ordination] (2 Timothy 1:6 AMPC)._MESSAGE::Think about this: The same Spirit by which Jesus cast out devils, healed the sick, raised the dead and did all the amazing miracles that He did, lives in you today. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God; He’s the divine essence. He’s exactly like Jesus. He doesn’t receive power from God; He’s the POWER of God! He’s the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father.The Holy Spirit isn’t less than the Father, nor is He less than Jesus. The Bible says it was Him that raised Jesus from the dead (Romans 8:11). This Holy Spirit has also vitalized your hitherto death-prone body. Your body is now His temple (1 Corinthians 6:19). Hallelujah! What does this mean for you?It means if ever your body is afflicted, if any wound or anomaly surfaces in your body, it’ll be taken care of by the Holy Spirit. He perambulates in you to ensure nothing goes wrong in or with your physical body. This is the reality! So, every so often, activate His power in you by speaking in tongues and affirming His Word.You don’t have to attend “revival” meetings to activate the power of the Spirit. Just start declaring His Word concerning your life, and before long, His divine power will course through your being. Blessed be God!CONFESSION:Everything in my body is touched by the power of the Holy Spirit. There’s life in me. There’s no situation I can’t change, for the inherent power to do exceeding abundantly above all that I could ask, think or imagine is within me. I’m infused with divine strength, and the glory of God is revealed through me. Hallelujah!FURTHER STUDY:Acts 1:8_8- But you shall receive power (ability, efficiency, and might) when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be My witnesses in Jerusalem and all Judea and Samaria and to the ends (the very bounds) of the earth._1 Timothy 4:14 AMPC_14- Do not neglect the gift which is in you, [that special inward endowment] which was directly imparted to you [by the Holy Spirit] by prophetic utterance when the elders laid their hands upon you [at your ordination]._Romans 8:10-11 ESV_10- But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus[a] from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you._1-YEAR BIBILE READING PLAN:Matthew 19:16-20:1-16 & Exodus 152-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:Matthew 10:23-33 & Genesis 28
DATE: SATURDAY 21 JANUARY 2023TOPIC: SPEAKING RIGHTEOUSNESSKEY VERSE: _For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe (Hebrews 5:13)._MESSAGE::The phrase, “of righteousness” in our opening verse is “dikaiosunē” (Greek); it means the word or “logos” (Greek) of righteousness. Some translations use “doctrine” and others use “teaching” instead of “word.” But the spiritual communication that’s embedded in that verse is much higher; it refers to speaking righteousness or a communication of righteousness. To further understand this, let’s examine Jesus’ response when He was tempted by Satan in Matthew 4: He quoted Scriptures each time, but not as one who was responding from the standpoint of the Law. For example, when the Bible says, “Thou shalt not steal” (Exodus 20:15), it was written to Israel as one of the commandments. But when you become a Christian, “Thou shalt not steal” isn’t applicable to you! It doesn’t apply to your spirit. Does that mean you can steal? Of course not! In Christianity, you have a nature that doesn’t steal. You’re of the higher class. You don't live by the Law or commandments, for the Bible says, “…the law is not made for a righteousman…” (1 Timothy 1:9). So, when Jesus said to Satan, “...It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone...” (Matthew 4:4), He was describing His life; it was a description of His righteousness. Hallelujah! Always, God expects you to respond with the Word as Jesus did. It’s not about memorizing the Scriptures so you could quote them; it’s about speaking righteousness, communicating in line with your nature in Christ—who you are in Him. Sometimes, in responding with the Word, the scripture you’re quoting might not be verbatim, but you’re aware that what you’re saying is consistent with God’s Word; the message goes to your spirit in the language of the Spirit. When you respond to Satan and life’s challenges like that, you’ll always be victorious! Praise God!CONFESSION:My life is the expression of the glory and dominion of Christ. I live the higher life. I’m an heir of God and a joint heir with Christ; the whole world is mine! The divine life is at work in me, and that life of God is activated in every fibre of my being. Glory to God!FURTHER STUDY:1 Corinthians 2:12-13_12- Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.__13- These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual._Colossians 3:16_16- 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._Romans 10:6-8_6- But the righteousness of faith speaks in this way, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ down from above)_ _7- or, “ ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).__8- But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach):_1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:Matthew 14:13-36 & Genesis 49-502-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:Matthew 8:12-22 & Genesis 21
DATE: FRIDAY 20 JANUARY 2023TOPIC:FAITH THAT CONQUERS THE WORLDKEY VERSE: _For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith (1 John 5:4)._MESSAGE::The verse above in theAmplified Classic says, “For whatever is born of God is victorious over the world; and this is the victory that conquers the world, even our faith.” It’s talking about faith from God, from His eternal Word to our spirit! That’s the faith that conquers the world! Romans 12:3 says, _“…God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.”_ Hallelujah! Then in Romans 10:17, it says, _“…faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”_ This is why it’s important that you expose your spirit to the Word. The more you hear or study the Word, the more faith comes to you; faith to rule your world. With that faith, you have dominion over circumstances and victory over the world and its systems. However, faith not expressed won’t prevail. You express your faith in words and actions, for the Bible says faith speaks! Rule your world with your faith-filled words. Your wordshave force; they have energy. If someone says to you, “But you’ve been speaking the Word for some time now, and nothing is changing.” Remind them of what the Bible says: _“If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth…”_ (Ecclesiastes 11:3). Keep speaking the Word in faith and watering your clouds with prayers. As you do, the spiritual cloud becomes thick with spiritual water, and nothing can stop the downpour! Blessed be God!CONFESSION:The Lord is strong and mighty, and He’s with me and in me! I put my trust in Him alone, and rest my faith on His Word. Irrespective of the challenges in the world today, my faith is the victory that conquers the world! All things are possible to him that believes and I believe; therefore, all things are possible to me. Glory to God!FURTHER STUDY:2 Corinthians 4:13_13- And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed and therefore I spoke,” we also believe and therefore speak,_Mark 9:23_23- Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”_Mark 11:23_23- For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says._1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:Matthew 13:44-14:1-12 & Genesis 46-482-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:Matthew 8:1-11 & Genesis 20
DATE: WEDNESDAY 11 JANUARY 2023TOPIC: MANIFESTING FRUITS OF RIGHTEOUSNESSKEY VERSE: _Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God (Philippians 1:11)._MESSAGE::Jesus said,_“Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them”_ (Matthew 7:20). You can’t have fruits of something you’re not. An orange tree can only produce orange fruits. So, our theme verse is letting you know that if you’re righteous, you’ll have fruits of righteousness. In John 15:5, Jesus said, “I am the vine, ye are the branches….” And as common knowledge, the beauty of a tree is in its branches.Being the “branch” of Jesus Christ means you carry the beauty of the Son of God. Hallelujah! You’re the fruit-bearing part of the vine, and you bear fruits of righteousness. That’s what your life is about: the manifestation of His righteousness.You’ve been established as a tree of righteousness, to produce fruits and works of righteousness. Meaning that the things that come out of your life—your words and your actions—bring praise and glory to God. Isaiah 61:3 calls us trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord of hosts that He might be glorified. God’s glory and excellence are expressed through you.The people of the world should see you and recognize the excellence and elegance of the Spirit. When Jesus restored sight to the blind, unstopped deaf ears, healed the crippled, raised the dead, fed the hungry, comforted the afflicted, and spoke divine words to encourage and bless people, He was manifesting fruits of righteousness. And as He is, so are we in this world (1 John 4:17). Glory to His Name forever!CONFESSION:I am the righteous; I flourish like the palm tree and grow like the cedar in Lebanon. I’m planted in the house of the Lord, and I flourish in the courts of our God. I produce fruits and works of righteousness; my life is the testimony of God’s glory and grace. His beauty is expressed through me; this is my heritage in Christ. Hallelujah!FURTHER STUDY:2 Corinthians 5:21_21- For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God._Philippians 1:9-11_9- And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God._Proverbs 11:30 ESV_30- The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and whoever captures souls is wise._1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:Matthew 8:28-9:1-17 & Genesis 27-282-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:Matthew 5:21-30 & Genesis 11
DATE: TUESDAY 10 JANUARY 2023TOPIC: WE'RE LIKE HIMKEY VERSE: _Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the Day of Judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world (1 John 4:17)._MESSAGE::Our theme verse is somewhat too big for some to grasp. They wonder, “How can we be like God?” Well, we didn’t know we were like Him until He told us. We read it: as He is, so are we in this world. We’re like Him because we’re born of Him; we were created in the image of Him that created us (Colossians 3:10). Blessed be God!Being born again, we have the same life and nature as Jesus. It’s the reason we can think, talk, and live as He did, for we’re one with Him:_“But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit”_ (1 Corinthians 6:17).The Bible says He’s the embodiment of all wisdom and knowledge:_“In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge”_ (Colossians 2:3). The same is true of you because you’re complete in Him (Colossians 2:10). You’re the custodian of divine knowledge and wisdom, for John 1:16 says,_“And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.”_ Hallelujah!You’re full of God as Jesus was full of God, because you have received of His fullness. That’s not all: You’rethe effulgence of His glory just as He was and is the glory of the Father. If you’d live with this consciousness, it’ll transform your life. You’d walk in victory and dominion over circumstances, every day. Hallelujah!CONFESSION:As Jesus is the glory of the Father, so am I in this world. God reigns, establishes, and spreads His righteousness on earth today through me, as I rule and reign in the dominion of Christ. Blessed be God!FURTHER STUDY:1 Peter 2:9_9- But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation,God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light._1 John 5:11-13_11- And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.__13- I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life._1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:Matthew 8:1-27 & Genesis 25-262-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:Matthew 5:11-20 & Genesis 10
DATE: MONDAY 09 JANUARY 2023TOPIC: AFFIRMING THE WORD IN FAITHKEY VERSE: _Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised (Hebrews 10:23)._MESSAGE::What we read in our opening scripture reminds us of what Abraham did: “He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God” (Romans 4:20). How do you give glory to God? It’s through your affirmation of His Word; your affirmation of His greatness, power, majesty and love.When we talk about affirming the Word of God, there’re those who wonder, “Must I say it?” Yes! It’s a principle of the Kingdom that works for salvation (Romans 10:9-10) and everything else. In Mark 11:23, the Lord Jesus said, “You shall have what you say.”Understand this: You’re a spirit. You may pray and cry about a particular situation, but if you don’t declare what the Word says about that situation, nothing will change. Until you say what God has said concerning you, it’s not established in your life!Hebrews 13:5-6 says, _“…for he hath said…So that we may boldly say…."_ You might have been praying, “Oh Lord, establish your Word in my life”; meanwhile, you’re the one to establish it. The Bible says,_“For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven”_ (Psalm 119:89). But you don’t live in heaven; you live on earth. You’re to establish His Word on earth. When God says it, you establish it by declaring the same thing.You may be wallowing in debts and desperately hard up for money, but you should say, “All things are mine! I have all things that pertain to life and godliness! God is able to channel all the resources that I need to me and much more; and He has, because He’s my shepherd.” Hallelujah! Make such proclamations continually and your whole spirit, soul and body, including circumstances, will conform to your affirmations.Refuse to fret. Keep affirming the Word. Your faith proclamations produce realities. Refuse to waiver, cower or stagger; be strong in faith, giving thanks to the Lord. Hallelujah!CONFESSION:I’m a victor forever! My confessions of faith create realities. I know who I am—the seed of Abraham! The world belongs to me. I’m triumphant always, because I’m in Christ and He’s the glory of my life. Hallelujah!FURTHER STUDY:Proverbs 18:21_21- The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit._Joshua 1:8_8- Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful._Mark 11:23_23- “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them._1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:Matthew 7:7-29 & Genesis 23-242-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:Matthew 5:1-10 & Genesis 9
DATE: SUNDAY 08 JANUARY 2023TOPIC: NEVER GET FRANTICKEY VERSE: _And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm (Mark 4:39)._MESSAGE::The Scriptures show us how to respond when we’re confronted with challenges. Always, the Lord tells us not to fear. Never get frantic or flustered. We’re creatures of faith and not fear.In Mark 4, Jesus was in the boat with His disciples and there was a tempest:_“And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full”_ (Mark 4:37). Rattled by fear, the disciples cried out to the Master who was peacefully asleep at the rear of the boat. He wasn’t one to be flustered by circumstances.When He woke up, He didn’t say, “This storm is quite tumultuous and a serious threat to our lives! I need to talk to the Father.” No! His amazing and inspiring response to the storm was, “Peace, be still!” Hallelujah! Some Christians find themselves in similar situations and respond in fear. They start speaking in tongues out of panic; no. Speak in tongues, but never out of fear.Praying out of frenzy negates your faith; it’s ineffective. It’s not wrong to immediately start speaking in tongues when you’re in certain situations, but you must know why you’re speaking in tongues at such times. It should be to stir your spirit to pick the right words to deal with the situation.While speaking with tongues, the Holy Spirit will also give you utterance in spiritual incantations which are coded words for the circumstances. Hallelujah! Refuse to fear, and remember who you are; then speak as the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. Hallelujah!CONFESSION:I live by faith in the Word of God, and I keep my mind steadfastly focused on Christ and the realities of the Kingdom of God! No matter what happens around me, I refuse to fear, because I’m born of God and I’ve overcome the world. Greater is He that’s in me than he that’s in the world. Hallelujah!FURTHER STUDY:Psalm 27:1-6_1- The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?__2 When the wicked advance against me to devour me, it is my enemies and my foes who will stumble and fall.__3 Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident.__4 One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.__5 For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon a rock.__6 Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the Lord._Isaiah 41:10_10- So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand._Psalm 107:29_29 He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed._1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Matthew 6:19-7:1-6 & Genesis 20-222-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:Matthew 4:12-25 & Genesis 8
DATE: SATURDAY 07 JANUARY 2023TOPIC: FOUNDED ON THE ROCKKEY VERSE: _The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold (Psalm 18:2 NIV)._MESSAGE::The Bible tells us about the spiritual rock that accompanied the children of Israel on their journey through the wilderness; that rock was Christ (1 Corinthians 10:4). He is the rock of our salvation. Anything that’s founded on Him is eternally fortified and unshakable.It brings to mind the words of Jesus in Matthew 7:24- 27. He said,_“Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.”_Notice the Lord didn’t say if you built your house on the rock, the winds would come and turn away, or that the floods would come and flow away. No! He said they’d beat upon the house. But because it’s on the rock, it’ll remain standing. That’s how your life is when you live in the Word of God. It doesn’t matter the fiery darts and tempest from Satan; you’re unflustered and unscathed.Build your ministry on the Word. Build your life, your finances, your business, your relationships—all your endeavours—on the Word, and they’ll never crumble. Recall what the Bible says through the Prophet Isaiah, which parallels what we read from the Master in Matthew 7:24-27. He said,_“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).This is your heritage as one in Christ. You’re unconquerable. All things work together to produce blessings for you! You’re divinely protected because Christ is your rock and your fortress. Hallelujah!PRAYER:Dear Father, thank you for your Word, which is my sure and firm foundation. My life is built on Christ, the Rock on which I stand secured, strengthened, rooted and grounded, set for an upward course—the transcendent, victorious and prosperous life, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.FURTHER STUDY:Acts 20:32_32- “Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified._1 Corinthians 3:10-11_10- By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care._ _11- For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ._Matthew 7:24-27 NIV_24- “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.__25- The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.__26- But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.__27- The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”_1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:Matthew 6:1-18 & Genesis 18-192-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:Matthew 4:1-11 & Genesis 7
DATE: FRIDAY 06 JANUARY 2023TOPIC: SEE THE KINGDOM WAYKEY VERSE: _For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory (2 Corinthians 4:17)._MESSAGE::Think about what we just read; an amazing reality! It makes no difference how much persecution and adversities you’re facing right now; they’re “light afflictions,” with fleeting lifespans. That’s not all: those “light afflictions” produce for you an eternal weight of glory. Blessed be God!That crisis you thought came to crush you has a transient lifespan! If you would stay focused on the Word, there’s a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory that’s sure to result from the situation.Then the Spirit tells us how this happens in 2 Corinthians 4:17-18. It says,_“…for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”_ Quit looking at the visible things in the natural world; remain focused, looking at the unseen. That’s because those unseen things are real.The “things” your physical eyes or senses can relate with are not real; they’re temporary—here today, gone tomorrow. They’re subject to change! It’s like what we read about Elisha and his servant when they were surrounded by enemy chariots, horses and a great army. Terrified, Elisha’s servant cried out, “Master, we’re surrounded; what shall we do?”Elisha replied, “Don’t be afraid; those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” Then Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, LORD, so that he may see” (2 Kings 6:17). The servant was looking at the wrong thing. The real armies and chariots were the unseen host of angels that surrounded Elisha, but the servant didn’t know it. So, in your life, see the unseen! Look and see spiritually. See the Kingdom way. Hallelujah!PRAYER:Dear Lord, thank you for the far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory that I experience as I walk in your Word. I rejoice always, knowing that you, O Lord, are the strength of my life by whom I triumph gloriously in every situation, reigning in righteousness, grace, wisdom, and in the knowledge of Christ. Amen.FURTHER STUDY:James 1:2-4 TPT_2- My fellow believers, when it seems as though you are facing nothing but difficulties, see it as an invaluable opportunity to experience the greatest joy that you can!__3- For you know that when your faith is tested it stirs up in you the power of endurance.__4- And then as your endurance grows even stronger, it will release perfection into every part of your being until there is nothing missing and nothing lacking._2 Corinthians 4:16-18 AMPC_16- Therefore we do not become discouraged (utterly spiritless, exhausted, and wearied out through fear). Though our outer man is [progressively] decaying and wasting away, yet our inner self is being [progressively] renewed day after day.__17- For our light, momentary affliction (this slight distress of the passing hour) is ever more and more abundantly preparing andproducing and achieving for us an everlasting weight of glory [beyond all measure, excessively surpassing all comparisons and all calculations, a vast and transcendent glory and blessedness never to cease!],__18- Since we consider and look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen; for the things that are visible are temporal (brief and fleeting), but the things that are invisible are deathless and everlasting._1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:Matthew 5:21-48 & Genesis 15-172-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:Matthew 3:10-17 & Genesis 6
DATE: THURSDAY 05 JANUARY 2023TOPIC: HIS FULLNESS IN USKEY VERSE: _For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell (Colossians 1:19)._MESSAGE::Though Abraham, Isaac and Jacob knew God as El Shaddai, God introduced Himself to Moses as Jehovah (Exodus 6). On this was based the hope of the Old Testament, revealed in the name Emmanuel—“God, with us!” (Matthew 1:23).But God wasn’t satisfied with “Emmanuel”; His plan was different as revealed to us in Colossians 1:26-27:_“Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints…which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”_ Blessed be God!God’s plan from the beginning wasn’t to be with us or amongst us but to be in us in His fullness. You may dance, scream and rejoice that God is with you; but until the reality and realization of His indwelling dawns on your spirit, your life will be empty. Your life of glory begins with the realization that Christ literally lives in you.We see this in Paul’s beautiful prayer in Ephesians 3:14-19. It says,_“…That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith…that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.”_ That’s God’s plan right there: that you might be filled (replete) with all the fullness of God, as Jesus was filled with the fullness of God.You have a role in this; otherwise, the Spirit’s prayer through Paul in Ephesians 3:14-18 wouldn’t have been necessary. That’s why He told you to be filled with the Spirit always, and Ephesians 5:18-20 shows you how:_“And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”_ Hallelujah!PRAYER:Christ in me is the hope of glory! I’m eternally grateful for the privilege to be filled with the Spirit always for an all-day, all-time life of victory and dominion through the Holy Ghost! I’m led by the Spirit; synchronized with Him to fulfil God’s plan and purpose for my life, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.FURTHER STUDY:John 1:16_16- Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given._Ephesians 3:14-19_14- For this reason I kneel before the Father,__15- from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name.__16- I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being,__17- so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love,__18- may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,__19- and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God._Colossians 2:10_10- and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the headover every power and authority._1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:Matthew 5:1-20 & Genesis 12-142-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:Matthew 3:1-9 & Genesis 5
DATE: WEDNESDAY 04 JANUARY 2023TOPIC: IT’S FROM YOUR HEARTKEY VERSE: _Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life (Proverbs 4:23)._MESSAGE::Anything you want or could ever want won’t come to you from heaven or from anywhere else but from your heart. Your heart is the origin of all things, including matter. That’s what we read in our opening verse above. Remember, universal matter came from the heart of God; everything was inside Him before He spoke them into being. You're made in the image and likeness of God; meaning that you look like Him and function like Him. Therefore, everything you’ll ever need in your life will come out of you—out of your heart. That business you want to start, the new structure you want to set up, that new facility you need, including the capital; they’re all in your heart! Bring them forth from within you! The Bible says God has set, that means deposited, eternity in our hearts: “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart…”(Ecclesiastes 3:11). Your heart has the potential for infinite capabilities andpossibilities. You can bring forth anything from within your spirit. Think about it: if your heart can contain God (for He lives in your heart; you’re the temple of the Holy Spirit), then it means heaven and earth, life, success, victory and joy—all the good things you could ever imagine or desire—are in your heart. The reverse is also true for the one who isn’t born again: his heart is the habitation of evil, darkness, wickedness, failure and death. Recall the words of the Lord Jesus in Matthew 12:35: _“A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.”_Being born again, you’re the “good” man that Jesus talked about. You’re the one to produce whatever God wants in the earth: we permit and bring forth only the things that are consistent with His perfect will. Our hearts or spirits scrutinize everything and decide that only the will of the Lord will be done in our world and upon the earth (Romans 12:2). Hallelujah!CONFESSION:From within, I bring forth success, victory, health, prosperity, joy and all the good things I desire. I walk in the glory of God today, and in the full blessings of the Gospel as I impact those in my world with the life and nature of Christ in me, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.FURTHER STUDY:Matthew 12:34_34- You brood of vipers, how can you speak good things when you are evil? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart._Luke 6:45_45- The [intrinsically] good man produces what is good and honorable and moral out of the good treasure [stored] in his heart; and the [intrinsically] evil man produces what is wicked and depraved out of the evil [in his heart]; for his mouth speaks from the overflow of his heart._Romans 12:2_2- And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you]._1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:Matthew 4 & Genesis 9-112-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:Matthew 2:13-23 & Genesis 4
DATE: TUESDAY 03 JANUARY 2023TOPIC: FAITH - OUR LIFESTYLE IN THE KINGDOMKEY VERSE: _For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith (Romans 1:17)._MESSAGE::In the Kingdom of God where we live, faith is our lifestyle. It isn’t something we try to acquire; it’s inherent in us. It came to us in the Gospel: “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). Romans 12:3 says,_“…God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.”_Therefore, to live triumphantly in the Kingdom, you must put your faith to work. Failure to grow and exercisetheir faith is one of the reasons many Christians suffer for a long time. Rather than acting their faith, they’re more focused on their condition, complaining bitterly about what they’re going through.That’s not the way to function in the Kingdom of God. What you must understand is that God has given youauthority and power in the Holy Spirit to effect changes. It only takes you acting on the Word, and that’s what faith is. Through faith, we activate the blessings and provisions of Christ made available to us in the Gospel. It’s the reason Jesus taught the message of faith to the people in His day. But being born again, we’re creatures of faith. Faith is our lifestyle. Hallelujah!CONFESSION:I have the mindset of possibilities and victories only. I apprehend and call real, things that the physical senses can’t perceive but are revealed in God’s Word. My God- given vision, idea, target or dream is possible because I live by faith in God’s Word. I’m living in the spiritual realities of our divine Kingdom, in absolute prosperity and unending success! Glory to God!FURTHER STUDY:Luke 17:6_6- And the Lord answered, If you had faith (trust and confidence in God) even [so small] like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, Be pulled up by the roots, and be planted in the sea, and it would obey you._Hebrews 11:1_1- Now faith is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses]._Romans 10:17_17- So faith comes by hearing [what is told], and what is heard comes by the preaching [of the message that came from the lips] of Christ (the Messiah Himself)._1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:Matthew 3 & Genesis 6-82-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:Matthew 2:1-12 & Genesis 3
DATE: MONDAY 02 JANUARY 2023TOPIC: JOY IN THE REALMS OF SALVATIONKEY VERSE: _For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation (Romans 10:10)._MESSAGE::In the realms of salvation is joy. That’s because all the blessings of God, all the blessings that exist in Christ, are in salvation. So, we’re full of joy all the time because we have all things. The Bible says,_“For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost”_ (Romans 14:17). There’s no room for frustration in our lives. We don’t give vent to sadness, anger or bitterness. We give vent to the joy of the Lord—joy unspeakable and full of glory.Consider what the Spirit says through Paul to the saints in Thessalonica:_“And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost”_ (1 Thessalonians 1:6). Despite the affliction, they were full of joy. Isn’t that what James also said? James 1:2 NIV: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds.”That’s how come Paul and Silas could be singing praises to God while in prison, with their hands and feet in stocks. They joyfully praised God, not so He would deliver them (even though He did), but because that’s the life of the new creation—it’s the extrusion and manifestation of true joy; it just flows.If that hasn’t been your experience, it’s because you’re not acting on the Word. Being joyful is your life. The Bible says,_“Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation”_ (Isaiah 12:3). Without joy, you can’t experience the awesome blessings that God has delivered to you when you received salvation.Joy is one of the intrinsic attributes of your recreated spirit; you only need to express and exude it always, irrespective and independent of circumstances. That’s where your strength lies—strength for an ever-victorious life:_“…for the joy of the LORD is your strength”_ (Nehemiah 8:10).PRAYER:Righteous Father, I’ve put on the new man which, after you, is created in righteousness and true holiness. Therefore, I’m full of joy and strengthened by the Holy Spirit today. My life is the testimony of your grace and goodness, and I rejoice always with joy unspeakable and full of glory. Hallelujah!FURTHER STUDY:1 Peter 1:8_8- 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:_Romans 14:17_17- For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost._1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:Matthew 2 & Genesis 3-52-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:Matthew 1:15-25 & Genesis 2
DATE: SUNDAY 01 JANUARY 2023TOPIC: FOCUS ON THE ESSENCE NOT THE PROCESSKEY VERSE: _Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report (Hebrews 11:1)._MESSAGE::I’ve often said that there’s no better definition of faith than what we have in Hebrews 11:1. It says faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of unseen realities. That means faith is the essence of hope. Therefore, in acting your faith, your focus shouldn’t be on the medium or process; what matters is the source. Faith is the essence, not the process.The Bible says about Abraham: being not weak in faith, he considered not his body now dead, neither the deadness of Sarah’s womb, but he was strong in faith—in the essence. Hallelujah! Abraham’s focus wasn’t on how the baby Isaac would come, but on God from whom he’d come, for God had given him His Word of promise, and he counted God faithful to His Word. He saw the baby with the eyes of faith.Today, what are you seeing? What has your faith pictured? What has your spirit taken a hold of? Hold on to the picture that you want, and refuse to worry about how it’ll navigate to you!Don’t think, “Who does God have over there to make this or that happen for me; how am I going to get the money for this project;” no! Your part is to stay focused on Him; stay your heart and your mind on what you want. Your hope shouldn’t be on someone helping you with the money, but on God—your source.Every so often, make bold faith proclamations and refuse contrary signs, feelings or fears, giving glory to God!” Remember; what you see is what you get. The Bible says Abraham staggered not at the promise of God, through unbelief, but he was strong in faith, giving glory to God. He held on to the picture, because when you look away, it dissipates. But when you look at it, you see it in action, and it manifests.It makes no difference the kind of odds they say are against you. It doesn’t matter the troubles that you face; can you see the picture of your glorious life? Can you see the picture of the greater, successful, triumphant and excellent you? That’s what’s important. Hold on to it.PRAYER:Dear Father, you’ve set eternity in my heart. I have an extraordinary capacity to contemplate, envision or see pictures of possibilities and the glorious life you’ve called me to live. I comprehend by the Spirit the immeasurable, unlimited and surpassing greatness of your power at work in me! My faith is alive, producing results always, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.FURTHER STUDY:Ecclesiastes 3:11 (KJV)_11- He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end._Genesis 13:14-15 (KJV) _14- And the Lord said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward:__15- For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever._1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:Matthew 1 & Genesis 1-22-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:Matthew 1:1-14 & Genesis 1
DATE: SUNDAY 11 DECEMBER 2022TOPIC: SINGERS OF HIS PRAISEKEY VERSE: _Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him: talk ye of all his wondrous works (Psalm 105:2)._MESSAGE::All the great men or women of God you find in the Bible were singers of the Lord’s praise. No wonder they lived an extraordinarily victorious life in every way. It’s time for us to learn to praise and sing unto the Lord Most High; we’re to sing songs of the Spirit, for we’re singers of His praise!For example, after crossing the Red Sea and witnessing how the Egyptian warlords perished in it, Moses broke out in songs of praise:_“…I will sing unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously…The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father’s God, and I will exalt him. The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name”_ (Exodus 15:1-3).When the Israelites fought against King Jabin and destroyed him, Deborah and Barak sang to the Lord with these beautiful words:_“Praise ye the LORD for the avenging of Israel…Hear, O ye kings; give ear, O ye princes; I, even I, will sing unto the LORD; I will sing praise to the LORD God of Israel”_ (Judges 5:2-3).How about Miriam’s poetic acknowledgement of Israel’s miraculous deliverance from the charging Egyptians:_“…Sing to the LORD, because he has won a glorious victory; he has thrown the horses and their riders into the sea”_ (Exodus 15:21 GNB).Over in the New Testament, we read the prophetic utterance about Jesus that says,_“…in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee”_ (Hebrews 2:12). The prophetic utterance about Jesus declares that He would sing praises to the Lord in the midst of the church, among His brethren. And He did. Hallelujah! The night before He was betrayed, after He had served His disciples the Holy Communion, the Bible says,_“They sang a hymn and went directly to Mount Olives”_ (Matthew 26:30 MSG). Then in Luke 10:21, He did something beautiful: He sang a psalm. Psalms are spiritual songs. Glory to God!PRAYER:Dear Father, I praise your Name, and worship your majesty, for you’re the healer, the supplier of all good things, and you’re greater than all. Thank you for granting me the grace to prevail always over circumstances, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.FURTHER STUDY:Psalm 150:1-6_1- Praise the Lord! Praise God in His sanctuary; praise Him in the heavens of His power!__2- Praise Him for His mighty acts; praise Him according to the abundance of His greatness!__3- Praise Him with trumpet sound; praise Him with lute and harp!__4- Praise Him with tambourine and [single or group] dance; praise Him with stringed and wind instruments or flutes!__5- Praise Him with resounding cymbals; praise Him with loud clashing cymbals!__6- Let everything that has breath and every breath of life praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! (Hallelujah!)_Psalm 9:11_11- Sing praises to the Lord, Who dwells in Zion! Declare among the peoples His doings!_Psalm 13:6_6- I will sing to the Lord, because He has dealt bountifully with me._1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:Revelation 3:7-22 & Hosea 7-102-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:Revelation11:11-19 & Jonah 3-4
DATE: SATURDAY 10 DECEMBER 2022TOPIC: THE DIVINE "LOGOS"KEY VERSE: _In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God (John 1:1)._MESSAGE::“Word” in our opening scripture above is the Greek, “Logos.” It describes God’s Word presented to us as His opinions, thoughts, ideas, doctrines, treatise, accounts, wisdom, knowledge, plans and purposes. Thus, our knowledge and understanding of the Word is so crucial.When God speaks His Word to you, even if all He says to you is, “Go ye therefore”; that phrase will guide and guard your life in everything. That’s because all of Him and all that He represents are in His Word (the divine logos). Hallelujah!This Logos of God made all things:_“The same was in the beginning with God; All things were made by Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made”_ (John 1:2-3). Suddenly, we observe that the Apostle John gives a personality to the Logos of God; he uses the personal pronoun “Him,” instead of “it.” Then in verse 14, it becomes even clearer; it says,_“And the Word was made (became) flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth”_ (John 1:14).Imagine all of God’s ideas, all of God’s knowledge, all of God’s wisdom, all of who He is: in personality, in quality, all of His ability to perceive—all of that in the divine Logos— became flesh and dwelt among us. This is Jesus! The Word that was spoken, which was “speech,” became a man; took on humanity!Jesus is the divine Logos. When they saw Him in Bible days, as He walked by, they saw the totality of the mind of God. He was the totality of the will of the Father. He was God’s message in flesh. John said, “We beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth!” Hallelujah!PRAYER:Dear heavenly Father, I thank you for your opinions, thoughts, ideas, doctrines, treatise, accounts, revelations, and comprehension encapsulated in the Word. As I study and meditate on the divine truths and wisdom in the Scriptures, your Word puts me over and above all situations, causing me to excel in everything, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.FURTHER STUDY:Hebrews 4:12-13_12- For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective]; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart.__13- And not a creature exists that is concealed from His sight, but all things are open and exposed, naked and defenseless to the eyes of Him with Whom we have to do._John 1:1-4_1- In the beginning [before all time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself.__2- He was present originally with God.__3- All things were made and came into existence through Him; and without Him was not even one thing made that has come into being.__4- In Him was Life, and the Life was the Light of men._1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:Revelation 2:18-3:1-6 & Hosea 3-62-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:Revelation 11:1-10 & Jonah 1-2
DATE: FRIDAY 09 DECEMBER 2022TOPIC: INFINITE POSSIBILITIESKEY VERSE: _Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth (Mark 9:23)._MESSAGE::In the Kingdom of God, in the realm of the supernatural, are infinite possibilities. That’s the realm in which we live; that’s the realm into which we were born. There’s no limit to your success. Hallelujah! Jesus said in our opening scripture, “All things are possible to him that believes.”The Bible says in Romans 10: “With the heart (spirit) man believes”; your spirit has the capacity for infinite possibilities. When your spirit takes a hold of God’s Word, there’s no telling what you can do; there’s no telling what you could be; there’s no telling what you could have!If you’d only believe, there’ll be a complete metamorphosis of your life. It doesn’t matter what limits have been placed on you; whether from your family, your friends, your location, your job, or your training—it makes no difference—you’re open to infinite possibilities. If you can only believe!Dare to believe God. Dare to believe and act on His Word, and your path in life will be one of endless progress, victories and prosperity. Every so often, declare, “I go above and beyond the limits in the Name of Jesus. All things are possible to me. I have ability for all things. Amen.”PRAYER:Dear Father, thank you for your Word which brings to my heart the pictures of infinite possibilities, as there’s no limit to the extent, reach and capacity to which my spirit can envision, contemplate and create. I thank you for enlightening me to know and understand the greatness of your power at work in me, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.FURTHER STUDY:Romans 10:10_10- For with the heart a person believes (adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Christ) and so is justified (declared righteous, acceptable to God), and with the mouth he confesses (declares openly and speaks out freely his faith) and confirms [his] salvation._Ecclesiastes 3:11 NIV_11- He has made everything beautiful in its time. He also has planted eternity in men’s hearts and minds [a divinely implanted sense of a purpose working through the ages which nothing under the sun but God alone can satisfy], yet so that men cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end._Matthew 12:35_35- The good man from his inner good treasure flings forth good things, and the evil man out of his inner evil storehouse flings forth evil things._1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:Revelation 2:1-17 & Hosea 1-22-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:Revelation 10:1-11 & Obadiah 1
DATE: THURSDAY 08 DECEMBER 2022TOPIC: SET YOUR FOCUS ON THE WORDKEY VERSE: _Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest (Joshua 1:7)._MESSAGE::When I was a teenager, I engaged the Spirit of God on several issues. I didn’t want to live my life dabbling into different things, guessing and trying to figure out God’s purpose for my life. I wanted to know exactly where to go, what to do, and how to set my sail. I wanted to know God’s direction for my life, because I figured since He already knew my future, there wasn’t anything wrong with my asking Him.Guess what? He directed my mind and my spirit to His Word. He said to me, “My Word is your compass; it illuminates your path. If you follow my Word, you’ll never lose your way; you’ll prosper in all that you do.” That’s what He said to Joshua in our theme scripture.Psalm 119:105 says,_“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”_ The Lord Jesus said in John 8:12,_“…I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”_ He is the Word. Hallelujah!Set your focus on the Word and you’ll never fail:_“This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night… for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success”_ (Joshua 1:8). God’s Word is absolute truth; you can depend absolutely on it.Don’t be afraid to believe God and stay on His Word. You can’t do that and make a mistake or regret it. Those who regret following God’s Word never really knew the Word; they weren’t following the Word but the desires of their own hearts. When you go for the Word, you stay focused no matter what tries to distract you. Hallelujah!PRAYER:Dear Father, your Word is my light and the compass by which I navigate my way through life; it’s the light that guides me in the path of success, victory and greatness. Through your Word, I receive insight into the mysteries and realities of the Kingdom. Thank you for the blessing of being guided and regulated by your Word, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.FURTHER STUDY:Joshua 1:8 AMPC_8- This Book of the Law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe and do according to all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall deal wisely and have good success._Matthew 24:35_35- Sky and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away._Isaiah 55:10-11_10- For as the rain and snow come down from the heavens, and return not there again, but water the earth and make it bring forth and sprout, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater,__11- So shall My word be that goes forth out of My mouth: it shall not return to Me void [without producing any effect, useless], but it shall accomplish that which I please and purpose, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it._1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Revelation 1 & Daniel 11-122-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:Revelation 9:11-21 & Amos 8-9
DATE: WEDNESDAY 07 DECEMBER 2022TOPIC: THE POWER OF SPEECHKEY VERSE: _Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God… (Hebrews 11:3)._MESSAGE::Genesis chapter one shows us how God created all things; it was through words. He spoke, and everything He said, became. That’s because speech (words) create sound waves—energy. This is one reason why meditating on the Word is so important.Meditation has three phases or levels. Level one is when you speak under your voice. Then in the second level, you’re literally talking or muttering. The third and final level is when you shout or roar; you’re talking aloud. This final phase is so important because of the power of sound or energy of words.This is why when you read scriptures, you should oftentimes read them aloud. Read your Rhapsody of Realities aloud, including the prayers and confessions. Your affirmation of the Word is very important. God gave us a tongue so we could talk, and when you talk, energy is released.Through the energy of words, God recreated and brought order to the world, which hitherto was a chaotic mass (Genesis 1). Ephesians 5:1 tells us to emulate Him as His beloved children. What God did in Genesis 1 was for us to emulate. With words, you’re to maintain the beauty and glory of your life, and change circumstances and situations in line with God’s will. By your words, you can chart your course in victory and success.Jesus said you shall have what you say (Mark 11:23); so don’t keep quiet. There’s a reason for speaking. Even the very principle of salvation stresses the importance of speaking. It says, “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 10:10). Confession here means, “saying what God has said in agreement with Him.” It’s translated from the Greek word “Homologeo”—which primarily means to say the same thing as another in agreement. That’s what makes His Word effectual in your life.It’s not enough to “believe” the Word of God with your heart; you have to declare it with your mouth to experience the blessings therein. The Bible says Christ is your life. Christ is your wisdom. Christ is your righteousness. Christ in you, the hope of glory. For the rest of today, meditate on these truths about Christ, saying them aloud every so often.PRAYER:Dear Father, I thank you for the gift and power of speech. As I speak forth your Word, your light manifests and obliterates every form of darkness in my path. My life is beautiful, excellent and full of glory. I walk in health and strength, prospering in all that I do, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.FURTHER STUDY:Mark 11:23_23- Truly I tell you, whoever says to this mountain, Be lifted up and thrown into the sea! and does not doubt at all in his heart but believes that what he says will take place, it will be done for him._Proverbs 18:21_21- Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they who indulge in it shall eat the fruit of it [for death or life]._Matthew 12:37_37- For by your words you will be justified and acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned and sentenced._1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:Jude & Daniel 9-102-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:Revelation 9:1-10 & Amos 7
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY 02 DECEMBER 2022PASTOR CHRISTOPIC: WE OUGHT ALWAYS TO PRAYKEY VERSE: _And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint (Luke 18:1)._MESSAGE::Someone once said, “I have so much to do in very little time; it leaves me with very little time to pray. So, in the mornings, I pray for only five minutes because I always have a busy day.” That’s a big mistake.Never skip or reduce your times of fellowship with the Lord for other things you might consider “important.” The wisdom, guidance and strength you need for success comes from the Lord. Always remember that.When you have so much to do, that’s when you need to pray. In fact, you’ll need to pray more at such times because you require spiritual help to achieve results in a shorter time and in the best way. Instead of feeling too busy to pray, a wise person will say, “I have so much work to do that I’ll need to give more time to prayer.” You receive a boost in your energy and inspiration, which will give you speed.Jesus said men ought always to pray and not to give up (Luke 18:1), letting us know that we were made to pray. It’s something God built within the human system. In other words, there’ll always be the need for that spiritual fellowship with God.Through such fellowship, we can be built, encouraged, directed and obtain the Lord’s mercy, grace and intervention in our circumstances. Not only should you desire to pray, you should pray always. We don’t pray just because we require a miracle; we pray because we’re in a loving relationship with a real loving heavenly Father.PRAYER:Dear Father, thank you for the privilege and blessings of prayer. Thank you for the opportunity of fellowship with you, loving and gracious Father! You’re my source and ability; and I’m confident that my future is secure, as I remain yielded to your Spirit and guided by your wisdom, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.FURTHER STUDY:1 Thessalonians 5:17_17- pray continually,_James 5:16-18_16- Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.__17- Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years.__18- Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops._Ephesians 6:18 NIV_18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people._1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:1 John 3:11-24; Ezekiel 47-482-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:Revelation 6:1-10; Joel 2
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 01 DECEMBER 2022PASTOR CHRISTOPIC: THE INNER SANCTUARYKEY VERSE: _The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly (Proverbs 20:27)._MESSAGE::In the Old Testament, God gave Israel the tabernacle, which He divided into three parts. The first was the inner sanctuary, where the Ark of God was. It was also called the Holy of Holies or the Most Holy Place. The second part was the outer sanctuary, which was called the Holy Place. The third part of the tabernacle was the outer court, where the brazen altar and laver were.This tabernacle of Moses gives us the picture of the human person: the spirit, soul, and body. Man’s body is the outer court, the soul is the first sanctuary, while the spirit is the inner sanctuary.The Holy Spirit resides in the inner sanctuary, which is the recreated human spirit. When a man is born again, his spirit is recreated; eternal life is imparted to his spirit and right away, the Ark of God is set up there. What was in the Ark in the Old Testament? It was the Word of God written on two tablets of stone (1 Kings 8:9, 2 Chronicles 5:10).Where is the Word of God today? It’s in our hearts, our spirits. The Lord said,_“…this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts…”_ (Hebrews 8:10). No wonder Paul said we’re the words of Christ written by the Spirit, not on tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart (2 Corinthians 3:3).This shows us the importance of the human spirit. That’s where the Word of God is today. That’s where God lives. Being born again is the recreation of the inward man—the human spirit—to become God’s dwelling place; His holy tabernacle. The premium, therefore, must be on the education of your spirit, which is only achievable by receiving and meditating on the Word of God.CONFESSION:My spirit is God’s dwelling place, where He lives in His glory and majesty. I carry God’s divine presence in my heart and impact my world with the blessings of my divinity. I’m heaven’s ambassador to this world; everywhere I go, God goes, because I’m His living tabernacle, His home and headquarters. Hallelujah!FURTHER STUDY:2 Corinthians 3:1-3_1- Are we starting to commend ourselves again? Or we do not, like some [false teachers], need written credentials or letters of recommendation to you or from you, [do we]?__2- [No] you yourselves are our letter of recommendation (our credentials), written in your hearts, to be known (perceived, recognized) and read by everybody.__3- You show and make obvious that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, not written with ink but with [the] Spirit of [the] living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts._Hebrews 10:16_16- This is the agreement (testament, covenant) that I will set up and conclude with them after those days, says the Lord: I will imprint My laws upon their hearts, and I will inscribe them on their minds (on their inmost thoughts and understanding),_1 Corinthians 3:16_16- Do you not discern and understand that you [the whole church at Corinth] are God’s temple (His sanctuary), and that God’s Spirit has His permanent dwelling in you [to be at home in you, collectively as a church and also individually]?_1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:1 John 2:15-29; 1 John 3:1-10; Ezekiel 45-462-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:Revelation 5:1-14; Joel 1
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 30 NOVEMBER 2022PASTOR CHRISTOPIC: THE SURE FOUNDATIONKEY VERSE: _Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste (Isaiah 28:16)._MESSAGE::It matters the foundation upon which your life is built. The Bible says,_“For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ”_ (1 Corinthians 3:11). Christ is the only sure foundation. He must be the foundation of your success. That way, when you face the adversities of life, you’ll remain standing, because you’re founded upon the Rock, Christ Jesus!The Prophet Isaiah, in our opening verse, spoke prophetically about the “stone” that the Lord God would lay in Zion, and I want you to observe the way this “stone” is described. First, he refers to it as “a tried stone.” Then he calls it “a precious cornerstone.” Thirdly, he refers to it as “a sure foundation.”Being a “tried stone” means it’s been tested and proven. As “a precious cornerstone,” it means it’s the most important stone for the stability of the building. As a “sure foundation,” it means you can stake your life on it. That’s who the Lord Jesus is; He’s the only true foundation upon which you should build your life.No wonder He said in Luke 6:47-49: “Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.”Remember, the foundation is what makes the difference. Both houses in the illustration given by Jesus above were confronted by the same flood, but the one without foundations came to ruin. Let Christ, the Solid Rock, be the anchor of your life! Be a doer of God’s Word, for that’s how to build your life on the rock. That’s what will keep you standing when all else fails. That’s what will keep you in success and prosperity all your life.CONFESSION:Dear Father, thank you for your Word, which is my sure and firm foundation; upon it, I rest secure and immovable, strengthened, rooted and grounded. Your Word is the rock that holds me, for it’s dependable, reliable, and true. Thank you, Lord, for my triumphant life in and through the Word, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.FURTHER STUDY:Acts 20:32_32- And now [brethren], I commit you to God [I deposit you in His charge, entrusting you to His protection and care]. And I commend you to the Word of His grace [to the commands and counsels and promises of His unmerited favor]. It is able to build you up and to give you [your rightful] inheritance among all God’s set-apart ones (those consecrated, purified, and transformed of soul)._Mark 13:31_31- Heaven and earth will perish and pass away, but My words will not perish or pass away._1 Peter 2:5-6_5- [Come] and, like living stones, be yourselves built [into] a spiritual house, for a holy (dedicated, consecrated) priesthood, to offer up [those] spiritual sacrifices [that are] acceptable and pleasing to God through Jesus Christ.__6- For thus it stands in Scripture: Behold, I am laying in Zion a chosen (honored), precious chief Cornerstone, and he who believes in Him [who adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Him] shall never be disappointed or put to shame._1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:1 John 1-2:1-14 & Ezekiel 43-442-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:Revelation 4:1-11 & Hosea 13-14
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 21 NOVEMBER 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: SPEAK GOD'S LANGUAGE
KEY VERSE: _Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual (1 Corinthians 2:13)._
MESSAGE::
In Galatians 4:1-2, the Bible says,_“Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.”_ An heir is someone who has an inheritance bequeathed to him, a legal inheritor of an estate or position of high authority and wealth.
However, as long as the heir is a child, he’s not different from a servant. The word translated “child” is “nēpios,” one who’s unable to talk right or communicate wisely. Someone can be forty years in Christianity and still be a “nēpios”; he can’t form the right words in the realm of the spirit.
Yes, the Word says we’re heirs of God and joint- heirs with Christ, but “nepios” can’t live the life of an heir. 1 Corinthians 3:21 says,_“…all things are yours”_; but they’re suffering through life because they haven’t matured spiritually. They use the wrong terms because they’ve never learnt God’s language.
The way to learn and speak God’s language is by studying and meditating on the Word. Our theme verse says we’re to speak words which the Holy Ghost teaches— words of wisdom from and by the Spirit. So, get yourself trained in the Word of God and have the Word in your heart and on your lips always, irrespective of the circumstance.
CONFESSION:
I speak the wisdom of God in esoteric language. In Christ Jesus, I’ve been given dominion over circumstances, and I’m superior to Satan and the forces of darkness. The life God has given me in Christ is that of great glory and excellence, where I prosper in all things, by His Word! I’m full of wisdom, glory and strength. Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY:
1 Corinthians 2:7
_7- But rather what we are setting forth is a wisdom of God once hidden [from the human understanding] and now revealed to us by God—[that wisdom] which God devised and decreed before the ages for our glorification [to lift us into the glory of His presence]._
1 Corinthians 2:12-13
_12- Now we have not received the spirit [that belongs to] the world, but the [Holy] Spirit Who is from God, [given to us] that we might realize and comprehend and appreciate the gifts [of divine favor and blessing so freely and lavishly] bestowed on us by God._
_13- And we are setting these truths forth in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the [Holy] Spirit, combining andinterpreting spiritual truths with spiritual language [to those who possess the Holy Spirit]._
Hebrews 13:5-6
_5- Let your character or moral disposition be free from love of money [including greed, avarice, lust, and craving for earthly possessions] and be satisfied with your present [circumstances and with what you have]; for He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!]_
_6- So we take comfort and are encouraged and confidently andboldly say, The Lord is my Helper; I will not be seized with alarm [I will not fear or dread or be terrified]. What can man do to me?_
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: James 4:13-5:1-20 & Ezekiel 24-26
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 2 John & Daniel 7-8
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY 18 NOVEMBER 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THE LAST DAYS
KEY VERSE: _First, I want to remind you that in the last days there will come scoffers who will do every wrong they can think of and laugh at the truth. This will be their line of argument: “So Jesus promised to come back, did he? Then where is he? He’ll never come… (2 Peter 3:3-4 TLB)._
MESSAGE::
It’s not uncommon to hear some people scoff when they hear the term, “the last days.” They doubt its certainty because they think they’ve heard about it for too long. To understand what the Bible says about the last days, you’d have to first recognize that the term has several applications in prophecy. Secondly, you’ll need to know whom the prophet or writer was addressing with the term.
For instance, in addressing the Jews, the Apostle Peter’s use of the phrase was very accurate, because he wasn’t dealing with the last days of the Church but the last days of Israel. They were in their last days, yet they didn’t realize how close they were. Someone may be wondering, “But Peter said these things almost two thousand years ago. So just how close were they?”
The end of their calendar had come very close. Daniel’s prophetic writing stated that 70 weeks of years were determined for Israel, leading up to the establishment of the millennial reign of the Messiah. God had been running a calendar with them until the Messiah was cutoff in the 69th week.
Between the 69th and the 70th week came the Church Age. So, Peter was correct to have told the children of Israel they were in the last days at the time because they were already in the 69th week.
Today, not only is Israel in its last days, but the Church Age is also rounding off. We’re in a period that’s considered the fiercest part of the battle of the ages. We’ve however been trained and equipped for these times, and we’re carrying out a great onslaught against the forces of darkness as we get men and women in every nation ready for the soon return of our Lord and Master. Be sure to be a part of this great work, and win souls to Christ. (Read Luke 12:39-46).
PRAYER:
Dear Father, thank you for choosing me as your vessel to take the Gospel to my world in these last days. You’ve anointed me to deliver men from bondage into the glorious liberty of the sons of God. Your precious Spirit guides me to accomplish great exploits as I establish your Kingdom and righteousness in the hearts of men, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
1 John 2:18 NIV
_18- Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come.This is how we know it is the last hour._
Ephesians 5:15-16
_15- Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise,_
_16- making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil._
Philippians 4:5
_5- Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: James 1; Ezekiel 17-19
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 1 John 4:1-14 & Daniel 1-2
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 17 NOVEMBER 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: YOU HAVE ALL THINGS IN HIM
KEY VERSE: _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)._
MESSAGE
The essence of Christianity, the glory and joy of all that Jesus came to do, is Christ in you. Christ in you is everything. Christ in you is heaven in you; it’s divinity in you. Now that you have Christ, you have everything. No wonder Paul said,_“Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours”_ (1 Corinthians 3:21). Hallelujah!
Here’s something remarkable to ponder on: Romans 6:23 says,_“…the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”_ That’s a fundamental truth of the Gospel. However, as you get higher in the understanding of the Gospel, you’d discover that Jesus really doesn’t stand away and give you eternal life; He’s Himself eternal life. In giving you eternal life, He actually gave you Himself. Hallelujah.
The moment you come to terms with this reality, it’ll change your thinking and prayer life. You’d stop asking God for things. If it’s true that you have Christ (and thank God it’s true), what then could you possibly be in need of? Christ is everything, and everything is in Christ.
Stop asking God for what you already have in Christ. For example, don’t ask God for healing; take divine health, for it’s your nature in Christ Jesus. The victorious life is yours in Christ. Everything you require for an extraordinary life of glory and righteousness is already yours in Christ (2 Peter 1:3).
Now, you can understand why the Lord Jesus said in Luke 12:22,_“…Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.”_ He’s your sufficiency; in Him, you have all things.Hallelujah!
PRAYER:
Blessed Father, I thank you for giving me all things in Christ Jesus. Christ is my all; in Christ I have all that I require for life and godliness; I have all that I require to live triumphantly and please you in all things. Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY:
2 Peter 1:3
_3- For His divine power has bestowed upon us all things that [are requisite and suited] to life and godliness, through the [full, personal] knowledge of Him Who called us by and to His own glory and excellence (virtue)._
1 Corinthians 3:21-22 AMPC
_21- So let no one exult proudly concerning men [boasting of having this or that man as a leader], for all things are yours,_
_22- Whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas (Peter), or the universe or life or death, or the immediate and threatening present or the [subsequent and uncertain] future—all are yours,_
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Hebrews 13 & Ezekiel 16
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 1 John 3:13-24 & Ezekiel 48
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 16 NOVEMBER 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: JESUS CHRIST IS THE JUDGE OF ALL
KEY VERSE: _…he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness… (Acts 17:31)._
MESSAGE
The verse above says Jesus will judge the world in righteousness. He is the judge. The Father judges no man; He committed all judgement to Jesus: _“For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son”_ (John 5:22).
Also, in Acts 10:42 NIV, we see that Jesus was appointed by God to be the judge of all men. A similar thought is communicated by the Spirit in 2 Timothy 4:1 NIV through the Apostle Paul: “In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge.”
The Judgement Seat of Christ is described in 2 Corinthians 5:10: _“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.”_ The Judgement Seat of Christ is the judgement of God’s people—Christians— where we each receive our rewards from the Master. Everyone will be praised (1 Corinthians 4:5).
At His return to the earth, Jesus will judge all nations: _“When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats”_ (Matthew 25:31-32).
Then, in Revelation 20, we find Jesus executing the most terrifying of all judgements, which are reserved for sinners. It’s called The Great White Throne Judgement: _“And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them”_ (Revelation 20:11). These judgements aren’t far away. Therefore, serve the Lord truly and live for Him every day as we await His soon return.
PRAYER:
Precious Father, I thank you for the opportunity of service in your Kingdom and the privilege to impact my world with the message of salvation as I look forward to the glorious appearing of my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Revelation 20:11-12
_11- And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them._
_12- And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works._
Revelation 22:12
_12- And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN Hebrews 12:14-29 & Ezekiel 13-15
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN 1 John 3:1-12 & Ezekiel 47
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY 15 NOVEMBER 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: UNITY OF THE BODY
KEY VERSE: _Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ (Ephesians 4:13)._
MESSAGE
There’s a stronger unity among God’s people today than at any time in history. For instance, earlier this year, during our Global Ministers’ Classroom, we had over seventy million ministers of the Gospel from around the world who participated online, and it was a great blessing through the Holy Ghost.
It’s the same with our Global Day of Prayer, with several billions of God’s people in every nation and territory of the world praying together to establish the will and purpose of Christ in the earth. Hallelujah!
There’re two powerful forces that bind us together. Number one is the Word of God, the power of God’s Word that unites our hearts. The second force is the ministry of the Holy Spirit. These two bring us strongly together all around the world today.
Of course, I know that many of us have different ministry backgrounds and different trainings. But there’remajor things that we do agree on that far more outweigh whatever differences we may have at any particular time.
I said, “At any particular time” because, given enough time, several of us will come to the same conclusions, especially when we have the same information. And that’s something that the Lord wants to see.
Ephesians 4:11-12 says,_“And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.”_ What’s his purpose for the equipping of the Church? The next verse shows us: “Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God….” This will bring about the unity of the Body of Christ. Amen.
The Bible shows us that our oneness will be a sign to the world that God sent Jesus (John 17:21). And in these final moments of the Church, God’s people are going to come together in unity for an amazing impact for the Lord, more than this world has ever known. Praise God!
PRAYER:
Loving Father, I pray for the growth, development, unity and progress of the Body of Christ around the world. We stand in one spirit, with one mind, and strive together for the faith of the Gospel, fulfilling your vision of singleness of purpose, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
1 Corinthians 1:10
_10- I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought._
1 Corinthians 12:12
_12- Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ._
John 17:20-21
_20- “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message,_
_21- that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Hebrews 12:1-13 & Ezekiel 11-12
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 1 John 2:15-29 & Ezekiel 46
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 14 NOVEMBER 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THE SPIRIT AND THE WORD
KEY VERSE: _And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light (Genesis 1:2-3)._
MESSAGE
When you read the Psalms, you’d notice that David knew the value of words, and he taught his son, Solomon, the same. It was Solomon who said, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue…” (Proverbs 18:21). David his father taught him that. David knew that death and life weren’t in the power of the sword; they’re in the power of the tongue. And he proved it when he confronted Goliath of Gath. You need to understand how he defeated Goliath.
It’s easy to think that he defeated Goliath with a smooth stone and a sling. But no; it was with words! Study the account in 1 Samuel 17. He was sure of defeating Goliath because he put his faith in words. He used the tools as guided by the wisdom of God. He had the stone and sling and words coming out of his mouth. He knew he didn’t take Goliath out with a stone; the Spirit of God was upon him, and the Spirit of God uses words.
Words release spirit-power. Without words, the Spirit will do nothing. Read our theme verse again. The Spirit was all over the world, but nothing changed. Then the Bible says, “And God said…”; suddenly, the Spirit acted and whatever God said became! Hallelujah!
At the second coming of Jesus, the Bible says He’ll smite the AntiChrist _“…with the spirit of his mouth…”_ (2 Thessalonians 2:8), which refers to the sword of the Spirit, which is the “Rhema” of God—words coming out of His mouth (Revelation 19:15, Ephesians 6:17).
When you speak the Word, you release the power of God into action on your behalf. So, when you face crises in life, don’t cower. Don’t panic. Speak words! Speak and effect a change. Jesus said you shall have whatsoever you say (Mark 11:23). Remember, words are powerful, but God’s Word is all-powerful. Glory to His Name forever!
CONFESSION:
My words release spirit-power to build and programme me for success, victory and progress. As the Word of God dwells in me richly through study and meditation, I speak faith-filled words, releasing the power of God into action on my behalf, charting my course aright in life. Glory to God!
FURTHER STUDY:
Mark 11:23
_23- “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them._
Matthew 12:37
_37- For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”_
Joshua 1:8
_8- Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Hebrews 11:17-40 & Ezekiel 8-10
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 1 John 2:1-14 & Ezekiel 45
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 10 NOVEMBER 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: MAKE IT A HABIT TO STUDY THE WORD
KEY VERSE: _As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious (1 Peter 2:2-3)._
MESSAGE
Just as good nutrition is indispensable to proper physical growth, God’s Word is the essential nourishment for spiritual growth. When a Christian neglects God’s Word, he’ll be susceptible to attacks from the devil and subject to the elements and corrupting influences of this world. Remember, through the Word, we renew our minds, build faith and character. Hence, we must continually feed on the Word.
2 Peter 3:18 says,_“But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.”_ Then in Chapter one verse three, it again stresses the importance of the knowledge of God’s Word. It says, “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue.”
God has already done for you and given you everything you require for an excellent life of glory and righteousness. However, living that life of dominion, success and prosperity that He’s ordained for you depends on how much of His Word you know and put to work in your life. It’s about your knowledge and application of the Word.
So, get to know the Word. Jesus said you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. Have a compelling desire to grow by the Word, to know God’s truth. Have scheduled times when all you do at such times is studying and meditating on the Word. Get on the Pastor Chris Digital Library (PCDL) every day to watch and listen to faith-building messages that’ll transform your life.
Every time you open the Scriptures to study, you can learn something new and meditate on specific things the Holy Spirit brings to your consciousness. Therefore, cultivate the habit of studying the Word for yourself.
PRAYER:
Dear Father, I thank you for putting in me a deep desire to know you through fellowship with your Word. I yield myself to be inspired, taught, educated and trained in spiritual things, with my faith strengthened to fulfil my destiny in Christ, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
2 Timothy 2:15
_15- Study and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved (tested by trial), a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analyzing and accurately dividing [rightly handling and skillfully teaching] the Word of Truth._
Joshua 1:8 AMPC
_8- This Book of the Law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe and do according to all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall deal wisely and have good success._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Hebrews 9:11-28 & Lamentations 3-5
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 2 Peter 1:13-21 & Ezekiel 41
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 09 NOVEMBER 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: OUT OF SATAN'S DOMAIN
KEY VERSE: _Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son (Colossians 1:12-13)._
MESSAGE
Being born again, you’ve been translated or transferred from the domain of darkness into the Kingdom of God. It’s the domain of life, light and great glory. Satan has no claims over you or anything that has to do with you because you’re not in his jurisdiction. You were called out of Satan’s domain into God’s marvellous light:_“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light”_ (1 Peter 2:9).
Those who aren’t born again, however, are by nature in bondage to Satan, buffeted by the adversities and terrors of life, unable to free themselves. They’re in gross darkness, with no hope of ever coming out, because they’re living without God. Their only hope is to receive salvation in Christ Jesus.
This should immediately get you thinking about your family members, friends, business associates, colleagues, and neighbours who haven’t yet known the Lord. You’re God’s vessel to bring them into salvation in Christ, to bring them out of darkness and the domain of Satan into the light and glorious liberty of the sons of God.
2 Corinthians 5:19 says,_“To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.”_ No human being can save himself; we couldn’t have done it by ourselves, and that’s why Jesus came.
Through His vicarious death, salvation became possible, and through His glorious resurrection, eternal life was made available. It’s what makes us superior to Satan and above the elements of this present world of darkness: we have eternal life—the God-nature! Hallelujah!
PRAYER:
Dear Father, I thank you for the benefits of salvation and the life of righteousness that you’ve brought me into by virtue of the vicarious sacrifice of Christ and His glorious resurrection. I walk in the reality of my new life in Christ, fully aware that I’ve been justified by faith and I have peace with you through the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Ephesians 2:4-6
_4- But God—so rich is He in His mercy! Because of and in order to satisfy the great and wonderful andintense love with which He loved us,_
_5- Even when we were dead (slain) by [our own] shortcomings and trespasses, He made us alive together in fellowship and in union with Christ; [He gave us the very life of Christ Himself, the same new life with which He quickened Him, for] it is by grace (His favor and mercy which you did not deserve) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ’s salvation)._
_6- And He raised us up together with Him and made us sit down together [giving us joint seating with Him] in the heavenly sphere [by virtue of our being] in Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed One)._
Colossians 1:12-13 AMPC
_12- Giving thanks to the Father, Who has qualified and made us fit to share the portion which is the inheritance of the saints (God’s holy people) in the Light._
_13- [The Father] has delivered and drawn us to Himself out of the control and the dominion of darkness and has transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,_
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Hebrews 9:1-10 & Lamentations 1-2
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 2 Peter 1:1-12 & Ezekiel 40
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY 08 NOVEMBER 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THE WORD IN YOUR HEART
KEY VERSE: _The sower soweth the word. And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts (Mark 4:14-15)._
MESSAGE
Whenever you receive the Word of God into your heart, the forces of darkness, knowing the power of the Word, come quickly to attempt to steal it from your heart. This is what the Lord Jesus brought to light in the parable of the sower.
It explains why some folks hear the Word and don’t understand it. They find it difficult to comprehend why, right after receiving a wonderful prophecy, all hell seems to break loose against them. It’s because Satan will do everything to steal the Word from their hearts; he’ll throw all his darts and accusations at you in a bid to steal the Word from you. He tried this trick even with the Lord Jesus, questioning the Word that had been spoken concerning Him by asking Him to prove Himself (Luke 4:3). Of course, the Master successfully repelled the enemy because He had the Word well-grounded in His heart.
You have to deliberately guard the Word in your heart. Colossians 3:16 says, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly…”; that means let the Word settle and take root in your heart. That way, no matter how hard the enemy tries to steal it from your heart, he won’t succeed.
The most valuable thing in your life that Satan seeks to go after is the Word of God in your heart. That’s why you must protect the Word in your heart. Don’t let the Word remain on the “surface-soil” of your heart where the enemy can reach it and knock it out of you. Drive it deep into your spirit through meditation and praying in other tongues. Hallelujah!
PRAYER:
Dear Father, I thank you for the glory of your Word and the transformation I experience even now as your Word takes root in my spirit, producing in me fruits of righteousness. Thank you for giving me your Word to live by, to use in altering the circumstances of life to align with your perfect will and destiny for me, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Luke 8:11-15
_11- Now the meaning of the parable is this: The seed is the Word of God._
_12- Those along the traveled road are the people who have heard; then the devil comes and carries away the message out of their hearts, that they may not believe (acknowledge Me as their Savior and devote themselves to Me) and be saved [here and hereafter]._
_13- And those upon the rock [are the people] who, when they hear [the Word], receive and welcome it with joy; but these have no root. They believe for a while, and in time of trial and temptation fall away (withdraw and stand aloof)._
_14- And as for what fell among the thorns, these are [the people] who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked and suffocated with the anxieties and cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not ripen (come to maturity and perfection)._
_15- But as for that [seed] in the good soil, these are [the people] who, hearing the Word, hold it fast in a just (noble, virtuous) and worthy heart, and steadily bring forth fruit with patience._
Hebrews 2:1
_1- Since all this is true, we ought to pay much closer attention than ever to the truths that we have heard, lest in any way we drift past [them] and slip away._
Colossians 3:16
_16- Let the word [spoken by] Christ (the Messiah) have its home [in your hearts and minds] and dwell in you in [all its] richness, as you teach and admonish and train one another in all insight and intelligence and wisdom [in spiritual things, and as you sing] psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, making melody to God with [His] grace in your hearts._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Hebrews 8 & Jeremiah 52
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 1 Peter 5:1-14 & Ezekiel 39
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 07 NOVEMBER 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: PEACE WITH GOD
KEY VERSE: _Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid (John 14:27)._
MESSAGE
I would to God that everyone in the world would understand the magnitude and import of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ! Prior to His vicarious sacrifice on our behalf, the Bible says we were _“… aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world”_ (Ephesians 2:12). We were enemies of God.
But blessed be God! Romans 5:10 says He reconciled us to Himself by the death of Jesus Christ. Ephesians 2:13- 18 says,_“But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.”_ Hallelujah!
Jesus paid the price and brought us into peace and union with the Father. No wonder Paul declares in Romans 5:1,_“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”_ The word “peace” is from the Greek “Eirene.” It describes an end to hostilities. It means to be set at one.
Through Christ Jesus, you’ve been set at one with God; you’ve come home in Him! There’s no need to live in fear of judgment; Jesus has already taken the punishment for your sins. Isaiah 53:5 says,_“…the chastisement of our peace was upon him….”_ Hallelujah!
PRAYER
Dear Father, I thank you for the message of reconciliation that’s been committed to my trust. Through me, many in my world and the regions beyond are coming to the knowledge of God, and into their inheritance in Christ; they’re coming into the life of peace and union with you, free from condemnation, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
John 16:33 (KJV)
_33- These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world._
Ephesians 2:14-18 (AMPC)
_14- For He is [Himself] our peace (our bond of unity and harmony). He has made us both [Jew and Gentile] one [body], and has broken down (destroyed, abolished) the hostile dividing wall between us,_
_15- By abolishing in His [own crucified] flesh the enmity [caused by] the Law with its decrees and ordinances [which He annulled]; that He from the two might create in Himself one new man [one new quality of humanity out of the two], so making peace._
_16- And [He designed] to reconcile to God both [Jew and Gentile, united] in a single body by means of His cross, thereby killing the mutual enmity and bringing the feud to an end._
_17- And He came and preached the glad tidings of peace to you who were afar off and [peace] to those who were near._
_18- For it is through Him that we both [whether far off or near] now have an introduction (access) by one [Holy] Spirit to the Father [so that we are able to approach Him]._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN Hebrews 7 & Jeremiah 50-51
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN 1 Peter 4:1-19 & Ezekiel 38
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 03 NOVEMBER 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: PRIDE YOURSELF IN HIS ABILITY
KEY VERSE: _I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing (John 15:5)._
MESSAGE
The Lord said, “…without me ye can do nothing.” By your own human ability, ingenuity, wisdom, skills and competence, you can’t achieve anything. Therefore, never pride yourself in your seeming human abilities. Trust in the Lord.
Your success is wholly dependent on your connection to the Lord. Your competence is of Him (Read 2 Corinthians 3:5 AMPC). No wonder Paul made his boast in the Lord, saying,_“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me”_ (Philippians 4:13). He didn’t say, “I can do all things because I’m so knowledgeable”; no. It’s about Christ and who He is in you—His ministry in and through you.
It brings to mind the story of Asa in 2 Chronicles 14. The Bible tells us Judah was invaded by an army of a million men and three hundred chariots. King Asa and his army were completely outnumbered. Asa realized that the only way to victory was to completely rely on the Lord.
In 2 Chronicles 14:11, Asa cried unto the LORD his God in heartfelt prayers, and said,_“…LORD, it is nothing with thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power: help us, O LORD our God; for we rest on thee, and in thy name we go against this multitude. O LORD, thou art our God; let not man prevail against thee.”_
The Lord responded and gave Judah a remarkable victory:_“So the LORD smote the Ethiopians beforeAsa, and before Judah; and the Ethiopians fled”_ (2 Chronicles 14:12). Now, here’s something to notice about Asa: he didn’t sit idly by, thinking, “Whatever will be, will be”; he took action. Your step of faith is important. Having prayed, Asa and his army charged against the enemy forces and got the victory. Hallelujah!
CONFESSION:
Dear Father, I thank you for your divine power that works in me mightily. I’m excellent, and I have an excellent life! I can do all things because the power that works in me is divine, and therefore unlimited. Blessed be your Name forever. Amen!
FURTHER STUDY:
2 Corinthians 4:7
_7- But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us._
Colossians 1:10-11
_10- so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,_
_11- being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience,_
Ephesians 6:10
_10- Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Hebrews 3 & Jeremiah 38-40
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 1 Peter 2:1-12 & Ezekiel 34
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 02 NOVEMBER 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: I WILL PREVAIL IN YOUR CITY
KEY VERSE: _So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed (Acts 19:20)._
MESSAGE
Luke gives a historical report of some of Paul’s activities during his missionary journey in Asia, particularly Ephesus. Acts 19:8 says, “And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.”
But something began to happen: as he preached the Gospel in the synagogue, resistance began to form. Some of the Jews didn’t believe; rather, they publicly maligned the way of the Lord! The Apostle Paul, who quickly observed this, separated the disciples, holding daily meetings with them in the lecture hall of Tyrannus (Acts 19:9).
Verse 10 tells us that this went on for a space of two years. And the result was that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the Word of the Lord. Acts 19:11-12 (NIV) says, “God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them.” This is what happens when the Word of God gains the ascendancy.
The same will happen in your nation, city, town, or community if you’d preach and teach the Word. Paul gave sufficient time to the preaching and teaching of the Word, so much so that an entire city heard the Gospel. If the Word of God could dominate and change the city of Ephesus, it’ll produce the same results in your life and in your world.
Use and apply the Word of God to change things in your world. That Word is in your mouth and it’ll prevail. Even now, open your mouth and pour forth righteousness upon your community, city, and nation! Seed your environment with the Gospel.
CONFESSION:
Dear Father, through the preaching and teaching of the Gospel of righteousness, your Kingdom is established in every city and nation, and all over the world. Thank you for the increased grace upon the Church to proclaim liberty in all the earth, in these last days, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
2 Timothy 4:2 MSG
_1-2 I can’t impress this on you too strongly. God is looking over your shoulder. Christ himself is the Judge, with the final say on everyone, living and dead. He is about to break into the open with his rule, so proclaim the Message with intensity; keep on your watch. Challenge, warn, and urge your people. Don’t ever quit. Just keep it simple._
Acts 28:30-31
_30- Then Paul dwelt two whole years in his own rented house, and received all who came to him,_
_31- preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Hebrews 2; Jeremiah 36-37
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 1 Peter 1:13-25; Ezekiel 33
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY 01 NOVEMBER 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: A DIVINE CONNECTION
KEY VERSE: _“But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit” (1 Corinthians 6:17)._
MESSAGE
We are joined to the Lord and one spirit with Him. Our oneness with the Lord was God’s dream and it has been realized in Christ. The Holy Spirit is responsible for the oneness. Jesus said,_“I and my Father are one”_ (John 10:30). How was Jesus one with the Father? It was through the Holy Spirit. It is the same with you today.
2 Corinthians 6:16 says,_“…for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.”_ Now, He lives in you and walks in you. You are a God-carrying vessel.
In John 14:20, Jesus said,_“…I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.”_ That means you are in the Father in Jesus Christ, and He is in you. That is a divine connection!
Thus, your ability or sufficiency is of Him (2 Corinthians 3:5). You are connected through the Holy Spirit to the unlimited power of God with limitless possibilities and unending glory. Blessed be God!
CONFESSION:
I am connected to God, for the Holy Spirit lives in me! He is in me to help me live the triumphant Christian life and be successful in all that I do, to the glory of the Father. Through the Holy Spirit, I live a life of extraordinary blessings every day as He works in me, building me, and building others through me. Glory to God!
FURTHER STUDY:
Ephesians 5:30 (KJV)
_30- “for we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.”_
John 14:16 (AMPC)
_16- “And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby), that He may remain with you forever–”_
1 Corinthians 3:16 (KJV)
_16- “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?”_
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Philemon 1:1-25 & Jeremiah 33
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: James 5:1-20 & Ezekiel 31
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 31 OCTOBER 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: STUDY TO SHOW YOURSELF APPROVED
KEY VERSE: _Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15)._
MESSAGE
Daniel made outstanding impact in his day. The Scripture shows us he was studious. In Daniel 9:2, he said,_“In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.”_
Daniel was so studious he gave special attention to Jeremiah’s prophecy of the seventy years of the captivity. In Daniel 1:4 (NLT), the Bible shows us the King needed people who were_“…well versed in every branch of learning…”_ to pilot the affairs of his kingdom, and Daniel was found to be eminently qualified.
Daniel was highly esteemed of the Lord. In the New Testament, Jesus also quoted him (Daniel) and corroborated his prophecy when He said,_“When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet…”_ (Matthew 24:15).
We find the same quality with Paul the Apostle. Paul was studious. In 2 Timothy 4:13, we see his attachment to his study materials when he said to Timothy, “The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments.” He specially requested for his study materials to be sent to him, because he was a diligent student.
If Daniel and Paul were studious, why won’t you? You must study to show yourself approved to God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, but rightly dividing the word of truth. In Hosea 4:6, God said,_“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge….”_ He was referring to the knowledge of the Word. Until and unless you know the Word for yourself, you’re going to be a victim in life. That’s why God wants you to study. Give yourself to the Word and your success, progress, and prosperity will be inevitable.
CONFESSION:
I’m given to voracious study of the Word of God; therefore, I heap success upon success, living victoriously, walking in divine health, and winning every day. Through my knowledge of the Word of God, I make outstanding impact for the Lord in my world, bringing many out of ignorance and dearth of divine realities, into the glorious liberty of the sons of God, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Acts 17:10-11
_10- Now the brethren at once sent Paul and Silas away by night to Beroea; and when they arrived, they entered the synagogue of the Jews._
_11- Now these [Jews] were better disposed and more noble than those in Thessalonica, for they were entirely ready and accepted and welcomed the message [concerning the attainment through Christ of eternal salvation in the kingdom of God] with inclination of mind and eagerness, searching and examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so._
Proverbs 24:4-5
_4- And by knowledge shall its chambers [of every area] be filled with all precious and pleasant riches._
_5- A wise man is strong and is better than a strong man, and a man of knowledge increases and strengthens his power;_
1 Timothy 4:15
_15- Practice and cultivate and meditate upon these duties; throw yourself wholly into them [as your ministry], so that your progress may be evident to everybody._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Philemon 1:1-25 & Jeremiah 33
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: James 4:1-16 & Ezekiel 30
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SUNDAY 30 OCTOBER 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THE AUTHORITY AND DOMINION IN HIS NAME
KEY VERSE: _And what is the exceeding greatness of his power…Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come (Ephesians 1:19-21)._
MESSAGE
In Ephesians 1:17-18, the Spirit, through the Apostle Paul, prayed a beautiful prayer for God’s people. As He progressed in the prayer, He showed us something about who Jesus really is, and expounds on the authority, power and dominion vested in His Name. Notice that God raised Jesus from the dead and set Him at His own right hand. “Right hand” isn’t a description of directional or geographical location; it implies the seat of power.
When you refer to someone as your right-hand man, what you mean is that he represents you; he has your authority to act in your stead. Jesus is in God’s seat. Where exactly is that? It says,_“…in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come”_ (Ephesians 1:20-21). That’s where Jesus is—His position of authority.
Thus, the Name of Jesus Christ is above every power, every rulership, every government, and every authority. The Wuest translation gives us a more excellent rendering of Ephesians 1:21. It tells us that Jesus is “over and above every government and authority and power and lordship and every name that is constantly being named, not only in this age, but also in the one about to come.”
No wonder the apostles used the Name of Jesus and ruled the world of their time. This is what Christians around the world must rediscover today: the power of the Name of Jesus. Learn to use that Name in all circumstances.
CONFESSION:
The Name of Jesus is the Name above all names, and I use that Name as an instrument today. His Name is greater than cancer, it replaces maimed limbs, it opens blind eyes, unstops deaf ears, and raises the dead. In the Name of Jesus, I declare that I’m more than a conqueror, a champion forever; eternally fruitful and productive. Blessed be God!
FURTHER STUDY:
Philippians 2:9-11
_9- Therefore [because He stooped so low] God has highly exalted Him and has freely bestowed on Him the name that is above every name,_
_10- That in (at) the name of Jesus every knee should (must) bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,_
_11- And every tongue [frankly and openly] confess and acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father._
Mark 16:17-18
_17- And these attesting signs will accompany those who believe: in My name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new languages;_
_18- They will pick up serpents; and [even] if they drink anything deadly, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will get well._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Titus 3:1-15 & Jeremiah 31-32
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: James 4:1-16 & Ezekiel 30
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY 29 OCTOBER 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: YOU'RE A VITAL PART OF THE BODY
KEY VERSE: _Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular (1 Corinthians 12:27)._
MESSAGE
The Church is the Body of Christ, and Jesus is the head of the Body. Jesus and the Church both make up one body, which is called Christ; we’re members of the Body of Christ. The Living Bible translation of our opening verse helps us understand it a little more. It says, “Now, here is what I am trying to say: all of you together are the one body of Christ, and each one of you is a separate and necessary part of it.”
That means you’re needed in the Body of Christ; you’re a necessary contributor to the proper growth and edification of the Church. The Bible says, “… the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love” (Ephesians 4:16).
The Body of Christ advances and makes progress according to the individual contributions of every Christian. This is so important. It’s like the physical parts of the human body and their respective functions. Your liver, legs, kidneys, lungs, heart, thumb, etc., all have their distinct functions. They all work together to ensure that your body functions well. Each part is vital for the overall wellbeing of the body.
If anything goes wrong in any part of your body, it impacts the whole body. This is also true for the spiritual Body of Christ. See yourself as a vital member of the Body of Christ, and make your impact felt. Pray as the Bible says. Win souls. Walk in humility, faith, hope and love. Produce fruits and works of righteousness.
Don’t cause the Body to regress through such things as bitterness, pride, envy and inactivity. Be fervent in Spirit—serving the Lord. Walk in righteousness and in the fullness of the Spirit every day. Praise God!
CONFESSION:
I’m a vital and an effective member of the Body of Christ. I walk in righteousness and in the power, glory and grace that runs from the Head, Christ Jesus, through the entire Body. Through my effectiveness, the Church is making progress; my fruits and works of righteousness result in the increase and edification of the Church, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Romans 12:5
_5- So we, numerous as we are, are one body in Christ (the Messiah) and individually we are parts one of another [mutually dependent on one another]._
Ephesians 4:16 AMPC
_16- For because of Him the whole body (the church, in all its various parts), closely joined and firmly knit together by the joints and ligaments with which it is supplied, when each part [with power adapted to its need] is working properly [in all its functions], grows to full maturity, building itself up in love._
Ephesians 5:30
_30- Because we are members (parts) of His body._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Titus 1-2 & Jeremiah 29-30
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: James 3:1-18 & Ezekiel 29
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY 28 OCTOBER 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: HIS NAME HAS POWER IN ALL THREE WORLDS
KEY VERSE: _Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth (Philippians 2:9-10)._
MESSAGE
If Jesus truly gave us the legal right, that is, the power of attorney to use His Name, what results should we expect when we use His Name? What’s so important about the Name of Jesus? What does His Name represent and why should we have so much confidence in the Name of Jesus?
We have the answer in our opening scripture. Notice the construction; it’s absolute. It says, “At the name of Jesus every knee should bow”; that’s a sovereign decree, a law in the realm of the spirit. Hallelujah! This sovereign decree is in force in heaven, in the earth, and under the earth (in hell). His Name has power in all three worlds; that power applies to the “things,” that is, whatever exists in all three worlds; whether they be thrones, governments, galaxies, principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness of this world or in high places; they’re all subject to His Name.
This is remarkable! It explains why you should never be flustered by anything in life. It makes no difference what Satan and his cohorts of hell are concocting; you can neutralize their efforts and overturn their works in the Name of Jesus. Recall part of what we read in Philippians 2:9-10: “of things under the earth”; it means beings, things, or anything that exists in hell.
No wonder, Jesus told us we could: “Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils…” (Matthew 10:8). The reason is that even if a man went to hell, you could call him back, because the Name of Jesus Christ has power in heaven, on earth, and in hell. Hallelujah!
PRAYER:
Thank you, Father, for the glorious results I see when I use the Name of Jesus. Today, Lord, your righteousness rules and reigns in the nations; many are healed, lepers are cleansed, the dead are raised, and there’s a great harvest of souls into the Kingdom, in the mighty Name of Jesus. Amen!
FURTHER STUDY:
Colossians 3:17
_17- And whatever you do [no matter what it is] in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus and in [dependence upon] His Person, giving praise to God the Father through Him._
Mark 16:17-18
_17- And these attesting signs will accompany those who believe: in My name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new languages;_
_18- They will pick up serpents; and [even] if they drink anything deadly, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will get well._
Philippians 2:9-10 WNT
_9- It is in consequence of this that God has also so highly exalted Him, and has conferred on Him the Name which is supreme above every other,_
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 2 Timothy 4:1-22 & Jeremiah 26-28
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: James 2:1-26 & Ezekiel 28
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 27 OCTOBER 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: DESIRE TO PROPHECY
KEY VERSE: _For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted (1 Corinthians 14:31)._
MESSAGE
To prophesy means to speak words of divine revelation and potency; words that have and give life. And through the gift of prophecy, the Body of Christ— the Church—is edified, strengthened and comforted.
You might be in your closet or in a meeting, and words in Psalm 23 well up from within you, and then you go, “Psalm 23 verse 1 says, ‘The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want’; therefore, we’re nourished, sustained, energized, strengthened and prepared for His soon return through the ministry of the Word! We’re invigorated and vitalized through and through because He nourishes us.’” With such words, the church is edified. Hallelujah!
That’s why the Bible says,_“Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy”_(1 Corinthians 14:1 NKJV). Through the gift of prophecy, we can admonish one another and strengthen one another. 1 Corinthians 14:31 says,_“For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.”_ This isn’t the same thing as everyone being a prophet. He didn’t say we may all desire to be prophets. Rather, it says that every one of us can, and should desire to prophesy.
If the gift of prophecy will bless and edify the church, it’ll bless and edify you. You can use the gift of prophecy to take charge of your life and control things in your “aion.” Acts 2:17 says,_“And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy….”_
Chart your course in perpetual victory and triumph through the gift of prophecy. Prophesy about the peace and prosperity of your nation and the nations of the world. Prophesy about your health, success, prosperity and victory. Prophesy about your life, and about your future. Prophesy to your bone, to your body, to your skin, to your blood, to your finances, job, business, academics, etc.
CONFESSION:
I’m nurtured, edified and sustained in the victorious life. I walk in divine health and prosperity; I walk in the fullness of the blessings of the Gospel. My life is upward and forward only, and I’m filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
1 Timothy 1:18 AMPC
_18- This charge and admonition I commit in trust to you, Timothy, my son, [a]in accordance with prophetic intimations which I formerly received concerning you, so that inspired and aided by them you may wage the good warfare,_
Romans 12:6
_6- Having gifts (faculties, talents, qualities) that differ according to the grace given us, let us use them: [He whose gift is] prophecy, [let him prophesy] according to the proportion of his faith;_
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 2 Timothy 3:1-17 & Jeremiah 23-25
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: James 1:1-27 & Ezekiel 27
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 26 OCTOBER 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: BE EFFECTUAL IN SOUL WINNING
KEY VERSE: _And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18)._
MESSAGE
Not every Christian is participating actively in the ministry of reconciliation. It’s not meant to be so. We’re all expected to be active, and very effectual in soul winning. The day would come when we all stand before the Master and every one of us would receive praise of Him (1 Corinthians 4:5). The Lord is going to reward us according to our works:_“For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works”_ (Matthew 16:27).
As we know, our works aren’t the same; our commitment is at different levels. But today, I want you to make an honest assessment of your participation in the Gospel: if you were to stand before God right now, what would He say about your works in the propagation of the Gospel in these end times?
God’s number one passion is soul winning; therefore, put everything into it. Be active, very active, in the ministry of reconciliation. 2 Peter 3:9 says,_“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”_
The Lord’s overwhelming passion to reconcile men to Himself is emphasized in the assignment He gave to Jesus, buttressed by these words of the Master Himself:_“…I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly”_ (John 10:10). Take this seriously. Every day, talk to others about Jesus. Do it in your neighbourhood, in your estate, and then go beyond.
There’re places you might not be able to get to physically; you can reach them through partnership and sponsorship of the distribution of Gospel materials, such as Rhapsody of Realities. We have the structure andplatforms for such. Contact your local church office or visit www.reachoutworld.org for more information.
PRAYER:
Dear Father, I thank you for the opportunity to actively win souls today. The light of your glorious Gospel shines brightly in the nations, as we proclaim your truth in all the earth; every resistance is broken, and men’s hearts are open to receive our message for their salvation. Satan’s bondage and deception are destroyed, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Romans 1:16
_16 For I am not ashamed of the Gospel (good news) of Christ, for it is God’s power working unto salvation [for deliverance from eternal death] to everyone who believes with a personal trust anda confident surrender and firm reliance, to the Jew first and also to the Greek,_
2 Corinthians 5:18-19
_18 But all things are from God, Who through Jesus Christ reconciled us to Himself [received us into favor, brought us into harmony with Himself] and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation [that by word and deed we might aim to bring others into harmony with Him]._
_19 It was God [personally present] in Christ, reconciling andrestoring the world to favor with Himself, not counting up andholding against [men] their trespasses [but cancelling them], and committing to us the message of reconciliation (of the restoration to favor)._
Mark 16:15-16
_15 And He said to them, Go into all the world and preach and publish openly the good news (the Gospel) to every creature [of the whole human race]._
_16 He who believes [who adheres to and trusts in and relies on the Gospel and Him Whom it sets forth] and is baptized will be saved [from the penalty of eternal death]; but he who does not believe [who does not adhere to and trust in and rely on the Gospel and Him Whom it sets forth] will be condemned._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 2 Timothy 2:1-26 & Jeremiah 19-22
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Hebrews 13:1-25 & Ezekiel 25-26
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY 25 OCTOBER 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: DON'T CONSULT MEDIUM
KEY VERSE: _And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead? (Isaiah 8:19)._
MESSAGE
Someone once asked if it’s okay for Christians to consult mediums and psychics. That’s absurd! You have the Holy Spirit; therefore, you don’t need any of that. Moreover, psychics, soothsayers, diviners or astrologers can’t tell you the truth about the future, or your future, because they don’t know it. Only the Holy Spirit knows the future and the truth about you and your future.
Romans 8:14 says,_“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.”_ The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth, sent by God to guide you into ALL truth, and show you the future—things to come:_“Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come”_ (John 16:13).
Therefore, depend on the Holy Spirit for answers. Trust Him for the guidance and direction you need. Consult with Him about anything and everything for which you require accurate guidance. A total lack of understanding of our opening verse is the reason some are still confused about whether or not it’s okay to seek mediums. It’s not okay.
When you look at all that God said about wizards, He often talked about their idea of trying to look into the spirit world and use mediums that are totally against the Word and the leading of the Holy Spirit. So, be wise; never pay attention to such predictions. Consult with, and receive guidance from the Holy Spirit only, and always.
PRAYER:
Dear Father, I’m grateful for the privilege to be taught and instructed in and by your Word. Your Word is my guiding light and the truth from which I draw inferences, make choices and decisions. I’m led and guided by the Holy Spirit in all of life’s affairs, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
John 10:4-5
_4- When he has brought his own sheep outside, he walks on before them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice._
_5- They will never [on any account] follow a stranger, but will run away from him because they do not know the voice of strangers or recognize their call._
Leviticus 20:6-7
_6- The person who turns to those who have familiar spirits and to wizards, [being unfaithful to Israel’s Maker Who is her Husband, and thus] playing the harlot after them, I will set My face against that person and will cut him off from among his people [that he may not be included in the atonement made for them]._
_7- Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy; for I am the Lord your God._
Acts 16:16
_16- As we were on our way to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who was possessed by a spirit of divination [claiming to foretell future events and to discover hidden knowledge], and she brought her owners much gain by her fortunetelling._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 2 Timothy 1:1-18 & Jeremiah 17-18
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Hebrews 12:14-29 & Ezekiel 24
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 24 OCTOBER 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: USE THE GIFT OF PROPHECY CORRECTLY
KEY VERSE: _But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort (1 Corinthians 14:3)._
MESSAGE
In 1 Peter 4:10, the Bible shows that each one of us has been blessed with one spiritual gift or the other to use in the service of others. He also counsels us to not abuse or misuse these gifts.
For example, the gift of prophecy, just like any other gift of the Spirit, has to be used correctly to edify the Church. It’s unwise to interrupt others just because you have a word of prophecy. The Bible says “Let all things be done decently and in order” (1 Corinthians 14:40). Wait for the appropriate time and opportunity.
Don’t disrupt the worship because you want to “prophesy.” 1 Corinthians 14:30-31 says, “If any thing berevealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace. For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.” How instructive!
Every one of us could have the gift of prophecy, and if we had enough time during a church service, the wholecongregation could prophesy one by one. This is specific about the gift of prophecy. Then, He tells us what this gift of prophecy is used for: edification, exhortation and comfort. It’s never used for condemnation.
When spiritual gifts are used correctly, God is glorified and the Church grows. Apply the gift of prophecy correctly and you’ll see quantum leaps and unending growth in your life, ministry and church. Hallelujah!
PRAYER:
Dear Father, I use the gifts of prophecy rightly and in accordance with your divine instructions, in an orderly manner. My words edify, exhort and comfort others, and the Body of Christ is strengthened, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
1 Corinthians 14:1-3
_1- Eagerly pursue and seek to acquire [this] love [make it your aim, your great quest]; and earnestly desire and cultivate the spiritual endowments (gifts), especially that you may prophesy (interpret the divine will and purpose in inspired preaching and teaching)._
_2- For one who speaks in an [unknown] tongue speaks not to men but to God, for no one understands or catches his meaning, because in the [Holy] Spirit he utters secret truths and hidden things [not obvious to the understanding]._
_3- But [on the other hand], the one who prophesies [who interprets the divine will and purpose in inspired preaching and teaching] speaks to men for their upbuilding and constructive spiritual progress and encouragement and consolation._
1 Corinthians 14:39-40 AMPC
_39- So [to conclude], my brethren, earnestly desire and set your hearts on prophesying (on being inspired to preach and teach and to interpret God’s will and purpose), and do not forbid or hinder speaking in [unknown] tongues._
_40- But all things should be done with regard to decency andpropriety and in an orderly fashion._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 1 Timothy 6:1-21 & Jeremiah 15-16
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Hebrews 12:1-13 & Ezekiel 23
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SUNDAY 23 OCTOBER 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: PUT YOUR GIFTS TO WORK
KEY VERSE: _And that special gift of ministry you were given when the leaders of the church laid hands on you and prayed–keep that dusted off and in use (1 Timothy 4:14 MSG)._
MESSAGE
If you aren’t careful to watch whatever God gives you, you could lose it. And part of watching it is that you’re using it. For example, if you were given the gift of prophecy and you aren’t using it, after a while, it’ll become more difficult for you to manifest that gift or edify the church with it.
It brings to mind the question a dear lady once asked me. She said, “Pastor Chris, when I got born again, I was blessed with the gift of prophecy, but I don’t know where the gift has gone; what can I do?” First, Romans 11:29 says,_“For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.”_ That means He doesn’t take them away.
For that dear lady, the gift was always in her; it didn’t go anywhere. She was the one that might have strayed from it or made it dormant by not using it. If you’re in a similar situation today, it’s simple what you should do: Get back in the flow of the Spirit, and stay in it. First, make sure your commitment to God is very clear in your spirit. Be totally committed to serving the Lord.
Secondly, get back to praying. Prophecy is bringing forth the Word of God that’s given to your spirit. But you don’t get that Word when you’re not in fellowship with Him. Get yourself back to fellowshipping with the Lord, and your spirit will be stirred.
Thirdly, pray in tongues more often; this will energize, strengthen and inspire your spirit. It’ll make your spirit become more sensitive. Then, study the Word and meditate on it. Remember, it’s the Holy Spirit who inspires prophecy in your spirit, and He’s the author of the Scriptures (2 Timothy 3:16). He’ll make His Word and message more palatable to your spirit. And because your spirit has become more sensitive, you’d be able to pick His Word, His message, and make it available to yourself, and to God’s people in prophecy. Hallelujah!
PRAYER:
Dear Father, I thank you for the gift of prophecy. I’m inspired and aided by the prophetic intimations I receive by the Spirit even now. I declare that my life is for your glory; my future is that of success, progress, and prosperity in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I dwell continually in peace, divine health, and in your grace, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
1 Timothy 1:18
_18- This charge and admonition I commit in trust to you, Timothy, my son, [a]in accordance with prophetic intimations which I formerly received concerning you, so that inspired and aided by them you may wage the good warfare,_
1 Corinthians 14:39
_39- So [to conclude], my brethren, earnestly desire and set your hearts on prophesying (on being inspired to preach and teach and to interpret God’s will and purpose), and do not forbid or hinder speaking in [unknown] tongues._
Jude 1:20
_20- 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;_
2 Timothy 1:6
_6- That is why I would remind you to stir up (rekindle the embers of, fan the flame of, and keep burning) the [gracious] gift of God, [the inner fire] that is in you by means of the laying on of my hands [with those of the elders at your ordination]._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 1 Timothy 5:1-25 & Jeremiah 13-14
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Hebrews 11:17-40 & Ezekiel 22
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY 22 OCTOBER 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: GROWING BY THE WORD
KEY VERSE: _As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby (1 Peter 2:2)._
MESSAGE
Growth isn’t a miracle and shouldn’t take a miracle; it’s the result of the application of revealed principles and means. Growth is intrinsic to life; it’s a natural course of life. Everything that has life grows; it’s one of the characteristics that differentiate living things from non-living things.
As a Christian, your spiritual growth is very important, and you can only grow by the Word. God’s Word is food for the human spirit. 1 Peter 2:2 says,_;“As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word that ye may grow thereby.”*_ The Word of God builds you and transforms your life from glory to glory.
James 1:21 says,_“…receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.”_ It’s like natural seeds that can only grow properly when planted in the right environment. If you want to grow spiritually, you must expose your spirit to the Word; you must feed on the Word.
It’s one of the reasons you must be an active member of a local church, where you learn the Word of God that imparts faith and builds your spirit strong. Do your personal study of the Word; this is so important. 2 Timothy 2:15 says,_“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”_
Then, in 2 Timothy 3:16-17, it says,_“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.”_ Notice the underlined portion.
How exciting it is to watch yourself grow up to spiritual maturity! You notice your choices and values change. Yourpassion and affection are set only on the things of the Spirit. This isn’t something anyone can do for you; it’s your responsibility. God already fulfilled His role by making His Word available to you. He said in Colossians 3:16, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom….”
With the Word in you, you’re able to tame the crises of life. You’re able to take charge of your health. You know how to keep Satan and his cohorts in check. You enforce the will and dominion of Christ in your city, nation, and in the nations of the world. That’s part of Christian growth. Hallelujah!
PRAYER:
Dear Father, I thank you for your Word and its power in my life; I’m growing unto maturity, in grace and in the knowledge of my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. My spirit is built up strong, and educated as I study and meditate on God’s Word, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
1 Timothy 4:15 & 2 Timothy 3:15-17
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY 21 OCTOBER 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THE CALL TO FELLOWSHIP
KEY VERSE: _That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ (1 John 1:3)._
MESSAGE
Without fellowship, nothing you do on earth is esteemed in Heaven. That’s why the highest and most important purpose of Christ in the plan of salvation is the call to fellowship; bringing us into fellowship with God. It’s not enough that you’re born again; what God really wants is fellowship with you. That’s the purpose of the New Birth.
You can love your two-year old child very much, but you can’t have real fellowship with him or her. Real fellowship entails communication—sharing, talking at higher levels where you understand each other and exchange thoughts. This is the kind of fellowship God has called us into.
When John said, “…that ye also may have fellowship with us…,” he wasn’t talking about conversion from a certain religion to Christianity; it’s a declaration of truth. We’ve been called into partnership and togetherness with Deity. It’s the fellowship of the God-kind, a oneness of spirit. Hallelujah!
The Bible says,_“God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord”_ (1 Corinthians 1:9). We’re in union with Jesus Christ. Romans 8:16-17 explains it further. It says,_“The Spirit Himself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ….”_
The underlined portion shows the kind of union we have with Him: He brought us to the same level with Himself. This is mind-blowing. But you see, you can’t function at that high level of oneness and fellowship except through the Holy Spirit. Your desire should be to fellowship more with the Holy Spirit every day.
PRAYER:
Dear Father, thank you for the privilege of being in fellowship, in oneness of spirit with you. As a result of this relationship, every limit and barrier is taken off my way; I experience nothing but progress in my life. Your glory and wisdom function in me and through me in an overflowing measure; and I experience unprecedented manifestations of your power through fellowship of the Spirit, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
1 John 1:3
_3- What we have seen and [ourselves] heard, we are also telling you, so that you too may realize and enjoy fellowship as partners and partakers with us. And [this] fellowship that we have [which is a distinguishing mark of Christians] is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ (the Messiah)._
2 Corinthians 13:14
_14- The grace (favor and spiritual blessing) of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the presence and fellowship (the communion and sharing together, and participation) in the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen (so be it)._
2 Peter 1:4
_4- By means of these He has bestowed on us His precious and exceedingly great promises, so that through them you may escape [by flight] from the moral decay (rottenness and corruption) that is in the world because of covetousness (lust and greed), and become sharers (partakers) of the divine nature._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 1 Timothy 3:1-16 & Jeremiah 9-10
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Hebrews 10:19-39 & Ezekiel 20
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 20 OCTOBER 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: WRITE DOWN WHAT HE TELLS YOU
KEY VERSE: _And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint (Luke 18:1)._
MESSAGE
It’s very rare for me to pray without the Spirit ministering something to me. Many years ago, I learnt something I’ll never forget. While praying, I got into a spiritual vision and saw the Lord standing before me, and He began to tell me certain important things. But then I realized I didn’t have my writing materials close by.
I argued within myself whether or not to go get the writing materials, but I wasn’t sure the vision would continue if I left the place. I summoned courage and said, “Lord, can I quickly get my writing materials?” And Hepermitted me. I got off my knees, went to get my writing materials and got right back to the same spot that I was. And the moment my knees hit the floor, there the Lord was again.
What touched me the most in that experience was the love of the Master. He waited for me. To think that He waited for me. Hallelujah! But the point is that I made a habit of keeping writing materials close by, each time I pray, because I know the Lord may say something to me and I don’t want to miss it.
The Lord knows how important the things He tells us are, and we have to learn to write them down. If the prophets and the apostles weren’t faithful to write down the things that God told them, we wouldn’t have had the Scriptures. As you pray, surely, God will talk to you. He’ll give you guidance and instructions. He may even give you prophetic instructions about your life and future; write them down so you don’t forget.
PRAYER:
Blessed Father, my heart is always ready to hear and receive your Word. Thank you for granting me revelations and supernatural knowledge; and through these ministrations of the Holy Spirit, solutions will come to this world through me, for you’ve chosen me to be an answer to the cry of my generation, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Colossians 4:2
_2 Be earnest and unwearied and steadfast in your prayer [life], being [both] alert and intent in [your praying] with thanksgiving._
Habakkuk 2:2 AMPC
_2- And the Lord answered me and said, Write the vision and engrave it so plainly upon tablets that everyone who passes may [be able to] read [it easily and quickly] as he hastens by._
Jeremiah 30:1-2
_2- Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Write all the words that I have spoken to you in a book._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 1 Timothy 2:1-15 & Jeremiah 7-8
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Hebrews 10:1-18 & Ezekiel 18-19
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 19 OCTOBER 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: YOU MEAN MORE TO HIM
KEY VERSE: _I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me (John 17:23)._
MESSAGE
One day, a minister of the Gospel came to me and said he was considering quitting the ministry because life had been difficult for him. I asked him why he went into the ministry in the first place. He said he loved God and wanted to tell everybody about Jesus.
Then I said, “It’s wonderful that you love God more than He loves you.” He thought about it and said, “No, that’s not what I said.” Then I said, “But that’s what you mean.” Of course, when I was done sharing with him from the Scriptures, things became clearer for him, and today, he’s a fabulous minister, doing amazing things for the Lord. But he almost gave up.
There’re many in similar situations today. Some are even angry with God because they think in spite of their prayers, God has refused to “do something” about their situation. But it’s not so; they’re not walking in His Word. Perhaps they need more knowledge; new knowledge that’ll create new opportunities. Perhaps, also, they’re not putting their faith to work.
But here’s what’s absolutely certain: God loves you more than you love yourself. He’s more passionate about your success in life and ministry than you could ever be. He loves you infinitely and unconditionally, but you have to live in and by His Word. When you understand His Word, and His love for you, it’ll change your life and give you an extraordinary mentality.
In the Father’s eyes, you’re as precious as Jesus is. He thought you were valuable enough to send Jesus to die in your place. Imagine you bought a phone for $2,000; that immediately shows the value of the phone to you. In the same way, if Jesus Christ was given for you, it means you’re worth Jesus Christ.
I’ve often said that even if you were the only person on earth, Jesus would still have come to die for you. He didn’t come because we were many. Therefore, appreciate your value. You mean more to Him than you could ever imagine. Think, talk, walk, and live as someone special, for indeed you are. Hallelujah!
CONFESSION:
God loves me personally. I’m His peculiar treasure; my value to Him is the value of Jesus. I think, talk, walk, and live as someone special, for indeed I am. God reigns, establishes, and spreads His love and righteousness on earth today through me, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
John 3:16
_16- For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life._
1 Peter 2:9 AMPC
_9- 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 marvelous light._
Romans 5:7-8
_7- Now it is an extraordinary thing for one to give his life even for an upright man, though perhaps for a noble and lovable andgenerous benefactor someone might even dare to die._
_8- But God shows and clearly proves His [own] love for us by the fact that while we were still sinners, Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) died for us._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 1 Timothy 1:1-20 & Jeremiah 5-6
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Hebrews 9:11-28; Ezekiel 17
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY 18 OCTOBER 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: ENFORCE THE VICTORY OF CHRIST
KEY VERSE: _The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly (John 10:10)._
MESSAGE
In 1 John 3:8, the Bible gives us a clear message on the purpose of Jesus’ coming. It says,_“He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.”_ What are the works of the devil?
In the first part, it reveals the works of the devil to be sin; doing things that are inconsistent with the will and plan of God. It includes wickedness, evil, destruction, sickness, pain, affliction, and even death, for the Bible says death is the result of sin (Romans 6:23).
But thanks be unto God! “Jesus came and abolished death and brought life and immortality to light” (2 Timothy 1:10). In Acts 10:38, the Bible says,_“How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.”_ The sicknesses, diseases, pain, misery, and suffering in the world are all works of the devil. But Jesus brought healing and health; He brought light, joy and peace. He destroyed ALL the works of the devil. Hallelujah!
Therefore, if ever the works of the devil try to manifest in your body, in your home, or in any area of your life, just remember that Jesus already got rid of them. All you have to do is maintain your faith on what He’s already done. Refuse to accommodate anything of Satan and of darkness in your life and in your sphere of influence.
Hebrews 2:14-15 says,_“Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.”_ This scripture has already been consummated. Therefore, enforce the victory Jesus Christ wrought in your behalf and enjoy your glorious life in Him. Hallelujah!
CONFESSION:
I have the same life that Jesus has, in its fullness. My life is sickness-proof, disease-proof, poverty-proof and failure-proof. It’s a life of glory, victory, success and excellence. Nothing of the devil can stay in me, for I’ve embraced the transcendent life that’s in Christ Jesus. I’m a partaker of the divine nature; I’ve overcome the world. Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY:
1 John 5:11-13
_11- And this is that testimony (that evidence): God gave us eternal life, and this life is in His Son._
_12- He who possesses the Son has that life; he who does not possess the Son of God does not have that life._
_13- I write this to you who believe in (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) the name of the Son of God [in the peculiar services and blessings conferred by Him on men], so that you may know [with settled and absolute knowledge] that you [already] have life, yes, eternal life._
2 Timothy 1:9-10
_9- [For it is He] Who delivered and saved us and called us with a calling in itself holy and leading to holiness [to a life of consecration, a vocation of holiness]; [He did it] not because of anything of merit that we have done, but because of and to further His own purpose and grace (unmerited favor) which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began [eternal ages ago]._
_10- [It is that purpose and grace] which He now has made known and has fully disclosed and made real [to us] through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, Who annulled death and made it of no effect and brought life and immortality (immunity from eternal death) to light through the Gospel._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 2 Thessalonians 3:1-18 & Jeremiah 3-4
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Hebrews 9:1-10 & Ezekiel 16
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 17 OCTOBER 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: WISDOM AND INSTRUCTION
KEY VERSE: _Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured (Proverbs 13:18)._
MESSAGE
The Book of Proverbs is an important Book of the Bible. It’s a Book of wisdom which every smart Christian should study meticulously. It shows us the importance of God’s instructions and their applications to our lives. Not everybody knows wisdom and instruction. But Proverbs 1:2 tells us to _“…know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding.”_ This is referring to the Word of God.
The Word of God is wisdom and instruction, and there’s a cost for not attending to instructions. Proverbs 4:13 refers to God’s instructions as life. Our theme verse says poverty and shame shall be to him that refuses instruction.
The person doesn’t need to have been poor; no matter how rich he may be at the moment, if he wouldn’t heed instruction— God’s Word—the Bible says poverty shall be his lot. The fifteenth chapter further buttresses this clear warning; it says,_“He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding”_ (Proverbs 15:32).
The Word of God is God’s instruction manual for an extraordinary life of glory, dominion and victory. Therefore, consciously practice fellowship with the Holy Spirit and the Word. That’s where you receive His instructions and guidance that put you over circumstances and the adversities of life.
Live out the Word every day. That’s exactly what James tells us when he says,_“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves”_ (James 1:22). This is what we do in the New Testament: we’re the Word in manifestation. Through us, the Word of God is lived beyond the written pages.
We’re the Word of God in action today. And so, in your personal life, study the Word; “eat” and digest the Word. As you do, following His instructions becomes your way of life, and His instructions make great. Hallelujah!
PRAYER:
Dear Father, thank you for the gift and blessing of your Word—the transformation that following your plans, your instructions, will and purpose, has brought to my life! I’m sensitive to your guidance; therefore, I lead a beautiful and exceptional life, gloriously fulfilling your calling and destiny for me, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Proverbs 1:1-5
_1- The proverbs (truths obscurely expressed, maxims, and parables) of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:_
_2- That people may know skillful and godly Wisdom and instruction, discern and comprehend the words of understanding and insight,_
_3- Receive instruction in wise dealing and the discipline of wise thoughtfulness, righteousness, justice, and integrity,_
_4- That prudence may be given to the simple, and knowledge, discretion, and discernment to the youth_
_5- The wise also will hear and increase in learning, and the person of understanding will acquire skill and attain to sound counsel [so that he may be able to steer his course rightly]_
Proverbs 4:13
_13- Take firm hold of instruction, do not let go; guard her, for she is your life._
2 Timothy 3:16-17
_16- Every Scripture is God-breathed (given by His inspiration) and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience, [and] for training in righteousness (in holy living, in conformity to God’s will in thought, purpose, and action),_
_17- So that the man of God may be complete and proficient, well fitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 2 Thessalonians 2:1-17 & Jeremiah 1-2
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Hebrews 8:1-13 & Ezekiel 14-15
Friday ~ Righteousness ~ A Gift for All Men || Saturday ~ Jesus is Lord and Christ || Sunday ~ Manifesting His Glory in Our Day
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 13 OCTOBER 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: JESUS IS LORD AND KING
KEY VERSE: _… Until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords (1 Timothy 6:14-15)._
MESSAGE
The Lord Jesus is the King of kings, and Lord of Lords. When He was born, the Bible says,_“…there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him”_ (Matthew 2:1-2). He didn’t become a king; He was born a king.
In John 18, we find His own testimony when Pilate asked Him, “Art thou a king then?” Jesus responded,_“… Thou sayest that I am a king…”_ (John 18:37). His response meant, “You’re right.” He spoke in the affirmative. In fact, in the 39th verse, speaking to the Jews, Pilate confirmed Jesus’ affirmation when he said, “…will ye therefore that I release unto you the King of the Jews?”
Had Jesus denied being a King, Pilate wouldn’t call Him the King of the Jews. In Acts 2:30, speaking to an audience, Peter said,_“Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him (David), that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne.”_
In John 12:13, upon His triumphal entry into Jerusalem, the crowds extravagantly honoured Him and praised God for sending this King into Jerusalem. They cried out,_“… Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.”_
Of course, the elders of the Jews were offended and told Him to silence those who praised Him and received Him as King (Luke 19:39). But Jesus responded,_“…If they kept quiet, the stones along the road would burst into cheers”_ (Luke 19:40 NLT). In other words, even the stones will affirm the same. Hallelujah!
The Lord Jesus is the exalted God, the immortal God, living in unapproachable light of divine glory. There’s none like Him. We’re not serving a mere religious leader, but one who is King and Monarch of the universe. He has all authority in heaven, in earth, and under the earth. Be unapologetic in your identity with Him, and speak boldly of Him. Glory to His Name forever!
PRAYER:
Dear Lord Jesus, you’re the King eternal, immortal, with all power, glory and majesty. You’re the joy of heaven and hope of the earth. You’re the Most High God, who alone is worthy of all praise, honour and adoration. You’re King of the ages. I worship you today and forever. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
1 Timothy 6:13-16
_13- In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you_
_14- to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ,_
_15- which God will bring about in his own time—God, the blessed and only Ruler,the King of kings and Lord of lords,_
_16- who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen._
John 12:12-15
_12- The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem._
_13- They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the king of Israel!”_
_14- Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written:_
_15- “Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.”_
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 1 Thessalonians 2:17-3:1-13 & Isaiah 57-58
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Hebrews 6:1-10 & Ezekiel 7
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 12 OCTOBER 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: YOUR BEHAVIOR IN THE HOUSE OF GOD
KEY VERSE: _But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth (1 Timothy 3:15)._
MESSAGE
The Church of Jesus Christ is the ground and pillar of truth; it’s not an organization or association of believers. The Church is the house of God, and the Bible is clear as to how we’re to comport ourselves in the house of God; there’s a behaviour that’s expected.
When we say the Church is the house of God, it also means, firstly, that as an individual, your body is God’s house. Secondly, the members of a particular local assembly—the local church—is God’s house. Thirdly, the place or building where we carry out our worship activities is also called the house of God.
Now, in all three references, the house of God demands and deserves reverence. The Lord is holy. The Lord is pure. The Lord is righteous. Therefore, our manner of life, our comportment in His “house”—in serving and worshipping Him—must depict His nature. It must be according to the Word and by the power of the Holy Spirit.
As you study the Scriptures, you discover the things He says we should do and not do. These aren’t commandments, but pictures of who we are, and how we should live. For example, for your physical body, He says, “Present it as an instrument of righteousness” (Romans 6:13). Then in Romans 12:1, He says,_“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”_
Also, Romans 16:17 says,_“Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.”_ In the house of God, in the church, you don’t cause divisions and offences amongst God’s people. You don’t walk in rebellion or disobedience, but in faith, hope, love and humility. Hallelujah!
CONFESSION:
As I study and yield myself to the ministry of the Word, my spirit is inundated with divine truths; my mind is elevated to think Kingdom thoughts, causing me to display the character of the Word in my daily walk, with an increased manifestation of the glory of God in my life, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Ephesians 4:22-23 NIV
_22- You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;_
_23- to be made new in the attitude of your minds;_
Romans 12:2
_2- Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 1 Thessalonians 1-2:1-16 & Isaiah 54-56
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Hebrews 5:1-14 & Ezekiel 5-6
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY 11 OCTOBER 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: PRAISE MUST HAVE MEANING
KEY VERSE: _God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth (John 4:24)._
MESSAGE
Some people say they’re praising God and all they say is, “Lord, I praise you”; but the truth is that they haven’t praised Him. To give someone a gift, for example, you don’t just say, “I give you a gift” and do nothing; you deliver the actual gift to the person. You don’t give the gift with your mouth; you act it.
It’s the same with praising, thanking and worshipping the Lord. You do it with content. When you say, “I bless you, Lord,” then go ahead and bless Him. How do you bless Him? It’s by giving Him thanks: you thank Him for who He is, what He’s done, and for His glory in your life.
There has to be a meaning when you thank Him; what’s the thanks connected to? So, you say, “I thank you Lord for X, Y, Z.” It must be connected to something; otherwise, you only muttered words. If I came to you, and said, “Thank you,” you’d want to know what I’m thanking you for.
Even when He tells us to have a heart that’s full of thanksgiving, it still has a purpose; there’s something in your heart that you’re thanking Him for. I may pray in my privacy and say, “Father, thank you”; that’s because in my heart, I have so many things I’m grateful to Him for that I’m not voicing, because God sees the heart. In my heart are these beautiful thoughts of what He’s done for me or said to me for which I’m expressing thanks.
So, always, when you praise Him, it’s got to have meaning; it’s got to have content. The content is the fruit of your lips, giving thanks to His Name:_“By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name”_ (Hebrews 13:15).
PRAYER:
Dear Father, from the depth of my heart, I’m grateful for your grace, mercy, wisdom and power by which I live triumphantly today, prospering in all that I do. Thank you for your glory in my life; you’re righteous, holy, gracious, kind and pure. Your Kingdom is everlasting, and you rule the nations in righteousness. Blessed be your Name forever, O Lord. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Hebrews 13:15 AMPC
_15- Through Him, therefore, let us constantly and at all times offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of lips that thankfully acknowledge and confess and glorify His name._
Ephesians 5:20
_20- At all times and for everything giving thanks in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father._
1 Thessalonians 5:18
_18- Thank [God] in everything [no matter what the circumstances may be, be thankful and give thanks], for this is the will of God for you [who are] in Christ Jesus [the Revealer and Mediator of that will]._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Colossians 4:2-18 & Isaiah 52-53
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Hebrews 4:1-16 & Ezekiel 4
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 10 OCTOBER 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: GIVE ATTENTION TO THE ONE THING NEEDFUL
KEY VERSE: _But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her (Luke 10:42)._
MESSAGE
There’re those who get so carried away with their work and other activities that they lose focus of what truly matters—the Word! They get so preoccupied in the many activities that they don’t have time to fellowship, study and meditate on the Word. That’s wrong!
The Word of God is your food for life. 1 Peter 1:23 says,_“Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever.”_ You were born of the Word and can only be sustained by the Word. 1 Peter 2:2 says, _“As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word that ye may grow thereby.”_
True and lasting success comes from conscious meditation on the Word of God:_“This Book of the Law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe and do according to all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall deal wisely and have good success”_ (Joshua 1:8 AMPC).
When the Lord Jesus counselled Martha in Luke 10, He was unequivocal in letting her know what to prioritize: the Word! He said,_“…Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her”_ (Luke 10:41-42).
No wonder the Spirit says to us in Colossians 3:16 AMPC,_“Let the word [spoken by] Christ (the Messiah) have its home [in your hearts and minds] and dwell in you in [all its] richness, as you teach and admonish and train one another in all insight and intelligence and wisdom [in spiritual things, and as you sing] psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, making melody to God with [His] grace in your hearts.”_
Give attention to the Word and fellowship with the Holy Spirit! Spend quality time in prayer, every day; you’ll experience such peace and prosperity—such blessings and glory in your life that you never thought possible. Hallelujah!
PRAYER:
Dear Father, I’m blessed and transformed to hear and receive your Word today! Even now, your Word stirs faith in me, dispelling worry, doubt and fear; I’m built up by the Word of your grace, walking in my inheritance in Christ. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Proverbs 4:20-22
_20- My son, attend to my words; consent and submit to my sayings._
_21- Let them not depart from your sight; keep them in the center of your heart._
_22- For they are life to those who find them, healing and health to all their flesh._
Psalm 119:16
_16- I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Colossians 3:1-4:1 & Isaiah 50-51
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Hebrews 3:12-19 & Ezekiel 3
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SUNDAY 09 OCTOBER 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: ROLL THEM OVER TO JESUS
KEY VERSE: _Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you (1 Peter 5:7)._
MESSAGE
Our opening verse in The Passion Translation says, “Pour out all your worries and stress upon him and leave them there, for he always tenderly cares for you.” He’s telling you to roll your cares and concerns over to Jesus. How encouraging that is. It’s a simple invitation to a life of unending peace and joy. Hallelujah!
The Amplified Classic version renders it thus: “Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately {and} cares about you watchfully.” This means leave none out. There’re people who care so much and are troubled about many things. It seems they must worry to be “happy”; what a terrible way to live.
God loves you. He cares for you affectionately and protectively watches over you. This is what He says of Himself with respect to you. He doesn’t want you flustered or worried about anything. Worrying will steal your joy and reduce your effectiveness.
You may say, “The things I worry about are things of the Kingdom; I have a target to win many souls, so it gets me worried.” No. He told us to win souls; but He didn’t tell us to worry about winning them. So, refuse to worry! Every so often, say, “I refuse to be anxious over anything; but in everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, I make my request known unto God. Therefore, His peace that surpasses all understanding garrisons my heart and mind in Christ Jesus.”
The things He asked us to do are never burdensome. He said in Matthew 11:28-30, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me…and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” That’s it! He’s taken the stress out of life. Yours is to act on His Word. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God, and His peace that surpasses all understanding shall garrison your heart and mind in Christ Jesus. Amen.
CONFESSION:
I’m full of joy, basking in the grace and glory of Christ and full blessings of the Gospel. I’m conscious of God’s love and care for me and for every detail of my life; everything that pertains to me has been perfected! I live in peace, and function from a place of rest, now and always, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Matthew 6:25-33
_25- Therefore I tell you, stop being perpetually uneasy (anxious and worried) about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink; or about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life greater [in quality] than food, and the body [far above and more excellent] than clothing?_
_26- Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father keeps feeding them. Are you not worth much more than they?_
_27- And who of you by worrying and being anxious can add one unit of measure (cubit) to his stature or to the span of his life?_
_28- And why should you be anxious about clothes? Consider the lilies of the field and learn thoroughly how they grow; they neither toil nor spin._
_29- Yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his magnificence (excellence, dignity, and grace) was not arrayed like one of these._
_30- But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and green and tomorrow is tossed into the furnace, will He not much more surely clothe you, O you of little faith?_
_31- Therefore do not worry and be anxious, saying, What are we going to have to eat? or, What are we going to have to drink? or, What are we going to have to wear?_
_32- For the Gentiles (heathen) wish for and crave and diligently seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows well that you need t
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY 08 OCTOBER 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: SIGNALS FROM DIVINE HEADQUARTERS
KEY VERSE: _Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober (1 Thessalonians 5:6)._
MESSAGE
God is always in communication with us, but not many are attentive enough to pick His signals. There’s a communication system between us and our heavenly “headquarters.” The Holy Spirit operates the divine headquarters of our kingdom and has the capacity to communicate with every single one of us anywhere, at the same time, and at any time. A true soldier or minister of the Gospel must be listening all the time to likely signals and instructions from our divine headquarters.
People carry their phones, not necessarily for anything else, but because they want to talk. But I carry mine, primarily because of my writings. Before the advent of these sophisticated gadgets, I always had my writing materials with me. I had to, because I discovered by practice and experience that the Lord will suddenly say something important to me. So I’m always alert. My spiritual connection never breaks.
Unlike the cellular networks that fluctuate, the network to and from our divine headquarters never breaks; but it’s about how alert you are to receive. It’s on, even while you’re asleep. There have been times I woke up suddenly because the Spirit of God said something to me and I woke up with it, and I was wise to pen down what He said.
Train yourself to always listen to the Spirit. Always be expectant that He’ll speak to you. When it’s time to pray, keep your writing materials close by. And as you pray, listen for His voice in your spirit and take action immediately on the things He tells you to do. Stay connected through the Holy Spirit. Remain prayerful and give attention to the study of the Scriptures. Hallelujah!
CONFESSION:
Dear Father, I thank you for the ability to hear and recognise your voice. As you speak to me from the Word and counsel me from within, I respond to your guidance, promptings and instructions, and receive the corresponding blessings, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Isaiah 30:21
_21- And your ears will hear a word behind you, saying, This is the way; walk in it, when you turn to the right hand and when you turn to the left._
John 16:13-15 AMPC
_13- But when He, the Spirit of Truth (the Truth-giving Spirit) comes, He will guide you into all the Truth (the whole, full Truth). For He will not speak His own message [on His own authority]; but He will tell whatever He hears [from the Father; He will give the message that has been given to Him], and He will announce and declare to you the things that are to come [that will happen in the future]._
_14- He will honor and glorify Me, because He will take of (receive, draw upon) what is Mine and will reveal (declare, disclose, transmit) it to you._
_15- Everything that the Father has is Mine. That is what I meant when I said that He [the Spirit] will take the things that are Mine and will reveal (declare, disclose, transmit) it to you._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Colossians 1:24-2:1-5 & Isaiah 46-47
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Hebrews 2:10-18 & Lamentations 4-5
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY 07 OCTOBER 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: SINGING ACCORDING TO OUR DISPENSATION
KEY VERSE: _Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God (Colossians 1:25)_
MESSAGE
As I studied the Bible, I realized that God never left us in the dark about anything. For example, the songs we sing; they’re supposed to be according to dispensations but many don’t realize it. Our praise of God has to be according to our dispensation—where we live in God’s calendar—His prophetic timing, and where we are with God.
When you don’t understand this, you may think that every song is okay, but that’s not true. The Apostle John, while exiled on the island of Patmos, expounded on three different groups by the revelation of the Spirit. The first group is found in Revelation 5:8-9. These are four living creatures and the twenty-four elders. The apostles are part of the 24 elders, and they represent the Church. Read the lyrics of their song in Revelation 5:9.
Then, we have the second group in Revelation 14:1-3. These are the 144,000 (about 12 thousand from each of the 12 tribes of Israel). The Bible says, “And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth” (Revelation 14:3).
They sang the song, but nobody could capture or understand what they were singing. Why? It’s because the song didn’t belong to the dispensation of the four ”beasts” and twenty-four elders.
Lastly, the third group—the tribulation saints—who got the victory over the beast. This is found in Revelation 15. But these tribulation saints who’re divided into two groups (the Jews, and those who became Christians after the Rapture) sang two songs. They sang the song of Moses, and they sang the song of the Lamb (read Revelation 15:3-4).
This immediately awakens an understanding in the Church of Jesus Christ that our singing has to be according to revelation and our dispensation. We have to sing songs that truly praise and worship God; songs that are consistent with who we are in Christ, our dominion and heritage in Him (Revelation 1:6; 5:10). Hallelujah!
PRAYER:
Dear Father, thank you for choosing me to know and walk in the knowledge of your will in wisdom and spiritual understanding. I’m guided by the Holy Spirit to walk in your light and in your truth, today and always, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Revelation 5:9
_9- And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation._
Revelation 15:3-4
_3- and sang the song of God’s servant Moses and of the Lamb: “Great and marvelous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are your ways, King of the nations._
_4- Who will not fear you, Lord, and bring glory to your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.”_
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Colossians 1:1-23 & Isaiah 44-45
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Hebrews 2:1-9 & Lamentation 3
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 06 OCTOBER 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: EXALT WISDOM
KEY VERSE: _Doth not wisdom cry? And understanding put forth her voice? (Proverbs 8:1)._
MESSAGE
The Word of God is the wisdom of God. In Proverbs 8, we read of the appeal of Wisdom. In the eighteenth verse, for example, Wisdom says, “Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.” How come, in spite of this, there’re more poor people in the world? It’s because many ignore Wisdom.
Again, Wisdom says,_“I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment: That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures”_ (Proverbs 8:20- 21). This is enough for you to bury yourself in the study and meditation of the Word daily. When you give the Word attention, you’re giving attention to Wisdom.
Sadly, many haven’t cultured themselves to exalt Wisdom, to embrace and celebrate Wisdom. How do you exalt or honour Wisdom? It’s by honouring the Word, giving the Word first place in your life, making the Word your only arbiter.
Proverbs 4:7-8 says,_“Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom…Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.”_ The wisdom of God—the Word of God—will bring you to a place of honour. That means if you’ll not exalt the Word of God in your life and in the lives of others, you’ll not come to a place of honour.
Also, it says Wisdom will promote you; meaning that if you exalt the Word of God, you’ll have life’s promotions. You may be promoted at work, or in school, but being promoted in life comes from exalting and giving the Word first place in your life. Make up your mind that you’ll always honour the Lord, by honouring and exalting His Word.
CONFESSION:
I immerse myself in the Word; therefore, my life is the expression of the wisdom of God. As I give time to studying and meditating on God’s Word, I’m more acquainted with the character of the Father; I have insight into His perfect will, and I walk worthy of Him, pleasing Him in all things. Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY:
Proverbs 8:1-21
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 05 OCTOBER 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: JESUS IS THE LIFE
KEY VERSE: _Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life… (John 14:6)._
MESSAGE
Knowing the origin of life is one of science’s most perplexing mysteries. No one has ever created life. The very source or substance of life hasn’t been known to man. But 1 John 1:2 tells us something so profound; it says,_“…life was manifested, and we have seen it….”_
This means life came out of obscurity and was shown to us. How? Who or what did John and the people of his day see that they called life? It was Jesus! He is life personified. Hallelujah! Imagine that you saw someone or something that says to you, “I’m life; I’m responsible for your existence.” What would you think?
Well, it happened. That’s what we read in our theme verse. Jesus said, “…I am the way, the truth, and the life….” That’s an amazing declaration! Who could ever dare say such a thing? Jesus proved His claim: A man named Lazarus was dead and buried for four days, and they sent for Jesus. When Jesus got there, He said to Martha, Lazarus’ sister,_“…I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live”_ (John 11:25).
Moments later, Jesus stood by the grave of Lazarus and “…cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth” (John 11:43). To the utter bewilderment of the people gathered, Lazarus came back to life! Hallelujah! That wasn’t the first person He would raise from the dead. Hehad raised the widow’s son at Nain (Luke 7:11-17), and Jairus’ daughter (Luke 8:41-56).
Jesus is the resurrection and the life. God gave Him power over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as God has given Him (John 17:2). This covers everything that He came to do; it’s the biggest of them all: He came to give us life. You received that life and became a partaker of the divine nature when you were born again. 1 John 5:11-12 says,_“… this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.”_ Glory to God!
CONFESSION:
I have the very life and nature of God in me, because I’m born again. This God-life makes me impregnable, causing me to walk in victory, glory, dominion and excellence always, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
John 10:10 AMPC
_10- The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it [a]overflows)_
1 John 5:11-13 NIV
_11- And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life._
_13- I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life._
1 John 1:1-3
_1- That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life._
_2- The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us._
_3- We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ._
-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Philippians 3:12-4:1-3 & Isaiah 40-41
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Philemon 1:10-25 & Lamentation 1
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY 04 OCTOBER 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: WISDOM THROUGH WORDS
KEY VERSE: _But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption (1 Corinthians 1:30)._
MESSAGE
In 1 Kings 3, the Bible tells us of a remarkable encounter Solomon had with the Lord. Solomon had offered more than a thousand burnt offerings to God in Gibeon. The same night, the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Solomon, ask for anything you want.”
In response, Solomon answered,_“Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people…”_ (1 Kings 3:9). How it pleased the Lord that Solomon asked for this. But here’s what I want you to notice: After the encounter, Solomon was said to be the wisest man on the face of the earth. The Bible says,_“And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore. And Solomon’s wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egypt. For he was wiser than all men…”_ (1 Kings 4:29-31). How did Solomon get the wisdom?
God only appeared to him in a dream; there was no physical contact. But God spoke words, and wisdom was imparted to Solomon. In 1 Kings 3:12 ESV, the Lord said to Solomon,_“…I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you.”_ Solomon believed, and immediately, he began to manifest wisdom.
God gave Solomon wisdom through words; He said it, and that was it! Did you know that He did the same for us? Only that in our case, He gave us something greater than what Solomon had. Our theme verse says Christ Jesus has been made unto us wisdom. And Jesus said of Himself,_“…a greater than Solomon is here”_ (Luke 11:31).
Jesus Christ (a greater than Solomon) is your wisdom— “Sophia” (Greek). “Sophia” is theoretical wisdom and insight into reality; it’s the collective understanding of things. Christ is your excellent wisdom. The wisdom (“Phronesis” in Greek) of the righteous is given you in Christ Jesus. It’s practical wisdom. Thus, in Christ, He has granted you the ability to understand concepts and see relationships between them. He makes you do and say the right things before you think. How amazing this is!
Now, think about the amazing things Solomon did because of the wisdom of God at work in him. You can do much more today because you’re greater than Solomon. You have the wisdom of Christ. Blessed be God!
CONFESSION:
I walk in wisdom; a force that makes me do and say the right things at the right time, in the right way, for God’s purpose. Christ is my wisdom; that wisdom effectively works in me to produce fruits and works of righteousness to the glory of God. Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY:
Luke 1:17
_17- And he will [himself] go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn back the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient andincredulous and unpersuadable to the wisdom of the upright [which is the knowledge and holy love of the will of God]—in order to make ready for the Lord a people [perfectly] prepared [in spirit, adjusted and disposed and placed in the right moral state]_
Proverbs 16:16
_16- How much better it is to get skillful and godly Wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver._
Ephesians 1:15-17
_15- For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints (the people of God),_
_16- I do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers._
_17- [For I always pray to] the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, that He may grant you a spirit of wisdom and revelation [of insight into mysteries and secrets] in the [deep and intimate] knowledge of Him,_
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Philippi
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 03 OCTOBER 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: PRAYING FOR ALL MEN IS SACROSANCT
KEY VERSE: _I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men (1 Timothy 2:1)._
MESSAGE
Afew years ago, while talking to the Lord, I had some questions on my mind. Why did it seem like the world was going in a wrong direction in spite of much preaching by ministries and churches? Why was there so much trouble in the world and very little peace?
The Lord soon began to show me some things. He directed me to 1 Timothy 2:1-2, which says, “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.” Here, He shows us what to prioritize as we pray.
We all want to lead quiet and peaceable lives; we want honesty in our societies. But for all that to happen, the Scripture tells us what we must do: pray for all men; for kings, and for all who are in authority. God wants us to pray like this “first of all”; in other words, as a priority. It’s a divine instruction.
As the Church of Jesus Christ, we can’t ignore this instruction and expect to have peace or honest men and women to lead our societies. The Lord’s instruction is clear; we must deliberately gather to pray for all men and all the different categories of leaders in our societies: presidents, governors, mayors, heads of schools, heads of major influential institutions and more.
If we pray more this way, God’s righteousness will be established in our nations, cities and communities; and all forms of evil, turmoil, wickedness and terror will be thwarted. If you haven’t learnt to pray this way, begin today.
Perhaps you lead a cell group, an outreach fellowship, or you pastor a church, teach and lead your members to pray this way. Intercede in prayer and give thanks, first of all, for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority, before you pray for or about other matters.
PRAYER
Dear heavenly Father, thank you for your Spirit that guides me to pray aright and pray effectively. Even now, I pray for all men; for kings, and those in authority in the nations of the world; thanking you, that your righteousness prevails in their hearts. All over the world, the lives of men are being transformed by the power and influence of the Gospel, resulting in the glorious salvation of many, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Jeremiah 29:7
_7- And seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives, and pray unto the Lord for it: for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace._
Luke 18:1
_1- And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;_
1 Timothy 2:1-4 (AMPC)
_1- First of all, then, I admonish and urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be offered on behalf of all men,_
_2- For kings and all who are in positions of authority or high responsibility, that [outwardly] we may pass a quiet and undisturbed life [and inwardly] a peaceable one in all godliness and reverence and seriousness in every way._
_3- For such [praying] is good and right, and [it is] pleasing and acceptable to God our Savior,_
_4- Who wishes all men to be saved and [increasingly] to perceive and recognize and discern and know precisely and correctly the [divine] Truth._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN Philippians 2:1-18 & Isaiah 35-37
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN Titus 3:1-15 & Jeremiah 51
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SUNDAY 02 OCTOBER 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: MANIFEST HIS GLORY IN SOUL WINNING
KEY VERSE: _And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18)._
MESSAGE
Each one of us is called to manifest the glory of God in soul winning. With boldness, we’re to take the message of the Gospel to those in our world and the regions beyond. It brings to mind the testimony of a dear pastor who was sent to take the Gospel to an apex ruler in some Muslim region. The first time he went, he was turned down. But his senior Pastor who gave him the instruction told him to go again.
He went the second time, undaunted, knowing that it could cost him his life; again, they turned him down. The senior Pastor, convinced he had heard from the Lord, said to him the third time, “Go again.” And he went; this time, no man forbidding him. Hallelujah! He delivered the message as he was sent, at the peril of his life. This is divine boldness to an instruction from heaven.
There’s an unusual grace from God at work in the lives of His children and in the Church today: all roads open, and all barriers crumble because of the power of the Gospel and the Name of Jesus that we proclaim. That’s what’s happening everywhere we go with Rhapsody of Realities. Hallelujah!
More than ever before, boldly proclaim the Gospel. Remember where we’re from: the lineage of the patriarchs and the apostles. Think about what they were like in their day, and what they did with the message (study the entire Hebrews 11). The Bible says of the apostles,_“…they spake the word of God with boldness”_ (Acts 4:31). They preached everywhere until they filled the whole of Jerusalem with their doctrine (Acts 5:28).
The same is happening in our day: billions of people from around the world are inspired and transformed by the message of the Gospel, because we’re of the same stock as the apostles and prophets of old. We’re manifesting the glory of God in soul winning because we function in the same grace and power of the Holy Ghost. Hallelujah!
PRAYER:
Dear Father, your power to save, heal, deliver and bless are wrapped up in the Gospel, which has been committed to my trust to share with others by the power of your Spirit. I’m imbued with the boldness of the Spirit to unveil your righteousness and light to those in my world and beyond, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Acts 9:26-29
_26- And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple._
_27- But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus._
_28- And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem._
_29- And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him._
Acts 14:1-3
_1- And it came to pass in Iconium, that they went both together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake, that a great multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed._
_2- But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the brethren._
_3- Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands._
Acts 19:8
_8- And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God._
1 Thessalonians 2:2
_2- But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Philippians 1:1-30
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY 01 OCTOBER 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: HIS GRACE AT WORK IN YOU
KEY VERSE: _And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work (2 Corinthians 9:8)._
MESSAGE
The Bible says, _“And God is able to make all grace (every favor and earthly blessing) come to you in abundance…”_ (2 Corinthians 9:8 AMPC). That means the Lord directs grace towards you. Grace brings acceptability, honour and dignity; it attracts the right people, circumstances and resources to you, in line with God’s purpose for your life.
Every so often, declare, “I walk and function in grace; grace sets me apart for glory and excellence. I’m a child of grace.” The Bible says to take advantage of the grace that’s in Christ Jesus. With this grace, you can be successful in any and every endeavour.
Become conscious of what we read in our theme verse; it says God is able to make ALL grace to abound towards you; and He did in Christ Jesus. The Bible says of His fullness have we all received grace heaped upon grace (John 1:16). Then Paul tells us the result of having received this overflow and superfluity of grace:_“…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).
Grace causes us to reign (to “king”) in life. That means you’re in dominion; you’re ruling over demons, sickness and disease, poverty, failure and death through Christ Jesus. Because His grace is at work in you, what others struggle for will always come to you naturally, by free course. Hallelujah!
CONFESSION:
I activate the grace and power of God in my life. I affirm in faith that I’m graced to excel and fulfil my destiny in Christ. I’m sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency, and His superabundant grace upon my life is sufficient for me in all things, in the Name of the Lord Jesus. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
*2 Peter 1:2 *
_2- May grace (God’s favor) and peace (which is perfect well-being, all necessary good, all spiritual prosperity, and freedom from fears and agitating passions and moral conflicts) be multiplied to you in [the full, personal, precise, and correct] knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord._
James 4:6
_6 But He gives us more and more grace (power of the Holy Spirit, to meet this evil tendency and all others fully). That is why He says, God sets Himself against the proud and haughty, but gives grace [continually] to the lowly (those who are humble enough to receive it)._
2 Peter 3:18
_18- But grow in grace (undeserved favor, spiritual strength) and recognition and knowledge and understanding of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (the Messiah). To Him [be] glory (honor, majesty, and splendor) both now and to the day of eternity. Amen (so be it)!_
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Ephesians 6:10-24; Isaiah 31-32
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Titus 1:1-16; Jeremiah 49
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY 30 SEPTEMBER 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: YOUR IMPREGNABLE NATURE
KEY VERSE: _For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith (1 John 5:4)._
MESSAGE
A similar verse to our opening scripture is 1 John 4:4; it 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.”_ We also read something just as inspiring and enthralling from Peter in his second epistle:_“Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust”_ (2 Peter 1:4).
How about Paul? Read what he pens for us by the Spirit in Romans 8:35-39: “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. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
The apostles, in stating these truths, were affirming the life we have in Christ; a life of dominion over Satan, the world, and its systems. The Christian is unconquerable. You’re a victor in Christ Jesus; you rule and reign in life through Him. You could never fail. Hallelujah!
The Lord Jesus also spoke about your impregnable nature. He said,_“Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you”_ (Luke 10:19). In Mark 16:18, He said you shall take up serpents; and if you drink any deadly thing, it’ll have no effect on you. When you lay hands on the sick, they shall recover. What a life!
You have overcome the world. Distressing situations may come from the enemy, but be unflustered; in Christ, you’ve already been made triumphant:_“Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ…”_ (2 Corinthians 2:14). Train yourself in this consciousness.
CONFESSION:
Blessed be God! I’m unconquerable, a victor in Christ Jesus; I rule and reign in life through Christ. I’ve overcome the world and its deception, failure, hatred, corruption, decadence and limitation. Christ reigns and rules in my life; that’s my assurance of a life of ever-increasing greatness, glory and grace, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Romans 5:17
_17- For if because of one man’s trespass (lapse, offense) death reigned through that one, much more surely will those who receive [God’s] overflowing grace (unmerited favor) and the free gift of righteousness [putting them into right standing with Himself] reign as kings in life through the one Man Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One)._
1 John 5:4-5
_4- For whatever is born of God is victorious over the world; and this is the victory that conquers the world, even our faith._
_5- Who is it that is victorious over [that conquers] the world but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God [who adheres to, trusts in, and relies on that fact]?_
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Ephesians 5:22-6:1-9 & Isaiah 29-30
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 2 Timothy 4:11-22 & Jeremiah 48
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 29 SEPTEMBER 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: RECEIVE THE WORD WITH
KEY VERSE: _I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil (Psalm 119:162)._
MESSAGE
When Jesus preached, there were those who listened to him and believed, and there were those who were critical and only listened to find fault with Him. The Pharisees sent spies who posed as honest inquirers, hoping to trick Jesus into saying something that would get him in trouble with the Law. They asked Him, “Tell us: Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” (Luke 20:22 MSG).
The question was a trap, but Jesus recognized and understood their unscrupulousness and guile; so, He pointed them to the Roman denarius (a coin) with Caesar’s image on it, and said,_“… give Caesar what is his and give God what is his”_ (Luke 20:25 MSG). They weren’t there to listen to Him, believe and be blessed, no! They wanted to trap Him with His speech, but Jesus is wisdom personified.
Mark 12:13 says,_“And they send unto him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, to catch him in his words.”_ In Matthew’s account, he wrote, “Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk” (Matthew 22:15). Luke 20:20 says,_“And they watched him, and sent forth spies, which should feign themselves just men, that they might take hold of his words, that so they might deliver him unto the power and authority of the governor.”_
Can you see the different reasons for which some of them attended His meetings? Did Jesus know? Emphatically yes! But He didn’t expose them; He let them make up their minds for themselves after listening to His teachings. It’s the same today; how do you receive the Word? Do you receive it with a sincere heart?
The Bible says,_“So get rid of all uncleanness and the rampant outgrowth of wickedness, and in a humble (gentle, modest) spirit receive and welcome the Word which implanted and rooted [in your hearts] contains the power to save your souls”_ (James 1:21 AMPC). When you hear the Word of God, take it as it is in truth, with a genuine, truthful, sincere and honest heart. Remember, His Word is His Wisdom. Proverbs 4:5-6 says,_“Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee.”_
CONFESSION:
Dear Father, your wisdom is functioning in me, and I’m excelling in good judgment, having the right ideas and making the right decisions. I’m propelled by the Word, listening with the right heart to the voice of wisdom. I say and do the right things, at the right time, for the right purpose, for your glory, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
2 Corinthians 4:2
_2- We have renounced disgraceful ways (secret thoughts, feelings, desires and underhandedness, the methods and arts that men hide through shame); we refuse to deal craftily (to practice trickery and cunning) or to adulterate orhandle dishonestly the Word of God, but we state the truth openly (clearly and candidly). And so we commend ourselves in the sight and presence of God to every man’s conscience._
1 Thessalonians 2:13
_13- And we also [especially] thank God continually for this, that when you received the message of God [which you heard] from us, you welcomed it not as the word of [mere] men, but as it truly is, the Word of God, which is effectually at work in you who believe [exercising its superhuman power in those who adhere to and trust in and rely on it]._
Hebrews 4:12
_12- For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective]; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart._
James 1:21 AMPC
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 28 SEPTEMBER 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: HE WAS JUDGED FOR ALL MEN
KEY VERSE: _There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus… (Romans 8:1)._
MESSAGE
The word translated “condemnation” in the verse above also means judgment. Judgment is a part and parcel of God’s programme even though some folks don’t think so. The Bible clearly reveals two main judgments for man. The first one took place when the Lord Jesus was judged for the sins of mankind on the Cross. The second will take place on Judgment Day, before the Great White Throne.
Most are more familiar with the latter. According to Romans 8:1, man doesn’t have to face the second judgment. He can obtain God’s righteousness by accepting the truth that Jesus was judged for him on the Cross of Calvary. Jesus became the sacrifice for our sin and paid the penalty by His death.
Romans 3:25-26 says we’ve been justified freely by His grace through the redemption that’s in Christ Jesus: “Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.” Blessed be God!
Thank God Jesus didn’t remain in the grave; He resurrected on the third day! Today, anyone who believes in Him is justified from every sin—severed from judgment. Hallelujah! What He accomplished for us is much more than the remission of sins. He ushered us into a new life; we now have a new nature. Hallelujah!
This is the Gospel: “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). Now, every man can boldly come before the throne of grace to obtain mercy (Hebrews 4:16). But someday, not too far away, that throne of grace will become the throne of judgment for those who rejected the salvation in Christ Jesus. That’s why He sent us to tell the world that the price has been paid for their salvation. Jesus was judged on their behalf.
CONFESSION:
Righteous Father, what joy it is to know that Jesus became the sacrifice for the sins of the world and paid the penalty by His death, in full! Now, I have obtained your righteousness by accepting the truth that Jesus was judged for me on the cross. I’m far removed from the destruction or judgment that works in this present world of darkness, because I belong and live in the Kingdom of God’s dear Son. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Romans 3:23-26 NLT
_23- For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard._
_24- Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins._
_25- For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past,_
_26- for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he makes sinners right in his sight when they believe in Jesus._
John 3:16-17
_16- “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life._
_17- God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him._
Romans 4:23-25
_23- And when God counted him as righteous, it wasn’t just for Abraham’s benefit. It was recorded_
_24- for our benefit, too, assuring us that God will also count us as righteous if we believe in him, the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead._
_25- He was handed over to die bec
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 26 SEPTEMBER 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: IT'LL HAPPEN IN A FLASH
KEY VERSE: _Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ (Titus 2:13)._
MESSAGE
It’s easy for some to be carried away by the activities of this world and just go on like the world will always be the way it’s been.
When we talk about the Rapture of the church, there’re still those who think it’s a ruse. That’s because they haven’t read their Bibles. The Bible does tell us about the Rapture (read 1 Thessalonians 4:15–17). 1 Corinthians 15:51–53 says,_“Behold, I shew you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”_
Notice that this will happen in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye; that means in a split second we will be out of this world! The Rapture isn’t going to be a long process. It’s not like the Second Coming in which the Lord will be in the air for long enough for all the nations to see Him; no! The Rapture of the Church will be in an instant—in a flash and it’s all done—we’re all gone; but it’s for those who are waiting for Him, who are expecting Him.
Hebrews 9:28 says,_“…and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.”_ Do you love His appearing? Are you looking forward to His return? While many of us are saying, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus,” some are hoping His coming will be delayed, because of their carnality. Don’t get stuck in that rut!
Some of the very last words of the Master in the entire Bible is,_“…Surely I come quickly…”_ (Revelation 22:20); there’ll be no delay. So, if you haven’t been living right like one who’s expecting Him, repent, because there isn’t much time left. Take your fellowship with God very seriously. Be like the wise servants the Bible talks about, who are waiting for and expecting their master (Luke 12:36-38).
CONFESSION:
I’m awake and alert in the spirit, guided by God’s love, by His Word and by my expectation of His coming. My desire to win more people to Christ is flourishing like never before. And through my evangelical efforts, many are snatched out of the Kingdom of darkness into the glorious liberty of the sons of God. Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY:
Hebrews 9:28
_28- Even so it is that Christ, having been offered to take upon Himself and bear as a burden the sins of many once and once for all, will appear a second time, not to carry any burden of sin nor to deal with sin, but to bring to full salvation those who are [eagerly, constantly, and patiently] waiting for and expecting Him._
1 Thessalonians 4:15-17
_15- For this we declare to you by the Lord’s [own] word, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord shall in no way precede [into His presence] or have any advantage at all over those who have previously fallen asleep [in Him in death]._
_16- For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a loud cry of summons, with the shout of an archangel, and with the blast of the trumpet of God. And those who have departed this life in Christ will rise first._
_17- Then we, the living ones who remain [on the earth], shall simultaneously be caught up along with [the resurrected dead] in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so always (through the eternity of the eternities) we shall be with the Lord!_
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Ephesians 3:1-21 & Isaiah 19-22
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 2 Timothy 2:1-10 & Jeremiah 44
TOPIC: A LIFE OF PEACE | KEY VERSE: For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace (Romans 8:6). || TOPIC: YOU'RE ABOVE ALL THINGS
KEY VERSE: _And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church (Ephesians 1:22)._
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY 23 SEPTEMBER 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THE DANGER OF IGNORANCE
KEY VERSE: _Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God (Matthew 22:29)._
MESSAGE
The knowledge of God’s word is so important. Jesus said to the Jews,_“…Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God”_ (Matthew 22:29). What Jesus said to the Jews back then is still very relevant in our day. It becomes even worse when one is a minister, a leader, or a teacher of the Word, and doesn’t know the Scriptures.
When Jesus made the assertion in our opening scripture, think about the fact that He was addressing the leaders that the whole nation of Israel trusted to give them the knowledge of God. So much trust was reposed in them, but it turned out they were ignorant.
The same leaders of the Jews were the ones who, ignorantly, condemned Jesus Christ. They called the Lord all derogatory names and discouraged the people from believing in Him. They condemned Him to death, and before their very eyes, Jesus was reviled, insulted, assaulted, and crucified. They called Jesus a deceiver, but they were the ones deceiving and being deceived.
No wonder Paul, in one of his writings, said,_“The experts of our day haven’t a clue about what this eternal plan is. If they had, they wouldn’t have killed the Master of the God-designed life on a cross”_ (1 Corinthians 2:8 MSG). Paul had his share of these malicious attacks fomented by the Jewish leaders.
On one occasion, he and his colleagues were in Thessalonica to preach. As Paul preached in their synagogue, some Gentiles and many important women believed his message. But the Jewish leaders were offended, and then incited some insurrectionists to start a riot in the city (Acts 17). They were ignorant of God’s plan of salvation for the Gentiles.
Lack of knowledge of the Scriptures makes people do a lot of terrible things. Even Paul alluded to the danger of ignorance and how it led him to persecute the Church before his conversion:_“And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief”_ (1 Timothy 1:12-13).
Get to know the Word; study the Scriptures for yourself like the Bible says:_“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth”_ (2 Timothy 2:15).
CONFESSION:
Dear Father, by your Word, you lead and guide me into the destiny you planned for me. I live confidently and joyfully always, knowing that you’re working with me and in me to fulfil your perfect will. As I study the Scriptures, the eyes of my understanding are enlightened to know you more, in Jesus’ Name, Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Proverbs 18:15 AMPC
_15- The mind of the prudent is ever getting knowledge, and the ear of the wise is ever seeking (inquiring for and craving) knowledge._
John 5:39
_39- You search and investigate and pore over the Scriptures diligently, because you suppose and trust that you have eternal life through them. And these [very Scriptures] testify about Me!_
2 Timothy 2:15
_15- Study and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved (tested by trial), a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analyzing and accurately dividing [rightly handling and skillfully teaching] the Word of Truth._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Ephesians 1:1-14 & Isaiah 11-12
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 1 Timothy 6:1-16 & Jeremiah 41
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 22 SEPTEMBER 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: HE SEES YOUR HEART
KEY VERSE: _But I, GOD, search the heart and examine the mind. I get to the heart of the human. I get to the root of things. I treat them as they really are, not as they pretend to be (Jeremiah 17:10 MSG)._
MESSAGE
There’re remarkable instances in Scripture that help us understand that the Lord indeed tests men’s hearts. Consider the story of David, how God chose him from the house of Jesse and the very significant rejection of his brother, Eliab. Eliab, from the outward appearance, was everything you’d want in a leader. The moment he showed up, and Samuel the Prophet saw him, he said,_“…Surely the Lord’s anointed is before him”_ (1 Samuel 16:6).
However, the Bible says,_“But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him…for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart”_ (1 Samuel 16:7). Notice the Lord’s choice of words; He didn’t say, “Don’t anoint Eliab, for I have not chosen him.” If He had said that, it would mean Eliab wasn’t even considered in the first place. But the Lord said, “I have refused him.” It means that God considered him and said, “No!”
Did Eliab ever know that he was considered by God to someday be king over Israel? No! But God considered him and found him wanting. The story of Abraham is another case in point, this time, a positive one, because Abraham passed the test. After years of wanting a child, he and Sarah eventually had a son at their old age. But one day, the Bible says God tested Abraham. He asked him to offer his only son, Isaac, as a sacrifice (Genesis 22:2). God didn’t announce to Abraham, “Hey I want to test you now,” no! But Abraham demonstrated his faith that God could raise Isaac from the dead, and symbolically, that’s exactly what happened (Hebrews 11:17-19). He trusted completely in the Lord and obeyed.
You may never know when you’re being tested or considered for the next level of your assignment and promotion. The important thing is for you not to be found wanting. It’s the reason you must walk in faith, hope and love. Be humble, and always be at your best, not in hypocrisy, but in integrity of heart and in uprightness, for God indeed sees your heart.
CONFESSION:
I have a heart that loves the Lord passionately and serves Him truly. My desire, O Lord, is to please you always. I’m aligned with your Word today, to know and walk in your perfect will concerning all things, such that my life will bring you glory, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Proverbs 17:3
_3- Fire tests the purity of silver and gold, but the Lord tests the heart._
Psalm 26:2 NLT
_2- Put me on trial, Lord, and cross-examine me. Test my motives and my heart._
1 Samuel 16
_1- Now the Lord said to Samuel, “You have mourned long enough for Saul. I have rejected him as king of Israel, so fill your flask with olive oil and go to Bethlehem. Find a man named Jesse who lives there, for I have selected one of his sons to be my king.”_
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Galatians 6:1-18 & Isaiah 9-10
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 1 Timothy 5:19-25 & Jeremiah 40
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 21 SEPTEMBER 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: OUR LEGAL AUTHORITY TO USE
KEY VERSE: _And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it (John 14:13-14)._
MESSAGE
When we say that Jesus gave us the power of attorney to use His Name, many don’t understand what this means. The term “power of attorney” refers to a legal authorization that gives a designated person the power to act on one’s behalf. It therefore means that every request you make is as though Jesus were the one making it, since you’re making it in His Name.
The Apostle John, in some of his writings, vividly captures the words of Jesus that further elucidates the legal authority we’ve been given in His Name. For example, in John 14:13- 14, Jesus said, “And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.” Here, the Lord was talking about making a demand in His Name. That’s extraordinary.
It’s like what Paul tells us in Colossians 3:17: “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus….” There’s another beautiful reference in John 16:23; it says, “And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.”
When He said, “And in that day…,” the Lord was referring to the day of the new deal—the day of salvation that He came to consummate. That day began from His resurrection. So, we’re in “that day” where we use and live in His Name. If you’ve ever wondered why all over the world, we use the Name of Jesus in prayer, this is the reason.
So, right now, use His Name to effect changes in your world. He told us we could, and you should! Address issues in your nation, your physical body, your workplace, school etc., in His Name and expect a change.
CONFESSION:
Dear Father, thank you for giving me the power of attorney to use the matchless Name of Jesus to effect changes, and control circumstances. In the Name of Jesus, I speak peace over the nations; I declare that the Gospel has free course in the nations of the world. I walk in victory and dominion today and always, because I live in, and do all things through the power in the Name of Jesus. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Mark 16:17-18
_17- And these attesting signs will accompany those who believe: in My name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new languages;_
_18- They will pick up serpents; and [even] if they drink anything deadly, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will get well._
Acts 3:16
_16- And His name, through and by faith in His name, has made this man whom you see and recognize well andstrong. [Yes] the faith which is through and by Him [Jesus] has given the man this perfect soundness [of body] before all of you._
John 16:24
_24- Up to this time you have not asked a [single] thing in My Name [as [a]presenting all that I Am]; but now ask and keep on asking and you will receive, so that your joy (gladness, delight) may be full and complete._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Galatians 5:16-26 & Isaiah 6-8
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 1 Timothy 5:11-18 & Jeremiah 39
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY 20 SEPTEMBER 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: PRAISE IS THE HIGHEST WORSHIP
KEY VERSE: _I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth… (Psalm 138:2)._
MESSAGE
Oftentimes, people like to distinguish between praise and worship because they think they have major differences. But not really; praise is worship. Praise is one of the things you do when you worship God. In fact, it’s the highest part of worship. The simple difference between them is that worship includes other things you do for the Lord. For example, your service to God is an act of worship.
Once you clearly understand praise as the highest part of worship, you’ll realize how important it is in your relationship with God. The Bible says,_“Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ”_ (1 Peter 2:5).
The Church is a holy priesthood assigned to offer up spiritual sacrifices to God, and there are different kinds of sacrifices. An example is when you give up something valuable for God or you volunteer your time through missionary activities. But the highest sacrifices are the sacrifices of praise.
The Bible says,_“By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name”_ (Hebrews 13:15). Notice that it says we’re to offer our sacrifice of praise to God continually, not just once in a while. This shows just how important it is. Paul describes it as the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His Name.
David made a similar reference in Psalm 69:30-31. He said,_“I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving. This also shall please the Lord better than an ox or bullock that hath horns and hoofs.”_ Did you see that? He said, “I will magnify him with thanksgiving.”
The next verse lets us know that carrying out this act of praise to God is a massive testimony; it says,_“The humble shall see this, and be glad…”_ (Psalm 69:32). Even now, give thanks to the Lord. Praise Him lavishly from your heart; think of something you want to thank Him for and then go ahead to praise Him profusely.
PRAYER:
Dear Father, thank you for your glorious presence in my life. You’ve ordained all things to work together for my good, and my heart continually overflows with thanks and praise because this is your will in Christ Jesus concerning me. I’m triumphant in all situations and circumstances of life; and for this I praise you, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Psalm 106:1
_1- Praise the Lord! (Hallelujah!) O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever!_
Psalm 145:21
_21- My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord; and let all flesh bless (affectionately and gratefully praise) His holy name forever and ever._
Psalm 147:7
_7- Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; sing praises with the harp or the lyre to our God!_
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Galatians 4:21-5:1-15 & Isaiah 3-5
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 1 Timothy 5:1-10 & Jeremiah 38
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 19 SEPTEMBER 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: REVELATORY UNDERSTANDING
KEY VERSE: _[For I always pray to] the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, that He may grant you a spirit of wisdom and revelation [of insight into mysteries and secrets] in the [deep and intimate] knowledge of Him (Ephesians 1:17 AMPC)._
MESSAGE
In Matthew 16:13-20, Jesus asked His disciples a pressing pair of questions bordering on His identity. First, He asked them, “Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?”
After getting their responses, He then asked the second question: “…But whom say ye that I am?” (Matthew 16:15). The Bible says, “…Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16). Peter’s confession of Jesus as the Christ was a revelation from God, but Peter didn’t know it; He thought it was his reasoning.
Jesus had to tell him: “…Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 16: 17). Hallelujah! Just like Peter, many of God’s people have received revelations from God. Think about it: How did you know Jesus is the Christ? It’s the Holy Spirit that revealed it to your spirit. The Bible says, “… no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost” (1 Corinthians 12:3).
You believe the Virgin Birth of Jesus Christ; you read about it in the Scriptures and believed. That was the Holy Spirit granting you insight into that mystery. Likewise, the resurrection of Jesus Christ; you weren’t there when it happened, but you believe.
Also, you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and that He died for your sins and God raised Him from the dead, and He’s alive today; that’s a revelation from God. Your brain can’t figure out such truths. Science can never give them to you. You have them in your spirit because God made them known to your spirit.
It’s part of the ministry of the Spirit in us: the unveiling of truth. So, trust Him with your life. Make knowing Him more and living His Word your greatest passion. Through that fellowship, He’ll keep unveiling Himself and the greater mysteries of the Kingdom to you.
CONFESSION:
I have a revelatory understanding granted me by the Holy Spirit through the Word. I’m spiritually insightful, and I function with the Spirit of wisdom, expressed in full discernment and accurate knowledge of Him, as I feed on the Word continually. Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY:
Colossians 1:9
_9- For this reason we also, from the day we heard of it, have not ceased to pray and make [special] request for you, [asking] that you may be filled with the full (deep and clear) knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom [in comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God] and in understanding and discernment of spiritual things_
Ephesians 1:15-18
_15- For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints (the people of God), 16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers._
_17- [For I always pray to] the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, that He may grant you a spirit of wisdom and revelation [of insight into mysteries and secrets] in the [deep and intimate] knowledge of Him,_
_18- By having the eyes of your heart flooded with light, so that you can know and understand the hope to which He has called you, and how rich is His glorious inheritance in the saints (His set-apart ones),_
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Galatians 3:26-4:1-20 & Isaiah 1-2
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 1 Timothy 4:1-8 & Jeremiah 36
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SUNDAY 18 SEPTEMBER 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: FOLLOW HIS PLANS
KEY VERSE: _There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death (Proverbs 16:25)._
MESSAGE
In 1 Samuel 15, we read about Saul and how God led him to victory over the Amalekites. God gave him specific instructions to completely destroy the Amalekites, including their livestock. But Saul and the people destroyed the things that they didn’t want and then kept some choice spoils for themselves. They even kept the king alive.
Displeased with Saul, God said, “It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments…” (1 Samuel 15:11). How regrettable! Saul was the king, and the people were supposed to follow him, while he was expected to follow the Lord. But he disobeyed God’s direct instructions repeatedly.
When Samuel the prophet confronted him about his error, he blamed it on the people. He said, “…For the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed” (1 Samuel 15:15). Bad enough that he didn’t follow the clear instructions God gave him, he also refused to take responsibility for his actions, blaming the people instead.
Of course, Saul lost out on God’s plan following his wilful disobedience. Subsequently, the Bible says “The Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit troubled him” (1 Samuel 16:14). Always follow God’s instructions; follow His Word, His plans and His guidance.
Some people pursue ambitions that have no connection with the purpose of God for their lives. They’re not yielded to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Don’t live like that. Follow what the Spirit tells you to do. He’s the One who unveils mysteries and divine secrets to you and helps you to discover yourself in God’s dream.
Whatever idea or plan you have, be sure it’s consistent with His Word—His perfect will. Yield to the lordship and guidance of His Word. His Word is light, and if you follow Him in the Word, you’ll not walk in darkness but shall have the light of life! You’ll be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.
CONFESSION:
I’m fully yielded to the guidance of the Holy Spirit and His Word, for His Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path by which He leads me in the paths of success, victory, and boundless joy! Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY:
Psalm 119:105
_105- Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path._
Ephesians 2:10 AMPC
_10- For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live]._
Jeremiah 7:23
_23- But this thing I did command them: Listen to and obey My voice, and I will be your God and you will be My people; and walk in the whole way that I command you, that it may be well with you._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Galatians 3:15-25 & Songs of Solomon 6-8
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 1 Timothy 4:1-8 & Jeremiah 36
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY 17 SEPTEMBER 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: JESUS CHRIST IS THE GREAT GOD
KEY VERSE: _For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope- -the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ (Titus 2:11-13 NIV)._
MESSAGE
The Word of God is replete with incontrovertible proofs that Jesus is Himself, God. He’s our great God! Sadly, there’re Christians who haven’t come to this realization. That’s why they still wonder how come He says He’s the Son of God if actually He is Himself, God. Well, the expression “Son of God” means God in human flesh!
In His manifestation in the flesh, Jesus put aside His glory so He could be a hundred per cent man and a hundred per cent God. That’s what legitimized His substitutionary work in our behalf; otherwise, it would have been questionable. The Bible says He _“… made himself of no reputation, and…was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross”_ (Philippians 2:7-8).
Jesus is God’s perfect imprint, the icon of the unseen God (Colossians 1:15, Hebrews 1:3). Hallelujah! But who was He before He came as a man? He was the Word, God’s Word: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1). Then the 14th verse says,_“And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us….”_ The Word that was God, became flesh and He was named Jesus. Hallelujah!
In John 10:30, He said, “I and my Father are one.” When He made that assertion, the Bible says the Jews picked up stones to stone Him to death, because they understood what He meant. They said,_“…For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God”_ (John 10:33). He wasn’t making Himself God; He was, and He is, God!
He said in John 14:7,_“If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.”_ Who did they know and see that He equated to the Father? Jesus! When Philip expressed doubt in the ensuing verse 8, the response from Jesus climaxed the discussion in a most unambiguous way. He said,_“…Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father…”_ (John 14:9). Hallelujah!
CONFESSION:
Blessed Lord Jesus, you’re awesome, glorious, Lord of heaven and earth; you alone are God; I extol your greatness and worship your holy Name. Your kingdom is forever, your reign is everlasting! To you be all glory, honour, majesty, dominion and praise, forever and ever. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
John 1:10-11
_10- He came into the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him [did not know Him]._
_11- He came to that which belonged to Him [to His own—His domain, creation, things, world], and they who were His own did not receive Him and did not welcome Him._
Hebrews 1-3 AMPC
_1- NOW THE main point of what we have to say is this: We have such a High Priest, One Who is seated at the right hand of the majestic [God] in heaven, [Ps. 110:1.]_
_2- As officiating Priest, a Minister in the holy places and in the true tabernacle which is erected not by man but by the Lord._
_3- For every high priest is appointed to offer up gifts and sacrifices; so it is essential for this [High Priest] to have some offering to make also._
Colossians 1:15-19
_15- [Now] He is the exact likeness of the unseen God [the visible representation of the invisible]; He is the Firstborn of all creation._
_16- For it was in Him that all things were created, in heaven and on earth, things seen and things unseen, whether thrones, dominions, rulers, or authorities; all things were created and ex
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY 16 SEPTEMBER 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: WASHED AND SANCTIFIED
KEY VERSE: _Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water (Hebrews 10:22)._
MESSAGE
At a glance, our opening verse seems to suggest that we should draw close to God and have our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and then have our bodies washed with pure water. But if that’s true, who’s going to do the sprinkling? This is why some people today sprinkle some liquid on people and say, “This is the blood of Jesus.” But that’s wrong.
Nobody can sprinkle the blood of Jesus today. So, don’t do it. The Bible doesn’t say, “…having our bodies sprinkled…”; rather, it says our hearts. That means it’s the sprinkling of the heart, and what that verse is saying is that your heart has already been sprinkled from an evil conscience. It’s not an ongoing process; it’s been done already!
Some other translations, like the Rotherham’s, put it more clearly. It says, “Let us approach with a genuine heart, in full assurance of faith, having been sprinkled, as to our hearts, from an evil conscience, and bathed, as to our bodies, with pure water.” Hallelujah! If you don’t understand this, you’ll be trying to do what God has already done, and it won’t work.
When it says,_“…our bodies washed with pure water,”_ it’s akin to what we have in 1 Corinthians 6:11: “And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” Hallelujah! When you were born again, you were baptised into Christ (Baptism of the Holy Spirit); the Holy Spirit came upon you to live in you.
His purpose of coming upon you was to make your body His temple, the tabernacle where He now dwells. But first, He must wash that temple; He must purify and sanctify it. That’s His work, and at the New Birth, He sanctified your body and made it His home. He has made your heart His Home! Glory to God!
CONFESSION:
I’m washed, sanctified, and justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God! Therefore, consciously, I walk in the light of God’s Word, in the light of my righteousness, knowing that I’m holy, unblameable and unreproveable in His sight. I’m impacting my world with the light of God in my spirit, turning many to righteousness. Glory to God!
FURTHER STUDY:
Colossians 1:21-22
_21- And although you at one time were estranged andalienated from Him and were of hostile attitude of mind in your wicked activities,_
_22- Yet now has [Christ, the Messiah] reconciled [you to God] in the body of His flesh through death, in order to present you holy and faultless and irreproachable in His [the Father’s] presence._
1 Corinthians 3:16
_16- Do you not discern and understand that you [the whole church at Corinth] are God’s temple (His sanctuary), and that God’s Spirit has His permanent dwelling in you [to be at home in you, collectively as a church and also individually]?_
Titus 3:5
_5- He saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but because of His own pity and mercy, by [the] cleansing [bath] of the new birth (regeneration) and renewing of the Holy Spirit,_
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Galatians 2:1-21 & Songs of Solomon 1-2
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 1 Timothy 2:1-15 & Jeremiah 33
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 14 SEPTEMBER 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: WALK IN HUMILITY
KEY VERSE: _Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life (John 8:12)._
MESSAGE
The Lord Jesus is our perfect example in everything: He was humility personified. You couldn’t follow or emulate Him and miss your way. He said, “…he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” You couldn’t follow His steps and walk in pride; it’s impossible.
There’re those who say they’re afraid pride might take a hold of them, no; not when you truly know and follow Jesus. The way to follow Him is through the Word. Be a doer of the Word. 1 Peter 5:5 says, “Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.”
Be submissive to the Lord and His Word; that’s true humility. In Philippians 2:3 (AMPC), the Spirit adjures, “Do nothing from factional motives [through contentiousness, strife, selfishness, or for unworthy ends] or prompted by conceit and empty arrogance. Instead, in the true spirit of humility (lowliness of mind) let each regard the others as better than and superior to himself [thinking more highly of one another than you do of yourselves].” In essence, He’s saying, “Be humble!” Never disdain your brothers and sisters in Christ, especially your leaders in the Lord; be submissive.
Pride is of the devil. It led to his self-exultation; and for his haughtiness, God kicked him out of his place of honour. Make the conscious decision to walk in humility. It’s part of the manifestation of the life of Christ in you. It brings promotion. The Bible says God resists the proud and gives more grace to the humble. That grace results in honour, increase, enlargement and progress. Hallelujah!
CONFESSION:
I’m submissive to the authority, influence and impact of God’s Word. I receive the Word into my heart, acting accordingly, making definite changes in my character and attitude with, and through, the Word. Every day, I walk in excellent humility of heart, with the willingness to take on the responsibility of service to others, in loyalty to the Word, thereby attracting divine favour and promotion. Glory to God!
FURTHER STUDY:
Philippians 2:5-9
_5- Let this same attitude and purpose and [humble] mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus: [Let Him be your example in humility:]_
_6- Who, although being essentially one with God and in the form of God [possessing the fullness of the attributes which make God God], did not think this equality with God was a thing to be eagerly grasped or retained,_
_7- But stripped Himself [of all privileges and rightful dignity], so as to assume the guise of a servant (slave), in that He became like men and was born a human being._
_8- And after He had appeared in human form, He abased and humbled Himself [still further] and carried His obedience to the extreme of death, even the death of the cross!_
_9- Therefore [because He stooped so low] God has highly exalted Him and has freely bestowed on Him the name that is above every name,_
1 Peter 5:5-6
_5- Likewise, you who are younger and of lesser rank, be subject to the elders (the ministers and spiritual guides of the church)—[giving them due respect and yielding to their counsel]. Clothe (apron) yourselves, all of you, with humility [as the garb of a servant, so that its covering cannot possibly be stripped from you, with freedom from pride and arrogance] toward one another. For God sets Himself against the proud (the insolent, the overbearing, the disdainful, the presumptuous, the boastful)—[and He opposes, frustrates, and defeats them], but gives grace (favor, blessing) to the humble._
_6- Therefore humble yourselves [demote, lower yourselves in your own estimati
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY 13 SEPTEMBER 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: IT'S UP TO YOU
KEY VERSE: _This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night… for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success (Joshua 1:8)_
MESSAGE
Did you know that your prosperity and how well you succeed in life depends on you? This is clear from our theme verse above. It says if you meditate on the Word day and night, you’ll make your own way prosperous and have good success.
You may have found yourself in certain circumstances you had nothing to do with. For example, you may have been born into a poor home; that wasn’t your making. But it’s up to you to do something about it. You may have been born poor, but you weren’t born to be poor.
The Word of God shows you the principles of prosperity, but it’s up to you to apply them and change your estate. As much as He wants you prosperous, as much as He wants you healthy, happy and strong, you have a vital role in making His dream for you come to reality. He said in 3 John 1:2,_“Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.”_ 2 Peter 1:3 says,_“According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness….”_ He’s already done everything and given you everything you require for an extraordinary life of success, and extraordinary prosperity.
Ephesians 1:3 says,_“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.”_ What then? Act on the Word! If there’s a situation in your life you want changed, the Word is your answer. Trust the Word. Meditate on it day and night as He has said. That isn’t something God or anyone can do for you. 1 Timothy 4:15 tells you the inevitable result: your progress and prosperity will “appear to all”—“phaneros” (Greek); that means apparent, undeniable and unending; it’ll spread abroad. Hallelujah!
CONFESSION:
Dear Father, I delight in your Word, for it’s perfect, enriching and beautifying my life. Thank you for giving me an extraordinary life of notable victories, ever-increasing glory, unending success and supernatural prosperity. I walk in the light and reality of who I am in Christ, standing firmly on your Word, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
1 Timothy 4:15 AMPC
_15- Practice and cultivate and meditate upon these duties; throw yourself wholly into them [as your ministry], so that your progress may be evident to everybody._
James 1:22-25
_22- But be doers of the Word [obey the message], and not merely listeners to it, betraying yourselves [into deception by reasoning contrary to the Truth]._
_23- For if anyone only listens to the Word without obeying it and being a doer of it, he is like a man who looks carefully at his [own] natural face in a mirror;_
_24- For he thoughtfully observes himself, and then goes off and promptly forgets what he was like._
_25- But he who looks carefully into the faultless law, the [law] of liberty, and is faithful to it and perseveres in looking into it, being not a heedless listener who forgets but an active doer [who obeys], he shall be blessed in his doing (his life of obedience)._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 2 Corinthians 12:1-21 & Ecclesiastes 3-5
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 1 Timothy 1:8-14 & Jeremiah 31
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 12 SEPTEMBER 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: SONGS OF THE SPIRIT
KEY VERSE: _Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord (Ephesians 5:19)._
MESSAGE
The phrase “spiritual songs” in the verse above means songs of the spirit. The Apostle Paul made the same reference in 1 Corinthians 14:14-15 when he talked about singing in tongues—singing in the spirit: “For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful. What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.”
Singing with the spirit is singing in other tongues. These songs come out of your spirit, not from your understanding. It’s similar to the way you yield your tongue to the Holy Spirit to pray in tongues, only that this time, you’re singing in other tongues and worshipping the Lord.
Jesus said, “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24). Worshipping in the spirit is the climax. You may sing and worship the Lord in your understanding and that’s okay, but ascend higher; sing songs of the Spirit, from your spirit! Worship and relate from your spirit; it’s a deeper fellowship.
Your songs of the spirit are songs of worship and praise to the Lord. Those listening to you may not like the tune or melody, but it makes no difference. You’re not singing to them; you’re singing to the Lord! You’re making melodies of worship to the Lord, just as praying in tongues isn’t unto men but unto God (1 Corinthians 14:2).
Worshipping in the spirit brings about a divine exchange; as your spirit passes words in the spirit to God, the Holy Spirit imparts information to your spirit. When you’re through with such sessions of worship and fellowship, you’re full of the Spirit and are in dominion. At that point, nothing moves you. You’re more than certain of your victory. Your spirit has the dominion!
Christianity is a life of the spirit, lived from the inside out. Therefore, learn to worship the Lord in the spirit, with your spirit, and by the Holy Spirit: “For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh” (Philippians 3:3).
PRAYER:
Blessed Lord, your glory fills the earth, and your righteousness is upon the nations! Splendour and majesty are before you; strength and glory are in your dwelling place. You’ve beautified my life and anointed me to proclaim your love, mercies and grace; I’ll sing of your love forever, and of your faithfulness that’s ever sure. Blessed be your Name forever.
FURTHER STUDY:
John 4:23-24 AMPC
_23- A time will come, however, indeed it is already here, when the true (genuine) worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth (reality); for the Father is seeking just such people as these as His worshipers._
_24 God is a Spirit (a spiritual Being) and those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth (reality)._
Psalm 150:1-5
_1- Praise the Lord! Praise God in His sanctuary; praise Him in the heavens of His power!_
_2- Praise Him for His mighty acts; praise Him according to the abundance of His greatness!_
_3- Praise Him with trumpet sound; praise Him with lute and harp!_
_4- Praise Him with tambourine and [single or group] dance; praise Him with stringed and wind instruments orflutes!_
_5- Praise Him with resounding cymbals; praise Him with loud clashing cymbals!_
1 Corinthians 14:2
_2- For one who speaks in an [unknown] tongue speaks not to men but to God, for no one understands or catches his meaning, because in the [Holy] Spirit he utters secret truths and hidden things [not obvious to the understanding]._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 2 Corinthians 11:16-33 & Ecclesiastes 1-2
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 1 Timothy 1:1-7 & Jerem
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SUNDAY 11 SEPTEMBER 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THE RESTRAINER OF EVIL
KEY VERSE: _For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way (2 Thessalonians 2:7 ESV)._
MESSAGE
There’re three restrainers of evil the Bible talks about; one is the government. Romans 13:1-4 tells us that the powers that be are ordained of God and that they’re established to restrain evil. The second restrainer of evil is the Holy Spirit. Jesus said, “And when He (the Holy Spirit) has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment” (John 16:8 NKJV).
The third restrainer of evil is the Church. Jesus said we’re the light of the world (Matthew 5:14), and when light shines, darkness recedes. Among these three restrainers of evil, the Church is the one who restrains evil by the power of the Holy Spirit. The scripture states that the restrainer will be “taken out of the way.” That certainly wouldn’t be referring to government, because there’ll be governments during the reign of the Antichrist. In fact, when the Antichrist comes, he’ll establish a government.
Also, the Holy Spirit won’t be removed from the earth after the Antichrist is revealed, because He’s going to cause 144,000 Jewish men to carry out ministry in the earth after the Rapture. The Bible tells us a large multitude of people gave their hearts to the Lord during the Great Tribulation, and the only way those people could have been saved is through the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
So, out of the three restrainers of evil, only the Church will be taken away before the Antichrist is manifested. The Church is expected by God to restrain evil today. We’re the light of the world and the salt of the earth (Matthew 5:13-14). When we decree a thing, it’s established unto us. Satan can’t lord it over the nations; he can’t perpetuate his wickedness in the nations of the world and in the lives of men as he desires to because we’re putting him in check. We’ll continue to restrain him and reign gloriously in the earth by Jesus Christ.
PRAYER:
Thank you, Lord, for your grace upon your Church as we reign by grace through righteousness, illuminating the nations and hearts of men with your light and truth. We restrain the forces of darkness from lording it over the nations; your righteousness, peace, mercy and truth prevail in our streets, in our schools, cities and nations, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
2 Thessalonians 2:6-8 AMPC
_6- And now you know what is restraining him [from being revealed at this time]; it is so that he may be manifested (revealed) in his own [appointed] time._
_7- For the mystery of lawlessness (that hidden principle of rebellion against constituted authority) is already at work in the world, [but it is] restrained only until he who restrains is taken out of the way._
_8- And then the lawless one (the antichrist) will be revealed and the Lord Jesus will slay him with the breath of His mouth and bring him to an end by His appearing at His coming._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 2 Corinthians 11:1-15 & Proverbs 29-31
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 2 Thessalonians 3:11-18 & Jeremiah 29
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY 10 SEPTEMBER 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: REFUSE TO COMPROMISE
KEY VERSE: _This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Withoutnatural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away (2 Timothy 3:1-5)._
MESSAGE
We’re in the last days, and you have to learn to walk in the knowledge of God’s Word. We’re in what the Bible shows as “difficult or perilous times.” Here’s how The Living Bible renders verse one of our opening scripture: “You may as well know this too, Timothy, that in the last days it is going to be very difficult to be a Christian.”
Why is it going to be difficult for some? It’s because of the choices they have to make: unpopular choices. I’m talking about such choices as standing for truth and righteousness, refusing to compromise your faith, sticking to the Word—doing what the Word says—rather than what’s convenient.
There’re those who are going to compromise and make decisions because of money and earthly favours. As a result, they’ll do the wrong things; things that aren’t consistent with the Christian walk. That shouldn’t be you. Don’t make a decision in life because it’s popular opinion; never follow the crowd.
Remember what Jesus said:_“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it”_ (Matthew 7:13-14). This is very instructive.
Let the knowledge of God’s Word—the wisdom of God— guide the choices and decisions that you make. It makes no difference that you’re the only one taking a stand for Jesus Christ and for the Gospel in your estate, neighbourhood, school or place of work; keep at it. Refuse to compromise. Rather, remain “…stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58).
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY 09 SEPTEMBER 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: ARE YOU EXPECTING HIM?
KEY VERSE: _So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation (Hebrews 9:28)._
MESSAGE
The Bible lets us know that the end of all things is near; the coming of the Lord is so close:_“But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer”_ (1 Peter 4:7). The question is, are you watching for His return? Are you expecting Him?
There’re Christians who aren’t taking this seriously; therefore, they’re casual with their relationship with God and complacent about their Christianity. They’re like the 5 foolish virgins the Bible talks about (Matthew 25) who weren’t expecting the return of their master and were unprepared when he eventually came.
Don’t be among those who say, “This talk of Jesus coming soon has been on for ages, when is it ever going to happen?” Such folks will be caught unawares when it eventually happens because they weren’t expecting Him. The Bible says only those who are expecting Him shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation. The events and happenings around the world today are clear indications that His appearing is imminent.
Don’t be caught “sleeping.” When the Apostle Paul in 1 Thessalonians 5:6 admonished us not to sleep, he wasn’t talking about physical sleep. He was talking about spiritual sleep, when you’re so deep into worldly things that you become unaware and oblivious of the spiritual realities around you. Jesus told us to watch and pray,_“…for in such an hour as ye think not, the Son of man cometh”_ (Matthew 24:44).
We’re on a crusade to reach at least 7 billion people with the Gospel and get them ready for the Rapture; be a part of it. We want our towns, villages, cities and the nations of the world to be emptied for the Rapture. This is our drive; we’re leaving no stone unturned in ensuring no one is left behind. Visit www.reachoutworld.org on how you can be a part of this global soul-winning crusade.
CONFESSION:
I’m effective and effectual, afire, passionate for the Lord and His work, as I earnestly anticipate the Lord’s soon return. I’m bearing fruits of righteousness, impacting my world with the Gospel of grace. I give direction, beauty, glory and health to the lives of men in my world, turning them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, in Jesus’
FURTHER STUDY:
Matthew 24:14
_14 And this good news of the kingdom (the Gospel) will be preached throughout the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then will come the end._
Romans 13:11-14
_11- Besides this you know what [a critical] hour this is, how it is high time now for you to wake up out of your sleep (rouse to reality). For salvation (final deliverance) is nearer to us now than when we first believed (adhered to, trusted in, and relied on Christ, the Messiah)._
_12- The night is far gone and the day is almost here. Let us then drop (fling away) the works and deeds of darkness and put on the [full] armor of light._
_13- Let us live and conduct ourselves honorably andbecomingly as in the [open light of] day, not in reveling (carousing) and drunkenness, not in immorality and debauchery (sensuality and licentiousness), not in quarreling and jealousy._
_14- But clothe yourself with the Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah), and make no provision for [indulging] the flesh [put a stop to thinking about the evil cravings of your physical nature] to [gratify its] desires (lusts)._
Mark 13:32-36
_32- But of that day or that hour not a [single] person knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father._
_33- Be on your guard [constantly alert], and watch and pray; for you do not know when the time will come._
_34- It is like a man [already] going on a journey; when he leaves home, he puts his servants in charge, each
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 08 SEPTEMBER 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: HE GUIDES US THROUGH THE WORD
KEY VERSE: _And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified (Acts 20:32)._
MESSAGE
Some people have made shipwreck of their faith because they believed certain dreams and revelations they claimed came from God. In the New Testament, God doesn’t lead us through dreams. He guides us through the Word and the Holy Spirit. We can always depend on the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us through our spirits and through the Word.
You might be quick to ask, “How about Acts 2:17? Doesn’t it indicate that God still leads through dreams?” No, He doesn’t. Dreams were for the sense-knowledge generation of men. Since the Holy Spirit came, you don’t find the apostles or anyone in the New Testament being ministered to in a dream. The Holy Spirit, nonetheless, does lead by visions and other revelations such as prophecy, the inward witness, and other gifts of the Spirit.
However, any vision, prophecy or revelation that doesn’t align with the Word is not from God. It brings to mind the story of a certain sick man who had been a Christian for many years and had a vision where someone walked into the room, wearing sandals and a white robe, and covered with a cloud. He recounted that as he looked from the person’s feet upwards to make out his face, the image suddenly spoke and said, “It’s not my will to heal you” and disappeared.
He immediately believed it was Jesus, because he said he “felt” the presence of God. From then on, he believed it wasn’t God’s will to heal him. What made him think it was Jesus who appeared to him? Was it because the person was in a white robe? Was it because the person was covered with a cloud?
Those aren’t enough reasons to assume it was Jesus. If, in a vision, you heard a voice that tells you something that’s inconsistent with the Scriptures, then it’s questionable. The question to ask is, does God want people well? Emphatically yes! Read 3 John 1:2. He’ll never come to you in a dream or vision to tell you anything contrary. He never contradicts Himself. Every revelation must be subjected to the Word of God! This is the reason you must study the Word and know it for yourself.
PRAYER:
Dear Father, thank you for the immeasurable blessing of your Word and the Holy Spirit who guides me in your perfect will always. Your Word is my light, and I’m blessed always to receive the accurate guidance I need to deal wisely, enjoying my blessed life of righteousness in Christ, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Hebrews 1:1-2
_1- In many separate revelations [each of which set forth a portion of the Truth] and in different ways God spoke of old to [our] forefathers in and by the prophets,_
_2- [But] in the last of these days He has spoken to us in [the person of a] Son, Whom He appointed Heir andlawful Owner of all things, also by and through Whom He created the worlds and the reaches of space and the ages of time [He made, produced, built, operated, and arranged them in order]._
Psalm 119:105
_105- Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path._
Isaiah 30:21
_21- And your ears will hear a word behind you, saying, This is the way; walk in it, when you turn to the right hand and when you turn to the left._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 2 Corinthians 7:2-16 & Proverbs 22-23
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 2 Thessalonians 2:1-10 & Jeremiah 26
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 07 SEPTEMBER 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: LOVE AND HUMILITY IN YOUR HEART
KEY VERSE: _But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble (James 4:6)._
MESSAGE
The Bible says God searches the heart; He discerns the thoughts and intents of your heart. He wants you to watch your heart always and rid it of anything that’s inconsistent with the divine nature in you. Always, He wants to see love and humility in your heart.
He doesn’t want you to look at or treat anyone with disdain. He wants you to be humble enough to believe in others; believe the Lord can use them as much as He can use you. Perhaps in your family, workplace or in your church, someone does something remarkable that’s being commended; don’t sneer in disdain. Genuinely celebrate others for their accomplishments.
Learn to sincerely bless the Lord, praise and worship Him when He does something remarkable in another person’s life. When it seems others are esteemed above you, it shouldn’t hurt you; be full of joy for them. Another person’s success doesn’t mean that you’re failing. Therefore, celebrate the success of others. When God sees such love and humility in your heart, He’ll promote you. He exalts the humble.
No matter what God does through us, He never wants us to be proud. Be proud of Him and what He’s made you. Be proud of His glory in your life, but never exalt yourself above someone else. Romans 12:3 says, “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.”
The 10th verse says,_“Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another.”_ The Bible says,_“By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life”_ (Proverbs 22:4). Hallelujah! Be that man or woman who’s known for being loving, gracious, excellent and humble.
CONFESSION:
I’m loving, gracious, excellent, humble and kind! I see and celebrate God’s beauty, glory and greatness in others. In all that I do, my motives are right and void of selfishness. I rejoice genuinely at the exploits and successes of others, and refuse to compare myself with anyone, knowing that I’m unique, and my life is for the glory of God! Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY:
Philippians 2:3
_3- Do nothing from factional motives [through contentiousness, strife, selfishness, or for unworthy ends] or prompted by conceit and empty arrogance. Instead, in the true spirit of humility (lowliness of mind) let each regard the others as better than and superior to himself [thinking more highly of one another than you do of yourselves]._
1 Peter 5:5-6
_5- Likewise, you who are younger and of lesser rank, be subject to the elders (the ministers and spiritual guides of the church)—[giving them due respect and yielding to their counsel]. Clothe (apron) yourselves, all of you, with humility [as the garb of a servant, so that its covering cannot possibly be stripped from you, with freedom from pride and arrogance] toward one another. For God sets Himself against the proud (the insolent, the overbearing, the disdainful, the presumptuous, the boastful)—[and He opposes, frustrates, and defeats them], but gives grace (favor, blessing) to the humble._
_6- Therefore humble yourselves [demote, lower yourselves in your own estimation] under the mighty hand of God, that in due time He may exalt you,_
2 Chronicles 12:12
_12- When Rehoboam humbled himself, the wrath of the Lord turned from him, so as not to destroy him entirely; also in Judah conditions were good._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 2 Corinthians 6:3-7:1 & Proverbs 20-21
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 2 Thessalonians 1:1-12 & Jeremiah 25
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY 06 SEPTEMBER 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: PARTAKERS OF THE INHERITANCE
KEY VERSE: _Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light (Colossians 1:12_
MESSAGE
How gracious and loving the Lord is! Think about what we just read in our opening verse: it’s not a promise but something He’s already done. He qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light.
Ephesians 1:11 says in Him we have obtained an inheritance. Part of that inheritance is described for us in Ephesians 3:8 (AMPC) as unsearchable riches:_“…to proclaim to the Gentiles the unending (boundless, fathomless, incalculable, and exhaustless) riches of Christ [wealth which no human being could have searched out].”_
The whole world belongs to Jesus Christ; He bought the whole field. The Bible says the earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof. Romans 8:17 says we’re joint-heirs with Him. Thus, part of your inheritance is the whole world. This is absolute truth from God’s Word. 1 Corinthians 3:21-22 says,_“…For all things are yours; Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world…all are yours.”_
Then, think about the fact that God brought you into fellowship with Himself and made you one with Himself; it explains it all. He gave you Himself! What could be greater than that? Now you’re a partaker of His glory, grace and righteousness, a partaker of His divine nature. This is huge!
It’s the reason you must be bold in your life and live without fear or sense of lack or want, because you’re the heir of the Monarch of the universe. This life of extraordinary blessings that He’s given you isn’t the result of your “good works” or personal deeds of righteousness; it’s His grace at work. He qualified you to inherit and walk in the fullness of the blessings of the Gospel. Study the Word to know more of your inheritance and wonderful blessings in Christ, and live in those blessings every day.
CONFESSION:
I thank you blessed Father for the extraordinary life of blessings you’ve given me in Christ; thank you for bringing me into fellowship with you, making me a partaker of your glory, grace and righteousness. I walk in prosperity, health and peace today, in the Name of Jesus. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Colossians 1:12-13 AMPC
_12- Giving thanks to the Father, Who has qualified and made us fit to share the portion which is the inheritance of the saints (God’s holy people) in the Light._
_13- [The Father] has delivered and drawn us to Himself out of the control and the dominion of darkness and has transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,_
Ephesians 1:11 AMPC
_11- In Him we also were made [God’s] heritage (portion) and we obtained an inheritance; for we had been foreordained (chosen and appointed beforehand) in accordance with His purpose, Who works out everything in agreement with the counsel and design of His [own] will,_
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 2 Corinthians 5:1-6:1-2 & Proverbs 18-19
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 1 Thessalonians 5:12-28 & Jeremiah 24
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 05 SEPTEMBER 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: TOO MUCH AT STAKE TO BE QUIET
KEY VERSE: _…But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay (Jeremiah 20:9)._
MESSAGE
For the Gospel to have gotten to us in our day, some people had to pay the ultimate price. Some ministers and saints of God sacrificed their lives for this message to get to us. There was a time in the not too distant past, when the possession of a Bible either put one in prison or got one killed. Those who printed Bibles did so in hiding.
Today, we have Bibles everywhere. On your phone, you could even have many translations. But this didn’t happen by chance; it’s the result of the faith, prayers, and labour of many before us. That’s why it’s important for us in our day to wake up. We should be inspired by the examples of those who fought to take the message to places where the Gospel wasn’t known.
If you were a driver for example, who regularly conveys passengers from one location to the other, this should inspire you to preach to your passengers. It makes no difference whether or not they’re happy to hear your message. Once they get into your vehicle, you’re in control, because you have them in that space for the rest of the journey. The most they can do if they don’t want to hear you is to request to alight from your vehicle.
Are you a CEO or do you hold an influential position in your organization? You can use your position of influence to preach the Gospel to your employees. Don’t let it bother you that some of them may want to leave because you preached to them. Remember, God gave you the business in the first place. You therefore have to boldly preach to them, not with the aim of forcing them, but to provide them a chance to hear and believe in Jesus Christ for salvation.
Think of what others went through fighting for the opportunities you now have all around you today. The time is short, and the return of the Master is at hand. Ensure you take advantage of every opportunity the Lord has given you to witness to others. Don’t hold back; get wild with the Gospel.
PRAYER:
Precious Father, I thank you for your Word that burns in my heart and propels me to preach the Gospel and spread your righteousness around the world. I refuse to be quiet, but take my place in the end-time army as a frontline soldier and a bearer of divine truths to my world. I stand firm in the faith, impacting lives and causing your righteousness and glory to be established around me, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
1 Corinthians 9:16
_16- For if I [merely] preach the Gospel, that gives me no reason to boast, for I feel compelled of necessity to do it. Woe is me if I do not preach the glad tidings (the Gospel)!_
Luke 4:43
_43- But He said to them, I must preach the good news (the Gospel) of the kingdom of God to the other cities [and towns] also, for I was sent for this [purpose]._
2 Timothy 4:2
_2- Herald and preach the Word! Keep your sense of urgency [stand by, be at hand and ready], whether the opportunity seems to be favorable or unfavorable. [Whether it is convenient or inconvenient, whether it is welcome or unwelcome, you as preacher of the Word are to show people in what way their lives are wrong.] And convince them, rebuking and correcting, warning andurging and encouraging them, being unflagging andinexhaustible in patience and teaching._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 2 Corinthians 3:7-4:1-18 & Proverbs 16-17
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 & Jeremiah 23
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SUNDAY 04 SEPTEMBER 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: POWER OVER SICKNESS
KEY VERSE: _And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover (Mark 16:17-18)._
MESSAGE
Our theme scripture outlines some of the signs of our divinity. One of them is our dominion and power over sickness, disease and infirmities. Not only do we have power to cast out devils, we have power to heal sicknesses and cure diseases. Jesus made us healers. He said in Matthew 10:8,_“Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.” Notice He didn’t say, “Pray to me to heal the sick.”_
He said in Luke 10:19,_“Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”_ He made us superior to Satan, who is majorly responsible for most of the sicknesses that people suffer with. Why then are there Christians who are still buffeted by sickness, disease and Satan, in spite of these realities?
Psalm 82:5-7 gives us the answer. It says,_“They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness…I have said, ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High. But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes.”_ Many are ignorant of God’s Word and as a result, they’re not aware that they have power over sickness and disease; they’re not conscious that they have the divine life.
Jesus said in John 10:34:_“…Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?”_ Peter calls us “Partakers of the divine nature” (2 Peter 1:4). Paul says, “We’re more than conquerors” (Romans 8:37). Sickness, really, can’t and shouldn’t thrive in your body, because Christ is the life of your physical body. The Holy Spirit in you already gave life to, and vitalized, your physical body (Romans 8:11). Believe and act on these truths today. Hallelujah!
PRAYER:
Dear Father, you’re gracious and kind; you’re righteous, holy, just and true. Thank you for your life in me that makes me more than a conqueror; I live above sickness and disease. My life is excellent and full of glory. I walk in, and manifest, the dominion of Christ today, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Luke 9:2
_2- And He sent them out to announce and preach the kingdom of God and to bring healing._
Luke 10:8-9
_8- Whenever you go into a town and they receive and accept and welcome you, eat what is set before you; 9 And heal the sick in it and say to them, The kingdom of God has come close to you._
Matthew 10:1
_1- And Jesus summoned to Him His twelve disciples and gave them power and authority over unclean spirits, to drive them out, and to cure all kinds of disease and all kinds of weakness and infirmity._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 2 Corinthians 2:5-3:1-6 & Proverbs 14-15
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 1 Thessalonians 4:9-18 & Jeremiah 22
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY 03 SEPTEMBER 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: STAKE YOUR LIFE ON THE WORD
KEY VERSE: _In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God (John 1:1)._
MESSAGE
Words are powerful, but the Word of God is all- powerful. The Word made all things. The Word of God is God. God manifests Himself in and through the Word. The Word of God is life. The Word of God is light. The Word of God is truth.
The Word lives and abides forever (1 Peter 1:23). Hebrews 4:12 says,_“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword….”_ The thirteenth verse says,_“Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.”_
These attributes of the Word are the attributes of Deity. So, when you stake your life on the Word, you’re staking your life on God. And He never fails. The Scriptures describe the infallibility and immutability of God’s Word:_“Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us”_ (Hebrews 6:17-18).
Can you see why you should always stay your mind on the Word of God? The Bible says He keeps in perfect peace—peace of prosperity—the one whose mind is stayed on Him (Isaiah 26:3). You stay your mind on Him through meditation.
Give the Word time and attention. Place a premium on the Word. Consciously affirm the Word, irrespective of the challenges you face, and the Spirit will alter things in your favour. Blessed be God!
CONFESSION:
Blessed Father, I thank you for the power of your Word in my life. Your Word is everything to me; as I meditate on the Word today, not only do I receive direction, it also produces life, light, health, wealth, prosperity, progress, advancement, and great blessings and glory in my life. I live triumphantly today, because I live by faith in your eternal Word, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
John 1:1 & 14
_1- In the beginning [before all time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself._
_14- And the Word (Christ) became flesh (human, incarnate) and tabernacled (fixed His tent of flesh, lived awhile) among us; and we [actually] saw His glory (His honor, His majesty), such glory as an only begotten son receives from his father, full of grace (favor, loving-kindness) and truth._
Acts 20:32
_32- And now [brethren], I commit you to God [I deposit you in His charge, entrusting you to His protection and care]. And I commend you to the Word of His grace [to the commands and counsels and promises of His unmerited favor]. It is able to build you up and to give you [your rightful] inheritance among all God’s set-apart ones (those consecrated, purified, and transformed of soul)._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 2 Corinthians 1-2:1-4 & Proverbs 12-13
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8 & Jeremiah 21
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY 02 SEPTEMBER 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: JESUS CHRIST - THE SAVIOR
KEY VERSE: _For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord (Luke 2:11)._
MESSAGE
Jesus Christ is the Saviour of the world. This is one of the tenets of our faith upon which all of the Gospel rests. That’s why the verse above is very important. In Matthew 1:21, the Bible says,_“And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.”_
Jesus Christ is the only One who could save man to the uttermost and make the divine life available and possible for all men to receive. He saved the world by giving His own self as a sacrifice. He paid the full penalty for the sins of all men and took our place of condemnation.
The Bible says_“…God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them”_ (2 Corinthians 5:19 NIV). 2 Corinthians 8:9 says,_“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.”_ His vicarious death was for our sake. 2 Corinthians 5:21 says,_“For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”_
When He was crucified, He became us on the Cross. God had said,_“The soul that sinneth, it shall die (spiritual death)…”_ (Ezekiel 18:20). Romans 5:12 says, “Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned.” Spiritual death is separation from God. Jesus took our place and experienced that separation from the Father when He hung on the Cross.
But thanks be unto God! Man’s salvation was consummated when Jesus Christ—the Lamb of God—was offered to take away the sins of the world (John 1:29). 1 John 4:14 says,_“And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.”_ Hallelujah!
CONFESSION:
To live without Christ is to live without God, in damnation. Therefore, I pray, that as God’s people proclaim the Gospel around the world today, the heavens will rain down righteousness, and salvation will spring up everywhere. Men’s hearts are open to the glorious Gospel of Christ which makes sinners righteous and catapults them to a life of glory and truth, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Acts 4:12
_12- And there is salvation in and through no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by and in which we must be saved_
John 1:29
_29- The next day John saw Jesus coming to him and said, Look! There is the Lamb of God, Who takes away the sin of the world!_
John 14:6
_6- Jesus said to him, I am the Way and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except by (through) Me._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 1 Corinthians 16:1-24 & Proverbs 10-11
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 1 Thessalonians 3:1-13 & Jeremiah 19-20
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 01 SEPTEMBER 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: SPEAK LIFE
KEY VERSE: _Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof (Proverbs 18:21)._
MESSAGE
Many years ago, a gentleman came into one of our meetings with his weak and deathly-ill wife. When he noticed that I had ministered to several people and was getting ready to round off the meeting, he tried to get my attention. Crying profusely, he dropped his wife, who lay helplessly on the platform!
The ushers tried to get him organized, but he wouldn’t stop; he was in tears. When I heard him and turned in his direction, I asked, “What’s the matter?” He said, “My wife is dying.” But I needed to get his attention. Sternly, I said to him, “You’re saying the wrong things. If you say she’s dying, that’s what you’re going to get!” Then, I asked him, “What exactly do you want? Do you want her to live or die?” I was tough on him, even though he was desperate.
Then, he said, “I want her to live.” I instructed that he put his hand on her, call her name and tell her to live and not die! When he called her name and said those words, something happened. Just a few seconds afterwards, the woman who had been so weak and sickly, unable to stand by herself, jumped up excitedly; her body had received strength! They had a miracle. Hallelujah!
But you see, she could have died. Someone had to teach her husband what to do and what to say. He had to say the right thing because death and life are in the power of the tongue. When sickness attacks your body, that’s death attacking your body; you have to wake up to it and say, “No; in the Name of Jesus, I refuse to be sick!” You have to speak life to your body, for the Gospel we have received is a gospel of life; life has come to us. Hallelujah!
If, for example, a Christian is diagnosed with a heart condition, by words, that heart can be mended or he or she can even have a new heart. It’s about what you say. Words are so important in the Kingdom of God. By your words you can consistently chart your course in victory and success; you can recreate the circumstances of your life and walk in health perpetually. Hallelujah!
CONFESSION:
Dear Father, I thank you for the glory and transformation I experience in my life as a result of your Word that dwells richly in my heart and proceeds out of my mouth. I walk in health, divine wisdom, and in the joy and peace of the Spirit today, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Mark 11:23
_23- Truly I tell you, whoever says to this mountain, Be lifted up and thrown into the sea! and does not doubt at all in his heart but believes that what he says will take place, it will be done for him._
Proverbs 15:4
_4- A gentle tongue [with its healing power] is a tree of life, but willful contrariness in it breaks down the spirit._
1 Peter 3:10
_10- For let him who wants to enjoy life and see good days [good—whether apparent or not] keep his tongue free from evil and his lips from guile (treachery, deceit)._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 1 Corinthians 15:35-58; Proverbs 8-9
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 1 Thessalonians 2:10-20; Jeremiah 18
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 31 AUGUST 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THANKSGIVING, PRAISE AND WORSHIP
KEY VERSE: _And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders…Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing (Revelation 5:11-12)._
MESSAGE
When the Bible talks about blessing the Lord, how do you bless the Lord? In Matthew 26:26, the Bible says, “And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it….” How did Jesus bless the bread? The Apostle Paul, by the Spirit, explained it in 1 Corinthians 11:23-24 when he said, “For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: And when he had given thanks (Greek: eucharisteo)̄ , he brake it….”
Matthew said Jesus took bread and blessed it; then Paul gets the revelation and tells us exactly how Jesus did it: it was by giving thanks! In essence, when we say, “Let’s bless the Lord,” it means to give Him thanks; you’re thanking Him for who He is, for what He’s done in your life and for all His mighty works.
This is what we do in worship. The Bible says, “By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name” (Hebrews 13:15). Praise is giving thanks. In Revelation 11:16-17, we observe an offering of true worship; it says, “And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.” Hallelujah!
Live each day in an attitude of worship, an attitude of thanksgiving. This is the way to stay happy all the time, because you know that no matter the challenge you face, greater is He that’s in you than He that’s in the world. You always win. Praise God forevermore!
CONFESSION:
Dear Father, I thank you, in the Name of Jesus! I live each day in an attitude of worship, an attitude of thanksgiving, because I know that no matter the situation, you’ve already given me the victory. I thank you for who you are, for what you’ve done in my life, and for all your mighty works! Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY:
1 Corinthians 14:16-17
_16- Otherwise, if you bless and render thanks with [your] spirit [thoroughly aroused by the Holy Spirit], how can anyone in the position of an outsider or he who is not gifted with [interpreting of unknown] tongues, say the Amen to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying?_
_17- To be sure, you may give thanks well (nobly), but the bystander is not edified [it does him no good]._
Hebrews 13:15 AMPC
_15- Through Him, therefore, let us constantly and at all times offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of lips that thankfully acknowledge and confess andglorify His name._
Colossians 3:17
_17- And whatever you do [no matter what it is] in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus and in [dependence upon] His Person, giving praise to God the Father through Him._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 1 Corinthians 15:1-34 & Proverbs 5-7
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 1 Thessalonians 2:1-9 & Jeremiah 17
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY 30 AUGUST 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: SOUL WINNING IS "WAR"
KEY VERSE: _For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places (Ephesians 6:12)._
MESSAGE
Through the preaching of the Gospel, we deliver people from Satan’s dominion unto God. It’s warfare. So, you must be prepared. And thank God it’s a war in which we’re victorious. Christians who aren’t prepared easily get discouraged or even knocked out, because they didn’t realize that soul winning is war. You can’t win souls without warring in intercession. If you’re going to lead many to Christ, evangelizing your world in a remarkable way, you’d have to labour in intercession.
That was the kind of foundation God gave several of us many years ago, while we were still very young. All we knew was prayer, night and day, interceding for the souls of men and the nations of the World. The Bible says Satan, the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those that don’t believe so their hearts won’t receive the light of the Gospel (2 Corinthians 4:4).
It reveals the spirituality of this warfare. We have an adversary—Satan. The Bible says,_“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour. Whom resist stedfast in the faith…”_ (1 Peter 5:8-9).
The devil is all out to oppose the Gospel and God’s children. But in prayer, you effectively destroy Satan’s stronghold in men’s hearts and his stratagems and machinations against you and your work as a preacher of righteousness. So, pray always in the spirit for those you’re planning to reach with the Gospel.
Prayer:
Dear Father, I thank you for the authority in the Name of Jesus! I pray even now for those in my estate, neighbourhood, city and nation who have not yet known the Lord, that the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ will shine in their hearts today. I declare that every resistance to the Gospel is broken, and their hearts are receptive to the message for their salvation, and Satan’s bondage and deception is destroyed, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Ephesians 6:10-12
_10- In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [be empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from Him [that strength which His boundless might provides]._
_11- Put on God’s whole armor [the armor of a heavy-armed soldier which God supplies], that you may be able successfully to stand up against [all] the strategies andthe deceits of the devil._
_12- For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere._
2 Corinthians 10:3-5
_3- For though we walk (live) in the flesh, we are not carrying on our warfare according to the flesh and using mere human weapons._
_4- For the weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood], but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds,_
_5- [Inasmuch as we] refute arguments and theories andreasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One),_
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 1 Corinthians 14 & Proverbs 3-4
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 & Jeremiah 16
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 29 AUGUST 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: WE'RE ON THE WINNING SIDE
KEY VERSE: _Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field (Matthew 13:44)._
MESSAGE
The whole world belongs to Jesus. He bought the whole field. The 38 verse of the same chapter lets us know that the field is the world:_“The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one.”_ He rules the world!
His dominion and rulership over the world is absolute. He’s _“…in charge of running the universe, everything from galaxies to governments, no name and no power exempt from his rule. And not just for the time being, but forever”_ (Ephesians 1:21 MSG).
The Bible says,_“The earth is the LORD’S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein”_ (Psalm 24:1). Hallelujah! This means the whole world belongs to us, because we’re heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ:_“And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ…”_ (Romans 8:17). It’s the reason we can tame this world and keep it under our dominion, in line with God’s purpose. It’s the reason we can completely forbid Satan and his cronies of darkness from wreaking havoc upon the nations.
To have the Antichrist’s policies in the nations of the world while we (the Church of Jesus Christ) are still here isn’t going to happen. We’re the restraining force against Satan and his antichrist activities, and we’re very much in office. We’ve taken our place. The Antichrist can only be in charge after the Rapture of the Church. As long as we’re here, he’s liquidated!
The Antichrist is going to function with Satan’s power:_“And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon (the devil) gave him (the antichrist) his power, and his seat, and great authority”_ (Revelation 13:2). But blessed be God! We already have authority over Satan; therefore, it makes no difference what power Satan is going to give to the Antichrist; it’s nothing compared to our dominion and authority in Christ. Hallelujah! Maintain your focus on the Word of God; let nothing move you. You’re on the winning side.
CONFESSION:
The Lord Jesus occupies the most exalted position there is; He’s seated at the right hand of the Father, far above all principality and power, might, dominion, and every name that is named, and I’m in Him! I’m seated with Him in glory, with dominion over Satan and the princes of darkness. Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY:
Psalm 149:5-9
_5- Let the saints be joyful in the glory and beauty [which God confers upon them]; let them sing for joy upon their beds._
_6- Let the high praises of God be in their throats and a two-edged sword in their hands,_
_7- To wreak vengeance upon the nations and chastisement upon the peoples,_
_8- To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron,_
_9- To execute upon them the judgment written. He [the Lord] is the honor of all His saints. Praise the Lord! (Hallelujah!)_
Luke 10:19
_19- Behold! I have given you authority and power to trample upon serpents and scorpions, and [physical and mental strength and ability] over all the power that the enemy [possesses]; and nothing shall in any way harm you._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 1 Corinthians 13 & Proverbs 1-2
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Colossians 4:10-18 & Jeremiah 15
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SUNDAY 28 AUGUST 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: CREATIVE AND INNOVATIVE
KEY VERSE: _For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them (Ephesians 2:10)._
MESSAGE
As a child of God, you have a calling to lead and blaze new trails in music and arts, agriculture, education, organization, administration, products and services, etc. Yes, that’s God’s plan. And one of the beautiful and amazing benefits of having the Holy Spirit in your life is that He makes you creative and innovative. He opens your eyes to see what others don’t see and your ears to hear what others don’t hear. He anoints your eyes to see the right things, and your mind to understand and conceive lofty ideas.
That’s the kind of man David was. The power of God came on him when Samuel the prophet anointed him to become king of Israel, and he turned out to be a marvel in his day. When he faced Goliath of Gath, he came into the battlefront with something new; he came with an innovation.
David’s weapons weren’t sophisticated; they were simple, but markedly different from what was expected. The sling he used wasn’t new to the Jews. In fact, as you read the Bible, you’ll find others who could use those weapons better than David. But none of them thought that a sling and some smooth stones would be enough to defeat Goliath. Only David thought it would, through God.
That’s innovation; thinking differently; thinking through God’s ability. That’s what God expects from you. Our theme verse says you were “…created in Christ Jesus unto good works….” Hallelujah! We were created to be ingenious, to think new, and to think fresh. What God tells you to do may not be as sophisticated as the tools and strategies others are deploying, but rest assured that it will win. He’s the extraordinary strategist.
He can guide you to come up with something new from something old, from an existing idea. Take advantage of the person, power and ministry of the Holy Spirit in your life. He’s your advantage. He causes you to see, think, say and do things at a superior and supernatural level. His ideas are unbeatable and the best; they win all the time. Hallelujah!
CONFESSION:
The Holy Spirit has brought the glory of God into my life, giving me guidance and direction; He makes me creative and innovative. He’s filled me with supernatural ability to do things beyond the ordinary; I see value where others don’t; I bring new things into this world. I have insight into mysteries and secrets through the Holy Spirit. Glory to God!
FURTHER STUDY:
Exodus 30:1-5
_1- And you shall make an altar to burn incense upon; of acacia wood you shall make it._
_2- A cubit shall be its length and a cubit its breadth; its top shall be square and it shall be two cubits high. Its horns shall be of one piece with it._
_3- And you shall overlay it with pure gold, its top and its sides round about and its horns, and you shall make a crown (a rim or molding) of gold around it._
_4- You shall make two golden rings under the rim of it, on the two ribs on the two opposite sides of it; and they shall be holders for the poles with which to carry it._
_5- And you shall make the poles of acacia wood, overlaid with gold._
Isaiah 43:19
_19- Behold, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs forth; do you not perceive and know it and will you not give heed to it? I will even make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert._
Genesis 1:1-3
_1- In the beginning God (prepared, formed, fashioned, and) created the heavens and the earth._
_2- The earth was without form and an empty waste, and darkness was upon the face of the very great deep. The Spirit of God was moving (hovering, brooding) over the face of the waters._
_3- And God said, Let there be light; and there was light._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 1 Corinthians 12 & Psalms 146-150
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Colossians 4:1-9 & Jer
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY 27 AUGUST 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: INUNDATE YOURSELF WITH THE WORD
KEY VERSE: _Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him (Proverbs 22:15)._
MESSAGE
There’re people who often don’t behave wisely, even though they’re born again. The reason for this isn’t farfetched; the Bible says the one who isn’t disciplined by a wise and understanding person will grow up to be foolish. God’s Word is the cure for foolishness, because the Word of God is the wisdom of God.
No wonder Paul admonished Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:15 to give uninhibited attention to the Scriptures, God’s Word because of the Word’s power and capacity to make one wise: “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.” That’s why the preaching and the teaching of the Word are so important.
Don’t ever let the Word become too common to you. Never be casual with your study times and meditation on God’s Word. The Word is what God uses to mould your personality, form your character, create your habits, and chart your course in life in order for you to arrive at your divine destiny.
God’s Word—imbibing it— is more important than the air you breathe. If you stop taking in the Word, you’ll find yourself walking at cross-purposes with God. If you ever want your life to be balanced, full of excellence, grace and glory, the Word of God is the key.
Job said,_“I have cherished your Word more than my necessary food”_ (Job 23:12). Just as food is necessary for your body’s physical growth and development, your human spirit must feed on the Word. Colossians 3:16 says,_“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly….”_ Inundate your entire being with the Word. Think through the Word; train yourself to reason only by the Word, and not only will you please God, your life will be full of His glory.
CONFESSION:
I’m Spirit-ruled and Word-governed. I see through the Word, understand by the Word, and renew my mind with the Word. I’m cultured by the Word for the life of the Kingdom. The Word of God controls my values, ideas, opinions, choices and decisions. Praise God!
FURTHER STUDY:
Joshua 1:8 AMPC
_8- This Book of the Law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe and do according to all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall deal wisely and have good success._
Acts 20:32
_32- And now [brethren], I commit you to God [I deposit you in His charge, entrusting you to His protection and care]. And I commend you to the Word of His grace [to the commands and counsels and promises of His unmerited favor]. It is able to build you up and to give you [your rightful] inheritance among all God’s set-apart ones (those consecrated, purified, and transformed of soul)._
1 Timothy 4:15
_15- Practice and cultivate and meditate upon these duties; throw yourself wholly into them [as your ministry], so that your progress may be evident to everybody._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 1 Corinthians 11:2-34 & Psalms 142-145
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Colossians 3:12-25 & Jeremiah 13
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY 26 AUGUST 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THE MARRIAGE SUPPER OF THE LAMB
KEY VERSE: _And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God (Revelation 19:9)._
MESSAGE
As I contemplate the second coming of the Lord, my heart is filled with so much joy. But you know, about seven years before this second coming, the Rapture will take place (1 Thessalonians 4:17), and we’ll go to heaven for the marriage supper of the Lamb. It’s going to be big!
The Bible says,_“And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth”_ (Revelation 19:6). Glory to God! That’s the number one reason for the Rapture. We’ll get out of this world and assemble in Heaven for a great party. Blessed be God! Are you getting ready for the party?
The Bible says,_“And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God”_ (Revelation 19:1). You’ve got to make up your mind you wouldn’t miss this. There hasn’t been, and could never be, any royal party or event organized by the monarchs or presidents of this world that could compare to the grand party God almighty is throwing for us in Heaven.
And guess what? The invitation is open to all; all you need is to have been born again. Those of us going in the Rapture are just one of the arrivals, because all those Jesus took with Him when He resurrected are already there waiting. Don’t miss it. Everyone left behind will be full of regrets. The latter part of our theme verse says, “…These are the true sayings of God.”
That day is nearer than many can imagine. This is why we’re going all out, reaching the entire world with the Gospel through Rhapsody of Realities, to prepare many for that glorious day of the Rapture. Our aim is to reach 7 billion people across all ages in all 7,139 languages of the world. You can be a part of this by visiting www.reachoutworld.org to join us in reaching billions with the Gospel.
PRAYER:
Dear Lord, thank you for the privilege to be a custodian of this Gospel and to participate in the ministry of reconciliation. Thank you for the reassurance that my work and labour of love isn’t in vain. My commitment to, and passion for, the spread of the Gospel of the Kingdom remains unabated, as I earnestly look forward to that day of reward, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Revelation 19:6-7
_6- Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: “Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns._
_7- Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready._
Colossians 3:23-24
_23- Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,_
_24- since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving._
Malachi 3:16
_16- Then those who feared the Lord talked with each other, and the Lord listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the Lord and honored his name._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 1 Corinthians 10:14-11:1 & Psalms 139-141
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Colossians 3:1-11 & Jeremiah 12
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 25 AUGUST 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: PLEASE GOD WITH YOUR LIFE
KEY VERSE: _And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah: And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters (Genesis 5:21-22)._
MESSAGE
What we read in our theme scripture tells you the kind of man Enoch was; he was a prophet of God. He was the prophet of God who saw the vision of the Lord’s coming with ten thousands of His saints:_“And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him”_ (Jude 1:14-15). Hebrews 11:5 says,_“By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.”_
Enoch was caught up to heaven alive and never died. The Bible says that before his translation into heaven, he had the testimony that he pleased God. How do you please God? The way to please God is walking by faith, for the Bible says,_“Without faith, it’s impossible to please God”_ (Hebrews 11:6). You can tell today whether or not you’re pleasing the Lord; the question you need to answer is, “Are you walking by faith or by sensory perceptions?”
Faith is acting on the Word; it’s doing God’s Word. Enoch knew he pleased God because he was a doer of the Word. James 1:22 says, “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” It’s akin to what Jesus said in John 14:15:_“If ye love me, keep my commandments.”_ The way to show you love God is doing His Word, and faith works by love.
Learn to walk in the light of God’s Word. In Colossians 1:10 NIV, Paul by the Spirit, prayed,_“… that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God.”_ This is fulfilled in your life as you live every day by faith, for the just shall live by faith (Romans 1:17, 2 Corinthians 5:7, Galatians 3:11). Hallelujah!
CONFESSION:
Dear heavenly Father, I thank you for you’re working in me, to will and to do of your good pleasure. My life is a reflection of Christ; Christ in me is the manifestation of your glory in every area of my life. Thank you, Lord, for the privilege to walk with and in Christ, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Colossians 1:9-10
_9- For this reason we also, from the day we heard of it, have not ceased to pray and make [special] request for you, [asking] that you may be filled with the full (deep and clear) knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom [in comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God] and in understanding and discernment of spiritual things_
_10- That you may walk (live and conduct yourselves) in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him and desiring to please Him in all things, bearing fruit in every good work and steadily growing and increasing in and by the knowledge of God [with fuller, deeper, and clearer insight, acquaintance, and recognition]._
Philippians 2:13
_13- [Not in your own strength] for it is God Who is all the while effectually at work in you [energizing and creating in you the power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 & Psalms 135-138
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Colossians 2:16-23 & Jeremiah 10-11
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 24 AUGUST 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: STAND STRONG IN FAITH
KEY VERSE: _For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds (2 Corinthians 10:4)._
MESSAGE
As a Christian, you ought to look at things from the spiritual perspective, especially when you encounter circumstances that pose some serious challenges to your faith. Are you in a health situation, and you’ve done everything you know and the prognosis is still dim? Or in your finances you’ve applied all the strategies you know, but your situation seems to be worsening, and you’re wondering what next to do?
At such times, stand strong in faith. You have to realize that there’s an adversary who is all out to oppose the Gospel and try to hinder your effectiveness in the things of God. Ephesians 6:10-11 says,_“…be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”_ The wiles of the devil refer to the strategies of the devil. The Apostle Paul, here, wants you to know that there’s an enemy that is lying in wait, strategizing against you and the Church.
But to counter this enemy, he tells you to put on the whole armour of God, why? Because he knows that if you don’t put on the whole armour of God, you can’t face the adversary. The twelfth verse of the same chapter goes on to say,_“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places”_ (Ephesians 6:12).
Something about this “wrestling” that you need to realize is that it’s not just a fight as in physical combat; rather, it’s the adversary trying to sway you from the right path through deception. But with the Word in your mouth and heart, you prevail always against the enemy. James 4:7 says,_“…Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”_
Revelation 12:11 shows how to resist him. It says,_“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.”_ No matter what the enemy throws at you, stand strong in faith and use the all- powerful Name of Jesus to neutralize him. Hallelujah!
PRAYER:
Dear Heavenly Father, I give you thanks for the opportunity to be blessed by your precious Word today. I’m not ignorant of Satan’s devices and refuse to fall prey to them. I declare that Satan and all his cohorts of hell are under my feet, in Jesus’ mighty Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Hebrews 10:35-39
_35- Do not, therefore, fling away your fearless confidence, for it carries a great and glorious compensation of reward._
_36- For you have need of steadfast patience and endurance, so that you may perform and fully accomplish the will of God, and thus receive and carry away [and enjoy to the full] what is promised._
_37- For still a little while (a very little while), and the Coming One will come and He will not delay._
_38- But the just shall live by faith [My righteous servant shall live by his conviction respecting man’s relationship to God and divine things, and holy fervor born of faith and conjoined with it]; and if he draws back and shrinks in fear, My soul has no delight or pleasure in him._
_39- But our way is not that of those who draw back to eternal misery (perdition) and are utterly destroyed, but we are of those who believe [who cleave to and trust in and rely on God through Jesus Christ, the Messiah] and by faith preserve the soul._
1 John 5:4
_4- For whatever is born of God is victorious over the world; and this is the victory that conquers the world, even our faith._
1 Corinthians 15:58
_58- Therefore, my beloved brethren, be firm (steadfast), immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord [always being superior, excelling, doing more than enough in the service of the Lord], knowing and bein
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY 23 AUGUST 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: CHRIST: YOUR CONFESSIONS RULE YOUR LIFE
KEY VERSE: _I will say of the Lord, He is my Refuge and my Fortress, my God; on Him I lean and rely, and in Him I [confidently] trust! (Psalm 91:2 AMPC)._
MESSAGE
Oftentimes, we think about certain things that happened to some very “good” people, and say, “If that could happen to so-and-so, what about me? That fellow was better than I am!” Well, it’s got nothing to do with who’s better than who. It’s got to do with your personal walk with the Lord and your faith in His Word. It’s about your faith confessions. Bad things can happen to good people.
Ponder again on the anointed words of the Psalmist that we read in our opening scripture. It was David’s confession and it’s got to become your confession as well. Every so often, you say, “The Lord is my Refuge and my Fortress; He’s my God; on Him, I lean and rely, and in Him I confidently trust!”
Learn the power and value of thinking right and speaking right. If your thinking is wrong, it’ll reflect in your words. And if your words are wrong, things will go wrong in your life. Your confessions regulate your life. The Bible says,_“Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth”_ (Proverbs 6:2).
No wonder Psalms 39:1 admonishes that you guard what you say and speak only what’s right:_“…I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle….”_ James 3:2 says,_“For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.”_
Proverbs 15:4 says,_“A wholesome tongue is a tree of life…”_; a wholesome tongue is one that speaks in line with the provisions of Christ in His Gospel. Do you want to live the awesome, transcendent life of ever-increasing glory that God has destined for you? The key is your confessions:_“For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile”_ (1 Peter 3:10). Refraining your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking guile means that you only speak in conformity with the Word of God.
CONFESSION:
The LORD is the strength of my life! Even if I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, because He’s with me. His rod and His staff comfort me. He takes hold of my right hand and says to me, “Fear not; I’m here to help you.” Therefore, I’m strong in Him and in the power of His might! Glory to God!
FURTHER STUDY:
Mark 11:23
_23- Truly I tell you, whoever says to this mountain, Be lifted up and thrown into the sea! and does not doubt at all in his heart but believes that what he says will take place, it will be done for him._
Proverbs 18:21
_21- Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they who indulge in it shall eat the fruit of it [for death or life]._
1 Corinthians 2:12-13
_12- Now we have not received the spirit [that belongs to] the world, but the [Holy] Spirit Who is from God, [given to us] that we might realize and comprehend and appreciate the gifts [of divine favor and blessing so freely and lavishly] bestowed on us by God._
_13- And we are setting these truths forth in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the [Holy] Spirit, combining and interpreting spiritual truths with spiritual language [to those who possess the Holy Spirit]._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 1 Corinthians 8 & Psalms 120-127
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Colossians 2:1-7 & Jeremiah 8
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 22 AUGUST 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: CHRIST: A PLACE LIKE NO OTHER
KEY VERSE: _Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new (2 Corinthians 5:17)._
MESSAGE
One day, some of the disciples of John the Baptist came to the Lord Jesus; they observed that Jesus had a house in the first place, because they had been following John the Baptist through the wilderness. They stayed with Jesus through the day, asking questions about the Kingdom of God; and Jesus answered their questions.
When it was night-time, they didn’t want to go back to John, and the Bible records that they stayed with Jesus from then on and never went back to John. They found what their soul had been longing for; their search ended; they had come home!
Yes, in Christ, you’re at home. Christ is a Person; Christ is also a place—a place like no other. In Him, you’re at peace. In Him, you’re fulfilled. In Him, you’ve arrived. Christ! What a place! When those disciples got to Him, they found the place where love abides, the place where love reigns and rules, a place where only grace and righteousness abounds.
The disciples of John were enraptured in love when they came to Jesus, just as we are today. As they listened to Him, their search ended. When you come to Him, you’re home; your struggles end. If you haven’t received Christ, receive Him now; come into Christ now by praying the prayer of salvation on page 76, at the back of this devotional.
PRAYER:
Dear Father, I thank you for the indwelling of Christ who’s in me by the Holy Spirit. Christ is my resting place, home, health, wealth and glory. Because Christ lives in me and I live in Him, I’m victorious in all things. I make tremendous progress and move forward with giant strides by the Holy Ghost, and with every little effort I make, I have abundant and outstanding results, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
John 1:12-13
_12- But to as many as did receive and welcome Him, He gave the authority (power, privilege, right) to become the children of God, that is, to those who believe in (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) His name_
_13- Who owe their birth neither to bloods nor to the will of the flesh [that of physical impulse] nor to the will of man [that of a natural father], but to God. [They are born of God!]_
Colossians 1:26-27
_26- The mystery of which was hidden for ages and generations [from angels and men], but is now revealed to His holy people (the saints),_
_27- To whom God was pleased to make known how great for the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ within and among you, the Hope of [realizing the] glory._
Matthew 11:28-29
_28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.]_
_29 Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and [e]recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 1 Corinthians 7 & Psalms 119:113-176
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Colossians 1:19-29 & Jeremiah 7
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 18 AUGUST 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: JOIN THIS BANDWAGON
KEY VERSE: _So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed (Acts 19:20)._
MESSAGE
The Bible tells us that Jesus ministered to multitudes when He walked the streets of Israel. On one occasion, He preached to a crowd on the shore of Lake Galilee and the Bible specifically records that a vast multitude of people pushed to get close to Him to hear the Word of God (Luke 5:1).
Jesus preached that the Kingdom of heaven had come and that they should repent from their sins and get into the Kingdom that He had come to set up (Mark 1:14-15). But instead of believing in Him and getting into His Kingdom, they rejected Him. He was crucified; albeit, it all fulfilled the plan and purpose of God.
Then came the apostles; they too went forth preaching that the Kingdom, which Jesus had come to set up, is real, and that Jesus is God’s Son, and that even though they crucified Him, God raised Him from the dead (Acts 2:22-24). They preached that Jesus is alive and that He’s been appointed by God to be the judge of the living and the dead (Acts 10:42). Hallelujah!
The first day that Peter would preach this message, having been filled with the Holy Spirit, the Bible says it was to a large crowd, and three thousand of them gave their hearts to Christ (Acts 2:41). The next time he preached, five thousand people gave their hearts to Christ (Acts 4:4). Afterwards, it became a multitude that believed (Acts 6:2). From a multitude, it became “…a great multitude…” (Acts 14:1). Hallelujah!
It hasn’t changed in our day. We’re witnessing the greatest move of the Spirit in these last days. There’s been such unprecedented harvest of souls into the Kingdom, beyond what we’ve ever seen. The Word of God is growing mightily in the nations of the world and prevailing.
This devotional is one of the tools for reaching the whole world in an accountable way. It’s what God wants us to do and His grace is mighty upon us. Join the bandwagon of soul winners. You can sign up now at www.reachoutworld.org, if you haven’t done so already, and find out how you too can reach your estate, neighbourhood or community, where you live or do business, and the regions beyond.
PRAYER:
Dear Father, you’ve sent us ahead of the coming of Christ to give the knowledge of salvation unto ALL people. I’m committed to preaching the Gospel today, taking your Word to the ends of the earth, teaching all nations the way of righteousness. You’ve given us the ticket to the whole world, and we’re impacting the nations with your truth, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Matthew 24:14
_14- And this good news of the kingdom (the Gospel) will be preached throughout the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then will come the end._
Matthew 28:19-20
_19- Go then and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,_
_20- Teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you, and behold, I am with you all the days (perpetually, uniformly, and on every occasion), to the [very] close and consummation of the age. Amen (so let it be)._
Daniel 12:3
_3- And the teachers and those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness (to uprightness and right standing with God) [shall give forth light] like the stars forever and ever._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 1 Corinthians 3 & Psalms 109-112
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Philippians 4:8-13 & Jeremiah 3
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 17 AUGUST 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: FIND OUT GOD'S PURPOSE
KEY VERSE: _For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them… (Ephesians 2:10 AMPC)._
MESSAGE
As one who’s born again, your life has been so excellently planned out and preordained by God. All He wants is that you follow the blueprint. For instance, marriage or bearing children, though of natural desire and blessing from God, are not necessarily God’s specific plan for everyone (Matthew 19:10-12; Isaiah 56:4; 1 Corinthians 7:1-40). Also, preaching the Gospel everywhere is Christ’s general instruction to all Christians, but He has specific plans and can forbid you from doing so at certain places or times (Acts 16:6-10).
Some people have given birth to children that probably should never have been born. You may find this surprising, but if you study the Scriptures well enough, you’d understand. Someone might ask, “Doesn’t the Bible say that children are the heritage of the Lord?” That’s part of the reasons you must find out from Him if the one you’re bringing forth is from Him.
Some couples never asked God, “Are we supposed to have children?” They think once they marry, they must have children. Marriage isn’t necessarily for having children; that’s why it’s wise to pray and ask the Lord.
A lady had three children, but before they’d grow to be fifteen years, they died. You might wonder why God would allow her go through such an ordeal. But the question you’re not asking is, “Were those children supposed to have come in the first place?” We must learn, through the Spirit and the Word, the plan and purpose of God for our lives and how to walk therein.
There’re things that many people go ahead to do in life even though they aren’t part of God’s agenda for them. They want to live their lives for the joy of other people; they want certain jobs, professions or positions because others are pressuring them to. As in all things, God wants to guide you. Don’t think He’ll be mute if you ask Him; you’ll be amazed how fast and clearly He’ll speak to you and give you the guidance you need.
Never find yourself always insisting on what you want; ask God. You can be as happy as ever, fulfilling God’s purpose for your life. That’s the most important thing—discovering your purpose and fulfilling it.
PRAYER: Dear Father, bringing you glory and expressing your righteousness is my number one passion, pursuit, and purpose every day. I’m filled with the knowledge of your will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, pleasing you in all things, and doing the good works which you’ve prearranged for me ahead of time, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Hebrews 10:7
_7- Then I said, Behold, here I am, coming to do Your will, O God—[to fulfill] what is written of Me in the volume of the Book._
Acts 26:16
_16- But arise and stand upon your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, that I might appoint you to serve as [My] minister and to bear witness both to what you have seen of Me and to that in which I will appear to you,_
Colossians 4:17
_17- And say to Archippus, See that you discharge carefully [the duties of] the ministry and fulfill the stewardship which you have received in the Lord._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 1 Corinthians 2 & Psalms 107-108
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Philippians 4:1-7 & Jeremiah 2
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY 16 AUGUST 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THE WORK, THE WAR AND THE WALK
KEY VERSE: _For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty holds God to the pulling down of strong (2 Corinthians 10:4)._
MESSAGE
We have the work of Christianity, the war of Christianity, and the walk of Christianity. For the work of Christianity, the Lord has made tools available for us to effectively carry out His work. These tools are determined by the specific job description given for the work.
For instance, in reconciling men to God, we need to know where the people are and how to reach them. This clear description determines the kind of tools we use for our evangelical work, such as the different strategic outreaches we organize to reach people where they are, etc.
We’re in a spiritual warfare; we actively carry out onslaughts against the forces of darkness that try to resist us as we deliberately win souls into the Kingdom. Our tools or weapons of war are determined by the description and understanding of the adversary.
For example, the Bible clearly identifies for us the tools David used when he faced the giant, Goliath of Gath; they were a stone, a sling, and the words he spoke. Study the account; you’d see the spirituality of David’s action. The weapons or tools of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God in discomfiting the adversary (2 Corinthians 10:4).
However, for our Christian walk, which refers to the everyday activities of our Christian life through which we relate with one another and relate with God, we don’t need “tools.” When you’re born again, living the Christian life is the most natural thing to do with your new nature in Christ. It’s natural for us to walk in the light of who we are in Christ and in our heritage in Him.
Anything that makes you dependent on aids or “tools” is like “crutches” that a lame man needs to be able to move around. God doesn’t want you to live like that. It’s not His desire for you to depend on medications to stay alive. He wants you to live in divine health every day, just as He wants you to live in His righteousness and manifest His glory and wisdom everywhere. Praise God!
CONFESSION:
My life is the outworking of the Word. When I talk, it’s the Word; when I act, it’s the Word; I live out the Word in my daily walk. The Christian walk is my life; that’s the expression of my person. I work, war and walk according to the Word. Hallelujah! Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
1 Timothy 1:18
_18- This charge and admonition I commit in trust to you, Timothy, my son, in accordance with prophetic intimations which I formerly received concerning you, so that inspired and aided by them you may wage the good warfare,_
James 1:23-25
_23- For if anyone only listens to the Word without obeying it and being a doer of it, he is like a man who looks carefully at his [own] natural face in a mirror;_
_24- For he thoughtfully observes himself, and then goes off and promptly forgets what he was like._
_25- But he who looks carefully into the faultless law, the [law] of liberty, and is faithful to it and perseveres in looking into it, being not a heedless listener who forgets but an active doer [who obeys], he shall be blessed in his doing (his life of obedience)._
2 Corinthians 5:18-19
_18- But all things are from God, Who through Jesus Christ reconciled us to Himself [received us into favor, brought us into harmony with Himself] and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation [that by word and deed we might aim to bring others into harmony with Him]._
_19- It was God [personally present] in Christ, reconciling and restoring the world to favor with Himself, not counting up and holding against [men] their trespasses [but cancelling them], and committing to us the message of reconciliation (of the restoration to favor)._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 1 Corinthians 1 & Psalms 104-106
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Philippians 3:13-21 & Jeremia
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 15 AUGUST 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: RECOGNIZE AND AFFIRM YOUR DIVINITY
KEY VERSE: _For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16)._
MESSAGE
Our opening verse isn’t a promise; it’s a law. It’s just like 2 Corinthians 5:17 that says,_“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”_ This verse and our opening verse aren’t promises from God; they are the sovereign declarations of God.
The one who’s born again is a new creation; he or she has the life and nature of God. Being born again, your human life was supplanted by the life and nature of God. Now, your body houses a new type of life that’s unsusceptible and impregnable to sickness or disease. Old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new! If you don’t know about this new life, you’ll never put it to work; you’ll be living the human life when you have the divine life in you.
Learn to activate the divine life within you by declaring and personalising the Word of God. Remember, the greatest miracles are performed with words. I wish you’d understand the power and energy of your words! The Bible says,_“And the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick…”_ (Isaiah 33:24). Why? It’s because they’ve recognized and embraced their divinity.
The Bible says in 2 Peter 1:4,_“Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature….”_ You’re an associate of a divine pantheon; you hail from above; your origin is divine. No wonder Jesus said,_“Isn’t it written in your law I have said ye are gods?”_ (John 10:34).
Recognize and affirm your divinity; practise it. The Bible says the communication, the everyday expression of your faith, becomes effectual as you recognize and affirm who you are in Christ (Philemon 1:6). Hallelujah!
PRAYER:
Thank you, righteous Father, for your life in me; I’m divine; born to reign and rule in this world! My life is the testimony of your grace, glory and greatness. I’m blessed and the dispenser of your blessings and goodness, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Philemon 1:6
_6- that the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus._
Psalms 87:3
_3- Glorious things are spoken of you, O city of God. Selah [pause, and calmly realize what that means]!_
1 Corinthians 2:12-13
_12- Now we have not received the spirit [that belongs to] the world, but the [Holy] Spirit Who is from God, [given to us] that we might realize and comprehend and appreciate the gifts [of divine favor and blessing so freely and lavishly] bestowed on us by God._
_13- And we are setting these truths forth in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the [Holy] Spirit, combining and interpreting spiritual truths with spiritual language [to those who possess the Holy Spirit]._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Romans 16:1-27 & Psalms 102-103
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Philippians 3:1-12 & Isaiah 66
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY 12 AUGUST 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: HE PAID DEARLY FOR YOU
KEY VERSE: _Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot (1 Peter 1:18-19)._
MESSAGE
There’s no religion in the world that assures its adherents that they’re loved. Most religions generally preach judgment. They have no solution for sin. Some people classify Christianity as one of the many religions in the world, but they’re wrong. In Christianity, Jesus provided solution for sin. This He did by giving His life for all men.
Because of the vicarious death of Christ, we know how precious and valuable we are to God. He washed us from our sins in His own blood (Revelation 1:5) and made us righteous with His own righteousness (Romans 3:26, 5:1).
Jesus gave His own life to prove to us that God loves us as much as He loves Him (Jesus). He values us as much as He values Jesus. That means He thinks we’re important. Only a fool will pay something for nothing, and God is no fool. Therefore, never think you’re nothing; He paid so dearly for you. Know your value; you’re special.
In 2 Peter 1:4, the Bible describes us as partakers of the divine nature. In other words, we’re partners, comrades and associates of the God-kind! This means we belong to a heavenly pantheon. John 10:34 says, “Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods.” Hallelujah! This is the reality.
You’re not supposed to live a beggarly life after Jesus has paid so much for you. When you pray, don’t pray like someone who is trying to get something from God. No! Nothing is too good for you. He already did, and gave, the best for you; He gave you ALL when He gave you Christ. Hallelujah!
PRAYER:
Dear Father, it’s a delight to know that every soul on earth is valuable to you, because you saved all men by the precious blood of your Son, Jesus. Thank you for loving me and demonstrating your value for me by the price you paid for my salvation. I see others through your eyes of love, and reach out to them with the Good News of salvation, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Luke 15:7 AMPC
_7- Thus, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one [especially] wicked person who repents (changes his mind, abhorring his errors and misdeeds, and determines to enter upon a better course of life) than over ninety-nine righteous persons who have no need of repentance._
John 3:16 AMPC
_16- For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Romans 14-15:1-4 & Psalms 90-93
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Philippians 2:1-11 & Isaiah 63
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 11 AUGUST 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: LISTEN TO WHAT YOU'RE SINGING
KEY VERSE: _But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him (John 4:23)._
MESSAGE
When people don’t understand the Scriptures, it shows in the songs they sing. Through the years, God’s people have sung many unscriptural songs that affected their emotions but hadn’t any true and lasting spiritual impact.
One of such songs is the hymn, “Fill my cup, Lord.” Many sing it with delight, yet they fail to ask themselves what they really mean when they ask the Lord to “fill their cup.” With what do they want Him to fill it? Another line of the song says, “Come and quench this thirsting of my soul….”
If you have Christ, you’ll never thirst again. Jesus said to the woman at the well, “…whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life” (John 4:14). Those are the words of Jesus. So, how can you still be thirsty?
Then they sing, “Bread of Heaven, feed me ‘til I want no more….” How could that be? In John 6:35, Jesus declared, “…I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.” This makes it crystal clear that if you have Jesus, you’ll never hunger and thirst again.
People still sing such hymns because they don’t know. Psalm 82:5 says, “They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness….” Don’t just sing a song because it sounds nice; listen to the words; be sure they’re consistent with the provisions of the Gospel of Christ.
The Lord Jesus is coming for a Church without spot, without wrinkle, without blemish or any such thing (Ephesians 5:27). And He says we should be no more children, tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine (Ephesians 4:14); but we should rather grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18). So, when you sing in worship, let it be with the knowledge and understanding of the truth of God’s Word.
CONFESSION:
Dear Father, I thank you for filling me with the knowledge of your will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, to know and worship you in spirit and in truth. Your Word is the basis for my relationship with you; therefore, I’ll be diligent to make sure my songs of praise are consistent with your Word always, for your Word is truth, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Colossians 1:9
_9- For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,_
1 Chronicles 16:8-12
_8- Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done._
_9- Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts._
_10- Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lordrejoice._
_11- Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always._
_12- Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced,_
Psalm 66:1-4 NIV
_1- Shout for joy to God, all the earth!_
_2- Sing the glory of his name; make his praise glorious._
_3- Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds! So great is your power that your enemies cringe before you._
_4- All the earth bows down to you; they sing praise to you, they sing the praises of your name.”_
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Romans 12:17-13:1-14 & Psalms 89
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Philippians 1:23-30 & Isaiah 62
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 10 AUGUST 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: UNDERSTANDING THE GOSPEL
KEY VERSE: _For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth… (Romans 1:16)._
MESSAGE
To walk in the fullness of the blessings of the Gospel, you must first understand what the Gospel of Jesus Christ is. That’s when you can really believe it. Proverbs 4:7 says, _“…with all thy getting get understanding.”_ Understanding the Gospel is so important. Paul said, _“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek”_ (Romans 1:16).
So, what’s the Gospel? In a nutshell, it’s the Word of God concerning Jesus Christ: who He is and His mission; what He came to do. Having this understanding is imperative to living a consistently victorious Christian life.
Jesus told a parable of the sower that went forth to sow, and as he sowed, some seeds fell by the wayside and the birds of the air came and picked them up. In His interpretation, Jesus said the seed is the Word of God. He went further to say that the seeds that fell by the wayside are those who hear the Word of God and don’t understand it; then Satan comes immediately and takes away the Word that was sown in their hearts (Mark 4:15). The Word actually got into their hearts, but because they lacked understanding, the devil took it away from them. You need to understand the message of the Gospel. Once you understand it, you’re set for life; you’ll never need “another fire,” because you’ve come to understand the ministry of the Holy Spirit in your life.
No wonder the Spirit prays through Paul in Ephesians 1:18: _“that the eyes of your understanding be enlightened to know the hope of God’s calling, and the riches of the glory of His inheritance amongst them that are sanctified.”_ Every so often, affirm that you have an understanding heart, and that the mysteries of the Gospel are unveiled to your spirit, and you walk in the fullness of the blessings of the Gospel every day. Hallelujah!
PRAYER:
Dear Father, thank you for showing me the awesome power that’s wrapped up in the Gospel. Through your Word, I’ve discovered the glorious provisions I have in Christ Jesus! I’ve been born into glory, and I walk in victory today and always; and I’m inspired to share this Good News with everyone, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Romans 1:16 AMPC
_16- For I am not ashamed of the Gospel (good news) of Christ, for it is God's power working unto salvation [for deliverance from eternal death] to everyone who believes with a personal trust and a confident surrender and firm reliance, to the Jew first and also to the Greek,_
2 Timothy 1:8-10
_8- Do not blush or be ashamed then, to testify to and for our Lord, nor of me, a prisoner for His sake, but [with me] take your share of the suffering [to which the preaching] of the Gospel [may expose you, and do it] in the power of God._
_9- [For it is He] Who delivered and saved us and called us with a calling in itself holy and leading to holiness [to a life of consecration, a vocation of holiness]; [He did it] not because of anything of merit that we have done, but because of and to further His own purpose and grace (unmerited favor) which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began [eternal ages ago]._
_10- [It is that purpose and grace] which He now has made known and has fully disclosed and made real [to us] through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, Who annulled death and made it of no effect and brought life and immortality (immunity from eternal death) to light through the Gospel._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Romans 12:1-16 & Psalms 85-88
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Philippians 1:15-22 & Isaiah 61
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY 09 AUGUST 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: PRAYING IN LINE WITH HIS DESIRE
KEY VERSE: _And this is the confidence (the assurance, the privilege of boldness) which we have in Him: [we are sure] that if we ask anything (make any request) according to His will (in agreement with His own plan), He listens to and hears us (1 John 5:14 AMPC)._
MESSAGE
Sometimes people pray, “Father, let your will be done,” without realizing the import of this statement. It isn’t one to be made casually. You don’t just say, “Thy will be done”; you have to know what that will is. When Jesus prayed and said the same words, He knew exactly what the Father’s will was and He mentioned it.
There’s a difference between a will and a desire. The fact that something is God’s will at a particular point in time doesn’t mean it may be His desire. I’ll give you an example from the Bible. In Isaiah 38, the Bible tells a story about King Hezekiah who was sick. The Prophet Isaiah was sent to him by God to tell him to set his house in order because he was going to die. At that moment, God stated His clear will for King Hezekiah’s life.
After receiving this message from the prophet, Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to God, weeping. The Bible says,_“Then came the word of the LORD to Isaiah, saying, go, and say to Hezekiah, thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will add unto thy days fifteen years”_ (Isaiah 38:4-5). Praise God!
When Hezekiah was told he was going to die, if he had replied, “Thy will be done O Lord,” he would have died. But he knew that wasn’t God’s desire for him. He knew God created him for His praise. So, in his prayer, he said to the Lord,_“…the dead cannot celebrate you. Only the living can praise you as I do this day”_ (Isaiah 38:18-19).
When you’re praying about the will of God on a matter, find out how consistent that thing is with His character. Only then will you know how best to pray about it. For instance, in the Old Testament, God led the children of Israel in several battles and fought wars on their behalf, yet the Bible tells us He’s a God of peace. He’s more known as the God of peace than any other name in the Bible. This shows us His desire; what He really wants is peace, not war. This kind of understanding will help you pray always in line with His desires as revealed in His Word.
PRAYER:
Dear Father, I’m inspired by the truth of your Word, your love and your eternal kindness which communicates your desire for us to prosper and be in health even as our souls prosper. Even now, I’m strengthened in my confidence to pray, knowing that it’s your delight to hear and answer my prayers. My joy is full today, confident of your love and power at work in me, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
1 Peter 3:12
_12- For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous (those who are upright and in right standing with God), and His ears are attentive to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who practice evil [to oppose them, to frustrate, and defeat them]._
Romans 8:26-27
_26- So too the [Holy] Spirit comes to our aid and bears us up in our weakness; for we do not know what prayer to offer nor how to offer it worthily as we ought, but the Spirit Himself goes to meet our supplication and pleads in our behalf with unspeakable yearnings and groanings too deep for utterance._
_27- And He Who searches the hearts of men knows what is in the mind of the [Holy] Spirit [what His intent is], because the Spirit intercedes and pleads [before God] in behalf of the saints according to and in harmony with God’s will._
Luke 22:41-44
_41- And He withdrew from them about a stone’s throw and knelt down and prayed,_
_42- Saying, Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but [always] Yours be done._
_43- And there appeared to Him an angel from heaven, strengthening H
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 08 AUGUST 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: YOUR SURE GUIDE
KEY VERSE: _Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God (1 Corinthians 2:12)._
MESSAGE
The Spirit of God, through the Apostle Paul in our opening scripture, wasn’t referring to mental knowledge but spiritual knowledge—revelation knowledge. It’s possible for us to know the will of God for our lives. The Bible says spiritual things can only be spiritually understood: “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Corinthians 2:14).
When your spirit is enlightened by God’s Word through the ministry of the Holy Spirit, you’re able to know God’s will and purpose. The guidance of the Holy Spirit is so important in our lives. He guides your steps and grants you understanding of the Word. With Him, you’re never at a crossroads. Knowing Him and walking with Him is the key to that successful life you’ve always desired. He brings you into your inheritance and your destiny in God. Hallelujah!
If you aren’t sure about God’s perfect will on any matter, give some time to praying in the Spirit. He’s the embodiment of all knowledge. Ask Him, and He’ll reveal the knowledge or guidance you need to your spirit.
You can do the same with respect to your work; activate His ministry in your life and He’ll teach you how to be the best at what you do. He’ll grant you an extraordinary amplitude of comprehension and supernatural sagacity to excel in all that you do. He’ll make your thought pattern excellent; your ingenuity, creativity, intuition, sharp-wittedness will be limitless!
Remember the words of Jesus in John 14:26. He assured us, “…he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” With the Holy Spirit, you can never walk in darkness or be confused about anything. He’ll help you retain knowledge and information in your spirit and bring that information to your consciousness when occasion demands. Hallelujah!
PRAYER:
Dear Father, thank you for the sweet Holy Spirit who teaches, guides and directs me on the right path you’ve preordained for me, and helps me follow through. I’m yielded to Him, for He guides me into all truth and teaches me to make the right choices and decisions that are consistent with your perfect will for me, making me an absolute success in life, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
John 14:16-18
_16- And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby), that He may remain with you forever_
_17- The Spirit of Truth, Whom the world cannot receive (welcome, take to its heart), because it does not see Him or know and recognize Him. But you know and recognize Him, for He lives with you [constantly] and will be in you._
_18- I will not leave you as orphans [comfortless, desolate, bereaved, forlorn, helpless]; I will come [back] to you._
Romans 8:14
_14- For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God._
John 8:12
_12- Once more Jesus addressed the crowd. He said, I am the Light of the world. He who follows Me will not be walking in the dark, but will have the Light which is Life._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Romans 11:1-24 & Psalms 79-81
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Philippians 1:1-8 & Isaiah 59
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SUNDAY 07 AUGUST 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: RECOGNIZE YOUR NEW IDENTITY
KEY VERSE: _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)._
MESSAGE
When you were born again, you were recreated in righteousness and true holiness. Unlike the unregenerate man, you’re completely awakened to the fatherhood of God; you’re alive to Him. 1 John 3:2 says, “Beloved, now are we the sons of God....” You’re in a sonship relationship with the Lord; you’re born of Him. That’s the meaning of 1 John 4:4: “Ye are of God, little children…”; you hail from Him; your origin is in Him. Hallelujah!
Peter calls us partakers of the divine nature (associates of the God-kind). You’ve put on the God-nature, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of God that created you (Colossians 3:10). This is your true identity. Walk in this light. You’re not the same person you were before you were born again. That’s why the Bible says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Messaiah, he is a new creation. Old things have disappeared, and-look!-all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17 ISV).
The old sin-nature was supplanted with God’s life of righteousness. People may still associate you with some of the wrong things you did before you were born again, but the truth is the person that did those things doesn’t exist anymore. What the Bible says about you now is that you are washed, sanctified, justified, in the Name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God (1 Corinthians 6:11). Hallelujah!
PRAYER:
Dear Father, I thank you for my new nature and identity in Christ; I’ve been washed, sanctified, justified, in the Name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Holy Spirit. I walk in the reality of the new life of righteousness, which I’ve received in Christ, producing fruits and works of righteousness, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Ephesians 4:23-24 AMPC
_23- And be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude],_
_24- And put on the new nature (the regenerate self) created in God's image, [Godlike] in true righteousness and holiness._
Romans 6:5-7
_5- For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection,_
_6- knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin._
_7- For he who has died has been freed from sin._
Colossians 3:9-10
_9- Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds,_
_10- and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him,_
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Romans 9:30-10:1-21 & Psalms 78
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Ephesians 6:21-24 & Isaiah 58
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY 06 AUGUST 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: SIN-FREE AND DEATH-FREE
KEY VERSE: _For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:2 NKJV)._
MESSAGE
When you read today’s theme verse as it’s presented, you’re likely to think it’s talking about the law of “sin and death” as one entity. But that’s not what the Spirit is communicating to us here. He’s actually referring to the law of sin on the one hand, and to death on the other. For clarity, we could rearrange the words and the verse would read: “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from ‘death’ and ‘the law of sin’” (Romans 8:2). When you read it this way, it suddenly opens up and the meaning becomes very clear: it’s not “the law of sin and death” but “the law (or principle) of sin” on the one hand, and “death” on the other.
This means the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made you death-free in the same way that it made you sin-free! Hallelujah! This law of the Spirit of life or law of life is also referred to as the law of liberty in James 1:25 and James 2:12. John said, “He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you…that ye may know that ye have eternal life…” (1 John 5:12-13).
This (eternal) life is in the Son, and since you have it, you’re not supposed to struggle with sin, sickness, disease, infirmities and death. Think about this: at 120 years, Moses’ eyes weren’t dim and his natural force was unabated (Deuteronomy 34:7).
Moses lived under the Old Covenant, but he had a consciousness of life; He knew the Word of God invigorates and makes alive (Deuteronomy 32:46-47). Have the same mentality, because when you were born again, you passed from death to life and from sin into righteousness. Hallelujah!
CONFESSION:
I’ve been translated from the realm of death into the realm of life! In my path, there’s no death; there’s no darkness; the God-life is inherent in me. Therefore, I refuse to accommodate anything that’s of darkness, for I live by the law of the Spirit of life, and in that realm, only life controls. Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY:
John 5:24
_24- I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, the person whose ears are open to My words [who listens to My message] and believes and trusts in and clings to andrelies on Him Who sent Me has (possesses now) eternal life. And he does not come into judgment [does not incur sentence of judgment, will not come under condemnation], but he has already passed over out of death into life._
1 John 5:11-13
_11- And this is that testimony (that evidence): God gave us eternal life, and this life is in His Son._
_12- He who possesses the Son has that life; he who does not possess the Son of God does not have that life._
_13- I write this to you who believe in (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) the name of the Son of God [in the peculiar services and blessings conferred by Him on men], so that you may know [with settled and absolute knowledge] that you [already] have life, yes, eternal life._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Romans 9:1-29 & Psalms 74-77
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Ephesians 6:10-20 & Isaiah 57
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY 05 AUGUST 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: YOUR HEART IS HIS NEW ALTAR
KEY VERSE: _This God made the world and everything in it. He is Lord of heaven and earth, and he doesn’t live in temples built by human hands (Acts 17:24 CEV)._
MESSAGE
Many today still love to have special “altars” where they “meet with God.” It might be a particular room in the house or a corner of the living room where they commune with the Lord. While it’s important for us to get some privacy with the Lord whenever possible, we really don’t need to create “special altars” today to meet Him. We’re now His living tabernacles; your heart is His new altar.
In the Old Testament, men and women built altars where they worshipped the Lord. These altars became the place where they met with God and received direction. Jacob, for example, had to return to Bethel where he first built an altar to the Lord (Genesis 35:3). Genesis 8:20 tells us about Noah; he “…builded an altar unto the LORD; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.” This was the old order.
Today, where you are is where the altar is, for the altar is in the temple, and you’re the temple of the living God: 2 Corinthians 6:16 NIV, “…For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.” 1 Corinthians 3:16: “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?”
Everywhere you are is the place of His presence. You can pray in your room, speak in tongues in the kitchen, and worship in the Spirit even in the bathroom! And anyone who comes in contact with you is in contact with divinity because you’re a God-carrier, the home of His presence. Hallelujah!
CONFESSION:
I’m a God-carrier, the home of His presence; I could never fail or be defeated, because the greater One lives in me. I impact my world with His divine presence today, and saturate my environment with His glory and righteousness. Blessed be God!
FURTHER STUDY:
1 Corinthians 3:16-17
_16- Do you not discern and understand that you [the whole church at Corinth] are God’s temple (His sanctuary), and that God’s Spirit has His permanent dwelling in you [to be at home in you, collectively as a church and also individually]?_
_17- If anyone does hurt to God’s temple or corrupts it [with false doctrines] or destroys it, God will do hurt to him and bring him to the corruption of death and destroy him. For the temple of God is holy (sacred to Him) and that [temple] you [the believing church and its individual believers] are._
2 Corinthians 6:16
_16- What agreement [can there be between] a temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God; even as God said, I will dwell in and with and among them and will walk in and with and among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be My people._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Romans 8:18-39 & Psalms 70-73
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Ephesians 5:25-33 & Isaiah 55
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 04 AUGUST 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THE PRACTICAL UNDERSTANDING OF WORSHIP
KEY VERSE: _For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers (Romans 1:9)._
MESSAGE
In the New Testament, it may surprise you to know that the use of the term “worship” is hardly applied to Christians. Of course, you find the term used in the gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John), but in the gospels, Jesus dealt with Jews, not Christians. In the Book of Acts, “worship” is used about four times, and in none of those occasions was it really applied to the Church.
Then you find the word only used once in First Corinthians, and twice in Hebrews. However, when you go into the Book of Revelation, worship is used about 22 times! “How could such a thing that we say is so important be missing in the epistles?” you may wonder.
It’s because, in the epistles, the Lord is actually giving us a practical understanding of worship; He tells us exactly what worship is. Remember, in John 4:24, He had said, “God is a Spirit: and they that worship (Greek: proskuneō) him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” So, in the epistles, instead of the term “worship,” the Apostle Paul gives us a particular phrase in our theme verse which sufficiently corroborates the words of Jesus in John 4:24. It’s the phrase “Serve with my spirit.”
Serving God with your spirit includes worship, because worship in the New Testament is different from worship in the Old Testament. In the Old Testament, it was mostly outward in nature. But in the New Testament, it’s spiritual, even in the cases where we have outward demonstrations.
This is why it’s important to understand that what matters in the worship isn’t that we worshipped; it’s whether the One that we worshipped accepted it. There’s a conditioning of your spirit through the Word of God, through the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, that makes your spirit a worshipper. The Father seeks such to worship Him.
PRAYER:
Dear Father, thank you for the privilege to express my love for you. I bless you for your greatness, kindness, love, mercies and grace! You’re the Governor among the nations, the King of kings and the Lord of lords. I offer to you today my sacrifice of praise, the fruit of my lips, giving you thanks for all you’ve done through your Church in these last days and even the greater works ahead! Be magnified continually, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Philippians 3:3
_3- For we [Christians] are the true circumcision, who worship God in spirit and by the Spirit of God and exult and glory and pride ourselves in Jesus Christ, and put no confidence or dependence [on what we are] in the flesh and on outward privileges and physical advantages andexternal appearances_
John 4:23-24
_23- A time will come, however, indeed it is already here, when the true (genuine) worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth (reality); for the Father is seeking just such people as these as His worshipers._
_24- God is a Spirit (a spiritual Being) and those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth (reality)._
Hebrews 13:15
_15- Through Him, therefore, let us constantly and at all times offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of lips that thankfully acknowledge and confess andglorify His name._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Romans 8:1-17 & Psalms 68-69
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Ephesians 5:25-33 & Isaiah 55
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 03 AUGUST 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: WORRY MAKES THINGS WORSE
KEY VERSE: _Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything; tell God your needs, and don’t forget to thank him for his answers. If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6-7 TLB)._
MESSAGE
Don’t you just like the fact that as a Christian, you’re not supposed to worry over anything? It takes the stress out of life. Worrying only makes things worse. Recall the words of Jesus in Matthew 6:27 (TPT); He asked, “So, which one of you by worrying could add anything to your life?” Refuse to worry about your rent. Refuse to worry about your health. Refuse to worry about anything!
Some people believe until they’re worried and flustered, God won’t do anything about their situation. What they don’t know is that worry actually short- circuits the power of God in one’s life. If worrying had any positive effects, God would have said, “Be worried; in fact, be very worried.” But He never said that. Rather, He said, “…forsake your worries! Why would you say, ‘…what will we wear?’ For that is what the unbelievers chase after. Doesn’t your heavenly Father already know the things your bodies require?” (Matthew 6:31-32 TPT).
Worry is a “…fiery dart of the wicked” (Ephesians 6:16); so, when it attacks you, repel it. Use the Word against it. Every day, be resolute that you’re going to practise God’s Word. His Word says, “Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the centre of your life” (Philippians 4:6-7 MSG). Hallelujah!
CONFESSION:
*I repel worry with God’s Word. I’m anxious for nothing, but in everything, I make my requests known to God, and the peace of God that passes all understanding garrisons my heart and mind. All things are working together for my good; I can never be disadvantaged. Blessed be God!FURTHER STUDY:
Matthew 6:25-34
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY 02 AUGUST 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: CONNECT WITH YOUR FAITH
KEY VERSE: _Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ (Ephesians 1:3)._
MESSAGE
The Apostle Paul was letting us know in our opening verse that we’ve been blessed with all spiritual blessings in Christ. He strengthens the thought further in 1 Corinthians 3:21 when he says,_“…all things are yours.”_ In the same vein, the Apostle Peter tells us that God’s _“…divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness…”_ (2 Peter 1:3 NKJV).
It’s one thing to know that you’ve been blessed with and in all things, but it’s another thing to actually take possession of the blessings. The key is connecting with your faith; that’s what Abraham did. In Genesis 17:5 NKJV, God said to him,_“…I have made you a father of many nations.”_ Abraham connected with his faith; he had to see with the eyes of his mind.
The Bible says Abraham believed God and it was counted to him for righteousness. He believed, because he had visualized the reality of his children as he attempted to number the stars (Genesis 15:5). By faith, he saw and accepted the reality of God’s Word in his spirit, spoke it forth, and it came to pass.
Romans 4:20-22 says,_“He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.”_ Learn to visualize and take a hold of God’s provisions for you in Christ Jesus. Refuse to stagger at God’s Word through unbelief; take a hold of your blessings first in the spirit, and speak them forth.
PRAYER:
Dear Father, I thank you for enlightening the eyes of my understanding through your Word. I’m the seed of Abraham and all things are mine. I’m a champion forever! The eyes of my mind are open to visualize and take a hold of every good thing that belongs to me in Christ Jesus, to the praise and glory of your name, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
2 Corinthians 3:17-18
_17- Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty (emancipation from bondage, freedom)._
_18- And all of us, as with unveiled face, [because we] continued to behold [in the Word of God] as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are constantly being transfigured into His very own image in ever increasing splendor andfrom one degree of glory to another; [for this comes] from the Lord [Who is] the Spirit._
2 Corinthians 4:17-18
_17- For our light, momentary affliction (this slight distress of the passing hour) is ever more and more abundantly preparing and producing and achieving for us an everlasting weight of glory [beyond all measure, excessively surpassing all comparisons and all calculations, a vast and transcendent glory and blessedness never to cease!],_
_18- Since we consider and look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen; for the things that are visible are temporal (brief and fleeting), but the things that are invisible are deathless and everlasting._
Philemon 1:6
_6- [And I pray] that the participation in and sharing of your faith may produce and promote full recognition and appreciation and understanding and precise knowledge of every good [thing] that is ours in [our identification with] Christ Jesus [and unto His glory]._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Romans 6:15-7:1-6 & Psalms 60-63
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Ephesians 5:9-16 & Isaiah 53
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 01 AUGUST 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: AUTHORITY OVER DEVILS
KEY VERSE: _Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give (Matthew 10:8)._
MESSAGE
The day you were born into this world, God assigned angels to you. Their first and primary responsibility was to protect you and to see to it that in the process of time, you heard and received the Gospel for your salvation. As you progress in life, depending on what God has called you to do, He assigns more angels to you.
On the flip side also, Satan has demons whose primary responsibility from when you were a child was to devour, destroy, deceive you and lure you away from the path of righteousness. The Bible teaches about the woman who was about to deliver a child in the Book of Revelation; she was to deliver a man-child and the devil was there waiting right from the time of birth (Revelation 12:4-5).
This wasn’t peculiar to that child alone; God only used that prophetic illustration to show us Satan’s modus operandi. Even now that you’re born again, Satan still seeks to hinder you from serving the Lord. The Bible says “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8).
That’s why you must be vehement when dealing with Satan: cast him out! You have the authority in the Name of Jesus to cast out devils (Mark 16:17). That authority is unrivalled and unparalleled in heaven, earth, and in hell. Therefore, when you say, “Devil, get out of here in the Name of Jesus,” he’s got to comply.
Philippians 2:9 says God has highly exalted the Lord Jesus and given Him a Name that’s above every name. Ephesians 1:21 says He’s seated far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come.
The best part, however, is that you’re in Him; you’re seated with Him on His exalted throne of grace, reigning through Him. Hallelujah! Satan has no right to run things in your nation, city, town, street, home, in your life or that of your loved ones. Put a stop to his work; cast him out in the Name of Jesus and he’ll be gone!
CONFESSION:
Dear Father, I thank you for your mighty angels working for me, and for giving me authority over the devil and his demons. Thank you for the victory of the Lord Jesus over the devil and the entire host of darkness, which was for my sake. The enemy has no dominion in my home, my body, my finances or circumstances, in the Name of Jesus. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Mark 16:17
_17- And these attesting signs will accompany those who believe: in My name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new languages;_
Luke 10:19
_19- Behold! I have given you authority and power to trample upon serpents and scorpions, and [physical and mental strength and ability] over all the power that the enemy [possesses]; and nothing shall in any way harm you._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Romans 6:1-14; Psalms 56-59
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Ephesians 5:1-8; Isaiah 52
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SUNDAY 31 JULY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: HE'S FOREVER THE SAME
KEY VERSE: _Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever (Hebrews 13:8)._
MESSAGE
When we say, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever,” it isn’t a statement we made up, neither is it a cliché. It’s absolute TRUTH and it came from the Scriptures! Jesus hasn’t changed. He’s the same, yesterday, today and forever.
Oftentimes when people go through difficulties, in their frustration, they cry, “Oh God, where are you?” The reason is that they’re ignorant of the fact that God has already laid out a good plan for them (Ephesians 2:10). He has a good plan for every man, woman, boy or girl.
Nevertheless, except and unless they look into the Scriptures, they may never discover that plan. And when they don’t discover it, they may cry, beg or plead, and it’ll look like God isn’t listening to them; meanwhile, He already provided the solution ever before they were born. But how can they know, except someone shows it to them? (Romans 10:14). That’s why He sent us to preach the Gospel.
The Bible, for example, tells us in Psalm 33:5 that “…the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.” Yet, the experience of a good number of people is one of sadness, pain, frustration. Why is it so? Has God changed? Absolutely not!
There’re two major reasons for this, aside ignorance: the number one reason is that there’s a devil that makes them blind to God’s perfect will. The second reason is that other human beings who are inspired by Satan and the demons of darkness afflict other people with their selfishness and greed. They’ve used their own wickedness to frustrate other men. It’s man’s inhumanity to man.
God knew what would happen and that’s the reason He planned the answer long before you came. The answer is Jesus Christ! If you embrace the life that He brought and walk in the light of it, His glory will be manifested in your life. And in spite of the two aforementioned factors, you can use the power of His Name to live above Satan and the systems of this world. His Name has power in heaven, in the earth, and under the earth.
PRAYER:
Thank you, dear Lord, for the honour of helping people discover Jesus and their inheritance in Christ. I pray for new converts and God’s people around the world today, that they walk in the reality of the fullness of the blessings of Christ, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Psalm 33:4-5
_4- For the word of the Lord is right; and all His work is done in faithfulness._
_5- He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the loving-kindness of the Lord._
John 10:10 AMPC
_10- The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)._
Malachi 3:6
_6- For I am the Lord, I do not change; that is why you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Romans 5:12-21 & Psalms 52-55
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Ephesians 4:25-32 & Isaiah 51
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY 30 JULY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: WHO IS THE HOLY SPIRIT
KEY VERSE: _And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby), that He may remain with you forever (John 14:16 AMPC)._
MESSAGE
The Holy Spirit is not some smoke or cloud, nor is He a light. He’s not a thing! The Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Godhead. This is because He’s the last of the Trinity to be known by us! In Genesis 1:1, God was introduced to us as “Elohim” (Hebrew). “Elohim” in Hebrew is plural for God. We’re then told in the second verse that “the Spirit of God moved over the face of the deep.” Thus, even though the Holy Spirit is the first to be revealed from “Elohim,” He’s the last that we get acquainted with because of what Jesus said to His disciples in John 14:16-17:_“And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.”_
The Holy Spirit is exactly like Jesus. He doesn’t receive power from God. In fact, He’s the POWER of God! He’s the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father. He’s not less than the Father, nor is He less than Jesus. If you went to heaven, you wouldn’t find the Holy Spirit outside the Father, for He’s in the Father. On earth, His presence is everywhere! Everywhere you go as a child of God, the Holy Spirit goes with you and His presence rubs off on everything that’s connected with you. He doesn’t have a different name; “Holy Ghost” or “Holy Spirit” is a description of His person, His character. Jesus said, “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name…” (John 14:26).
This simply implies that though the Holy Spirit has no name of His own, He answers to the Name of Jesus. Oh, so many things to show you about this awesome Personality! He’s the Beauty of heaven—our Comforter, Counsellor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener and Standby. Hallelujah! Learn more about Him from our book, “The Holy Spirit And You.”
CONFESSION:
Blessed Holy Spirit, thank you for residing in me permanently. I recognize you as the One who guides me into all truth, teaching me to make the right choices and decisions that are consistent with God’s perfect will for me. Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY:
John 14:16-18 AMPC
_16- And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby), that He may remain with you forever_
_17- The Spirit of Truth, Whom the world cannot receive (welcome, take to its heart), because it does not see Him or know and recognize Him. But you know and recognize Him, for He lives with you [constantly] and will be in you._
_18- I will not leave you as orphans [comfortless, desolate, bereaved, forlorn, helpless]; I will come [back] to you._
John 15:26
_26- But when the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener, Standby) comes, Whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of Truth Who comes (proceeds) from the Father, He [Himself] will testify regarding Me._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Romans 5:1-11 & Psalms 49-51
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Ephesians 4:17-24 & Isaiah 50
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 28 JULY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THE POWER OF A COMPELLING DESIRE
KEY VERSE: _…The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much (James 5:16)._
MESSAGE
There’s a promise of a higher realm of life for you regardless of where you are presently. But until and unless you have a compelling desire for it, you may not move to that new and higher realm of life. Let’s look through the Scriptures for two examples of those whose lives were transformed as a result of their compelling desire for a change in their circumstances.
In the early period of the history of the nation of Israel, some had become comfortable with the Egyptian lifestyle and possibly forgotten about the land God promised their forebears (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob).
However, it wasn’t until they were subjected to slavery, and the Egyptian whips bruised and tore into their skin that they remembered God’s promise. Suddenly, Israel’s desire for a change grew and God heard their cry and sent Moses, a deliverer, to bring them out of slavery and lead them into the Promised Land.
There’s another inspiring story of a woman named Hannah in the Book of 1 Samuel 1:1-21. She had no child because she was barren and had been in this situation for many years. Her situation seemed bearable because her husband loved her very much. However, the tide turned for her when her rival began to goad her with her condition.
Suddenly, she became sad and very desperate. This time, her husband’s effort to assuage her grief was meaningless; her desire for a child had become overwhelming. The Bible says,_“…she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore”_ (1 Samuel 1:10).
In these two situations, God’s response came as a result of a strong desire for a change. So, do you desire a change in your situation today? Do you want the power of the Kingdom of God to produce results for you? Then, your heart must reach out; you must be bursting with a strong desire. This is just the beginning of the steps you need to take to make a lasting change in your life. To learn more on the subject, get our book, “When God Visits You.”
CONFESSION:
Dear Father, thank you for the inner strength to desire and experience the supernatural in my life, ministry, finances, business and career. More than anything else, I desire your righteousness to fill the nations, and that through me, many be won into your glorious Kingdom, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Proverbs 23:18 (KJV)
_18- For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off._
Psalm 37:4 (AMPC)
_4- Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Romans 3:1-31 & Psalms 42-44
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Ephesians 4:1-10 & Isaiah 48
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 27 JULY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: BEARERS OF SALVATION
KEY VERSE: _According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust (1 Timothy 1:11)_
MESSAGE
As Christians, we have a ministry of reconciliation; our work of the Gospel is to reach our world and reconcile men to God. We have to do it. Those of us who have believed in Jesus Christ have been brought into fellowship with God (1 John 1:3), but the whole world isn’t. It’s our responsibility to bring them in.
Jesus said in Mark 16:15,_“…Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”_ This charge wasn’t given to angels, but to us—His disciples. There’re Christians who pray to God to send angels to get people to come to Christ; but that’s not their job. Their job is to get the people in contact with us so we can minister the Gospel to them.
We’re the bearers of the message of salvation; we’re the ones to lead people to salvation in Christ Jesus. Somebody might say, “But in Revelation 14:6- 7, we’re told about the angel that was to preach the everlasting Gospel:_‘And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.”’_
The message of this angel wasn’t a message of salvation, but of judgment as seen in the underlined portion above. Preaching the Gospel of salvation is an assignment clearly cut out for us. In Acts 10, the Bible tells us how an angel was sent to a Roman soldier by the name of Cornelius (Acts 10:1-3). But the angel didn’t preach the Gospel to Cornelius. Instead, the angel got him to make contact with Simon Peter who came and preached to Cornelius and his household, and they received salvation.
What an honourable assignment it is for us to be the bearers of the message of salvation to the ends of the earth! Blessed be God! You should be glad about that. Make it your life work. You’ve been given the opportunity to serve in the Gospel, to make His righteousness known, and establish His Kingdom in the earth and in the hearts of men. Hallelujah!
PRAYER:
Dear Lord, thank you for the privilege to be a bearer of the message of salvation. Thank you for granting me the grace to turn men to righteousness, to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God. I fulfil my ministry today as an ambassador of Christ and of the Gospel, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Mark 16:15-16
_15- And He said to them, Go into all the world and preach and publish openly the good news (the Gospel) to every creature [of the whole human race]._
_16- He who believes [who adheres to and trusts in and relies on the Gospel and Him Whom it sets forth] and is baptized will be saved from the penalty of eternal death]; but he who does not believe [who does not adhere to and trust in and rely on the Gospel and Him Whom it sets forth] will be condemned._
Daniel 12:3
_3- And the teachers and those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness (to uprightness and right standing with God) [shall give forth light] like the stars forever and ever._
2 Corinthians 5:18-19
_18- But all things are from God, Who through Jesus Christ reconciled us to Himself [received us into favor, brought us into harmony with Himself] and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation [that by word and deed we might aim to bring others into harmony with Him]._
_19- It was God [personally present] in Christ, reconciling and restoring the world to favor with Himself, not counting up and holding against [men] their trespasses [but cancelling them], and committing to us the message of reconciliation (of the res
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY 26 JULY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THE MANIFESTATION OF GOD'S LOVE
KEY VERSE: _He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love (1 John 4:8)_
MESSAGE
The Bible says God is love, a simple but very profound statement. But what does it mean? If God is love, what does He look like? Or what does love look like? For generations and thousands of years, the understanding of this revelation was obscure to many because no one had seen God (1 John 4:12). So, all they had were wild imaginations of who God was, and what love i
But then came Jesus who said, “…he that hath seen me hath seen the Father…” (John 14:9). Jesus was God manifest in the flesh (1 Timothy 3:16). When He walked the streets of Galilee, He was the embodiment, the manifestation of God’s love. 1 John 4:9 says, “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.”(Rhapsody of Realities 26th July 2022)
Jesus was love made flesh. That’s one of the most extraordinary things that I ever discovered. And it came to me like a vision: I saw love walking like a man in front of me, in the person of Jesus Christ! Truly, Jesus is the perfect description of love! What’s more?
The Bible says, “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love” (1 John 4:7-8 NKJV). That means, the proof that we know God’s love is how we show it, because we’re the expression of His character, ability and nature today. You’re the proof of God’s love.
You can’t claim to know God’s love if you don’t show it. His love must be demonstrated through you. It reminds of what the Bible says in Ephesians 3:10 NKJV: “To the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places.” This is God’s plan; His dream is to manifest Himself, His love, His divine excellence and wisdom through the Church. And it’s happening through you. Hallelujah!
CONFESSION:
The love of God is shed abroad in my heart by the Holy Ghost who lives in me. His love is daily manifested in me; I’m the proof of His love, the expression of His character, ability and nature, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Romans 5:5
_5- Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us._
1 John 4:12-13
_12- No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us._
_13- By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Romans 1:18-32; Psalms 35-37
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Ephesians 3:1-12; Isaiah 46
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 25 JULY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: WHY SPEAK IN TONGUES?
KEY VERSE: _He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church (1 Corinthians 14:4)._
MESSAGE
When you receive the Holy Spirit, you receive the power of God to reside in you as Jesus said (Acts 1:8). This power is triggered or activated when you speak in other tongues. The Greek word translated “edifieth” in the opening scripture is “oikodomeo,” which means to construct or build up, to embolden or charge up like you’d charge a battery. That verse is therefore telling us that the one who speaks in tongues builds himself up like an edifice; he emboldens himself and charges himself like a battery.
When you spend time to speak in other tongues, you’re building up your spirit: “But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost” (Jude 1:20). If you were weak in your Christian life, as you speak in other tongues, the power of God that had lain dormant within you would be stirred and you’ll be strengthened to do the things of God. Speaking in tongues is the antidote to fear and timidity. God hasn’t given you the spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7). Activate the power within you by spending time speaking in other tongues; do this every day and every so often. Your inner man will be built up strong and you’ll constantly walk in dominion over all your adversaries.
Also, speaking in tongues empowers you to preach. I heard the testimony of a nine-year-old boy who was timid and unable to preach to his friends. After he began speaking in tongues, he became confident, and the hitherto timid boy became a bold preacher of the Gospel everywhere. There’s no limitation as to what the Spirit of God can do in your life if you’d spend time to speak in other tongues every day, knowing that you’re speaking mysteries to God, which will provide divine wisdom.
Furthermore, speaking in other tongues aids “quick charge” and causes your spirit to respond quickly to divine signals. Speaking in other tongues is a great blessing. You can learn more about this from our book, “The Power of Tongues.” Get it and study it carefully and expose your spirit to the rich benefits of “glossolalia” (Greek)—speaking in tongues.
PRAYER:
Dear Father, I thank you for the invigorating, revitalizing, refreshing, energizing and edifying experience of speaking in tongues. There’s a transformation in all that concerns me; my spirit is conditioned for success, excellence, prosperity and victory. As I speak in tongues even now, out of my belly flow gushers of living waters; words of salvation, healing and strength flow through me to my world, in the Name of the Lord Jesus. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
1 Corinthians 14:2-4
_2- For one who speaks in an [unknown] tongue speaks not to men but to God, for no one understands or catches his meaning, because in the [Holy] Spirit he utters secret truths and hidden things [not obvious to the understanding]._
_3- But [on the other hand], the one who prophesies [who interprets the divine will and purpose in inspired preaching and teaching] speaks to men for their upbuilding and constructive spiritual progress and encouragement and consolation._
_4- He who speaks in a [strange] tongue edifies and improves himself, but he who prophesies [interpreting the divine will and purpose and teaching with inspiration] edifies and improves the church and promotes growth [in Christian wisdom, piety, holiness, and happiness]._
Acts 2:1-4
_1- And when the day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all assembled together in one place,_
_2- When suddenly there came a sound from heaven like the rushing of a violent tempest blast, and it filled the whole house in which they were sitting._
_3- And there appeared to them tongues resembling fire, which were separated and distributed and which settled on each one of them.
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SUNDAY 24 JULY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: HE LOVES YOU PERSONALLY
KEY VERSE: _The Lord appeared from of old to me, saying, Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn you and continued My faithfulness to you (Jeremiah 31:3 AMPC)_
MESSAGE
I was listening to a testimony some time ago and the lady who was testifying said, “I didn’t know that God loves me so much.” That statement touched me deeply. She found out that God loves her, and it changed everything for her. To realize that God loves you personally is one of the greatest discoveries you’ll ever make in your life. The love of God is unfathomable and immeasurable. He’s more ambitious for your success than you could ever be for yourself. What glory will fill your soul when you discover this reality!
It’ll transform your life totally. Hebrews 13:5 says, “…for He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!]” (AMPC). This means even if you walk away from Him, He’ll go after you until you prove to Him you don’t want Him. But He always wants you, and He’ll always love you.
Why doesn’t He give up on you? Why does He always want you? And why will He always want you? It’s because He loves you personally. He truly does. If you were the only person on the face of the earth, Jesus would still have come to die for you. When He made you, He made you to look and function like Him. He sees Himself in you. When you misbehave, He doesn’t look for how to punish you; rather, He seeks to help you and make you become who He really wants you to be. He knows you’d get better if you’d listen to Him and receive His words; so, He always brings His Word to you to correct you, guide you and perfect you. He genuinely loves you. There might be some people in your family that despise you. There might be some people who may not really like you; it makes no difference. The only one who really counts is Jesus Christ, and He loves you affectionately. Let that mean more than the whole world to you.
CONFESSION:
Loving Father, thank you for the love you’ve so lavished upon me; it’s love without limits. It’s such a delight to know that I’m special and valuable to you. I walk every day in and with the consciousness of your unfailing love. I manifest and radiate your love to my world today, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Isaiah 49:15-16
_15- [And the Lord answered] Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yes, they may forget, yet I will not forget you._
_16- Behold, I have indelibly imprinted (tattooed a picture of) you on the palm of each of My hands; [O Zion] your walls are continually before Me._
1 John 3:1
_1- See what [an incredible] quality of love the Father has given (shown, bestowed on) us, that we should [be permitted to] be named and called and counted the children of God! And so we are! The reason that the world does not know (recognize, acknowledge) us is that it does not know (recognize, acknowledge) Him._
1 John 4:16
_16- And we know (understand, recognize, are conscious of, by observation and by experience) and believe (adhere to and put faith in and rely on) the love God cherishes for us. God is love, and he who dwells andcontinues in love dwells and continues in God, and God dwells and continues in him._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Acts 28:17-31 & Psalms 30-31
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Ephesians 2:1-10 & Isaiah 44
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY 23 JULY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: RECEIVE HIS WORD
KEY VERSE: _For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective]; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart (Hebrews 4:12 AMPC)._
MESSAGE
The Word of God is powerful. If you receive and believe it today, it’ll produce wonders in your life: your body, academics, family, relationships, finances, business—everything about you. I’m referring to the Word that created the heavens and the earth (John 1:3). That same Word is the force that holds the planets in their place (Hebrews 1:3).
The Word is incorruptible, ever living and everlasting (1 Peter 1:23). It doesn’t matter where you are, if you believe and trust God’s Word, it’ll produce results. In the parable of the Sower, Jesus described four scenarios wherein the seed was sown with different results. Then He said,_“Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God”_ (Luke 8:11).
A seed has the power to reproduce when you plant it in the right soil. The question is, is your heart the right soil today? If it is, the message will reproduce itself. Just as corn seed reproduces corn, and orange seed reproduces oranges, the Word of love, hope, faith, power, prosperity, truth, strength, soundness of mind and body that I bring you every day in this devotional will reproduce itself in your life, if you receive and believe it. It’ll fill your life with the manifestation of Christ.
In Jeremiah 4:3, the Lord warned His children,_“… Plow up the hardness of your hearts; otherwise the good seed will be wasted among the thorns”_ (TLB). I give the same charge to you today. Every day, prepare your heart for the Word by speaking in other tongues. 1 Corinthians 14:4 says,_“He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself….”_ Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom (Colossians 3:16).
CONFESSION:
I open my heart to the Word of God and receive with meekness the love, hope, faith, power, prosperity, truth, strength, soundness of mind and body that the Word brings to me today. I embrace your Word, which is able to make me wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. I live in joy, health, peace and experience victory today because I live by the Word. Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY:
Mark 4:3-8 (KJV)
_3- Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow:_
_4- And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up._
_5- And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth:_
_6- But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away._
_7- And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit._
_8- And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred._
James 1:21 (KJV)
_21- Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls._
2 Timothy 3:15-17 (KJV)
_15- 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._
_16- All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:_
_17- That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Acts 28:1-16 & Psalms 26-29
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Ephesian
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY 22 JULY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: COMPLETE PROSPERITY
KEY VERSE: _“Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth” (3 John 1:2)_
MESSAGE
Today’s study begins with this amazing verse that clearly reflects the mind of God for you. Remember the Bible says that all Scripture is given by the inspiration of God (2 Timothy 3:16). Therefore, more than anything else, God’s wish, His desire, His will and His plan is that you’d prosper. I know some Christians have problems with the teaching on prosperity. Well, 3 John 1:2 proves God is interested in your complete prosperity: material prosperity, the physical (or bodily) prosperity and the prosperity of the soul.
Let’s take a closer look at the verse: “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” Some people may be prospering in their soul but are neither prospering physically nor materially. I’m referring to Christians who are doing well, upright and forthright in all their affairs, yet they’re sick and financially broke.
But the Spirit of God says, “I wish you will prosper in your health and finances, just as your spirit is prospering.” Such folks must believe in material and physical prosperity so their lives will be balanced. That’s what God wants—a balanced spiritual life.
The last part of the verse refers to the prosperity of your soul, which is spiritual and has the priority. God wants you to prosper materially or financially; then He also wants you to be in health. Healing is good but when you’re in health, you don’t need healing because you don’t get sick. Hallelujah!
What’s the secret to this life of out-and-out prosperity? How can you prosper in your spirit, soul and body? The Bible says,_“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly…”_ (Colossians 3:16). If the Word of God is in you richly, you’ll prosper spiritually, and therefore, physically and materially too, because the lesser is included in the greater. Give yourself wholly to the Word. Study and meditate on the Word. Keep it inside you until it pours out of your mouth always, and in any situation.
PRAYER:
Dear Father, you’ve given me all-round prosperity; I’m prospering spiritually, financially, and I’m healthy, vibrant and strong. I’m standing firm like a flourishing tree planted by your design, deeply rooted by the brooks of bliss, bearing fruits of righteousness, ever blessed, ever luscious, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Psalm 35:27
_27- Let those who favor my righteous cause and have pleasure in my uprightness shout for joy and be glad and say continually, Let the Lord be magnified, Who takes pleasure in the prosperity of His servant._
Proverbs 10:22
_22- The blessing of the Lord—it makes [truly] rich, and He adds no sorrow with it [neither does toiling increase it]._
Psalm 1:3 TPT
_3- He will be standing firm like a flourishing tree planted by God’s design, deeply rooted by the brooks of bliss, bearing fruit in every season of life. He is never dry, never fainting, ever blessed, ever prosperous._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Acts 27:27-44; Psalms 23-25
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Ephesians 1:1-14; Isaiah 42
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 21 JULY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: LIVING IN HIS PERFECT WILL
KEY VERSE: _And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God (Romans 12:2)._
MESSAGE
The Bible tells us about the good, the acceptable or permissive will, and the perfect will of God (Romans 12:2). The good will of God is His general will. The acceptable will of God is one that He allows, not because there’s nothing better, but because of your insistence on it. There’re people that God granted what they were asking for even though it wasn’t His perfect will for them. Can God do that? Emphatically yes! It’s in the Bible. In 1 Samuel 8:1-22, the Israelites asked for a king because they wanted to be like other nations. Samuel the Prophet refused because it was contrary to God’s plan for His people.
But following their importunity, God had to instruct Samuel to do as the people had demanded. He said to Samuel, _“…Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them”_ (1 Samuel 8:7). Think about it: God still helped them select the king, even though it wasn’t His perfect will for them to have one. Sadly, there’re people who live outside of the perfect, the acceptable, and the good will of God.
The school they attended, the course they studied, their career or business, the city they live in, etc., all their decisions were circumstantial, and as such, they live circumstantial lives. This isn’t God’s desire for His children.
How do you know and walk in God’s perfect will for your life? It’s through the knowledge of His Word and fellowship with the Holy Spirit. The Word of God is the will of God expressed. Through studying the Word and spending time in fellowship with the Holy Spirit, you become filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.
Talk to the Lord about your life’s decisions. He’s interested in everything about your life. Perhaps you’re learning of this truth for the first time and you’re unsure what your path is, it’s important for you to know that God has a perfect will for you. His will for you is an excellent life.
It’s not too late to turn to Him who has all answers. Yield yourself completely to the transforming power of His Word and surely, you’ll _“…discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect”_ (Romans 12:2 ESV).
PRAYER:
Dear Father, I’m walking in sync with your Spirit and following your perfect plan for my life. Everything I require within the ambits of your will for me is supplied at the right time. I’m guided by the Spirit to make excellent decisions and take inspired actions which are in sync with your perfect will and divine purpose, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Ephesians 1:11-12
_11- In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will,_
_12- that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory._
Psalm 119:105 MSG
_105- By your words I can see where I’m going; they throw a beam of light on my dark path._
Colossians 1:9
_9- For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;_
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Acts 27:1-26 & Psalms 21-22
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Galatians 6:10-18 & Isaiah 41
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 20 JULY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: GOD'S PLAN FOR YOU
KEY VERSE: _For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them (Ephesians 2:10)._
MESSAGE
Today’s opening scripture is a beautiful one, and I don’t want you to miss the blessing in it. Therefore, read it again aloud, carefully and meditatively. Here, the Spirit of God is talking to everyone who believes in Jesus Christ, everyone who has received the salvation in Christ Jesus.
I want you to reckon that God is speaking to you right now, because He truly is. I love the AMPC rendering of the same scripture:_“For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live]”_ (Ephesians 2:10 AMPC).
You’re God’s workmanship, His handicraft, His design, His craftsmanship. That means God has His brand on you; that’s the proof of your authentication. This is the greatest and best brand in the universe. You should never think failure or defeat. You’re too sublime to fail; too excellent to be under. And that’s not all.
The next thing He tells you is, “…that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us….” This means your life isn’t an accident; God prearranged it. He wants you living the good life which He prearranged. He planned a good life for you, right here on earth; it’s yours to live NOW.
There’re people who live in the wrong place, they went to the wrong school, they have the wrong friends, and some are in the wrong job or business. Why? They took a path that’s different from the path that God prearranged for them. But God has a plan for you; you’re set on course by God; follow His master plan through the Word. Blessed be God!
PRAYER:
Dear Father, thank you for the full, deep and clear knowledge of your thoughts, plans, will and purposes for my life. I’m at the centre of your perfect will, and I walk in the paths which you prepared ahead of time, living the good life which you prearranged and made ready for me to live, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Jeremiah 1:5 MSG
_5- “Before I shaped you in the womb, I knew all about you. Before you saw the light of day, I had holy plans for you: A prophet to the nations- that’s what I had in mind for you.”_
1 Peter 2:9 AMPC
_9- 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 marvelous light._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Acts 26:19-32 & Psalms 19-20
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Galatians 6:1-9 & Isaiah 40
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY 19 JULY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: A TREE BEARING EXCELLENT FRUITS
KEY VERSE: _Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm (Daniel 6:3)._
MESSAGE
The Bible says an excellent spirit was in Daniel. How would you like that to be said of you? Well, the same is true about you because the day you received the Holy Spirit into your life, the excellent Spirit came to live in you.
This excellent Spirit is manifested in you when you choose to let Him have His way in your life and when you accept the Scriptures as His real and perfect will and live accordingly. You’ll suddenly discover that everyone will be esteemed in your eyes. When you’re awakened to this truth, everything about you becomes top-class; your life becomes an expression of the perfections of Christ.
Daniel excelled above the presidents and satraps because they didn’t have an excellent spirit; rather, they had a bitter and complaining spirit. They saw that the king was always favourable towards Daniel and it hurt them, so they conspired against him out of bitterness.
When people who don’t have an excellent spirit see others being praised, promoted and commended, they get hurt. In Matthew 7:18, the Lord Jesus said,_“A good (healthy) tree cannot bear bad (worthless) fruit, nor can a bad (diseased) tree bear excellent fruit [worthy of admiration]”_ (AMPC).
Notice how He described an excellent fruit; He said it’s worthy of admiration. That’s amazing! What’s your life like? Is it worthy of admiration? If everyone turned out like you, will you be happy? If people behaved towards you the way you behave towards others, would you like it?
Let your life be a manifestation of the Spirit of excellence in you. Tower above envy, bitterness, anger and all the negativities of life, because you’re an excellent tree bearing excellent fruits:_“Any branch in Me that does not bear fruit [that stops bearing] He cuts away (trims off, takes away); and He cleanses and repeatedly prunes every branch that continues to bear fruit, to make it bear more and richer and more excellent fruit”_ (John 15:2 AMPC).
CONFESSION:
Dear Father, I thank you for the special ministry of the Holy Spirit in my life today; you’ve given me an excellent spirit that produces in me an excellent character. Therefore, bitterness, anger and envy have no place in my life. Christ’s nature of excellence is manifested in me, and evident in my walk, talk, and everything I do, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Daniel 5:12 (KJV)
_12- Forasmuch as an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams, and shewing of hard sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar: now let Daniel be called, and he will shew the interpretation._
Proverbs 17:27 (KJV)
_27- He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Acts 26:2-18 & Psalms 17-18
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Galatians 5:20-26 & Isaiah 39
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 18 JULY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: FEEDING ON THE WORD
KEY VERSE: _Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart (2 Corinthians 3:2-3)._
MESSAGE
In Christianity, we emphasize studying and meditating on God’s Word because of what it produces in your life: ever-increasing glory! That’s what your life is for. The glory of God is in the Word, and that glory becomes more visible in your life as you consciously and consistently feed on the Word.
The Bible says, _“...Be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind…”_ (Romans 12:2). 2 Corinthians 3:18 says, _“But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”_ These verses emphasize the ever-increasing glory in our spirit as we contemplate the Word.
If you don’t give undivided attention to the study, meditation, and practise of God’s Word, you inhibit His glory in your life. This has happened to some people without them even realizing it. They exposed themselves to news and information from negative sources other than the Word of God.
Remember, you’re what you eat; you become more and more like the information that you feed on. The Word of God is the glory of God; therefore, feed on the Word and your life will be increasingly excellent and full of glory. 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.”_
Take the Word of God as God’s vision, opinion, thought, idea, law or principle. Above all, take His Word as truth—absolute reality. Be inundated with the Word so that all you think and talk is the Word. That’s the sure path to a life of ever-increasing glory.
CONFESSION:
I’m growing in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. My life isn’t separate from the Word, because the Word of God is my source; it makes my spirit buoyant with faith, hope and love. Through the Word, my life is conditioned for victory every day such that no matter the circumstances, I’m triumphant always. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Luke 4:4
_4- But Jesus answered him, saying, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.’”_
1 Peter 1:23
_23- having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever,_
Acts 20:32
_32- “So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Acts 25:13-26:1 & Psalms 11-16
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Galatians 5:13-19 & Isaiah 38
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SUNDAY 17 JULY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: MINISTERING IN THE SANCTUARY
KEY VERSE: _“For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary” (Hebrews 9:2)._
MESSAGE
In the Old Testament, from the instructions God gave to Aaron in Exodus 30:7-8, we observe the ministry of the priests in the sanctuary. He said that the lamps must be perpetually on; and when lighting them in the evening, and in the morning, he must burn incense. These were very specific instructions concerning the priests’ ministry in the sanctuary under the Old Testament.
Now, reading our theme verse in the New International Version, it says, “A tabernacle was set up. In its first room were the lampstand, the table and the consecrated bread; this was called the Holy Place.” In that sanctuary, we’ve got three things: the bread (table of shewbread), the candlestick (the Menorah), and just before the veil, the altar of incense. These were the three articles of furniture in the Holy Place. How does this apply to us today?
The “bread” is our study and meditation on the Word. Recall that the “shewbread,” which is also referred to as the Bread of His presence, was eaten only by the priests (Leviticus 8:31, Leviticus 24:8). And the Bible says we’ve been made “kings and priests unto God” (Revelation 1:6); we’re holy priesthood unto God. Therefore, we’re qualified to eat the “Bread of His presence,” which represents our meditation on the Word.
The second thing in that sanctuary every day was the lamp of the Spirit. God said to Aaron,_“…When thou lightest the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light over against the candlestick”_ (Numbers 8:2). This represents the seven spirits of God:_“And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God”_ (Revelation 4:5). This refers to the fullness of the Spirit; our fellowship and continual infilling of the Spirit. You’re to maintain that fullness of the Spirit every day; study Ephesians 5:18-21; it shows you how.
The third thing in that sanctuary was the altar of incense, which signifies the prayer ministry of the saints:_“Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice”_ (Psalm 141:2). This refers to our prayer of worship, praise, thanksgiving and intercession. Today, you’re that sanctuary, and in the sanctuary, it’s about these three things: the Word, the Spirit, and prayer. Meditate on the Word every day; be ever-filled with the Spirit; and pray always.
CONFESSION:
Dear Father, thank you for the privilege of my ministry in your sanctuary. As I give myself to prayer, the study of and meditation on the Word, being constantly filled with the Spirit, I win always. Your Spirit is at work in me, and I have ever-increasing grace for ever-increasing ministry, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Exodus 30:7-8 NKJV
_7- “Aaron shall burn on it sweet incense every morning; when he tends the lamps, he shall burn incense on it._
_8- And when Aaron lights the lamps at twilight, he shall burn incense on it, a perpetual incense before the Lordthroughout your generations._
Colossians 3:16
_16- 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._
Ephesians 5:18-20
_18- And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,_
_19- speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,_
_20- giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,_
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Acts 25:1-12; Psalms 7-10
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Galatians 5:1-12; Isaiah 37
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY 16 JULY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THE INWARD WITNESS
KEY VERSE: _The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God (Romans 8:16 NKJV)._
MESSAGE
Our passion for preaching the Gospel is one thing that the world can’t stand; it troubles them. “How can people be so passionate about Jesus?” they wonder. But then, they try to wave it off on the premise that people are generally passionate about their religion. What they don’t realize is that ours is different; it’s more than a passion.
When comparing Christians with the religious people of the world (Christianity isn’t a religion), there’re three things to look at: the first is our passion, which can actually be compared with theirs. Then there’s also conviction: the religions of the world may have as much conviction as we do; but there’s something that we have that they don’t have and could never have: the inward witness. Hallelujah!
We have a witness within our spirit about Jesus! That’s what we read in our theme verse; it says, “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit, that we are children of God.” So, when we’re standing for Jesus Christ, we’re not just standing because we’re passionate; we’re not preaching the Gospel just because we’re convinced of His message. Rather, it’s because we have a witness within our spirit that truly, Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, except by Him (John 14:6).
We have the witness in our spirit that now are we the sons of God. Deep down in our hearts, we know that we’re in fellowship with God and we have the Holy Spirit, and that we’re born again! These aren’t assumptions but vital and present-hour realities in our spirit. We have “inside information”, knowledge produced in us by the Holy Spirit that we’re born of God and forever victorious.
We’re different. What we have is not a religion. No matter how passionate and convinced people may be about their religion, there’s no salvation in any religion. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the only saving message for the world. And thanks be unto God! We’re the custodians of this message of power by which God saves, heals, protects, delivers, preserves and prospers. We’re His witnesses. Hallelujah!
PRAYER:
Dear Father, thank you for making me a custodian of the Gospel of Christ; I pray that many who are yet to receive salvation will hear and receive the Gospel today, and be instantly transferred from the domain of darkness into the glorious liberty of the sons of God, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
1 John 5:10
_10- He who believes in the Son of God [who adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Him] has the testimony [possesses this divine attestation] within himself. He who does not believe God [in this way] has made Him out to be and represented Him as a liar, because he has not believed (put his faith in, adhered to, and relied on) the evidence (the testimony) that God has borne regarding His Son._
1 Corinthians 9:16
_16- For if I [merely] preach the Gospel, that gives me no reason to boast, for I feel compelled of necessity to do it. Woe is me if I do not preach the glad tidings (the Gospel)!_
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Acts 24:1-27 & Psalms 1-6
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Galatians 4:21-31 & Isaiah 36
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY 15 JULY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: ETERNAL LIFE BROUGHT US DEATHLESSNESS
KEY VERSE: _In the way of righteousness is life; and in the pathway thereof there is no death (Proverbs 12:28)._
MESSAGE
In our previous study, we reviewed the fact that eternal life has brought us agelessness, but in our study today, we’ll see that eternal life has brought to us even more—deathlessness! Our opening text declares that “In the way of righteousness is life; and in the pathway thereof there is no death.” This refers to deathlessness.
There’s a difference between agelessness and deathlessness. Agelessness speaks of a life of endless development, where you grow without aging, whereas deathlessness refers to a life completely devoid of the tendency of death. The natural man’s life is programmed “from the womb to the tomb.” In other words, he was born with the tendency to die. All his life long, he does everything he can to keep himself alive and stave off death, but he eventually succumbs to it because he inherited a curse of death.
But when you’re born again and you have the life and nature of God in you, things are different; you transcend from mortality into immortality! The Bible declares, “This truth is now being unveiled by the revelation of the anointed Jesus, our life-giver, who has dismantled death, obliterating all its effects on our lives, and has manifested his immortal life in us by the gospel” (2 Timothy 1:10 TPT).
In Christ, you’re not susceptible to death, because of eternal life. Now you can better understand the words of Jesus in Mark 16:18:_“They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them….”_ “Any deadly thing” here refers to something fatal or death-causing; but Jesus said none of such things can hurt or harm you. Why? Because you have eternal life!
John the beloved Apostle wrote,_“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life”_ (1 John 5:13 NIV). He wants you to know that you have eternal life because until you know it, you’ll never walk in the light of it. You have to know that you have eternal life and that this life is death-proof!
Death is failure introduced into a “system”; but he’s letting you know that there’s no failure in your “body systems”—no heart failure, kidney failure or lung failure; nothing of the sort! Since you have eternal life in you, the organs and systems of your body don’t fail! Thanks be unto God for eternal life. Hallelujah!
CONFESSION:
The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from death and the law of sin! I’m absolutely death-free, because the law of life is operational in me! Not only do I walk in life and health as a child of God, I dispense that divine life to all in my world. Divinity dwells in my physical body and I live the transcendent life! Glory to God!
FURTHER STUDY:
1 John 3:14 (KJV)
_14- We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death._
Romans 8:11 (KJV)
_11- But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you._
John 5:24 (KJV)
_24- Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Acts 23:12-35 & Job 40-42
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Galatians 4:12-20 & Isaiah 35
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 14 JULY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: ETERNAL LIFE BROUGHT US AGELESSNESS
KEY VERSE: _Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am (John 8:56-58)._
MESSAGE
With this singular statement—“Before Abraham was, I AM”—our Lord Jesus declared His agelessness. Agelessness refers to a life of endless development, where you grow without getting old. It’s an endless, incorruptible, and indestructible life. When you were born again, you received the same eternal life as Jesus and were brought into agelessness. Hallelujah!
Speaking about eternal life, John declared: “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested unto us” (1 John 1:1-2). The purpose for which it was manifested was so that we might have and live the same life. As you study the Scriptures and see such truths, you see your true reflection and can tell what your life ought to be.
Now that you’re born again, you’ve been born into God’s realm, into eternity! To live in the Word of God, and in Christ, is to live in eternity. That’s the life you’ve got. You’re in Christ; that’s your new environment. You’re not of this world. So, start living your ageless life.
CONFESSION:
I’m the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus and I have the life of God in me. My spirit, soul and body are vitalized through and through by the power and effect of righteousness and the fullness of the God-life that I’ve received through the Gospel. I’m walking in the reality of my divine heritage in Christ, conscious of His grace and awesome presence in my life, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
John 11:25-26 (KJV)
_25- Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?_
Romans 8:11 (KJV)
_11- But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you._
1 John 5:11-12 (NIV)
_11- And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son._
_12- Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Acts 22:22-23:1-11 & Job 36-39
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Galatians 4:1-11 & Isaiah 34
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 13 JULY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: BE INSPIRED BY HIS IMMINENT RETURN
KEY VERSE: _And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels (2 Thessalonians 1:7)._
MESSAGE
Alot of people don’t realize that Jesus is coming back. You can tell by the way they live. They live their lives every day, doing whatever they please. Whether they realize it or not, Jesus is coming again. He said He would, and it’s getting closer than ever before.
How I look forward to that day! What a day it would be. Will you be ready for Him when He returns? Or will He come back to discover you didn’t do what you were supposed to do? It’s like when a teacher gives his students some homework and comes to class the following day to ask for it. The one who did it will be happy to see the teacher, while the one who didn’t would wish the teacher would forget or won’t come to class.
The Bible says,_“In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day”_ (2 Thessalonians 1:8-10).
When Jesus comes back, He’ll be admired in those of us that love His appearing. This means His glory will be seen in each one of us. Those who heard us when we said Christ was in us will then see His glory in us and acknowledge it as true. Suddenly, we’ll be glorified, each one of us a bright shining light, and they’ll admire Jesus in us and among us. That day is coming very soon.
Jesus said,_“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven”_ (Matthew 5:16). He didn’t just tell us to shine, but to “so shine!” He’s made us a light to the nations and He wants us to light up other people. He wants us to bring life and joy to them as we reach them with the Gospel now more than ever.
CONFESSION:
I’m walking worthy of the Lord, pleasing Him in all things as I joyfully anticipate His soon return. I’m bearing fruits of righteousness, giving the lives of men and women in my world a meaning. My faith is effective and effectual, producing required results to the glory of God. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Hebrews 10:37 (KJV)
_37- For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry._
Titus 2:13-14 (KJV)
_13- Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;_
_14- Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works._
2 Timothy 4:8 (KJV)
_8- Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Acts 21:37-22:1-21 & Job 32-35
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Galatians 3:23-29 & Isaiah 33
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY 12 JULY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: ASK THE RIGHT QUESTIONS
KEY VERSE: _And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the LORD be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles… (Judges 6:13)._
MESSAGE
In life, there’re people who ask the wrong questions and make the wrong requests. There’s just something about them that makes them ask the wrong questions every time they have an opportunity. But you can ask the right questions. There’re good questions that guide you to useful answers. Until you learn to ask the right questions, you won’t find meaningful answers that’ll propel you forward.
God wants you to ask the right questions. At a time when Israel was being oppressed by another nation, an angel appeared to Gideon and greeted, “The Lord is with you, mighty man of valour.” Gideon replied, “Why do you call me a mighty man of valour? If God is with us, where are all His miracles?” This was a good question. If God was with them, then their lives ought not to be ordinary.
Have you ever watched the Olympics or some other sporting event on TV and wondered at the sportsmen who seemed to have superhuman abilities? You most likely found them amazing because you knew you couldn’t do some of the things they were doing. Or have you ever been blown away by the level of intelligence of a genius?
What about you? Who says you can’t be more extraordinary than these people? When are you going to say like Gideon: “If God is with me, then my life cannot be ordinary!” And then you start asking the right questions.
God gave Solomon wisdom, and the Bible says he was wiser than all men. So, there was a time in this world when one man was wiser than all men, and he wasn’t Jesus. Why can’t that be you? Why can’t you be wiser than all the people in your city? Who says you can’t?
Is there some sickness or disease troubling your body? If you’ve received the Holy Spirit, then you need to ask the question: “Should I still be sick with the Holy Spirit living in me?” Not only should you ask this question, you must answer it. Take a hold of your Bible and meditate on the verse that says,_“And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you”_ (Romans 8:11 NIV). Before long, the power of the Spirit will course through your body and produce results. Put this to work today.
CONFESSION:
Dear Father, thank you for your wisdom that’s resident within me. Your Word has made me wise and brought me into a place of excellence, success, victory and abundance. I’m inspired by your Word to think the right thoughts, speak the right words, ask the right questions, and receive the results of the Word in my life today, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
2 Timothy 2:23
_23- But refuse (shut your mind against, have nothing to do with) trifling (ill-informed, unedifying, stupid) controversies over ignorant questionings, for you know that they foster strife and breed quarrels._
Titus 3:9
_9- But avoid stupid and foolish controversies and genealogies and dissensions and wrangling about the Law, for they are unprofitable and futile._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Acts 21:17-36 & Job 29-31
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Galatians 3:1-12 & Isaiah 31
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 11 JULY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THE HOLY SPIRIT - THE POWER OF OUR MESSAGE
KEY VERSE: _The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel…(Luke 4:18)_
MESSAGE
While praying many years ago, precisely in 1981, I had some encounters with the Holy Spirit that changed my life. I began to experience a fellowship and knowledge of the Holy Spirit that made His power in my life more real and inherently applicable in life’s situations. I had read about the missionaries who came from Europe to Africa. Some of them spent years trying to get converts to Christ without much results. They tried; some even died in the process, but it didn’t work. The problem was that they came with religion; they came with a nice message that exhibited the kindness of Christ. That was great, but they needed more than just a nice message.
No matter how much you love Jesus and how much you’re touched by the need to preach the Gospel to sinners in the world, if you’re not filled with the Holy Spirit, it won’t work. That’s why Jesus said to His disciples, _“…tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high”_ (Luke 24:49). Anyone can say, “I love Jesus, and I’ll serve Him all my life!” Peter also said the same thing. He said to the Master,_“…Even if everyone else deserts you, I will never desert you”_ (Matthew 26:33 NLT). He emphasized,_“…Even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you…”_ (Matthew 26:35 NLT). Of course, it only took some soldiers, a little girl, and some other fellow to make Peter deny Jesus few hours later. But after Peter received the Holy Spirit, His fears disappeared.
The once “unlearned fisherman” began to say and do supernatural things, so much so that in one day, through his preaching, three thousand souls were converted! If you’ve received the Holy Spirit already, that’s just the beginning. You have to know Him; you have to walk in and with Him. He has to become a constant part of your life. Remember, the power of our message isn’t in the shouting, nor is it in the ability to use many words. The power of our message is the Holy Spirit:_“And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power”_ (1 Corinthians 2:4).
PRAYER:
Dear Father, I thank you for the Holy Spirit who lives in me and guides me in the path of your perfect will for me. I’m turned on from within by His divine power, which energizes me and fills me with courage to reach my world with the Gospel, in the Name of Jesus. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
1 Thessalonians 1:5
_5- For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake._
Romans 15:15-19
_15- Nevertheless, brethren, I have written more boldly to you on some points, as reminding you, because of the grace given to me by God,_
_16- that I might be a minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering of the Gentiles might be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit._
_17- Therefore I have reason to glory in Christ Jesus in the things which pertain to God._
_18- For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ has not accomplished through me, in word and deed, to make the Gentiles obedient_
_19- in mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem and round about to Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Acts 21:1-16 & Job 25-28
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Galatians 3:1-12 & Isaiah 31
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SUNDAY 10 JULY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: BE STRONG IN THE LORD
KEY VERSE: _Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might (Ephesians 6:10)._
MESSAGE
Notice the three words underlined in our opening verse; I’ll explain them one after the other. The first one is “strong.” In Luke 1:80, talking about John the Baptist, the Bible says, “And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.”
Also, in Luke 2:40, the Bible talks about another child who _“…grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.”_ This is Jesus. So, John the Baptist and Jesus waxed strong in spirit, meaning that they became strong.
The word, “power” is from the Greek, “kratos” which means strength. The next word, “might” is from the Greek, “ischus” which means force that one has the ability to wield or apply. What’s God telling us? He’s saying, “Be strong in the strength of the Lord and in His ability to apply force.” What amount of force is God able to apply in a situation? Take advantage of it; take advantage of God’s ability. Hallelujah!
Remember, it’s the Spirit’s might and not your might. Apply His strength and not your strength. Trust in Him with all your heart. Trust what He can do. That’s why you have to know Him to have an idea of how much He’s able to do. The Bible says,_“And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee”_ (Psalm 9:10).
Consider David who went into battle with Goliath, not with a sword or a spear, but with a sling and five smooth stones. When the giant, Goliath, stepped forward against him, he didn’t turn back; rather, he charged towards Goliath and struck him down with just a stone. David was strong in the Lord and applied God’s strength to defeat the giant. Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Be strong in God’s truth.
CONFESSION:
I’m triumphant forever, because I’m born of God and live by His Word. No matter what the enemy throws at me, I’m unflustered because greater is He that’s in me than he that’s in the world. I’m strong in the Lord and in the power of His might to do exploits! Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY:
Micah 3:8 (KJV)
_8- But truly I am full of power by the spirit of the Lord, and of judgment, and of might, to declare unto Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin._
Ephesians 3:14-16&20 (KJV)
_14- For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,_
_15- Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,_
_16- That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;_
_20- Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,_
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Acts 20:17-38 & Job 22-24
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Galatians 2:13-21 & Isaiah 30
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY 09 JULY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THE DIVINE EXPERIENCE
KEY VERSE: _ “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature…” (2 Peter 1:4)._
MESSAGE
When you were born again, you were catapulted from the domain of darkness into God’s marvelous light—the Kingdom of His Love-Son: “Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son” (Colossians 1:12-13).
Then 2 Peter 1:4 says,_“Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature….”_ We’re participators in the divine experience. We’re not spectators in the Kingdom; we’re part of the process of making things happen. Hallelujah!
We’re now involved in that special life that God has, which hitherto no other being had. Now we have the nature of God! It’s the reason you can speak from where you are and things will happen. You can direct the power of God in a certain direction through your words or your hands.
Do you remember Moses? God said to him,_“Stretch your hand over the water and divide it!”_ (Exodus 14:16). Moses parted the Red Sea by stretching forth his hand over the sea. That was him participating in the divine experience: God gave the Word, Moses acted; a miracle ensued.
What could have been the connection between a man’s hand and a raging sea? God is showing us something spiritual about our oneness with Him and our role in the divine experience. Recall the words of Jesus in John 15:5:_“I am the vine, ye are the branches…for without me ye can do nothing.”_
For the latter part of that verse, the reverse is also true. He needs us as much as we need Him. He works, and walks in and through us today. Like Moses, when you lift your hands, they’re God’s hands; therefore, God responds. Your victory has been settled; all you have to do is walk in the light of it. Study the Word to know and play your role in the divine experience. You’re not an ordinary person.
CONFESSION:
Thank you Father for such a priviledge to be involved in the God-experience. I function every moment from the standpoint of advantage and victory, for you’re at work in me, invigorating me with the life and nature of Christ, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
1 John 5:11-12;
_11- And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son._
_12- He who has the Son has [a]life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life._
John 15:5, 7
_5- “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing._
_7- If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Acts 20:1-16; Job 19-21
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Galatians 2:3-12; Isaiah 29
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY 08 JULY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THE POWER OF KNOWLEDGE
KEY VERSE: _My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge… (Hosea 4:6)._
MESSAGE
Two striking things are revealed to us in our theme verse: the first is the fact that God’s people can be destroyed and the second is the reason it’s possible for them to be destroyed, which is their lack of knowledge of God’s Word. The ignorance of God’s Word is such a terrible thing. Jesus said to the Jews, “You err, because you don’t know the Scriptures” (Matthew 22:29).
This helps us further understand why the Bible says in 2 Timothy 2:15, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” The solution to every problem, the answer to every question, and everything you’d ever require in life are all in the Word. Don’t ignore the Word.
To ignore the Word is to set yourself up for failure and unnecessary hardships in life. Jesus said, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32). Proverbs 11:9 says, “…through knowledge shall the just be delivered.” Acts 20:32 says, “And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.”
It’s about your knowledge of God’s Word. 2 Peter 1:3 says, “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue.”
How much and how well do you know Him? That’s what’s going to determine how far you go—your prosperity, glory, dominion and victories in life. The things you require or desire for a godly life are already yours in Christ. But the way to make them effectual in your life is a function of your knowledge of Him.
The knowledge Peter writes about is full, exact knowledge—“epignosis” (Greek). Spend time every day, studying, listening to, and meditating on the Word of God. Inundate your spirit, soul and mind with the Word. As the Scripture says, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom…” (Colossians 3:16). The result will be a life of ever-increasing grace, ever- increasing relevance, ever-increasing glory, unending success and all-round prosperity.
CONFESSION:
Dear heavenly Father, I thank you for the knowledge of your Word that dwells in me richly, causing me to walk in faith, dominion, glory and power. Through the revelation knowledge of your Word, I live and function in absolute victory, now and always, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Psalm 82:5 (KJV)
_5- They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course._
2 Peter 3:18 (KJV)
_18- But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen._
Ephesians 1:17 (KJV)
_17- That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:_
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Acts 19:8-41 & Job 15-18
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Galatians 1:10-17; Isaiah 27
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 28 FEBRUARY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: PREACH JESUS EVERYWHERE AND TO EVERYONE
KEY VERSE: _Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved (Acts 4:12)._
MESSAGE
The Gospel is for everybody; it’ll produce results in the life of anyone who hears and believes it. But for them to believe, they must hear it first, and that’s where you come in, for they can’t hear without a preacher (Romans 10:14). Our theme verse says, _“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”_ There’s no other way; let’s not act as if there’s another way.
Since Jesus is the only way, and we believe He is the only way, then we can’t be quiet. We must tell everyone about Jesus. If you’re a young person and your parents aren’t born again, talk to them about Jesus; share the Word of God with them. If you’re married, talk to your spouse that’s not born again. If you’re a teacher, talk to your students about Jesus Christ.
If you’re a student, preach Christ to your teachers, lecturers and fellow students. Win everyone you can. When you’re on the train, in a bus, taxi, or on a flight, talk about Jesus. When you go to a shop, tell them about Jesus. It doesn’t matter where you are; talk about Jesus! Preach the Word everywhere and to everyone and inspire others to do the same.
Teach children to preach the Gospel. Let’s fill the earth with the knowledge of Christ. Win souls everywhere, for the time is short. Be bold about Jesus Christ. If you have fears or you have any kind of hang-ups, throw them all away; you’re a child of God; you’re a witness of the love of Jesus Christ. Through you, He’s delivering men from darkness into light and from the power of Satan unto God. He’s establishing His righteousness and expanding His Kingdom in the earth. Glory to God!
PRAYER
Dear Father, thank you for the glorious Gospel that you’ve committed to my trust, to be your partner in soul winning, to bless and transform lives with the news of your saving power. I’m on the go with the Gospel, reaching out to everyone in my world, and everywhere I go, the Lord confirms His Word through me with signs following, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY
Romans 1:16
_16- For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek._
2 Corinthians 5:18 AMPC
_18- But all things are from God, Who through Jesus Christ reconciled us to Himself [received us into favor, brought us into harmony with Himself] and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation [that by word and deed we might aim to bring others into harmony with Him]._
Mark 16:15 TPT
_15- And he said to them, “As you go into all the world, preach openly the wonderful news of the gospel to the entire human race!_
1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Mark 8:27-9:1-13 & Numbers 5-6
2 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Acts 22:11-30 & Psalm 46-49
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 06 JULY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: PRAYER ISN'T THE "LAZY MAN'S WAY"
KEY VERSE: _Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints (Ephesians 6:18)._
MESSAGE
Have you ever heard anyone complain about someone who “prays too much”? They think that spending a lot of time in prayer is doing nothing, so they deride someone who prays often and term him or her as one who “does nothing but pray.” You’re actually “doing something” when you pray.
Those who don’t understand the power in prayer and don’t understand the spirit realm are the ones who think that prayer is the lazy man’s way. John Wesley, a great minister in the 18th century, once said, “It appears God will do nothing except we pray.” He made this important statement because he observed that changes took place in his life and ministry and in the society when he and others prayed.
There’re lots of results we’ll never see except we pray. It’s God’s way of relating with us; He asked us to do it. Jesus prayed and taught us to pray. He said,_“…Men ought always to pray and not to faint”_ (Luke 18:1). Why did He pray so much? It’s because He was living in a world of darkness and needed to effect changes in men’s lives. It’s one of the reasons He was so effective.
With so much going on in our world today, we should never think we’re helpless. There’s something we can do. Any Christian can actually effect changes. Don’t be like the person who says with a note of defeat, “All I can do is just pray.” No. We don’t just pray. In our praying, we’re definite enough to make definite changes. God never told us to “just pray” as a form of religion. He told us to pray so that things can be changed to our advantage.
Remember what Jesus said:_“You shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you”_ (Acts 1:8). That power is the dynamic ability to cause changes and it’s in you now. So, when next you take up a matter in prayer, no matter how urgent it is, don’t for a second think you’re wasting time by praying. Instead, be conscious that you’re bringing the power of the Spirit of God to bear on that situation.
CONFESSION:
Dear Father, I thank you for the privilege of prayer, which gives me the opportunity to side with you and enforce your will in the earth, exercise dominion over circumstances, Satan, and his cohorts of darkness. Thank you for the blessing of praying in the Spirit, thus, praying according to your perfect will and bringing the power of the Spirit to bear in every situation, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
1 Corinthians 14:14-15 (KJV)
_14- For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful._
_15- What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also._
1 John 5:14-15 (KJV)
_14- And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: 15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him._
1 Timothy 2:1-2 (KJV)
_1- I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;_
_2- For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Acts 18:1-23 & Job 9-11
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Galatians 1:1-9 & Isaiah 26
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY 05 JULY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THE GOD OF PEACE
KEY VERSE: _Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen (Romans 15:33)._
MESSAGE
In the Old Testament, God was often called the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. However, in the New Testament, particularly in the epistles, God is known, more than anything else, as the God of peace. He’s called the God of peace more than He’s called the God of love or the God of righteousness. We see this referenced in Philippians 4:9:_“…the God of peace shall be with you,”_ and in 1 Thessalonians 5:23:_“And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly….”_
The word “peace” is from the Greek “Eirēnē”, which is akin to “Shalom” in Hebrew; it’s peace with prosperity. This is God’s desire for all men. No wonder the angels declared in Luke 2:14:_“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.” Think about it! He brought peace between us and Him: “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ”_ (Romans 5:1).
The chaos experienced in some parts of the world today didn’t happen by chance. They were inspired by demons of chaos who thrive in chaos. They use chaos as a tool for perpetrating their nefarious schemes through their human hosts and keep at it until people bow to their wishes. But God wants peace and tells us to proclaim peace to the nations.
In the prayer He tells us to pray for all men, His intent is that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life (1 Timothy 2:1-2). That’s what He wants us to have. He’s always about peace. Even now, command peace for your city and your country. Declare in the mighty Name of the Lord Jesus that godly peace that brings liberty, grace, strength, health and prosperity will hold sway in your nation.
CONFESSION:
Righteous Father, you’re the God of peace, and I proclaim your peace upon my nation. Your peace, which passes all understanding and brings liberty, grace, strength, health and prosperity holds sway in all nations, in Jesus’ Name. Amen
FURTHER STUDY:
1 Timothy 2:1-2
_1- First of all, then, I admonish and urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be offered on behalf of all men,_
_2- For kings and all who are in positions of authority or high responsibility, that [outwardly] we may pass a quiet and undisturbed life [and inwardly] a peaceable one in all godliness and reverence and seriousness in every way._
Jeremiah 29:7
_7- And seek (inquire for, require, and request) the peace and welfare of the city to which I have caused you to be carried away captive; and pray to the Lord for it, for in the welfare of [the city in which you live] you will have welfare._
John 14:27
_27- Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. [Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.]_
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Acts 17:16-34 & Job 6-8
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 2 Corinthians 13:7-14 & Isaiah 25
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 04 JULY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: GOD'S LOVE PACKAGE
KEY VERSE: _And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them (John 17:26)_
MESSAGE
Does Jesus inspire you? If you read about Him in the Scriptures, you’ll surely be inspired. Glorious words came out of the lips of this man of Galilee. He spoke words so gracious that even the officers who were sent to arrest Him testified,_“…No man ever spoke like this Man”_ (John 7:46 WEB). Always, people gathered around Him to hear Him. Once, they were with Him for three days in the desert and didn’t remember to go home until their food was exhausted. Yet, no one complained of hunger; they were just content to be with Jesus. What was He giving them? Words! He was a Master of words. Glory to God!
Though encapsulated in the body of a Jewish man from Nazareth, Jesus was the Word of God that created the whole world: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made” (John 1:1-3). The Bible also says in Hebrews 1:1-2,_“God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds.”_ Jesus Christ made the worlds!
This isn’t just talking about the planets and the galaxies; He also made the times and the seasons of men’s lives. John 1:14 says,_“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us….”_ Blessed Jesus! The Word that created the universe came in a body to love us. How can you explain that! No wonder the Bible says,_“…God is love”_ (1 John 4:8). That’s His nature; He’s the description of love. The love of God is packaged in Christ Jesus! How I love Jesus! He’s the light and the beauty of Heaven, the brightness and the effulgence of God’s glory, the out-shining and out-ray of God’s light; that’s Jesus Christ! Hallelujah!
CONFESSION:
Lord Jesus, how great and precious you are! Thank you for lavishly demonstrating your love for me. How glorious it is to know that I’m complete in you, the only true God. I worship you, eternal King of glory. I acknowledge and appreciate your grace at work in me. You’ve made me your glory and righteousness, and I love you forever. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
1 John 4:8-10
_8- He who does not love has not become acquainted with God [does not and never did know Him], for God is love._
_9- In this the love of God was made manifest (displayed) where we are concerned: in that God sent His Son, the only begotten or unique [Son], into the world so that we might live through Him._
_10- In this is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation (the atoning sacrifice) for our sins._
John 3:16
_16- For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life._
Ephesians 5:1-2
_1- Therefore be imitators of God [copy Him and follow His example], as well-beloved children [imitate their father]._
_2- And walk in love, [esteeming and delighting in one another] as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a slain offering and sacrifice to God [for you, so that it became] a sweet fragrance._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Acts 17:1-15 & Job 3-5
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 2 Corinthians 13:1-6 & Isaiah 23-24
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SUNDAY 03 JULY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THE LAST TRUMP
KEY VERSE: _1 Corinthians 15:52 – In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed._
MESSAGE
Someone once asked me, “What’s the last trump? Will it be blown after the seven trumpets in the Book of Revelation?” No, this is a different trumpet, and to understand it requires a contextual analysis. When you read through some of the preceding verses in the same 1 Corinthians 15, you’ll observe a consistency of duality in Paul’s communication. In several verses, he wrote about the spiritual and the natural, the celestial and the terrestrial. He also used the terms, “the first and the last,” and then “the first and the second”: “And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit….The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven (1 Corinthians 15:45-47).
In this context, Paul considered “last” to mean “second.” So if we read our opening verse by the same token, it would go thus: “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the second trump….” This means there’re two trumpets, not one like many people think. The Amplified Classic version of the verse corroborates this: “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the [sound of the] last trumpet call. For a trumpet will sound, and the dead [in Christ] will be raised imperishable….” Many missed it because they thought he was talking about the same trumpet. Why is this important? In the Old Testament, the Bible tells us about two important trumpets. The first one was sounded when the Lord showed up, and the second was sounded for the assembly. The first was for the manifestation of God’s glory, while the second was for gathering the assembly.
When the first trumpet sounds at the Rapture, the Lord Jesus will come out of heaven, and the dead in Christ will be raised incorruptible. The second and last trumpet is the one that’ll assemble all of us who are alive and remain. When it sounds, we’ll be changed and caught up to meet the Lord in the air. Prepare for the Master’s soon return. Brace up for greater evangelism so that we can reach more people and get them ready to meet the Lord in the air at the sound of the last trumpet. Imagine what a glorious meeting it’ll be! Hallelujah!
CONFESSION:
Dear Father, thank you for the supernatural ability and speed you’ve so lavishly granted your children to preach the Gospel and lead multitudes to salvation all around the world. We walk in the light of your Word today, seeking, above all, the rule and reign of your Kingdom in the earth and in the hearts of men, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Exodus 19:16-18
_16- The third morning there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast, so that all the people in the camp trembled._
_17- Then Moses brought the people from the camp to meet God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain._
_18- Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke, for the Lord descended upon it in fire; its smoke ascended like that of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly._
Joel 2:15-16
_15- Blow the trumpet in Zion; set apart a fast [a day of restraint and humility]; call a solemn assembly._
_16- Gather the people, sanctify the congregation; assemble the elderly people, gather the children and the nursing infants; let the bridegroom [who is legally exempt from attending] go forth from his chamber and the bride out of her closet. [None is exempt from the humiliation.]_
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
_16- For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a loud cry of summons, with the shout of an archangel, and with the blast of the trumpet of God. And those who have departed this life in Christ will rise first._
_17- Then we, the living ones who remain [on the ear
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY 02 JULY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THE DAY OF CHRIST
KEY VERSE: _“That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand” (2 Thessalonians 2:2)._
MESSAGE
The expression, “the Day of Christ”, in our opening verse is wrongly assumed by many to generally mean “the last days.” There’s a difference between the Rapture of the Church, the Second Coming of Christ, and the Day of Christ. The Day of Christ refers to the millennium that begins with judgment. This isn’t the Great White Throne judgment in Revelation 20:11 or the Judgment Seat of Christ in 2 Corinthians 5:10. No! It’s the judgment of His enemies at His second coming, just before He sets up His millennial reign.
On that special day, the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven; He’ll come to rule in this world. At His appearing, the world, being at the Armageddon, will immediately unite against Him and the saints with Him, but these enemies will be destroyed, and all who reject Him:_“But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me”_ (Luke 19:27).
2 Thessalonians 1:7-9 also says,_“…the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power.”_
However, before that great day of Christ, the Bible says there’ll be an apostasy: many who professed to be Christians will fall away from the faith:_“Let no one deceive or beguile you in any way, for that day will not come except the apostasy comes first…”_ (2 Thessalonians 2:3 AMPC). What could bring about such a thing? It’s the cares of this world: the deceitfulness of riches, and the lust for its pleasures.
That’s why the Bible says,_“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world…”_ (1 John 2:15). It’s important that as the coming of the Lord approaches, you live your life stronger and stronger in Him so that you don’t fall away. Don’t cling to the things of the world. Let your focus be on the Master and on that day when He shall be revealed from heaven. We all will be gathered unto Him to be with Him always. What a day that will be!
CONFESSION:
My life is guided by Christ’s love, His Word, and my expectation of His imminent return. I’m established in His righteousness, awake and alert in the spirit. Through me, many today are brought out of darkness into the glorious liberty of the sons of God as I minister the Gospel to them, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Corinthians 1:7-8 NIV
_7- Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed.8 He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ._
Matthew 13:41-43
_41- The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil._
_42- They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth._
_43- Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Acts 15:36-41; Acts 16:1-15; Esther 8-10
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 2 Corinthians 12:1-10; Isaiah 21
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY 01 JULY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: "SUMMER" IS NEAR
KEY VERSE: _“Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled” (Matthew 24:32-34)._
MESSAGE
In 1948, Israel became a nation, which right now is still tender. It’s engaged in several conflicts and surrounded by enemies who want it completely annihilated. Jesus said, “When the branch is yet tender, it means summer is near.” What did He mean, and why summer? The Bible says,_“He that gathereth in summer is a wise son…”_ (Proverbs 10:5). This shows us something about summer: it’s gathering time. So, the tender branch indicates that gathering time is near.
We see this also in the Book of Amos, where a prophetic word was given concerning the nation of Israel:_“Thus hath the Lord God shewed unto me: and behold a basket of summer fruit. And he said, Amos, what seest thou? And I said, A basket of summer fruit. Then said the Lord unto me, The end is come upon my people of Israel; I will not again pass by them any more”_ (Amos 8:1-2).
Israel wasn’t living for the Lord, and God was going to judge them. But He said to Amos, “See, I have a basket of summer fruit.” This meant that He would gather another harvest, referring to the Gentiles. 2 Thessalonians 2:1 says,_“Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him.”_ Our gathering together unto Him refers to the Rapture of the Church, and it’s closer than ever. We don’t have much time left.
The gathering can take place any moment from now. If there’s anything you want to do for the Lord, this is the time. Don’t wait; otherwise, it might be too late. The time to act is now.
CONFESSION:
Dear Father, my life is guided by your love and my expectation of the soon return of the Lord Jesus Christ. I’m compelled by your love to reach all men urgently with the Gospel, thereby preparing them for our great gathering together unto you, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Romans 13:11 TLB
_11- Besides this you know what [a critical] hour this is, how it is high time now for you to wake up out of your sleep (rouse to reality). For salvation (final deliverance) is nearer to us now than when we first believed (adhered to, trusted in, and relied on Christ, the Messiah)._
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
_16- For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a loud cry of summons, with the shout of an archangel, and with the blast of the trumpet of God. And those who have departed this life in Christ will rise first._
_17- Then we, the living ones who remain [on the earth], shall simultaneously be caught up along with [the resurrected dead] in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so always (through the eternity of the eternities) we shall be with the Lord!_
1 Corinthians 15:51-52
_51- Take notice! I tell you a mystery (a secret truth, an event decreed by the hidden purpose or counsel of God). We shall not all fall asleep [in death], but we shall all be changed (transformed)_
_52- In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the [sound of the] last trumpet call. For a trumpet will sound, and the dead [in Christ] will be raised imperishable (free and immune from decay), and we shall be changed (transformed)._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Acts 15:22-35; Esther 5-7
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 2 Corinthians 11:10-33; Isaiah 20
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 30 JUNE 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THE CHOSEN RACE
KEY VERSE: _Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God (1 Corinthians 10:32)._
MESSAGE
Before Jesus came, God recognized only two races in the world—the Jewish race and Gentile race. A Jewish race was the result of God’s choice and promise to Abraham and his seed. Every other person that wasn’t a Jew was a Gentile, no matter where they came from. When Jesus Christ came, He said in Matthew 16:18, “…I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
In Ephesians 1:22-23, He told us what that Church is: “And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.” The Church is His Body. Ephesians 5:30 tells us what the Body comprises: “For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.” So, Jesus said He’d build His Church—His Body—and we’re the members of that Body. Hallelujah! 1 Corinthians 12:27 says, “Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.”
The Church race is made up of those who are born again from among the Jews and the Gentiles. “For he is our peace, who hath made both one, between us” (Ephesians 2:14). In Christ Jesus, there’s neither Jew nor Gentile: “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:27-28).
You lost your identity as a Gentile when you were born again, the same way Paul lost his identity as a Jew when he was born again. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” You’re now a part of the Church race, and that, to God, is the chosen race:“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9 ESV).
PRAYER:
I carry myself with dignity, knowing my great value and worth in Christ Jesus. I’m chosen, royal and peculiar! I’m seated with Christ, far above all principalities, powers, might, dominions, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come! Blessed be God!
FURTHER STUDY:
Galatians 6:15
_15- For neither is circumcision [now] of any importance, nor uncircumcision, but [only] a new creation [the result of a new birth and a new nature in Christ Jesus, the Messiah]._
1 Peter 2:9 AMPC
_9- 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 anddisplay the virtues and perfections of Him Who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Acts 15:1-21 & Esther 1-4
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 2 Corinthians 11:1-9 & Isaiah 19
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 29 JUNE 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: FOUR NAMES OF JESUS
KEY VERSE: _…and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6-7)._
MESSAGE
Our opening text was a major revelation from God to the Prophet Isaiah. He told him about a child that would be born and listed certain names by which He would be called. The first is “Wonderful Counselor.” In the original Hebrew text, the name, “Wonderful Counsellor” means “Extraordinary Strategist,” and this immediately reveals to us the ministry of the Holy Spirit: “And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby), that He may remain with you forever” (John 14:16 AMPC).
In God’s prophetic plan, the child is born, grows up as a son, and dies. After His death, burial and resurrection, He comes to minister to us throughout the Church Age through the Holy Spirit, the extraordinary counselor, who is a strategic guide that helps us win in life.
At the end of the Church Age, the Lord Jesus comes to deliver Israel as the mighty God: “…the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13). During the Armageddon, Israel is the battlefront. The Jews go through Great Tribulation, and many of them would flee from the Antichrist in terror. Jesus, however, comes out of heaven with a great army of saints and delivers Israel. He takes actions against the Antichrist and all the enemies of God.
The next thing Israel experiences is the Everlasting Father. Though they’ve rejected Him for 2,000 years and haven’t believed in Him, they suddenly realize He’s the One who delivered them from the Antichrist, and they come to Him crying, “He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities…Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him” (Psalm 103:10-13).
Finally, He’s called the Prince of Peace. After delivering Israel and opening His arms to receive them, He establishes His Kingdom for 1,000 years. This will be 1,000 years of peace, and we’ll reign with Him over the nations of the earth (Revelation 20:4-6).
These days that I tell you about are not so far away. The first one, where Christ is manifested to the Church through the Holy Spirit, has been going on for nearly 2,000 years now and is coming to its climax. The Rapture isn’t so far away. So, live your life in preparation for the Master’s soon return.
FURTHER STUDY:
Isaiah 9:6-7 AMPC, Hebrews 9:28 & Revelation 20:4-6*
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 27 JUNE 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: WE'RE MORE THAN HUMANS
KEY VERSE: _When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they shouted in the Lycaonian language, ‘The gods have come down to us in human form’ (Acts 14:11 NIV)._
MESSAGE
The Bible tells us how in Lystra Paul healed a man that was lame from birth. When the crowd saw it, they went wild and called him and Barnabas gods. They were about to worship them when Paul and Barnabas rushed to stop them, saying, “Friends, why are you doing this? We too are only human, like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heavens and the earth and the sea and everything in them” (Acts 14:15 NIV).
At this point in their lives, the apostles thought they were mere humans; they said so and thought so. They said, “Look, we’re humans like you.” Their humility was right, but their answer was wrong. They were supposed to say to the people, “Don’t worship us. This is the message we’ve brought to you: that you also have the potential to become gods if you believe in Jesus.”
The people found out what these men really were. They discovered they weren’t humans; they were gods in the form of men, and they were right. The Bible says, _“I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High”_ (Psalm 82:6). Yet, you hear some Christians say, “We’re just ordinary people.” They think talking that way makes them humble. No! It just shows how ignorant they are.
We were ordinary until we were born again. Now that we’re born again, we’ve become the house of God. Each one of us is the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit, the creator of the entire universe, lives in you! Your body is His living tabernacle. This is a reality and it has to come into your consciousness. You have to think this way.
Until you become conscious of it, the power therein won’t work for you. Never again say, “I’m just an ordinary human being.” When you believed in Jesus Christ, you became a God-man, an associate of the God-kind. You were literally born of God. You’re actually a supernatural being. God made you exactly like Himself,_“…as he is, so are we in this world”_ (1 John 4:17). You have the life and nature of God now. Hallelujah!
PRAYER:
Dear Father, thank you for helping me discover who I really am and the priceless treasure you’ve deposited in my spirit through the knowledge of the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ. I acknowledge and walk in the light of my divine heritage, origin and glory in Christ, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
John 10:34-36 NIV
_34- Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I have said you are “gods”’?_
_35- If he called them ‘gods,’ to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be set aside_
_36- what about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, ‘I am God’s Son’?_
Acts 28:3-6
_3- Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand._
_4- When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, “This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, the goddess Justice has not allowed him to live.”_
_5- But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects._
_6- The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead; but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god._
Psalm 82:6
_6- “I said, ‘You are “gods”; you are all sons of the Most High.’_
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Acts 13:1-12 & Nehemiah 7-8
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 2 Corinthians 9:11-15 & Isaiah 15-16
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY 25 JUNE 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THE SAME RIGHTS IN CHRIST
KEY VERSE: _…there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28)._
MESSAGE
In certain places around the world, it is said that women ought not to preach. But the Bible doesn’t say that. Rather, the Bible says as new creatures, we’re all one in Jesus Christ. In the Law, there were certain rights that men had that women didn’t have. But now in Christ Jesus, we’re all one. Hallelujah!
This means there are no limits to the woman as it was in the Law. The only time you’ll have a difference between a man and a woman in Christ is if they’re married. The Bible addresses the wife separately from her husband. But as long as a man and a woman are unmarried, they’re entitled to the same rights in Christ.
Someone might say, “But in the New Testament, the Bible says, ‘But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence’ (1 Timothy 2:12). Isn’t this referring to Christian women?” If you read the verse in context, you’ll discover that it’s referring only to married people. The next verse says, “For Adam was first formed, then Eve” (1 Timothy 2:13), meaning that it was looking at the context of marriage.
Now, when it says a wife shouldn’t teach her husband, the actual rendering means “to instruct” or “to dictate to” her husband. He didn’t mean she couldn’t explain or guide the other into knowledge. Also remember that these are the last days the Prophet Joel wrote about:_“And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy…”_ (Joel 2:28).
To prophesy means to speak words of power, words that come from the Kingdom of God. Of course, they won’t just be speaking these words to themselves alone; they’ll also speak them to the unlearned. That means they’ll be teaching the unlearned the Word. So you see, it makes no difference whether you’re a man or a woman; go ahead and preach the Gospel everywhere. Preach the Word with power, and don’t let anyone stop you out of their ignorance. The four daughters of Philip the evangelist prophesied:_“…the next day we that were of Paul’s company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him. And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy”_ (Acts 21:8-9).
PRAYER:
I know who I am! I’m Abraham’s seed and I reign and rule in this life. I’m unlimited and unstoppable because I’m in Christ, and I walk daily in this consciousness. I’m a joint-heir with Christ; therefore, all things are mine.
FURTHER STUDY:
Galatians 3:26-29
_26- For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith._
_27- For as many [of you] as were baptized into Christ [into a spiritual union and communion with Christ, the Anointed One, the Messiah] have put on (clothed yourselves with) Christ._
_28- There is [now no distinction] neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is not male and female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you belong to Christ [are in Him Who is Abraham’s Seed], then you are Abraham’s offspring and [spiritual] heirs according to promise._
Galatians 6:15
_15- For neither is circumcision [now] of any importance, nor uncircumcision, but [only] a new creation [the result of a new birth and a new nature in Christ Jesus, the Messiah]._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Acts 11:19-30 & Nehemiah 1-3
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 2 Corinthians 8:18-24 & Isaiah 13
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY 24 JUNE 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: WALK IN THE SPIRIT
KEY VERSE: _If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:25)._
MESSAGE
Our normal life in Christianity is walking in the spirit. To walk in the spirit is to walk by faith (2 Corinthians 5:7). That means our eyes are always on what the Word says, not on circumstances or feelings; not what the senses tell us.
When man committed high treason in the Garden of Eden, his spirit became subject to his senses: in other words, his spirit fell. Hitherto, his knowledge was spiritual, but when he fell through his disobedience to God, he became subject to his senses and this was what God warned him about: -“But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die”_ (Genesis 2:17). This was spiritual death!
Man ate of the tree, and he died. He was separated from God instantly. Prior to that time, Adam loved to be in the presence of God, but after his disobedience, he hid himself from that same presence (Genesis 3:9-11). God is life; and once a man is separated from Him, he can’t see the things that God sees anymore; he can’t see the glory of God. No wonder Adam saw himself naked afterwards.
When you’re walking in the spirit, you see the glory of God, His light, His beauty; you see the things that God sees; you see from His perspective. But when your spirit isn’t walking in the light of God, you’ll see what darkness shows you; you’ll see what the senses see. That’s what happened to Adam in the garden.
Romans 9:8 says,_“…They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God….”_ The children of the flesh are those who are ruled by their senses. But thanks be unto God! Your ties with the first Adam have been severed completely and forever. You’re born after the Lord from heaven, and should walk accordingly—in and by the Spirit.
If you walk in the spirit, you’ll see that you’ve been put over the elements, failures, frustrations, darkness, and corruption in this physical world. You’ll see that you live in, and are from, another realm, a heavenly realm that’s greater than this world. Hallelujah!
PRAYER:
Dear Father, I thank you for my faith is the victory that overcomes this world. I don’t judge situations or circumstances from the natural standpoint or from my five senses, but I see them from the perspective of your Word. I’m not a victim in this world, but a victor in Christ. Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY:
Romans 8:3-8
_3- For God has done what the Law could not do, [its power] being weakened by the flesh [the entire nature of man without the Holy Spirit]. Sending His own Son in the guise of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, [God] condemned sin in the flesh [subdued, overcame, deprived it of its power over all who accept that sacrifice],_
_4- So that the righteous and just requirement of the Law might be fully met in us who live and move not in the ways of the flesh but in the ways of the Spirit [our lives governed not by the standards and according to the dictates of the flesh, but controlled by the Holy Spirit]._
_5- For those who are according to the flesh and are controlled by its unholy desires set their minds on and pursue those things which gratify the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit and are controlled by the desires of the Spirit set their minds on and seek those things which gratify the [Holy] Spirit._
_6- Now the mind of the flesh [which is sense and reason without the Holy Spirit] is death [death that comprises all the miseries arising from sin, both here and hereafter]. But the mind of the [Holy] Spirit is life and [soul] peace [both now and forever]._
_7- [That is] because the mind of the flesh [with its carnal thoughts and purposes] is hostile to God, for it does not submit itself to God’s Law; indeed it cannot._
_8- So then those who are living the l
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 23 JUNE 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: HE DOESN'T ALWAYS GO FOR THE MOST QUALIFIED
KEY VERSE: _But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty (1 Corinthians 1:27)_
MESSAGE
Many years ago, the Lord spoke to me as a young teenager. This was my very first time of hearing personally from God. He said to me, “I want you to take my people into their inheritance.” At that stage of my life, I knew nothing about any inheritance; I was just a beginner! No one had taught me that we had any inheritance in Christ.
In children’s church, we learnt about serving God with reverence and love, and many beautiful Bible stories, but no one ever mentioned an inheritance in Christ. However, when God said to me, “I want you to take my people into their inheritance,” I just accepted. I simply believed Him without understanding what the instruction was about. I knew He would have to show me what it was, and He did; and I’ve been about it ever since.
My experience with the Lord very much mirrors what Paul the Apostle said in Ephesians 3:8:_“To me, though I am the very least of all the saints (God’s consecrated people), this grace (favor, privilege) was granted and graciously entrusted: to proclaim to the Gentiles the unending (boundless, fathomless, incalculable, and exhaustless) riches of Christ [wealth which no human being could have searched out”_ (AMPC).
Think about it: If He was looking for the most qualified people, Jesus should have been born of Caesar and brought up in a palace, but He wasn’t. The Bible says, “For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called” (1 Corinthians 1:26).
2 Corinthians 3:5 says,_“Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God.”_ The word “sufficiency” can also be translated as competence or ability. He’s the One who has called you and endued you with supernatural ability to carry out His work. Never look down on yourself or think there’s nothing special about you. He’s made you competent; so, look beyond your physical ability. Always remember that you’re special to Him, and He’s divinely enabled you to fulfil His calling on your life.
PRAYER:
.
FURTHER STUDY:
Ephesians 3:8, John 15:16, Galatians 1:15-16 & 2 Corinthians 3:5 AMPC
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 22 JUNE 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: INCREASING STRENGTH AND GLORY
KEY VERSE: _But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ (Acts 9:22)._
MESSAGE
Years ago, while I was having a lot of opposition, I set my face like a flint and focused on something God had told me. He said, “Be courageous; I will not fail you, and I will not forsake you.” It was an instruction from God. Therefore, it made no difference who was against me or what was happening around me; I couldn’t be bothered. There wasn’t going to be any fear. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, I was endued with courage and I’ve been ever since.
When God tells you to be courageous, it’s because He knows there’s trouble out there. He knows some things will try to frighten you, discourage you and dissuade you; so He says, “Be courageous.” I made up my mind that I was going to do what God said; I was going to be very courageous.
Our theme verse says, “Saul increased the more in strength….” To increase in strength means that the Lord enabled him. The Greek actually expresses it as “to be made strong.” He was increased in strength; this is an inner strength. He was empowered from within to be able to accomplish more. This is what the Lord does for His children; He strengthens you from within.
As you increase in strength, you increase in glory. This is what has happened with the Gospel of Jesus Christ in these last days: it has increased in strength and it has increased in glory. We’re in a special time in the world today with Rhapsody of Realities reaching billions of people in their native language. Millions of ministries are partnering together with us for the common goal of taking the Gospel to the ends of the earth!
These aren’t the kinds of things anyone could have planned. They’re happening by the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. That grace is at work in you today to accomplish more than you’ve ever done for the Lord. You won’t be afraid; you won’t falter. You’ll rise up to the occasion and win, because you’re empowered from within. Hallelujah!
PRAYER:
Dear Father, thank you for your supernatural grace that’s at work in me. I’m strengthened and energized for increased productivity and greater effectiveness by your Spirit today. I can do all things and change the circumstances of my life to conform to your perfect will for me through your Spirit that’s at work in me mightily. Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY:
Philippians 4:13
_13- I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am [b]self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency]._
Colossians 1:29 AMPC
_29- For this I labor [unto weariness], striving with all the superhuman energy which He so mightily enkindles and works within me._
Acts 18:9-10
_9- And one night the Lord said to Paul in a vision, Have no fear, but speak and do not keep silent;_
_10- For I am with you, and no man shall assault you to harm you, for I have many people in this city._
Joshua 1:7
_7- Only you be strong and very courageous, that you may do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you. Turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Acts 10:1-23 & Ezra 4-6
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 2 Corinthians 7:9-16 & Isaiah 9
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUEADAY 21 JUNE 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THE TEACHER IN YOU
KEY VERSE: _But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him (1 John 2:27)._
MESSAGE
In the light of so many different Bible translations today, how can one know which is most accurate? Sometimes, some of them say the same things differently and that’s tricky enough; but at other times, they say opposite things and it becomes really tough. One might put a verse in a question form, while another puts it in the affirmative. So it makes you wonder: Which is right?
There are several rules for scripture interpretation, but those rules are mostly academic. When you use these academic rules, you’ll only be as good as the theologians can be. Having a theological explanation is good, but you won’t be any better than those who already have different or questionable interpretations of the Scriptures. The question then would be: How do you know the actual truth?
The Holy Spirit is the author of the Scriptures. He knows everything in the Scriptures because He gave them to us. The Bible says, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God…” (2 Timothy 3:16); that God is the Holy Spirit. He lives in us and carries out His ministry inside us.
The Bible says, “…the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints” (Ephesians 1:17-18).
The Holy Spirit is the One who opens the eyes of our understanding, unveiling mysteries and secrets to us in the Scriptures. He’s the Spirit of knowledge; He knows all things and teaches us all things so that we can deal wisely in all affairs of life. Take your fellowship with Him more seriously; He’ll unveil His truths to your spirit in ways you never thought possible.
PRAYER:
I’ll never be at a crossroads in life because the Teacher lives in me and unveils truths to my spirit. He teaches me, not some things, but all things— everything I need to know about life and godliness. Glory to God!
FURTHER STUDY:
Isaiah 54:13
_13- And all your [spiritual] children shall be disciples [taught by the Lord and obedient to His will], and great shall be the peace and undisturbed composure of your children._
John 14:26
_26- But the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will cause you to recall (will remind you of, bring to your remembrance) everything I have told you._
John 16:13
_13- But when He, the Spirit of Truth (the Truth-giving Spirit) comes, He will guide you into all the Truth (the whole, full Truth). For He will not speak His own message [on His own authority]; but He will tell whatever He hears [from the Father; He will give the message that has been given to Him], and He will announce and declare to you the things that are to come [that will happen in the future]._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Acts 9:32-43 & Ezra 1-3
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 2 Corinthians 7:1-8 & Isaiah 8
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 20 JUNE 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: WE'RE HIS SENT ONES
KEY VERSE: _To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:19)._
MESSAGE
Every Christian is called into the ministry of reconciliation. That means we’re called to be soul winners. And in carrying out our ministry of reconciliation, we’re not alone. The Lord is working with us—confirming the Word with signs following.
We’re His witnesses to the world that Jesus is God manifest in the flesh. He sent us to the whole world, to let them know that God isn’t counting their trespasses against them. There’s no one on earth today who’s suffering or would go to hell because of his or her sins. Why? Jesus already paid the full penalty for sin for everyone. Does that excuse sin? Emphatically no! But it’s important for us to see from God’s perspective and put things in their right places.
Did you know that Jesus went to hell? He did on our behalf because our sins were laid on Him. He suffered that no man would ever need to suffer. The only reason anyone would be condemned and go to hell is for the ignorance and rejection of salvation in Jesus Christ. Then, they’d face judgment, because they didn’t receive what was paid for them—the sacrifice of the blood of Jesus—that’s the reason for hell and the lake of fire.
But it’s not God’s will that any should perish and go to hell. That’s why He sent us to tell them who Jesus is and what He’s done for them. They can only know, believe, and receive eternal life if we take the message to them:_“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent…”_ (Romans 10:13-15). We’re His sent ones. Jesus said in John 20:21,_“…Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.”_ Hallelujah! We bear His message of love, salvation and righteousness.
PRAYER:
Today, through me, the light of God shines ever so brightly, delivering men from darkness into light and from the power of Satan unto God. I’m committed to preaching the Gospel, that men may embrace life and righteousness and the blessed hope in Christ Jesus. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
2 Timothy 4:1-2
_1- I charge [you] in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, Who is to judge the living and the dead, and by (in the light of) His coming and His kingdom:_
_2- Herald and preach the Word! Keep your sense of urgency [stand by, be at hand and ready], whether the opportunity seems to be favorable or unfavorable. [Whether it is convenient or inconvenient, whether it is welcome or unwelcome, you as preacher of the Word are to show people in what way their lives are wrong.] And convince them, rebuking and correcting, warning and urging and encouraging them, being unflagging and inexhaustible in patience and teac
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SUNDAY 19 JUNE 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THE RAPTURE ISN’T A HOAX
KEY VERSE: _For soon and very soon, “The One who is appearing will come without delay (Hebrews 10:37 TPT)._
MESSAGE
Some people believe the Rapture of the Church is a hoax. Their argument is that the word “rapture” doesn’t appear anywhere in the Bible, and even Jesus never talked about it. Well, there are many things Jesus didn’t say much about. For instance, His disciples were with Him for the few years He ministered on earth, yet they knew nothing about the Gentiles receiving salvation. Though He had taught them many things, they couldn’t find anything that gave them a clear understanding that the Gentiles were to be brought into salvation.
In fact, when Peter went to the house of Cornelius, the Roman Centurion, and the other disciples heard about it, they were angry with him. He had to explain to them his experience with the Spirit of God and how, without his (Peter’s) permission, the Holy Spirit came upon the Gentiles while he was still speaking to them. James then opened the Scriptures and found where the prophets said the Gentiles would come into salvation. This was their first clue, until the mystery and revelation of the Body of Christ was given to the Apostle Paul.
It’s the same thing with the Rapture. You may not find the word “rapture” in any verse because at the time of writing, Paul described it as a mystery: _“Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed”_ (1 Corinthians 15:51). In 1 Thessalonians 4:17, the Scripture says, we shall be “caught up.” The Greek word is “harpazo,” which means to seize and take away. The Latin version translation is “raptura”, which in English is “rapture”; so it’s erroneous for anyone to suggest it’s not in the Bible.
Let no one deceive you; the Rapture is going to take place anytime soon. It’s closer than it’s ever been. It’s going to happen so fast that those who aren’t prepared and looking forward to it won’t have time to prepare and will be left behind. That had better not be you. Hebrews 9:28 says, _“…Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.”_
PRAYER:
Dear Father, I thank you for the honour of revealing to me deep insights from your Word. Thank you for making known to me by your Spirit the reality of the Rapture, and how close it is. I’m committed to preparing others for it, as I eagerly await the soon return of the Master. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
2 Peter 3:3-4 NIV
_3- knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts,_
_4- and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.”_
1 Corinthians 15:51-52
_51- Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed_
_52- in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed._
1 Thessalonians 4:15-18
_15- For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep._
_16- For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first._
_17- Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord._
_18- Therefore comfort one another with these words._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Acts 8:9-40 & 2 Chronicles 33-34
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 2 Corinthians 6:1-10 & Isaiah 5-6
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY 18 JUNE 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: USE HIS NAME WITH EXPECTATION
KEY VERSE: _Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk (Acts 3:6)._
MESSAGE
The Bible tells us about a man in Acts 3 who was laid daily at the gate of the temple so he could beg for alms. He was above 40 years of age and had been lame from birth. One day, as Peter and John were going together into the temple, the man reached out to them for alms. They both stopped, and Peter spoke up and said, “I don’t have silver or gold, but what I have, I give you. In the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.”
Confident that a miracle had happened, Peter got the man by the right hand and lifted him up, and the man’s ankle bones received strength; he was gloriously healed by the power of God. Jesus gave us the power of attorney to use His Name, to call His Name upon situations and circumstances. His Name has all power; use it with expectation.
If you believe in Jesus Christ, you have to trust His Name. You have to use His Name with confidence and faith. When Peter said to the man, “In the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk,” the Bible says the man’s ankle bones received strength.
But no one saw his bones receiving strength. No one saw how the power of God worked in his bones. In the realm of the spirit, when you use the Name of Jesus, there’s a change. You may not see it until you act, and you’ll only act because you’re expectant. Had Peter not been expectant of a miracle, he wouldn’t have pulled the man up.
Every one of us in Christ Jesus who has received the Holy Spirit has something to give to our city, our state, our nation, and the whole world. He sent us in His Name to announce the Good News to them, that righteousness has come; eternal life is now theirs. Go out in expectation that many will receive your message and turn to righteousness. Hallelujah!
PRAYER:
Dear heavenly Father, thank you for your Word that gives me the assurance that whenever I pray in the Name of Jesus, I can always expect to have results. I use that Name with boldness and confidence, knowing that things are already activated in my favour in the realm of the spirit, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
1 John 5:14-15
_14- And this is the confidence (the assurance, the privilege of boldness) which we have in Him: [we are sure] that if we ask anything (make any request) according to His will (in agreement with His own plan), He listens to and hears us._
_15- And if (since) we [positively] know that He listens to us in whatever we ask, we also know [with settled and absolute knowledge] that we have [granted us as our present possessions] the requests made of Him._
Mark 16:17-18
_17- And these attesting signs will accompany those who believe: in My name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new languages;_
_18- They will pick up serpents; and [even] if they drink anything deadly, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will get well._
John 14:13-14
_13- And I will do [I Myself will grant] whatever you ask in My Name [as presenting all that I Am], so that the Father may be glorified and extolled in (through) the Son._
_14- [Yes] I will grant [I Myself will do for you] whatever you shall ask in My Name [as presenting all that I Am]._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Acts 7:54-8:1-8 & 2 Chronicles 31-32
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 2 Corinthians 5:11-21 & Isaiah 4
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY 17 JUNE 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: A STRICT PRAYER REGIMEN
KEY VERSE: _And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone (Matthew 14:23)._
MESSAGE
Prayer is part of our priestly ministry. The Bible says men ought always to pray and not to give up. The Lord Jesus showed us, with practical examples, the importance and power of prayer. Mark 1:35 MSG tells us,_“While it was still night, way before dawn, he got up and went out to a secluded spot and prayed.”_ Luke 5:16 says,_“And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.”_
Jesus was disciplined with his prayer routine, and we ought to emulate Him. You’re a soldier in God’s army, and the hallmark of a soldier is discipline. Christianity is a call to a life of spiritual discipline. There’s a disciplined prayer life you ought to cultivate, and you can’t leave it out or leave it to chance.
You can’t say, “I’ll pray whenever I feel like”; no! In the army, you don’t do things when or because you feel like; you do things because you have to do them. You stick to the schedule; excuses aren’t tolerated. Scheduled times of prayer must be an integral part of your daily routine. First, you must have a personal prayer schedule. At such times, nothing else should be more important. Discipline yourself and pray; avoid distractions.
Secondly, take your corporate times of prayer seriously, whether you’re participating onsite or online. It’s one of the many benefits of being a member of a local church. Churches have structures, and members of the body of Christ generally belong to a church. Through the church structure, there could be prayer times allotted to different cell groups or even the whole church could be praying together at specific times. Be sure to be a part of it.
I send out notifications for prayer on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays for us to pray for 15 minutes at 12 noon and 10pm local time on Kingschat via the PastorChrislive superuser. If you haven’t been praying with us on that platform, sign up and turn on the notifications on your device to join millions around the world in these special times of prayer.
PRAYER:
Dear Father, thank you for the privilege to pray and side with you to enforce your will in the earth and in the lives of men. Through prayer, my eyes are open to spiritual realities, and your thoughts are unveiled to my spirit, causing me to walk in ever-increasing glory, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Luke 18:1
_1- Also [Jesus] told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not to turn coward (faint, lose heart, and give up)._
Romans 8:26-27
_26- So too the [Holy] Spirit comes to our aid and bears us up in our weakness; for we do not know what prayer to offer nor how to offer it worthily as we ought, but the Spirit Himself goes to meet our supplication and pleads in our behalf with unspeakable yearnings and groanings too deep for utterance._
_27- And He Who searches the hearts of men knows what is in the mind of the [Holy] Spirit [what His intent is], because the Spirit intercedes and pleads [before God] in behalf of the saints according to and in harmony with God’s will._
Ephesians 6:18 AMPC
_18- Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose andperseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints (God’s consecrated people)._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Acts 7:1-53 & 2 Chronicles 29-30
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 2 Corinthians 5:1-10 & Isaiah 3
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY 11 JUNE 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: GIVE ATTENTION TO PRAYER AND THE WORD
KEY VERSE: _But we will continue to devote ourselves steadfastly to prayer and the ministry of the Word (Acts 6:4 AMPC)._
MESSAGE
When we talk about being equipped and positioned for a life of consistent victory and dominion, it’s about giving attention to the Word of God, and prayer in its various dimensions and applications. In other words, prayer is of different kinds, and it’s important to know how to pray effectively by applying the different rules for different kinds of prayer.
Paul said,_“Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit…”_ (Ephesians 6:18). So, you learn to pray ALWAYS. The Lord Jesus taught that,_“…Men ought always to pray, and not to faint”_ (Luke 18:1). 1 Thessalonians 5:17 says,_“Pray without ceasing.”_ All through the Scriptures, there’s such strong emphasis on prayer because of its profound blessings and benefits.
Also, God’s Word is of utmost importance in our lives; you must study, understand and live by God’s Word. Jesus said in John 8:31,_“…If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed”_ (John 8:31). In John 8:32, He said,_“And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”_ His Word is truth.
2 Timothy 2:15 says,_“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”_ Joshua 1:8,_“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.”_
In Colossians 3:16, the Spirit, through the Apostle Paul, says,_“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom….”_ Place a premium on the study of the Word of God and prayer. It’s what you need for a balanced spiritual life, where you triumph gloriously every day.
PRAYER:
Dear Father, thank you for equipping me for the victorious life in Christ through the Word and prayer. As I make time praying in the spirit, pressing on for more knowledge of the Word, your glory is expressed in and through me; I’m thoroughly nourished and fortified, and my profiting is unstoppable, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Acts 6:1-4
_1- Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists,[a] because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution._
_2- Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables._
_3- Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business;_
_4- but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”_
1 Timothy 2:1-3
_1- Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men,_
_2- for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence._
_3- For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,_
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Acts 2:22-47 & 2 Chronicles 8-11
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 2 Corinthians 2:1-7 & Songs Of Solomon 1-2
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 15 JUNE 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: SUSTAIN THE GLORY THROUGH PRAYER
KEY VERSE: _Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again (John 12:28)._
MESSAGE
Luke, by the Spirit, reports what happened to Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration as He prayed: “And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering” (Luke 9:29). That means the glory increased. But that glory and power were from within Him. This is the transformation that each one of us can and should have through praying in the Holy Ghost. That’s the secret.
If you pray for a short time, you may not sustain the glory or it could fizzle out. For example, when we minister to people and lay hands on them, it does something for them at that moment. But it’s a completely different thing for that power to stay. To sustain the effect and the impact of the glory, you must give yourself to prayer—praying in the spirit.
You can’t spend your time in godless chatter and experience this. 2 Timothy 2:15-16 (AMPC) says, “Study and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved (tested by trial), a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analyzing and accurately dividing [rightly handling and skillfully teaching] the Word of Truth. But avoid all empty (vain, useless, idle) talk, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness.”
If you want to see your life go from glory to glory, avoid empty, vain, useless, idle talk; rather, give yourself to the ministry of the Word and praying in the spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:18 AMPC says, “And all of us, as with unveiled face, [because we] continued to behold [in the Word of God] as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are constantly being transfigured into His very own image in ever increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another; [for this comes] from the Lord [Who is] the Spirit.”
If you’ve been studying the Word, beholding the glory of God, you’ve contacted something. Don’t let it leave you. Hold on to it. Sustain it through prayer and meditation on the Word.
PRAYER:*
Dear heavenly Father, I thank you for your Word that has come to my spirit today; I’m transfigured, and the glory is resplendent even in my countenance as I pray in the spirit. I’m transformed in every area of my life, from glory to glory, and the light of your Word shines forth brightly in me, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Acts 6:15
_15- Then all who sat in the council (Sanhedrin), as they gazed intently at Stephen, saw that his face had the appearance of the face of an angel._
Ephesians 5:18-20
_18- And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but ever be filled and stimulated with the [Holy] Spirit._
_19- Speak out to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, offering praise with voices [and instruments] and making melody with all your heart to the Lord,_
_20- At all times and for everything giving thanks in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father._
Luke 9:28-30
_28- Now about eight days after these teachings, Jesus took with Him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray._
_29- And as He was praying, the appearance of His countenance became altered (different), and His raiment became dazzling white [flashing with the brilliance of lightning]._
_30- And behold, two men were conversing with Him—Moses and Elijah,_
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Acts 5:12-42 & 2 Chronicles 23-25
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 2 Corinthians 4:1-6 & Isaiah 1
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY 14 JUNE 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: SERVE GOD IN RIGHTEOUSNESS AND HOLINESS
KEY VERSE: _Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God (2 Corinthians 5:20)._
MESSAGE
From the verse above, we see the Apostle Paul’s careful use of words. In verse eighteen, he said, “We (all of us) have been given the ministry of reconciliation.” Then he presses home the importance of this ministry of reconciliation, urging the Corinthian church to take the message to the world.
But Paul was after something else as well, which he communicates to them. After asseverating the importance of reconciling men to God, he went on to his next subject and says,_“Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God”_ (2 Corinthians 5:20).
When he said, “We are ambassadors for Christ,” he wasn’t referring to the whole church of Christ; rather, he was referring to himself and his companions who were with him such as Timothy, with whom he wrote this letter. He counselled the Corinthian church to be reconciled to God. The same people he had told o reconcile the world to God are now being told to be reconciled to God. Why?
It’s because they had not been living right. Therefore, he says to them, “Just as the Spirit has said, ‘go to the people of the world and reconcile them to God’, He’s also saying to you, repent and be reconciled to God.” This is important because as God’s people, we’re encouraged to be involved in the work of the ministry, to take the message of salvation to the unsaved and reconcile men to God. But while you’re at it, live a life that’s pleasing to the Lord.
Christianity is a call to righteousness and a walk in righteousness. Don’t live in sin. The Bible says sin shall not have dominion over you (Romans 6:14). Serve God in holiness and righteousness. Stay in the Word and practise your Christianity, regardless of the pressures. Live the life of a righteous person every day.
PRAYER:
Dear Lord, thank you for imparting to me the nature of righteousness such that I’m able to live a righteous life. I walk in righteousness and produce works and fruits of righteousness. I’m a light in a dark world, lighting the paths of sinners that they may see and be ushered into the Kingdom, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Ephesians 4:20-24
_20- But you have not so learned Christ,_
_21- if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus:_
_22- that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts,_
_23- and be renewed in the spirit of your mind,_
_24- and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness._
2 Corinthians 5:17-21
_17- Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new._
_18- Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation,_
_19- that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not [a]imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation._
_20- Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God._
_21- For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Acts 4:32-5:1-11 & 2 Chronicles 20-22
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 2 Corinthians 3:11-18 & Songs Of Solomon 7-8
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY 11 JUNE 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: GIVE ATTENTION TO PRAYER AND THE WORD
KEY VERSE: _But we will continue to devote ourselves steadfastly to prayer and the ministry of the Word (Acts 6:4 AMPC)._
MESSAGE
When we talk about being equipped and positioned for a life of consistent victory and dominion, it’s about giving attention to the Word of God, and prayer in its various dimensions and applications. In other words, prayer is of different kinds, and it’s important to know how to pray effectively by applying the different rules for different kinds of prayer.
Paul said,_“Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit…”_ (Ephesians 6:18). So, you learn to pray ALWAYS. The Lord Jesus taught that,_“…Men ought always to pray, and not to faint”_ (Luke 18:1). 1 Thessalonians 5:17 says,_“Pray without ceasing.”_ All through the Scriptures, there’s such strong emphasis on prayer because of its profound blessings and benefits.
Also, God’s Word is of utmost importance in our lives; you must study, understand and live by God’s Word. Jesus said in John 8:31,_“…If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed”_ (John 8:31). In John 8:32, He said,_“And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”_ His Word is truth.
2 Timothy 2:15 says,_“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”_ Joshua 1:8,_“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.”_
In Colossians 3:16, the Spirit, through the Apostle Paul, says,_“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom….”_ Place a premium on the study of the Word of God and prayer. It’s what you need for a balanced spiritual life, where you triumph gloriously every day.
PRAYER:
Dear Father, thank you for equipping me for the victorious life in Christ through the Word and prayer. As I make time praying in the spirit, pressing on for more knowledge of the Word, your glory is expressed in and through me; I’m thoroughly nourished and fortified, and my profiting is unstoppable, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Acts 6:1-4
_1- Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists,[a] because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution._
_2- Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables._
_3- Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business;_
_4- but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”_
1 Timothy 2:1-3
_1- Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men,_
_2- for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence._
_3- For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,_
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Acts 2:22-47 & 2 Chronicles 8-11
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 2 Corinthians 2:1-7 & Songs Of Solomon 1-2
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES d 10 JUNE 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THE FLESH HAS BEEN CRUCIFIED
KEY VERSE: _This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh (Galatians 5:16)._
MESSAGE
The flesh is basically about your senses and appetites, and the things you desire to do. And the Bible tells us, _“...they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts”_ (Galatians 5:24). Notice that verse doesn’t say, “They that are Christ’s are trying to or praying to crucify the flesh with the affections and lusts.” For the one crying to the Lord to help crucify the flesh, he’s praying the wrong prayer, struggling for nothing!
Don’t find yourself in a struggle. If that’s the case, stop right away and say, “From this day, Jesus Christ is the Lord over my mind, over my appetites and over my desires; I have overcome the flesh and its passions and appetites; I’m Christ-minded.” Fill your thoughts with the words of Christ; that’s what you need.
If the Word of God controls your mind, you’ll be a master. The Lordship of Jesus is the end of all struggles. When Jesus is the Lord of your body, you do what Paul explained in Romans 12:1: you present your body to Him, because your body is His body.
1 Corinthians 6:15 says, _“Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid.”_ Be bold and confident that you’re God’s headquarters. The body in which you live is God’s property; you’re living inside as a tenant and custodian; you’re taking care of it for God.
Romans 8:12-14 says, _“Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 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. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.”_ You live in the Spirit; therefore, walk in the Spirit and you shall not fulfil the lusts of the flesh.
PRAYER:
Dear Father, my body and all my members and faculties are a living sacrifice, holy, devoted, consecrated and well-pleasing to you, which is my service and spiritual worship. I have crucified the flesh with its passions and appetites and desires. My mind is yielded to your Word, and my heart is regulated by the Word, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Galatians 5:16 _16- So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh._
Romans 8:1-5 AMPC
_1- THEREFORE, [there is] now no condemnation (no adjudging guilty of wrong) for those who are in Christ Jesus, who live [and] walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit. [John 3:18.]_
_2- For the law of the Spirit of life [which is] in Christ Jesus [the law of our new being] has freed me from the law of sin and of death._
_3- For God has done what the Law could not do, [its power] being weakened by the flesh [the entire nature of man without the Holy Spirit]. Sending His own Son in the guise of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, [God] condemned sin in the flesh [subdued, overcame, deprived it of its power over all who accept that sacrifice], [Lev. 7:37.]_
_4- So that the righteous and just requirement of the Law might be fully met in us who live and move not in the ways of the flesh but in the ways of the Spirit [our lives governed not by the standards and according to the dictates of the flesh, but controlled by the Holy Spirit]._
_5- For those who are according to the flesh and are controlled by its unholy desires set their minds on and pursue those things which gratify the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit and are controlled by the desires of the Spirit set their minds on and seek those things which gratify the [Holy] Spirit._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Acts 2:1-21 & 2 Chronicles 5-7
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 2 Corinthians 1:12-24 & Ecclesiastes 11-1
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 09 JUNE 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: PRAYER AND THE SPOKEN WORD
KEY VERSE: _And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God (Ephesians 6:17)._
MESSAGE
In Ephesians 6:10-18, everything the Apostle Paul listed was a protective part of our armour. The only offensive tool is “the sword of the Spirit,” which is the “Rhema” of God—the Word of God that’s spoken from your mouth—the out-breathing of the inspired Word of God for the hour and the season.
This is akin to the Apostle John’s description of the Lord in Revelation 1:16:_“…out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword….”_ We find a similar expression in Revelation 2:16:_“…I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.”_ This doesn’t mean a sword protrudes out of His mouth; rather, it refers to the Word of God!
Now, observe the connection between the 17th and the 18th verses of Ephesians 6 in the underlined portion:_“And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.”_
It says while you’re declaring the Word, getting on the offensive against the adversary, pray for all saints! He’s emphasizing prayer and the spoken word. So, declare God’s Word always, and pray that God’s people are strengthened and emboldened to continually take their place as agents of change in the nations of the world. Praise God.
PRAYER:
Dear Father, I’m fully equipped and fortified with the whole armour of God, strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Your Word from my lips prevails against adverse circumstances, producing righteousness and salvation, subduing darkness and evil and all manipulations of Satan, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Ephesians 6:10-18
_10- In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [be empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from Him [that strength which His boundless might provides]._
_11- Put on God’s whole armor [the armor of a heavy-armed soldier which God supplies], that you may be able successfully to stand up against [all] the strategies and the deceits of the devil._
_12- For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere._
_13- Therefore put on God’s complete armor, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day [of danger], and, having done all [the crisis demands], to stand [firmly in your place]._
_14- Stand therefore [hold your ground], having tightened the belt of truth around your loins and having put on the breastplate of integrity andof moral rectitude and right standing with God,_
_15- And having shod your feet in preparation [to face the enemy with the [a]firm-footed stability, the promptness, and the readiness produced by the good news] of the Gospel of peace._
_16- Lift up over all the [covering] shield of saving faith, upon which you can quench all the flaming missiles of the wicked [one]._
_17- And take the helmet of salvation and the sword that the Spirit wields, which is the Word of God._
_18- Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints (God’s consecrated people)._
John 6:63
_63- It is the Spirit Who gives life [He is the Life-giver]; the flesh conveys no benefit whatever [there is no profit in it]. The words (truths) that I have been speaking to you are spirit and life._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Acts 1:1-26 & 2 Chronicles 1-4
*2-YEAR BIBLE READIN
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 08 JUNE 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THE BATTLE HAS BEEN WON
KEY VERSE: "…help us, O LORD our God; for we rest on thee, and in thy name we go against this multitude. O LORD, thou art our God; let not man prevail against thee (2 Chronicles 14:11)."
MESSAGE*
In the Scriptures, we find certain instances where God’s people were overwhelmed by their adversaries in numbers and weapons. In the days of King Asa, Judah was completely outnumbered by Zerah, the Ethiopian King, who invaded Judah with an army of a million men and three hundred chariots.
Asa cried out to the Lord and the Lord gave him supernatural victory (2 Chronicles 14:12). Then you find the story of Jehoshaphat, the King of Judah. Judah was surrounded by three enemy nations that were ready to attack her—Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir. The king gathered all Judah together to seek the Lord in prayer and fasting, and God said through a prophetic message, “…fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you”*_ (2 Chronicles 20:17).
God told them how to approach the war and was definite: He said, “Tomorrow, go out against them!” Not only that, He revealed the exact location of the enemies’ camp and gave them the strategy to defeat them. Employing the strategy God gave them, Jehoshaphat organized and placed singers, the Levites, in front to praise the beauty of God’s holiness.
The result was a great victory for Jehoshaphat and all Judah. Think about it; not a single sword lifted, yet God’s people recorded an overwhelming victory against three enemy nations. This is our reality as new creatures in Christ Jesus; we’re undefeatable. The battle was already won before we came on the scene. What God expects is for us to give Him praise. This is what we must do in our churches. Our churches have to be filled with songs of praise to God.
It makes no difference what you face in this world, be full of praise, and worship the Lord, because the battle has been won! No wonder He says,_*“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations” (James 1:2). Then in Romans 8:37, He says,“Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” FURTHER STUDY:
Psalm 20:7, Hebrews 2:12-13 AMPC, Hebrews 13:15 AMPC & Psalm 28:7
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY 07 JUNE 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THE POWER OF THE SPIRIT IN YOUR WORDS
KEY VERSE: _It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life (John 6:63)._
MESSAGE
The excitement during our worship, praise and thanksgiving would not produce life if the contents of the songs aren’t delivered in words that are consistent with the New Testament of Christ. No matter the shouting, without the Spirit, it’s empty shout. The Spirit makes the difference.
When you speak the right words, the Spirit acts upon them. For example, it’s the reason we can speak from where we are and say to someone who’s thousands of miles away, “Be healed,” and a blind person in China will receive his sight, or someone in faraway Mongolia who’s been crippled from birth starts walking.
Such things happen because of the power of the Spirit in our words. Words recognize no seasons or barriers. Words are things; they’re tangible and potent with creative energy. So, don’t say, “Well, I wasn’t serious when I said it”; in the realm of the spirit, everything you say is living and active. It’ll work for you or against you. That’s the reason we emphasize speaking the Word only; speaking truth.
The Bible says,_“For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned”_ (Matthew 12:37). Don’t use words carelessly. Know, think, talk and sing the Word—whether in merrymaking or in praise to God! Let your life be consistent with God’s truths, and you’d be amazed at the resultant blessings in your life.
PRAYER:
Dear Father, I thank you for giving me your Word to live by. I utter words that are consistent with your will, plans and purposes continually, knowing that my words are filled with power to produce results for your glory. I deal and speak wisely always; my words inspire faith in others, for healings, salvation and blessings, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
1 Corinthians 2:4 AMPC
_4- And my language and my message were not set forth in persuasive (enticing and plausible) words of wisdom, but they were in demonstration of the [Holy] Spirit and power [a proof by the Spirit and power of God, operating on me and stirring in the minds of my hearers the most holy emotions and thus persuading them],_
Mark 11:23
_23- Truly I tell you, whoever says to this mountain, Be lifted up and thrown into the sea! and does not doubt at all in his heart but believes that what he says will take place, it will be done for him._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: John 20:19-31 & 1 Chronicles 23-25
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 1 Corinthians 16:1-12 & Ecclesiastes 5-6
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 06 JUNE 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THE NAME ABOVE ALL
KEY VERSE: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth (Philippians 2:10).
MESSAGE*
Our opening verse is so profound! It says every knee should bow to Jesus. Who could this be? Who is this Jesus that at His Name every knee has to bow? There’s only One who claims that every knee should bow to Him, and that’s the Lord God:_“Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear”_ (Isaiah 45:22-23).
We then find in Psalm 138:2 that the name “Jehovah” is encapsulated in the very Name Jesus:_“… for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.”_ Jesus is the Word magnified and personified. The Bible says He’s _“far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come”_ (Ephesians 1:21 NIV). We’ve been given that Name to live by, to use, and it works all the time.
Some people have narrated how, when they were sleeping, some force came over them and pushed on their chest. They struggled to get rid of whatever it was to no avail and tried to call the Name of Jesus, but their mouths were heavy. However, the moment they were able to get the Name of Jesus out of their mouths, the thing disappeared instantly. Hallelujah!
When we call the Name of Jesus, things happen in the realm of the spirit. Angels are dispatched on your behalf. Demons bow and limitations are destroyed. Situations turn around for your good. Call that Name today. Call it over your city. Call it over your state. Call it over your country. Call it over this world! We’ve been given a treasure so great, and it behooves us to use it. It’s the Name of Jesus!
FURTHER STUDY: Romans 14:11, Psalm 72:11 & Philippians 2:9-11 AMPC
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SUNDAY 05 JUNE 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: SERVE GOD WITH REVERENCE
KEY VERSE: _For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers (Romans 1:9)._
MESSAGE
When you study the life of the Apostle Paul, it’ll be very clear to you why he was so successful in ministry. Paul understood what it meant to serve God with, and from, your spirit—with true reverence. Isn’t that akin to what Jesus said in John 4:23-24? He said, “God is a Spirit, and they that worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and in truth, for the Father seeks such to worship Him.” This was the life Paul lived.
When he said, “I serve God with my spirit,” he was simply stating how he lived every day. Now you can understand why he said in Philippians 3:3, “We are the true circumcision that worship God in the spirit….” There was a conditioning of his spirit through the Word and fellowship of the Holy Spirit that made him a true worshipper.
This is the life we’ve been called to live. We’re to serve and worship the Lord with, and from, our spirits, with the reverence that He deserves. The Bible says, _“The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne…”_ (Revelation 4:10). They showed reverence to the Lord in worship.
Sometimes, that reverence could be an outward prostration, but the prostration of the heart is more important. Many don’t understand what it is to have reverence for God. Some Christians speak in tongues irreverently, forgetting that they’re speaking to God and not man. The Bible says he that speaks in an unknown tongue isn’t speaking to men, but unto God: in the spirit, he’s speaking mysteries to God (1 Corinthians 14:2). Why then should a child of God speak to God so irreverently? Such irreverence among some Christians reflects in their lives, in their words and actions.
Always have the consciousness of the presence of God. It’ll help you maintain not just an attitude, but a life of reverence, where you give true worship to God.
PRAYER:
Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendour, for you alone are God! You’re exalted as head over all, and I serve you with my spirit in the Gospel, in holiness and truth, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Revelation 4:10-11
_10- The twenty-four elders (the members of the heavenly Sanhedrin) fall prostrate before Him Who is sitting on the throne, and they worship Him Who lives forever and ever; and they throw down their crowns before the throne, crying out,_
_11- Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive the glory and the honor and dominion, for You created all things; by Your will they were [brought into being] and were created._
Psalm 103:1
_1- Bless (affectionately, gratefully praise) the Lord, O my soul; and all that is [deepest] within me, bless His holy name!_
John 4:23-24
_23- A time will come, however, indeed it is already here, when the true (genuine) worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth (reality); for the Father is seeking just such people as these as His worshipers._
_24- God is a Spirit (a spiritual Being) and those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth (reality)._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: John 19:17-42 & 1 Chronicles 17-19
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 1 Corinthians 15:40-49 & Ecclesiastes 1-2
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY 04 JUNE 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THERE'S POWER IN YOU
KEY VERSE: _Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us (Ephesians 3:20)._
MESSAGE
You’re full of power. There’s authority and there’s power. We have authority in the Name of Jesus, but we have power in the person and presence of the Holy Spirit. Hallelujah!
You have, not only the highest authority, but also the extraordinary ability of God within your spirit. It doesn’t flow from Heaven to you; you got it when the Holy Spirit came to make His home in you. Hallelujah! All of the power of divinity is at work in you.
No wonder Jesus said in Matthew 10:8,_“Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.”_ You have it, and that’s why you can give it! Hallelujah! That’s why Peter could say to the lame man at the gate of the temple called Beautiful,_“…such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk”_ (Acts 3:6); and the man was gloriously healed.
Peter knew he had something to give. He had great confidence in what he had. Today, you have the same Holy Spirit that Peter had. You have power in you. Jesus said,_“And you shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you…”_ (Acts 1:8). Recognize, affirm, and put the power in you to work every day. Glory to God
CONFESSION:
The Holy Spirit came to live in me; therefore, the Kingdom, power, glory, righteousness and dominion of Christ are manifested in and through me. I’m full of power! And with this power, I heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils and do mighty works for the glory of God.
FURTHER STUDY:
Ephesians 3:20-21 AMPC
_20- Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]_
_21- To Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen (so be it)._
2 Corinthians 4:7
_7- However, we possess this precious treasure [the divine Light of the Gospel] in [frail, human] vessels of earth, that the grandeur and exceeding greatness of the power may be shown to be from God and not from ourselves._
Acts 1:8 AMPC
_8- But you shall receive power (ability, efficiency, and might) when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be My witnesses in Jerusalem and all Judea and Samaria and to the ends (the very bounds) of the earth._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: John 18:28-19:1-16 & 1 Chronicles 14-16
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 1 Corinthians 15:29-39 & Proverbs 31
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY 03 JUNE 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: HE DELIGHTS IN OUR PRAYERS
KEY VERSE: _And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full (John 16:23-24)._
MESSAGE
Prayer is our way of bringing the power of the Spirit of God to bear on our world. That’s why He leads us always to pray and effect changes in our world. The prophets prayed; Jesus prayed; the apostles prayed, and they all taught us to pray. There are lots of results we’ll never see except we pray. It’s God’s way of relating with us; He asked us to do it.
Isaiah 45:19 shows us what God thinks when it comes to prayer: “I publicly proclaim bold promises; I do not whisper obscurities in some dark corner so that no one can know what I mean. And I didn’t tell Israel to ask me for what I didn’t plan to give! No, for I, Jehovah, speak only truth and righteousness” (TLB). He’ll never ask us to pray for something He didn’t plan to give to us. He tells us to pray because He plans to answer.
Some people don’t know this; so they get discouraged when they pray and it seems what they’re praying about hasn’t materialized. Some others pray “religiously,” not expecting to receive answers. If only they knew that the glory of God is in answering our prayers. He delights in answering our prayers. He loves to see us actualize our hopes and dreams, and then we praise Him for it.
Have the audacity of faith to expect answers when you pray, because the Lord derives glory from answering your prayers. It brings to mind the words of Jesus in John 15:8:_“Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.”_ His joy is for you to have a fruitful, productive and effective walk in righteousness.
PRAYER:
Dear Father, I thank you for the privilege and opportunity of prayer. The very thought that you delight in answering my prayers makes prayer more exciting for me. Thank you for giving me the extraordinary Name of Jesus to live by. With it, I live triumphantly and experience supernatural results every day. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
1 Peter 3:12
_12- For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous (those who are upright and in right standing with God), and His ears are attentive to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who practice evil [to oppose them, to frustrate, and defeat them]._
1 John 5:14-15
_14- And this is the confidence (the assurance, the privilege of boldness) which we have in Him: [we are sure] that if we ask anything (make any request) according to His will (in agreement with His own plan), He listens to and hears us._
_15- And if (since) we [positively] know that He listens to us in whatever we ask, we also know [with settled and absolute knowledge] that we have [granted us as our present possessions] the requests made of Him._
John 16:23-24
_23- And when that time comes, you will ask nothing of Me [you will need to ask Me no questions]. I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, that My Father will grant you whatever you ask in My Name [as presenting all that I Am]._
_24- Up to this time you have not asked a [single] thing in My Name [as presenting all that I Am]; but now ask and keep on asking and you will receive, so that your joy (gladness, delight) may be full and complete._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: John 18:1-27 & 1 Chronicles 11-13
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 1 Corinthians 15:20-28 & Proverbs 30
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 02 JUNE 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THE DEITY OF CHRIST
KEY VERSE: _“Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God” (John 5:18)._
MESSAGE
Until you discover who Jesus really is, you can’t walk with Him. Jesus is Adonai; He’s the Lord God! The very thought of this blows the mind. No wonder the Jews had difficulty accepting Him. They accused Him of making Himself equal with God because He said God was His Father.
They knew that when someone says, “God is my Father,” it doesn’t mean God gave birth to that person, because God is a Spirit. They understood what Jesus was saying: He Himself was Jehovah in human manifestation! In John 10:30, He made another staggering declaration that made them angrier. He said, “I and my Father are one.” In other words, “We’re one and the same; if you’ve seen Me, you’ve seen the Father.”
Now, the Jews got really crazy and they took up stones again to stone Him. But Jesus interrupted them and asked, “…Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?” They replied,_“…For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God”_ (John 10:32-33).
Notice the two charges brought against Jesus. The first one was blasphemy for saying God was His Father. The second was robbery, because being a man, He made Himself God. He was therefore condemned with robbers. But the Bible says in Philippians 2:5-6,_“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God.”_
This verse was a direct response to the Jewish charge against Jesus that He was a thief for declaring Himself to be equal with God. Jesus didn’t think He was robbing God by being equal with God, because He was in the form of God. The Greek word for “form” is “morphe,” which means “nature.” In other words, He was in the very nature or essence of God. Though He looked like a man, He was in the form of God. In essence, Jesus is God! This is one of the cleverest communications in the New Testament about the deity of Jesus Christ. His claim to deity is right.
PRAYER:
Lord Jesus, you’re the great God of glory and the complete embodiment of Deity! Thank you for revealing your divine personality to me. I celebrate your Lordship and rulership over my life and over all of creation. You’re the Most High God, and you alone are worthy of all praise, worship and adoration. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Titus 2:13
_13- Awaiting and looking for the [fulfillment, the realization of our] blessed hope, even the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed One),_
1 Timothy 3:16
_16- And great and important and weighty, we confess, is the hidden truth (the mystic secret) of godliness. He [God] was made visible in human flesh, justified and vindicated in the [Holy] Spirit, was seen by angels, preached among the nations, believed on in the world, [and] taken up in glory._
Colossians 1:15-19
_15- [Now] He is the exact likeness of the unseen God [the visible representation of the invisible]; He is the Firstborn of all creation._
_16- For it was in Him that all things were created, in heaven and on earth, things seen and things unseen, whether thrones, dominions, rulers, or authorities; all things were created and exist through Him [by His service, intervention] and in and for Him._
_17- And He Himself existed before all things, and in Him all things consist (cohere, are held together)._
_18- He also is the Head of [His] body, the church; seeing He is the Beginning, the Firstborn from among the dead, so that He alone in everything and in every respect might occupy the chief place [stand first and be preeminent]._
_19- For it has pleased [the Father] that all the divine fullness (the
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 01 JUNE 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THE RAIN OF THE SPIRIT
KEY VERSE: _And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions (Joel 2:28)._
MESSAGE
It’s quite significant how our opening verse likens the move of the Spirit in the last days to water: “…I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh….” Prophet Isaiah puts it this way:_“Until the spirit be poured upon us from on high…”_ (Isaiah 32:15). Hosea 6:3 says_“… and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.”_
Also, in Zechariah 10:1, the Bible says,_“Ask ye of the LORD rain in the time of the latter rain; so the LORD shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field.”_ So, the Spirit was going to be “poured” from on high in the last days like rain. On the day of Pentecost, this rain poured out from Heaven on Peter and all the other apostles and they were filled with the Holy Ghost:_“And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance”_ (Acts 2:4).
From then on, they spoke the Word of God with boldness. One day, while Peter was preaching in the house of Cornelius, a Roman Centurion, the Bible says the Holy Ghost “fell” on all of them that heard the Word (Acts 10:44). He fell on them like rain.
Then in John 7:38, we read the beautiful words of the Master; He said,_“He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.”_ If you’ve received the Holy Spirit, this refers to you. Just like Peter, you can go out in the power of the Spirit to share the Gospel with others and the Holy Spirit will fall on them like He did in Bible days. Chains will be broken and sicknesses will disappear; curses will be lifted and many will receive salvation. Glory to God!
We’re clouds full of water and out of our bellies flow rivers of living water! Through us, righteousness and salvation spring up in the earth, just as the Bible says:_“You heavens above, rain down righteousness; let the clouds shower it down. Let the earth open wide, let salvation spring up, let righteousness grow with it; I, the LORD, have created it”_ (Isaiah 45:8 NIV).
PRAYER:
Dear Father, I thank you for the ministry of the Holy Spirit in my life, pouring out rivers of living water from my innermost being. I’m a living fountain, and I give life to others, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Hosea 10:12
_12- Sow for yourselves righteousness; Reap in mercy; Break up your fallow ground, For it is time to seek the Lord, Till He comes and rains righteousness on you._
Isaiah 45:8 NASB
_8- “Drip down, O heavens, from above, And let the clouds pour down righteousness; Let the earth open up and salvation bear fruit, And righteousness spring up with it. I, the Lord, have created it._
Joel 2:23
_23- Be glad then, you children of Zion, And rejoice in the Lord your God; For He has given you the former rain faithfully, And He will cause the rain to come down for you— The former rain, And the latter rain in the first month._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: John 16:17-33; 1 Chronicles 7-8
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 1 Corinthians 15:1-10; Proverbs 28
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY 31 MAY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: BE VISIONARY WITH THE GOSPEL
KEY VERSE: _*In such ways I have trailblazed a preaching of the Message of Jesus all the way from Jerusalem far into northwestern Greece. This has all been pioneer work, bringing the Message only into those places where Jesus was not yet known and worshiped (Romans 15:19-20 MSG).
MESSAGE*
Paul was a trailblazer, a visionary apostle. What we read in our opening verse reveals his mindset and passion to preach and share the Gospel in places where Christ hadn’t been known. He was in the vanguard of taking the glorious Gospel to new, unconverted souls.
Wherever Paul went, he began to research if Christ’s name had already been known in such a place. And when he found that the Gospel had been established in that city, he simply moved into new cities and regions where the message wasn’t known, and pioneered the work. This was the kind of ministry that Paul had: ever-increasing vision!
It wasn’t that Paul was ignoring other places and looking only for places where Christ hadn’t been preached; no! Read the statement he made before what we read in our opening scripture; he said, “… from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ” (Romans 15:19). Think about that!
Emulate Paul’s kind of vision, where you take the map of your city and research to know where the light of the Gospel is still dim or non-existent, with the goal of moving in with the Gospel. If there’re places you can’t go physically, you send in Bibles and Rhapsody of Realities.
“…This Gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations, and then shall the end come” (Matthew 24:14). Those are the words of Jesus; they must be personal to you. Be passionate about spreading the message of the Gospel, not just in your catchment but also to the regions beyond. Pioneer new cells, fellowships and churches in places where you’re aware they don’t exist. The Lord’s mandate is still in force. He said, “… Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15).
Utilize every opportunity to preach the Gospel. The harvest is ready. Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY:
Matthew 5:14, 1 Corinthians 9:16 & Romans 15:19-20 AMPC
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 30 MAY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: GRACE HEAPED UPON GRACE
KEY VERSE: _But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever Amen (2 Peter 3:18)._
MESSAGE
Did you know that you could walk in everincreasing grace? This is what God wants for your life: grace heaped upon grace such that no matter the challenges you face, the grace to put you over is available. John 1:16 says,_“And of his fullness have all we received, and grace for grace.”_ The Amplified version says,_“For out of His fullness [the superabundance of His grace and truth] we have all received grace upon grace [spiritual blessing upon spiritual blessing, favor upon favor, and gift heaped upon gift].”_
The Greek margin actually says, “Grace heaped upon grace.” This encompasses spiritual blessings, favours, gifts, etc. Every day, be conscious that you have grace for whatever you need and for anything you have to do. The grace of God on your life is the inner working of the glory and power of God that radiates excellence. That grace causes you to have uncommon results.
Your contemporaries might be as gifted as you or even have more abilities than yourself, but God’s grace at work in you will take you to a higher plane and cause you to have results that completely outclass theirs. Hallelujah.
Promotion in your life means more grace. If you’re promoted with more responsibilities without the accompanying grace, you may not succeed at that new level. We understand how this works from a simple verse in the Bible: James 4:6; it says,_“But he giveth more grace….”_
Notice it doesn’t say, “He gave more grace”; rather, it says, “He GIVES more grace.” That means you can enter into that verse every day, every week, every year; it’s a word that’s active and can be activated anytime. That’s how the prophetic word of God works; claim this for your life today.
PRAYER:
Dear Father, I receive more grace and increase in the workings of your power in my life. The knowledge of your Word causes me to walk in an overflow of grace, and that grace produces favour, beauty, goodwill, loveliness, perfections, glory and ability in my life, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
2 Peter 1:2
_2- May grace (God’s favor) and peace (which is perfect well-being, all necessary good, all spiritual prosperity, and freedom from fears and agitating passions and moral conflicts) be multiplied to you in [the full, personal, precise, and correct] knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord._
2 Corinthians 9:8
_8- And God is able to make all grace (every favor and earthly blessing) come to you in abundance, so that you may always and under all circumstances and whatever the need be self-sufficient [possessing enough to require no aid or support and furnished in abundance for every good work and charitable donation]._
James 4:6
_6- But He gives us more and more grace (power of the Holy Spirit, to meet this evil tendency and all others fully). That is why He says, God sets Himself against the proud and haughty, but gives grace [continually] to the lowly (those who are humble enough to receive it)._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: John 15:1-17 & 1 Chronicles 3-4
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 1 Corinthians 14:20-30 & Proverbs 26
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SUNDAY 29 MAY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THE CHURCH IS GOD'S SECURITY SYSTEM
KEY VERSE: _Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils (1 Timothy 4:1)._
MESSAGE
In some parts of the world today, there’s a satanic plan to go after the children. Some are peddling the idea that children don’t have to listen to their parents, because they (the children) belong to the state. But beyond the children, the strategy is actually an outward expression of a spiritual attack that’s also taking place. There’s a satanic move to give people an impression that churches aren’t important. So, they say, “You don’t have to be a member of a church; just serve God generally and you’ll be fine.” They spread the idea that you can just be raised through the internet, listening to different preachers online.
What they’re trying to do is an attempt to pull those Christians out of the security system that God created for families, thereby exposing them to satanic attacks. Therefore, be smart. The Bible says an heir, as long as he’s a child, he’s placed under tutors and governors until a time set by the Father (Galatians 4:1- 2). Also, he tells us to not forsake the assembly of the local church as some do in bad behaviour (Hebrews 10:25).
When someone says, “I go to many churches, I don’t have any particular one,” it’s proof that he or she has been deceived by the modus operandi of Satan. The structures that God has set in His Word are important; they have to be used for the purposes for which the Lord set them. You not only grow in the church, you also learn and participate in ministry to others.
In the church, the pastoral ministry nurtures the brethren, trains them in the prayer life, faith, and to live the Christian life victoriously daily as we await the imminent return of Christ. So, when you win souls, salvation is only the beginning; guide them to church. It’s for their security, spiritual growth, edification and ministry.
PRAYER:
Dear Lord, thank you for the opportunity to be a member of the body of Christ and participate actively in a local assembly. I pray for new converts around the world alongside those who may have been misled; that they’d understand the Church as your security system for them, a place of refuge, comfort, and refreshing. And as they come in, they’ll grow spiritually and be effective in the work and ministry of reconciliation, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Hebrews 10:25
_25- not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching._
Luke 4:16
_16- So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read._
1 Timothy 3:15
_15- but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: John 14:15-31 & 1 Chronicles 1-2
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 1 Corinthians 14:10-19 & Proverbs 25
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY 28 MAY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: MUSIC IS BEYOND LYRICS
KEY VERSE: _And God spake unto Moses, and said unto him, I am the LORD: And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them (Exodus 6:2-3)._
MESSAGE
There’re some things that have crept into the house of God for many years, ruining people’s lives and many never knew. For example, some of the different styles of music and dance in some churches today, where did they come from? What spirits are behind such music and dance? The spirit behind certain music or dance is the significance of it.
If, for instance, a Christian likes to sing or dance to Reggae music, as much as we may appreciate Reggae music, the question would be, “What’s the source of Reggae music?” Music isn’t just the lyrics; make no mistakes about it. The sound of music is important just as the source is important.
Certain music could attract demons into people’s lives without them knowing. There’re things that God allows us to do for a certain time of our lives, and after a while He’ll demand a change, knowing that it was within His permissive will. When He brings in that change, we must be willing to embrace it.
We read in our theme scripture what He said to Moses. He said to him, “Abraham, Isaac and Jacob knew me as El Shaddai; they didn’t know me as Jehovah; but I am Jehovah.” Why was this important? By the revelation of EL Shaddai, Moses wouldn’t be able to bring the children of Israel out of Egypt. Moses would need the “Jehovah” revelation, and by the hand of Jehovah, he’d deliver the children of Israel out of Egypt. That’s the purpose of the revelation that was given to Moses.
Likewise, as we prepare for the coming of the Lord, there’re certain things we must change based on the guidance of the Spirit and revelation from His Word. There’s a way He wants us to live, serve and worship Him, especially through music. We must be open and willing to receive His guidance and correction. Praise God!
PRAYER:
Dear Father, thank you for unveiling to me these treasures of wisdom and training, and for educating my spirit on spiritual realities, to walk in righteousness in my worship of you. My sacrifice of praise and worship come to you as sweet-smelling savour, because they’re offered from a heart washed from all worldliness and impurities, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Acts 17:30
_30- Such [former] ages of ignorance God, it is true, ignored and allowed to pass unnoticed; but now He charges all people everywhere to repent (to change their minds for the better and heartily to amend their ways, with abhorrence of their past sins),_
1 John 2:15
_15- Do not love or cherish the world or the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him._
2 Corinthians 6:17
_17- So, come out from among [unbelievers], and separate (sever) yourselves from them, says the Lord, and touch not [any] unclean thing; then I will receive you kindly and treat you with favor,_
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: John 13:31-14:1-14 & 2 Kings 23-25
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 1 Corinthians 14:1-9 & Proverbs 24
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY 27 MAY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THE WALK OF A CHRISTIAN
KEY VERSE: I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called (Ephesians 4:1). MESSAGE*
One of the dynamics of Christianity is derived from a very important word from the verse above: WALK! There’s the walk of a Christian. When you’re born again, the first thing God wants to help you learn is how to walk in Christ in your daily life. Colossians 2:6 says,_“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him”_ (Colossians 2:6).
How you live every day, how you relate with other people, how you relate with God—and the kind of mind you have—these are very important to God. There’s a way a Christian should and must live that distinguishes him or her from a non–Christian. Someone may be born again and not live the Christian life. In fact, some don’t even know what a Christian life really is. But the Bible says,_“This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind”_ (Ephesians 4:17).
This is one of the reasons churches and pastors are important, because the spiritual life requires training. God brings His children into congregations, church assemblies, and gives them pastors after His heart to train them, teach them, and build them through the Word (Read Ephesians 4:11-14).
God expects that in the Church, every new person that receives Christ, that becomes a member of the church, is trained in the Christian walk. Then, He tells us why: “That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive” (Ephesians 4:14).
In the 15th verse, He tells us the end-result—growth:_“But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ.”_ The Christian walk isn’t just for baby Christians. You begin learning it as a new convert, but God expects you to grow unto maturity and become firmly rooted in the faith, and live triumphantly every day to the praise and glory of His Name.
FURTHER STUDY:
1 Timothy 3:15 & 1 Peter 2:2
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 26 MAY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: WE ONLY GET STRONGER
KEY VERSE: _And Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated (Deuteronomy 34:7)._
MESSAGE
Have you ever heard the word “agelessness”? It’s part of our heritage in Christ. We grow, but we don’t age! Hallelujah! So never say, “You know, I’m no longer as strong as I used to be; age isn’t on my side.” As a Christian, you shouldn’t talk like that because when you were born again, eternal life was imparted to your spirit. Eternal life is life with agelessness.
In Christ, you’ve been brought into His glory and the glorified life. So, every so often, declare to yourself, “I only get stronger! I’m stronger today than I was ten years ago!” Consider Moses: at one hundred and twenty years of age, his physical stature wasn’t abated, his eyes weren’t dim. Yet, the Bible says the glory that Moses had isn’t anything compared to what we have today in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 3:7-11).
It was the same with Caleb: At the age of eighty- five, Caleb said, “I’m as strong today as I was when I was forty; therefore, give me this mountain” (Read Joshua 14:7-12). That’s our story! Our youth is renewed like the eagle’s (Psalm 103:5). For us, there’s only one way: We get stronger and stronger, greater and greater, we move upward and forward. Hallelujah!
Never see yourself as weak. The Bible says,_“For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day”_ (2 Corinthians 4:16). We’re continually strengthened, invigorated from within by the Holy Ghost. Take these thoughts that I share with you seriously and live the supernatural life in Christ. Praise God!
CONFESSION:
The Lord is the strength of my life and He constantly renews, refreshes and rejuvenates me through the Word and the power of the Holy Spirit! I’m stronger by the day, stronger today than ever, because my inward man is renewed day by day; I live in the ageless zone. Glory to God!
FURTHER STUDY:
Joshua 14:7-12
_7- Forty years old was I when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadesh-barnea to scout out the land. And I brought him a report as it was in my heart._
_8- But my brethren who went up with me made the hearts of the people melt; yet I wholly followed the Lord my God._
_9- And Moses swore on that day, Surely the land on which your feet have walked shall be an inheritance to you and your children always, because you have wholly followed the Lord my God._
_10- And now, behold, the Lord has kept me alive, as He said, these forty-five years since the Lord spoke this word to Moses, while the Israelites wandered in the wilderness; and now, behold, I am this day eighty-five years old._
_11- Yet I am as strong today as I was the day Moses sent me; as my strength was then, so is my strength now for war and to go out and to come in._
_12- So now give me this hill country of which the Lord spoke that day. For you heard then how the [giantlike] Anakim were there and that the cities were great and fortified; if the Lord will be with me, I shall drive them out just as the Lord said._
Psalm 92:13-14
_13- Planted in the house of the Lord, they shall flourish in the courts of our God._
_14- [Growing in grace] they shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be full of sap [of spiritual vitality] and [rich in the] verdure [of trust, love, and contentment]._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: John 12:20-50 & 2 Kings 18-19
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 1 Corinthians 12:22-31 & Proverbs 22
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 25 MAY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: LOVE LIKE CHRIST
KEY VERSE: _Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8 NIV)._
MESSAGE
If someone does something that upsets or offends you, rather than become bitter or enraged, let it go. Jesus showed us a good example of how to walk in love. He loved everyone, including His accusers and persecutors. Then He tells us in Matthew 5:44,_“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.”_
Emulate the Master. Have the love language and culture. Love everyone unconditionally. The Bible says,_“For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously”_ (1 Peter 2:21-23).
Someone once asked, “In the case where the people you respect are those that hurt you, what should you do?” Honour them nonetheless. Love them. Grow out of that place where you can still be hurt. Live in God’s Word. Live like Christ and love like Him:_“Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour”_ (Ephesians 5:1-2).
1 Corinthians 13:4-8 AMPC says,_“Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily. It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God’s love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong]. It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail. Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening]. Love never fails [never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end]….”_
PRAYER:
Dear Father, thank you for the love of Christ which is the bond of perfection and which rules my heart always. I lavishly express your love-nature and radiate the beauty and glories of heaven to my world. Always, I rise above offences, being accommodating and kind; I cover others with the umbrella of your love that flows lavishly from the castle of my heart, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Colossians 3:12-14
_12- Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience._
_13- Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you._
_14- And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity._
John 13:34-35
_34- “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another._
_35- By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”_
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NIV
_4- Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud._
_5- It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs._
_6- Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth._
_7- It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: John 12:1-19 & 2 Kings 16-17
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 1 Corinthians 12:12-21 & Proverbs
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY 24 MAY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: CALLED TO LEAD
KEY VERSE: Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen (Matthew 28:19-20). MESSAGE*
In our bid to evangelize the world, we must fully understand activism, advocacy and real leadership. Jesus said, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations….” It means we’re to make pupils of the nations. The word “nations” is from the Greek “Ethnos.” Ethnos refers to different groups with some common factors that bring them together. For example, a family, a group of politicians, an association of doctors, etc.
So, when Jesus used the term “nations” you could interpret it as countries, families, groups, professional bodies, and so on. The Lord instructs that we go into all such places and lead. Remember, He said in Matthew 5:14, “Ye are the light of the world….” You’re a leader in your world. Take up your role as a protagonist.
A protagonist is an advocate or champion of a particular cause or idea. One of the ways a protagonist works is through innovation. You open your mind and find new ways of getting in and getting ahead with the Gospel. As a protagonist, develop more cutting- edge means and strategies for the advancement of the Kingdom.
Always think about how you can reach more people or a whole “nation” for the Lord. Then, come up, by the Spirit, with innovative ideas to accomplish it. Remember, you’re the Lord’s voice where you are. He sent you into that world so you could show others how to live the Kingdom-life. You’re there to make a difference heaven._
Romans 1:16
*Mark 6:15
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 23 MAY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: A MORE EXCELLENT WAY TO GIVE PRAISE
KEY VERSE: _And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod (2 Samuel 6:14)._
MESSAGE
There’re those who thought that in the verse above David was merely dancing in the flesh. So, oftentimes they’d say they want to dance like David danced, and they start gyrating with all their might. No! David was a man of the Spirit. When the Ark of God was being brought into the city of David, our theme verse says “…David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.”
Notice the underlined part. In those days, dressing with a linen ephod represented the office of the priest. Whenever the priest was in that regalia, he functioned in his spiritual office. David was girded with a linen ephod; being also a prophet, evidently instructed by the Spirit, his dance as described in the Hebrew text was very different from the fleshly dance of normal celebrations.
When the Bible says he danced before the Lord, the Hebrew word for dance is ”kârar”, and it doesn’t refer to the kind of whirling and gyrating that most people think. “Kârar” means to skip and jump and spin, turning around about your own axis, like a child.
David’s dance is similar to what Jesus did in Luke 10:21; the Bible says,_“In that hour Jesus rejoiced (Greek: agalliao) in spirit….”_ He was skipping and jumping like a child. So, that David danced with all “his might” doesn’t refer to exerting himself physically on the dance floor, like most people do today. The term is “oze, oze” in Hebrew, meaning that he danced with all his glory, all his majesty; he danced with all of God’s regalia on him. Glory to God!
The best description for it in the New Testament is theGreekword“agalliao”̄ ;it’sadancefromtheinside. Dancing in the flesh distracts your spirit from true reverence and worship; it dissipates spiritual power, and many don’t realize this.
In these last days, the Spirit of God is showing us a more excellent way to give God true praise and worship. The days of fleshly dance in Christian congregations are over. When we worship the Lord, it must and should always be in the spirit:_“For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh”_ (Philippians 3:3). Also, John 4:23-24 says,_“But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”_
PRAYER:
Dear Lord, thank you for the privilege of worship and for guiding me on the way of true praise and worship that’s acceptable to you. Thank you for granting me the ability to condition my mind and senses to offer you true worship from my heart that transmits your glory to impart my world, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
John 4:23-24 NIV
_23- Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks._
_24- God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”_
Philippians 3:3 NIV
_3- For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh_
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: John 11:1-16 & 2 Kings 10-12
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 1 Corinthians 11:30-34 & Proverbs 19
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SUNDAY 22 MAY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: HIS EXTERNAL GLORY IN US
KEY VERSE: For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 4:6). MESSAGE*
The opening verse is an extraordinary description of something scientifically impossible. Notice the verse isn’t saying that God commanded the light to shine into the darkness; that would have been wonderful because the question then would be, “Where did the light come from?” Then we’d say, “It came from God; He shone into the darkness.”
But this time, God didn’t shine the light into the darkness; rather, He commanded the light to shine forth from it. So, the light came out of darkness! This is the same God that has shined in our hearts—to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
Remember, there was the glory of God in the old tabernacle, in the days of Moses. That glory, the Bible says, faded away. But the one from Jesus Christ is eternal glory, excellent glory. That’s the glory that resides in you today:“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels. That the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us" (2 Corinthians 4:7).
Every day, declare that you’re a carrier of God’s divine presence, a bearer of His glory. Your life isn’t empty; there’s a treasure of power, love, light and divine perfection in you. The excellence of His power permeates through you, causing everything you do to prosper. Glory to God!
FURTHER STUDY:
2 Corinthians 3:7-11 & 2 Corinthians 3:18 NIV
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY 21 MAY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: PRAYING FOR OUR EVANGELICAL WORK
KEY VERSE: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them (2 Corinthians 4:4). MESSAGE
The Lord Jesus said in Matthew 9:37,_“…The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few.”_ The harvest He’s referring to is the souls of men, the world of sinners. The labourers are those who are reaching out with the Gospel to win these lost souls to Christ. That’s why we have to pray and intercede for the harvest field, for the souls of men that we intend to reach within and beyond our catchments, because the harvest is ripe.
Prayer is our number one requirement in our evangelical work. As we intercede for them, we’re to prophesy by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Our prophetic prayer is how we pour out righteousness and salvation on the nations. Set times for prayer, either as an individual, family, group or as a Church. Plan and map out definite prayer times for your evangelical work.
If we would pray correctly and effectively as He has asked us to, our preaching will be effective. In some cases, you wouldn’t even have to preach much or preach at all before sinners start crying out to the Lord for salvation.
Through prayer—particularly praying in the Spirit— you pour forth gushers of living water (John 7:38). Your words become so effective just like Paul said in 1 Corinthians 2:4: “And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.” ) Then you find that through you, the heavens constantly rain down righteousness, and salvation is springing up everywhere. Hallelujah!
PRAYER:
*Dear Father, your love, grace and goodness fill the nations, and the light of your glorious Gospel shines brightly, liberating men, women, boys and girls from darkness, bondage and corruption into the glorious liberty of the sons of God, in Jesus’ Name. Amen. FURTHER STUDY:
1 Timothy 2:1-4 & Isaiah 45:8
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY 20 MAY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: WE LIVE IN HIS PRESENCE
KEY VERSE: _Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you (John 14:17)._
MESSAGE
In Christianity, we don’t go in and out of God’s presence. His presence is our home; we were born therein. When you study Psalm 87:4, you’d observe the prophetic reference:_“I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to them that know me: behold Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia; this man was born there.”_ “This man” refers to the new creation. “There” refers to our place in Christ—our place in God’s presence.
This is the reason it’s an absurdity when a Christian says, “Father, I come to you today”; or “Let’s get into the presence of God through worship.” I often wonder: if they’re about to get into the presence of God, where then have they been? God’s children must understand that we live in His presence.
There’s no such thing in the New Testament as us “getting into” the presence of God. In Him we live and move and have our being. His presence is in us and with us. When you come into a place, you come with His presence. If you’re born again, nobody can take you into the presence of God, because you were born right into His presence, and you live in His presence, both legally and vitally. Hallelujah!
CONFESSION:
I’m the temple of the living God; He dwells in me by the Holy Spirit. Christ has taken up His abode in me and I’m forever in Him. I live in His presence and I carry that divine presence everywhere to impact my world, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Acts 17:28
_28- For in Him we live and move and have our being; as even some of your [own] poets have said, For we are also His offspring._
1 Corinthians 3:16
_16- Do you not discern and understand that you [the whole church at Corinth] are God’s temple (His sanctuary), and that God’s Spirit has His permanent dwelling in you [to be at home in you, collectively as a church and also individually]?_
Colossians 1:26-27
_26- The mystery of which was hidden for ages and generations [from angels and men], but is now revealed to His holy people (the saints),_
_27- To whom God was pleased to make known how great for the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ within and among you, the Hope of [realizing the] glory._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: John 9:1-41 & 2 Kings 4-5
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 1 Corinthians 11:1-11 & Proverbs 16
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 19 MAY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: PROTECT YOUR HEART WITH GOD'S TRUTH
KEY VERSE: My child, listen and be wise. Keep your heart on the right course (Proverbs 23:19 NLT). MESSAGE*
There’re things that some people do that invite demons into their lives without them knowing. They yield themselves to the influence of demons through certain kinds of music, dance, among several other things. For example, Christians who visit pornographic websites open themselves to demons. In the Old Testament, God forbade His children from looking at the nakedness of others (Read Leviticus 18).
Such things aren’t acceptable to God. They’re not consistent with the life of righteousness. Think about it: How does Christ come into the heart of a man? When you believe in Jesus Christ and confess His lordship, He comes into your heart in an instant. That’s the same way a man can open his heart to demons when he exposes himself to things that are inspired by demons.
Protect and keep yourself from all unrighteousness. The Bible says,_“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness”_ (Romans 1:18). Refuse to harbour unclean thoughts. Use the Word to purify your heart of anger, bitterness and malice.
The Word of God is a cleanser. As you meditate on the Word, you’re cleansed from ALL unrighteousness: _“Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you”_ (John 15:3). Live as a Christian. Our theme verse says to keep your heart on the right course, on God’s truth. Protect your mind and spirit with the Word.
In Proverbs 23:26 (NIV), God says,_“My son, give me your heart and let your eyes delight in my ways.”_ Let your heart delight in His Word, in His righteousness, and live a life worthy of Him—pleasing Him in every way. Hallelujah!
PRAYER:
Satan, the god of this world, has nothing in me! The Lord has given me dominion over the flesh, to guard my heart and mind with all diligence. No unwholesome thought can take root in my heart. My spirit, my mind and my body are yielded to the Word and purified by the Word every day, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
1 John 2:16, Psalm 119:11 & Proverbs 4:23
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 18 MAY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: LET'S GIVE HIM WHAT HE WANTS KEY VERSE: Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will (Romans 12:2 NIV). MESSAGE*
Right from the very beginning of my Christian walk, I always wanted to know what God wanted, what’s on His mind. I wanted to know His perfect will about everything, so I could serve Him rightly. I didn’t want to ever find myself in a certain direction, or doing something, only to discover that it wasn’t what God wanted.
So, oftentimes, He directed me to the Scriptures. But He did something even more: He opened my understanding in an extraordinary way, because He saw my heart. It’s one of the ways I get to know His heart about anything, about what He wants.
Therefore, in serving God, it’s about Him, what He wants and how He wants it. It’s not about our feelings, impulses or sense knowledge. For example, in praising and worshipping Him, we shouldn’t find ourselves doing it in a way that He isn’t pleased with. Praise and worship in the Church is so important to God; it’s something we must do according to the prescribed order—according to His Word.
Some believe clapping is a way to praise and worship God, but it isn’t. Clapping is applause; you don’t applaud God. These are some of the things we’ve done in the past that God wants us to correct. He is perfecting His Church for His return. We don’t clap for God. You may say, “But Psalm 47:1 says, ‘O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph.”’ That was written for those in the Old Testament and it wasn’t for us to copy because those in the Old Testament mostly walked in the flesh. If you want to know how you’re supposed to serve God, how you’re to praise and worship Him as a new creation, study the New Testament, the epistles. There, we’re told “For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh” (Philippians 3:3 NKJV).
The Lord is perfecting His Church with His truth. So, we’ve got to put things in their proper places so we’ll get the right results. Let’s give Him what He wants, which is true spiritual worship through the Holy Spirit.
PRAYER:
*Dear Father, thank you for the ministry of your Spirit through which you’re perfecting the Church and helping us to place a premium on living by your Word, rendering to you worship in spirit and in truth. Your Word is gaining the pre-eminence, with true worship taking centre stage among your congregations as your glory fills our hearts, in Jesus’ Name. Amen. FURTHER STUDY:
Matthew 15:8-9 NIV, Acts 17:30 & John 4:23
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY 17 MAY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: TRANSFORMATION NY THE WORD
KEY VERSE: But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord (2 Corinthians 3:18). MESSAGE
As you study the Word of God, you see a glorious you, because the Word mirrors you. The picture of you that you see in the Word is always one of glory. You’ll see that divinity is at work in you; you’ll see the power of an endless life. The more you see it, the more you’re transformed into the same image that you see in the Word. It’s an amazing spiritual principle. That’s the reality of how the Word of God works.
That’s why James admonishes us to keep looking into the Word of God, which he calls the perfect law of liberty (James 1:25). Keep looking at the scriptures that talk about your righteousness, your oneness with the Lord, your triumphant life in Christ Jesus.
Jesus said in John 15:16,_“…I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain….”_ This means He’s given you a life of endless prosperity; your success shouldn’t be short-lived. Contemplate this every day. As you behold such words, the reality of what they say becomes your vital experience.
Through the Word, you’re established in righteousness and flourish like the palm tree, with great grace and glory! Maybe it’s your health; Isaiah 33:24 says _“they that dwell in Zion shall not say, ‘I am sick.’”_ Meditate on it consciously. As you do, you’d come to the realization that the reason you don’t say, “I’m sick” is that you don’t get sick. You’re an associate of the God-kind; you have the indestructible life of God in you.
The same goes for your safety and protection. The Word says in Psalm 23:4,_“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”_ That means no matter what happens, your safety is guaranteed in Christ. Christ is the environment in which you dwell; therefore, you’re forever in safety. Take this seriously. Outline areas where you want changes; search out the relevant scriptures and meditate on them consciously. Praise God!
PRAYER:
Dear Father, thank you for your glory in my life. As I constantly behold the glory in your Word for my health, finances, family and safety, I’m transformed into the same image that I see, from glory to glory, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Acts 20:32
_32- And now [brethren], I commit you to God [I deposit you in His charge, entrusting you to His protection and care]. And I commend you to the Word of His grace [to the commands and counsels and promises of His unmerited favor]. It is able to build you up and to give you [your rightful] inheritance among all God’s set-apart ones (those consecrated, purified, and transformed of soul)._
Romans 12:2
_2- Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you]._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: John 8:12-30 & 1 Kings 20-21
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 & Proverbs 13
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 16 MAY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: MANDATE TO SHINE
KEY VERSE: Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven (Matthew 5:14,16). MESSAGE
It’s estimated that there’re almost 9 billion people in the world today. Despite the statistics, it’s interesting to know that no other human was exactly like you in the past, none is like you now, and none will ever be like you. God made it so! Your uniqueness is such that can’t be obscured. It’s the reason you must live your best, be your best, and put your best into serving the Lord, Jesus Christ.
In our theme scripture, Jesus said, “You’re the light of the world, a city on a hill that can’t be hidden.” But He didn’t stop there; He added, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”*_ This is significant; it lets you know you have a divine mandate to shine before all men–anywhere and everywhere.
This means you can always win and make progress, no matter the circumstances of your life. Joseph, the son of Jacob, is a notable example in this regard. He was sold into slavery by his brothers and later put in prison after being wrongly accused. Yet, he shone so brightly in the midst of all those difficult times and eventually went on to become the prime minister in a foreign country, according to God’s plan and purpose.
As you heed the Master’s instruction to shine, setting forth His wonderful deeds and displaying His virtues and perfections, the Scripture says men would glorify your Father in heaven. I encourage you to put your focus and best energies on what God has called you to do, no matter where you are in life. It won’t be long before you’re catapulted to a higher dimension of success, with your life continually bringing Him glory and honour.
FURTHER STUDY:
1 Peter 2:9 AMPC &
Isaiah 60:1-3
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SUNDAY 15 MAY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THE SUPPLY ZONE
KEY VERSE: _According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue (2 Peter 1:3)._
MESSAGE
Blessed be God! The Word of God is so enthralling, edifying and fulfilling! Think about what we just read in our theme verse: we’ve been given everything we require for an excellent life of glory, dominion, righteousness and superabundance. It reminds of what the Spirit says through Paul in Ephesians 1:3:_“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.”_ As a Christian, you’re in the supply zone; you dwell in surplus.
David said,_“He maketh me to lie down in green pastures…”_ (Psalm 23:2); that’s your abode—the place of never-ending, superabundant wealth, where you have no consciousness of want or need.
You need to know who you are as a child of God: you’re the seed of Abraham. You’re an heir of God and a joint heir with Christ. That means you own this world. Everything the Father owns belongs to you, because you’re His heir. How then could you be broke? Think about the monarchs of this world; their children are born into wealth. Do you think it’s any different with our God? He’s the Monarch of the universe.
No wonder the Spirit prayed through the Apostle Paul in Ephesians 1:18 that the eyes of your understanding would be enlightened to know the hope of His calling, and the unfathomable riches of the glory of His inheritance bequeathed to His saints. You were born into an incorruptible, inexhaustible inheritance. Become conscious of this every day and it’ll change your life completely.
Christianity is a life you practise. As long as you remain in that babyhood stage of always needing and expecting some kind of financial miracles, you’ve not yet understood Christianity and your inheritance in Christ. What you need is a “mental crossover” into the zone of continual abundant supply.
Study 2 Corinthians 9:8 AMPC; it says,_“And God is able to make all grace (every favor and earthly blessing) come to you in abundance, so that you may always and under all circumstances and whatever the need be self-sufficient [possessing enough to require no aid or support and furnished in abundance for every good work and charitable donation].”_ This is where God wants you to function; it’s the life Christ has given us!
PRAYER:
God has made all grace, every favour and earthly blessing come to me in abundance; therefore, I’m self-sufficient. I was born into an incorruptible, inexhaustible inheritance. Christ is in me, and He’s my all! With Him, I have all things. Blessed be God!
FURTHER STUDY:
Philippians 4:19
_19- And my God will liberally supply ([a]fill to the full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus._
Psalm 23:1-2
_1- The Lord is my Shepherd [to feed, guide, and shield me], I shall not lack._
_2- He makes me lie down in [fresh, tender] green pastures; He leads me beside the still and restful waters._
Psalm 68:19
_19- Blessed be the Lord, Who bears our burdens and carries us day by day, even the God Who is our salvation! Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!_
1 Corinthians 3:21
_21- So let no one exult proudly concerning men [boasting of having this or that man as a leader], for all things are yours,_
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: John 7:1-24 & 1 Kings 15-17
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 1 Corinthians 9:11-19 & Proverbs 11
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY 14 MAY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: TO KNOW HIM IS TO LOVE HIM
KEY VERSE: _That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death (Philippians 3:10)._
MESSAGE
Notice what the Apostle Paul said in the opening verse: “That I may know him….” This was his dream, because to know Him (Jesus) is to love Him. Anyone who doesn’t love Jesus doesn’t know Him. If they ever get to know who He is, they’ll most certainly fall in love with Him. The more you know Jesus, the more you love Him. Hallelujah.
It brings to mind the story of Paul before his conversion. He was a Pharisee and a member of the critic—religious sect that spearheaded the persecution of Christians in the early Church. Authorized by the government of the day, the Bible says,_“…he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison”_ (Acts 8:3).
He didn’t stop at that. Luke tells us how he continued to issue violent threats of murder against the followers of the Lord (Acts 9:1). But something happened that changed his life forever. He had a destiny-shaping encounter with the Lord on the road to Damascus. The Bible says,_“And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do…”_ (Acts 9:3-6). Hallelujah!
Paul, as a result of this new knowledge of the Lord, couldn’t keep back anymore; everywhere he went, he testified that Jesus is alive and that He’s real! Paul’s love for Jesus was unquenchable because he now knew the Lord.
No wonder he said in Ephesians 3:19,_“And to know the love of Christ…that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.”_ This is God’s will for you: that you’d have a revelation of Christ beyond human understanding and be filled with His fullness, overflowing in His love, manifesting His life, nature, character, and power. Hallelujah!
PRAYER:
Dear Father, thank you for the revelation of your unfathomable, unconditional, pure and eternal love in my spirit. I’m rooted and grounded in your love, and I manifest and radiate your love to my world today, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Ephesians 3:17-19
_17- that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love,_
_18- may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height_
_19- to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God._
Philippians 3:7-10
_7- But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ._
_8- Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ_
_9- and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;_
_10- that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,_
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: John 6:60-71 & 1 Kings 12-14
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 1 Corinthians 9:1-10 & Proverbs 10
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY 13 MAY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: WE DON'T LIVE BY BLOOD
KEY VERSE: _But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you (Romans 8:11)._
MESSAGE
Leviticus 17:11 says,_“For the life of the flesh is in the blood….”_ Before you were born again, your body lived by blood. But from the day you were born again and received the Holy Spirit, you received the God-life that doesn’t require blood for its sustenance. Now, you can better appreciate what the Bible says in John 1:12-13: _“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God… Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”_
When you’re born of God, you’re not human; you’re divine. That old system of having life in your body through your blood ceased to be; it was replaced by the life of the Holy Spirit. No wonder Jesus said in Mark 16:18,_“…if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them….”_
There’s no poison that gets into your system through the blood vessels that’s potent enough to wreak a havoc. This is because the life in you is indestructible—it’s the life of the Holy Spirit! Those who don’t understand this truth live the ordinary human life. That’s the reason they can be buffeted and affected by sickness, disease, infirmities, failure, lack and the corrupting influences of this present world of darkness.
Refuse to think, talk, and act or live like a mere human being; otherwise, you’ll suffer what humans suffer. Don’t let the lamentation of the Psalmist in Psalm 82:5-7 describe the reality of your life. It says,_“They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course. I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High. But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes.”_ Rather, live the God-life, the divine life, because you’re born of God, which makes you a god. Gods don’t live by blood! Hallelujah!
PRAYER:
I live above this world and its systems, above sickness, disease and the corrupting forces of this present world of darkness. The power of the Spirit that raised Christ from the dead has vitalized and given life to my physical body. I live the transcendent life of glory in Christ Jesus. Amen!
FURTHER STUDY:
Luke 10:19
_19- Behold! I have given you authority and power to trample upon serpents and scorpions, and [physical and mental strength and ability] over all the power that the enemy [possesses]; and nothing shall in any way harm you._
Romans 8:10-11
_10- But if Christ lives in you, [then although] your [natural] body is dead by reason of sin and guilt, the spirit is alive because of [the] righteousness [that He imputes to you]._
_11- And if the Spirit of Him Who raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you, [then] He Who raised up Christ Jesus from the dead will also restore to life your mortal (short-lived, perishable) bodies through His Spirit Who dwells in you._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: John 6:25-59 & 1 Kings 10-11
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 1 Corinthians 8:1-13 & Proverbs 9
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 12 MAY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: CHRISTIANITY AND THE RESURRECTION
KEY VERSE: Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? (1 Corinthians 15:12).
MESSAGE*
Sometime ago, a certain well-known “priest” publicly stated that he used to believe in the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, but he now had reasons to question whether or not Jesus truly rose from the dead. The fact of the matter is, he never believed in Jesus even though he claimed to be a Christian. It’s impossible to be a Christian without believing absolutely in the resurrection of Jesus!
There’s no Christianity without the resurrection. Christianity only begins from the resurrection, not the Cross. The death of Jesus didn’t provide eternal life; it’s the resurrection of Jesus Christ that ushered us into eternal life. The Apostle Paul explains it in Romans 6:4; he said, “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”
To not believe in the resurrection is to deny the possibility and availability of eternal life. And if you don’t have eternal life, you’re not a Christian. A Christian is someone who has received eternal life. What is eternal life? It’s the life and nature of God—the quality of the divine essence.
For example, dogs aren’t goats, chickens aren’t ostriches; no matter the resemblance between them, they don’t have the same life and they’ll never produce or reproduce after the other. Dogs will never reproduce goats and vice versa. The Christian is literally born of God, with the God-life. It was the resurrection of Jesus Christ that made that possible. Hallelujah!
More so, the Bible says Jesus was proven or declared to be God in human flesh according to the resurrection from the dead (Romans 1:4). Then the Spirit of God, through the Apostle Paul, brought the doctrine to a climax in 1 Corinthians 15:12-19; study the entire reference. The 19th verse says, “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.” Thank God for the resurrection! It’s what gave us life. Blessed be God!
FURTHER STUDY: Galatians 2:20, Romans 6:4 & 1 Corinthians 15:12-20
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 11 MAY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: PROVE YOUR LOVE BY WINNING SOULS
KEY VERSE: To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:19)._
MESSAGE*
Our evangelical responsibility is something that all of heaven takes seriously. Sadly, many don’t understand how serious this really is. There’re Christians who are still asking if whether or not someone who doesn’t win souls will go to heaven. The question to ask such people is, “If someone doesn’t love God, or love Jesus, will that person go to heaven?” That’s not going to happen.
The Bible says, _“…every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him”_ (1 John 5:1). If you love the Father, you must love Jesus. 1 Corinthians 16:22 says, “If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha.” That means let him be accursed.
The proof of your love for Jesus is keeping His commandments—His Word (John 14:15). His Word says,_“…Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature”_ (Mark 16:15). So you keep that word by being a soul winner. Someone might ask,
“How about those who lived before Jesus came and didn’t quite have the opportunity to express their love for Him?” They had the Word of God—His laws and commandments.
Job said, _“…I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food”_ (Job 23:12). Jesus is the Word (John 1:14). Hallelujah! Thus, every one of them had a clear opportunity to express their love for Him. He said in Matthew 28:19,_“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations….”_ That means make pupils of those in your world, teach them about God and the Kingdom-life, establish His Kingdom in the earth. Your love and commitment to the Lord must reflect in your dedication to the preaching of the Gospel.
PRAYER:
I love you Lord, and I boldly and openly proclaim the mysteries of the Gospel as an effective witness, and impact my world with your righteousness. Thank you for empowering me by your Spirit to be an effective witness, transforming my world and beyond with the news of your saving power, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
John 14:15
_15- If you [really] love Me, you will keep (obey) My commands._
Matthew 28:19-20
_19- Go then and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,_
_20- Teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you, and behold, I am with you all the days (perpetually, uniformly, and on every occasion), to the [very] close and consummation of the age. Amen (so let it be)._
2 Corinthians 5:14
_14- For the love of Christ controls and urges and impels us, because we are of the opinion and conviction that [if] One died for all, then all died;_
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: John 5:31-47 & 1 Kings 7-8
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 1 Corinthians 7:10-24 & Proverbs 7
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY 10 MAY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: POWER OF STRONG DESIRE
KEY VERSE: _And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. And I will be found of you, saith the LORD… (Jeremiah 29:13-14)._
MESSAGE
God never ignores a strong desire—a strong desire to know Him, walk with Him and do His will. That strong desire births an unquenchable urge for prayer. That’s what we mean sometimes when we say someone is taken over by the “spirit of prayer.” It means the Holy Spirit has brought an overwhelming atmosphere and influence of prayer on your heart.
When that happens, prayer becomes all that you do and think about. That influence could stay on you for a protracted period of time. However, this isn’t just something that happens when God chooses to; rather, it’s what you invite by desire. The Bible says He satisfies the thirsty soul (Psalm 107:9).
When you begin that fellowship of prayer, it won’t be long before that spirit of intercession comes on you and you find that you’re constantly praying. Every now and then the Spirit will pull you to His motivations, visions, plans and purposes, the things that He cares about and wants to do. He’d be expressing Himself through you in prayer.
This is something that should be evident in the life of every Christian; a strong desire for the Lord, His Word, and His influence in your life. When you have it, you can easily influence those around you with it. So, cultivate it. Stir your heart to have a strong desire and maintain your zeal, love and passion for the Lord at all times. David, inspired by a strong desire for the Lord, said,_“O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is”_ (Psalm 63:1).
PRAYER:
Dear Father, you’re my glory, my joy and my all; my soul pants for you much more than the deer pants after the water brooks. Thank you for your glory in my life. My desire is to know you more and fulfill your perfect will for me, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Luke 18:1-8
_1- Also [Jesus] told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not to turn coward (faint, lose heart, and give up)._
_2- He said, In a certain city there was a judge who neither reverenced and feared God nor respected or considered man._
_3- And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, Protect and defend and give me justice against my adversary._
_4- And for a time he would not; but later he said to himself, Though I have neither reverence or fear for God nor respect orconsideration for man,_
_5- Yet because this widow continues to bother me, I will defend andprotect and avenge her, lest she give me intolerable annoyance and wear me out by her continual coming or at the last she come and rail on me or assault me or strangle me._
_6- Then the Lord said, Listen to what the unjust judge says!_
_7- And will not [our just] God defend and protect and avenge His elect (His chosen ones), who cry to Him day and night? Will He defer them and delay help on their behalf?_
_8- I tell you, He will defend and protect and avenge them speedily. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find [persistence in] faith on the earth?_
Jeremiah 29:13-14
_13- Then you will seek Me, inquire for, and require Me [as a vital necessity] and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart._
_14- I will be found by you, says the Lord, and I will release you from captivity and gather you from all the nations and all the places to which I have driven you, says the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I caused you to be carried away captive._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: John 5:1-30 & 1 Kings 4-6
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 1 Corinthians 7:1-9 & Proverbs 6
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 09 MAY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THE POWER IS RELEASED WHEN YOU SPEAK
KEY VERSE: _For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation (Romans 10:10)._
MESSAGE
Perhaps you’re often described as a cool and calm person, very quiet. But when it comes to speaking or releasing the Word—using it against the adversary and adversities—be wild. Refuse to be cool and calm. It brings to mind the third of the three levels of meditation that the Bible talks about: “roaring!” The Hebrew word is “Hagar.”
Hagar means roaring or shouting the Word. In putting the Word of God to work, be on the offensive. When sickness tries to attack you or your loved ones, get wild in your affirmation of the Word. Don’t stop until the Word you speak prevails over that situation, because it’ll surely prevail!
The Bible says, “So mightily grew the Word of God and prevailed” (Acts 19:20). As you speak the Word, it’ll keep growing; the necessary result, therefore, will be for it to prevail. So, use the Word to deal with any situation, irrespective of how dire or grave the situation is.
Every so often, declare, “I’m born again; I have the life of God in me. I refuse to accommodate sickness or infirmities in my body. My body is the temple of the Holy Spirit; therefore, it’s perfected in Christ Jesus. I live in health.” Talk like this every day, because the power is released when you speak.
The power doesn’t work just because you know it or believe it. The principle is that you must SAY it for it to work. That’s what we read in our theme verse. Your mouth isn’t just for communicating and eating; those are the lesser functions of the mouth. The primary function of your mouth is to frame your life aright.
The Prophet said, “Take with you words…” (Hosea 14:2); not just any words but God’s Word. The Word of God in your mouth is a creative force; use it to change circumstances and make your life excellent, from glory to glory. Hallelujah!
PRAYER:
Dear Father, your Word dwells in me richly through meditation, and I speak it forth boldly. My words are creative and divine, infused with power to change circumstances; they’re empowered to produce life, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Joshua 1:8
_8- This Book of the Law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe and do according to all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall deal wisely and have good success._
Mark 11:23
_23- Truly I tell you, whoever says to this mountain, Be lifted up and thrown into the sea! and does not doubt at all in his heart but believes that what he says will take place, it will be done for him._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: John 4:27-54 & 1 Kings 2-3
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SUNDAY 08 MAY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: PRACTICE BEING ALONE WITH GOD
KEY VERSE: _But Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer (Luke 5:16 NLT)_
MESSAGE
There’s something about solitude. If you don’t understand the value of solitude, there’s a lot that you can miss in life. It’s so important to have personal times alone with God. Before revelation comes isolation. When you learn the value of having private times of fellowship with the Lord, you’ll be amazed at the transformation that’ll take place in your life and how effective you’d be in the things of God.
Never take your private times with the Lord lightly. Maybe you have some people that every now and then are at your door because they need to see you or speak with you about one thing or the other. Be smart. If you spend most of your time in casual or vain chatter with others and spend lesser time fellowshipping with the Spirit, you’re not going to accomplish much in life.
Jesus understood the value and power of privacy with God. In Matthew 14:23, the Bible says, _“And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.”_ Our theme verse shows us that He did this often:_“But Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer”_ (Luke 5:16 NLT). At the time everyone was clamouring for His attention, He withdrew into the wilderness to pray.
In fact, on a certain occasion, He “escaped” to go and pray, and they were looking for Him. The Bible says,_“And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed. And Simon and they that were with him followed after him”_ (Mark 1:35-36). Practise this. Make the effort to have your personal times with God every day.
PRAYER:
Dear Father, as I spend time with you in fellowship, the intensity of your glory in my life is increased; I’m transfigured from glory to glory. I experience victory, divine health and blessings! My life is an expression of your supernatural grace, glory, perfection, beauty and righteousness, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Ephesians 6:18
_18- Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints (God’s consecrated people)._
Psalm 1:1-3
_1- Blessed (happy, fortunate, prosperous, and enviable) is the man who walks and lives not in the counsel of the ungodly [following their advice, their plans and purposes], nor stands [submissive and inactive] in the path where sinners walk, nor sits down [to relax and rest] where the scornful [and the mockers] gather._
_2- But his delight and desire are in the law of the Lord, and on His law (the precepts, the instructions, the teachings of God) he habitually meditates (ponders and studies) by day and by night._
_3- And he shall be like a tree firmly planted [and tended] by the streams of water, ready to bring forth its fruit in its season; its leaf also shall not fade or wither; and everything he does shall prosper [and come to maturity]._
Matthew 6:6
_6- But when you pray, go into your [most] private room, and, closing the door, pray to your Father, Who is in secret; and your Father, Who sees in secret, will reward you in the open._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: John 4:1-26 & 1 Kings 1
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 1 Corinthians 5:1-13 & Proverbs 3
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY 07 MAY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: SOUNDNESS OF HEALTH
KEY VERSE: _Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth (3 John 1:2)._
MESSAGE
One of the areas Satan likes to take advantage of God’s people is in their health. Thus, in keeping yourself in health, the first thing you need to consciously recognize is that the Word of God is pure medicine. Meditating on the Word will keep you in soundness of health—spirit, soul and body.
Every day, meditate on the Word. Don’t wait for trouble to strike before you start “trying” to meditate on the Word. Meditate on the Word ahead of the evil day.
Something else you need that’s of equal importance is the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Be sensitive to the Holy Spirit about what you eat and how you treat your body. Such things aren’t too trivial for Him to give you clear guidance about. Trust Him; He’ll teach you how to be wise about food.
It’s God’s will and desire for you to be healthy and strong. That’s why, besides teaching and guiding you on the things to do to keep your body in health, He also “perambulates” in you to ward off sickness, disease and infirmities from your body:_“And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk (perambulate) in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people”_ (2 Corinthians 6:16). Praise God!
PRAYER
Dear Father, your Word is medicine for my body and health to every fibre of my being. I’m perpetually healthy and strong. And now, I pray for your children around the world who are sick in their bodies, that your healing power will surge through them now, healing their bodies and getting rid of the flu, the migraine, the cancer or any infirmity in their bodies, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY
Proverbs 4:20-22
_20- My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings._
_21- Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart._
_22- For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh._
Isaiah 58:8
_8- Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard._
Romans 8:10-11
_10- But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness._
_11- If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: John 3:22-36 & 2 Samuel 23-24
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 1 Corinthians 5:1-13 & Proverbs 3
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY 06 MAY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: HIS LOVE MANIFESTED IN YOU KEY VERSE: For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh (2 Corinthians 4:11).
MESSAGE*
The proof that we know God’s love is how we share it. Did you ever stop to think about that? We don’t know God’s love until we share it and manifest it. Jesus was the manifestation of God’s love. He was God’s love in the flesh. That’s to say He was the “body” of love.
The gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John show Him as the embodiment of love. Jesus didn’t merely have love; He was love made flesh! That’s one of the most extraordinary truths ever revealed. Jesus is the perfect description of love.
We read in the Bible that God is love (1 John 4:8), but this will never mean anything to you until you get to know Jesus. Many think of God with various imaginations. But Jesus said, “If you’ve seen me, you’ve seen the Father” (John 14:9). Hallelujah! The Bible says as He is, so are we in this world (1 John 4:17). God’s plan is to reveal Himself—character, ability, and His nature of love and righteousness through each one of us.
The expression of His love in and through you is a key indicator of spiritual growth. You’re truly spiritually mature when the love of God is expressed more and more in your words, thoughts, attitude and actions. Walking in love is the manifestation of the life and nature of Christ that’s in your spirit. Praise God!
FURTHER STUDY:
1 Peter 2:9, Romans 5:5, 1 John 4:16 & 2
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 05 MAY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: SPEAKING IN TONGUES IS A GREAT BLESSING KEY VERSE: …I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also (1 Corinthians 14:15).
MESSAGE*
There’re Christians who after several years of being born again have never spoken in tongues. They’ve done themselves a great disservice. Some only spoke in tongues on the day they received the Holy Spirit. They often reminisce over that spontaneous experience they once had as though it’s meant to be a one-off experience. But the Scriptures teach that speaking in spiritual tongues is to be a regular part of your prayer life.
Speaking in tongues is a great blessing for every Christian, with inexhaustible benefits. Christians who speak in tongues often are hardly ever sick, fearful, or discouraged; they’re on top always, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.
Having received the Holy Spirit, you’re enabled to speak in tongues of the spirit. The Holy Spirit is the One that gives the utterance to speak in other tongues. On the day of Pentecost, the Bible says, “And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:4).
Notice it doesn’t say the Holy Spirit spoke with tongues; it was the disciples that spoke with tongues. They didn’t form the words from their heads; they spoke as the Holy Spirit gave them utterance.
The latter part of Acts 2:4 in The Living Bible says the disciples “…began speaking in languages they didn’t know, for the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.” The Good News Bible says “They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to talk in other languages, as the Spirit enabled them to speak.”
Some say they’re waiting for the Holy Spirit to take over their lips before they speak in tongues; that’s not how it works. You can speak in tongues anytime, anywhere, and for as long as you choose. The Holy Spirit already gave you the ability; therefore, go ahead and speak in tongues even now, as an act of your faith in the Father’s fulfilled promise in Christ.
PRAYER:
FURTHER STUDY: 1 Corinthians 14:14-15, Joel 2:28 & Jude 1:20
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 04 MAY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: PROTECT YOUR HEART KEY VERSE: Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life (Proverbs 4:23).
MESSAGE*
One of the most remarkable things about David was Samuel’s testimony in 1 Samuel 13:14 about his heart; David had a heart that was after God. That’s one of the greatest blessings to ever wish for: having a heart that’s perfect towards God, and a willing mind to do His perfect will. It’s a great blessing from God, but it doesn’t work by itself, because you have a mind and a will of your own. Remember, God gave Saul, David’s predecessor, a good heart (1 Samuel 10:9); yet, he didn’t serve God perfectly.
When Saul first met Samuel the Prophet, the Bible says the Spirit of God came upon Saul and he prophesied together with the prophets (1 Samuel 10:10). That was the outward manifestation of what he had received; there was a change on the inside. The Bible specifically says that God gave Saul “another heart.”
But Saul didn’t maintain his perfect heart. He offered a burnt offering against spiritual instructions (1 Samuel 13:9-11). At another instance, he wouldn’t destroy the Amalekites and everything connected to them as the Lord expressly instructed (1 Samuel 15:1-11). Rather than being remorseful and repentant when he was confronted by Samuel, he was proud. As a result, he was rejected by God from being king over Israel (1 Samuel 15:26), so much so, the Lord said,_“I regret making Saul king, for he has turned back from following Me and has not performed My commands…”_ (1 Samuel 15:11 AMPC). What a terrible place to be! Observe the progression.
Saul then became envious of David and continued in his rebellion toward God. His heart went after other things. This is the reason you must protect your heart; keep it pure. Keep it sanctified with God’s Word. Never let anything unwholesome take root in your heart. Pride, anger, malice, bitterness, hatred—these are poisonous to the heart. Completely eschew them from your life and from your heart.
Your thoughts come from your heart; the character of your thoughts reveals the condition of your heart. When you were born again, you were given a heart of love. The Bible says,_“…the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us”_ (Romans 5:5). You have a heart of love, a heart that’s filled with God. Protect it; maintain it; keep it the way God wants it.
PRAYER
Dear Father, by your Spirit and the Word, I keep my heart sanctified; I banish every evil thought or contrary idea that tries to assault my mind; anger, malice, bitterness, and hatred have no place in my heart. Your love is expressed in my heart today and always, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY
Proverbs 4:23
_23- Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life._
Philippians 4:8
_8- For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them]._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN John 1:19-51 & 2 Samuel 18-19
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN 1 Corinthians 3:10-23 & Psalm 149-150
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY 03 MAY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: TRAIN YOURSELF TO PRAY
KEY VERSE: And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God (Luke 6:12).
MESSAGE*
Prayer is a spiritual exercise that you must train for. If you don’t train yourself to pray, you’ll never know how to pray effectively. If all you knew to do was mumble a few words in two minutes and you’re done, it’s time to get some training and discipline.
We see the example of the Master in our opening scripture. As long as your body is calling for food, or itching to go do some other things while you ought to be praying, that’s the more reason you must remain there and subject your body to the discipline of the Spirit.
However, the purpose of prayer isn’t merely to control or discipline your body, as good as that is. The main purpose of prayer is the conditioning of your spirit, and this is far more important. Prayer brings your spirit to a certain condition that makes your relationship and fellowship with God’s Spirit more real and synchronized with His will and purpose.
Then you find that His thoughts become your thoughts and His words become your words. That’s when He puts a word in your mouth which you speak forth and it produces results. It reminds of induced magnetism. If you keep an object beside a magnet long enough, the magnet will induce it to become magnetic itself.
It’s the same thing with the Holy Spirit and you; the more you spend time in fellowship with Him, the more His person, glory, character, wisdom and grace are revealed in your walk and in your talk! But if all you do is a few minutes of prayer occasionally, that’s not sufficient time for Him to condition your spirit and have Himself expressed in and through you in a remarkable way.
You need to give the Lord time and attention in the place of prayer and become so influenced by Him that you acquire His character and mannerisms. Then you find that your way of thinking and talking (your choice of words) have become so refined by Him. Train yourself for that conditioning to take place. Follow @ PastorChrisLive on Kingschat and join me and millions around the world as we take out time daily to pray.
FURTHER STUDY:
1 Thessalonians 5:16-17 CEV , Luke 18:1 & Ephesians 6:18
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 02 MAY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: TRUE PRAISE AND WORSHIP
KEY VERSE: For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh (Philippians 3:3). MESSAGE*
The Church of Jesus Christ has come of age. Some of the things the Lord tolerated in the past, even though they didn’t make much spiritual sense, are now being corrected. This is because He’s perfecting the Church for the coming of the Lord. For example, true worship and true praise in the house of God: many don’t understand what it is. Some think that when they dance themselves high in church, they’re really praising and worshipping God. But dancing in the flesh is neither praise nor worship.
What is praise? And what is worship? Worship is the recognition and appreciation of the reality, blessings, character and greatness of God. This recognition and appreciation, we express in prayer, sacrifice and service. In the New Testament, we offer spiritual sacrifices called praise (Hebrews 13:15, 1 Peter 2:5, Psalm 69:30-31).
Hence, praise is an expression of worship. When we praise God, we’re worshipping Him. When you say, “Lord, you’re good; you’re kind, gracious and loving; you’ve blessed me, you’re righteous, etc., you’re defining, recognizing, and appreciating His character and His works.
Praise is the fruit of our lips—giving thanks to God (Hebrews 13:15). So, in worship or praise, you’re SAYING something to God thankfully. This profuse expression of appreciation of His character and personality in words of thanksgiving should be from the heart; that is the spirit, not the flesh.
The dancing that most people do in many churches is in the flesh. That may have its place outside the church. In the New Testament, you don’t dance in the flesh to worship God. Dancing in the flesh is based on the beat of the music. When the beat changes, the dance changes.
If you’re inspired to dance, it should be in the spirit and by the Spirit. The dance may not even synchronize or follow the beat of the drums. In such situations, you’ll find yourself jumping, spinning, rejoicing in and from your spirit. We’re the true circumcision who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh (Philippians 3:3).
FURTHER STUDY: Psalm 47:6-7, Psalm 69:30-31 &
Hebrews 13:15 AMPC
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SUNDAY 01 MAY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: CELEBRATE HIS GOODNESS EVERY DAY
KEY VERSE: For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened (Mark 6:52). MESSAGE*
In Mark 6, the Bible tells us how the disciples of Jesus were gripped with fear when they saw Him walking on the water. Why were they afraid? We find the answer in our theme verse: "…they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened.”
They had seen several miracles with Jesus and the latest of such miracles was that of multiplying bread and fish to feed thousands of people (Read Matthew 14:13-21). Yet, it didn’t seem to mean anything to them; they were still hardened in their hearts. Some are like that in the Church today; not considering as they should, the miracles of Christ, performed through the Spirit today.
It reminds me of an inspiring experience I had in 1981. I was attending a crusade where the Archbishop Benson Idahosa had invited R.W Schambach who was the guest speaker on that particular night. After he had preached and prayed, there were several miracles. The first testifier to come up the platform was a young lady who had been deaf in both ears. R.W Schambach and the Archbishop Benson Idahosa tested her and confirmed she was indeed healed.
However, I observed something else that inspired me greatly: the reaction of those two great men of God to the young lady’s testimony. They both jumped and skipped like children, in celebration of that miracle. These were men of God who had seen so many mighty miracles, but it was so inspiring to see them celebrate as though that was the first or only miracle they had ever witnessed.
That’s the way it should be. Be excited always at the seemingly simple things that God does in your life and in the lives of others. Joyfully celebrate His goodness every day. There’s no such thing as a “small miracle”; every blessing from God is something to shout about, something worth praising Him for. Your heart should always go out to Him in worship, praise and gratitude for His great love, mercies and grace. The Bible says He daily loads us with blessings—benefits: “Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah” (Psalm 68:19). Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY:
Exodus 18:9, Psalm 31:19 & Matthew 15:30-31
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY 30 APRIL 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: MAKE UP YOUR MIND FOR EXCELLENCE*
KEY VERSE: _Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven (Matthew 5:16). MESSAGE
In our opening verse, the Lord Jesus instructs to let your light so shine that men may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. The word “good” here refers to something eminent, choice, surpassing, precious, useful, suitable, commendable, admirable—something excellent in its nature and characteristics, and therefore well-adapted to its ends.
This means that when you, as a child of God, commit to always executing your tasks and projects with excellence, your light will so shine before men that they’ll see your good works. Your good works will speak for you and men won’t be able to ignore you. God wants to deliver the world into the hands of His children who have been trained to walk in excellence; those who’ll go the extra length to deliver the best results. Does that describe you?
It’s time you appraised yourself and made the conscious choice to be the best at what you do. Reject half measures. Do excellent things. Excellence can’t be ignored. It reminds of what the Bible says in Proverbs 22:29: _“Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.”_ When you have an excellent mind and do excellent things, you won’t take a back seat to anyone.
Excellence is for those who make a choice to do excellent things as a personal policy. Imagine it was revealed that an airline cut corners in their fleet maintenance and their pilots habitually skipped preflight checks, you wouldn’t want to board any of their planes. It’s for the same reason that you must refuse to cut corners or accept half measures in anything you do. It doesn’t matter whether or not someone would notice; just make the right choice for excellence and run with it.
CONFESSION:
I have an excellent spirit and an excellent mind, and I do excellent things. The Spirit of God in me has given me extraordinary amplitude of comprehension and sagacity. I have keen mental discernment and excellent judgment. Therefore, I pay attention to details and execute excellently in every endeavour, to the glory of God! Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY:
Daniel 2:48
_48- Then the king placed Daniel in a high position and lavished many gifts on him. He made him ruler over the entire province of Babylon and placed him in charge of all its wise men._
Daniel 6:3
_3- Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom._
Daniel 5:12
_12- He did this because Daniel, whom the king called Belteshazzar, was found to have a keen mind and knowledge and understanding, and also the ability to interpret dreams, explain riddles and solve difficult problems. Call for Daniel, and he will tell you what the writing means.”_
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Luke 23:50-24:1-12 & 2 Samuel 7-8
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 1 Corinthians 1:22-31 & Psalm 141-142
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY 29 APRIL 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: POVERTY IS NOT A BLESSING
KEY VERSE: 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).
MESSAGE
The Bible says, “The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it” (Proverbs 10:22). Poverty isn’t a blessing. That’s the reason Jesus delivered us from it. The Bible says He was rich, yet for our sakes, He became poor so that through His poverty, we might be made rich. He gave us prosperity in place of poverty, in the same way that He gave us His righteousness in place of sin.
When we say poverty isn’t a blessing, that’s not to say that when someone is poor, something is wrong with him or her; no! Anyone can make a choice. It’s like what the Bible says about many who suffered, not accepting deliverance, that they may obtain a better resurrection (Hebrews 11:35).
There may be people who have chosen to live in poverty. If that’s your choice, it’s okay, because it’s the choice you’ve made. It’s a sacrifice, and you shouldn’t feel ashamed for making that choice. But if you became poor circumstantially or as a result of being oppressed by others or for some other reasons outside of your personal choice, then that’s not okay. You have a right to change things.
However, when you choose to be poor, don’t try to make anybody else poor, except they also seek from you the principles of poverty, that they also might become poor. But there’re some of us who are called to do certain things in the world for which reason we can’t and must not be poor. This isn’t because we love to be “rich” but because of responsibility, because of what we have to do. God is counting on us to take the Gospel to the ends of the earth. He said in Matthew 24:14, “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” The Gospel is free but it’s not cheap to publish.
The Lord said through the Prophet in Zechariah 1:17, "…My cities through prosperity shall yet be spread abroad….” Refuse to be poor. Make up your mind that you’ll be as prosperous as God has ordained you to be. He said in 3 John 1:2, “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” He wants you to prosper spiritually, physically, and financially. Make a choice not to be anything less.
FURTHER STUDY: 2 Peter 1:2-3, Psalm 23:1-2 & Romans 8:17
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 28 APRIL 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THE CHURCH’S DOMINION IS FOREVER
KEY VERSE: And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it (Matthew 16:18)
MESSAGE
Some today are stupefied that the Church of Jesus Christ is still waxing strong, greater and more effective than ever. I wonder what they thought! They had postulated and were so sure that the Church of Jesus Christ would be consumed by their nefarious plans, but they were wrong.
Since the inception of the Church on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2, it has outlived its detractors, its persecutors, its haters, its adversaries and all its enemies. It’s impossible to destroy the Church. It’ll never happen. Those who boast against the Church, apparently, have forgotten their history!
When the Church was still young, in the Book of Acts, there were those who tried everything they could to stifle the Church, but still, the Church outlived them. It’s therefore a vain imagination for anyone or group to consider that the Church will either go extinct or somehow fizzle out and become history. The dominion and dominance of the Church is an endless one.
It reminds of the interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s puzzling dream that no one could explain until God gave the interpretation to Daniel (Daniel 2). In Daniel’s interpretation, all human structures beginning with the king as the head of gold and all the silver, bronze, iron, and all the iron mixed with clay, would be destroyed by a “stone cut without hands.”
Then Daniel 2:44 says, “And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.” The stone that was cut out without hand was from God, and that stone destroyed the whole human structure and set up a kingdom, which the Bible says shall not be left to other people.
The Church will never fall to the dominion or domination of another; at the end, it’ll be standing strong, because the Church is forever. The Bible says about Jesus, the head of the Church, “And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, Who is made…after the power of an endless life” (Hebrews 7:15-16). Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY: 1 Timothy 3:15, Ephesians 2:19-22 & Acts 26:14-16
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 27 APRIL 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: EVER-INCREASING FAITH
KEY VERSE: _Neither do we go beyond our limits by boasting of work done by others. Our hope is that, as your faith continues to grow, our area of activity among you will greatly expand (2 Corinthians 10:15 NIV)._
MESSAGE
The life we have in Christ is from faith to faith—ever-increasing faith! Talking about the Gospel, the Bible says, _“For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith…”_ (Romans 1:17 NKJV). The more you receive God’s Word, the greater your faith, because _“…faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God”_ (Romans 10:17).
Open yourself to ever-increasing faith; don’t stop where you’ve been; take off the lid. In some of Paul’s writings, we read of his emphasis on ever-increasing faith. In 2 Thessalonians 1:3 for example, he compliments them on their increasing faith: _“…your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth.”_
If you have ever-increasing faith, it’ll result in an ever-expanding ministry. The same theme Scripture in the Amplified Classic says, “We do not boast therefore, beyond our proper limit, over other men’s labors, but we have the hope and confident expectation that as your faith continues to grow, our field among you may be greatly enlarged, still within the limits of our commission.” In other words, with ever-increasing faith, you stay focused in your vision, while you’re expanding.
If you’re a leader in any capacity in the church, build your faith and the faith of your members. When your faith and their faith increases, the work will also greatly expand and increase. In a church or group where the faith of the people is low, the work of God will be low.
This helps you understand why the teaching of faith, the work of faith, and the life of faith are very essential. To learn more on Faith and how it works, order the book, “How To Make Your Faith Work” from the Rhapsody of Realities App store. Hallelujah!
CONFESSION:
By my faith, I’m leaping over walls; the world is beaten down before me; I reign over Satan and the elements of this world. My life is for the glory of God; His glory in and through me is ever-increasing as I fulfil His purpose for my life, in the Name of the Lord Jesus. Amen!
FURTHER STUDY:
2 Thessalonians 1:3 AMPC
_3- We ought and indeed are obligated [as those in debt] to give thanks always to God for you, brethren, as is fitting, because your faith is growing exceedingly and the love of every one of you each toward the others is increasing and abounds._
2 Corinthians 10:15 TPT
_15- We’re not trying to take credit for the ministry done by others, going beyond the limits God set for us. Instead, our hope soars as your faith continues to grow, causing a great expansion of our ministry among you._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Luke 22:39-65 & 1 Samuel 29-31
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Romans 16:12-27 & Psalm 135-136
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY 26 APRIL 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: EVERYONE IS FIT FOR THE MASTER’S USE
KEY VERSE: For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth… (Romans 1:16). MESSAGE*
When you study the Scriptures, you’d find that some soul-winning strategies we’ve often promoted may only be effective theoretically and not practically. For example, we may say bankers should reach the world of bankers with the Gospel, or judges should witness to other judges, etc. While that’s a nice strategy, we should always bear in mind that everyone is fit for the Master’s use; meaning, anybody can reach anybody with the Gospel.
You don’t have to be an engineer to lead engineers to Christ. That’s not how the Word of God spreads. We must all have the mentality that we’re missionaries—God’s agents of salvation everywhere we are—and therefore witness to everyone we meet. Consider the salvation of Naaman, a respected army general who had leprosy. Different people played vital roles in his testimony, especially a young Israelite maid.
The maid started with the general’s wife; she preached to her saying, _“…I wish my master would go to see the prophet in Samaria. He would heal him of his leprosy”_ (2 Kings 5:3 NLT). The woman believed, and that’s how the matter got to the King of Syria and the result was Naaman’s miraculous healing and conversion.
Take advantage of your position, wherever God has placed you, and boldly preach the Gospel. There’re people God has divinely ordained that you’ll be the one to reach them and He’s positioned you accordingly. They may be politicians, entrepreneurs, lecturers, health workers, etc.; yet, God has connected with them in a way that only you can talk to them about Jesus.
Wealthy people have places they eat, order groceries and other supplies. If you happen to run such places or are the delivery person, use the opportunity to tell them about Jesus. If you were the waiter or a butler in a fancy restaurant for only rich people, after attending to them, especially if they leave you a tip, tell them, “Sir, (or Ma’am) I have something for you too”; and then give them a copy of Rhapsody of Realities.
That restaurant may be the only place and opportunity such people may have to receive the Gospel. Let’s take advantage of our opportunities and take the Gospel to everybody. Our message in Christ is true and is no respecter of persons.
FURTHER STUDY:
Acts 10:34-35 & 1 Corinthians 1:25-29
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 25 APRIL 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: SPEAK WISDOM ALWAYS
KEY VERSE: Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit, which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual (1 Corinthians 2:12-13). MESSAGE*
Notice that our theme scripture says, “Which things also we speak”; then reading further, it clarifies what those things are—wisdom! We speak wisdom. 1 Corinthians 2:6-8 makes it even clearer; it says, “Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.”
Speaking wisdom is speaking the Word. It discomfits the adversary; they can’t get in on it! For example, the Word says you’re a partaker of the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4); that’s the wisdom of God. Therefore, when you, on the basis of that scripture, declare, “I’m an associate of the God-kind; a partaker of His grace, glory and expression of His righteousness,” you’re speaking wisdom.
When you declare, “All things are mine,” you’re speaking wisdom. When you say, “I have the life of God in me; I live in agelessness, ‘wantlessness,’ deathlessness and fearlessness,” you’re speaking wisdom.
Declare what the Word says concerning you, irrespective of the situation. Affirm your righteousness, health, dominion and oneness with the Lord with boldness. Speak wisdom always and your life will glorify God.
FURTHER STUDY:
1 Corinthians 2:6-8 & Hebrews 13:5-6
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SUNDAY 24 APRIL 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: EVER-EXPANDING MINISTRY
KEY VERSE: For which cause also I have been much hindered from coming to you. But now having no more place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come unto you; Whensoever I take my journey into Spain, I will come to you... (Romans 15:22-24).
MESSAGE I’m so inspired by Paul and his visionary posture towards the ministry of the Gospel. Think about what we just read in our theme verse: He was explaining to the church in Rome the reason he hadn’t come to see them. He said, “I’ve been busy evangelizing other areas, but now I’m through; I don’t have any more places remaining where I haven’t preached Christ. So, now I can come to you on my way to Spain.”
When you study the life of Paul, and the other apostles of the Lord in the Book of Acts, you find an ever-expanding ministry. In Acts chapter 2, the previously frightened disciples suddenly became bold after they received the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. Peter preached his first message and three thousand souls were saved: “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls”*_ (Acts 2:41).
In the 3rd chapter, into the beginning of the 4th chapter, we read how Peter healed a paralyzed man who begged for alms at the gate of the temple called Beautiful. As a result, the people ran together and crowded around them. There, Peter used the opportunity to preach, and this time, five thousand souls were saved: “Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand” (Acts 4:4).
In Acts 4:31, we read that after the apostles had prayed and were all filled with the Holy Ghost, “...they spake the word of God with boldness.” Again, the result was that a multitude of people believe (Acts 4:32). The apostles were preaching the Gospel and working miracles. Acts 5:12 tells us, _*“And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch.” Then it says in the 14th verse, “And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women).”
Observe the progression. The first time, three thousand souls believed at once. The next time, the number of those who believed was about five thousand (women and the children not counted). Then, a multitude! It didn’t end there, in Acts 5:14, Luke calls those who had believed “multitudes!” That’s ever-expanding ministry.
FURTHER STUDY:
Acts 2:41-47 AMPC & Rom 15:18-24 NIV
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY 23 APRIL 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: OUTFLOW OF WORDS KEY VERSE: In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water (John 7:37-38).
MESSAGE*
Let’s review what we just read: Jesus said if you believe in me as the Scripture has said, out of your belly—your innermost being—shall flow rivers of living water. When He says rivers of living water, what does that mean? What are these living waters? They’re words, rivers of living words.
Many had thought the rivers of living water refer to the outflow of the Spirit from us; no, they’re actually words of life. The Spirit is transmitted in words, because words are spirit. Jesus said in John 6:63, “...the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.”
We pour out spirit when we pour out words. When you take the Word of God from within your spirit and speak it forth, when you prophesy, you’re pouring out rivers of living water. This is what the Bible says, and if we follow the Word, we’ll always have the right results.
Study the New Testament; you’d find that whenever the apostles were filled with the Spirit, it resulted in outflow of words: they spoke the Word of God with boldness (Acts 4:31); the Word of the Lord grew and multiplied (Acts 6:7, Acts 12:24).
Being filled with the Spirit always resulted in an outflow of words. That’s why you must put a premium on words. Every so often, get yourself filled with the Spirit according to Ephesians 5:18-20 and pour out words—gushers of living water! Those words will tame the world, change circumstances and give life to everything in and around you.
FURTHER STUDY: Ephesians 5:18-20, Acts 4:31 & Luke 6:45
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY 22ND APRIL 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: INCREASING YOUR FAITH
Topic KEY VERSE: For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith (Romans 12:3).*_
MESSAGE
The first step to increasing your faith is knowing how faith comes: Faith comes by hearing: “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). Therefore, if you’re going to have more faith, you have to hear more of God’s Word. You can’t be listening to negative things that produce fear and expect your faith to increase; that’ll only build more fear in you.
Inundate your spirit with the Word. Some people face certain challenges and are overwhelmed because they’re operating at a level of faith that’s too low to deal with the situation. Yet, it’s possible to have a lot of faith that’s weak. Weak faith is the result of the lack of exercise of faith.
So, hearing God’s Word is one thing, but until you act on the Word you’ve received, your faith will be weak and you’ll stagger when you face adversities.
So, grow your faith strong through the exercise of your faith. Strong faith is prevailing faith; it doesn’t stagger: “Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara’s womb: He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God” (Romans 4:18-20).
A rapacious appetite for the Word of God will of necessity bolster faith in you to tame circumstances, keep Satan where he belongs, and cause you to live triumphantly every day. But you must keep exercising your faith to keep it strong.
: FURTHER STUDY:
2 Corinthians 8:7,
2 Thessalonians 1:3 & Romans 10:17 AMPC
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES AY 21 APRIL 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: LET THE WORD WORK IN YOU*
KEY VERSE: The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple (Psalm 19:7).
MESSAGE*
Your personal growth as a Christian is non-negotiable. And you can only grow and become more effective in the things of God by consciously making up your mind to study, meditate and live by God’s Word. The Word of God builds you; it empowers, inspires, uplifts, motivates and gives you clarity of purpose.
With that clarity of purpose, you’re definite and focused on the steps you’re to take in fulfilling your God-given destiny. God already planned the course and direction of your life; everything is programmed inside you. He did the programming through His Word. That’s why the Word is so important in our lives.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 AMPC says, “Every Scripture is God-breathed (given by His inspiration) and profitable… So that the man of God may be complete and proficient, well fitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work.”_ It’s impossible for anyone whose life is regulated and propelled by the Word to fail or be disadvantaged. Living by the Word makes you an absolute success: _“This Book of the Law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe and do according to all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall deal wisely and have good success”*_ (Joshua 1:8 AMPC). Study and know the Scriptures for yourself. 2
Timothy 2:15 says, _“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”_ When you study the Word meditatively, the Holy Spirit illuminates your spirit with amazing truths that’ll culture your mind in the direction of consistent growth, progress and prosperity. The Word of God is where the glory is. That glory constantly increases in your life as you meditate on the Word. This is the reason some Christians have more glory than others; it’s about yielding to, and living the Word.
FURTHER STUDY:
Colossians 3:16, Psalm 18:30 & Proverbs 30:5
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 20 APRIL 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: QUANTUM LEAP IN GRACE
KEY VERSE: Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ: Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord (2 Peter 1:1-2). MESSAGE*
Blessed be God! The Bible says God gives more grace. Don’t be satisfied to be at the same level of grace for too long; press for more. Always desire new levels of His glory and grace in your life.
In our theme verse, the Apostle Peter was addressing Christians who already received the grace of God and he said, “Grace and peace be MULTIPLIED unto you.” You can have grace multiplied, not just added. That means grace, many times more! How does this happen? It’s “...through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord.”
The Greek word for knowledge is “epignosis” and it means exact or precise knowledge; full knowledge with intimacy to the object of this knowledge. Meaning that the more you get to know God through the Word, the more you experience quantum leaps in grace—exponential grace.
Without “epignosis,” your grace will be stagnant. Don’t let that happen to you; go for more of God’s Word. Meditate on the Scriptures and the grace of God will be multiplied in your life. Also, walk in humility and love. The Bible says God resists the proud, but gives more grace to the humble (James 4:6).
With multiplied grace, you can accomplish more for the Lord! His beauty, glory and goodness are released in and through you in a way that impacts everything and everyone around you. Glory to God!
CONFESSION:
Through conscious and intimate fellowship with the Word and the Holy Spirit, I’m brought into an esoteric knowledge of God and of the Lord Jesus. Therefore, His grace is multiplied in my life, every day. That grace attracts the right people, circumstances and resources in line with God’s purpose into my life. I experience quantum leaps in grace, basking in higher levels of God’s glory, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
2 Corinthians 9:8 AMPC, James 4:6 & 2 Peter 3:18
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY 19 APRIL 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: A REPLACEMENT OF THE OLD WITH THE NEW
KEY VERSE: For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter (Romans 7:5-6). MESSAGE Our opening scripture is part of Apostle Paul’s letter to the Church in Rome, where he admonished them to serve God in newness of spirit, and not according to the old ways of the flesh. Why is this important? It’s because the Christian is essentially a new creation; a brand new man, born with the life and nature of God. Therefore, to serve God in newness of spirit means to serve Him in your present state as one who’s been recreated in righteousness and true holiness, and not according to the Law or the senses.
This brings us to an understanding of what Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5:17 that if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; old things—the old life of the flesh and everything associated with it—are passed away, and all things have become new. Being born again, you’ve put on the “new man” who, according to Colossians 3:10, is renewed in knowledge in the image of God that created him. Think about that! No wonder the Bible says as He is, so are we in this world (1 John 4:17).
Romans 6:6 says, “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.” The old life was supplanted with the life of Christ. It wasn’t just a mere change that took place in you when you were born again; it was a translation, a replacement of the old with the new. It’s a brand new life. This new life transcends this world. It can’t be tainted by the corrupting influences of the earthly realm.
Romans 6:4 says, “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” The expression “newness of life” means that the old life has been completely replaced by a new one that never existed before. This new life has its origin in God. Glory to His Name forever!
CONFESSION:
FURTHER STUDY:
Ephesians 4:22-24 & Colossians 3:9-10
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 18 APRIL 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: HE PREORDAINED YOUR PATHS KEY VERSE: For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live] (Ephesians 2:10 AMPC). MESSAGE As a Christian, God prepared your path, the path in life that you should follow. Predestination is at work in you. Take a moment to think about what we read in our opening verse; it’s so sublime: we were recreated in Christ Jesus, for good works which God planned beforehand for us, taking paths which He prearranged.
This simply means that your life is set on a course. You’re not an accident. There’re those who are on a path that’s different from the path that God prearranged for them. They live in the wrong house, in the wrong city, they went to the wrong school, they have the wrong friends. Some are in the wrong job or business; they have the wrong associates and are in the wrong associations in life. They’re not aware that God has a special path prepared for them; so, they’re toiling and struggling through life.
Everyone has a definite path that he’s supposed to follow, and if you don’t know, you’d think life is just according to impulses. For example, perhaps after your graduation from the university, you opted to do a second degree; the question is, why?
Maybe it’s because your parents said so; maybe you just liked the idea of acquiring a second degree, or maybe you saw your friends going for it and you decided to get on the bandwagon. But did you ever ask God whether or not that was consistent with His plan and purpose for your life?
Most people never bother to find out God’s plan for their lives let alone see to it that they fulfil it. But that’s the greatest thing in your life—discovering God’s purpose and fulfilling it. Be wise and know that you need to talk to God about what you should do, the direction you should go, because everything God wants you to achieve in life has been pre-ordained.
If you want the best from God, if you want to live in His perfect will, you’ve got to walk in the path He prearranged for you, and it’s a path of righteousness, great glory, greatness and unending victories. Glory to God!
FURTHER STUDY:
Romans 8:29-30 & Ephesians 1:11
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SUNDAY 16 APRIL 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: AN EXTRAORDINARY EVENT
KEY VERSE: And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight (Acts 1:9). MESSAGE
Jesus was crucified and buried. On the third day, God raised Him from the dead, showed Him alive openly. But something remarkable about Jesus after that resurrection from death, which was a mind-blowing experience for all those who witnessed it, was His ascension to heaven.
While He was talking to His disciples on that occasion, suddenly, He levitated and ascended into the clouds before their eyes and went right into heaven. This was extraordinary.
Enoch was taken alive by God (Genesis 5:24), and Elijah was taken alive with the chariot of fire by God (2 Kings 2:11). Jesus ascended! This was how He left this world. No one ever disputed it, because there were too many witnesses.
While the disciples were standing there, looking into heaven at this wonder, two angels came to them and said, “…Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11). He is coming again. Blessed be God!
FURTHER STUDY: Acts 1:9 & Ephesians 2:5-6
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY 16 APRIL 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: WORKERS TOGETHER WITH HIM
KEY VERSE: _I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me — and I in him — bears much fruit, because apart from me you can accomplish nothing (John 15:5 NET)._
MESSAGE
We’re workers together with the Lord (2 Corinthians 6:1). In essence, without Him, you can do nothing, and without you He can’t reach the world because you’re His vessel, His mouthpiece, the one He’s trusted to take His message of salvation to the ends of the earth.
Notice that I didn’t say, “Without you, God will not do anything”; I said, “He cannot.” It’s that strong. When He said, “Without me ye can do nothing,” He meant, cut off from vital union with Him, “apart” or “severed” from Him, you can’t do anything. The other side is just as true. Without you, He can’t do anything that concerns you; He can’t do anything in your life or in your world, because that’ll violate His Word, will and purpose.
In Mark 16:15, Jesus said, _“…Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”_ You’re to go out with all boldness, faith, courage and conviction, knowing that the Lord already did His part. Remember, Jesus gave His life to save the whole world. John 15:13 says, _“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”_
Your purpose in the earth is to fulfil His dream. It’s to live for Him. Be compelled by the love of the One who gave His life so that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16). Put your faith, your energies and whole life into preaching the Gospel. Nothing should be as important to you as your love for Jesus Christ, which you demonstrate in leading others to salvation.
PRAYER:
Dear Father, the light of your glorious Gospel shines ever so brightly today, bringing salvation, life and truth to men, women, boys and girls everywhere, as your children preach the Gospel all around the world. Your righteousness is established in the earth, and in the hearts of men, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
2 Corinthians 5:14-15
_14- For the love of Christ controls and urges and impels us, because we are of the opinion and conviction that [if] One died for all, then all died;_
_15- And He died for all, so that all those who live might live no longer to and for themselves, but to and for Him Who died and was raised again for their sake._
2 Corinthians 5:18-20
_18- But all things are from God, Who through Jesus Christ reconciled us to Himself [received us into favor, brought us into harmony with Himself] and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation [that by word and deed we might aim to bring others into harmony with Him]._
_19- It was God [personally present] in Christ, reconciling andrestoring the world to favor with Himself, not counting up andholding against [men] their trespasses [but cancelling them], and committing to us the message of reconciliation (of the restoration to favor)._
_20- So we are Christ’s ambassadors, God making His appeal as it were through us. We [as Christ’s personal representatives] beg you for His sake to lay hold of the divine favor [now offered you] and be reconciled to God._
2 Corinthians 6:1
_1- Laboring together [as God’s fellow workers] with Him then, we beg of you not to receive the grace of God in vain [that [a]merciful kindness by which God exerts His holy influence on souls and turns them to Christ, keeping and strengthening them—do not receive it to no purpose]._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Luke 15:11-32 & Ruth 1-4
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Romans 11:13-24 & Psalm 119:105-128
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY 15 APRIL 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: PREPARING THE NATIONS FOR HIS RETURN
KEY VERSE: _Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book (Revelation 22:7)._
MESSAGE
In Matthew 28:19-20, the Master instructed, _“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations… Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”_ The Lord Jesus gave us a message. It’s the message of salvation for the whole world, which He accomplished in His death and resurrection.
We’re to preach this message until He returns as He promised. Because the time of His return is nearer than ever, we must preach the Gospel now with greater fervency and urgency than ever before. This isn’t religion; it’s about Jesus Christ and His living message: that He came to die for all men, and that God raised Him from the dead that we may have eternal life and come into fellowship with God; and that He’s coming back for all who believe in Him.
He gave us the signs that’ll herald His coming, and we’re seeing many of those things happening in our world today. There isn’t that much time left. That’s why we’re preaching and calling every man to repentance: _“Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus”_ (Colossians 1:28).
The Bible gives us an interesting description of His coming. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 says, _“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”_
Can you see why you should be prepared by living for Him, every day. Knowing that the coming of the Lord is closer than ever, take the admonition in Jude 1:4 to heart, living circumspectly, purposefully, worthily and accurately, not as the unwise and witless, but as wise: _“For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.”_
Blessed be God for His unfathomable grace, wisdom and mercy, lavished upon His Church to effectively proclaim the Gospel and establish His righteousness in all the earth in these last days! This Easter, preach the Gospel like never before. Turn many from darkness and damnation into the glorious liberty of the sons of God. Hallelujah!
PRAYER
Dear Father, with much fervency and urgency, I preach the Gospel of righteousness with so much power, snatching many from destruction and damnation, into our glorious Kingdom, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
John 3:13
_13- No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven._
1 Corinthians 16:22
_22- If anyone does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be accursed. O Lord, come!_
Ephesians 2:5-6
_5- even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)_
_6- and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,_
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:
Luke 14:25-15:1-10 & Judges 19-21
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:
Romans 11:1-12 & Psalm 119:81-104
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 14 APRIL 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: IT'S A REAL KINGDOM
KEY VERSE: Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God (Mark 1:14). MESSAGE*
Jesus began His ministry talking and preaching about the Kingdom of God. Mark 1:14-15 says, “Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.” Observe the term Jesus used as He preached: “the kingdom of God is at hand.” “Is at hand” is one of two expressions: on the one hand, it means “It’s near”; on the other hand, it means “It’s here.” In John 3:3-5, Jesus made it so plain; He said, “…Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God…Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” Notice the expressions “he cannot see” and “he cannot enter.” This shows that the Kingdom of God is real. You don’t see it with your optical eyes, but you see it in your spirit. We “entered” and became a part of the Kingdom when we were born again; that’s how the Kingdom became real to us and in us.
Jesus also used the expression “The Kingdom of Heaven.” Though many use both expressions interchangeably, they’re clearly different. The Kingdom of Heaven is more perfectly expressive of that part of the Kingdom of God established by Jesus in the earth. The Kingdom of God includes all of that which is under God in the earth and in Heaven. But the Kingdom of Heaven is that part of the Kingdom of God that’s functional in the earth, set up by the Lord Jesus Christ.
So, when Jesus came and said, “The Kingdom of God is at hand,” He was actually talking about the Kingdom of Heaven that He had come to set up, because the Kingdom of God was already there before Jesus came. Our Heavenly Father is the head of the Kingdom of God. 1 Corinthians 15:24 shows us that at the end of all things, the Kingdom of Heaven that’s been set up in the earth will be delivered to the Father because it belonged to Him all along. Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY:
Matthew 3:1-2 Matthew 10:7 & Luke 17:20-21
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 13 APRIL 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: EVERYONE IS IMPORTANT
KEY VERSE: For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel! (1 Corinthians 9:16). MESSAGE
The Gospel is for everybody. When it comes to our kingdom and our kingdom work, every individual is important to God. He’s not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).
The Gospel of Jesus Christ is potent; His grace, love and mercy have been poured out on all men for their salvation. The Bible says the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the power of God unto salvation for all men—regardless of their status, background or ethnicity.
God has purposed to save and use anybody—any one of us—for His glory. None of us is too small or too lowly. For example, in 2 Kings 5, we read about Naaman, a commander of the Army of the King of Syria, a great man held in the highest esteem, a mighty man of valour, but he was a leper. On a certain day, while the Syrian troops raided Israel, they captured a girl, and she became a servant to Naaman’s wife.
Sometime later, this little Israelite maid witnessed to Naaman (2 Kings 5:3), and not only did Naaman get healed of his leprosy through the Prophet Elisha, this army general got converted and became a worshipper of the Lord, God of Israel. I’ve heard similar testimonies of how army generals were led to Christ, maybe by their drivers or some domestic staff. There’s no one too great to be led into salvation.
Perhaps you’re a hairdresser or a makeup artist, and those who request your services are celebrities, the wealthy and influential of the society; go ahead and lead them to Christ. You must realize that your earthly job, business, education or profession is your opportunity and vehicle for transporting the Gospel. If you get on transit, be it in a bus, a train or on the plane, witness to your co-passengers; tell them about Jesus.
Never let an opportunity pass by that you’ve not utilized for the Gospel. This is what the Lord has set us on course for; so, be bold and fearless. Preach the Gospel to anybody and everybody. FURTHER STUDY : 2 Tim 4:2, Mark 16:15 & Proverbs 11:30
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY 12 APRIL 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THE “FOUNTAIN” IN YOU
KEY VERSE: _He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water (John 7:38)._
MESSAGE
This is so remarkable! Jesus said out of your innermost being flow gushers of living water. This living water comes out in words inspired by the Holy Spirit that lives within you.
Jeremiah 2:13 talks about broken cisterns which can’t hold water; that’s not you! The Holy Spirit in you is a fountain of living water, pouring forth from within you in words of life. Two things characterize the words we speak: righteousness and salvation. Thus, we speak words of righteousness and words of salvation.
Our words lead men into righteousness and salvation. So, we’re those who turn many to righteousness and bring them into salvation. Hallelujah. Your words aren’t ordinary. Through your words, righteousness is unveiled and many are convicted in their hearts for salvation. The Bible says, _“Drip down, heavens, from above, And let the clouds pour down righteousness; Let the earth open up and salvation bear fruit, And righteousness sprout with it. I, the Lord, have created it”_ (Isaiah 45:8 NASB).
PRAYER
Dear Father, from the depth of my heart flows gushers of living water, to give life and sustenance to everything in my world and in my environment. My words are impregnated with divine power, producing righteousness and salvation, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY
Proverbs 10:11 AMPC
_11- The mouth of the [uncompromisingly] righteous man is a well of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence._
Proverbs 18:4 AMPC
_4- The words of a [discreet and wise] man's mouth are like deep waters [plenteous and difficult to fathom], and the fountain of skillful and godly Wisdom is like a gushing stream [sparkling, fresh, pure, and life-giving]._
1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Luke 13:1-21 & Judges 12-13
2 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Romans 9:26-33 & Psalm 119:1-40
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 11 APRIL 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: WATER-CARRYING CLOUD
KEY VERSE: Drip down, heavens, from above, And let the clouds pour down righteousness; Let the earth open up and salvation bear fruit, And righteousness sprout with it. I, the Lord, have created it (Isaiah 45:8 NASB). MESSAGE*
Jude, in his epistle, appealed to God’s people to earnestly contend for the faith against the attack of false teachers. In the 4th verse of his inspiring epistle, he explained why we should aggressively defend the truth because some godless people had crept in stealthily. These are people who distorted the message about the grace of God in order to excuse their immoral ways, and those who disowned and denied Jesus Christ as the supreme authority and Lord.
Now, notice what he says about these same people in verses 11-12: “Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core. These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots” (Jude 1:11-12). He calls them “clouds without water, carried about by the winds; trees without fruit, twice dead, pulled up by the roots!”
But what does the Lord call us? First, look at Isaiah 61:3; it says, _“To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.”_ We’re trees of righteousness, producing fruits of righteousness.
Also, each one of us, according to Bible, is a cloud; we’re clouds of glory and clouds with water. That’s very significant because John 7:38 says, “He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.” We’re fountains of living water. From your cloud, righteousness and salvation rain upon the earth. As a water-carrying cloud, you pour forth righteousness and salvation in the earth, just as our theme verse says.
FURTHER STUDY John 4:14 & Isaiah 45:8 NIV
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SUNDAY 10 APRIL 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: CLOUD OF WITNESSES
KEY VERSE: Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us (Hebrews 12:1). MESSAGE
It’s important to know and understand the symbolic significance of “clouds” as revealed in Scripture. Human beings are referred to as clouds in the same way that they’re referred to as trees. For example, Isaiah 61:3 helps us to see the parallel between humans and trees. We’re referred to as the trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord that He might be glorified.
In another instance, the Bible says, “And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water…” (Psalm 1:3). Think about that. In the same way, we’re also referred to as a “cloud.” When Jesus died on the Cross and descended into hell, he brought the Old Testament saints who were waiting for Him in the heavenlies out of hades. They came out of their graves after His resurrection and some of them actually appeared to many in the holy city. Acts 1:9 says, _“And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.”_
Observe that Luke, by the inspiration of the Spirit, tells us, “…a cloud received him out of their sight.” Here, Luke wasn’t talking about that visible mass of condensed water vapour floating in the atmosphere.
He was referring to what we read in our opening verse: “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us” (Hebrews 12:1).
This huge cloud (crowd) of witnesses to the life of faith are those that the Bible talked about in Hebrews 11. These are men and women who through their faith performed great feats for the Kingdom of God (Hebrews 11:32-33). These witnesses of faith subdued kingdoms and did supernatural things in their time; they ruled their world. They wrought righteousness; meaning when others conformed to error, they stood their grounds for the truth and prevailed. We sometimes refer to these as those in the “Faith Hall of Fame.” Indeed, they’re a cloud of witnesses, of people, and everyone with his own glory. Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY Hebrews 11:32-33 & Hebrews 12:1 NIV
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY 09 APRIL 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: REPEL WORRY
KEY VERSE: Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? (Matthew 6:25).
MESSAGE God doesn’t want you worried over anything. When worry attacks your mind, don’t think it’s going to go away on its own; no. Worry is spiritual; that’s why you have to repel it with your shield of faith: “Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked” (Ephesians 6:16).
You need to protect and defend yourself against worry and then go on the offensive with the sword of the spirit, which is the Word of God in your mouth, concerning your situation. That’s what you use to repel worry: the “Rhema” of God in your mouth.
What does God’s Word say? It says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your mind in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7 NIV). Don’t sit there worrying and whining; declare what you want and give thanks to God because it’s done. Hallelujah.
Having done that, it says, “The peace of God that surpasses understanding, will garrison your heart and mind in Christ Jesus.” So, here you are, circumstances don’t look right, everything looks like there’s trouble; yet, you’re at peace! Others can’t understand how you can be absolutely unflustered in the midst of so much trouble. The reason is simple: you’re acting on the Word! You’ve cast all your cares upon Him (1 Peter 5:7). That’s how to live a worry-free life.
PRAYER
*Dear Father, I have confidence in all that you’ve done for me and made available to me in Christ Jesus. I rejoice always because you’ve given me an extraordinary life of glory and victory, free from struggles, worries and the troubles that weigh men down. Your peace which passes all understanding mantles my heart and mind even now, in Jesus’ Name. Amen. FURTHER STUDY: Luke 12:22-30 & 1 Peter 5:7 AMPC
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY 08 APRIL 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: SINGING NEW SONGS IN WORSHIP”
KEY VERSE: Sing to GOD a brand-new song, sing his praises all over the world! Let the sea and its fish give a round of applause, with all the far-flung islands joining in (Isaiah 42:10 MSG). MESSAGE If we praise and worship the Lord accurately, by that I mean according to the Scriptures, we’ll experience and bask in His glory as He has determined for our lives. Jesus said, _“But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the father in spirit and in truth: for the father seeketh such to worship him”_ (John 4:23). Philippians 3:3 says we’re the true circumcision who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.
True worship of God is that which is done according to His Word. For example, the Word tells us to sing a “New Song” to the Lord! Yet, many haven’t thought this is important. The psalmist said, _“O sing unto the LORD a new song: sing unto the LORD, all the earth. Sing unto the LORD, bless his name; shew forth his salvation from day to day”_ (Psalm 96:1–2).
Psalm 98:1 also says, _“O sing unto the LORD a new song; for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory.”_ Then, in Psalm 149:1, we’re encouraged to _“…Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints.”_ Read what David, the prophet of God said in Psalm 144:9: _“I will sing a new song unto thee, O God: upon a psaltery and an instrument of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee.”_
Why does the Spirit admonish us to sing a new song to the Lord? It’s because the revelation of God’s Word given to His people increases. The Word doesn’t change, but the more you open your heart to the leading and tutelage of the Holy Spirit, the more you would know and see; the more knowledge will be granted you.
As the revelation and understanding of the Word increases, new songs are birthed through the Spirit. The wrong songs in worship have robbed the Church of her effectiveness for so long, and God wants a change.
As we act on the Word, singing new songs in worship and praise to the Lord, with the right revelation of truth, His glory will fill the whole earth. We recently unveiled over 200 new songs that you can sing and translate in every language. Also join us during the Global Praise Services, transmitted live on Loveworld networks.
PRAYER
Dear Father, thank you for putting in my heart a brand new song. As I proclaim your Word in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs and make melody in my heart to you, my spirit is stirred; I receive divine revelations, counsel, direction and guidance. Thank you for the ministry of the Spirit in my life, in the Name of Jesus. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY
Revelation 5:9
_9- Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!_
Psalm 33:1-4
_1- Sing joyfully to the Lord, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise him._
_2- Praise the Lord with the harp; make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre._
_3- Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy._
_4- For the word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does._
Isaiah 42:10
_10- Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise from the ends of the earth, you who go down to the sea, and all that is in it, you islands, and all who live in them._
1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Luke 11:37-54 & Judges 5-6
2 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Romans 8:20-28 & Psalm 112-113
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 07 APRIL 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: SPEAK “THE WORD”
KEY VERSE: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her (Luke 10:42). MESSAGE
The Word of God is everything. Jesus reiterated this in our opening verse when He chastised Martha for being encumbered and troubled by many things. He said one thing is needful, which is the Word of God, and her sister Mary, gave attention to it.
When the world was a chaotic mass, empty and in darkness, what did God do? He didn’t call the angels for a construction exercise; He didn’t fix it by trying to do anything with His hands. He only said, “Let there be light,” and there was light (Genesis 1:3).
Words are powerful, but the Word of God is all powerful. Always remember that. When you were born again, you were born of the Word: _“Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever”_ (1 Peter 1:23). You’re an offspring of the Word, called to live by the Word, built and being built by the Word. You dwell in the Word, and the Word dwells in you. Now, God says, “Let the same Word that brought you into being, flow out of your mouth.”
When we say, “Speak words,” it’s not just any words you’re to speak; it’s “the Word.” In the realm of the spirit, the Word is all that’s necessary. So, have the Word in your spirit; let it dwell in you richly (Colossians 3:16) and come out of your mouth. The Word of God in your mouth is God talking.
As you grow in the Word, all that comes into your thinking, your imaginations, are all in sync with the Word. And then you find that, like Jesus, your life is the manifestation and revelation of the Word. Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY
Matthew 12:37, John 6:63 AMPC & Joshua 1:8
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 06 APRIL 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: SERVING GOD RIGHTLY
KEY VERSE: And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams (1 Samuel 15:22).
MESSAGE*
The Lord Jesus, in John 4:23, outlines true worship as that which is done in spirit and in truth. There’s no other way. Serving the Lord has to be from your spirit and according to His Word. His Word provides the guidance, the prescribed order of service and worship in the Kingdom.
You don’t give God what you choose or just what you like; you give Him what He has asked for, in the way that He asked for it. You serve Him according to His demands, not according to your feelings or emotions. There’re people who say, “Everyone can serve God in His own way!” That’s not true. When you study the Bible, you’d find that those who tried to serve God in their own way got killed or rebuked by God.
Genesis 4 tells us the story of Cain and Abel: two brothers who brought their offerings to the Lord. Cain brought an offering of his choice, while Abel brought what God asked to be offered. Abel’s offering was accepted, but Cain’s sacrifice was rejected. In Genesis 4:7, seeing that Cain was angry, the Lord rebuked him saying, _“If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted....”_
How about Moses, who, instead of talking to the rock, struck the rock? Water came out, and the people drank to their fill, but God was displeased and rebuked Moses (Numbers 20:1-12, Deuteronomy 4:21-22). Uzzah was killed when he tried to render service to God by stabilizing the stumbling Ark of God at Nachon’s threshing floor (2 Samuel 6:6-7).
If you want to serve God right, give more attention to studying the Scriptures. He’ll grant you the wisdom and insight of the Spirit on how to serve Him truly, with a pure heart and a willing mind.
PRAYER
Dear Father, I worship you in spirit and in truth. I love you with all my heart and will study your Word to walk always in your truth to serve you accordingly, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY
1 Chronicles 28:9
_9- As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever._
John 4:23-24
_23- But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him._
_24- God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”_
1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Luke 11:1-13 & Judges 1-2
2 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Romans 8:1-11 & Psalm 109
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY 05 APRIL 2022 PASTOR OR CHRIS
TOPIC: ONLY IMAGINE POSITIVE OUTCOMES KEY VERSE: Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us (Ephesians 3:20).
MESSAGE
The human spirit is very powerful, with tremendous creative and imaginative ability. Remember, man was created in the image of God; he looks like God and functions like God. That’s why we say, “Your imaginative power is your creative ability.”
Knowing this, therefore, you should only imagine positive outcomes. Refuse to worry about anything. Worry helps you imagine the worst-case scenario. Worry helps you imagine negative possibilities, and your imagination of those negative possibilitie crystalizes them. Worry helps make your fears possible.
It’s the reason God tells us not to worry or be anxious for nothing (Philippians 4:6). You may say, “What if something has gone wrong, shouldn’t I be worried?” No! Simply refuse to worry! It makes no difference what happens with the economy, health care or health “scare.” When you worry, you set up a magnetic force that attracts to you everything that’s consistent with what you’re worried about.
Never imagine that you may be sent out of the house because you’re behind in your rent. Don’t imagine yourself losing your job. Don’t worry or panic that money isn’t going to be available to you for the things you need to accomplish. Don’t worry that the pain you’re feeling may be more complicated than you realize or could result in an incurable disease. Never have, or form, such negative imaginations. What you imagine is what becomes. Stay your mind on the Word and let it control your expectations. FURTHER STUDY: Matthew 12:35-36 , Philippians 4:8 & Proverbs 18:21
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 04 APRIL 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THE CLOUD OF GLORY
KEY VERSE: “For the cloud of the LORD was upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys” (Exodus 40:38). MESSAGE
Matthew 17 tells us that Peter, James and John were with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration. While they were there, Moses and Elijah appeared, and suddenly, the cloud of God covered them (Matthew 17:5). This same cloud was referenced in Exodus 13:21 and Exodus 16:10 (study both references).
We find a remarkable scenario in our theme verse: for forty years, the children of Israel saw the cloud of God’s glory upon the tabernacle by day, and as a pillar of fire by night. This is really significant, because Isaiah 63:9 says, “In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old.” The next verse tells us that the Angel of His presence is the Holy Spirit: “But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them” (Isaiah 63:10). He was the One that was with them in that cloud of glory. Then the Bible says in 1 Corinthians 10:1-2: “Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea.” Remarkable!
Now, 2 Chronicles 5:1-14 gives us an interesting account: Solomon had built the temple of God, and the priests were to take the Ark of God from the old tabernacle and bring it into the new temple built by Solomon. When the Ark was brought in, this same cloud of glory filled the temple, so much so that the priests couldn’t stand to minister in the Holy Place. Hallelujah!
That glory is in you and overshadows you today, because you’re the bearer of the Ark. The ark of God is in your heart today because His Word is written in your heart (Jeremiah 31:33, Hebrews 8:10). The Word is where the glory is. As long as you give the Word of God its place in your life, you’ll always be covered in that cloud of glory, where you’re shielded from evil and all the depravities in the world. Praise God! FURTHER STUDY: 2 Chronicles 5:11-14 & Matthew 17:5
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SUNDAY 03 APRIL 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: REJOICE AND BE GRATEFUL
KEY VERSE: Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready (Revelation 19:7).
MESSAGE
True Christianity is living by faith in God’s Word, where you’re forever grateful and giving glory to God for His life in you. Your ability to express gratitude is key to your greatness. David was never ashamed or afraid to express his gratitude to the Lord openly. Many times, he expressed his gratitude in songs, and in psalms. No wonder he lived such a great life.
On a certain occasion, while I was meditating on the awesomeness of the Lord and thanking Him for all He’s done, I was drawn to one of the psalms of David, which is recorded in 1 Chronicles 16. It says, _“Then on that day David delivered first this psalm to thank the LORD into the hand of Asaph and his brethren. Give thanks unto the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people”_ (1 Chronicles 16:7-8). This is so beautiful.
When we realize all that the Lord has done for us in a world that’s gone so cruel and dark, and how He glorified Jesus in our lives in an extraordinary way, we can only be full of gratitude to Him. Don’t live like those who are blind to all the good things happening in and around them, for which they ought to be grateful.
The New International Version of our underlined portion of the opening verse says, _“Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory....”_ Always, we should praise the Lord, declaring that He’s the One who has given us victory over the world and its systems. He’s exalted the Name of Jesus in our lives, and through us, He spreads salvation to the world. Trust Him with your life and be full of gratitude to Him every day.
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, thank you for giving me victory over the world and its systems, and imparting into my spirit the faith that conquers the world. You’ve exalted the Name of the Lord Jesus in my life, and through me, you’ve brought salvation to many. I’ll make known your deeds and the awesomeness of your power in my life. Thank you for your mercy and your love that’s new every morning! Your Name is praised and glorified forever in heaven and in all the earth, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY
Psalm 103:1-3
_1- Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name!_
_2- Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits:_
_3- Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases,_
Psalm 107:1
_1- Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever._
Ephesians 5:20
_20- giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,_
Psalm 32:11
_11- Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous; And shout for joy, all you upright in heart!_
1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Luke 9:37-62 & Joshua 16-19
2 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Romans 6:12-23 & Psalm 106
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY 02 APRIL 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: YOU WERE BORN A VICTOR
KEY VERSE: “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).
MESSAGE
We read Revelation 12:10-11 in our previous study and noted that it referred to the Tribulation saints during the Great Tribulation period. It’s been written concerning them that they overcame through the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony. The word translated “testimony” is “marturia” (Greek) and it means report, testimony, record, witness.
In our dispensation, we’re not trying or hoping to overcome Satan, demons and the antichrist spirits. No! It’s recorded concerning us that we’ve overcome them simply because of who we are, where we are, and the One who lives within us! We’re of God; that means we’re born of Him; we hail from Him and therefore one with Him.
Secondly, we’re in Christ, seated with Him in the realm of great glory, dominion and authority. Christ—the greater One—lives in us. The Bible says Christ in you the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27). No wonder Jesus said, “Cheer up; I’ve overcome the world” (John 16:33). The One who already overcame them is inside you and you’re one with Him. As He is, so are we in this world (1 John 4:17). Hallelujah!
The events in the world today indicate that these are trying times. Many are disturbed, distraught and perplexed about their health, finances, jobs and businesses. But you’ve been called to live above and dominate this world. Let that be your constant contemplation and confession.
Every so often, you say, “I’m born of God; I’ve overcome the world because greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world!” Refuse to allow circumstances get you to think otherwise. You’re a victor in Christ Jesus. You were born that way. You’ve overcome the world and its systems, its failures, falsehoods, deceptions, corruption and corrupting influences. Glory to God!
FURTHER STUDY
1 John 5:4-5 & 1 Corinthians 15:57
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY 01 APRIL 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: EXERCISE OF OUR AUTHORITY
KEY VERSE: “And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death” (Revelation 12:10-11).
MESSAGE
How wonderful this is! These verses are not talking about us the Church but about the Tribulation saints. This is going to happen during the Great Tribulation period. We would have gone to heaven at this time. While these saints will have their role in this spiritual conflict as stated, the actual fight would be done by angels, led by Michael the Archangel.
Michael the Archangel does not fight for the Church. The Bible shows us he fights for Israel. Daniel 12:1 says, “And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people…” If you read it all the way to the 7th verse, it becomes even more lucid that it is dealing with Israel. But in our dispensation, the angels only fight in our behalf in things we do not know about and things we do not do anything about; otherwise, they generally minister in our behalf (Hebrews 1:14).
Angels do not need to fight in our behalf when we exercise our authority in Christ. Why? The demons bow in response to our authority, because we are using the Name of Jesus. His Name is greater than every principality and power and every name that is named, both in this world and in that which is to come!
In Christianity we are not called to fight with devils; we cast them out: “And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons…” (Mark 16:17 NKJV). He gave us complete authority over Satan and all evil spirits. Praise God!
FURTHER STUDY:
Luke 10:18-19, Psalm 149:5-9 & Ephesians 2:5-6
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 31 MARCH 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: CREATED WITHOUT DEFECT
KEY VERSE: For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them (Ephesians 2:10). MESSAGE The Amplified Classic version of our theme verse shows us something extraordinary. It says, “For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live].” You’re God’s excellent workmanship or handiwork. It’s like having a mobile device produced by, let’s say, Samsung; they’ll have a brand on it showing that the phone is the workmanship of Samsung. In the same way, God has His brand on you. And remember, everything God makes and does is excellent and is forever.
If that’s true, then in God’s mind, He doesn’t expect you to succumb to sickness, disease, or the elements of this world, because He made you superior to them. He made you stronger than infirmities and the corrupting influences and negativities in this present world of darkness. Nothing in this world can hurt or hinder you.
That’s why one of the signs of the believing ones as listed by Jesus in Mark 16:18 is, “…if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them....” This is how He wants you to think. You’re not like everyone else. You’re a superior being; you’re in God’s class, created without any defect. You were made to function perfectly and excellently in life. Glory to God!
CONFESSION: FURTHER STUDY: Ephesians 2:10 NLT & James 1:18
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 30 MARCH 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: DRAWING FROM THE WELLS OF SALVATION
KEY VERSE: Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation (Isaiah 12:3).
MESSAGE
I made up my mind years ago, while I was still a student, to always be happy. I found out early from the Word that nobody was sent to make me happy, because Jesus already accomplished all that’s needed to give me joy unspeakable and full of glory; I’ve got joy in my spirit. So, always be excited about the things of God. Don’t wait for someone to make you happy.
Having received salvation, joy comes from within you—your spirit. The Bible says, “Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation” (Isaiah 12:3). Happiness is a state of mind and it’s one of the fruits of joy. Then you have other fruits of joy: laughter, shouting, singing, and dancing. And did you know giving is also one of the fruits of joy? When you’re full of joy, you give.
Have you ever noticed that when somebody is asking you for something at the moment that you’re full of joy, it’s almost always a “yes”? You hardly are able to just turn them down or reject something offered or proposed or say “no” to them.
Same way, when we’re full of joy in the presence of the Lord, you don’t have to ask for anything. All that matters is that there’s a desire in your heart. As you express joy, those desires are granted. The Bible says, “Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart” (Psalm 37:4). It’s one of those things that praise and worship make happen for you.
Don’t miss the praise and worship services of the church. They’re very important. You’ll find that your lists of prayer requests will reduce; you’d not have to pray about so many things. As you delight yourself in the Lord, He’ll give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart.
FURTHER STUDY:
Acts 16:25-26, 2 Chronicles 20:22 & 1 Peter 1:8
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY 29 MARCH 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: IT WAS FOR YOUR SAKE
KEY VERSE: And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence (Colossians 1:18). MESSAGE
The expression, “the firstborn from the dead” doesn’t mean the first to rise from the dead. Prior to Jesus’ vicarious death, there were those who had been raised from the dead, but what the Apostle Paul communicates by the Spirit here is different. When Jesus died, He died in the spirit; therefore, He was the first to come out of spiritual death.
Spiritual death is separation from God. As Jesus hung on the Cross, He suffered the agony of being separated from the Father. The Bible says He cried out with a loud voice, “…Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Mark 15:34). This was a result of His being made sin for us. His separation from the Father was for our sake. The Bible says, “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (2 Corinthians 5:21).
It should have been illegal for Jesus to be in hell, because He was without sin, but He went to Hell in our place. Colossians 2:15 captures how He engaged Satan in that awful combat in hell and defeated him and all the cohorts of darkness: “And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.”
No one ever came out of spiritual death or out of Satan’s bondage, but Jesus did. He paid the full penalty for every man. Accordingly, because a righteous man was given for sinners, it became legal, and possible, for sinners to be given His righteousness. He took our place of sin, that we might obtain His righteousness. Now we’re as righteous as Jesus is!
He has made you the very expression of His righteousness because He died spiritually for you, and when He came out of death, you were in Him. Now you reign and rule with Him in the heavenly realms—in the realm of life. Blessed be God!
FURTHER STUDY: Romans 5:17, 1 Corinthians 1:30 & 2 Corinthians 5:21 AMPC
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 28 MARCH 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THE REST IN CHRIST
KEY VERSE: There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his (Hebrews 4:9-10). MESSAGE Notice our underlined phrase above: "For he that is entered into his rest... That rest is the rest in Christ; it's much more than the rest for the physical body. It's rest for your soul, where you don't struggle or toil for anything whatsoever. 2 Peter 1:3 says, "According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness..."
Everything required for your success, prosperity, victory, health and greatness has been made available to you in Christ. So, why worry? You don't have to struggle in life anymore. Enjoy God's rest. Hallelujah! Jesus said. "Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment" (Matthew 6:25).
Paul, writing by the Spirit to the Church, in Philippians 4:6, said, "Be careful for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God." There're many who haven't realized this truth, and therefore aren't enjoying a life of absolute rest and blessings. On their job, business, projects, or even their evangelical responsibilities, they labour and toll so hard with little or no results.
If that describes you, what you need is a renewal of your mind. Our struggling doesn't please God. That's why the Holy Spirit was sent to help us. In John 14:16 (AMP), Jesus said, _"And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor-Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), to be with you forever."_ He's here today and now as your Helper.
You're not alone. Christ is in you and with you; don't work and walk alone. Live in His rest. The Bible says we're seated together with Him in heavenly places: "And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 2:6). That isn't a position of hardship, struggle or turmoil; it's a position of rest, dominion, power and authority. The Bible says all the works were finished before the foundation of the world. (Hebrews 4:3). Now He says, "Enjoy all things." Live in His rest, for all things are yours.
FURTHER STUDY Matthew 11:28-30, 1 Peter 5:7 & Matthew 6:25-34 MSG
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SUNDAY 27 MARCH 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: BEARERS OF THE KINGDOM AND THE GLORY
KEY VERSE: That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory (1 Thessalonians 2:12). MESSAGE
From the teachings of Jesus, the Kingdom of God has already come. In fact, the Bible says that Kingdom is in our hearts, letting you know that it’s a spiritual kingdom: “...The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:20-21). We’re not “on our way” to the Kingdom; no! We carry the Kingdom in us. Not only are we in the Kingdom, we’re also bearers of the Kingdom. In that Kingdom, there’s glory. The two aren’t separate.
The Bible talks about the glory of the Kingdom. We answered the calling for the Kingdom; we’ve also answered the calling for the glory: “Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thessalonians 2:14). We’ve obtained glory. Hallelujah!
No wonder Jesus said in John 17:22 in His prayer to the Father, “And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one” (John 17:22). Paul said in Romans 8:30 that we’ve been glorified. This glory is an eternal one, and it’s inherent in our spirits: _“But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus…”_ (1 Peter 5:10). Blessed be God!
The Bible describes this glory as “excellent glory” (2 Peter 1:17). 2 Corinthians 3:10 calls it “...the glory that excelleth.” This is the glory of the Kingdom to which we belong and which we bear. 2 Peter 1:3 says we’ve been called to glory and excellence.
1 Peter 2:9 (AMPC) takes it further and says we’re to “...set forth the wonderful deeds and display the virtues and perfections of Him Who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” The reason we can show forth His glory—display His virtues and perfection—is that we’re bearers of the same. Hallelujah! So, give expression to His glory in your world and impact others with the life of the Kingdom.
FURTHER STUDY Romans 8:30, Hebrews 2:10 & 1 Thessalonians 2:12 ESV
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY 26 MARCH 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: KEYS TO EFFECTUAL PRAYERS
KEY VERSE: And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray... (Luke 11:1). MESSAGE
When you study the lives of the early prophets and the apostles, even the Lord Jesus Christ, you’d find they were very effective in their prayer lives. In our opening verse, disciples asked Him to teach them how to pray because they observed how effective His prayers were. So, it’s not just enough to pray; it’s the effectual, fervent prayer of the righteous man that produces result.
There’re scriptural rules and guidelines to effectual prayers. There’re some things you have to pray about continually, you intercede continually; and there’re things that you pray for only once, because if you keep praying about them, you’re getting into unbelief, rather than applying your faith.
Meanwhile, there’re things you’re not even supposed to pray for, because no matter how long you pray about them, God’s not going to respond because your request is spiritually illegal. So, there’re different kinds of prayer and different rules governing them. Get our books: “Praying the Right Way” and “How to Pray Effectively” to learn more. You don’t just pray; you pray according to the rules, and the rules follow the different kinds of needs.
Of course, in prayer, something important you always require from God is direction. It’s not like you’re going to be asking Him all the time how to pray about a particular situation, but even without you asking Him, He gives you the direction through the Holy Spirit, because that’s one of the things the Holy Spirit came to do in your life. This is one of the reasons you must pray often in other tongues.
The Holy Spirit and the Word are your keys to effective prayer. He’ll bring the Word of God to your consciousness as you pray. Remember, Jesus said, He’d guide you into all truth. He’ll teach you all things (John 14:26). He’ll show you what to do in every situation. Jesus said, “...He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life” (John 8:12 NKJV).
How do you follow Him? It’s through the Word and guidance of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is alive in you today, but then He gives you the Scriptures, God’s Word, to guide you in all things, including how to pray effectively.
FURTHER STUDY:
1 John 5:15-16 & James 5:16 AMPC
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY 25 MARCH 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: HE DIDN’T ASK US TO PRAY IN VAIN
KEY VERSE: _Pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17)._
MESSAGE
Prayer can be very effective, and prayer can be mere religion. There’re people who don’t expect answers when they pray. To them, prayer is part of their religiosity. But God never told us to pray for nothing. Prayer is real communication; you’re actually talking to someone that’s listening to you, and ready to answer you.
Here’s another beautiful thing about the Lord: He knows what’s in your heart even before you ask Him. Before you pray, He knows what you’d say to Him. Why then does He expect you to pray? It’s because God operates in legality; in spite of the fact that He loves you, He operates with rules, laws that He’s put in place. The Bible tells us that He gave the earth to human beings to live in and to run it. Thus, He requires their invitation to intervene in their circumstances.
For instance, if you’re paying your rent duly, your landlord can’t just walk into your apartment because he owns the house; that’ll be illegal, because you’re the custodian of the apartment; he has to come at your invitation. That’s the way it is with God. We’re custodians of the earth. He needs our invitation to intervene in the affairs of men.
When you get in trouble or you don’t know what to do about a particular situation and you require His intervention, you have to ask for it, even though He sees what’s going on. Take for instance the way He related with the Children of Israel; in Ezekiel 36, He outlined several blessings for them. But in the 37th verse, He said, “Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will yet for this be enquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them; I will increase them with men like a flock” (Ezekiel 36:37). That’s God dealing in His legality.
So, through prayers, you convey your mind, feelings, emotions and supplications to God, while He responds with answers. As you pray, especially in other tongues, the Holy Spirit puts words in your mouth, sanctified words that you can speak to God, to cause changes in your world.
Prayer holds an important place in the life of a Christian. Amongst other glorious benefits and blessings, prayer assures God’s protection over you; your insecurity disappears and you receive courage to tackle whatever comes against you in this life. So as admonished in our theme verse, pray without ceasing. Praise God!
PRAYER
Dear Father, thank you for always delighting to hear and answer my prayers. Even now, I pray that righteousness is poured out upon the nations, producing salvation everywhere; thank you for your Spirit of grace working on men’s hearts to be receptive, more than ever before, to the Gospel, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY
Luke 18:1
_1- Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart,_
Ephesians 6:18
_18- praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints_
1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Luke 6:1-16 & Deuteronomy 29-30
2 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Romans 3:1-12 & Psalm 94
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 24 MARCH 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THE SWORD AND THE SHIELD
KEY VERSE: Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked…and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God (Ephesians 6:16-17).
MESSAGE The Word of God is a sword; it’s an offensive weapon for spiritual warfare. Notice that Paul didn’t ask that you thrust or strike the enemy with a physical copy of the Bible as you would a physical sword, no! The Greek rendering for “word” in this verse is “Rhema,” and it means the spoken Word. “Rhema” is a specific Word at a specific time for a specific purpose.
Thus, the ‘Rhema’ of God is the Word of God from your heart to your mouth—the inspired Word that comes out of your mouth. In the Master’s encounter with the devil, the Bible tells us, “Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God” (Luke 4:4 NKJV). Again, the underlined word is translated “Rhema” (Greek). The Lord Jesus, in speaking “Rhema,” wielded the sword of the Spirit (the weapon of the spoken word) and discomfited the devil.
God’s “Rhema” word isn’t just a word that’s kept in your heart; rather, it’s inspired by God and comes out of your mouth. It’s always a word said, or a word in saying. Hallelujah! Always put the Word on your lips; if it’s not coming out of your mouth, it’s not a sword; it’s not a weapon.
Just as the “Rhema” word is a weapon with which you get on the offensive against the adversary, your faith is a weapon, a shield against the adversary and his onslaught: “Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.” You don’t have to look around for a shield called faith; faith is in your spirit. You were born again with the measure of faith you require (Romans 12:3) to live victoriously and reign gloriously in life. All you need do is grow it by more of God’s Word and strengthen it by using it.
That faith neutralizes, quenches, defuses and puts out all the fiery darts the enemy throws at you. Your faith is the victory over all circumstances and adversities of life: “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith” (1 John 5:4). Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY Ephesians 6:13-16, Hebrews 4:12
& Hebrews 11:3
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 23 MARCH 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: HE TALKS TO YOUR SPIRIT
KEY VERSE: _My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me (John 10:27)._
MESSAGE
“I’m born again and I speak in tongues; I pray, but I’ve never heard the Holy Spirit talk back or speak to me. Is there something wrong with me?” Some people have found themselves asking this question again and again.
If, as a Christian you find it difficult to discern the voice of the Spirit, it’s not because His voice is weak when He speaks. First, the Holy Spirit probably has been speaking to you and you’ve not been listening to Him, or you’re thinking it’s your mind that’s talking to you. The Holy Spirit always talks to us, but we listen to Him, not with our physical ears but with our spirits, from within us.
If you’re listening with your spirit, you’ll hear Him. And again, when you study the Scriptures, He talks to you. Therefore, whenever you’re studying the Word, it’s an opportunity for the Holy Spirit to minister to you, to talk to you. So, accept His teachings and His guidance from the Bible. 2 Timothy 3:16 says, _“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.”_
When a Christian says, “I talk to the Lord, but He doesn’t talk back to me,” what that person needs to realize is that when you talk to Him, He doesn’t necessarily have to talk to you while you’re on your knees waiting; no! He may not act at that moment, but He’ll always talk to you. He talks to you every day.
So, as a child of God, never say, “I don’t know whether the Holy Spirit talks to me.” Say what Jesus said: _“I know the Father, and He knows me. I hear and recognize His voice.”_ Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27). Therefore, you say, “I know the voice of the Master; I know the voice of the Holy Spirit, and He talks to me.”
When you say that, your spirit will become conscious of the voice of the Holy Spirit within, and of His guidance and words in your life.
PRAYER
Dear Father, I thank you for the ability to hear you speak through your Word and your Spirit and recognize your voice. My spirit is sensitive to your voice; the ways of the Spirit have been unveiled to me, and I’m guided from within and through the Word to know and walk in the paths of life, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY
Isaiah 30:21
_21- Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” Whenever you turn to the right hand Or whenever you turn to the left._
Acts 13:2
_2- As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”_
John 16:7-13
_7- Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you._
_8- And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:_
_9- of sin, because they do not believe in Me;_
_10- of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more;_
_11- of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged._
_12- “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now._
_13- However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come._
1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Luke 5:1-16 & Deuteronomy 25-27
2 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Romans 2:12-20 & Psalm 91
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY 22 MARCH 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: HE HELPS OUR LIMITATION
KEY VERSE: Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered (Romans 8:26). MESSAGE The first part of our theme verse says, “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought….” Observe that Paul didn’t say we don’t know at all what to pray for; rather, he said we don’t know as we ought to know. So this weakness is that of a limitation of knowledge, but the Holy Spirit helps us out with it. It’s part of His ministry in our lives that we’re to recognize and take advantage of.
If you’re ever confronted with situations you don’t have enough details or information about, don’t despair. Trust the Holy Spirit. The Word says the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings that cannot be uttered. In other words, the Holy Spirit stands in the gap and intercedes for you; He takes charge in your behalf, carrying out His intercessory ministry through you.
This is so important because the Holy Spirit doesn’t pray on His own. He needs your vocal faculties. For example, the Bible says in Acts 13:2 that as the apostles were praying and fasting, the Holy Ghost said, “...Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.”
The instruction from the Lord that Barnabas and Saul (who later became Paul) should STUDY:
John 14:16 AMPC & Romans 8:26 AMPC
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 21 MARCH 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: SPEAK FORTH “RHEMA”
KEY VERSE: _Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear (Hebrews 11:3)._
MESSAGE
We observed in our previous study that by applying the right faith principles, you can frame, repair, restore or recreate your world. But what exactly framed and planned the “aions”—the world’s system with respect to socio-economic structures and environmental management of a period in human history, including its arts and sciences? It’s the Word of God. This “word” is translated from the Greek “Rhema,” which is the spoken word.
“Rhema” is a “thing”; that means it’s a spiritual substance. Remember, everything you see came out from the unseen, and the “Rhema” of God is an unseen “thing.” Thus, when we speak the “Rhema” of God, we’re releasing things, and according to the Bible, _“...things which are seen were not made of things which do appear”_; they were made by the “Rhema” of God (Hebrews 11:3). Hallelujah!
Every so often, release “Rhema”; words from the Father. If it’s going to be the “Rhema” of God, it’s got to come from God through the Holy Spirit who lives inside you. That’s why it’s important you pray in the Spirit a lot. As you do, you’ll find yourself uttering words in your understanding that are inspired by the Spirit of God; that’s “Rhema.”
As you pull those words up from your spirit, and utter them, those spiritual “things” will be released into the spiritual atmosphere of your life, and your “aion” will be under the control of the “Rhema” of God from your mouth. Blessed be God! Therefore, control your world with the Word. Speak forth the Word by the Spirit. Let “Rhema” proceed from you and create the world you desire. Glory to God!
CONFESSION
My words are anointed with power because I’m filled with the Holy Spirit! The “Rhema” of God is on my lips today, and in the Name of Jesus, I declare that I’m walking in divine health, increase, prosperity, and I’m making progress with giant strides. My life is for the glory of God. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY
Ephesians 6:17-18
_17- And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;_
_18- praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints_
Luke 4:4
_4- But Jesus answered him, saying, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.’ ”_
1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Luke 4:1-13 & Deuteronomy 18-21
2 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Romans 1:24-32 & Psalm 89
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SUNDAY 20 MARCH 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: PUT THE CREATIVE FORCE IN YOU TO WORK
KEY VERSE: These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world (John 16:33). MESSAGE:
The word translated “world” in the verse above is the Greek “cosmos.” The cosmos is the world as it is with its structures and systems and all of its content, including its inhabitants and their works, such as whatever is made or created or founded.
Then, in Hebrews 11:3, we find another Greek word “Aion” translated as “world.” “Aion” is the course or era or the operational system within the cosmos. It’s the running of the cosmos, and that has to do with the times of various inhabitants. What’s the implication of this? Remember, Jesus said, “...I have overcome the cosmos.” That means He overcame the world and all of its contents, all of its inhabitants and their works, powers and abilities.
But you see, when men run the world, whatever has been made or whatever they met in terms of structure or operational system can be manipulated. Men can create their “Aions” by the manipulation of the cosmos. Therefore, they can try to use the content of the cosmos to affect you.
But the fact is, with the “Rhema” of God (the Word of God in your mouth), you can overcome whatever is within the cosmos that’s being carried out, fabricated, or reworked against you in your time and in your era. Hebrews 11:3 says, “Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.”
Don’t sit idly by and let Satan and his cohorts run rampage and distort things around you; repair, frame, perfect, mend and restore things in your “aion.” Be in charge and in control of how things go with you from day to day by speaking forth God’s Word. There’s a creative force in you to frame the kind of life and environment that you desire, to alter destinies and change the course of events in our world. Put it to work.
PRAYER
FURTHER STUDY:
Joshua 1:8, Hebrews 11:1, John 1:1-3 & Colossians 1:16-17
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY 19 MARCH 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: HAVE THE CONSCIOUSNESS OF THE GOD-LIFE
KEY VERSE: And the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick: the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity (Isaiah 33:24). MESSAGE
I got a hold of the message of eternal life early in life, believed it, and went on to preach and teach how to live this life to the full—above sickness, disease and infirmities. At those early stages, I could still be rushed to the hospital, sick. On a certain occasion, I spent about ten days in the hospital, but I refused to give up because of the truth of this message.
I believe in the life of Christ in me and the supremacy and superiority of that life over Satan, disease, infirmity and death. Therefore, I maintained my confessions of the divine life in me, and Satan was never going to get me to change my testimony. The Apostle John, writing to the Church, said, _“These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life…”_ (1 John 5:13).
Why did he emphasize eternal life as our present-hour reality? Why is it so important that we have and live with the consciousness that we have the God-life now? It’s because of the impact and implication of that God-life in and for the one who has it.
No disease or infirmity should thrive in your body, because you have eternal life. No matter how you feel, maintain your confession. Declare, “I have eternal life! Therefore, in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I refuse to accommodate any kind of pain, sickness, disease or infirmity. I’m impregnable to sickness. Eternal life works in me!”
Every so often, affirm these words and stand your ground. Soon enough, whatever it is, be it a cancerous growth, diabetes, a terminal ailment—whatever, it’ll pass out of your body. This is the effect of eternal life in you. Years have come and gone, I’ve basked in divine health. Eternal life is at work in me, in every fibre of my being, in every cell of my blood, and in every bone of my body. Hallelujah!
It’s our calling, right and heritage to live transcendently above sickness, disease and infirmity because divine life works in us. I found this not only to be true in the written Word, it’s also true in my spirit, soul, and body. Have the same consciousness.
CONFESSION
Eternal life is at work in me! I refuse to accept disease and infections in my body. I’m superior to Satan and the elements of this world. I take charge and rule over my body with the Word of God, and I refuse to yield to sickness, disease and infirmity. Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY
1 Timothy 6:12
_12- Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses._
1 John 1:2
_2- the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us_
1 John 5:11-13 MSG
_11-12- This is the testimony in essence: God gave us eternal life; the life is in his Son. So, whoever has the Son, has life; whoever rejects the Son, rejects life._
_13-15- My purpose in writing is simply this: that you who believe in God’s Son will know beyond the shadow of a doubt that you have eternal life, the reality and not the illusion. And how bold and free we then become in his presence, freely asking according to his will, sure that he’s listening. And if we’re confident that he’s listening, we know that what we’ve asked for is as good as ours.
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY 18 MARCH 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: SICKNESS ISN'T NORMAL
KEY VERSE: Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth (3 John 1:2)
MESSAGE Sometimes there're Christians and even some ministers of the Gospel who are working hard for the Lord but at the same time struggling with some ailments, some kind of pain or sickness in their bodies. Some say it's "normal" to get sick, citing the Prophet Elisha who died sick (2 Kings 13:14).
They also reference Epaphroditus that worked with Paul who, in his fervor to serve the Lord, became seriously ill and almost died (Philippians 2:30), Thus, to many, sickness is normal. But no, it's not! First, the Bible never told us to model or pattern our lives after Elisha or Epaphroditust! Jesus is our example the One we're to emulate-and the Bible says as He is, so are we in this world (1 John 4:17). He was never sick and couldn't be. He gave us the power to heal sicknesses and cure diseases.
Paul, in 1 Corinthians 11:1 said, "Be ye followers of me, even as also am of Christ." There's no record that Paul or the apostles were ever sick. Rather, they healed the sick. Read about Paul and Peter in the Book of Acts: Acts 19:11-12 & Acts 5:15-16.
Follow God's Word. Model your life after the Word, after Christ, and learn from His great Apostles of faith. They were masters over the elements of this world. They spoke to all manner of sicknesses, diseases, and infirmities, they cast out devils who inflicted these pains on the people. That's the life we have in Christ.
Refuse to be sick. Stick to the Word of faith that stirs you up in the things of God and in the way of the Spirit. Meditate on the truths of God's Word. Romans 8:11 says, "But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you." This has already happened now that Christ lives in you. Therefore, arm yourself with this insight and dominate sickness and disease. Rule over the depravities and negativities of this world and their corrupting influences. Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY:
Matthew 9:35, Mark 3:14-15 & Revelation 22:2
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 17 MARCH 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: CHRIST—YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS KEY VERSE: But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption (1 Corinthians 1:30). MESSAGE
What we just read is one of the most powerful truths revealed to us in the Word of God. It’s so huge: Christ has been made our righteousness. Your righteousness is the righteousness of Jesus Christ; you didn’t earn it; you were born with it when you were born into Christ.
Something powerful that the righteousness of God does in and for you is that it makes you a master. Righteousness-consciousness gives you dominion in life and over circumstances. The Prophet Isaiah revealed this when he said in Isaiah 54:17, “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.”
Your righteousness is of the Lord. This is what Paul referred to in Philippians 3:9 when he said, “And be found in him, not having my own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.” Hallelujah!
Every so often, boldly declare, “Christ is my righteousness!” Never allow Satan to deceive you into believing you’re not righteous enough for God’s blessings. You’re as righteous as Jesus is righteous since He is your righteousness. It’s His righteousness that matters, and that’s what you have.
God for the righteousness of Jesus Christ: God’s blessing and gift to all men! Romans 5:17 declares, “For if by one man’s offense 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).” You’ve been justified freely in Christ Jesus (Romans 3:24), with His life and nature of righteousness in your spirit. Now, you can boldly fellowship with God in love without a sense of guilt, condemnation or inferiority! Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY: Romans 3:27-28, Romans 4:1-8, Titus 3:4-5 & Ephesians 2:4-5
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 16 MARCH 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: HIS WORKS AND HIS NAMES
KEY VERSE and His S-E: And God spake unto Moses, and said unto him, I am the Lord: And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them (Exodus 6:2-3).…you have made your word [even] greater than the whole of your reputation (Psalm 138:2 CJB). MESSAGE God reveals Himself, His power and His glory in His Names. He introduced Himself to Moses as Jehovah. Jehovah is the Latinian and Anglicised version of the Hebrew Tetragrammaton YHWH. Let’s have a quick review of seven Jehovah names revealed to Israel at different occasions.When the children of Israel got to Marah, as they journeyed through the wilderness, the water of Marah was bitter.
Through Moses, God sweetened the water for them to drink and said, “I’ll bless your bread and your water. I will not put on you any of the diseases that I put on the Egyptians, because I am Jehovah Rapha—the God that heals you” (Exodus 23:25; 15:26). As they journeyed on, Amalek came out against them and with God’s help, Joshua completely discomfited Amalek. In celebrating the victory, Moses bows before the Lord and says, _*“Jehovah Nisi: the Lord our banner” (Exodus 17:13-15). Hallelujah.
Their journey continued, and God said to the children of Israel, “In all your great victories, you must remember me and worship me, because I am Jehovah Mekadishcum—the Lord that sanctifies” (Exodus 31:13; Leviticus 20:8). Then we come to Gideon; he’s working in the fields and suddenly an angel appears to him, ministers to him and Gideon is strengthened. He bows his knees, builds an altar and says, “Jehovah Shalom”: the Lord is peace (Judges 6:24).
Years later, God comes into the camp of Israel and says, _“Amalek is at it again”_; and He said to Saul who was King at the time, _“I want you to completely destroy Amalek because I swore that I would fight with Amalek in every generation.”_ Then God said, _“I am Jehovah Saboath; the Lord of Host”_; He’s the God of war. Years later, He speaks to the Prophet Jeremiah who was always weeping in intercession for God’s people. He prophesies the name by which God shall be known as Jehovah Tsidkenu: _“the Lord our righteousness”_ (Jeremiah 23:6; 33:16). Ezekiel the prophet reveals another name describing His millennial reign and presence in Jerusalem when His kingdom is established: “Jehovah Shamah”: the Lord is present.
This last revelation for the Old Testament folks ushered in “Emmanuel”—God with us, in the birth of Christ, as revealed by the prophet Isaiah. The Bible says the word became flesh and dwelt amongst us and He was given the Name Jesus! That’s the greatest of all. All the previous revelations of the names of the Father were names of reputation, above which the Word-the living Word Jesus is magnified. “…for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name” (Psalm 138:2).
Everything in heaven, the earth, and under the earth responds to the Name of Jesus; that’s the Name of the God-head; the Name that’s above every name (Philippians 2:9-11). Blessed be God!
FURTHER STUDY:
Philippians 2:9-11 AMPC & Psalm 138:2 AMPC
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY 15 MARCH 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: TOGETHER AS ONE
KEY VERSE: But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:4-6).
MESSAGE God wants us to catch this message and take it to the ends of the earth. He says, you that were dead in trespasses and sin, has He quickened, that is, made alive together with Christ. In other words, when Jesus was on the Cross, we were united with Him in His death. He died as “us” on the Cross. He was “us” on the Cross. When He was crucified, we were crucified in Him. When He died, we died. Hallelujah!
When He was buried, we were buried with Him. When God raised Him back to life, we were raised back to life. We’ve been raised up together and made to sit together with Him in heavenly places. He has become the head of the body; together, we’re now Christ, because we died in Him, were buried in Him, and were raised back to life in Him. Now we’re one with Him!
The Bible says, “But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit” (1 Corinthians 6:17). We’re joint-heirs with Him (Romans 8:17). We’re together as one. Hallelujah! Ephesians 1:22-23 says, “And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.”
He’s the one who fills everything (Ephesians 4:10), yet His fullness is the Church, which is His body. We’re His completeness, and we’re complete in Him: _*“For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power" FURTHER STUDY:
1 Corinthians 12:27 Colossians 1:18 & Ephesians 5:29-30
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 14 MARCH 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: RULED BY LOVE KEY VERSE: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust (2 Peter 1:4). MESSAGE There’re things that can affect a Christian; these aren’t viruses, sicknesses or diseases, because Jesus stated unequivocally that NOTHING shall by any means hurt you (Luke 10:19). But the things that are dangerous to a Christian are anger, bitterness, fear, unbelief, etc. He doesn’t want such negative things in your heart. He said in Hebrews 12:15, “Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled.”
The Christian is a partaker of the divine nature; he has the life and nature of God, the nature of love and righteousness. This is what makes it a great concern when you find Christians who don’t walk in love. In Luke 6:27, Jesus said, _*“But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you.”
In the 35th verse He reiterated the same thing: _*“But love ye your enemies, and do good…” (Luke 6:35). Hallelujah! Love triumphs. Love rules. When you walk in love, you’re a master. He said, “Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you” (Luke 6:28). It doesn’t matter what they say about you or against you; you’re unruffled, because you’re ruled by love. You remain gracious, kind and loving, like your heavenly Father. Hallelujah! FURTHER STUDY: Romans 13:10, 1 John 4:7-8 & 1 John 4:19-21
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SUNDAY 13 MARCH 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THE AFFIRMATION OF HIS LORDSHIP KEY VERSE: But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God (John 1:12-13). MESSAGE
There’re many today who, though have heard about Jesus and believed in Him, have never consciously affirmed His Lordship over their lives; consequently, they’re not saved. Believing isn’t enough; the Bible says even the devils believe and tremble: _“Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?”_ (James 2:19-20).
There’s a Bible way to receive salvation. Romans 10:9-10 says, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” That’s it! It’s the affirmation of the Lordship of Jesus that catapults the sinner into salvation.
In your evangelical work, take the time to helthose who are yet to understand this and explain it to them. Salvation is free and has been made possible and available to all men by Jesus Christ, but it only becomes a vital experience in the life of those who confess the Lordship of Jesus over their lives.
It brings to mind what John said in John 1:12: _“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.”_ Hallelujah! You received Christ into your heart by the affirmation of faith. When you made that declaration according to Romans 10:9-10, Christ took up His abode in you; you became a new creation—a bona fide son or daughter of God—with His life and nature in your spirit. No wonder he says in 1 John 3:1, “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God….” Glory to God!
FURTHER STUDY
Romans 10:8--13 AMPC & John 3:5-7
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY 12 MARCH 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: YOUR MISSION AND MINISTRY
KEY VERSE: And the disciples went everywhere preaching, the Master working right with them, validating the Message with indisputable evidence (Mark 16:20 MSG). MESSAGE
Jesus knew He had a mission and a ministry in the earth. He was to establish the Kingdom of God in the earth with principles to live by, God’s ways of doing things, a new language, and a new mentality. Today, we’re a nation, a Kingdom of priests with a mission and ministry in the earth.
Thanks be unto God, we heeded the call when He said, “…as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you”*_ (John 20:21). We’re fulfilling His mandate, the continuation of the ministry of Jesus to set up a kingdom not made by hands—the Kingdom of Heaven in the earth.
To have a better grasp and understanding of this truth, let’s take a look at how Luke, who wrote the gospel of Luke and the book of Acts, concluded: “And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen”*_ (Luke 24:50-53). How touching this is!
Mark in his account first reiterated what Luke said: _“So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God”_ (Mark 16:19). In addition, he recounted what the apostles did next in the 20th verse: _*“And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen” (Mark 16:20). They went and preached everywhere! That’s what we’re doing today as well. Don’t be left out.
Preach the Gospel with passion. Recall what the Lord charged us to do: _*“Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely you have received, freely give” (Matthew 10:8). He has given us both the power and authority to do mighty works in His Name and demonstrate the character of the Spirit to our world.
Therefore, take your place in the ministry of the Gospel. Never lose focus of the Master’s calling on your life. This is your mission and ministry in the earth. Serve Him selflessly with undying passion.
FURTHER STUDY : Matthew 28:18-20 & 1 Corinthians 9:16-17
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY 11 MARCH 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THE REIGN OF DEATH IS OVER KEY VERSE: Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come (Romans 5:14).
MESSAGE
Satan became the god of this world because he got it from Adam who lost out through disobedience, resulting significantly in the reign of death. Remember, God had said to Adam, _“…in the day that thou eatest thereof (the tree) thou shalt surely die”_ (Genesis 2:17). He was talking about spiritual death; spiritual death is the cause of physical death. So, our theme verse says, “Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses (the Law of Moses)….”
But who had the power of death? The Bible says, _“Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil”_ (Hebrews 2:14). Satan was actually behind this reign of death.
Now, here’s something very interesting that I want you to notice: the reign of death ended at the emergence of the Law of Moses, for the reign of death was from Adam to Moses (Romans 5:14).
Now, Hebrews 2:14-15 declares, _“Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.”_
They were in bondage, not because death was destroying them, but because they were afraid; the fear of death kept them in bondage, whereas, death stopped reigning at the Law. This means that through the Law that was based on the Abrahamic covenant, any man could have power over death, but they didn’t know it; all their lifetime, they were subject to bondage, because of the fear of death.
Think how many people are afraid today! The fear of death keeps people in bondage. But Jesus Christ came to set men free from the fear of death. The Bible says, _“Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him”_ (Romans 6:9).
Christ is Jesus and His body—the Church! The head and the body form Christ. If death has no more dominion over the head, it doesn’t have dominion over any other part of the body; death has no power over you. The Bible says you’ve been brought into life and immortality (2 Timothy 1:10). Glory to God!
CONFESSION
I’m fearless, for death has been paralyzed, completely defeated by Jesus! O death, where is your sting? O grave, where is your victory? When Jesus defeated death, I was in Him, and together with Him, I’ve triumphed over death and the grave! Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY
1 Corinthians 15:51-57 AMPC
_51- Take notice! I tell you a mystery (a secret truth, an event decreed by the hidden purpose or counsel of God). We shall not all fall asleep [in death], but we shall all be changed (transformed)_
_52- In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the [sound of the] last trumpet call. For a trumpet will sound, and the dead [in Christ] will be raised imperishable (free and immune from decay), and we shall be changed (transformed)._
_53- For this perishable [part of us] must put on the imperishable [nature], and this mortal [part of us, this nature that is capable of dying] must put on immortality (freedom from death)._
_54- And when this perishable puts on the imperishable and this that was capable of dying puts on freedom from death, then shall be fulfilled the Scripture that says, Death is swallowed up (utterly vanquished forever) in and unto victory. [Isa. 25:8.]_
_54- O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? [Hos. 13:14.]_
_56- Now sin is the sting of death, and sin exercises its power [upon the soul] through [the abuse of] the Law._
_57- But thank
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 10 MARCH 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: NOT SUBJECT TO DEATH
KEY VERSE: Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed (1 Corinthians 15:51). MESSAGE Hebrews 9:27 has been misunderstood by many for so long. It says, “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” For many people, this means “We must all die someday; everyone has an appointed time to die.” But no; they’re wrong. It’s not true that everybody has to die. The Bible doesn’t say “it’s appointed to men to die.” There’s a difference between “it is appointed unto men to die” and “…as it is appointed unto men once to die….”
In the latter, the argument is on how many times they should die, not that they must die. It can be rewritten as “Because they’re not supposed to die more than once….” That is, Christ was the sacrifice, and because they’re not supposed to die more than once, Christ, therefore, was offered to die once and for all. Now that He has died, it means death is no longer compulsory. That’s the meaning of that scripture, not that men have an appointed date with death.
Death isn’t from God; it’s an enemy, and it has been defeated, awaiting destruction: “For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death”*_ (1 Corinthians 15:25-26). “Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel” (2 Timothy 1:9-10). When you’re born again, you’re born into life and immortality—“deathlessness”!
Now you can understand why our theme verse says, “...We shall not all sleep...” ; meaning that we shall not all die. It’s telling us everybody isn’t going to die. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 says when Jesus comes back, the dead in Christ (Christians who had died) shall rise first, and then it says, “...we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds….”*_ That means everybody didn’t die!
You’re not subject to death. Eternal life—the God-life, the very essence of divinity—was imparted to your spirit when you received Christ. The Scriptures declare that if you have the Son of God, you have that life. But you must have the knowledge of it and live every day with the consciousness of this reality, a consciousness of life, not death. Praise God!
FURTHER STUDY: 1 John 3:14 & 1 Corinthians 15:51-57
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 09 MARCH 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THE FINAL VERDICT
KEY VERSE: Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me (John 14:6) MESSAGE The coming of Jesus Christ is close, very close; therefore, prepare your life. Prepare to meet the Lord. Don’t be taken by surprise. No matter what you do, whether you’re a politician, a soldier, a policeman, a Judge, a lawyer, a student; it doesn’t matter; everyone can believe in Jesus and everyone should. There’s no other way for men to receive salvation, learn of, and understand the righteousness of God, outside of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
As read in our theme verse, Jesus said, “...I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” He didn’t talk about religion in that scripture. It’s about how you can get to God; Jesus is the way—the only way. Also, He’s the life; which means anyone living outside Jesus is living a mere biological life; not a real life.
The apostles understood this; therefore, when they went preaching, they said, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). That’s the final verdict. Wherever you are in this great world today, understand that there’s no salvation in any other. If you’re reading this and you haven’t made Jesus the Lord of your life, I call upon you now to believe in Jesus Christ with all your heart. Turn to the Prayer of Salvation at the back of this devotional and pray that prayer, and receive salvation for your soul.
For you that are born again, this is the time to preach the Gospel like never before. Preach it everywhere and to everyone in your world: your street, place of work or business, your city, your nation, and the nations of the world. The Lord is counting on you. He said in Mark 16:15, “…Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Don’t hold back; preach it everywhere.
FURTHER STUDY
Mark 16:15 NKJV & 2 Corinthians 5:18-19
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY 08 MARCH 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: WHAT WE HAVE IN THE WILL KEY VERSE: To me, though I am the very least of all the saints (God’s consecrated people), this grace (favor, privilege) was granted and graciously entrusted: to proclaim to the Gentiles the unending (boundless, fathomless, incalculable, and exhaustless) riches of Christ [wealth which no human being could have searched out] (Ephesians 3:8 AMPC). MESSAGE
In Hebrews 9:16, the Bible says, “For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.” The word that’s translated “testament” in that verse is the Greek “diatheljkelj” and it means the last disposition, the last will. The 17thverse says, _*“For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.”
It’s saying that as long as the person who made the will is alive, the will has no power; it can’t be effected. But once he’s dead, the will comes into effect. This is telling us about Jesus, the mediator of the New Testament (the new will). So, the question is, what’s in the will that Jesus left for us? What did He assign to us? What did He give us?
He gave us everything that was His; everything, including His life! If a man writes in his will and says, “I’ve given you everything I have,” it’ll be wise to find out what he had. In our theme verse, Paul the Apostle, by the revelation of the Spirit, gives a description of what he was sent to preach about this last disposition, which is the description of the wealth of Jesus that He bequeathed to us—what we have in the will! He called it “...boundless, fathomless, incalculable, and exhaustless riches of Christ [wealth which no human being could have searched out].” How refreshing!In Colossians 1:12, the Bible says, _-“Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light.”*_
Thus, the Father has qualified us to be partakers of the riches of Christ. How do you walk in it? It’s through the Word. As you study and meditate on the Word, not only will you discover your inheritance in Christ, you’ll also begin to relate with and enjoy all that God has made available to you in Christ Jesus. Acts 20:32 says, _“And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.”_ Glory to God! FURTHER STUDY:
2 Peter 1:3, 1 Corinthians 3:21-22 CEV & Romans 8:16-17
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 07 MARCH 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THE DOMINION OF HIS NAME
KEY VERSE: So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God (Mark 16:19). MESSAGE The Bible says God vested all authority in the Name of Jesus (Philippians 2:9-10); His Name has the greatest honour, the greatest authority ever! Today, if you believe in that Name, happy are you! It doesn’t matter what might have plagued you; it doesn’t matter for how long you’ve been under or on the sidewalk of life; your victory is guaranteed.
Many haven’t understood the power, glory and dominion of His Name. His Name destroys cancer, brings health and wholeness to your physical body. His Name brings you liberty from the bondage of Satan. Are you in a dilemma or a tempestuous situation? Use the Name of Jesus. His Name has power in heaven, in the earth, and under the earth.
No demon can resist the power and dominion of His Name. His Name is an instrument; it’s a weapon! It’s guaranteed to produce the result you expect because when you make a demand in His Name, it’s as though Jesus Himself were making that demand. Everything that exists in this world and beyond is subject to His Name.
1 John 5:13 reveals something beautiful; it tells us to believe on the Name of the Son of God. That simply means to put the Name of Jesus to work! It’s your access to a life of unending victories, ever-increasing glory and abundant blessings. Philippians 2:10 says, _“…at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth.”_
In your life, be unruffled and at peace every day, irrespective of the adversaries or adversities that you might face. His Name is your defence and assurance of victory. Maybe today, some doors seem to have been shut against you; there’s pressure and tension on every side; use the Name of Jesus. His Name can be trusted.
Trust and call on that Name today. Glory to God!In the Name of Jesus Christ, I pray for God’s children around the world who are sick in their bodies. I pass healing to them; the liberty of Jesus Christ is theirs, and right now, the feeling of wellness returns to them.
FURTHER STUDY Philippians 2:9-11 & Acts 4:10-12
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SUNDAY 06 MARCH 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: ANNOUNCE THE GOOD NEWS
KEY VERSE: Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead (Romans 1:1-4).*_
MESSAGE
The Bible says Jesus was declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead. He’s alive forevermore! Something else so beautiful to notice is the actual meaning of the phrase “Son Of God”; it means God in human flesh. And that’s why the Jews crucified Jesus because, by their law, Jesus made Himself equal with God when He said He was the Son of God.
But He is Himself God; that’s what the Bible shows. Titus 2:13-14 calls Him “the Great God:” “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” This is the Jesus that I tell you about.
In Acts 1, after His resurrection, as He spoke with His disciples and answered their questions, the Bible says, _“…while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight”_ (Acts 1:9). They saw Him go up to heaven; He didn’t suddenly vanish; He levitated before their eyes. Hallelujah! The Bible says they _“...looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up…”_ (Acts 1:10).
That was the most glorious thing to ever happen in this world: Jesus, not only did He rise from the dead, but also physically levitated—and they watched Him as He went up into heaven. Blessed be God! The Bible says two men appeared in white apparel and said to the disciples: _“Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven”j (Acts 1:11). This is the same announcement we must make to the whole world today.
Tell everyone throughout this world that Jesus was raised from the dead and that He ascended to heaven. He’s coming back again! It’s your job to announce this good news everywhere. Let those around you know that Jesus is coming back again, and it’s sooner than they imagine.
CONFESSION
I’m bold and passionate in my intent to preach the Gospel to all those around me, for I’m the bearer of the Lord’s glory and righteousness in the world, the distributor of His mercies and grace. I pray now, that righteousness is poured forth upon the nations today, resulting in an avalanche of souls coming into the Kingdom, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY
Romans 10:14
_14- How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?_
Romans 1:16-17
_16- For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek._
_17- For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”_
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN
Mark 11:27-12:1-17 & Numbers 18-19
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN
Acts 24:22-27 & Psalm 59-60
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY 05 MARCH 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: AN EFFECTIVE PRAYER LIFE KEY VERSE: Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart (Luke 18:1 NKJV)
MESSAGE The Lord Jesus was very prayerful when He walked the earth. The Bible says, “And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed”*_ (Mark 1:35). In another instance, Luke recorded that “…he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God” (Luke 6:12). He had an effective prayer life, which the Bible enjoins us to emulate.
He said in Luke 18:1, “...men ought always to pray, and not to faint. The Apostle Paul reiterated the same thing; he said, “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). In 1 Timothy 2:8, he said, “I will therefore that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.” This is God’s admonition to us. We’re to live a life of prayer. How important this is!
Having an effective prayer life isn’t just so we could fulfil some religious obligations, no! This is where a lot of people miss it. First, prayer is a privilege; it’s a right given to us to communicate with the Father in faith, through His Word, and by the Holy Ghost. That opportunity that’s given to us to pray is something the Father always wants us to seize.
Secondly, when Jesus said men ought always to pray and not to faint, He was looking at the connection that we have with the Father in our constant communication that builds faith. Faith comes by hearing the Word (Romans 10:17). Through that fellowship, we keep hearing the Word because the Father always speaks; He always talks to us; He always shares His Word with us.
That’s why Paul taught us to pray, “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen” (2 Corinthians 13:14). The word “communion” is translated from the Greek “Koinonia”, which also means fellowship. Learn to take time away from everything else to talk to the Lord in prayer; it’ll bring an extraordinary transformation into your life that you never thought possible. FURTHER STUDY: Ephesians 6:18 & John 15:7 & 16
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY 04 MARCH 2022 PASTOR CHRIS TOPIC: JOYFUL IN PRAISE
KEY VERSE: And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed (Acts 16:25-26). MESSAGE
In the sixteenth chapter of the book of Acts, Luke tells us an inspiring story of how Paul and Silas were incarcerated; persecuted for preaching the Gospel. They were put into the inner prison, in chains; their feet were fastened in stocks. But something happened as they began to sing joyfully: there was an earthquake to bring them out of prison.
Many times, all we do is make requests in prayer. But there’s power in praising the Lord joyfully. The Bible says “Rejoice evermore” (1 Thessalonians 5:16). There’ll always be circumstances and situations that’ll try to get your attention and knock your joy off. Sometimes, it may be some wave of bad news to make you sad and angry or some issues on your mind. Whatever the case, refuse to worry; be joyful in praise to the Lord.
The Bible says, “Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully” (1 Peter 5:7 AMPC). And then He says, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7 NKJV).
Someone might say, “I only get anxious when the issues get very serious.” No, Jesus said, “Let not your heart be troubled. Ye believe in God, believe also in me” (John 14:1). Yes! Nothing should ever trouble you. That’s why it’s important to meditate on the Word of God. Through meditation on the Word, you’re conditioned to have the right mindset; you can’t but be joyful!
The Prophet said, “I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God...” (Isaiah 61:10). The psalmist said, “And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation” (Psalm 35:9). The Lord Jesus said in Matthew 21:16, “…have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?” Learn to praise the Lord joyfully always.
FURTHER STUDY:
1 Peter 1:8, Proverbs 17:22 & Psalm 30:11-12
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 03 MARCH 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: HE HAS A GREAT PLAN FOR YOU
KEY VERSE: For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live] (Ephesians 2:10 AMPC). MESSAGE God has a great plan for your life, but if you don’t know it, you can’t walk in it. He prearranged a good life for you. That’s what we read in our theme verse. There’re good things God has planned for you to do. But you may never do them until you know that God has such a plan.
This is why the study and meditation on the Word is very important; it helps you become more acquainted with His plans and the life He prearranged for you. And through the ministry of the Holy Spirit who helps you fulfil God’s plan for your life, you receive the mysteries and realities of the Kingdom. Hallelujah!
The Word 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 marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9 AMPC). He chose you for excellence and perfection, to display His virtues and wondrous works. He chose you to be the light of the world.
This is extraordinary! I understood this very early in my life, and I made up my mind to live the life that Jesus gave me, nothing short of it! That’s our calling; that’s God’s plan. Why would you want to live any lower or lesser life? Don’t accept it. This year, you can be as successful as God has ordained for you to be if you’d walk by the Word. You were born to manifest the glory of God and establish His will and righteousness in the earth.
FURTHER STUDY:
Jeremiah 29:11, John 16:13 & Psalm 16:11
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 02 MARCH 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: ALL-ROUND PROSPERITY
KEY VERSE: Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth (3 John 1:2). MESSAGE
The verse above is dealing with the three aspects of your life: the material aspect—which is material prosperity, the physical aspect—which is your physical body, and then the spiritual prosperity—which means the prosperity of your soul. But the prosperity of your soul is number one. How can your soul prosper? It’s through the Word. The Bible says, _“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly…”_ (Colossians 3:16).
If the Word of God is in you richly, you’ll prosper spiritually. For example, if you have a lot of money, it’ll lead you to material prosperity because you can get the things you want with the money you’ve got. In the same way, the Bible says you prosper spiritually by having the Word of Christ dwell in you in abundance. Meditate on the Word; hear the Word; study the Word; imbibe the Word. Keep the Word inside you until it pours out of your mouth in every situation. Let it be in such abundance that no matter what you encounter in life, you respond in, with, and by the Word!
There’re Christians who seem to be doing well spiritually; they’re prospering in their soul; they’re living a righteous life, yet they’re sick, and they’re financially broke. That isn’t God’s will. He wants you to prosper as your spirit prospers. He wants everything that concerns you to succeed exceedingly; He wants you to experience abundant riches and wealth.
He also wants you to live in health. There’s something better than healing; it’s divine health, where you don’t get sick! And He says, “More than anything else, this is what I want for you: that you prosper and be in health….” That’s God’s plan: a balanced life of material prosperity, physical prosperity and spiritual prosperity. Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY: Joshua 1:8 & 2 Corinthians 9:8 AMPC
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY 01 MARCH 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: BELIEVE AND ACT ON TRUTH
KEY VERSE: And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. (John 8:32) MESSAGE
One day, a gentleman who had been diagnosed with tuberculosis came to see me. He had chest pains and coughed out blood. It was quite severe. He brought out the documents of the diagnosis to show me. Then I said to him, “Do you believe Christ lives in you?” He said, “Yes.” So, I said, “That means you can’t have tuberculosis, because the life of Christ in you isn’t susceptible to sickness, disease, or any form of infection.”
When he went back to the doctors, they confirmed he was tuberculosis negative. Hallelujah! The man was totally blown away. But the question is, why do people succumb to disease? It’s because they don’t know Jesus; they don’t know the truth. What about those who have heard the true Gospel about divine health and yet succumb to sickness or disease? It simply shows that they don’t truly believe what they heard. When you believe it, it changes your life!
As read in our theme verse, Jesus said, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” Jesus never lied to anybody; never! When you say, “I have tuberculosis,” for instance, how did you know? Maybe you felt signs and symptoms such as coughing for days, coughing up blood or mucus, chest pain, etc.
These made you believe that you have tuberculosis. But why don’t you also find out what God says about you? What are the signs of God’s presence in your life?
Whose report will you believe? God’s or the medical? The one you believe is the one you’ll respond to. When you believe in the signs and symptoms of sickness, you’ll act sick and sickly. But if you act on God’s Word, a transformation takes place; you’ll realize that since Christ is in you, you live by the Spirit and no disease or infirmity can thrive in your body. Glory to God!
CONFESSION
I’ve received an indestructible life that’s higher than that of the ordinary man. My new life came from God’s Word and it’s unsullied; it remains forever, because the Holy Spirit, who perambulates my body, inundates it with divine life, ridding me of every infirmity. The old life that’s subject to sickness has been supplanted by the life of God. I believe this truth, and I live by it! Glory to God.
FURTHER STUDY
Isaiah 53:1
_1- Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?_
1 Peter 1:23 MSG
_23- Now that you’ve cleaned up your lives by following the truth, love one another as if your lives depended on it. Your new life is not like your old life. Your old birth came from mortal sperm; your new birth comes from God’s living Word. Just think: a life conceived by God himself! That’s why the prophet said, The old life is a grass life, its beauty as short-lived as wildflowers; Grass dries up, flowers droop, God’s Word goes on and on forever. This is the Word that conceived the new life in you._
Romans 8:10-11
_10- And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness._
_11- But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN
Mark 9:14-32; Numbers 7-8
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN
Acts 23:1-10; Psalm 50-51
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 28 FEBRUARY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: PREACH JESUS EVERYWHERE AND TO EVERYONE
KEY VERSE: Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved (Acts 4:12). MESSAGE
The Gospel is for everybody; it’ll produce results in the life of anyone who hears and believes it. But for them to believe, they must hear it first, and that’s where you come in, for they can’t hear without a preacher (Romans 10:14). Our theme verse says, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” There’s no other way; let’s not act as if there’s another way.
Since Jesus is the only way, and we believe He is the only way, then we can’t be quiet. We must tell everyone about Jesus. If you’re a young person and your parents aren’t born again, talk to them about Jesus; share the Word of God with them. If you’re married, talk to your spouse that’s not born again. If you’re a teacher, talk to your students about Jesus Christ.
If you’re a student, preach Christ to your teachers, lecturers and fellow students. Win everyone you can. When you’re on the train, in a bus, taxi, or on a flight, talk about Jesus. When you go to a shop, tell them about Jesus. It doesn’t matter where you are; talk about Jesus! Preach the Word everywhere and to everyone and inspire others to do the same.
Teach children to preach the Gospel. Let’s fill the earth with the knowledge of Christ. Win souls everywhere, for the time is short. Be bold about Jesus Christ. If you have fears or you have any kind of hang-ups, throw them all away; you’re a child of God; you’re a witness of the love of Jesus Christ. Through you, He’s delivering men from darkness into light and from the power of Satan unto God. He’s establishing His righteousness and expanding His Kingdom in the earth. Glory to God!
FURTHER STUDY
Romans 1:16, 2 Corinthians 5:18 AMPC & Mark 16:15 TPT
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SUNDAY 27 FEBRUARY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: BUILD ON LOVE’S FOUNDATION KEY VERSE: And the most important piece of clothing you must wear is love. Love is what binds us all together in perfect harmony (Colossians 3:14 NLT). MESSAGE
In 1 Corinthians 14:20 NKJV, we find a very important admonition to God’s people. It says, “Brethren, do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be babes, but in understanding be mature.”*_ Babies don’t know how to be bitter or keep malice. They’re too innocent for such; they don’t have enough sense to even recognize any wrong done to them. That’s how God wants you to live.
Don’t regard the wrong done to you by others to the extent that you become bitter. The Bible says you shouldn’t allow any root of bitterness to spring up in your heart and trouble you, and then tells you why: it’ll defile you (Hebrews 12:15).
It makes no difference how “justified” you may think you are to be angry, bitter, or offended; any action taken as a result of bitterness has defilement in it. It’s only a matter of time, the decadence in it will manifest. Don’t create new visions and new ideas or start new businesses, ministries and projects because you were bitter or offended. Don’t build any endeavour on the foundation of bitterness; it’ll fail. Build on love’s foundation.
Remember what the Bible says, “For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God” (James 1:20). Some people have been wounded to the point of tears, and with bitterness in their hearts, acted in a wrathful way. But you can’t move with anger and expect that the righteousness of God is being fulfilled.
Also, be wise to recognize when those around you are being motivated by some dissatisfaction, some anger and frustration. Correct them. Walk in love and the wisdom of God will guide you in all your affairs.
FURTHER STUDY:
Ephesians 4:31 NIV, Proverbs 22:24-25 & Matthew 5:44
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY 26 FEBRUARY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: SEE AND LIVE SPIRITUALLY
KEY VERSE: There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death (Proverbs 16:25).
MESSAGE
In Genesis 13:14, God said to Abraham, “...Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward.” Abraham wasn’t looking at the physical world; he was looking in the spirit. That’s easy to decipher when you study Acts 7:5; it says, “And he gave him none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on: yet he promised that he would give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child.”
Think about that! Abraham never possessed even a little bit of the land, yet God said, “I’ll give the land to you and to your seed.” So, when Abraham lifted his eyes to look, he wasn’t thinking of earthly things; he was thinking spiritually.
But this wasn’t the case with his nephew Lot. When Lot had a similar opportunity, read what the Bible says: “And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere…” (Genesis 13:10). Lot was carried away by the lushness and plushness of the land, what his physical eyes could see. Remember, Lot was also a righteous man (2 Peter 2:7-8); but because he didn’t see spiritually, he made wrong choices that messed up his life.
There’re Christians like that today who made certain choices for which others applauded them, but those choices led or would and could lead to their destruction. Therefore, I say to you: Don’t make carnal choices. See in the Spirit, with the Spirit, and through the Spirit.
Let the Holy Spirit help you bring God’s dream that’s in your heart to pass. See and live spiritually; that way, everything about your life will have only one clear motive: how to continually bring glory to Jesus Christ! So, in making life’s choices, let it be with a heart of purity, a heart of righteousness—devoid of fleshly and selfish inclinations.
FURTHER STUDY:
Colossians 3:1-2, Matthew 6:33 & Hebrews 11:8-10
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY 25 FEBRUARY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: FOLLOW AND TRUST THE Word KEY VERSE: For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit (Romans 8:5). MESSAGE The Bible tells us about the House of David and the House of Saul. You get a clear picture of their differences when you look at what happened in the days of David as a young man after God chose him to be king while Saul was still alive.
Saul had turned his back on God. And the older he got, the less he listened to God. Towards the ending part of his life, he’d even go to the witch of Endor; he was more concerned about what the people thought than what God thought.
Saul wanted to kill David because he realized God’s hand was on David and his dream to maintain a lasting dynasty was failing. But he didn’t succeed. Finally, Saul died; but his house continued to persecute David because of their selfish ambitions. That’s why the Bible says there was a long war between the house of David and the house of Saul (2 Samuel 3:1).
The house of Saul had become the house of the flesh, the house of sin and selfish ambitions. You could liken that to God’s children today who, even though they were chosen by God, aren’t listening to God anymore. As a child of God, you must walk in the wisdom of God.
Be discerning! Let the Spirit of God guide you. Follow and trust God’s Word, for therein lies your glory and victories in life. Let the Word be the supreme authority by which you judge all things and you’ll journey on the clear path of success, victory, and progress. Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY: Ephesians 4:14 & Romans 8:5-8
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 24 FEBRUARY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THE REIGN OF CHRIST AND HIS CHURCH KEY VERSE: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all (Ephesians 1:22-23).
MESSAGE The resurrection of Jesus Christ started a new reign, the reign of His spiritual Kingdom. The Bible says, “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). This is remarkable!
In Acts 13:38, the Bible says, “Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins.” It says remission of sins is through Jesus Christ. And Philippians 2:9 says, “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name.” The 10th verse says, “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth.” This is extraordinary!
Jesus was raised from the dead and given the Name that has power over all things, over all three domains: heaven, earth and hell. He’s Lord and Master over all things! Glory to God! From the time He began to reign through the Church, He gave us the power of attorney to use His Name, to exercise authority in His Name. Hallelujah!
As long as we can use the Name of Jesus in the earth, Satan and his cohorts of darkness can’t run this world. It’s impossible! You can’t have that coexistence of authorities. The power that the Antichrist will exercise will be an absolute authority, absolute power in the earth. But that can’t happen while we’re here, because the dominion of the Name of Jesus is over all nations.
The Bible says the Lord is “...the governor among the nations” (Psalm 22:28). Serve the Lord with gladness and with all your heart, knowing that you’re reigning in life through Jesus Christ.
FURTHER STUDY: Mark 16:17 & Romans 5:17
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 23 FEBRUARY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: SERVE THE LORD WITHOUT FEAR
KEY VERSE: Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord…(1 Corinthians 15:58).
MESSAGE
In Daniel 6:7, the Bible shows us the calibre of people that rose up against innocent Daniel: All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, princes, counsellors, and captains! They conspired to enact a decree to incriminate Daniel in his devotion to God. Daniel, being among the administrators, must have known about the monstrous conspiracy and might have been praying, “O, Lord, don’t let the king sign the decree; don’t let their plans come to fruition.”
But the Bible says “...king Darius signed the writing and the decree” (Daniel 6:9). Here’s something remarkable: When Daniel heard the decree had been published, the Bible says he went home, into a room upstairs where he could be seen, and just as he had always done, he knelt at the open windows and prayed to God three times a day (Daniel 6:10 GNB).
How inspiring! He wasn’t going to hide his devotion to the Lord or waver on his faithfulness and commitment to prayer! Consequently, he was arrested and thrown into the lions’ den. “How could God have abandoned Daniel despite his prayers and unflinching faithfulness?” someone might ask. No! The Lord never leaves or forsakes us, no matter the circumstance.
Daniel was miraculously delivered from the mouths of lions (Read Daniel 6:22). With Daniel’s experience, God was planning an eternal testimony. Think about it: Hundreds of years have come and gone, and we’re still being inspired by Daniel’s faithfulness to God and his mighty deliverance from the lions’ den. So, it doesn’t matter the challenges against your faith; be prepared to win.
Maybe in your city or country, there’re draconian laws against the Church; don’t be moved. Don’t allow fear to come to your mind. Be bold. Be resolute. Be tough for the Gospel. Nothing, no one—groups, governments or institutions—can stand against the Church and win. History proves it. Our Lord Jesus revealed how futile such endeavours are when He said concerning His Church: “And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder” (Matthew 21:44).
The adversities you face are for an eternal testimony. Therefore, serve the Lord joyfully without fear and inhibitions. Anyone who stands in your way will be pulverized. That’s what Jesus said and His words never fail.
FURTHER STUDY: 1 Corinthians 15:57-58 AMPC, Revelation 2:26 & Romans 12:11-12 AMPC
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY 22 FEBRUARY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: YOUR “INSIDE” TEACHER
KEY VERSE: But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things… (John 14:26). MESSAGE
In John 16:12, the Lord Jesus shows us something very profound. He said to His disciples, “I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.” In other words, He had a lot of things to tell them which they weren’t going to be able to grasp. Someone might ask, “Why couldn’t they understand or grasp what He had to tell them? Wasn’t Jesus ministering by the Holy Ghost?”
Jesus had the fullness of the Spirit and surely did minister by the Holy Spirit. However, the problem wasn’t with Jesus, but the disciples. In the next verse, He unveiled the solution. He said, “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth…” (John 16:13). That means the Holy Spirit will declare, report, manifest, show, and unveil the future to them.
The Holy Spirit is an inside teacher in you, and He’ll guide you into all truth. He’ll guide you into the truth that you should preach and teach and grant understanding of the same to your hearers. Trust Him like Jesus did. He’s the best teacher in the Church. He’ll do better than you; so, let Him.
Remember the Bible says He shall not speak of Himself: “…for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak…” (John 16:13). He hears directly from the Father and from Jesus, and reveals them to you. See why you must trust Him for accurate knowledge, wisdom and guidance? What a privilege it is for us to have such an awesome teacher right inside us. Welcome and encourage the ministry of the Holy Spirit in your life! Take advantage of this beautiful ministry; appreciate Him and maximize this privilege.
FURTHER STUDY:
Luke 12:12 & 1 John 2:27
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 21 FEBRUARY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: “ANOTHER COMFORTER”
KEY VERSE: For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ (I Corinthians 3:11).
MESSAGE
Observe what John the Apostle called Jesus in 1 John 2:1—our advocate with the Father. The word translated “advocate” here is “paraklētos,” the same word the Master used in His reassuring words in John 14:16: “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever.”
“Paraklētos” actually means one that is called to go alongside or go together with you, one that is called to aid; a helper. The Amplified translation gives us seven beautiful synonyms that come out of the word “paraklētos.” Comforter is one; the others are Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby. Hallelujah!
Why did Jesus talk about Another Comforter to His disciples before His death, burial, and resurrection? It’s because He was going away to the Father, and wouldn’t be with them for much longer. For that reason, He’d pray the Father and ask Him to send them “Another” Comforter, who will abide with them forever!
The word “Another” is translated from the Greek word “Allos.” Allos means another one of the same kind, quality and type. So, He’s saying that this Comforter (the Holy Spirit) would be like Himself. In John 14:17-18, He continued, “Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.”
Jesus, our Comforter, went to heaven, but He sent us the Holy Spirit to take His place so we’ll never miss His presence. Now, instead of walking the streets with you as Jesus did with the disciples, He walks the streets in you. He’s in you and with you forever. Praise God!
FURTHER STUDY:
Isaiah 9:6, John 14:18-19 & John 15:26 AMPC
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SUNDAY 20 FEBRUARY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: LET HIM LEAD YOU
KEY VERSE: For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God (Romans 8:14). MESSAGE In Acts 13:1-4, we see the disciples acting out the instructions of the Lord Jesus in Luke 10:2. Jesus had said, “…The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.”
In Acts 13, the apostles responded to that injunction through prayer. The Bible tells us that as they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “...Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them” (Acts 13:2 NKJV).
What the Bible tells us next is most inspiring: “And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus” (Acts 13:3-4). Now, who commissioned these two labourers and sent them forth? The Holy Spirit!
In Acts 8:26, we see another beautiful story of how the angel of the Lord spoke unto Philip, asking him to go somewhere. Later on, the Holy Spirit instructed Philip to join himself to the chariot of an Ethiopian eunuch, a member of the court of Candace, the
Ethiopian queen: “Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. And Philip ran thither to him…” (Act 8:29-30). Philip did as he was instructed and found the eunuch sitting in his chariot, reading the book of the Prophet Isaiah but couldn’t understand it. Philip offered to explain and further announced to the Ethiopian eunuch the Gospel of Jesus, and in the end, the eunuch was saved and baptized (Acts 8:26–39). Again, we see the Holy Spirit sending a man into the mission field for the work of harvest. Hallelujah!
The Holy Spirit is here for a purpose. He is the Lord of the harvest, and through His grace and power that’s at work in us, we can be effective witnesses of the resurrected Christ. Recognize and take your place as a co-labourer with Him as He leads you in the work as a soul-winner and a soul-builder. Follow His guidance and direction.
FURTHER STUDY:
Luke 10:2 &
Matthew 9:37-38
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY 19 FEBRUARY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: LIVE PURPOSEFULLY
KEY VERSE: Look carefully then how you walk! Live purposefully and worthily and accurately, not as the unwise and witless, but as wise (sensible, intelligent people), Making the very most of the time [buying up each opportunity], because the days are evil (Ephesians 5:15-16 AMPC) MESSAGE
Recently, the devil desperately attempted to force the world into the environment of the Antichrist, resulting in so much deception and destruction of lives, livelihoods, and businesses. But thanks be unto God! The Church rose to the occasion and truncated all of Satan’s plans and stratagems. Hallelujah!
But why did such things even happen at all? It was because many of God’s people were learning the principles of the Kingdom to consume upon their lusts, measuring their successes with earthly things. They began to live as though this world is all there is, not realizing that life on earth is short.
Whether you’re a politician, an entrepreneur, civil servant, whoever you are, and whatever activities you’re involved in, the end of all things is at hand. Live purposefully. Refuse to allow anything to take your attention away from the Lord. Gain isn’t godliness (1 Timothy 6:5). Don’t think that since you’re acquiring possessions and recording success with earthly things, that means you’re fulfilling God’s will. No, don’t use earthly things to measure God’s approval.
Also, never think you lost anything for following and serving the Lord with all your heart and with all you had, just because you don’t seem to have much of this world’s goods. The greatest thing in this earth is to serve the Lord with your life and fulfil His purpose for your life.
Free yourself of all forms of entanglements and encumbrances and serve the Lord joyfully with a pure heart. Don’t associate success with God with the world’s symbols of success. Serve God with a perfect heart and be excited to praise Him, irrespective of the challenges you might be facing.
FURTHER STUDY:
2 Timothy 3:1-2, Deuteronomy 10:12 & 2 Corinthians 5:14-15
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY 18 FEBRUARY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THE REAL BLESSING OF PRAYER KEY VERSE: And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us (1 John 5:14).
MESSAGE
The real blessing of prayer isn’t the requests and supplications we make; it’s our heavenly Father’s response. If you pray, and God doesn’t hear you, the prayer is useless. But thanks be unto God; we have an assurance—a guarantee to be heard when we pray: “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us” (1 John 5:14).
The boldness we have is that whenever we ask anything or make any request according to His will, He listens to us and responds. The first part of His response is the consciousness and the confirmation that He gives to you in your spirit that you’re being heard and answered; that’s a great blessing.
In John 15:16, Jesus said, “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, …that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.” How beautiful this is! You’re ordained to receive answers when you make petitions or decrees in the Name of Jesus.
We find another beautiful scripture in John 16:24. It says, “Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.” God’s desire is for you to have your requests granted, so that your joy may be full. He’s your loving heavenly Father, and you can be confident to table your requests before Him with an assurance of a response. So, always pray in confidence.
Some Christians never ask in confidence. This is perhaps because they’re ignorant of His will. God’s will isn’t to withhold good things from you. So, be confident to ask Him for the best things of life. If you’re not confident before God, you can’t be effective in your walk of faith. In Matthew 7:11 AMPC, Jesus said, “If you then, evil as you are, know how to give good and advantageous gifts to your children, how much more will your Father Who is in heaven [perfect as He is] give good and advantageous things to those who keep on asking Him!” Think about that!
FURTHER STUDY
Mark 11:24 & 1 Peter 3:12
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 17 FEBRUARY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: RELATING WITH THE KNOWN KEY VERSE: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death (Philippians 3:10).
MESSAGE
The word “know” in our underlined portion above is from the Greek, “ginoljskolj.” Here, the Apostle Paul alludes to knowing God like a discovery that you make, like when we say, “Discover Jesus.”
That kind of knowledge only comes with revelation. As you study the Scriptures, God reveals certain things to you. And then when you’re praying, there’s more knowledge of God that’s imparted to your spirit. All of this works out by revelation. However, in the 8th verse, he shows us another kind of knowledge; he says, “Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord….”
This time, he’s talking about “gnoljsis” (Greek); he’s dealing here with what you may call scientific knowledge, “a finding out.” But he reveals yet another kind of knowledge in Philippians 1:9; Paul says, “And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment.” The word “knowledge” here is the Greek “epignoljsis.” Epignosis is the knowledge that relates with that which is known. It’s accurate, full, and precise knowledge of God, resulting in a well-seasoned life.
This kind of knowledge is knowledge by relationship. It’s not just about receiving revelation or what you discovered through study. At this point, you’re relating with that which has been revealed and dealing with actual knowledge.
When you don’t have this knowledge, things look like speculation to you; even your prayer may be like trial and error. But when you know and relate with the One that answers the prayers, things are different; you’re confident and excited to pray. It’s about your knowledge of the One to whom you pray. When you function in this relationship, in prayer, you’re only about one thing: praying the will of the Father, carrying out the Father’s will in the earth.
Those who don’t know the Word easily get overwhelmed by circumstances and defeated by the crises of life. You’ve got to give more attention to the Word and grow in the “Epignosis” of God.
FURTHER STUDY:
1 John 5:14-15 & Colossians 1:9-10 AMPC
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 16 FEBRUARY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: HE GAVE HIS LIFE FOR ALL
KEY VERSE: There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all (Ephesians 4:4-6). MESSAGE
Christianity is the life of Christ in a man; it’s not a religion. But it’s been classified as a religion by those who never understood it. The only religion in Christianity, according to the Bible, is visiting the fatherless, helping the widow and the poor in their affliction (James 1:27). But everything else has nothing to do with religion.
Jesus Christ is the only One sent to save man. Religious leaders went to war; they killed; they forced people to accept their beliefs. They gave other people’s lives to save themselves. But Jesus gave His own life for all. Think about that!
Who would you think loves you? The one who punished and killed others for not listening to him, or the one who gave His life for them so they could live? Jesus gave His life in your place for you to know that you’re valuable to God. Maybe you’re reading this and you’ve never been born again; you must understand this: Salvation comes through no other name or means except by Jesus Christ: “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).
Since there’s no salvation in any other, there couldn’t be “other faiths,” like some people think. We read it in our theme verse; there’s “One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all….” And 1 Corinthians 8:6 says, “But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.”
In John 14:6, Jesus was unequivocal when He said, “...I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”*_ He used the definite article “the”; He didn’t say, “I’m a way” or “one of the ways.” This is why we preach the Gospel; it’s so that men may know that Jesus gave His life for them; mankind is no longer lost. Now they can hear and be saved, and be prepared for the soon return of the Lord, Jesus Christ. And we must keep at it until He comes!
FURTHER STUDY:
Acts 4:12 NIV, Acts 13:38-39 & John 15:13
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY 15 FEBRUARY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: HE DOESN’T WORK BY FEELINGS KEY VERSE: At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you (John 14:20). MESSAGE
Once, I asked someone, “What does the power of God feel like and where do you feel it?” He couldn’t tell. So, I began to explain it to him. We can have feelings all over our body and recognize it’s the power of God; we can have feelings in our hands and recognize it’s the power of God. But here’s the question: What if you don’t feel it? Will it mean God is no longer there, or His power is absent?
That’s where a whole lot of people miss it. When you feel the power or presence of God, it’s good, but God doesn’t want you to feel anything for you to know He’s with you and in you. This dependency on feelings has destroyed the faith of many. He doesn’t work by feelings.
In the New Testament, it makes no difference whether or not you feel the power or presence of God. I’ve felt the power of God many times, and I’ve also had occasions where I didn’t feel anything, but I had just as much results as when I felt it as when I didn’t, because I understood that the “feeling” had nothing to do with it. Understand something: the totality or fullness of the Holy Spirit lives in you. It doesn’t get better than that.
God doesn’t increase Himself or reduce Himself in you. He dwells in you in His full measure. Are you aware that God isn’t more in heaven than He is in you? You’re His living tabernacle, His habitation, and His mobile headquarters. You’re in Him, and He’s in you. In other words, you’ve become His habitation, and He’s become your habitation. Hallelujah! You live in Him, and He lives in you.
This has fulfilled the dream of Jesus Christ in His prayer to the Father, as read in our theme verse: “...I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.” The Holy Spirit made it happen. You’re inseparably one with Him; so, don’t rely on your feelings in relating with God; rely on His Word. God is a Spirit, and He relates with you, with your spirit, through the Word.
If you’d understand this, your whole life—your ministry, your prayer life, your worship—will be completely transformed and you’ll live every day in glory, dominion, and excellence. Glory to God!
FURTHER STUDY: Romans 8:8, Philippians 3:3 & John 14:16-17
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 14 FEBRUARY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: A JOINT SITTING IN THE HEAVENLIES
KEY VERSE: And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:6). MESSAGE*
The expression, “sit together” is from the Greek “sugkathizolj” and it means “joint sitting.” It’s a legal term, and the Scripture can’t be broken. That means Jesus’ authority has been extended to us; we’re using the same authority with Him. Thus, everything Jesus utters is in our name, and everything we utter is in His Name. He doesn’t make a decision without us, and we don’t make a decision without Him. This is hugely profound!
Our joint sitting isn’t earthly; it’s heavenly. It’s been decided from heaven. We’re His legal representatives in the earth. What we say in the earth is endorsed in the heavens. Understanding this is very important. It means you alone can take a stand on God’s Word and effect a change on the basis of this understanding, and it’ll be endorsed from heaven.
Some people think that until all the Christians in the world come together to stand against Satan and his antics and deception, then nothing can change. But think about it: our theme verse—Ephesians 2:6—wasn’t written to the Corinthians, neither was it sent to the Thessalonians; they probably never had access to the information. So, every Christian wasn’t at the same level of faith or knowledge at every point in time then; neither are they now.
However, what God expects is that those of us who have come to maturity, who have an understanding of His Word and of the times, will take our stand and our place in Christ to keep Satan under our feet where he belongs. That’s what’s important.
With this kind of knowledge, you maintain control of things in your life, your environment, and the world. You nullify Satan’s plans and works and pull them down by the power of the living Christ. Don’t be troubled by what’s hapening in the world today; use your authority in Christ. You reign in Him and through Him over Satan, darkness, the world, and circumstances.
Therefore, subdue your world. Let nothing but Christ reign in your physical body, in your job or business, in your family, and your world. Remember, you’re seated with Him in glory, with the same authority. Praise God forevermore!
FURTHER STUDY: Luke 10:19 AMPC, 1 John 4:17 & Ephesians 1:20-23
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SUNDAY 13 FEBRUARY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: WE’RE IN THE LAST DAYS KEY VERSE: Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed (1 Corinthians 15:51-52).
MESSAGE
When you read about the last days in the Bible, you have to understand it from the perspective of, first, the context, and then the message of the writer. The “Last days” as frequently referenced in the Bible refer to those days just before the millennial period. Now, the prophets who particularly used those terms didn’t include the Church age.
So, when we say the last days, we’re not talking about the last days with respect to the Jewish Calendar as provided by the prophets. There’re so many signs that should let you know where we are and how much longer the world has before the judgements of the nations begin. Therefore, no matter where you are today, I want you to know Jesus is coming soon.
There’re those who believe it and are waiting for Him. There’re others who don’t think He’s coming and so, they’re not expecting Him. But He’s coming, and He’s coming for those “...that love his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:8), those who are expecting Him. The Bible says blessed are those who are waiting for His return (Luke 12:37), those who are saying, “...Even so, come, Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22:20). Live your life as one who’s waiting for Him, as one who’s expecting Him. Remember, it’s almost Two Thousand years since He levitated out of this world. The words of the prophets about His coming are all being fulfilled before our eyes. Most importantly, He said by Himself, “…Surely I come quickly…” (Revelation 22:20).
He’s coming for His Church. Are you a member of His Church? On that day, it’s not going to happen in some gradual process; it’ll be in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye; we’ll be raptured out of this world to meet the Lord in the air. Don’t be caught unawares. Stay in Christ, in righteousness, and keep living for Him.
FURTHER STUDY: 2 Peter 3:3-5 NLT & 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY 12 FEBRUARY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: TRUTH IS IN YOUR SPIRIT KEY VERSE: But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth (2 Thessalonians 2:13)
MESSAGE With so much deceitful information going around in the world today, some people have become confused, not knowing what to believe. But that’s not you! Yes, some people are always in conflict with the truth, but you’re different. You were chosen to know and believe the truth. The Bible says wisdom is known and justified of her children (Luke 7:35), and wisdom is truth.
Even though you may hear religious messages and different things about God, one thing is certain: When God’s true Word gets to you, it’ll come with a conviction of truth! Our theme verse says God chose _“...you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth.” Salvation could only work for you through two factors: The Holy Spirit sanctifying you, and you believing the truth. So, the Holy Spirit sets you apart to believe the truth, because it takes the grace of God to know and believe the truth. So, you never have to worry about how to distinguish between truth and falsehood.
Jesus said, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32). God’s truth always blesses, uplifts, strengthens and protects. Truth fills you with love and makes you walk and talk like Christ. It doesn’t bring confusion, and it carries no hate, bitterness or fear with it. As you give yourself to the study of the Word, you’ll be able to judge everything with the truth of God’s Word at all times, because truth is in your spirit.
CONFESSION: FURTHER STUDY: 1 Timothy 4:1-2 NLT & John 8:32
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY 11 FEBRUARY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: VEHICLES OF LIFE
KEY VERSE: Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost (Matthew 28:19).
MESSAGE
When we talk about the coming of the Lord being so much closer now than ever, some have asked, “In that case, is there any need for me to still start up a business or go to school?” When people ask such questions, it’s evident they’re missing something. What they’re missing is the urgency of the moment, the earnestness of making His message known.
Starting up a new business or profession, or going to school are all opportunities to reach others with the Gospel. We call them chariots, vehicles of life. The word “nations” in our theme verse is “Ethnos” in Greek, and it doesn’t just mean “countries”; it refers to social or taxonomic divisions of people. And these may be broken into various ethno-systems.
For example, there’re ‘workplace nations,’ professional nations, neighbourhood nations; all the staff of a particular organization, an association of engineers, residents of a village community respectively. If you’re a lawyer and you belong in an organization of lawyers, that’s a nation of lawyers. Are you a student? Your student community is a nation, with respect to the definition of our theme verse. You become the preacher in your world.
As a young boy many years ago, I was inspired to win fellow students to Christ, and I did! I went beyond my school to other schools, holding conferences with students. I preached among the youth groups, and many of them were won to Christ. Hallelujah!
Our faith in Jesus and our expectation of His imminent return make us even more passionate to do more. We’re even more determined to do the things we’ve been doing better, and in a brighter light—in the light of His coming. We become directed and more focused, using the opportunity of our “nations” to reach more people with more urgency.
FURTHER STUDY: John 15:16, 1 Corinthians 9:16 & Proverbs 11:30
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 10 FEBRUARY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: HIS KINGDOM IN MEN’S HEARTS
KEY VERSE: Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10). MESSAGE
In the prayer format that Jesus gave to His disciples in Matthew 6:9-13, they understood that the prayer was contextualized to a dispensational consideration. Therefore, following their writings, it’s clear what we should say in the light of what Jesus taught in prayer.
For example, when He said, “Thy kingdom come...,” while the fulfilment for Israel will be at the millennial reign of Christ, and that the spiritual kingdom has come to us in Christ, and we pray to extend this kingdom to those who haven’t yet received it into their hearts. He desires to see the Kingdom expand in different nations.
Then He said, “...Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” That’s a call of the Spirit for God’s will to be done in man’s world, because God’s will isn’t always done. But He’s sent us to bring forth His will to men everywhere; He sent us with a message. We know that when we go to them, the Kingdom has come to them! And when we pray for them, we’re praying the will of the Father; we’re praying that their hearts will be open to receive the Kingdom because the Bible does tell us that God opens the hearts of men.
For example, it tells us about a woman named Lydia, “...whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul” (Acts 16:14). If the Lord would open that woman’s heart, He can open anybody’s heart. And when God opens a man’s heart, the Kingdom comes into that heart. Hallelujah!
Through our prayers, God’s Spirit can prevail on men’s hearts, for the Bible says, “Ask ye of the LORD rain in the time of the latter rain; so the LORD shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field” (Zechariah 10:1). The Spirit has been poured out, and every grass in the field has been touched by the Holy Spirit.
Our role is to pray and speak forth the words of salvation, deliverance and liberty and bring men into the Kingdom, into union with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. And because the Father always hears and answers when we pray, it’ll be done by the power of the Holy Spirit. Glory to God!
FURTHER STUDY: Luke 17:20-21, Proverbs 21:1 & Ecclesiastes 3:11
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 09 FEBRUARY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: FROM “EMMANUEL” TO “CHRIST IN YOU”
KEY VERSE: And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever (John 14:16).
MESSAGE
The hope of the Old Testament was Emmanuel— “God with us.” In Exodus 33:15, Moses said to the Lord, “...If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence.” Every prophet of the Old Testament understood that God had to be with them. It was very important, and then the message came about the birth of Jesus. That was the hope of the Old Testament; the hope of Israel. But He came among them and many of them failed to recognize Him; yet, that was Emmanuel!
Thanks be unto God that He’ll come again, and He’ll live among them for one thousand years during His millennial reign! But Christianity, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, isn’t “Emmanuel.” As read in our theme verse, Jesus said, “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter (the Holy Spirit), that he may abide with you for ever” (John 14:16).
The Holy Spirit brings the presence of God. The 17th verse says, “Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.” The phrase “he dwelleth with you” is Emmanuel, and many of them believed in Him as the Messiah, the anointed One.
They understood that God Himself came and dwelt among them in human form, in the person of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. However, the vision was the latter part of that verse: “He shall be in you”, not just “with you.” That’s the promise of the Gospel—the transition from Emmanuel to “Christ in you.” Hallelujah!
Christ in you became a vital reality in your life the moment you were born again. From then on, no need to ever “seek God’s face”; He’s in you and you’re in Him—mingled with Him as one divine creation. If the Gospel you’ve preached or received doesn’t include that God Almighty has come to live inside you, it’s time to wake up to this reality. This is Christianity. Never make light of it. Praise God!
FURTHER STUDY:
Colossians 1:26-27, 1 Corinthians 3:16
& 1 Corinthians 6:19
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY 08 FEBRUARY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: YOU CAN TRUST HIM
KEY VERSE: Don’t put your trust in human leaders; no human being can save you (Psalm 146:3 GNB). MESSAGE
Right from my very early years, I made up my mind not to live an empty life. I wanted to live with assurance; to know God’s purpose. I wanted to trust God with my life. I didn’t want to do things just because everybody else was doing them. But how was I going to know what God wanted? How could I trust God with my life if I didn’t know Him?
I had to go to the Bible to study and be guided by the Holy Spirit into the revelation of His truths. That’s one book that never speculates. Therein, I discovered that God was more passionate for my success, victory, and joy than I could ever be. I discovered He loved me more than I loved myself. Then it was easy to trust Him, to let go of my own dreams, desires and pursuits, and follow His divine plan.
Don’t put your trust in the failing systems of this world. Don’t put your hopes in a government or the society or some authority. The Bible says, “It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes” (Psalms 118:9). The arm of flesh will fail; so, don’t live your life relying on systems and structures created by man for your success and prosperity.
You were made to put your faith in God; in the Word of God. You’ve got to start practicing relying on God. Our theme verse says, “Don’t put your trust in human leaders; no human being can save you.” The 5th verse says, “Happy are those who have the God of Jacob to help them and who depend on the LORD their God.” Put your trust in God. Study His Word. Get to know Him; to know Him is to trust Him.
When you know Him, you’ll make an unqualified commitment to Him. You’d never think that, somehow, you’d end up a failure. It’s impossible. He loves you and certainly wouldn’t allow anything to destroy you. It doesn’t matter what’s going on in the world; you can trust Him to take care of you and shield you from all evil. Glory to God!
FURTHER STUDY:
Jeremiah 17:7-8,
Matthew 11:28 TPT & Proverbs 3:5-6 GNB
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 07 FEBRUARY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: WARRING WITH PROPHECIES
KEY VERSE: Timothy, my son, I give you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by following them you may fight the good fight (1 Timothy 1:18 NIV).
MESSAGE The Passion Translation of the verse above says, “…use your prophecies as weapons….” That means weaponizing the prophecies that have been spoken concerning you. Use the prophetic words concerning your life, your future, your ministry, career, etc as a weapon in prosecuting the good fight of faith. Ephesians 6:17 sheds more light on this; it says, _“And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”_ The sword of the spirit refers to the spoken word, and the spoken word is the prophetic word. It’s an offensive weapon. There’re two things here about prophecies:
There’s the prophecy that’s spoken over your life as an individual, and there’s also the Word of God that’s already written, which the Bible refers to as _“...a more sure word of prophecy...”_ (2 Peter 1:19). When you pick that word that’s written concerning you and utter it in faith, that’s prophecy; you’re speaking forth “Rhema” which the Bible describes as the sword of the Spirit in Ephesians 6:17.
For example, 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). That’s Logos (Greek). But when Satan comes out against you, or you want to launch an offensive against him, you say, “Devil, I’m of God, and I’ve overcome you because it’s written: Greater is He that’s in me than he that’s in the world.” Thus, you’ve weaponized that scripture!
When you utter those words as “Rhema,” they become the Word of God in your mouth. And the Word of God in your mouth is God talking. That’s also what we do in prayer; we speak forth the Word—the “Rhema” of God in supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks in line with 1 Timothy 2:1.
FURTHER STUDY: 1 Timothy 1:18 GNB, Hosea 14:2 & 2 Peter 1:21 AMPC
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SUNDAY 06 FEBRUARY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: STAYING FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT
KEY VERSE: And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18).
MESSAGE
When I just started in ministry, whenever I had an upcoming programme or event, I always knew I had to be prepared by being filled with the Spirit. I practiced being filled with the Spirit. When I got filled like that, there was always a manifestation of the supernatural. But later on, I thought to myself, “If being filled with the Spirit every now and then could be so wonderful, how about staying filled with the Spirit?”
That power and glory that was available and in manifestation during those events, I wanted it always, for my daily life. And I discovered that being filled with the Spirit could actually be always, I went for it and stayed there! It’s like swimming: there’s a way one might swim and get drowned; there’s also a way to swim and remain afloat. I discovered I could swim in the Spirit and stay afloat.
I discovered that was what God always wanted for us: staying filled with the Spirit, which was much easier than being filled occasionally. It’s a practice. You can go from practicing being filled with the Spirit sometimes, to being filled every day; and then learn being filled always.
Study and meditate on Ephesians 5:18-21 (AMPC) to learn how to be filled and stay filled with the Spirit. It’s the best life! You can’t stay filled with the Spirit and be dominated by sickness, failure, or lack. You’d discover that your results are endlessly increasing, your life is forward and upward, and you walk in blessings only. Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY Acts 4:31 & Ephesians 5:18-21 AMPC
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY 05 FEBRUARY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THE POWER OF RIGHTEOUSNESS KEY VERSE: Even the righteousness of God which is by the faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference (Romans 3:22). MESSAGE
It was with the gift of righteousness that Abraham was able to intercede for Sodom when God wanted to destroy the city. God had said, “...Shall I hide from Abraham [My friend and servant] what I am going to do” (Genesis 18:17 AMPC). Abraham had become God’s friend through covenant. The Bible says Abraham believed God and it was credited to him for righteousness and he was called the friend of God (James 2:23).
That was the bestowal; the gift of righteousness was given to Abraham and he could boldly engage God in an intercessory discourse. He said to God, “That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” (Genesis 18:25). He was presenting an argument before God.
How could a man have such incredible audacity to speak to God like that? He wasn’t trying to be disrespectful or impudent; no! He was expressing the power of the gift of righteousness. Genesis 15:6 tells us, “And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.” Hallelujah!
Righteousness enables you to stand in the presence of God without a sense of condemnation or inferiority. This righteousness, according to our theme verse, is “unto all and upon all.” That’s to let you understand the bestowal, the imputation of God’s righteousness to all men—the legal perspective of this righteousness. With this gift, you can decree a thing and have it established unto you.
Our righteousness is on the basis of a legal claim, and because many aren’t aware they struggle with their faith, not sure whether or not their petitions will be granted. But when you stand on His righteousness, you have no such doubts, because you have the pass! Your claims can’t be refused, because you stand in the righteousness of Jesus Christ. Glory to God!
FURTHER STUDY *Romans 5:1, Romans 5:17 & Romans 3:21-22 NIV
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY 04 FEBRUARY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: LET JESUS INSPIRE YOU
KEY VERSE: By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another (John 13:35).
MESSAGE
Every so often, I read about Jesus in the Word and I’m greatly inspired. I see no greater example, no greater model. I’m inspired by His thoughts, by His deeds, His passion, His love, His excellence. His words went forth with power. Men heard Him and were transformed forever. Demons heard His voice and scampered in terror. Circumstances responded to His words. How could He be so powerful and yet so loving, forgiving and gracious?
Jesus inspires me so much that all I ever want is to be like Him. But He sent us the Holy Spirit to help us act like Him, think like Him, be powerful, loving and passionate like Him. When you’re filled with the Spirit, you’re filled with Jesus. That’s the Spirit that made Him everything that He was in the earth. Today, in His love, He gave us the same Spirit in full measure. Hallelujah!
No wonder He said, “…as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you” (John 20:21). So, we go with the same love, same power, same passion, same forgiveness, same grace. Hallelujah! Don’t entertain anything that’ll make you bitter or enraged towards someone else. Let Jesus inspire you. Walk in love and inspire others to love.
Be like Jesus! When He walked this earth, He was God tabernacled in human flesh, full of grace, glory and truth. And the Bible says, “...As He is, so are we in this world” (1 John 4:17). That means you can think, walk, talk, and act like Him!
FURTHER STUDY: 1 John 4:17, 1 Peter 2:9, John 1:16 & Colossians 2:10
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 03 FEBRUARY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: BE MOVED TO REACH THE LOST
KEY VERSE: And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word (1 Kings 18:21). MESSAGE In 1 Kings 19:10, Elijah said, _“...I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant….”_ This was something that God loved about Elijah: his passion for the Lord. He felt so bad that the people were serving other gods and had neglected the house of the Lord. So, he said, _“Lord, you’ve blessed them so much; now they don’t want to serve you. Let there be no rain, so they’ll starve for a while and turn to you.”_
It was his passion for God that made him call for a drought. He wasn’t just trying to punish the people; and God saw his heart. It’s the kind of mind God wants us to have about His Kingdom. When you see sinners in your neighbourhood, your school, your workplace, your city, or your nation, let it get your attention. Be moved to prayer, and then also reach out to them with the Gospel.
Recall that there were One Hundred and Fifty other prophets who were hiding in the time of Elijah. They weren’t moved by what was going on in the land, even though they hadn’t bowed to Baal. But Elijah stood out for God! He was moved to pray. This is the same reason you see some Christians who are so stirred and passionate about the things of God today, winning souls into the Kingdom, while others seem to be distracted by fleshly things.
Be different. Be passionate for the Lord. Get busy with evangelism and partnerships for reaching the lost in our world. The Bible says God is not willing that any should perish (2 Peter 3:9). You can make a difference, because you’re His mouthpiece and outstretched arm of salvation to those in your world and the regions beyond.
PRAYER
Dear Father, thank you for the gift of the Gospel, and for allowing me to be a custodian of its message, truth and power. I’m fired up in my spirit to reach those who are yet to hear the Word of salvation, and I intercede in prayer for them. I’ll continue to reach out to those in my world and beyond, as we look forward to the soon coming of the Lord, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY
Psalm 69:9 CEV
_9- My love for your house burns in me like a fire, and when others insult you, they insulted me as well._
Jeremiah 20:9 AMPC
_9- If I say, I will not make mention of [the Lord] or speak any more in His name, in my mind and heart it is as if there were a burning fire shut up in my bones. And I am weary of enduring and holding it in; I cannot [contain it any longer]._
Romans 1:16
_16- For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek._
1 Corinthians 9:16
_16- For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!_
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN Matthew 24:1-35 & Exodus 26-27
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN Acts 15:1-11 & Job 38-39
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 02 FEBRUARY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: STAND OUT FOR GOD
KEY VERSE: He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light (John 5:35). MESSAGE
When Goliath of Gath taunted the armies of Israel, they felt helpless and intimidated, until David showed up. David knew he could defeat Goliath, and he did! It wasn’t about strength; it was about ideology. The difference between David and the others was his way of thinking. He started by saying, _*“…who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?” (1 Samuel 17:26).
The circumcision didn’t mean anything to the others, but it sure meant something to David. He saw the armies of Israel as the armies of God. Hallelujah! David couldn’t imagine God’s people being defeated; it didn’t matter who the adversaries were. Think like that. Your desire should be to see the glory of God in and on His people and upon His congregations. David said, “O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary. Because thy lovingkindness is better than life...” (Psalm 63:1-3).
That should be your passion as a Christian: God must receive glory everywhere you are and everywhere you go. Even if others around you don’t think much about soul winning, be different. Be a burning and a shining light in your school or place of work or business. Let your light shine so brightly that men may see your good works and be provoked to righteousness. Stand out for God.
FURTHER STUDY
Romans 12:11 TPT,
Titus 2:7 NLT & 1 Timothy 4:12
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY 01 FEBRUARY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: POUR FORTH RIGHTEOUSNESS
KEY VERSE: Drip down, heavens, from above, And let the clouds pour down righteousness; Let the earth open up and salvation bear fruit, And righteousness sprout with it. I, the LORD, have created it (Isaiah 45:8 NASB).
MESSAGE In James 5:7, the Bible talks about “…the early and latter rain.” The early rain is for sowing, while the latter rain is just before harvest. In the Old Testament, they were waiting for a latter rain (Read Joel 2:28). For them, that latter rain came on the day of Pentecost when the Spirit was poured out. But that outpouring of the Spirit initiated the Church.
Therefore, for the Church, the early rain is what those in the Old Testament called their latter rain; it was the beginning of the Church. The latter rain in the Church is through His Word! Hosea 10:12 says, “Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.”
How does He rain righteousness upon you? It’s through His Word, just like it happened in the Old Testament when the Word was given to them from heaven; and because the Word came from heaven it was called “rain.” Isaiah 55:10-11 also draws a parallel between the Word and rain (Read entire reference). That’s the Word (the Logos of God) that’s in your heart today.
No wonder Jesus said, “He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water” (John 7:38). This living water comes out through words! So, when our theme verse talks about pouring down righteousness, as earlier stated, it’s done through words.
Pour forth words! Ecclesiastes 11:3 (NIV) says, “If clouds are full of water, they pour rain upon the earth….” Keep prophesying and filling the clouds of your life, city, nation, and even the clouds of the regions beyond, with words of blessings and righteousness. Decree God’s words into the realm of the Spirit until the rain begins to pour. Your words are powerful. As you speak, the earth will open up and produce salvation and righteousness! Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY: 1 Timothy 2:1-4, Ecclesiastes 11:3 NLT & Zechariah 10:1
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 31 JANUARY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: UNLIMITED AUTHORITY
KEY VERSE: _And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:6)._
MESSAGE
There’s so much we can do with the application of the deep truth revealed in the verse above. Our authority in Christ is all-encompassing and unlimited. We’re seated with Christ in the place of power, in a position of dominion and great glory. Hallelujah!
We can put a stop to the deception, perils and havocs the devil and his cohorts concoct around the world. You can stand your ground and speak God’s Word in prayer and exercise authority in Christ Jesus over your body, your family and loved ones, your city, your state, and your country. We’re the ones in charge!
We function in Jesus’ stead; in His dominion! Look at what He did to the demons of darkness in hell: _“He DISARMED the Principalities and the Powers [which fought against Him…”_ (Colossians 2:15 Conybears Translation). Hallelujah! Read the Phillips New Testament translation and dance for joy: _“And then having drawn the sting of all the powers ranged against us, He exposed them, shattered, empty and defeated, in His final glorious triumphant act!”_
Guess what? When He did all of that in hell, you were in Him. So, in Him you already shattered, disarmed and defeated Satan and his cohorts of darkness. Maintain your dominion and victory over them. In praying for all men, your city, nation and leaders, affirm that Satan’s influence is cut off.
Stand in your authority in Christ and utter words: words of life, words of glory, words of liberty, words of prosperity, blessings and grace. Bless your world with words of righteousness. Remember, words are limitless; and your divinity, your dominion and authority in Christ are expressed primarily through words. Glory to God!
CONFESSION
All of creation—Satan, demons, angels, everything in life, living and non-living—have all been commanded to hear and obey me, because I sit in Jesus’ seat! I put a stop to the wanton destruction of lives perpetuated by the devils of darkness in the nations of the world; I declare that their influence is cut off; there’s increased works of righteousness, and the will of God is established in the nations and in the hearts of men, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY
Ephesians 2:4-6
_4- But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,_
_5- even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),_
_6- and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus_
Philippians 2:9-10
_9- Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name,_
_10- that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth,_
Ephesians 1:19-23
_19- and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power_
_20- which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,_
_21- far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come._
_22- And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church,_
_23- which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN Matthew 21:33-22:1-14 & Exodus 20-21
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN Acts 14:1-7 & Job 32-33
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SUNDAY 30 JANUARY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: KEEP UP THE ACTIVITIES OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
KEY VERSE: …Occupy till I come (Luke 19:13).
MESSAGE
As Christians, we’ve been given authority over demons of darkness, to cast them out of people, cities, towns, villages and nations. But casting them out alone, sometimes, doesn’t really stop the trouble; you have to ramp up the activities of righteousness in and around such places.
Remember what Jesus said in Matthew 12:43-45. He said when an unclean spirit is cast out of a man, he walks through dry places, seeking rest; finding none, he returns to the place where he was cast out, and if he finds it empty, swept, and garnished, he goes and takes seven other spirits who are more wicked than himself; and all eight of them enter the man. He becomes worse than he was before.
That man shouldn’t have been empty! He should have immediately begun feeding on God’s Word in study and meditation. Likewise, when we cast devils out of a city, nation or town, we must move in with evangelism, and fill the land with the Word of God.
If we don’t preach and increase the activities of righteousness in such places, we’re leaving it open to another visitation of devils. We must take over those places at once by invading them with the Word.
Furthermore, continue in prayer and intercession for those regions to make them uncomfortable for devils to settle back in. As read in our theme verse, Jesus said, “Occupy till I come.” That means keep working, keep preaching, keep prevailing in prayer for the souls of men. Keep up the activities of righteousness. Praise God!
FURTHER STUDY Matthew 24:14 & Mark 16:1
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY 29 JANUARY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: OPEN YOUR HEART TO TRUTH
KEY VERSE: For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation (Romans 10:10). MESSAGE
Years ago, if you found people who engaged in same-sex practice and the news went out, they went underground, because they were ashamed. But nowadays, there’re those who say they’re fighting for the rights of “gay” people. But what does the Bible say about this? The Bible groups those who practise such activities among the lawless, disobedient, ungodly, sinners, unholy and profane: “Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted” (1 Timothy 1:8-11 ESV).
Homosexuality dates back to Bible days, as far back as the Book of Genesis. And the Bible clearly condemns it. It’s part of the reasons, in some quarters, they’re trying to get rid of the Bible by all means, but that’s never going to happen. There’re even “ministers” that say they’re homosexual and help to marry others. Different countries have made it legal. However, as a Christian, stand on God’s Word.
Don’t go with the world. Don’t do what the secular or political law says; do God’s Word. The Bible says, “Do not love or cherish the world or the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh [craving for sensual gratification] and the lust of the eyes [greedy longings of the mind] and the pride of life [assurance in one’s own resources or in the stability of earthly things]--these do not come from the Father but are from the world [itself]” (1 John 2:15-16 AMPC).
The plan of the adversary is to make sure that you’re vexed to compromise; but be smart. In spite of all the shenanigans of the enemy, we must abide by God’s Word. In John 14:15, Jesus said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” The proof of your love for Him is keeping His Word, and His Word adjures you to abstain from sin.
FURTHER STUDY: 1 Timothy 1:9-11 & Romans 1:26-32 NKJV
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY 28 JANUARY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: VICTORY ASSURED
KEY VERSE: Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses (1 Timothy 6:12).*_
MESSAGE
In 2 Timothy 4:7, the Apostle Paul said, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.” What fight was he talking about? He refers to it in our opening verse: “the good fight of faith.” No matter what happens in your life—in the world, or around you—refuse to be broken, disillusioned or overwhelmed; use your faith!
Your faith is the victory that overcomes the world and its failures, corruption, darkness, wickedness and decadence. Every adversity you face is your opportunity for a testimony as you use your formidable arsenal: the shield of faith. That’s the one you’re counselled to take on above all the others: “Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked” (Ephesians 6:16).
With your faith, you’re able to extinguish, neutralize, make of no effect, ALL the fiery darts of the wicked. Never think there’s a challenge you can’t surmount; no trouble is too much for you to overcome. With the shield of faith, you’re invincible. It doesn’t matter how Satan throws the darts at you; remain strong in faith!
It may seem like all hell is breaking loose in your body; you feel terrible pains and discomfort; yet, you must refuse to accede to sickness and disease; use your faith. And while you’re at it, remember “...the sword of the Spirit, which is the word (the Rhema) of God” (Ephesians 6:17). That’s the Word of God spoken forth from your lips.
It doesn’t matter how excruciating the pain is; keep affirming your healing and health. Soon enough, your faith will prevail and you’d be able to say like Paul, “I have fought a good fight…I have kept the faith.” Always maintain your faith and confidence in the Word.
Hebrews 10:35 says, “Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.” Don’t say, “Lord, it became too hard; I had to give in”; no! Fight! The fight of faith is your personal fight, and it’s a good fight because you always win. Keep at it, for your victory is guaranteed!
FURTHER STUDY: Ephesians 6:10-13, Romans 4:19-20 & 1 John 4:4
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 27 JANUARY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: HEIRS OF BLESSINGS
KEY VERSE: The Lord shall open to you His good treasury, the heavens, to give the rain of your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hands; and you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow (Deuteronomy 28:12).
MESSAGE
The Contemporary English Version renders the theme verse beautifully. It says, “…He will make you successful in everything you do. You will have plenty of money to lend to other nations, but you won’t need to borrow any yourself.” Let this truth dawn on your spirit, and your mentality will change. You’re loaded with blessings for your generation. You’re a custodian of God’s manifold blessings.
Therefore, everywhere you are, dispense blessings; dispense God’s grace, love and compassion to those you come in contact with; it’s your calling! Be a giver because of who you are and where you come from: you’re Abraham’s seed. The Lord said to Abraham, “and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice” (Genesis 22:18). Hallelujah!
The Lord Jesus did all that He did on the Cross that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles, and it has (Galatians 3:14). Glory to God! Now, we’ve received the promise of the Spirit. Galatians 3:29 says, “And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” The world belongs to you. Be conscious of this truth.
FURTHER STUDY
Galatians 3:8-9, Galatians 4:28 AMPC & 1 Peter 3:9
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 26 JANUARY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: YOUR LIFE IS A “HOUSE”
KEY VERSE: _And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified (Acts 20:32)._
MESSAGE
Sometimes, there’re those who say, “I want to build my life financially, “or” I want to build my life spiritually….” It makes no difference in which area you desire to build your life; what you need is God’s Word. That’s the only material given to us to build our lives. God’s Word will build you up spiritually, mentally, financially, emotionally, physiologically, etc. Read our theme verse again!
Your life, according to the scriptures, is like a house to be built, and that’s why Jesus said anybody who hears, does, and lives His Word is like a man who built his house on a rock. He said, “And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock” (Matthew 7:25).
However, the one who doesn’t give heed to the Word is likened to a man who built his house on sand and when the storms of life beat against the house, it came to a ruinous end: “…great was the fall of it” (Matthew 7:27). Build your life on the Word; it makes no difference the crises and adversities that come against it; it’ll remain standing, and it’ll be a great edifice! Praise God.
CONFESSION
Oh, the transforming and translational power of God’s Word! I’ll forever stand strong and tall, even in the midst of the harshest of storms, because my life is built on the Word. The Word infuses boldness, excellence and dominion into my spirit. It keeps me in health, strength and victory, causing me to experience unprecedented progress, peace and prosperity in my life, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY
James 1:22-25
_22- But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves._
_23- For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror;_
_24- for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was._
_25- But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does._
Matthew 7:24-27
_24- “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock:_
_25- and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock._
_26- “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand:_
_27- and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”_
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN Matthew 18:15-35 & Exodus 10-12
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN Acts 12:20-25 & Job 22-23
Gloooooooooooooory!!! 500 Episodes. This far I can only say, thank you Jesus. Your grace has been more than enough. To you alone be the glory and honor. Thank you diariesofagirlinlovewithjesus community, I love and appreciate you♥️
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY 25 JANUARY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: ITEMS OF BLESSINGS
KEY VERSE: Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them (Acts 5:15). MESSAGE
When God blesses you, He blesses everything that’s connected to you, be it your money, clothes, properties, etc.; they become items and conduits of blessings. Think about that. We read how handkerchiefs and aprons taken from the body of Paul healed the sick: “And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them” (Acts 19:11-12).
The power of God was on the clothes because they had touched Paul’s body. It happened first with Jesus. Luke 8:43-48 tells the story of the woman with the issue of blood who pushed her way through a teeming crowd to touch the hem of His garment and was healed the very moment. Jesus said power went out from Him.
Also, in Luke 6, large crowds of people from all over Judea, Jerusalem and the coastal cities of Tyre and Sidon came to listen to Jesus and to be healed of their diseases, including those who were troubled by evil spirits. Luke, by the Spirit, specifically wrote, “And all the crowd sought to touch him, for power came forth from him and healed them all” (Luke 6:19 RSV). This means the blessing—the healing power—got on His clothes and emitted to others, resulting in miracle healings. This is remarkable!
It’s one of the reasons you should take good care of the things that God gives you, because the power flows through them. Whether they’re your clothes, shoes, ties, cars, work tools, everything that’s connected with you is an item of blessings. It’s got the power to attract more.
Renew your mind with this thinking if you haven’t been thinking like this. Everything that’s connected to you is connected to the Kingdom and blessed, because you’re in Christ. When you understand this, your life will take on a whole new meaning; the way you think, talk and walk among others will change. Not only that, the blessings in your life will continue to grow and impact others.
FURTHER STUDY: Acts 5:15, Matthew 14:35--36 & Luke 8:43-48
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 24 JANUARY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST
KEY VERSE: For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad (2 Corinthians 5:10).
MESSAGE The Judgment Seat of Christ is different from the Great White Throne judgment. The Great White Throne judgment is the most terrifying of all judgments, and it’s reserved for sinners. The Judgment Seat of Christ, on the other hand, is where we, the Christians, receive our rewards one by one from the Master, and not in groups: “…that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.”
Notice what the Bible says: “In his body”; this refers to the Body of Christ. When you were born again, you were baptized into the Body of Christ, and you’ve been there ever since. How have you functioned in the Body thus far? Have you done good or bad in the Body? Be careful what you do in the Body of Christ because everyone will receive a reward of the things done in the Body, whether good or bad: “But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God” (Romans 14:10-11). At the Judgment Seat of Christ, not one of us in
Christ will be condemned: “Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God” (1 Corinthians 4:5). We’re all going to be praised, even though it’s a judgment where we’ll give account.
“What about the bad things a Christian might have done?” someone may ask. The answer is in 1 Corinthians 3:13-15: “Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.” Do more for the Lord and serve Him with wholehearted devotion. Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY
Revelation 22:12 & 1 Corinthians 9:24-25
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SUNDAY 23 JANUARY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: AN IRREFUTABLE PROOF OF PURCHASE
KEY VERSE: And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God (Revelation 19:13).
MESSAGE
Our opening verse is about the second coming of the Lord Jesus, when He rides on a white horse and is wearing a robe dipped in blood. Notice that John didn’t say He was wearing a red robe; that’s very significant. The woman on the beast in Revelation 17:4 was dressed in purple and red clothes: “And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour….” Jesus, on the other hand, was wearing a robe dipped in blood. What’s the significance of this?
When you want to lay claims to something you bought, you take the receipt. Jesus bought the whole world: “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field” (Matthew 13:44). Verse 38 shows us that the field is the world. Now, Jesus coming out of heaven to the earth and His only receipt is His blood. He’s robed with it—proof that He bought the whole field. The robe dipped in blood is His proof of the purchase. Hallelujah!
1 Corinthians 6:20 says, “For ye are bought with a price….” You weren’t bought with ordinary materials like silver, gold, and precious stones. His blood was the currency with which He paid for the sins of the whole world (1 Peter 1:18-19). Having paid the price for our sins, Jesus purchased us as gifts to God: “They were singing him a new song with these words: “You are worthy to take the scroll and break its seals and open it; for you were slain, and your blood has bought people from every nation as gifts for God” (Revelation 5:9 TLB).
Jesus paid for your life; so, you’re not your own anymore. He bought you with a great price. Henceforth, live on earth for Him alone because His blood, which represents His life, is your true value. The blood of Jesus gives you remission, justification, access, fellowship, cleansing and the blessings of the New Testament. The Bible says, “Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us” (Hebrews 9:12). Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY:
1 Corinthians 6:19-20, Galatians 2:20 & 1 Peter 1:18-19
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY 22 JANUARY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: STAND IN HIS WORD
KEY VERSE: Do you not know that the unrighteous and the wrongdoers will not inherit or have any share in the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived (misled): neither the impure and immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor those who participate in homosexuality (1 Corinthians 6:9 AMPC). MESSAGE
Years ago, if you found people who engaged in same-sex practice and the news went out, they went underground, because they were ashamed. But nowadays, there’re those who say they’re fighting for the rights of “gay” people. But what does the Bible say about this? The Bible groups those who practise such activities among the lawless, disobedient, ungodly, sinners, unholy and profane: “Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted” (1 Timothy 1:8-11 ESV).
Homosexuality dates back to Bible days, as far back as the Book of Genesis. And the Bible clearly condemns it. It’s part of the reasons, in some quarters, they’re trying to get rid of the Bible by all means, but that’s never going to happen. There’re even “ministers” that say they’re homosexual and help to marry others. Different countries have made it legal. However, as a Christian, stand on God’s Word.
Don’t go with the world. Don’t do what the secular or political law says; do God’s Word. The Bible says, “Do not love or cherish the world or the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh [craving for sensual gratification] and the lust of the eyes [greedy longings of the mind] and the pride of life [assurance in one’s own resources or in the stability of earthly things]--these do not come from the Father but are from the world [itself]” (1 John 2:15-1 AMPC).
The plan of the adversary is to make sure that you’re vexed to compromise; but be smart. In spite of all the shenanigans of the enemy, we must abide by God’s Word. In John 14:15, Jesus said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” The proof of your love for Him is keeping His Word, and His Word adjures you to abstain from sin.
FURTHER STUDY
1 Timothy 1:9-11 & Romans 1:26-32 NKJV
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY 21 JANUARY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: A NEW CREATURE
KEY VERSE: Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new (2 Corinthians 5:17).
MESSAGE
In some Bible versions, the underlined portion in our opening verse is rendered “a new creation.” It’s however better rendered in the King James as “a new creature.” Why? It’s because the emphasis isn’t on the creation of the new man in Christ; rather, it’s on the being; he’s a new creature, a new species that never existed before.
It’s like seeing a strange animal pass by and you wonder, “What kind of creature was that? You couldn’t really make out what it was; it wasn’t like anything you’ve ever seen. When you’re born again, that’s what it is. Recall the words of Jesus in John 3:8 as He discussed the subject of being born again. He said, “The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.” You’re a different type of being.
Something actually transpired in the realm of the spirit when you were born again: your human life with which you came from your mother and father was supplanted by the divine life: “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:13 NIV). This is the reality. It’s an actual birth, a true recreation of the human spirit.
The Bible says, “Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures” (James 1:18). “Firstfruits” means “the first and best.” Titus 3:5 says, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.” Colossians 3:10-11 describes this new creation as renewed in knowledge after the image of God that created him.
See yourself the way God sees you. You’re peculiar, royal, excellent and full of glory. You’re the only one of you that God has ever had and will ever have. So, be your best and live your best for God.
FURTHER STUDY
1 Peter 2:9 AMPC & Titus 2:13-14
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 20 JANUARY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THE KINGDOM WAY OF LIFE
KEY VERSE: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son (Colossians 1:13)
MESSAGE
When you were born again, you were born into the Kingdom of God’s dear Son. Even though you now live and walk in His presence, you still have to learn how to live in this real Kingdom of Light, and the Scriptures will help you understand this by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Paul writing to Timothy said: “But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God…” (1 Timothy 3:15). This means there’s a way to behave oneself in the house of God. Christianity isn’t a way of life, but it has a way of life. In this Kingdom, there’s a language; we have our communication protocols. There’s a way of life; we think differently. This is something the devil doesn’t want many to know. He wants them to remain in the dark.
The Bible tells us in 1 Samuel how the children of Israel asked for a king. God gave them Saul to be their king, and straightaway, Israel became a kingdom. Samuel knew a kingdom doesn’t function like every other society, and so the Bible says he “…told the people the manner of the kingdom, and wrote it in a book, and laid it up before the Lord...” (1 Samuel 10:25). He told the people “the manner of the kingdom.” What does this mean?
As you study several translations, you’ll discover that he taught them the principles, rights, privileges, judgments and ways of life of the kingdom. He had to write how the kingdom functions and delivered it to the people. This is exactly what Jesus did. He came preaching the Kingdom of God and every now and then, He explained how the Kingdom worked or functioned. Often, He’d say, “The Kingdom of Heaven is as this or that.” He was telling us how it works. He taught about the importance of words, and about prayer in the Kingdom.
Now that you’re in the Kingdom of God, don’t live like they do in the world. The Bible says, _*“Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him” (Colossians 3:9-10). There’s a different mentality in the Kingdom, a different way of life that you must imbibe.
FURTHER STUDY: 1 Timothy 3:14-15 & Colossians 3:1-2
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 19 JANUARY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: YOU’RE A CHILD OF THE DAY
KEY VERSE: But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night (1 Thessalonians 5:1-2).
MESSAGE
The expression “a thief in the night” has troubled some Christians for several years. Some don’t understand what it means, while others are terrified by it. They imagine that if they do something wrong before going to bed and Jesus comes as a thief in the night, they won’t go with Him. But that’s not what it means.
If you look at our opening verse closely, you’ll observe that Paul was writing to the brethren or brotherhood. He said, “…brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you....” The word “brethren” actually refers to those who are in Christ; males and females. The next verse shows something really important: “For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape” (1 Thessalonians 5:3). This obviously wasn’t referring to the brethren, because he said: “For when they shall say….” When he referred to the brotherhood, he said “ye.”
“They” in 1 Thessalonians 5:3 refers to the world; those who aren’t yet in Christ. The Bible describes them as the children of disobedience, appointed to God’s wrath: “Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others” (Ephesians 2:3). But for you who are born again, the Bible says, _“But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief”_ (1 Thessalonians 5:4).
Every place where the Lord Jesus talked about coming suddenly upon people, it had to do with judgement, and He wasn’t referring to the Church. In John 5:24, He says, _“Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life”_ (NIV). You’re a child of light and of the day; you’re neither of the night nor of darkness!
Serve the Lord with joy and in expectation of His soon return. Declare just like Jesus: “I must work the works of him that sent me while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world” (John 9:4-5).
FURTHER STUDY : Ephesians 5:8, Revelation 3:10 & 1 Thessalonians 5:5
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY 18 JANUARY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THE EPISTLES: A REVELATION OF YOU KEY VERSE: Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men (2 Corinthians 3:2). MESSAGE Once, I was discussing the Scriptures with a Christian leader many years ago. I quoted a portion of Scriptures he wasn’t familiar with, and startled, he asked me, “Where did you get that from?” When I showed it to him from the Epistles, he was amazed. He had never known it, having never majored on the Epistles.
It’s the same with a good number of God’s people; they’ve never majored on the Epistles. In fact, some of them see the Epistles only as letters to the churches, but they’re more than just letters. It’s the same way some people see the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John as mere historical books of the New Testament.
No! They’re the revelation of the man, Christ Jesus. When you study the gospels, you’ll come to the conclusion that Jesus is alive. His words are as alive today as they were back then when He spoke them. That’s not history. Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are the revelation of the Head of the Church. The Epistles, on the other hand, are the revelation of the Body of Christ. Hallelujah! This refers to us: the new creation, the Christians, the ones that are born again.
When you study the Epistles, you discover you. For instance, there’s not a single place in the Epistles where the Christian is asked to have faith. Rather, they let you know that you already have faith: “…according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith” (Romans 12:3). This is a true picture of who you are; you’re a man or woman of faith! The Epistles are the album of the new creation. Give attention to them. Study and meditate on the truths therein and live accordingly.
FURTHER STUDY
2 Corinthians 3:18 NIV & 2 Corinthians 3:2-3
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 17 JANUARY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: EXAMINE THE SPIRITS
KEY VERSE: _Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world (1 John 4:1)._
MESSAGE
When the Apostle John spoke of “false prophets,” the reference was essentially to “professors of deception” who were inspired of demons to deceive the world. We’re seeing many of such in these end times. That’s why John says to examine the spirits; he’s referring to voices of human beings inspired by some demonic spirits that seek to influence, deceive and sway the nations.
When you read our theme verse in context into the second and third verses, you’d notice John was talking about the antichrist spirit; not the “Antichrist” himself—who is also called “the beast,” “the man of lawlessness,” or “the man of sin”—but the spirit behind his works. That antichrist spirit, since John’s day, has been in the world and we’re able to discern his works.
Thanks be unto God! Not only are we able to discern his works and those of his false prophets and messengers, we’ve overcome them: 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.”_
In the 5th and 6th verses, he continues, _“They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error”_ (1 John 4:5-6). Walk in God’s truth and be spiritually alert and you’ll be shielded against preachers of pseudo-science and the deceit that they propagate.
Remember, truth is in your spirit, because the Holy Spirit—the Spirit of truth—lives in you. 2 John 1:2 says, _“for the truth’s sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us forever.”_ God’s truth protects you, delivers and saves you from trouble. Psalm 91:4 says, _“…his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.”_
PRAYER
Dear Father, thank you for your Word by which I navigate my way through life. I’m discerning and perceptive; I’m invincible to the false doctrines, deceptions, ruse, wiles, shams, lies and sways of the antichrist spirit of darkness in the world today, for I’m led by your Word and guided by your Spirit, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY
2 Peter 2:1 AMPC
_1- BUT ALSO [in those days] there arose false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among yourselves, who will subtly and stealthily introduce heretical doctrines (destructive heresies), even denying and disowning the Master Who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction._
1 John 2:18-20
_18- Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour._
_19- They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us._
_20- But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN Matthew 12:22-50 & Genesis 40-41
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN Acts 10:1-8 & Job 5-6
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SUNDAY 16 JANUARY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: WE’RE THE HOPE OF THE NATIONS
KEY VERSE: The people of the land have used oppression, and exercised robbery, and have vexed the poor and needy: yea, they have oppressed the stranger wrongfully (Ezekiel 22:29). MESSAGE One of the reasons judgment will come on the world is the injustice and oppression that’s prevalent in different nations today. You’ll find organizations, agencies and even governments enacting policies that oppress their people. They use regulations to crush and further impoverish the already poor and needy in their societies, while creating opportunities for themselves and their allies.
For some, this problem is merely a political issue, but we know from the Scriptures that it’s more than just politics; it’s spiritual. The Bible tells us in the Book of Isaiah how an evil spirit is responsible for the impoverishment of many nations in the world today: “...I removed the boundaries of nations, I plundered their treasures; like a mighty one I subdued their kings. As one reaches into a nest, so my hand reached for the wealth of the nations; as people gather abandoned eggs, so I gathered all the countries; not one flapped a wing, or opened its mouth to chirp’” (Isaiah 10:13-14 NIV).
Many ignorantly suppose that the downward trenin their economies is due to market forces, but the Bible makes it clear who plundered their wealth. That’s why we must keep praying for the nations so that instead of oppression and injustice, there’ll be peace, godliness and honesty. He knows this is possible in our day; that’s why He asked us to pray. Let’s exercise our authority and dominion in Christ over the nations.
We’re the only ones that can free the nations. The Bible says the whole creation is in groaning, expecting to be set free, waiting for the manifestation of the sons of God (Romans 8:19). We have the authority in the Name of Jesus to turn things around in the nations. So, use the Name of Jesus against these demonic powers and break their hold and influence. Declare, by the Spirit, the power of righteousness upon the leaders of your community, city, town, nation or organization where you work, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY
2 Thessalonians 2:7, Jeremiah 29:7 & Romans 8:19-22
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY 15 JANUARY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: “RHEMA” FOR WAR
KEY VERSE: And take… the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints (Ephesians 6:17-18). MESSAGE
In our previous study, we learnt about the armour of God, and particularly about our defensive paraphernalia as listed in Ephesians 6:14-17. Of all the seven pieces of this armour, only one is for the offensive and that’s the sword of the Spirit. The sword of the Spirit is the Word or “Rhema” of God. Rhema is the Greek translated, “word” in this verse.
Rhema is a now word—a personal word for the moment concerning you. It’s different from the Logos of God, which is God’s Word in general. The Bible admonishes us to take Rhema and win with it. How? By talking. Rhema is the spoken Word; it is the inspired utterance of the Word of God from your mouth, whereas Logos, by comparison, is more reasoned than inspired.
The Bible describes the “Rhema” of God as “the sword of the Spirit.” A sword symbolizes judgment and a readiness to attack. It’s thus an offensive weapon that you direct, not at yourself but towards the adversary. In our opening verse, Paul shows us how to use
Rhema to wage a good warfare: he says, “...Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.” This is a different kind of Rhema; it’s a Rhema of war! When the Bible tells us to take the sword of the Spirit, that’s a militant expression. He’s letting us know we’re not just supposed to be on the defensive but to constantly mount attacks on the forces of evil.
As we pray always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, we utter words of faith directed towards whatever it is we want to effect changes in, and also against the forces of darkness and the powers of evil.
Is your organization mounting pressure on you to take a position against God’s Word? Is the government in your country enacting policies that are unfavourable to the Gospel? Don’t give up; don’t get worn out. You’re the one to wear the devil out. Resist him with the spoken Word.
FURTHER STUDY
1 John 4:4 & Hebrews 4:12
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY 14 JANUARY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: TAKE UP THE SHIELD OF FAITH
KEY VERSE: Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand (Ephesians 6:13). MESSAGE
When you read about the armour of God in Ephesians 6, you’ll discover that the description of what we’re supposed to put on reveals how the enemy fights. We can decipher, from our own defensive paraphernalia what weapons the enemy uses: “Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation…” (Ephesians 6:14-17).
Notice what it says about faith: with it, you can quench all of Satan’s fiery darts. That tells us what kind of material his missiles are. His missiles all have to do with making you accept something or believe something against God. These may be fiery darts of discouragement, depression, fear, failure or sickness; all aimed at making you take a stand against God’s Word. But the Bible says, “…taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked” (Ephesians 6:16). With your faith, you can put out, not some, but all of the fiery missiles of the wicked one. Your faith is your shield.
Take up your faith! Don’t give it up. Someone said, “I was actually acting in faith, but things went wrong and I gave up.” No! Don’t drop your faith; the missiles directed at you from demonic forces can only be neutralized by faith.
The Bible says “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). The more of God’s Word that comes into your spirit, the more faith you get. And the more you use your faith, the more it’s strengthened; and when the devil throws his missiles, you’ll be unmoved because they’ll be disintegrated by your shield of faith.
FURTHER STUDY
1 John 5:4, 1 Corinthians 16:13 & Romans 4:19-20
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 13 JANUARY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: PARTNERS WITH HIM THROUGH PRAYER
*KEY VERSE: I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men…For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:1-4).
MESSAGE The different kinds of prayer mentioned in our opening text cover all the kinds of prayer you ought to pray for others. It says, _“…first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men.…”*_ The word “supplications” is from the Greek “deµsis”, which refers to petitions or a definite request. In the general sense, a petition is a formal written plea or entreaty with legal demands. Thus, in these supplications, we make requests on the legal basis of the provisions of the Gospel.
The next one is “prayers,” and this is from the Greek word “proseuchµ” which means “to offer prayers.” “Proseuchµ” is a derivative of another Greek word, “proseuchomai” which means “to pray to God in worship.” God wants us to offer prayers of worship, proclaiming blessings upon all men.
Next on the list is “intercessions,” from the Greek word “enteuxis,” a derivative of “entugchanÛ,” which refers to having a discussion, like an interview. Here you can actually talk like you’re familiar with the person you’re discussing with and present your case.
It’s like what the Bible says in Isaiah 43:25-26: _“I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins. Put me in remembrance: let us plead together: declare thou, that thou mayest be justified.”_ The Lord says, _“Let us plead together.”_ In other words, “Let’s argue together” like they do in a court of law. That’s what you do when you intercede; you present your case.
The final one is “giving of thanks,” from the Greek, “Eucharistia.” With this kind of prayer, you express your gratitude to the Lord for what He’s done and still doing in the lives of all men around the world. God needs us as partners with Him through prayer. His desire is to have all men saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Let your consciousness of the Gospel spur you to prayers and intercession for the sinners, for the lost, and for the nations. Pray that many more will receive salvation and live for the Lord. Ensure you pray this way continually; it’s what you have to do.
FURTHER STUDY 1 Timothy 2:1-4 AMPC
_1- Philippians 4:6-7
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 12 JANUARY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: PRAYING FOR ALL MEN
KEY VERSE: I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men (1 Timothy 2:1).
MESSAGE
The underlined portion of our opening verse suggests that the sentence is a continuation of a subject earlier introduced. The most relevant context is found in the 18th verse of the preceding chapter, where Paul writes to Timothy, saying: “This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare” (1 Timothy 1:18).
The next two verses are a brief digression, after which Paul continues, “I exhort therefore….” So Paul was actually showing Timothy how to war a good warfare. He said, “…first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men.” “First of all” means this is priority in warring a good warfare. You begin by praying, not for your personal requests, but for all men.
For a long time, a number of God’s people weren’t praying with this in mind. Many were more concerned about their personal agenda and what they wanted from God such as money, property, fame and other earthly things. The adversary took advantage of this for a long time to wreak havoc in different nations, but thank God the Church has learnt and is now awake to her responsibilities. We’re acting on the Word, praying first for all men.
We’ve been called to war a good warfare and the instruction is clear. He says, “First of all,” meaning before you pray for other things—be it your family, business, finances and so on—pray for all men. How important this is! In fact, it ought to be a foundational teaching in the Churches. As we lead souls to Christ and bring them to Church, we ought to let them know they have an enemy whose goal it is to destroy them. We must teach them to pray as soldiers, not for their personal needs, but for all men.
The ongoing Pastor Chris Live “Pray-a-thon” is an opportunity for you to join millions of others in carrying out your priestly ministry of prayer and intercession for all men in a nonstop prayer marathon. Praying this way is God’s instruction, and it should be our way of life. You can join millions of Christians praying together at the same time—effecting global changes through the “PastorChrisLive Global Prayer Network.” To join the Live stream, and follow @PastorChrisLive, download the KingsChat App by visiting https://lwappstore.com
FURTHER STUDY
Ephesians 6:18 & 1 Timothy 2:1-4
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY 11 JANUARY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: KNOW AND WALK IN HIS LIGHT
KEY VERSE: Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil (Ephesians 6:11). MESSAGE*
The word “wiles” in our opening verse is translated from the Greek “methodeia,” which refers to trickery. Trickery is primarily defined as a verbal misrepresentation. It’s when something is said with the intention to mislead and take advantage of someone for some purpose. That’s like what happens on the news sometimes. We know who’s behind this trickery; it’s none other than the devil, whom the Bible calls the slanderer and traducer (Ephesians 6:11).
A better expression than trickery, however, is “lying in wait.” We find this same expression used in Ephesians 4:14: _“That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.”_ This is “methodeia”: lying in wait for the purpose of deception.
Satan’s modus operandi is based on deception with misrepresentations. The biggest strategy with which he enforces this agenda is misinformation through the news media. As a Christian, you shouldn’t be ignorant of this. Ephesians 5:6 says, _“Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.”_
This is why you ought to know and walk in God’s truth—His light. Jesus said “…I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life” (John 8:12).
In other words, when you walk in His light, you’ll never be deceived. Give yourself to the study of God’s Word. His Word illumines your path and enlightens your heart and mind such that you’re never deceived or in the dark. Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY 1 Peter 5:8-9 & Psalm 119:15
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 10 JANUARY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: ONE SPIRIT WITH HIM
KEY VERSE: _For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones (Ephesians 5:30)._
MESSAGE
In John 15:5, Jesus said, “I am the vine, ye are the branches….” That’s a description of oneness; the same message communicated in our theme verse. The word “members” in our theme verse is the Greek “melos” and it means limbs, like you have your hands and your legs; we’re the limbs of His body!
1 Corinthians 6:15 breaks it down even further. It says, _“Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ?...”_ This is referring to the Church; it means your very legs are Jesus’ legs! Your hands are His hands; your body is the physical extension of Christ in the world. An understanding of this will give you a new mindset about who you really are. You couldn’t be one with Him and be sickly. You couldn’t be one with Him and have failed organs. His life in you perfects you through and through.
The same message is detailed in 1 Corinthians 12:27: _”Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.”_ That means you’re definite members; describable members. Hallelujah! You occupy a special place, a recognizable place, in the body of Christ. This is extraordinary!
In driving the point home, the Apostle Paul had said in Ephesians 5:28, _“So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.”_ He’s saying when two people are married, their bodies belong to each other. Then he tells us in 1 Corinthians 6:15 that our bodies are members of Christ, which means your body belongs to Jesus Christ.
Paul describes it as something far stronger than a marital relationship when he says, _“But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit”_ (1 Corinthians 6:17). This means that Christ has a right over your body and you have a right to His body. But since His body is in heaven, Paul says if you’re joined to the Lord, you’re one spirit because through the spirit, you can make available to your body the glories of His resurrected body. Hallelujah!
Now you can better understand when the Bible says, _“...Christ in you, the hope of glory”_ (Colossians 1:27). Live every day with the consciousness of your oneness with Jesus Christ.
CONFESSION
I’m a member of His body, of His flesh and of His bones! I walk in the consciousness that I’m in oneness with Jesus Christ. And through the spirit, I make available to my body the glories of His resurrected body. No sickness, disease or infirmity can thrive in my body, because I’m joined to the Lord and one spirit with Him. Divinity is at work in me. Glory to God!
FURTHER STUDY
John 14:16-17
_16- And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever_
_17- the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you._
John 14:20
_20- At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you._
John 17:20-21
_20- “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word;_
_21- that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN Matthew 8:1-27 & Genesis 25-26
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN Acts 8:1-13 & Esther 1-2
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SUNDAY 09 JANUARY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THEY HAVE TO ANSWER THEIR NAME
KEY VERSE: And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues (Mark 16:17). MESSAGE
Once, I asked a devil to come out of a certain fellow and the devil said, “I’m not going” and turned violent. The ushers were trying to hold the man back, but I beckoned on them to leave him. As he charged at me angrily, I remained calm and said, “You’re gone!” Suddenly, the man became very calm and fell down as the devil left him.
One of the officials who was with me later said to me, “Pastor, I don’t understand exactly what happened. You asked the devil to go, but he didn’t go. Then you said, ‘You’re gone’ and then he went out.” So, I said, “Well, every word of God is a name; and what He says is what becomes.”
We find a very inspiring, similar scenario with Jesus in Mark 7:25-30. A Syrophenician woman had come to Jesus and besought Him to cast the devil out of her daughter. Jesus said to her, _“…go thy way; the devil is gone out of thy daughter”_ (Mark 7:29). That devil had to answer the name that Jesus just called him— “…is gone out.”
The Bible says the woman got home and found the devil was gone from her daughter. Sometimes, you need to know how to address demons when you cast them out. There’re times you’re led of the Spirit to say to that devil, “Come out and return no more.”
Even in praying against their activities in the nations, it’s important to say the right things: cut off their influence on your nation and tell them, “You’re gone from this nation! Your influence has been broken; your dominion has been stopped!” Hallelujah!
Someone said what we see around the world now (referring to the activities of devils) are mere kicks of a dying horse. But we’re full of power and have the dominion over them. They’re frustrated, and paralyzed; their works have been brought to nothing. We’re triumphant; we’re victorious; we’re reigning through Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit over Satan and his cohorts of darkness. Hallelujah! FURTHER STUDY: Mark 7:25-30 &
Luke 10:19
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY 08 JANUARY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: HE SEEKS YOUR FAITHFULNESS
KEY VERSE: …But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that (1 Corinthians 7:7). MESSAGE
In Matthew 25, Jesus talked about three servants who were entrusted with talents. One was entrusted with one talent, another with two talents, and the third, five talents (Talent being a weight measuring standard, usually of money, e.g. talents of silver). The talents were given to them on the basis of their abilities. So, what their master was looking out for was their faithfulness.
The one who got five talents came back with 100% success (Matthew 25:20). The one that was given two talents gained two more, which was also 100% (Matthew 25:22). But the servant that was given one talent was a disappointment to his master. He said, “Master, I know you very well; you like to reap where you didn’t sow; therefore, I kept your talent for you” (Matthew 25:24). He did nothing with it.
Evidently, he was a bellyacher. His life was never productive. He had only the ability to manage one talent, and he still ruined his chances. His master called him wicked and unprofitable because he desired him to be faithful. It’s the same with the Lord. As read in our theme verse, we’re all so uniquely graced and gifted by God, and He seeks faithfulness; He expects results.
You may wonder, “How do I know what’s expected of me?” It’s simple: You know what’s expected of you by what you’ve been told. The ability of God is given through His message; His Word. What did He expose you to? What information did He give you? When you analyze what He’s told you, you’ll understand His expectation of you.
Whatever the Lord has taught you or is teaching you, whatever He’s exposed you to and helped you to know are all for the furtherance of the Gospel. Therefore, find the opportunity to use them to advance His righteousness and the reign of His Kingdom in the earth.
Remember, He tests your faithfulness. If you’re faced with certain challenges or difficulties in carrying out what He’s asked you to do, your only option should be to win! Don’t have excuses. Be fully committed to the furtherance of the Gospel. Remain steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord. Surely, at the end of all things, the Lord will say to you, “...Well done, thou good and faithful servant…” (Matthew 25:21).
FURTHER STUDY:
Romans 12:6-8 GNB, 1 Timothy 1:12 TPT & 1 Corinthians 4:1-2
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY 07 JANUARY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: HONOUR, DIGNITY AND EXCELLENCE
KEY VERSE: That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him (Ephesians 1:17). MESSAGE
The Christian life is a call to glory and virtue; that means a call to a life of honour, dignity and excellence. You’ve been honoured, dignified and glorified; and the one who did it is God Almighty.
Nothing can bring shame to you. Jesus took away every shame from your life. The Bible says, “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2).
You are the joy that was set before Him that made Him endure the Cross, despising the shame. Today, you’re without reproach. Hallelujah! Colossians 1:21-22 says, “And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight.” Think about that!
2 Peter 1:3 says, “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue.” In his previous epistle in 1 Peter 1:11, he talked about the sufferings of Christ and the glory that should follow. Give yourself no option but to live a life of glory, honour and dignity, irrespective of hardships, injustice or persecutions; Christ in you, the hope of glory! Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY: 1 Peter 2:9 AMPC & 1 Peter 1:11
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 06 JANUARY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: CHRIST IS THE FINAL ANSWER
KEY VERSE: For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” And through Christ, our “Amen” (which means “Yes”) ascends to God for his glory (2 Corinthians 1:20 NLT). MESSAGE If a Christian has the wrong idea or perception about God, he or she will believe the wrong things, think the wrong thoughts and say the wrong things. Inevitably, his way of life will be wrong. Consider for a moment Christians who don’t understand that there’s a huge difference between the Old Testament and the New Testament, and as a result, they’re always calling on God to “fulfil” His promises!
For such folks, their expectations will be wrong, because such expectations are premised on the wrong understanding of the Scriptures. “Holding on” to God’s promises or “waiting on Him” to fulfil His promises is a pointless endeavour; it’s a mistake. This is because all the promises of God have been fulfilled in Christ.
That’s what we read in our theme verse. Christ is the final answer. Christ means all promises fulfilled! In Christ, we have all things: “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness” (2 Peter 1:3 NIV). Whatever you think you’re in need of is already yours in Christ.
Don’t say you’re waiting on God to fulfil His promise of healing you; rather, declare that you’re in health because He gave you divine life. No sickness can thrive in your body because you’re born of God. Glory to God! No matter what you pray about today, God has no answer outside Christ, outside turning you to the Word. Remember, all His works were finished from the foundation of the world (Hebrews 4:3).
So, when you have a desire, God’s response through the Holy Spirit is to guide you into the reality of what’s already yours: “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God” (1 Corinthians 2:12). The thirteenth verse tells you what you’re supposed to do once they’ve been revealed to you: speak them; call them forth:
FURTHER STUDY: 1 Corinthians 3:21, 2 Peter 1:3-4 & 2 Corinthians 1:20 AMPC
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 05 JANUARY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: CALLING THINGS INTO BEING KEY VERSE: And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God (Luke 4:4).
MESSAGE
Every child of God has to learn to call things into being. The Bible says God _“...calleth those things which be not as though they were”_ (Romans 4:17). What is it that you require in your life? You can call it forth! Otherwise, it may never happen. But then, for your calls of faith to produce results, you must be a man or woman of prayer.
Prayer brings your spirit to a certain condition that makes your fellowship with God more real and synchronized. You become synchronized with His will and purpose; the thoughts of God become your thoughts; His words become your words.
Some people wonder why they quote Scriptures in the face of adversity and nothing happens. It’s not just the quoting of a scripture that produces results; it’s aligning one’s mind and heart with that scripture you’re quoting that works; it makes what you say go beyond how far your voice can travel.
At the time of prayer, let your mind be open and alert to God, to what He’s going to say to you. What He’ll say to you may not even be related to your requests, but whatever He says is what you need.
Therefore, listen for His words in your spirit. It was His Word that created the whole world, and through His Word you can change the world. With that word in your mouth, you can call things forth and change the circumstances of your life and your world. Glory to God!
FURTHER STUDY: Romans 4:17, Hebrews 4:12 & Mark 11:23
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY 04 JANUARY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: IT’S ABOUT YOUR MIND
KEY VERSE: And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind… (Romans 12:2). MESSAGE
When you were born again, you were imparted with the very life and nature of God at its best, and it can’t be improved. Plus that, you were given the very righteousness of God to which you can’t add. Also, you received the Holy Spirit in His full measure; nothing missing or left out. Furthermore, you’re inside the Kingdom; you’re a bona fide heavenly citizen NOW (Philippians 3:20 NIV).
We’ve all received the same nature of God, and the same Holy Spirit. We’re born into the same Kingdom, and dealt the same measure of faith; so, why the disparity in our lives and in our results? The reason must then rest in something else: the power and use of our individual minds!
If you’re going to change—if you’re going to see another you, a more influential, effective, powerful you—you must change your way of thinking. There must be a significant change in your mind. That you’ve become a Christian or received the Holy Spirit doesn’t mean your reasoning will change. That effort is your responsibility.
As read in our theme verse, God gave us the responsibility to change our way of thinking, to renew our minds with the Word of God. You have to literally submit yourself to the Word to change your mind and give you a new way of thinking.
It doesn’t matter that a Christian is quoting Scriptures; as long as those scriptures haven’t affected his mind, he’s not going to be different. That’s why we wrote the book “The Power of Your Mind.” The purpose of that book is in the title.
Everything about your life, including your Christian growth, has a lot to do with the use of your mind. So, ingest God’s Word into your mind; feed and meditate on the Word. The guaranteed impact will be a transformation in your whole being that’ll result in increased manifestation of the glory of God in your life! Success, excellence, victory, dominion and abundance will be the hallmark of your daily life. Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY : Ephesians 4:22-24, Philippians 4:8 & Romans 12:2 TPT
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 03 JANUARY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: MAKE PRAYER A LIFESTYLE
KEY VERSE: In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other’s spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out (Ephesians 6:18 MSG). MESSAGE
Giving time to prayer is very important. There’re times and certain situations that don’t require you to pray for a protracted period. There’re other times and situations that require importunity, heartfelt continuity in prayer. Both are very important, depending on what you’re dealing with. But the bottom line is that as a Christian, prayer must be a lifestyle. The reason for prayer isn’t to convince God that you’re really serious about your objective for praying.
Rather, it’s about what spending time in fellowship with Him does in your spirit. Give your best times, your most productive moments, to praying. Try not to be in a hurry during your prayer times, because sometimes, even when you think you’re done praying, the Holy Spirit might still want you to continue. He may bring words to you with which to pray. Remember, He has a ministry in our lives; He’s the One who teaches us how to pray.
When we pray, we don’t always know everything we’re supposed to say about certain situations. But God, through the Holy Spirit, teaches us what to say and how to pray correctly and effectively. That’s why giving time and attention in prayer is important. Give attention to praying in tongues; don’t be distracted.
When it’s time to pray, have the discipline to keep everything else aside. The more other things try to distract you, the more you should focus and keep praying. Let your spirit receive that discipline; then, you’ll achieve the primary purpose of prayer, which is the conditioning of your spirit and mind until God’s thoughts become your thoughts, and His words become your words. The specific, creative word on your lips that the Spirit brings to you at such moments of prayer produces result.
Few minutes of prayer isn’t sufficient to condition your spirit. You need to give God time and attention. In prayer, certain things are done to you and in you by the Holy Spirit; you’re so conditioned and transfigured that your way of talking, your choice of words, your character and behaviour are affected. Make yourself available for that conditioning to take place as you make prayer a lifestyle.
FURTHER STUDY 1 Corinthians 14:15 & 1 John 5:14-15
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SUNDAY 02 JANUARY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THE TEMPLE OF HIS GLORY
KEY VERSE: Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? (1 Corinthians 3:16).
MESSAGE When some people talk about the glory of God that they hope to see, maybe in their meetings, or during their times of fellowship or in their personal lives, their expectations are mostly preempted by their lack of understanding of the Scriptures. They make such statements as, “Lord, manifest yourself and let your glory envelop this gathering.”
By that, they’re expecting some sort of physical manifestations of some kind, just as they had in the Old Testament. They expect a supernatural cloud above their heads, some lightnings in the room, or maybe some thunder, a deep voice, etc. Don’t live in the realm of the senses. Don’t expect to somehow see the glory of God on the outside so you can say, “Wow, the Lord was in our midst today!” Why should you be looking for some kind of manifestations as they had in the Old Testament? As long as you have that kind of mindset, you’re going to live your life expecting something that God is done with and has termed “the lesser glory.”
All of the glory that the Holy Spirit manifested in the Old Testament—the voice, the light, the amazing sights, etc—are all inside you now. The glory is in you now! The Apostle Paul so succinctly puts it; he said, _“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us”_ (2 Corinthians 4:7).
Colossians 1:27 says the mystery of Christianity and the glory thereof is Christ in you. The glory of God is resident in your spirit. You’re a God-carrying vessel. Think that way. Your presence in a place means the glory of God has manifested in that place. That’s part of what it means to be the temple of the Holy Spirit. In the Old Testament, the glory was in the temple; and you’re that temple today—the temple of His glory. Blessed be God!
PRAYER
Dear Father, I thank you for your glory and righteousness that are fully resident in my spirit. I impact my world with your presence, and spread the bounties of your beauty, perfection and grace to everything and everyone around me. From the inner recesses of my spirit, I bring forth blessings to improve my world, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY
Colossians 1:26-27
_26- the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints._
_27- To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory._
2 Corinthians 3:18 AMPC
_18- And all of us, as with unveiled face, [because we] continued to behold [in the Word of God] as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are constantly being transfigured into His very own image in ever increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another; [for this comes] from the Lord [Who is] the Spirit._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN Matthew 2 & Genesis 3-5
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN Acts 6:1-8 & Nehemiah 4-5
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY 01 JANUARY 2022 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: HIS VICTORY IS OURS
KEY VERSE: And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death (Revelation 12:11).
MESSAGE The implication is that the fight in the realm of the spirit is won or lost as a result of what we do in the earth. Therefore, keep bearing your testimony of Christ, affirming the Word of God and taking the Holy Communion. That’s how to maintain your victory and keep reigning in life through Jesus Christ. The Bible says, “…they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:17).
He told us in John 16:33, “…be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” Reiterating the victorious life we’ve received in Him, the Apostle John tells us, “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world…” (1 John 5:4). He gave us the victory, and it’s for us to walk in the light of that victory. You’ve overcome the world and its wickedness, its falsities and fears, its deceptions, systems and economics. Hallelujah!
Satan and his minions have no right to run rampage, wreak havoc or perpetrate evil in your life and environment; they have no jurisdiction in your “aion.” Jesus told us to cast out demons (Matthew 10:8). So, cast out demons everywhere and anywhere they rear their ugly heads. In God’s prophetic book, it’s been stated that we won, and so we’re walking in the victory that’s been given to us in the Name of Jesus.
Proclaim the victory of Christ in your home, over your body, over your family, ministry, business, and everything related to you. Proclaim His victory over your city, nation and the nations of the world. Remember, Jesus is Lord over all; all power has been given to Him in heaven and in earth; and we’re partakers of His glory, dominion, greatness, victory and power. His victory is ours. Glory to His Name forever!
FURTHER STUDY : 1 John 3:8 & Romans 5:17
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY 31 DECEMBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: OUR BLESSINGS UNVEILED
KEY VERSE: But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him (1 Corinthians 2:9). MESSAGE There’re those who read the verse above and conclude that there’re things God hasn’t revealed to us. But they are wrong. When it says, “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him, ” he’s quoting the Old Testament.
The next verse shows us the fulfillment: “But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God” (1 Corinthians 2:10). The twelfth verse refers to them as “the things that are freely given to us of God.” The Holy Spirit came to show you the things that are freely given to you. What are these things?
1 Corinthians 3:21 tells us: “Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours.” In other words, don’t glory in the flesh; don’t say, “My parents or my uncle is the owner or director of such and such organization; they’re going to help me stand strong financially.” Let your expectations not be in men, for all things are yours!
The next verse says, “Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours” (1 Corinthians 3:22). Things present and even things in the future: They’re all granted you in Christ Jesus. The Holy Spirit was sent into your life so that you’d know these things, and then you’d use words to appropriate them in your life.
Knowing this therefore, have no consciousness of lack or need. There’s nothing you require that God hasn’t already granted you: “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue” (2 Peter 1:3).
He granted you all things and called you to glory and virtue; not to shame and suffering. All that you require—whether money, ideas, human and material resources—have been granted you in Christ Jesus. You have everything required for an extraordinary life of righteousness and glory; everything that’s necessary for you to live and excel in the God-life. Christ is in you, and Christ is everything. Glory to God!
FURTHER STUDY: Psalm 23:1 GNB, 2 Peter 1:2-3 NASB & Ephesians 1:3
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 30 DECEMBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: SEEING VISIONS IN PRAYER
KEY VERSE: …I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions… (Acts 2:17).
MESSAGE God loves to show us visions when we pray. If you’re going to have extraordinary results in life, it’s important that you learn to catch the visions that the Spirit of God brings to you. When I pray, I see; I relate with divine visions; I’m lifted above this world; I receive ideas from God and get directions for life. Some people don’t see visions when they pray.
To be visionless is to be stagnated. But one sound idea from God can transform your life forever. This happens as you shut out the world and fellowship with the Holy Spirit in prayer. Then He shows you the future and helps you know the next vital step to take, and how to take it.
As you give yourself to the Word of God and yield to the leading of the Holy Spirit in prayer, He’d show you things to come, such that you don’t walk in darkness. Jesus said in John 16:13, “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.” Being born again and filled with the Holy Spirit, you can know something of your future. You should never find yourself in a situation where you don’t know what to do next in your life. In John 8:12, the Master said, “...I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” Knowing this, you don’t have to worry about tomorrow; you can take His light and set it into your future, and your path will be illuminated to know and walk in His perfect will for you. Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY: Joel 2:28-29, 2 Chronicles 26:5 & John 16:13-14
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 29 DECEMBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: A LESSON IN FORGIVENESS
KEY VERSE: _Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven (Luke 6:37)._
MESSAGE
In John 7-8, the Bible tells us of how the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman before Jesus. She was said to have been caught in the very act of adultery. The Spirit, through John, specifically tells us they were trying to trap Him into saying something incriminating so they could bring charges against him (John 8:6).
However, the Master’s response to them was, _“… He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her”_ (John 8:7). When they heard it, they all went away, disgruntled, leaving Him alone with the woman. When the woman’s accusers left, Jesus neither lashed out on her nor condemned her. Rather, He said to her, _“…go, and sin no more”_ (John 8:11). How inspiring and comforting! His actions were ever so gracious. Also, consider when Peter denied Him after His arrest. To others, Peter should have been written off, not worthy to be called an apostle; but not with Jesus!
The third time He appeared to the disciples after His resurrection, He reinstated Peter. He asked Peter three times, “Do you love me?” to Peter’s affirmative responses, Jesus said, “Feed my sheep” (John 21:15- 18). The Greek word translated “feed” in verses 15 and 16 aren’t the same. The first “feed” in verse 15 is “bosko¯” and it means to feed and keep the lambs.
But when Jesus repeated it in verse 16, He used a different Greek word “poimaino¯” which means to tend or to govern the sheep. Jesus didn’t say, “Peter, you’re such a disappointment; after all the miracles you saw with me and all your bragging that you’d follow me till the end, you still denied me. How can I even trust you, going forward?” No; He didn’t take Peter’s error to account.
O, the inspiration of the Master’s love! No wonder the same Peter, inspired by the Master’s great example, penned those beautiful words in 1 Peter 2:21-25: “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.” FURTHER STUDY:
*Luke 11:4, Luke 17:3-4 & Ephesians 4:32
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY 28 DECEMBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: BE INSPIRED BY HIS EXAMPLE KEY VERSE: Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children (Ephesians 5:1).
MESSAGE
When you explore every aspect of Jesus’ life and teachings and study what He did, the words He spoke, the miracles He performed and the lives He changed, you’d be inspired by His example. Nobody ever talked like Jesus. Not only did His words demonstrate His faith, hope and love, they also imparted same to His hearers.
In John 10:30, He said, “I and my Father are one.” On another occasion, He said, “…I am from above…I am not of this world” (John 8:23). No wonder, when He walked the earth, the High Priests and Pharisees were so concerned about His rising influence that they decided to send officers to arrest Him (John 7:32), but they returned without Him. And when they were queried, their response was such an intriguing one. They said, “...Have you heard the way he talks? We’ve never heard anyone speak like this man” (John 7:46 MSG).
Think about how He spoke words and great miracles ensued. He told Peter and His colleagues who had toiled all night and caught no fish, “…Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught” (Luke 5:4). When they cast their net, they had a great haul of fish, such that they experienced great difficulty bringing it to the shore. What a miracle wrought by His words!
The Bible records how He fed the multitude with a little boy’s lunch by speaking words; He invoked the power of multiplication on five loaves of bread and two pieces of fish and they became more than enough to feed five thousand men, women and children not counted (Luke 9:12-17).
We read in Luke 7:11-17 how He spoke words and brought a dead man (a widow’s only son) back to life who was already being carried to the place of interment. How about Lazarus who was dead, buried for four days and decomposing? Jesus, right in front of Lazarus’ tomb, spoke words and Lazarus came back to life. Amazing! (Read the entire account in John 11).
This is the Jesus that we serve; He used words like no one else and changed hopeless situations. Talk like Jesus. He said, “I speak the words of my Father.” So, like Him, speak words from the Father; speak the words of Christ. Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY:
1 Corinthians 11:1 & 1 Peter 2:21-23
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 27 DECEMBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: FOCUSED AND CONSISTENT
KEY VERSE: A double minded man is unstable in all his ways (James 1:8)
If you want to be perpetually successful, living the ever-victorious life you’ve been called to live, you have to be focused and consistent. In your confessions of faith, for example, you can’t talk strength, courage, victory, prosperity, health and wholeness, and at the same time speak weakness, fear, failure, poverty and sickness. The Bible says, _“Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?”_ (James 3:11). That’s not going to work.
Our theme verse in the Amplified Version says, _“…a man of two minds (hesitating, dubious, irresolute), [he is] unstable and unreliable and uncertain about everything [he thinks, feels, decides].”_ That means in his way of prosperity, he’ll be unstable; on his road of greatness, he’ll be unstable as well.
There’re lots of people who believe in a life that’s “up and down”; by that I mean an inconsistent, unreliable and uncertain life. That’s not for the Christian; we go upward and forward only. We allow no distractions. Set your sail. It doesn’t matter what tries to pull you this way or that way; make the Word of God your focus: _“…Turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go”_ (Joshua 1:7 AMPC). Praise God!
The Bible says, _“Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith…”_ (Hebrews 12:2 AMPC). Set your focus and go for the goal; and the great God of glory, who’s at work in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure, will see to it that you’re a success and you fulfill His destiny for your life. Hallelujah!
PRAYER
Dear Father, thank you for your Word that inspires faith in my spirit and helps me maintain focus, attention and consistency on your Word in fulfilling my divine call. I remain steady, firm, resolved and unflinching in my confidence in you to guide me victoriously through life, every day, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
*James 1:5-8, Ephesians 4:14 $Deuteronomy 5:32
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SUNDAY 26 DECEMBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: JESUS IS THE REAL POWER
KEY VERSE: Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil (Hebrews 2:14).
The word “destroy” in the verse above is from the Greek “katargeo¯”, and it means “to bring to nought.” That means Satan has been brought to nothing; he was made powerless—he and his cohorts of hell. Colossians 2:15 (Conybeare) says, “He DISARMED the Principalities and the Powers [which fought against Him….” The principalities and powers have been disarmed by Jesus. Hallelujah!
The Phillips New Testament puts it thus: “And then having drawn the sting of all the powers ranged against us, He exposed them, shattered, empty and defeated, in His final glorious triumphant act!” He exposed them; He got them stripped and took away from them all of their armour—everything of value! Blessed be God!
That hasn’t changed; they’re in that condition till today: Disarmed! Crushed! Shattered! Exposed and defeated! The devil we’re dealing with today is crushed and dethroned. 1 Corinthians 2:6 talks about “…the dethroned Powers who rule this world” (Moffatt translation). In the spirit, they’re dethroned even though they seem to rule this world; the real power in the world today is the Name of Jesus!
Now you can understand why the apostles, in their day, were fearless and used the Name of Jesus fearlessly. It didn’t matter the persecution they faced; they were dauntless because they knew what power was really in office. They knew they were backed by the real power—Jesus Christ!
It’s the same in our day. We’re bold and confident in, and through Him. In His Name, we tame this world and keep Satan and his demons in subjection to us. In John 16:33 WEB, Jesus said, “...Cheer up! I’ve overcome the world”; when He did it, we were in Him. We overcame Satan, the world and its systems.
His Name has all authority. God has decreed that at His Name, every knee should bow—things and beings in heaven, on earth, and under the earth. And that every tongue should confess His Lordship, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:10-11). Nothing and no one can stand against that Name. Thus, in celebrating Christmas, we’re proclaiming His victory, glory, power and dominion over the nations. The whole world belongs to Him. Blessed be God! FURTHER STUDY:
Colossians 2:15 AMPC, Hebrews 2:14 ASV & Ephesians 1:19-21 AMPC
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY 25 DECEMBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: JESUS OF NAZARETH—THE ONLY TRUE GOD
KEY VERSE: And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God (John 6:69).
When Jesus walked the streets of Galilee, Capernaum, Jerusalem, many didn’t quite give attention to who He really was. Today is Christmas—the celebration of the birth of Jesus. Yet, the most that some know about Him is that He was born of a virgin, while others see Him as one of the greatest miracle workers to ever grace Israel. But His life was more than miraculous.
When Jesus walked the earth, He was God in the flesh; all of divinity was tabernacled in Him. He was the living body of the Almighty God. He was God alive, walking and talking in a man’s body. Read what Colossians 1:19 AMPC says about Him: “For it has pleased [the Father] that all the divine fullness (the sum total of the divine perfection, powers, and attributes) should dwell in Him permanently.”
This should help you understand John’s statement in John 1:14: “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” Jesus was the glory of God manifested to us.
Hebrews 1:3 AMPC says, “He is the sole expression of the glory of God [the Light-being, the out-raying or radiance of the divine], and He is the perfect imprint and very image of [God’s] nature, upholding and maintaining and guiding and propelling the universe by His mighty word of power….”
Jesus is the love of God manifested to us. He showed us a good example by loving everyone unconditionally, including His accusers. He loved and offered His life for us as a sacrifice for our sins: “Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour” (Ephesians 5:1-2).
Romans 5:8 says, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” These aren’t the attributes or works of a religious leader. No one in history loves, or could ever love like Jesus. He was God’s light, of whom John the Baptist bore witness, so that all men through Him might believe. John 1:9 says of Jesus: “That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.” Amazing reality!
No wonder He’s celebrated, honoured and adored in heaven and in the earth. He has the greatest honour even in hell. He’s the greatest of all. The only one who could save man to the uttermost, and make the divine life available and possible for all men to receive: Jesus of Nazareth—the only true God!
FURTHER STUDY: Colossians 2:9, John 17:3, Acts 2:36 & 1 Timothy 6:14-16
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY 24 DECEMBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: AMBASSADORS OF GOOD NEWS
KEY VERSE: We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that yev receive not the grace of God in vain. (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation) (2 Corinthians 6:1-2). We’re living in the day of salvation; the day of God’s grace, not His wrath. The Bible says, “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and oue Saviour Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:11-13).
As we approach the end of this present world, we’re to live circumspectly, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present them perfect in Christ Jesus (Colossians 1:28). He wants all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:4).
That’s why He sent us to preach the Good News of salvation; to preach the Gospel. This is the day of the Gospel, and “Gospel” means good news! We’re ambassadors of Good News: “To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God” (2 Corinthians 5:19-20).
In Matthew 9:37-38, Jesus said to His disciples, “... The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.” We’re His labourers for the harvest, His witnesses, sent with the message of His saving power. We’re the bearers of the Gospel of His grace.
Take the message everywhere this Yuletide. Preach it boldly, and He’ll confirm your words with signs, wonders and miracles. Remember, Jesus said, “…this Gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come” (Matthew 24:14).
This Gospel is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes. It’s the power of God to make sinners righteous, to bring men into fellowship with God. What an honour it is to be the bearer of the Good News of Christ’s salvation, helping people discover Jesus, and turning them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God.
FURTHER STUDY:
2 Timothy 4:2 TLB, Romans 10:13-14, 2 Corinthians 5:18 & Mark 16:15-16
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 23 DECEMBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: HIS LIFE IN YOU
KEY VERSE: I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me (Galatians 2:20). MESSAGE
How inspired are you about the life of Christ in you? Not many realize how sublime this is. Christ in you is everything; that was God’s dream and the purpose of Christ’s redemptive work. He came to make us sons of God, to make it possible for us to be indwelt by God and have His life imparted to our spirits. So, today, He lives in you by His Word and His Spirit.
Colossians 3:16 says, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom….” The Word you’ve received dwells in you; and what does He do in you? Acts 20:32 gives us an idea; it says, “And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up….” The Word of His grace in you is effective in itself and by itself to build you up! And if His Word builds you up, it means you can’t fail, be destroyed, or be defeated.
His life in you by the Word is extraordinary; it causes you to grow up in God, in all things and in all areas. Ephesians 4:14-15 says, “That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ.”
Then, John 14:23 tells us, “…If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.” So, the Father and Jesus live in you by the Holy Ghost; He’s alive in you by the power of the Holy Ghost; so, you aren’t alone! It makes no difference where you are in this world; be conscious and aware that the Father and Jesus are at work in you—to achieve in and through you the extraordinary, the unthinkable, and the unexpected.
The Bible tells us in Ephesians 3:20-21, “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.”
Colossians 1:27 tells us, “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.” You’re not an ordinary person; every step you take is a “Christ-in-you” person walking. “Christ in you, the hope of glory” means there’s glory in you everywhere you go; your life is full of glory. Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY:
1 John 4:4 & Colossians 3:16 AMPC
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 22 DECEMBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: EXCITED ABOUT HIS RETURN KEY VERSE: Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man (Luke 21:36).
Jesus Christ is coming again. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 gives us a graphic revelation of His amazing return. It says, “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” I’m so inspired just to think that one day, the Lord will show up with a shout. It isn’t someone else that’s going to shout for Him, but the Lord Himself will! Some people think we’re hyping His return too much, but that’s because they don’t know who Jesus is. He’s the Monarch of the universe. The whole earth belongs to Him—governments and galaxies inclusive. He rules the world.
While on earth, He often went with a multitude of disciples. How about when He entered Jerusalem? The Bible says, “…all the city was moved, saying, Who is this?” (Matthew 21:10). People came out from everywhere and lined the streets. All these happened when He was the lamb to be sacrificed. What do you think will happen now that He’s coming as the King of kings and Lord of lords!
Be inspired by the new heaven and the new earth; Revelation 22:5 says, “And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.” How glorious! We haven’t followed cunningly devised fables (2 Peter 1:16); we’ve received truth; we’ve trusted in His truth and lived in His truth.
What we’re doing for the Lord, reaching out with the Gospel and winning souls around the world, aren’t for nothing; we’re preparing for His return. He told us He’ll be back; so, we’re telling everybody. These are the final moments of the last days; the time left is so short. Therefore, we’ll fulfill His vision and prepare the world for His return. Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY:
Acts 4:12 & Hebrews 9:28
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY 21 DECEMBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: BE ALERT AND READY
KEY VERSE: For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). MESSAGE
We’re in the closing days of the Church age and we have to finish the work of the Lord gloriously before He returns. He said in Matthew 24:14, “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” This is our charge; this is our call; and we’re at it.
While at it, the world will know that the Name of the Lord Jesus is the Name that’s greater than every name, every title and every government. We’ll subdue this world before the Master comes back. Our theme verse says, “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first.” Then, the “Last Trump” will follow as the signal for our catching away: “Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air….” Hallelujah!
Ensure not to miss it. Luke 21:34 says, “And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.” Be alert and ready. The Rapture is almost here. It’s the reason we’re preaching the Gospel, preparing the nations for that glorious day. Make no mistakes about it; it’s so close; far closer than many realise.
After the Rapture takes place, the Bible says there “…shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be” (Matthew 24:21). The world is going to be a terrible place to be in during the Tribulation, during the reign of the Antichrist. Jesus said “…except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened” (Matthew 24:22).
For seven years, particularly during the second three and a half years, the Antichrist will rain terror upon the earth. It’ll be a time of great misery beyond anything the world has ever seen or will ever see. But thanks be unto God! After seven years, we’ll come back with the Lord Jesus Christ from heaven, to establish a new government of righteousness and peace for a thousand years. Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY:
Matthew 26:41 & Luke 21:36
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 20 DECEMBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THE TRIUMPHANT CHURCH
KEY VERSE: "…I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it (Matthew 16:18)." The Church of Jesus Christ has grown! We’ve grown in understanding, in knowledge and in the exercise of our authority and dominion in Christ. It doesn’t matter that there’s an adversary who’s all out to oppose the Church and hinder the work of the Gospel; his efforts are futile. The Church is marching on, and Jesus said the “Gates of Hell” shall not prevail against it.
Jesus gave us dominion over the dethroned princes of darkness, over principalities, powers and spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. He put us in charge, to run things in the earth. In some countries, states and cities, some leaders are boasting against the Church; they’ve sworn themselves to be enemies of the Church. Well, they’ll take their place in history just like those before them.
Referring to His Church, the Lord Jesus said, “Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder” (Luke 20:18). When Saul of Tarsus spearheaded the persecution of Christians in the early Church, Jesus appeared to him on the road to Damascus and made him realize that he (Saul) was on a futile endeavour. The Bible specifically described Saul as “...breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord...” (Acts 9:1).
Then, the Bible says, “And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do...” (Acts 9:3-6). Hallelujah!
In Joshua 10:40, the Bible shows what happened to those who came against God’s people during the time of Joshua. It says, “So Joshua smote all the country of the hills, and of the south, and of the vale, and of the springs, and all their kings: he left none remaining, but utterly destroyed all that breathed, as the LORD God of Israel commanded.” Not one of them escaped; Joshua defeated them all!
The 42nd verse says, “And all these kings and their land did Joshua take at one time. ” How? “…because the LORD God of Israel fought for Israel.” Hallelujah! We’re on the winning side of prophecy. We win only, and always. So, have no fear; serve God joyfully.
FURTHER STUDY: Hebrews 13:5 AMPC
2 Corinthians 2:14 AMPC & Acts 4:29-31
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SUNDAY 19 DECEMBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: VISION FOR GUIDANCE KEY VERSE: And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions (Joel 2:28). MESSAGE There’re different kinds of visions; there’s the vision where the Spirit of God shows you what to do in a particular situation and guides you on how to do it—vision for guidance—and there’re examples of such in the Bible. Acts 10:1-6 narrates the remarkable account of the Roman centurion named Cornelius who was guided through such a vision.
The Bible describes Cornelius as a God-fearing man who gave much alms to the poor. For this reason, God sought to save him. So, one day, God showed him a vision where he saw an angel telling him to send for Peter who would tell him what to do for him to be saved.
But that wasn’t all. In Acts 11, Peter himself saw a corresponding vision. He said, “I was in the city of Joppa praying: and in a trance I saw a vision… And, behold, immediately there were three men already come unto the house where I was, sent from Caesarea unto me. And the Spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting. Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered into the man’s house: And he shewed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter; Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved” (Acts 11:5, 11-14).
These scriptures clearly illustrate for us how God guides His people through visions. And if you’d lift your eyes in the spirit as well, He’d guide you in your endeavours. He’d give you visions and show you the right steps to take. As you look to the coming year, give yourself to the Word of God and yield to the leading of the Holy Spirit in prayer; you’d see visions of the things He wants you to do and the steps you should take.
FURTHER STUDY:
Romans 8:14, John 16:13 & John 8:12
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY 18 DECEMBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: VICTORY EVERY DAY KEY VERSE: And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him (Colossians 3:17).
MESSAGE Jesus said in Mark 16:17, “...In my name shall they cast out devils….”*_ I would to God all of God’s children understood what this means; the authority and dominion we wield in His Name! When you address devils and situations in the Name of Jesus, they have no option; they must comply.
Then think about what we read in our opening verse: “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus…” (Colossians 3:17). This means you’re to live your life in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. That simply means one thing: absolute victory for you every day. If you’d do what the Word says, your life will be full of joy, glory, excellence and victories. You can’t fail or be defeated in His Name.
When you pray, you’re guaranteed to receive answers, because every request you make is as though Jesus were the one making that request, since you’re making it in His Name. The Father sees your requests as Jesus’ request; you’re praying in His place and since
Jesus can’t be turned down, your request can’t be denied. Glory to God! It’s a legal thing; He gave us the power of attorney to use His Name and live in His Name. It doesn’t matter what challenges you might be facing; if you’d use the Name of Jesus, victory is assured. Praise God!
FURTHER STUDY: Philippians 2:9-11, John 14:12-13*
2 Corinthians 2:14
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY 17 DECEMBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: WALK IN RIGHTEOUSNESS KEY VERSE: That he would unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life (Luke 1:74-75).
Some Christians say they want to manifest the glory of God in their lives, yet they don’t live right. But Christianity is a call to righteousness.
Righteousness is a gift, but you have to work out your salvation with godly reverence (Philippians 2:12); you have to live the life of a righteous person. It’s called right living. The Christ-life in you must be lived accordingly, and the Word of God is your light. Jesus said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15). The proof of your love for Him is to do His Word; it’s to manifest His love, His character. His life and nature in you—His righteousness in you—not only makes right living possible, but easy.
You can please Him every day without having to struggle. All you have to do is live the Word; take your steps and actions on the basis of God’s Word and walk in love. Then you’ll see His glory manifested in your life in ways you never thought possible. The Christian life is a life of glory every day; it’s about living out His righteousness even in simple things such as your daily decisions, conversations, relationship with others, etc.
You’ve been called into liberty, to live righteously for the Lord. Romans 6:14 says, “For sin shall not have dominion over you... You have the nature of love and righteousness, and you can live above sin. The Bible says, “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son” (Colossians 1:13). The Lord Jesus has given you the victory over sin; therefore, walk in righteousness.
FURTHER STUDY:*
*1 Peter 2:9 AMPC, 1 John 5:18 & 1 John 3:7-8
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 16 DECEMBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: BORN WITH THE DIVINE NATURE KEY VERSE: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust (2 Peter 1:4).
Being partakers of the divine nature means we’re associates of the God-kind; it’s not something we “became”; we were born that way. You were born with the life and nature of God when you were born again. This is the reason it’s easy for you to please God; you don’t have to struggle, because His life is in you.
Some are still struggling, trying to become “better Christians”; that’s because they haven’t understood Christianity and the true Gospel of Jesus Christ. You can’t improve on perfect. The life in you is the God-life; it completely supplanted the human life you received from your parents. Just as there was nothing more for you to do to become more human after you were born of your parents, there’s nothing more required Lafter you’re born again for you to be a partaker of the divine nature.
Even when a child can’t walk or talk yet, you don’t say, “This child isn’t human.” Rather, you start teaching the child how to walk and talk. It’s the same with the life that we have in Christ. You have only one nature, which is the divine nature, and it can’t be improved upon. What you have to do is study the Word of God and learn to live the divine life; live the Christian life! As you learn God’s Word, the ways of God and the life of faith, certainly, your spirit will be built.
Your life will be improved; but you’ll not become more righteous, because your righteousness is the righteousness of Christ. Righteousness is the divine nature; it’s the nature of God imparted to your spirit at the New Birth. According to the Bible, you’re as righteous as Jesus is, because He gave you His righteousness. Think deeply on this and let it create in you a new way of thinking and living.
STUDY: Romans 5:17 & 2 Corinthians 5:21
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 15 DECEMBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: BELIEVING IS “DOING” YOUR FAITH
KEY VERSE: We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak (2 Corinthians 4:13).
Many say they believe and don’t do anything, but when you truly believe, you act. That’s what faith does; it’s the response or action you take on the basis of your believing. When you say you “believe,” it’s not passive but active; “believing” is a word of action; it’s actually “doing” your faith. That’s why the Bible says, _“Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone”_ (James 2:17).
Faith requires a corresponding action; you prove your faith by your actions. “Believe” is “pisteuō” in Greek, which means to demonstrate your faith; to act your faith. Whatever it is that you believe about Jesus Christ is revealed in your actions. The Word, as it’s given to us in the Scriptures, can be trusted. But for it to be effective in your life, you have to do what it says.
Jesus said in John 14:15, “If you love me, keep my Word.” The Word of God is for doing. James 1:22-25 puts it in a nutshell: “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.”
Acting the Word is where the power is; that’s what profits you: “Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it” (Matthew 7:24-27).
PRAYER FURTHER STUDY:
James 2:18-19 & Mark 9:23
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY 14 DECEMBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: CREATING WITH YOUR SPIRIT
KEY VERSE: A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things (Matthew 12:35). God has given every human being the ability to imagine. It’s a gift we all have from Him. And it’s so important that you recognise the power of this gift and how it can shape your life. Your imaginative power is your creative ability. It doesn’t matter what your circumstances may be today. Maybe you’ve found yourself in the gutters of life, where you feel defeated and hopeless; you can effect a change and create the world you desire.
Even if you already have a great life, you can frame a new one, a more glorious and excellent life. It begins with knowing how to use your imaginative power. Whatever you can imagine, you can accomplish. And eventually, the sum total of your imagination, whether positive or negative, determines the quality of your life and personality.
Even in prayer, God wants you to use your imaginative power, because He loves to always give you ideas. He wants to grant you such extraordinary visions that you naturally wouldn’t live on the ordinary human plane. But He needs you to be willing to use your own imagination, so you can receive whatever He has to reveal.
For example, if you were running a mini shop and you want to expand the scope of the business, you’ll need to deploy your imaginative power. As you pray, God can help you see a chain of businesses, even though your present business is being conducted from just a room, perhaps even in your basement.
You may wonder, “Lord, is this possible?” He’d reply, “Yes, it’s possible; that’s why I showed it to you; that’s why I made you see it.” Someone may ask, “What if I don’t see anything as I pray?” In any case, you already have the power to create; you can create what you want! Some have the misconception that they can’t create for themselves what they desire. They believe visions should only come from God. But God lives in you. So, from within, you can create what you want; you can visualize whatever you desire and lay hold on it. When you pray, your imaginative power is a necessary ancillary tool for laying hold on what you’re praying for. Glory to God!
CONFESSION
I’m empowered by the Spirit to see the “unseen”; to see the way God sees. I see myself living in the reality of what the Word says about me, soaring on the wings of the Spirit in a perpetual victory parade! I see myself making progress with giant strides, knocking down every obstacle on my way. I see myself a victor at every count, prosperous, strong and healthy. Glory to God forever!
FURTHER STUDY:
2 Corinthians 4:17-18, Philippians 4:8, Ecclesiastes 3:11 & Matthew 12:35
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 13 DECEMBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THE BLESSING OF THE SCRIPTURES KEY VERSE: Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all (1 Timothy 4:15). Some people admit to having “blue days”; they’re excited sometimes, and at some other times they’re depressed, unhappy and wish they could end it all. If only such folks could get a hold of the Word and draw their inspiration from the Scriptures; it’ll make all the difference. I’m always inspired and blessed by the Word; I don’t have any blue or down days; I’m on top always; ever inspired!
The Bible says, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16). Think about that! The Scripture is given by the inspiration of God; that means it’s God breathed. Then it says it’s profitable; meaning it gives you the advantage.
It’s also for doctrine, meaning it teaches and conditions you. It’s for reproof and correction: the Word moulds your character and gives you a new mindset. Finally, it’s an instruction manual for the life of righteousness. No other material could be this good for life. No other material could give you the advantage and inspiration you need to win in life every day.
The seventeenth verse further tells us the result of imbibing the Scriptures, applying yourself diligently to the Scriptures. It says, “That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” The Blessing of the Holy Scriptures! They were given to position you to be very successful, thoroughly furnished unto all good works—excellence; nothing is left out.
I knew from a very young age that I was going to be excellent in my life. I found some things in the Scriptures that gave me the impression—the absolute understanding—that I was going to be very successful. It was like a programmed projectile; I knew where I was going. The Word was given to programme my life for success, for excellence, for prosperity in everything. Didn’t you read about Abraham, Moses and David? These men were successful in everything, through God’s Word.
Likewise, through the inspiration of the Word, you too can be successful, and there’s no question about it. Study the Word for yourself. Give time to meditating on the Scriptures; the result is a life of undeniable success, ever-increasing glory, and unending prosperity. (Read Joshua 1:8 AMPC).
FURTHER STUDY: Joshua 1:8 AMPC, Psalm 119:15-16 & Psalm 119:47-48
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SUNDAY 12 DECEMBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THE KINGDOM IS YOURS
KEY VERSE: Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom (Luke 12:32).
What a profound statement made by Jesus in the verse above! However, when He said it, He wasn’t addressing the new creation. God isn’t “going to give” the Kingdom to you that are born again; the Kingdom is yours. You were born into the Kingdom; you’re an heir of the Kingdom. The Kingdom belongs to you, because it belongs to Jesus and you’re a joint-heir with Him.
Recall what He said in John 16:15: _“All things that the Father hath are mine…”_; that includes the Kingdom. Jesus lived the life of the Kingdom while He was on earth, and that made Him a mystery to the people of His day. He lived on a different plane. His words and actions were different from what they understood.
The Kingdom is your beloved country, the city Abraham was looking for. The Bible says, _“By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God”_ (Hebrews 11:9-10).
Now, if the Kingdom is yours, what could you possibly be in need of? Jesus said in Luke 17:21, _“… behold, the kingdom of God is within you.”_ He said, “SEE that you carry the Kingdom; you’re not just in the Kingdom; the Kingdom is in you!” If the Kingdom is in you, then it means all the treasures, riches, splendour and glories of the Kingdom are also in you.
Can you see why you should never have a mentality of lack, want and need? No wonder He said, _“…all things are yours”- (1 Corinthians 3:21). What God wants is that you live from the Kingdom; live the Kingdom life and seek its glory and expansion.
CONFESSION
The Kingdom is in me; therefore, all the treasures, riches, splendour and glories of the Kingdom are also in me! I live from the Kingdom and live the Kingdom-life, seeking its glory and expansion. Today, I see and declare success, prosperity, victory, health and strength, by the power of the Holy Ghost! Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:*
James 2:5 AMPC
_5- Listen, my beloved brethren: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and in their position as believers and to inherit the kingdom which He has promised to those who love Him?_
Matthew 6:33
_33- But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Revelation 4 & Hosea 11-14
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: John 19:38-42 & 2 Chronicles 25
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY 11 DECEMBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: SANCTIFICATION OF THE SPIRIT KEY VERSE: …God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth (2 Thessalonians 2:13). Sanctification is part of the ministry of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Even though you’re born again and your spirit is alive to God, your mind still needs to be purified of all the garbage recorded therein. It’s the reason for the renewal of the mind the Bible talks about in Romans 12:2.
The more you study and receive God’s Word, the more the wrong thoughts, ideas and relics of the old nature in your mind are removed and replaced with God’s holy thoughts, His holy words and the manifestation of His kingdom. That’s why the Bible says, _“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly…”_ (Colossians 3:16).
That desire to do the wrong things, to go in the way of the world, to make the wrong choice, only the Word of God can get rid of it. So, Romans 12:1 says, _“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”_ Notice that He’s addressing God’s people and not the people of the world. Don’t yield your mind to sin; don’t yield it as an instrument of unrighteousness.
You’re a sanctified person. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 says, _“Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.”_
Notice our underlined portion! You’ve been sanctified by the Spirit to serve the living God. He’s purged your conscience of dead works through the vicarious sacrifice of Jesus Christ in your behalf. No wonder He says, _“But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption”_ (1 Corinthians 1:30). Blessed be God!
PRAYER
Blessed Lord, you’ve made me a vessel unto honour, sanctified and fit for your use and prepared unto every good work. I’m fully yielded to your Word to mould my life and character. Thank you for granting me the ability to lead a life of righteousness and true holiness. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
1 Peter 1:1-2
_1- Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,_
_2- elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied._
2 Timothy 2:21
_21- Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work._
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
_19- Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?_
_20- For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Revelation 3:7-22 & Hosea 7-10
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: John 19:23-37 & 2 Chronicles 23-24
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY 10 DECEMBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: YOUR CONNECTION WITH DIVINITY
KEY VERSE: _A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation: I the LORD will hasten it in his time (Isaiah 60:22)._
MESSAGE
What an inspiring scripture! Observe that the prophet Isaiah didn’t say, _“A little one is a thousand”_; rather, the Spirit so accurately puts it; He says, “A little one shall become a thousand….” It does spell growth, change, going from one level to another. That means, when a little one is said to be “little,” it’s talking about a thousand. Imagine how big that is—proof positive that the Lord is ever interested in our growth and prosperity.
How would you read this and still have doubts about your greatness and prosperity being God’s idea and desire? 3 John 1:2 says, _“Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.”_ The Bible is replete with information on the power and the glory of God, the honour, the majesty, the splendour of our Heavenly Father and His will to share what He’s got with His children. This is the glorious life of prosperity we’ve been called to and that’s the basis of our prosperity.
We aren’t running after or seeking prosperity, because the truth is, we’re children of this true God whose wealth is limitless, inestimable and unquantifiable; we belong to Him. The difference between Christians who believe in and walk in prosperity and those who don’t is this: the former believe in their true connection with God, knowing that since it’s real, they don’t need to seek prosperity; it just works in them.
The latter group, however, don’t understand it; hence, they keep seeking it, trying hard to get it. And because it eludes them, they criticize it. There’s no human being who doesn’t want to prosper. That’s a fact! The reason many work and continually seek to improve themselves is so they could have better means to take care of themselves, their families and loved ones, and help other people. Every human person wants to be able to do something, not only for himself but for others, and that’s prosperity.
Study the truths of God’s Word and accept its simple message with faith in your heart. Read about men and women described to us in the Bible who were prosperous, influential, powerful, successful, and served God in righteousness till their days were over; they had a great life all the way. Accept growth and prosperity and walk in it. It’s a function of our connection with divinity.
CONFESSION
I take advantage of my inextricable connection with my heavenly Father; all that belongs to Him belongs to me; my prosperity is of the Spirit and it’s limitless, inestimable and unquantifiable. I’m established in the Lord’s righteousness; therefore, I flourish like the palm tree. I walk in wealth and abundance always. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Haggai 2:8-9
_8- ‘The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,’ says the Lord of hosts._
_9- ‘The glory of this latter temple shall be greater than the former,’ says the Lord of hosts. ‘And in this place I will give peace,’ says the Lord of hosts.”_
Deuteronomy 8:18
_18- “And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day._
2 Peter 1:3
_3- as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,_
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Revelation 2:18-3:1-6 & Hosea 3-6
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: John 19:13-22 & 2 Chronicles 21-22
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 09 DECEMBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: IMPACT OF THE WORD IN YOUR SPIRIT
KEY VERSE: 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 (Colossians 3:16).*_
MESSAGE
The Word of God has to be deeply rooted in you for you to enjoy the life of endless victories the Bible talks about. When you’re deeply rooted in the Word, nothing shakes you; you’ll always win, irrespective of the adversities you face. It’s not enough to merely get excited when you hear or study the Word; take some time to meditate.
When you get excited outwardly, let it be because of the victory you’ve seen and obtained in your spirit, and the impact the Word has made on your spirit. The Word impacting your spirit is where the glory is. Consider Moses: After spending forty days and forty nights with God on Mount Sinai receiving the Commandments, the skin of his face shone by reason of the glory of the Word he received from God. To Moses, the commandments weren’t just laws; they were life.
When you deeply contemplate and meditate on the Word, the Word will take a hold of your spirit and impact your physical body, so much so that the glory of God will literally beam from you. 2 Corinthians 3:18 says, “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” As you receive the Word, the intensity of the glory in your life is increased!
Read our theme verse again; it says, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom…” (Colossians 3:16). This is the way to keep yourself afire, living in victory always, unshakeable and unmovable, established in Him. Colossians 2:7 AMPC says, “Have the roots [of your being] firmly and deeply planted [in Him, fixed and founded in Him], being continually built up in Him, becoming increasingly more confirmed and established in the faith, just as you were taught, and abounding and overflowing in it with thanksgiving.”
FURTHER STUDY: Colossians 2:7 NLT, Colossians 3:16 AMPC _16- Let the word [spoken by] Christ (the Messiah) have its home [in your hearts and minds] and dwell in you in [all its] richness, as you teach and admonish and train one another in all insight and intelligence and wisdom [in spiritual things, and as you sing] psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, making melody to God with [His] grace in your hearts.
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 08 DECEMBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: BE A SUCCESS FOR GOD
KEY VERSE: If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth (Colossians 3:1-2).
MESSAGE
Each one of us is ordained of God to be very successful. But you can’t really be a success until you know God’s plan for your life. You could be a success for “you” or for those cheering you on; but being a success for God is what counts. A success for “you” means you’ve achieved your goals and your dreams. A success for the world means you’ve fulfilled the world’s dream and expectation of you. But these aren’t true success. True success means you’ve achieved God’s goals and dreams.
Success for life means your accomplishments on the basis of God’s calling, His vision, dream, and plans. And it always has to be done in God’s way, not man’s way. You measure success at different points in your life. In academics, for example, if you were in class one and you were successful in your exams, that’s success in that class, not class two or three. Someone else who is in class two or three will be measured accordingly. When you get to a higher class, you’ll again be rated by the corresponding standards and requirements of that class. So, success is relative.
Be determined that at different stages of your life, you’ll be very successful in line with God’s plans for your life. The most important thing to you should always be: What does God want? What does He think? That’s the only way you can know whether or not you’re successful. And remember, His will, plan and purpose will always be consistent with His Word—the Scriptures.
There’re many who don’t care to know what God thinks. Some don’t even think that God has an individual plan for their lives to care for them, but the truth is, He does. The Bible says, “’For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future’” (Jeremiah 29:11 NIV). He not only cares, He has a plan that’s not only communicable, but one that can and must be actuated.
FURTHER STUDY:
1 John 2:15-16, Acts 26:16-18 & 2 Corinthians 5:14-15
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY 07 DECEMBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: EVER-INCREASING GREATNESS
KEY VERSE: Thou shalt increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side (Psalm 71:21). MESSAGE The Lord said to Abraham in Genesis 22:17- 18: “…in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed....” Indeed, the Lord blessed Abraham and made him great. You’ll observe the blessing through several generations after him. Isaac, Jacob, David, Solomon all walked in this reality.
David, who was a great king, took it to another crescendo; he knew that in greatness there’re levels. So, he prayed, “Thou shalt increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side” (Psalm 71:21). There’re three ways of becoming great: you’re either born great or you have greatness bestowed on you, or you achieve greatness.
But thanks be unto God! When you were born again, you were born great; you were born into this wonderful family of God, connected with God Almighty and the Kingdom of God. You were born the very heir of all the riches and wealth of God’s Kingdom. To walk in this reality, first, you have to live beyond your senses. All you see isn’t all there is. There’s more to life than what you see or feel. The Bible says, “For we walk by faith, not by sight" (2 Corinthians 5:7).
Secondly, you must say the same thing in consent with God as it pertains to your greatness. Just like the psalmist, make confessions according to the Word and speak of your greatness. Declare by faith that of your increase, there’ll be no end. Henceforth, declare that the Lord is increasing your greatness in a significant way. It doesn’t matter what job you do, make it great, because there’s greatness in you. You’re royalty. Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY:
Psalm 112:1-3, Psalm 18:35, Genesis 26:12-14 & Galatians 3:29
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 06 DECEMBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: BE INSPIRED BY HIS HOPE
KEY VERSE: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us (Romans 5:5).
MESSAGE
The Bible shows us that “hope” is one of the principles that’ll exist in the world to come. Hope is the ability to expect and to project into the future. Jesus demonstrated hope in His beautiful and inspiring prayer in John 17, as He committed His disciples into the Father’s hands. He said, “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word” (John 17:20).
It’s amazing how Jesus trusted the Father with His hopes for the future of His disciples and those who would believe in Him through their witness. He not only had faith, but hope as well. He looked to the Father, with hope. What an inspiration!
There’s another instance where He demonstrated such great hope. That was when He prayed with great anguish and agony of soul in the Garden of Gethsemane, such that sweat came out of His body like great drops of blood. But I want you to notice the content of His prayers. The Bible says He prayed, “…O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt” (Matthew 26:39).
Jesus was a man of faith, but in this context, He was hopeful. He endured the Cross because of the outcome of His hope. He demonstrated hope while He hung on the Cross; hope even in death! This is the Christ that Paul referred to when he announced, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Now, you’re in Him and can therefore be hopeful in the Father as He was, even in the face of death. Can you be hopeful in prayer that those who openly oppose Christ can truly believe and turn their hearts to Him like Saul of Tarsus, and receive salvation for their souls by the power of the Holy Ghost?
Learn the value of hope. The Word declares that “hope doesn’t disappoint, because of God’s love in our hearts” (Romans 5:5). Be inspired by His hope! That hope, the Bible says, is an anchor for the soul: “That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast…” (Hebrews 6:18- 19). Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY:
Romans 4:18
Hebrews 6:19 AMPC & Psalm 71:14
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SUNDAY 05 DECEMBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: HIS UNFATHOMABLE LOVE KEY VERSE: For she said, If I may touch but his clothes I shall be whole. And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague (Mark 5:28-29). Part of our theme scripture is the inspiring story of the woman with the issue of blood who pressed her way through an impossible crowd to touch Jesus for a miracle. Jesus wasn’t rattled that the “unclean” woman touched Him without His consent.
Remember, under the Law of Moses, it was unlawful for such a woman to be seen in public, let alone make contact with other people, because she was haemorrhaging; making her unclean. But Jesus, ever so loving and gracious, addressed the woman with such endearment. He said, “…Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace” (Luke 8:48).
Think about the Master’s gracious disposition to this woman! His love is beyond human comprehension; it’s unfeigned and divine. Also, consider how He healed lepers in His day. Luke 5 records a beautiful story of how He touched and healed a certain leper. The Bible says, _“And it came to pass… a man full of leprosy: who seeing Jesus fell on his face, and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And he put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will: be thou clean. And immediately the leprosy departed from him”_ (Luke 5:12-13).
The Master didn’t get infected from making contact with the infected man; rather, He cured the infection! That’s the kind of person you should emulate. That’s the example to follow, not those who advise you to hide from “viruses” and infections that Jesus gave us the power to heal.
He said in Luke 10:19, “Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” I’m inspired by Jesus, and you should be too. Be inspired by His love; be inspired by how he affectionately touched the untouchables of broken humanity in His day, as He still does today; howbeit, through us! Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY: John 15:13 & 1 John 4:10-11
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY 04 DECEMBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: BUILDING A STRONG DESIRE KEY VERSE: Blessed are they which do hungerand thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled (Matthew 5:6).*_
MESSAGE
Sequel to our previous study, something else that fasting does for you is that it helps you build a strong desire. Fasting helps nurse your spiritual hunger or desire for whatever you’re praying about. Gradually, your desire moves from the soul realm to the spirit realm; it becomes a yearning of the spirit.
Perhaps, you’re a cell leader, fellowship coordinator or church Pastor and you’re praying for growth in your church or group; there has to be a strong desire for the increase you’re expecting; otherwise, it may never happen. A strong desire attracts to you whatever the subject of that desire is. Fasting without a definite and clear desire will achieve nothing. Because of your focus in a time of fasting, you’re able to attract through the Spirit, the finer signals, messages and visions of the higher planes of the spiritual.
As your spirit is thus inspired, you’d be quick to receive His Word and follow the guidance He gives you. The Bible says: “The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple” (Psalm 119:130). His Word will light up in your spirit and illuminate your path. Suddenly, you just know what to do, the steps to take that’ll bring about the results you desire.
In the preceding verse of scripture, the word “understanding” is translated from a Hebrew word that means or connotes “the ability to apprehend.” When God’s Word enters your heart, it gives you the ability to understand diverse subjects and circumstances, such that you’d know exactly what steps to take. Learn to develop a strong desire through fasting, prayer, and an unrelenting commitment to studying and meditating on the Word of God.
FURTHER STUDY:*
Romans 12:11 AMPC & Nehemiah 1:4
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY 03 DECEMBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: FASTING—A VITAL CONDITION FOR EFFECTIVE PRAYING
KEY VERSE: And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes (Daniel 9:3). MESSAGE Fasting is a spiritual exercise, and it’s one of the vital conditions necessary for effective praying. Fasting isn’t the same as a hunger strike. It’s not about avoiding meals. After all, there’re folks who sometimes wouldn’t eat over a long period of time, probably because they’re busy; that doesn’t mean they’re fasting. Fasting means turning your attention away from food, and turning it to God.
Some people turn away from the food only to busy themselves with activities that don’t enhance their human spirit or help them to focus on God. For your fasting to be effective, you must set your heart on the Lord, on His Word, throughout the duration of the fast, and give quality time to praying in the Spirit.
Fasting, however, isn’t a way of persuading God to do something in your behalf. Fasting doesn’t change God; it changes you; it positions you spiritually so you can receive from Him. For instance, the instruction from the Lord to the apostles that Barnabas and Saul (who later became Paul) should be consecrated to the work of the ministry came as the apostles fasted and prayed: “As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them” (Acts
The apostles could hear the voice of the Holy Spirit clearly, and they understood Him, because they were praying and fasting. Fasting gets you attuned to God; it’s a way of turning your spirit and mind away from the carnal things of this world in order to focus them on the Lord. That means you put away the secular magazines, films, TV shows etc., and set your heart and your mind on the Word in study, meditation and prayer.
As you do this, the flesh is subdued as your spirit fellowships with God. Therefore, when you pray, you’re able to utter words inspired of the Holy Spirit. Fasting basically reconditions your human spirit and makes you receptive to God’s guidance. He may have tried to lead or guide you in a certain way, yet you failed to decipher His signals. But when you fast and pray, you’re repositioned, and your spiritual re-orientation allows the Holy Spirit to minister to you in line with His perfect will.
FURTHER STUDY:
Acts 13:2 TPT, Daniel 9:3 & Acts 14:23
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 02 DECEMBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: HE’LL MAKE IT HAPPEN FOR YOU
KEY VERSE: …Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full (John 16:23-24).
MESSAGE
The phrase “…he will give it you” in the verse above is “didoljmi” in Greek, and it means God will grant you what you require; He’ll make it happen for you. What Jesus said there gives us an open invitation to ask anything in His Name and expect to receive answers.
Sadly, some people aren’t putting this to work, yet they whine and gripe over their predicaments. He said, “…ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.” He doesn’t want you struggling through life, angry and miserable. He wants you joyful ALWAYS, and He knows one of the ways to make that happen is having your requests granted, you being in surplus and abundance.
Perhaps today, your business is failing or has failed, or your investments have gone down the drain; perhaps you’re facing serious challenges in any area of your life; the Lord is saying, “Ask what you will, and I’ll make it happen for you!” Whatever it is that you want, don’t cry; don’t beg; don’t gripe. Just act on His Word; ask and receive.
The Lord loves you. He’s more passionate and determined for your success than you could ever be. So, whatever troubles you, present it to Him as He has said. In Philippians 4:6-7, He said, “Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
He’s made more than enough provisions for you—to make you joyful and fulfilled in life. The Bible says He gives us all things freely to enjoy (1 Timothy 6:17); yours is to simply trust Him; ask in faith, in the Name of Jesus, and receive.
FURTHER STUDY: John 16:23-24 TPT & Matthew 7:7-8
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 01 DECEMBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THERE’S ENOUGH POWER IN YOU KEY VERSE: “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:8). Some years ago, a young man came to me and said he suddenly woke up one day to discover half of his body had become numb. He had lost feeling on that side of his body, including his face. This happened overnight. When he talked to me about it, I knew he had to swing into action immediately.
So, I asked him to go over to a certain side of the platform, kneel there, and for an hour nonstop; he should pray in tongues as fast, hard, and as loud as he could. I told him to do this repeatedly for a few days and monitored him while he was at it. I knew it was serious business, but he didn’t need anybody to lay hands on him.
After some days of praying in the Holy Ghost like that, all the symptoms disappeared and he was completely healed. Hallelujah! After you’re born again, everything in your body is already touched by the power of the Holy Spirit. There’s life in you. You can’t be a failure or be diseased. You can’t be said to be barren.
It doesn’t matter what you go through in life, take advantage of the power in you for the change and miracle you require. That power is activated as you pray in tongues, and it’s dynamic in its working. We read in our theme verse, “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you….” That power is “dunamis” (Greek)—the dynamic ability to cause changes.
There’s no situation you can’t change by yourself! The inherent power to do exceedingly abundantly above all that you could ask, think or imagine isn’t in heaven; it’s in you. You may have been told that you were born with an incurable disease; it doesn’t make any difference now, because you can change it! Put the Word to work; activate the power in you for a miracle. Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY:
Colossians 1:27-29 2 Peter 1:3-4 & Ephesians 3:20
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY 30 NOVEMBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: WE’RE IN A WARFARE
KEY VERSE: For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does (2 Corinthians 10:3 NIV) Even though we live in the world, we’re engaged in a spiritual warfare. In Ephesians 6:12, the Apostle Paul tells us about the spirituality of this warfare. He says, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Notice that the conflict is always on, and he also referenced “the evil day,” helping you understand the difference between a war and its battles. A war is the declaration of a state of hostilities. 1 Corinthians 14:8 AMPC tells us, “And if the war bugle gives an uncertain (indistinct) call, who will prepare for battle?”
A battle is the actual fight of a war; when the actual fight begins, that’s the “battle” of the war. Another expression for war is when you’re contending for something; it’s more passionate, and you don’t necessarily use arms. The point is that we have an adversary that we are up against—Satan. Certain times, people get confused and say, “I thought I had conquered this thing”; the truth is you’re in a war. The devil doesn’t just go to sleep. Consider the temptation of Jesus. The Bible says, “And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season” (Luke 4:13).
The devil left him until an opportune time (NIV). Satan knew he was defeated at that occasion, so he left Him for another time that he felt he’d have a chance. 1 Peter 5:8-9 says, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour. Whom resist stedfast in the faith….”
It doesn’t matter that there’s an adversary who’s all out to oppose the Gospel and God’s children; he’s under our feet. Ephesians 6:10-11 says, “…be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”
You have the dominion and authority over principalities, powers, the rulers of the darkness of this world, and spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Use the spiritual weapons at your disposal (Read Ephesians 6:14-18) to keep them at bay, to frustrate their stratagems and wiles, and foil all their evil works. Hallelujah!
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 & 1 Peter 5:8-9
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 29 NOVEMBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: FOCUS ON THE SPIRITUAL
KEY VERSE: Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth (Colossians 3:2).
In Luke 22, the Bible tells us how Jesus announced His impending death as He had Communion with His disciples. He used the occasion to reveal that one of them—Judas Iscariot—would betray Him. Shortly afterwards, Judas approached the priests and scribes and agreed to lead them to Jesus in exchange for money.
When they got to Jesus, He said to them, “When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness” (Luke 22:53). Why did Jesus say, “…this is your hour, and the power of darkness” even though the prophetic word stated clearly that He’d be arrested? He was drawing our attention to something spiritual, which is the fact that the power of darkness was behind His arrest.
This gives us a perfect example as to being spiritually alert. How conscious are you of who’s controlling your thoughts and actions? When you make a decision, who’s responsible? Always focus on the spiritual, and not on the things you perceive with your physical senses. Be sure that your actions, thoughts and desires are always God-inspired. Let the Holy Spirit lead and guide you in all things. Set your affections on Him. Colossians 3:2 says, “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.”
Set your mind on the eternal Word of God and let the Holy Spirit be your teacher. The Bible says, “For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace” (Romans 8:5-6).
FURTHER STUDY: Romans 8:5-6, 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 & Philippians 3:20
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SUNDAY 28 NOVEMBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: BE CIRCUMSPECT AND DISCERNING KEY VERSE: For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace (Romans 8:6).
In Matthew 16:21-23, we see an interesting scenario between Jesus and Peter. The Master had made it clear to His disciples that it was necessary for Him to go to Jerusalem, submit to an ordeal of suffering at the hands of the religious leaders, be killed, and be raised back to life on the third day.
Then the Bible says that Peter took the Lord aside to speak to Him privately and began to reprove and charge Him sharply, saying, “God forbid, Lord! This must never happen to you!” The Master then turned to Peter and said, “…Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men” (Matthew 16:23).
He immediately turned Peter’s mind to the source of his information; He turned Peter’s mind to the spiritual. This says a lot about the spirituality of Jesus. He wanted Peter to know when an information is from God, or when it’s from the devil.
When information comes to you, you have to know where it’s coming from. Is it from the Kingdom of God, from the devil or from the world? Satan is the prince of this world, so information from the world is corrupted by Satan. Moreover, you’re not of this world (John 15:19); therefore, you can’t live by the information that comes from the world.
Walk in understanding and discernment. Be spiritual. Through the ministry of the Word and the Spirit, the Lord graciously grants you the ability to discern and walk in His perfect will always. He wants you to be circumspect, cautious, prudent, vigilant and established in His Word, which is the true light that gives you direction and guidance.
If any information comes that’s not of the Lord, geared to sway you from the right path, by His Spirit, you’d hear His voice as you follow the truth of the Gospel. It’s one of the reasons the Pauline prayers for the Church are so important. In Colossians 1:9, he said, “For this cause we … do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.” Affirm this for yourself always. Every so often, declare that you’re circumspect and wise; you’re filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all wisdom and discernment. Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY: Ephesians 5:15-17 & Colossians 1:9
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY 27 NOVEMBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: TRUST IN HIM ALONE
KEY VERSE: Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God (Psalm 20:7).
2 Chronicles 14-16 tells us about Asa, King of Judah, who did what was good and right in the sight of the Lord. He commanded Judah to seek the Lord and to obey the law and the commandment, and his kingdom was at peace.
Once, Zerah, the Ethiopian King, invaded Judah with an army of a million men and three hundred chariots. Asa cried out to the Lord for supernatural intervention. The Bible says, “So the LORD smote the Ethiopians before Asa, and before Judah; and the Ethiopians fled” (2 Chronicles 14:12). Remarkable!
In the 36th year of his reign, another event occurred. Baasha, the King of Israel, made hostile threats against Judah. But this time, instead of seeking the Lord, King Asa sought a military alliance with Ben-Hadad, the King of Syria. He took silver and gold from the treasuries of the temple and the royal palace and sent them as gifts to the Syrian king. The King of Israel abandoned his plans, but the Lord was displeased with King Asa.
God sent a prophet to him to remind him of how He (God) intervened when he fought against a million soldiers from Ethiopia and other lands. Instead of listening to the message from God, the king was angry with the prophet, and he began to oppress the people.
Two years later, Asa developed a severe disease in his feet for which he sought the help of physicians, not the Lord (2 Chronicles 16:12). Can you imagine that? After thirty-five years of a wealthy, successful and productive reign, he turned his back on God. Now, he had enough money to pay mercenaries and physicians.
Sadly, he died of that disease two years later. The Bible specifically tells us that the reason Asa died of that disease wasn’t because the disease was deadly, but because Asa refused to seek the Lord (2 Chronicles 16:12). That’s a major problem with some people today; they trust so much in their wealth and riches and have lost sight of who truly matters in their affairs, because they think it’s all about money.
Never let anything take your attention away from the Lord. Let the Spirit have pre-eminence in your life. Make it a principle for yourself, and one to live by, that you’ll trust the Lord only and always.
FURTHER STUDY: Proverbs 3:5-6 & Psalm 28:7
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY 26 NOVEMBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: KNOWING WHO YOU REALLY ARE KEY VERSE: For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live] (Ephesians 2:10 AMPC).
Our opening verse is one of the many scriptures in the New Testament that describe who the Christian really is: a new creature; God’s excellent handiwork, recreated in Christ Jesus. Notice the word “recreated,” meaning he wasn’t refurbished, but born anew. When you understand this, you’ll better appreciate who you are.
What many have known about the Christian is that he’s the redeemed. They quote the Psalmist and sing, “Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy” (Psalm 107:2). But the Christian is much more than someone saved or redeemed from sin, from the world, from the devil and from death.
The man that was saved or redeemed from the devil was buried in the grave with Jesus. The revelation that we are the redeemed of the Lord isn’t completely true about the personality of the Christian. Remember what the Bible says about Jesus when He was raised from the dead: we were raised together with Him (Ephesians 2:6).
We were raised up as new creatures, new species of being. You don’t have an old life, because your human life was supplanted, replaced with the life of Christ when you were born again. You need to understand the progression of the revelation of the New Testament. The redemption was only the beginning of the process towards sonship: associates of the God-kind.
The new creature was never in bondage. The new creature never sinned. He was born free, and born sin-free. That’s why the Bible says, “For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace” (Romans 6:14). This is why Paul said, “...reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ Lord” (Romans 6:11). Hallelujah!
Galatians 2:20, Romans 6:4 & Colossians 3:8-10
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 25 NOVEMBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: A LIFE OF PRAISE
KEY VERSE: From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD’s name is to be praised (Psalm 113:3). When you come to know who you really are in Christ, your life will be full of praise. Your times of prayer will be times of praise and excitement in the presence of God. Think for a moment: what could you possibly be in need of that the Lord hasn’t already granted you? Absolutely nothing!
The Bible says, “For God has proved his love by giving us his greatest treasure, the gift of his Son. And since God freely offered him up as the sacrifice for us all, he certainly won’t withhold from us anything else he has to give” (Romans 8:32 TPT). He isn’t withholding anything from you. That’s why Paul said in 1 Corinthians 3:21, “…all things are yours.”*_
Then 2 Peter 1:3 says, “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness….” Since this is true, what more, therefore, than to praise Him all your life! Even your prayer and intercession should be with a heart full of gratitude and praise because you know you’re siding with Him to cause His will to be established. Learn to praise God. In the midst of challenges, praise Him. Be a wild praiser. Remember Paul and
Silas? They were falsely accused, stripped, beaten and thrown into a maximum-security dungeon (Acts 16:19-24). But the Bible tells us that at midnight, they went wild with praise: “And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed” (Acts 16:25-26).
Even now, forget about whatever may seem to trouble you and praise God lavishly. Tell Him how great and loving He is; sing songs of praise and adoration to Him. Celebrate the Lord right there where you are, for He’s gracious and kind, righteous, holy, faithful and ever true. Let your heart be full of praise to Him, not just today, but always. Hallelujah! FURTHER STUDY:
2 Chronicles 5:13, Hebrews 13:15 & Psalm 150:1-6
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 24 NOVEMBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: WE WIN ONLY AND ALWAYS KEY VERSE: For…they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ (Romans 5:17).
Blessed be God! The life we have in Christ is one of absolute mastery and dominion over circumstances. We win only and always! It makes no difference what’s happening around you, maintain the mindset of a victor. Jesus said all things are possible to him that believes; that’s you. This is the testimony of Jesus concerning you. That simply makes you a superman in Christ!
You have what it takes to fix any problem and help others out of trouble. That’s part of the essence of being filled with the Spirit and having the Word of God in your heart and in your mouth. You become unshakeable.
God doesn’t want you to live as a victim of life or circumstances. He’s placed you in charge and in control. He wants you to use the Word of God to keep Satan in subjection. He wants you to use the Word to keep your body in health and keep yourself in prosperity. He wants you to discipline every situation with the Word of God.
God knows that as long as you’re in your physical body, you’re going to face crises in life. You’re going to contend with forces of darkness. But they’re not a factor, because He says, “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4).
You were born a victor. Let that be the standpoint from which you view life. You’re more than a conqueror; you’re the blessed of God! You’ve been adequately furnished with every good and necessary thing you require for life and for godliness (2 Peter 1:3). So, stand up tall in Christ! You can never be disadvantaged. It’s victory for you all the way—in all things and in every place: “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 Corinthians 15:57 John 16:33 & 1 John 4:4
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY 23 NOVEMBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: YOU’RE GOD’S DREAM
KEY VERSE: Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures (James 1:18).
The new creature is God’s dream! He is everything God ever wanted. God created the heavens, the earth and everything therein, but He couldn’t be one with any of those things. He couldn’t fellowship with any of the animals or things He created except man. His purpose for sending Jesus was to make it possible for man to be brought into oneness with God. So, you’re very special to God.
Read our theme verse again; it says you’re the first and the best of all that God created; His excellently crafted handiwork. How could anyone know this and still think failure? You couldn’t know this and live in defeat, poverty and misery; it’s not possible! You were born in the throne room and you live right in the presence of God. Everything in this world is yours. Paul understood it and declared, “… all things are yours…the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours” (1 Corinthians 3:21-22). Hallelujah!
There’s something different about you. You’re the one who can shout, “I’ve got the whole world!” even if your account balance is seemingly in minus, because you walk in the Spirit and not in the flesh. You walk by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7).
In the Old Testament, they couldn’t fulfil His dream; they were men and women of the senses. He had said to them, “Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine” (Exodus 19:5). But they couldn’t obey Him.
However, in our case, He didn’t require us to first “obey” His commandments; rather, He made us new creations and called us obedient children (1 Peter 1:14). As a result, what He promised to make them (a peculiar treasure) if they obeyed Him, we became by the New Birth.
Now that you’re born again, you’re God’s peculiar treasure. It’s what Jesus did in your behalf. The Bible says “Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works” (Titus 2:14). 1 Peter 2:9 says, “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.”
Blessed be God!
Ephesians 2:10 , 1 Peter 2:9 AMPC & 1 Peter 1:14
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 22 NOVEMBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: A PECULIAR KINGDOM
KEY VERSE: Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God (Ephesians 2:19).
We’re not of this world; we’re the peculiar people of a heavenly Kingdom. Though we live in the earth, our citizenship—the Kingdom to which we belong and from which we operate—is in heaven. It’s a royal and glorious Kingdom of priests. You were born into that Kingdom the day you were born again (Colossians 1:12-13).
It doesn’t matter that you were diagnosed with an incurable hereditary disease. It makes no difference that you were said to have a chronic heart condition. Now that you’re born again, sickness is alien to your nature; it’s an anomaly in our kingdom. Therefore, refuse to accept or accommodate it in your body.
Maybe your forbears died of a certain disease, and you’re told that’s how it’s been in your family. You now belong in a heavenly family, where Jesus is the head. You belong to a Kingdom where all things are possible and operates by the law of the Spirit of life. In this Kingdom, everyone is blessed and everything you do prospers; our joy never ends. We rejoice in adversity.
In this eternal Kingdom, we don’t allow the things which are seen to determine and control the quality of our lives. We see and live by faith. We’re confident that whatever we see that we don’t like, is subject to change: “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal (subject to change); but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:17-18). This is life in our Kingdom: we’re unmovable; we’re in dominion. We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. We’re forever victorious. Glory to God!
FURTHER STUDY: Colossians 1:12-14 & 1 Peter 2:9 AMPC
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SUNDAY 21 NOVEMBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: BEYOND THE CROSS
KEY VERSE: Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4). Being born again, you have the resurrection life; life beyond the Cross. I would to God you’d catch this. The new creation wasn’t “delivered” from the hand of the enemy, neither does he need deliverance, for he’s superior to Satan.
Deliverance was accomplished at the Cross. It was for the whole world. But there’s a resurrection life beyond the Cross. That’s the life of the new creation, and in that life, you’re not the “delivered,” neither are you the “set free” or “redeemed”; rather, you’re the recreated! The recreated man in Christ isn’t of this world; so the forces of this world have no power over him. In Christ, he has overcome the world and all its elements.
The Bible calls us “...more than conquerors...” (Romans 8:37). We’re indestructible and invincible. Then, most beautifully, He calls us saints (1 Corinthians 6:2, 14:33, 2 Corinthians 1:1, Ephesians 1:1 etc.). The sinner died with Christ; the sinner was buried with Christ; but a new creature, a saint, arose with Christ.
This is your new nature. The Christian is the man who believes that God raised Jesus Christ from the dead and confesses His Lordship; he identifies with the resurrected Christ. He’s a new type of man: “...If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature, old things are passed away, behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
I’m showing you who you really are. The biggest thing to grasp about the Christian is the fact that he is absolutely a new creature. The unrecreated man, the natural human being, needed deliverance from the devil and God gave it to him. He needed remission of sin and God gave it to him. Jesus died to pay the price for his redemption.
The new creation, on the other hand, is not a product of the Cross. The Cross was enough to pay the price for redemption and salvation, but it didn’t produce a new life. If Jesus had never risen from the dead, we would still have been redeemed, but continually subject to sin. The blood He shed brought us eternal redemption and salvation. But we wouldn’t have been new creatures. The new creation is a product of the resurrection of Jesus Christ! The resurrection gave us eternal life. It gave us the righteousness of God, and made us joint-heirs with Christ.
FURTHER STUDY: Galatians 6:14-16, John 1:12-13 & Romans 6:4
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY 20 NOVEMBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: BORN FROM ABOVE
KEY VERSE: And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world (John 8:23).
When the Lord Jesus said to the Jews in John 8:23, “I’m from above,” He was referring to His divine origin; He’s the Lord from heaven: “The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven” (1 Corinthians 15:47). The Lord Jesus made this distinction because everyone on earth received life through their earthly parents, but His life came from God—He is the Word made flesh. Every human person born into this world has the natural human life. That life, however, is corruptible life; it’s mortal.
This became man’s lot when Adam sinned against God and lost his authority to Satan in the Garden of Eden. As a result, death came into the world: “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned” (Romans 5:12).
Sin came into the world by Adam’s disobedience, and death followed. “Death” here is separation from God: a life of darkness and spiritual blindness. That’s the life of the unregenerate man, whom the Word describes as alienated from the life of God, and a stranger from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world (Ephesians 2:12).
However, being born again, you’ve been brought into “deathlessness.” You’re not born after the image of the first man Adam, but after Christ, who is the Lord from heaven; and as He is, so are you in this world (1 John 4:17). 1 Corinthians 15:48 explains it. It says, “…as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.”
You have in you the immortal life of God. 1 Peter 1:23 declares, “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever.” You’re the offspring of the Word, just as Jesus is the Word made flesh. Like Him, you’re from above; born from heaven, with the incorruptible and immortal life of God in you. Glory to God!
FURTHER STUDY:
John 3:31 & 1 Corinthians 15:47-49
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY 19 NOVEMBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: SPIRITUAL UNDERSTANDING
KEY VERSE: For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding (Colossians 1:9).
Evidently, God wants us to have spiritual understanding. Truth is reality, and it’s spiritual. All things hail from the spiritual. We must live from that perspective, and we can only do that by the insights given to us by the Holy Spirit, through the Word. Let’s examine a particular dialogue between Jesus and the Jews in John 8. Jesus said, “I know that ye are Abraham’s seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you” (John 8:37).
Now, they didn’t think their attempt to kill Him had anything to do with His Word not being in them; but Jesus knew. He pinpointed the root cause of their actions to something spiritual, because He was thinking spiritually. He said, “I know that ye are Abraham’s seed….” He didn’t take that away from them. But in a seemingly self-contradictory statement, He said, “...If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham” (John 8:39). He was talking spiritually.
Factually, Abraham was their father, but in action, they were children of the devil. While they were thinking factually (carnally) and arguing with Jesus, He was using the Word of God to interpret their thoughts and actions, because the Word of God is truth. He stood firmly on truth. And that’s how we must live.
In Luke 22, on the occasion of His arrest, He said, “…this is your hour, and the power of darkness” (Luke 22:53). Everybody else looked at the arrest from the natural, factual point of view, but Jesus interpreted it spiritually. He said the power of darkness was behind it.
It’s like the crises going on in the world today, which started in 2020. Many are being deceived because they don’t know the truth. They’re not seeing from the spiritual perspective; rather, they’re following the carnal dictates of men. Through the knowledge of the Word, we can easily recognize the work of God and distinguish it from Satan’s work.
Remember the words of Jesus in John 16:2: “They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.” He made it clear that some would think that when they kill God’s people they’re rendering Him service. They’ll have wrong interpretations and judgement, because they judge after the flesh. His Word has no place in them. We who are born of the Spirit of God must feed on the Word continually. The Holy Spirit through the Word gives us Spiritual insight and understanding in all things.
FURTHER STUDY:
Ephesians 1:15-18 & 2 John 1:1-4
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 18 NOVEMBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: WE ARE LIGHTS
KEY VERSE: Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness (1 Thessalonians 5:5).
In Ephesians 5:8, the Bible says, “For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light.” And our theme verse says, “Ye are all the children of light….” You’re a child of light, and if you’re a child of light, you’re light. That’s exactly what the Scripture says. Hallelujah!
The Lord Jesus, talking to the Jews, said, “While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light...” (John 12:36). He told them to believe in the light, that they may be the children of light. But they didn’t. We believed, and we received eternal life and became children of light. Glory to God!
John 8:12 says, _*“Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” This is amazing. Also, think about the words of Jesus in John 9:5; He declared, “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
What does He want your life to be like? He shows us in Matthew 5:16: “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Philippians 2:15 says, “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.” We shine as lights in a dark world. We have the heart of the Father. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son….” Therefore, we must love the people with the Father’s love. It’s part of shining as lights in the world. When Jesus said to let the world “see your good works,” He was talking about works of righteousness.
Put your best into preaching the Gospel, turning men from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God. That’s the true solution to all human challenges: the Gospel is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes. Glory to God!
FURTHER STUDY:
Romans 12:11 TPT & Isaiah 60:1-3
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 17 NOVEMBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: DON’T BOW TO HUMAN SOLUTIONS
KEY VERSE:So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed (Acts 19:20).
When it comes to your health, God’s plan is for you to use the Word to keep your body in divine health and not to bow to human solutions. His Word is medicine; the Bible says it produces health in your physical body: “My son, attend to my words…they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh” (Proverbs 4:20-22). The word “health” is the Hebrew “marpe”; it means medicine.
This means you can apply the Word as you would a prescription drug. But the difference is, God’s Word is far more effective; it never fails. Perhaps you suddenly discovered a growth in your body that seems to be getting larger and diagnosed to be malignant; don’t get into a frenzy.
First, recognize that you’re not an ordinary person; you’re born again; you have the life of God in you. Acknowledge and affirm this consciously and every so often. Then, affirm scriptures, such as Acts 19:20: _“So mightily grew the Word of God and prevailed.”_ This is talking about the Word growing mightily in Ephesus and prevailing over religion, darkness and everything contrary to the Gospel, righteousness and the life of the Kingdom.
If the Word could work so mightily and prevail in a city as Ephesus, it’ll do the same in your physical body. Meditate and affirm the Word; declare that the Word of God is growing in your mind, your heart, your blood, your brain, and every fibre of your being. Talk to the growth and say, “Growth, you can’t stay in my body, because the Word of God is the life of my body; the Word of God is prevailing against you; you have no option but to dematerialize!”
This is how you use the Word against sickness and disease. You have to learn to always use the Word, because if sickness causes you to bow to human solutions, it’ll dominate you. Before long, you could be faced with something humanly incurable. All health challenges are opportunities to use the Word of God.
If a Christian doesn’t practise using the Word against headaches, migraines, colds and fevers, what would he or she do if cancer, diabetes, arthritis or some terminal diseases strike? So, use the Word. No matter how little you think the anomaly is, use the Word, and take charge of your health. Give no place to the devil (Ephesians 4:27).
FURTHER STUDY: Matthew 8:16, Psalm 107:17-20 & Proverbs 4:20-22
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY 16 NOVEMBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: LIVING BY THE SPIRIT
KEY VERSE: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from works to serve the living God? (Hebrews 9:14).*_
It’s impossible to live the authentic Christian life without the Holy Spirit. He’s the One to guide you, teach you the things of God, and instruct you in the way you should go. At the Rapture of the Church, the Bible says in a twinkling of an eye, the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then, we who are alive and remain shall be caught up with them—to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).
But how is this going to happen? It’ll be by the power of the Holy Spirit! We’re in the last days, and more than ever before, God is calling men to repentance. Regardless of the destruction, hatred, killings, murders, wickedness and violence in the world today orchestrated by Satan, the will of God is revealed in 2 Peter 3:9. It says, _“The Lord is not … willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”_
However, without the Holy Spirit, they can’t live the life that God wants them to live. Living a life that glorifies and honours God is by the power of the Holy Spirit. He alone can bring men to repentance and the acknowledging of the truth about salvation in Christ Jesus. Jesus said in John 16:8, _“And when he (the Holy Spirit) is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.”_
Living by the Spirit is the way for the child of God. The way of the Spirit is the way of success, victory and ever-increasing glory. So, don’t ignore the Holy Spirit. Yield yourself to His influence and guidance by consciously acting on God’s Word. He’s the One with the blueprint for your success; He created you and knows everything about your life and future. He’s committed to seeing you finish your course gloriously, fulfilling the will of God with joy.
Perhaps you’re reading this and you haven’t received the Holy Spirit, you can receive Him even now; it’s very easy. You can have someone who’s full of the Spirit lay hands on you, and you’ll receive. You can also simply ask and receive Him into you by faith, trusting in God. Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY:
Luke 11:11-13, Acts 1:8 & Romans 8:1-4
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 15 NOVEMBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: WALKING IN HIS LOVE
KEY VERSE: Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; God is love (1 John 4:7-8). The Apostle John gives an encapsulated version of the revelation of the Pauline doctrine in 1 John 4:16: “And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.” So, you in Christ, and Christ in you is about His love seen in you and expressed through you!
God is love, and as His children, we’re to love as Christ loved us. The Bible says, “THEREFORE BE imitators of God [copy Him and follow His example], as well-beloved children [imitate their father]. And walk in love, [esteeming and delighting in one another] as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a slain offering and sacrifice to God [for you, so that it became] a sweet fragrance” (Ephesians 5:1-2 AMPC).
Jesus showed us a good example by loving everyone, including His accusers and those who unjustly put Him on the Cross. We ought to emulate the Master by loving everyone unconditionally.
Love makes you give of yourself to others without thinking of what you’ll get in return. It makes you think of others and accept them just as they are. They don’t have to act to deserve your love, for love is unselfish and doesn’t seek its own. It breaks the barriers of race, ethnicity and social status. It makes it possible for you to see the beauty in others and appreciate them for who they are.
The new creature in Christ is born anew after the image of God (Colossians 3:10) and is imbued with the divine ability to express divine love. Let God’s love in you come alive; it’ll lift you to a new level of life and you’d be glad this happened. The Christian life is a life of love, freely given to us of God. Manifest that same love to others.
FURTHER STUDY: 1 John 4:17-18 & John 13:35
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SUNDAY 14 NOVEMBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: SEE SPIRITUALLY
KEY VERSE: For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace (Romans 8:5-6).
The Lord Jesus manifested spirituality in all things: His views, words, actions, hope, faith and love. The apostles were the same. They were spiritually minded. They looked at the world from the spiritual perspective and responded to situations and circumstances from the standpoint of the Word.
Consider how Jesus dealt with certain situations! Until He came, no one knew that an evil spirit could be responsible for the conditions in which some people found themselves; and even when they knew, no one could change that situation. But Jesus cast out evil spirits with His words: ”When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick” (Matthew 8:16). Mark 9:25 says, “When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him.” Mark 1:23-26 says, “And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit…And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him.” How about the demoniac at Gadara who was bound with chains and fetters? He broke the chains and inflicted wounds on his own body. Until Jesus came through that same road, he wallowed in that pitiable state. The Master commanded the evil spirit to come out of the man and he was restored (Read Mark 5:1–13).
Jesus put a premium on words. He spoke words as “Get up! Pick up your bed and walk!” and someone who had been paralyzed from birth could be healed. Read the account of the man who was sick for thirty-eight years, and lay by the Pool of Bethesda. Jesus said to him, “…Rise, take up thy bed, and walk” (John 5:8). He taught that words were spirit (John 6:63).
Jesus saw life from the realm of the spirit. As far as He was concerned, everything was controlled from the realm of the spirit. And as a child of God, that’s the realm you’re expected to see and live from. Interpret life from the spirit realm, and you’ll always win.
FURTHER STUDY:
Mark 9:25 AMPC & Mark 1:22–26
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY 13 NOVEMBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: HE’S WITH YOU AND IN YOU ALWAYS
KEY VERSE: Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me (Psalm 23:4)
The Bible tells us of an encounter Jesus had with Jairus, the ruler of the synagogue, whose daughter died. He told Jairus, “…Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole” (Luke 8:50). In another instance, He admonished His listeners as He taught them God’s Word, “Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32 NKJV).
Always, He charges us not to fear, because He’s with us to help us deal victoriously with the issues of life. He said in Matthew 28:20, “…lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” Then, when He was to physically leave this world, He sent the Holy Spirit—to be in us and with us: “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; Even the Spirit of truth…for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless…” (John 14:16-18).
Take Him at His Word. The Holy Spirit came to take the place of the ascended Christ, and now, He lives in you. Be ever conscious of His presence in you; take advantage of His grace and power in your life. Since He says, “I’m with you always,” you should say, “Blessed be God! I can do all things through Christ that’s in me and with me. He’s all I need for an ever-victorious and successful life!”
It doesn’t matter where you go in this world; the Lord is with you, morning, noon or night. This should enrich your fellowship with Him. Talk to Him with the consciousness that He’s really and truly with you. This should bring great excitement into your life because the One who really cares, the One who has all power—the great God of glory—is with you, and in you ALWAYS.
FURTHER STUDY: John 14:16-18 2 & Corinthians 13:14
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY 12 NOVEMBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THERE’S HOPE FOR YOU
KEY VERSE: But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you (Romans 8:11). There’re people that science and medicine have given up to die. Medically, their chances to live are very slim because of an “incurable” sickness that has, maybe, ruined their lungs, affected their heart, kidney or other vital organs in their body. Some have been to the best medical centres, with the best therapies and medications, yet to no avail. If this is your story or that of a loved one, I want to let you know that there’s hope in Jesus Christ.
There’s a beautiful verse of scripture I’ll like you to meditate on: Romans 8:10; it says if Christ be in you, although your body may be dead because of sin, the Spirit gives it life because of righteousness. If your physical body has already been so battered, bruised, damaged and ravaged by sickness and disease, and sin has crippled it, the Holy Spirit will revitalize and restore life to it because of the righteousness of Christ.
It’s the righteousness of God for you to be in health. This is so powerful; think deeply on it! The Bible says, “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (2 Corinthians 5:21). The righteousness of Christ is what makes the difference in you. As a result of Christ’s righteousness, you’re accepted in the presence of God; you’re not condemned.
Romans 5:18 says, “Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.” You have a right to health, because Jesus paid for it. It doesn’t matter what manner of sickness has attacked your physical body; it can be reversed in the Name of Jesus. Ponder again on what we read in our theme verse; that scripture is neither a promise nor something futuristic. If the Spirit of God who raised Jesus from death lives in you, He gives life to your body. Let this be your consciousness from now on.
FURTHER STUDY:
2 Corinthians 5:21 AMPC, Romans 8:10-13 & Acts 9:32-34
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 11 NOVEMBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: WHO’S IN YOUR “HOUSE”?*
KEY VERSE: Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? (1 Corinthians 3:16).
God’s will is for you to walk in divine health; He didn’t create you for sickness. He said in 3 John 1:2, _“Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.”_ To guarantee your divine health, He sent the Holy Spirit to live in you. Romans 8:11 declares, _“But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.”_
This shows the result of having the Holy Spirit live in you: He’s quickened (given life to) your hitherto death-prone or death-doomed body. The preceding verse 10 says, _“But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness”_ (Romans 8:10 ESV). The Holy Spirit in you is the life of your physical body. So, it’s about who’s living in you.
Some people are frail, weak, broken and sickly in their body because of who they’ve permitted to live in their body. Your body is your house; so, the question is, who’s in your “house”? Who have you allowed inside your body? Is it the Holy Spirit or demons? Do you realize that you’re the one to decide who indwells your body?
Paul makes a passionate appeal in Romans 12:1, saying, _“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” )_ Then in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, he emphasizes, “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”
If for any reason you’ve had demons tormenting you and causing all manner of pain, distress, infection and illness to be manifested in your body, you can free yourself even now by using the Name of Jesus!
The Bible says, _“And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils…”_ (Mark 16:17). It doesn’t matter for how long those wicked spirits may have troubled you; command them to leave you. Tell them to pack their sicknesses and diseases and get out of your body.
Colossians 1:27 says, _“…Christ in you, the hope of glory.”_ Thanks be unto God! Your life is for the glory of God. Now that Christ has taken up His abode in you, you have peace and honour with God. God has separated you from sickness, evil and everything of darkness. Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY: 1 Corinthians 3:16-17, 2 Corinthians 6:14-16 & Acts 1:8
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 10 NOVEMBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: OUR PRAYERS AND WORSHIP KEY VERSE: And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne (Revelation 8:3).
When you study the Book of Revelation, one of the many beautiful things you find is the power and spiritual import of our prayers and worship. Revelation 15:8, for example, describes something remarkable as revealed to John: it says, “And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.”
This parallels what we read in the Old Testament when the priests entered into the temple built by Solomon. The Bible says when they began to sing and worship God with the instruments of music, the glory of God filled the house, that even the priests couldn’t stand to minister by reason of the cloud of God’s glory (2 Chronicles 5:14).
Our prayers and worship in the earth have great impact in heaven. When we pray, when we worship, how does God see it? We’re actually offering spiritual sacrifices. The Bible says, “And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints” (Revelation 5:8). When you’re praying here in the earth, it’s not a mere religious routine; it goes to Heaven as incense.
That’s what David meant when he said, “Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice” (Psalm 141:2). David, being a prophet, had a revelation of the future. He saw that our prayers and sacrifices and the lifting up of our hands would replace these incense and sacrifices of the Old Testament.
Our theme verse says there’s an altar—a temple—in heaven, upon which the angel offers his incense, alongside the incense of our own prayers. How amazing that is! So, when you’re praying and worshipping the Lord, it’s important that you understand the spiritual significance of what you’re engaged in and do it with faith, hope and love. Praise God!
FURTHER STUDY: Revelation 8:3-4, Hebrews 13:15
& Revelation 5:8
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY 09 NOVEMBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: TICKET TO THE WHOLE WORLD
KEY VERSE: Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost (Matthew 28:19). The Lord Jesus never gave ordinary instructions; His instructions came with the power to carry them out. So, you never need to worry about whether or not you have the ability to execute His instructions. The ability comes in the instruction. Think about His disciples: they weren’t even initially allowed to go to Samaria, but then Jesus instructed them to “Go and teach all nations.” This ought to make a great impression on you.
Jesus didn’t limit His instructions to the twelve apostles; they were for us all who believe in Him. He’s commissioned us to reach the whole world. That means we’re beyond borders. The extent of our reach and the impact of our success with the Gospel are limitless. We’re to take His Word to the ends of the earth, teaching all nations the way of righteousness.
“Teaching all nations” means to make pupils and students of the nations. He’s given us the ticket to the whole world. Then He gave us the power to achieve it: “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:8).
The world is our parish. The whole earth is given to us to fill it with the knowledge of Christ. We’ve been sent. We’re on a mission to save and preserve lives: “…Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you” (John 20:21). What an instruction! We’ve been commissioned as Jesus was commissioned; as the Father commissioned Him. Be inspired by His instructions, and change your world.
Think about the fact that He trusts us enough to commit the nations of the world to us that we may bless them with the Gospel! Acts 3:26 says, “Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.” In Matthew 24:14, He said, “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come” (Matthew 24:14). He’s counting on us to make it happen; to tell the whole world the news of His saving power. Let’s take this seriously and win souls every day.
FURTHER STUDY: 2 Corinthians 5:19, Daniel 12:3 & Mark 16:15-16
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 08 NOVEMBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: ALL WRAPPED IN THE WORD KEY VERSE: I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name (Psalm 138:2).
In the Old Testament, God revealed Himself through various names to the children of Israel. Generation after generation, they recognized Him with those names, for they depicted or described His character. Examples of such names are Jehovah Nissi (The Lord My Banner), Jehovah Raah (The Lord My Shepherd), Jehovah Rapha (The Lord That Heals), Jehovah Sabaoth (The Lord of Hosts), etc.
However, our theme verse says He’s magnified His Word above all the revelations of His names. Meaning that whether you knew Him as El shadai or as Adonai or as Jehovah Rapha or Jehovah Jireh—whatever you knew Him to be—He’s magnified His Word above all those revelations.
Those revelations were limited; they’re all wrapped up in the Word. If you know the Word of God, you’ll go beyond the man who knows God as Elshadai or Jehovah Rapha or any of the other revelations of Him in the Old Testament. John 1:1 says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the word was God.” This is the Word that’s been magnified above all the revelations of God’s names.
You don’t need all of the Hebrew names of God now; the last of the revealed names was Jehovah Shammah—the Lord is present; and after that, He brought forth “Emmanuel”—God with us—which was Jesus in the midst of His people. But His desire was to be in us: “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).
Too many have lived in religion and haven’t received reality; they don’t know how to relate with God. Christianity is a living thing; a real relationship with a living heavenly Father and His Son Jesus through the person and power of the Holy Spirit. Get to know the Word and put it to work, and your life will be an unending stream of blessings and grace.
FURTHER STUDY:
Psalm 119:160, Isaiah 40:8 &
Psalm 119:89
RHAPSODY OF SUNDAY 07 NOVEMBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: A “HEART AND MOUTH” PRINCIPLE
KEY VERSE: For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation (Romans 10:10).
The Apostle Paul, in Romans 10:8-10, shows us this simple, yet so powerful, principle of salvation. When you confess that Jesus is Lord of your life, believing in your heart that He died for you and God raised Him from the dead, that declaration or proclamation of your faith catapults you into the realms of salvation: “…if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 10:9-10).
The confession part is so important, and that’s where some have missed it. In their heart, they know Jesus is Lord, but they’ve never consciously confessed His Lordship over their lives, and without that, there’s no salvation. So, in your evangelical work, explain this important reality to those you minister to. It’s a “Heart and Mouth” principle; you can’t take one and leave the other.
The preceding verse 8 to Romans 10:9-10 that we read earlier says, “But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach.” If you don’t say it, salvation will never be activated, for salvation is activated by your confession; not the confession of sins, but your affirmation and declaration of the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
Why do we need to confess the Lordship of Jesus? It’s because when you proclaim His Lordship over your life, you’re instantly translated into His spiritual kingdom and given eternal life, righteousness, protection, and all of the inheritance of the sons of God in Christ. He becomes the shepherd of your life, leading and guiding you through His Word and His Holy Spirit given to all who receive Him. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY: Romans 1:16, Matthew 12:37 & Mark 11:23*
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY 06 NOVEMBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: HIS RESURRECTION GAVE US ETERNAL LIFE
KEY VERSE: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16).
There’re fundamental tenets of the Faith that every Christian must live by. For example, you must believe that God raised Jesus from the dead; otherwise, you’re not a Christian. That’s because salvation was made available by the resurrection of Jesus. The death of Jesus paid for the sins of the world, but that was neither the end nor the purpose of Jesus’ death.
If you found a poor man who owed a lot of money and you paid his debt, that’ll be great, but not enough. Paying his debt made him a free man, but a “poor free man.” He’ll require something more to live on so he’d be out of poverty. In the same way, when Christ paid for the sins of the world by the shedding of His blood, we were free from the consequences of sin. Awesome! But it didn’t make us free from the nature and power of sin.
The resurrection of Jesus Christ gave us a new life and power over sin. It gave us a new life of righteousness. Hallelujah! Believing in the resurrection means you believe in His death too, because there’ll be no resurrection without the death.
The resurrection is what gave us eternal life. The Bible says in Romans 6:4, “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” His resurrection ushered us into the new life of righteousness and the glorious liberty of the sons of God. Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY: John 11:25 & Romans 6:7-11
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY 05 NOVEMBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: GIVE MORE TIME TO PRAYER
KEY VERSE: God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble (Psalm 46:1).
Esther Chapters 3 and 4 give us an amazing account of Haman, a wealthy man who was close to the reins of power; he was the king’s friend. For some reason, he hated the Jews and wanted them exterminated. He presented a proposal to the king to that effect and with the king’s express permission, he drafted and published a decree for the elimination of all Jews, both young and old.
But the Bible says, “When Mordecai (one of the Jews) perceived all that was done, Mordecai rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and cried with a loud and a bitter cry” (Esther 4:1). Mordecai understood that even though the decree had been made, God could cause a change in their circumstance.
He thus galvanised the Jews, and called for prayer and fasting. The Bible says “...there was great mourning among the Jews, and fasting, and weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes” (Esther 4:3). All they could do was call on God, and they were miraculously delivered from their enemy!
There’s a similar account in 2 Chronicles 32; the Bible tells us how the Assyrians under Sennacherib, King of Assyria, planned to destroy Judah and take over Jerusalem. The Bible says, “And for this cause Hezekiah the king, and the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz, prayed and cried to heaven. And the LORD sent an angel, which cut off all the mighty men of valour, and the leaders and captains in the camp of the king of Assyria…” (2 Chronicles 32:20-21). Hallelujah!
It makes no difference how many or how strong your adversaries are; in the place of prayer, you can cut off their influence by the power of the Holy Spirit. What you need is to give time to prayer. In the place of prayer, you obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:16).
You have a right to be heard when you pray; therefore, pray often. Remember, He invited us to pray; He’s more willing and passionate to answer you than you could ever imagine. The Bible says, “For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers...” (1 Peter 3:12). Hallelujah! Think about that!
FURTHER STUDY: James 5:16 AMPC, Philippians 4:6-7 AMPC & 1 John 5:14
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 04 NOVEMBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: OFFERING SPIRITUAL SACRIFICES
KEY VERSE: By him (Christ) therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name (Hebrews 13:15). The Kingdom of God to which we belong is a spiritual Kingdom. Therein, we carry out spiritual ministry and offer spiritual sacrifices. This is why it’s so important that we’re spiritually minded, because the sacrifices we offer to God must be spiritual sacrifices. God moved from the sacrifices of bulls and goats that couldn’t take away sin, to spiritual sacrifices.
When we say “spiritual,” we’re dealing with spiritual substance, spiritual tangibility. God’s interpretation of our prayers and sacrifices, for example, is spiritual. Even the prophets could see it that way; in Hosea 14:2, the Bible says, “Take with you words, and turn to the LORD: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips.” The words we speak to God come up to Him in the quality of those calves that were sacrificed unto Him in the Old Testament. Our words in worship have the same power and effect in heaven as when they brought the sacrifice of bulls to offer to God. Our words are even more important because they go directly to God, but the bulls and calves were killed and eaten by the people.
Our prayers are spiritual sacrifices. In Psalm 141:2, David said, “Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.” “The fruits of our lips, giving thanks to His Name” is a spiritual sacrifice; that means you’re confessing the greatness of God; you’re confessing that He’s gracious to you, and that He’s been good to you.
When you’re worshipping the Lord in Church, or in your home, or on your knees or standing with your hands lifted, something is actually happening in heaven. But that’s not all! Hebrews 13:16, which is the very next verse to our theme verse says, “But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.” Showing mercy to the poor and looking for opportunities to express acts of kindness to others are sacrifices that are acceptable to God. It means that in heaven, they’re spiritual. The importance of this is for us to be spiritually minded and understand that these things are real. Do them better, more carefully, and more truthfully.
FURTHER STUDY: Hebrews 13:15-16 AMPC & Revelation 5:8
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 03 NOVEMBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: VICTORY IN HIS NAME
KEY VERSE: …To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God (Revelation 2:7).
In the verse above, like several other portions of the Scriptures, we find the Lord constantly prompting us to overcome. In a reiterative pattern, He announced in Revelation 2:11, “…He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.” This is Jesus talking, and in Revelation 3:12, He repeated, “Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God….”
Jesus already overcame the world and when He did, we were in Him. His victory was for us. In John 16:33, He said, “…be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” In Him, we defeated Satan and all the demons of hell, but we’re required to maintain our victory; that’s our role. That’s the fight of faith.
The Lord knows that the adversary would try to fight us with the systems of this world. But He charged us to resist him, steadfast in the faith. This is what the fight of faith is about and He didn’t leave us without the weapon for the fight. When David confronted Goliath, he said, “...Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts…” (1 Samuel 17:45). That was his weapon: The Name of the LORD of hosts! With that Name, he overcame the Philistines. Hallelujah!
That’s our weapon today. Jesus said, “...In my name shall they cast out devils…” (Mark 16:17). That means, in His Name, you’ll rule over, control, and dispel demons. Then He said we should use His Name in all circumstances: “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus…” (Colossians 3:17). That’s the victory!
As you go to your office, school, place of work or business today, go in the Name of Jesus. That means no matter what’s waiting for you there, you already have the victory; you’ll overpower it in the Name of Jesus! Others may be complaining about their dwindling business fortunes, but your testimony is different. Why? You’re running your businesses in the Name of Jesus.
The Bible says, “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world…” (1 John 5:4). You’ve overcome the world with its hatred, death, deception, falsehood and falsities, economies and economics—in His Name. Glory to God!
FURTHER STUDY: Philippians 2:10, Ephesians 1:18-21 AMPC & Mark 16:17-18
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY 02 NOVEMBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: IN CHRIST—EVERYTHING IS ALIVE
KEY VERSE: For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God (Romans 8:19).
Everything in man’s world is in captivity (Romans 8:20), but in God’s world, things are different. For example, Jesus took five loaves of bread and two fishes, talked to them and they multiplied, such that about five thousand men (women and the children not counted) were fed with many baskets of leftovers (Matthew 14:17–20).
In Mark 3:1-5, Jesus looked at the man who had a withered arm and said to him, “Hold out your hand.” When the man held it out, his hand was completely restored. He talked to lame legs and they were revived. He talked to a man who had no legs the legs grew out.
When He got to the entrance of the sepulcher where Lazarus was buried, He uttered a simple prayer of thanks to the Father, and then cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth.” Lazarus, having been dead and buried for four days, came out of the grave alive (John 11:41-44).
He also raised the daughter of Jairus back to life. He took the dead girl by the hand and said, “Get up!” And she came back to life (Luke 8:54). How about the son of a widow who lived in the city of Nain? He was being borne by the undertakers to the place of internment. Seeing the widow in distress, Jesus walked over, touched the casket and said, “Young man, I say unto thee, Arise.” The hitherto dead young man sat up and Jesus presented him to his mother (Luke 7:11-15).
There is a liberty in Christ, and He demonstrated that liberty of the Spirit that He brought to us. In Christ, there’s no such thing as “non-living”; there’re no such things as waste, vanity and death. The entire creation is groaning in pain, waiting to be liberated into the glorious liberty of the sons of God. Now that you’ve arrived on the scene, set the creation free; liberate them. Speak blessings to everything around you that’s “dead” and bring deliverance to every creature in your world. In Christ, take them out of bondage and corruption, into the glorious liberty of the sons of God.
FURTHER STUDY:
Matthew 15:30-31, Matthew 6:18 & 1 Corinthians 15:22
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 01 NOVEMBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: OUR FELLOWSHIP WITH THE SPIRIT1 KEY VERSE: The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen (2 Corinthians 13:14).
“The communion of the Holy Ghost” in the verse above refers to the partnership, communication, or fellowship with the Holy Spirit. It involves talking with Him; yielding to His Lordship and guidance; sharing your thoughts with Him, and receiving His thoughts in your spirit and through the Word. This is what marks you out for extraordinary success in life.
Some haven’t understood the incontrovertible benefits and blessings of fellowship with the Holy Spirit. Fellowship with the Spirit should take or form the most part of your daily routine. He wants to be involved with every part of your life.
Christians who take their fellowship with the Holy Spirit seriously are often shielded and protected from chance and unfortunate occurrences. He said in Psalm 32:8, “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.”
Think about that! But then, in the ensuing verse 9, He gave an important admonition: “Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle...” (Psalm 32:9).
Sometimes you hear, “Twenty-five people were killed in an inferno, and a Christian sister was among them.” Or you hear, “Brother so and so was travelling to see his parents, there was an accident, and he died.” It’s not supposed to be so! There’re no accidents or mishaps to the child of God who’s in tune with the Spirit, filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.
When you’re yielded to the Spirit and the Word, the Bible says you “…shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil” (Proverbs 1:33). Hallelujah! Develop an intimate relationship with the Holy Spirit. Know Him for yourself. Commune with Him constantly in prayer and through meditation on the Word. Remember He’s the Helper, Counsellor, Teacher, Advocate, Comforter, Strengthener and Standby that Jesus said the Father would send to us.
FURTHER STUDY: John 16:13 & Proverbs 1:24-33
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SUNDAY 31 OCTOBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: DOMINION OVER DARKNESS KEY VERSE: Giving thanks unto the Father…Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son (Colossians 1:12-13).
Being born again, you’re superior to Satan; you defeated Satan in and with Jesus—in Satan’s own domain—hell! Colossians 2:15 (NIV) says, _“And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.”_ When Jesus did this, you were in Him. Hallelujah!
Therefore, you’re not under the authority, dominion, jurisdiction, or powers of darkness; they can’t affect your life anymore. Where you are is a realm they can’t attain to or approach; it’s the Kingdom of God’s dear Son. You’re not supposed to be at the mercy of demons. But the problem is that many in the Church haven’t exercised their authority and dominion over Satan and the powers of darkness.
In dealing with Satan, there’s no need for argument or pointless tussle. Jesus didn’t say, “You shall “push” away or tussle with devils in my Name”; He said, “...cast out devils...” (Mark 16:17); that is, kick out, throw out, fling off with force. You give them commands. Hallelujah! You’ve got to put the Word of God to work.
If, for example, the devil is causing you Essential Tremor—causing your hands, head, trunk, voice or legs to shake rhythmically—you say, “Hold on, devil! I belong in the Kingdom of Christ, not in the domain of darkness. Therefore, in the Name of Jesus, body, I command this anomaly to stop!” That’ll be the end of that trouble. When you insist, your body will comply, because God’s Word is law! Nothing can resist the power in the Name of Jesus.
The Lord has given you power (authority) to tread on serpents and scorpions and over all the ability of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Satan has no right to run things in your life or in your home or in the lives of your loved ones, because you’re one with Christ, vested with all power and authority in heaven and in the earth to subdue Satan, dominate circumstances, and take charge of your world. Glory to God!
FURTHER STUDY:
Mark 1:25-27 GNB, Colossians 2:15 NKJV & Luke 10:19
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY 30 OCTOBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THE CHRIST-LIFE IN YOU
KEY VERSE: When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory (Colossians 3:4).
In John 5:26, Jesus said, “For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself.” This means that Jesus had the same life as God when He walked the earth. He had to, because He is Himself God. He said in John 10:38, “I want you to know and believe that the Father is in me and I in Him.”
What we just read is simply extraordinary; it’s the very thing that God wanted with man, for which He created man: to be in us, and us in Him, so we would be one with Him—super beings of His reflection—associates of the God-kind, and His icons in the earth. Hallelujah! This happened when you were born again. The Bible says, “But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit” (1 Corinthians 6:17).
Even though you were born of a human being, this oneness with Christ makes you supernatural, because the life in you is the life and nature of God; now, Christ is your life. That’s what we read in our theme verse. 1 John 5:11-12 NKJV says, “And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.” Blessed be God!
If you have Jesus Christ, you have divine life in you now. Romans 6:23 says the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ. But that’s a fundamental truth of the Gospel. As you get higher in the understanding of the Gospel, you’d discover that Jesus really doesn’t stand away and give you eternal life; He’s Himself eternal life! In giving you eternal life, He actually gave you Himself. What could be more glorious!
FURTHER STUDY:
Colossians 1:26-27 & 1 John 5:11-13
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES *FRIDAY 29 OCTOBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: TRUST AND ACT ON HIS WORD
KEY VERSE: According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue (2 Peter 1:3).
In 1 Corinthians 3:21, the Apostle Paul, by the Spirit, corroborates our underlined portion of the verse above; it says, “…all things are yours." That’s because all things are in Christ, and Christ is in you. Therefore, things present and things to come are all yours! His divine power—not your own ability or human wisdom—has given unto you ALL things that pertain to life and godliness. This means you’re not supposed to ever be in lack or want. Read our theme verse again: “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness….” When God says He’s done something, you believe and act accordingly.
For instance, you probably have some money in the bank; when you made the deposit, they probably sent you a confirmatory message that XYZ amount of money had been credited to your account, and you believed it. When you needed to spend it, you didn’t “try” to claim it; you just knew the money was yours and accessible to you.
Did you know that God’s Word to you is the confirmatory message that you have what He says you have, and are who He says you are, and can do what He says you can do? Trust and act on His Word; you’d be amazed at the quality of life you’d live. His Word is absolutely dependable! Let your confidence in life—your guarantee that you’ll forever be a victor and a success—be on the basis of your faith in the Word.
If, today, you seem to be struggling through life, living as a victim, it’s most likely because you haven’t believed the Word enough. Rather than blame circumstances, the government or other people for your situation, consciously and consistently walk in the light of God’s Word. There’s nothing you could ever need or desire for a godly life that’s not already yours in Christ. The question is, do you know this? If you do, then you have before you a life of endless possibilities: nothing shall be impossible unto you (Mark 9:23). Put the Word to work in your life, and you’ll always be victorious.
FURTHER STUDY:
2 Corinthians 1:20 NLT & James 1:22-25
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 28 OCTOBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THE JOY OF THE LORD KEY VERSE: Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength (Nehemiah 8:10).
Our God is so gracious and kind; think about what we just read! The children of Israel were in sadness, weeping because they hadn’t quite obeyed God. But while they were weeping and repenting, the Lord said to them, “Go and celebrate, for this day which you’ve assembled to hear my Word is holy; don’t be sorry, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” Hallelujah!
The eleventh and twelfth verses say, “So the Levites stilled all the people, saying, Hold your peace, for the day is holy; neither be ye grieved. And all the people went their way to eat, and to drink, and to send portions….” Now, it’s not about the eating and the drinking, for the Bible says, “…the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost” (Romans 14:17). It’s about the joy you have in Him through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we’ve now received the atonement (Romans 5:11).
In Nehemiah 12:43, when they had built the walls of Jerusalem and it was time for them to celebrate, the Bible says, “Also that day they offered great sacrifices, and rejoiced: for God had made them rejoice with great joy: the wives also and the children rejoiced: so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard even afar off.” Wow! 1 Peter 1:8 calls our joy “indescribable and full of glory.” Their joy was heard afar off! They were exuberant with joy and rejoicing.
In spite of the terrible things happening in the world today, you can be full of joy every day and express it lavishly. Celebrate the Lord—His greatness, goodness, love, grace and mercies—every day, like you’ve never done before. Give no place to gloom in your life. Joy is a fruit of your recreated human spirit; so, always release it from within you. Jesus said, “These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full” (John 15:11). Glory to God!
FURTHER STUDY:
Isaiah 12:3,
Galatians 5:22 & 1 Peter 1:7-8
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 27 OCTOBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THE SECRET PLACE OF THE MOST HIGH
KEY VERSE: Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations (Psalm 90:1).
In this day and age, when there’s so much trouble and crises, with a seemingly overwhelming spread of evil around the world, many are thinking, “Is there hope?” But when you study the Scriptures, you’ll understand God’s divine plan for His children in a tempestuous world. For example, Psalm 91; the first verse is as inspiring as it is comforting. It says, “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.”
Your location in the Spirit is the “secret place of the most high”; that was the best way the psalmist could put it. The second verse (Psalm 91:2) sheds more light on it; it says, “I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.” That means the Lord Himself is that secret place, because He is your refuge and your fortress. Therefore, that you dwell in the secret place of the most high means you dwell in Him. In the New Testament, that place is called Christ: “…if any man be in Christ…” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Notice the underlined expression, “in Christ,” showing that Christ is a place in God. How could anyone be disadvantaged in Christ? It’s impossible!
In Christ is glory only—always and forever! In Christ is life forevermore; you’re shielded from harm, evil and destruction. No wonder it says in Psalm 91:7 NIV “A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.”
FURTHER STUDY: Isaiah 43:2 & John 16:33
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY 26 OCTOBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: TRAVAILING IN PRAYER
KEY VERSE: My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you (Galatians 4:19). In the 3rd chapter of Paul’s epistle to the Galatian Christians, he calls out their outright repudiation of the message of faith. They had left the simple message of grace in Christ to keeping the Law of Moses in order to be justified. Having learnt that they had accepted the teachings of false teachers, Paul chided them, “O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth…” (Galatians 3:1).
There’re some like that in the church today; they started well but went on listening to wrong doctrines and were misled. They became argumentative, confrontational, disorderly, rude and unruly in the house of God, and some even stopped fellowship with the church altogether.
When you have a brother or sister in the Lord or a whole family disobeying the truth of God’s Word, obstinate, and walking contrary to the instructions of the Spirit, it’s because the spirit of foolishness has taken over their minds; thus, it’s time to travail in birth again until Christ is formed in them, as Paul the Apostle did.
Why did Paul have to travail in birth again for the Galatians? He travailed in birth previously, by which they came to Christ. He determined to do so again now that they were falling away from the truth. This travail in birth is intercessory prayers that leads to salvation and deliverance of one who’s lost or fallen out of the way.
That’s what you do for such people; you pray again and again, in intercession and fasting—that the Christ-life gains the ascendancy in them, and they be fully yielded to, and established in God’s truth and righteousness.
The words “…travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you” show that the life of Christ wasn’t being manifested in them; they had become worldly, living on the wrong information that was destroying their faith. So, learn to pray fervently in the spirit for new converts and new members in the churches of Christ around the world. Pray that they’ll increase in the knowledge and revelation of Christ, and be established in the faith through the ministry of the Word and the Holy Spirit, fulfilling their purpose and leading others to Christ.
Also, pray for those who may be facing difficult times and persecutions, or wavering in their faith, that they be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man, rooted and grounded in love, pleasing Him in all things, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY: Ephesians 3:14-17 & Colossians 1:9-11
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 25 OCTOBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THE MAN AND HIS NAME
KEY VERSE: Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth (Philippians 2:9-10).*_
In the 3rd chapter of the book of Acts, we read that Peter healed a certain man who was crippled from birth. The man, obviously filled with joy, threw his arms around Peter and John, ecstatic with praise to God. All the people who recognized him ran up to where they were at Solomon’s Porch to see for themselves. When Peter saw that he had a congregation, he took the opportunity and preached Christ to them.
In the 4th chapter, Peter made a statement, the profundity of which is of staggering proportions. He said, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4:12). Here, Peter was referring to the Name, Jesus! Some have asked, “What’s so special about the Name, Jesus? There are people who have it as their first or last name today.” It’s not how a name is spelt or pronounced that matters. There may be a thousand and one other people bearing the same name as the president of your country, but only one of them has the power and the authority over your country at the moment. In some parts of the world, as in South America, there’re some people called “Jesus.” So, the point isn’t how it is spelt or the sound of the name; it’s about the authority of the one bearing the name. You can’t separate a man from his name.
The name identifies the man, and whatever authority that’s given to the man is vested in the name. In the case of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, all authority in heaven, in the earth, and under the earth is given unto Him. So, when you say, “I come in the Name of Jesus” or affirm anything in His Name, you’re invoking His authority. That’s the only Name in whom all of God’s power is vested. That Name has power and it’ll unlock every door, destroy every sickness, and cause you to walk in unending glory and victories. The one who’s crippled may not be able to walk in his own name, or in the name of the president of his country, but in the Name of Jesus, even maimed limbs are restored. Even now, receive strength into you in the Name of Jesus. If you’ve been sick or afflicted, be made whole; be healed in Jesus’ Name. Right away, rejoice and thank Him for healing you and act accordingly.
The Bible says, _*“And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him” (Colossians 3:17). Learn to live in, and use His Name. That Name ends failure, poverty, sickness, lack and darkness once and for all. Hallelujah! FURTHER STUDY: John 14:13-14 & Matthew 28:18-19
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SUNDAY 24 OCTOBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: PRAYING FOR THE SICK
KEY VERSE: And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day? (Luke 13:16).
In praying for the sick to get well, there’re certain truths to be mindful of; otherwise, you may pray from sunup to sundown with little or no impact. First, recognize that God wants them well; He isn’t the one responsible for the sickness. Some believe God uses sickness to carry out His plan or to correct His children; that’s a lie from the pit of hell. No sickness or disease is from God.
Secondly, does that sick person want to be well? This would be an important question to answer. Jesus asked certain folks in the Bible who apparently were in distressing health situation the simple question, “What do you want?” So, it’s important the person is willing and ready to get well and that there’s mutual faith.
Thirdly, be in tune with the Spirit. The Holy Spirit can guide you to know whether or not a demon is responsible for that sickness or disease. That way, you’re able to deal with the situation. For example, the woman that was bowed-over in Luke 13, Jesus showed us Satan was responsible for her infirmity. The moment Jesus cast the devil out, the woman was healed.
Never be afraid of demons or evil spirits. The Name of Jesus is greater than all. We cast out evil spirits with words, as Jesus did. In Matthew 10:8, Luke 9:2, Luke 10:9, Jesus charged the disciples to heal the sick, and He didn’t ask them to pray to Him or to the Father to heal the sick. Evidently, we have authority from Jesus to heal the sick and bring health and joy to a dying world. Be bold about it. Glory to God!
FURTHER STUDY: Luke 9:1-2 & Matthew 10:8 NIV
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY 23 OCTOBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THE FRUIT OF OUR LIPS ARE WORDS KEY VERSE: Take with you words, and turn to the LORD: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips (Hosea 14:2).
1 Peter 2:5 tells us that we’re living stones, built up as a spiritual house—a holy priesthood—to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. These sacrifices are no longer those of bulls and calves offered over the brazen altar; they’re the fruits of our lips. Hebrews 13:15 says, “By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.”
The fruit of our lips are “words,” as shown in our opening verse. The Greek construction of “giving thanks” is “homologeolj” and it means to make confessions; so, we’re to make confessions; that is, speak words that give thanks to His Name. For example, you say, “Father, you’re greater than all; you’re the sovereign God; gracious and kind; forever loving, ever faithful and true; absolutely good! The King of kings and the Lord of lords; I thank you for your love, your greatness, and your kindness.”
That’s offering the fruit of your lips; that’s making confessions of His greatness, power, love, kindness, goodness, and of His work and ministry in your life. These “fruit of our lips” which are words that we offer must be done continually, just like the priests of the Old Testament did.
The Bible tells us what the priests were to do: “… stand every morning to thank and praise the LORD, and likewise at even; And to offer all burnt sacrifices unto the LORD in the sabbaths, in the new moons, and on the set feasts, by number, according to the order commanded unto them, continually before the LORD” (1 Chronicles 23:30-31).
In the New Testament, with our words, we’re required to offer spiritual sacrifices continually. You can practise this even now! With a heart full of thanksgiving and praise, make confessions of how great He is, and how matchless His Name is. Render sacrifices of praise to His majesty! Extol His greatness and worship His holy Name. Remember, there’s none like Him, for His kingdom and reign is everlasting!
FURTHER STUDY: Hosea 14:2 AMPC & Hebrews 13:15 AMPC
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY 22 OCTOBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: GIVING THANKS KEY VERSE: “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
The will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you is that you give thanks in everything. What does it mean to give thanks? To give thanks is to speak blessings. When you study the Gospel, there’re several instances that show us how the Lord Jesus gave thanks by speaking blessings. In Matthew 26:26, just before His betrayal, the Bible says, “…as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.”
On another occasion, before He fed a multitude with five loaves of bread and two pieces of fish, “… he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and brake the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided he among them all” (Mark 6:41). Notice what He did in both instances with the bread and the fish: He “blessed them.”
Mark, in His writing, gave further insight to what Jesus did: He “gave thanks”: “And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it” (Mark 14:23). Mark 8:6 “And he commanded the people to sit down on the ground: and he took the seven loaves, and gave thanks, and brake, and gave to his disciples to set before them; and they did set them before the people.”
So, when the Bible says that Jesus took bread and blessed it, what He actually did was to give thanks; the words that He spoke were words of thanks. Learn to bless. Remember, God speaks through you; He uses your mouth to “bless”, to change circumstances, to bring deliverance and salvation to others. He uses your mouth to bring correction to issues, such that no matter what’s going on in your life, or around you, He can mend it. Hebrews 11:3 says, “Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God….”
In other words, through the “rhema” of God, God would bring a blessing where a curse had been intended; He’ll bring about prosperity, success, peace and victory where poverty, failure, defeat or destruction had been intended. Hallelujah! Every so often, declare, “Father, I thank you in the Name of Jesus; I offer thanks for, and in this situation, because it is corrected; it is working out for my good, and your perfect will is established.” Hallelujah! Even in “blessing” the Lord, it’s the same thing; you bless Him by giving thanks. Without the “thanks” in it, it would be empty.
FURTHER STUDY: Colossians 3:17, Psalm 118:1, Psalm 105:1-2 & Psalm 41:13
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 21 OCTOBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: CHRIST IN YOU IS THE ANSWER
KEY VERSE: And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness (Romans 8:10).
It doesn’t matter what your life was like before you gave your heart to Christ; the old, weak, sickly, poor and struggling “you” died with Christ on the Cross. A new you came alive when He resurrected. So, don’t look at the physical anymore; see through the Spirit. Now that you’re in Christ, and Christ is in you, glory, wholeness, perfection, success and prosperity are guaranteed in your life.
The Bible says, “...Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27). The assurance that there’s nothing missing or broken in your life is Christ in you. Someone may say, “But I’ve given my life to Christ; Christ is in me now, but I’m still blind” or “I’m still crippled.” I have news for you!
In Acts 9, Peter the Apostle went visiting the churches and came to a place called Lydda. There, he met a man named Aeneas who had been paralyzed for eight years. Even though Aeneas had become a Christian, he was still paralyzed. But guess what? All Peter said to him was, “...Aeneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and make thy bed…” (Acts 9:34).
The Bible says he jumped right out of bed, completely made whole. If you have Christ inside you, that’s the end of paralysis! That’s the end of blindness, deafness, any kind of sickness or disease, failure and death! Hallelujah! Christ in you is the answer. Our theme verse says if Christ be in you, though your body be dead because of sin, the Spirit gives it life because of righteousness. Why would you accommodate asthma if Christ is in you? You ought to boldly declare, “I refuse to be sick, diseased or afflicted.”
There’re not enough epidemics in the world that can withstand the life of Christ in you. You’re shielded in Him. No wonder He said, “…nothing shall by any means hurt you” (Luke 10:19). Your life is divine. Make up your mind you’re going to live the life that Christ has given you, and you’ll be everything He’s called you to be. Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY
Colossians 1:27 & 1 John 4:4
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 20 OCTOBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: BE YIELDED TO HIM
KEY VERSE: While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them… (Matthew 17:5).
On a certain day, Jesus took with Him Peter, James and John to a high mountain and was transfigured before them. While there, Elijah and Moses appeared and spoke with Jesus. A cloud of glory overshadowed them. The glory was so much and so transcendent that Peter said to Jesus, “...Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias” (Matthew 17:4).
There’re such times when the Spirit of God overwhelms us and we become so conscious of His divine presence that we don’t want to be anywhere else. Many aren’t conscious of His divine presence in, and with them; they’ve thus reduced Christianity to mere religion. They don’t know what it is to carry the presence of the Holy Spirit. And without the Spirit, there’s no Christianity. He is EVERYTHING! If you’d trust Him, He’d walk you on the path of life and glory.
Many don’t know Him and therefore haven’t given Him full control of their lives. Put Him in charge of your life. Come under His sway. Talk to Him more than you talk to anyone else. Talk to Him about everything and anything. You’d be amazed how excellently He’ll guide and lead you. His joy is to see you fulfil God’s destiny for your life.
There’re too many Christians who talk about the Holy Spirit but are not submitted to Him. Every Christian must learn to be fully yielded to the Holy Spirit. You may be a gifted preacher, singer, sportsman, a writer or a politician, but if you’re not yielded to theSpirit, there’ll be no glory in your life. He’s the glory of God. The more yielded you are to Him, the more His glory increases in, and effuses through you.
FURTHER STUDY 2 Corinthians 13:14 & John 14:16-18 AMPC
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY 19 OCTOBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: CONTINUE IN PRAYER KEY VERSE: Pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
There’re certain situations you may face and all you have to do is pray once, and that’s it. But there’re other situations that call for persistence in prayer. The Word of God teaches us about different kinds of prayers and what rules apply to them.
For example, when dealing with things about other people, especially when it has to do with their wrong choices and beliefs, you don’t just pray once and go away. You continue in prayer, interceding for them, rebuking the adversary that’s deceiving them. You have to repeatedly mount pressure against the adversary until he lets go and there’s a change.
There’s so much evil going on in the world today and the plan of the enemy is to set up the world of the antichrist before the time. But we have to prevent that. The Bible says the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available. We will keep pressing in the spirit, overturning the decrees and activities of darkness.
God has never thought, and doesn’t think, Satan is a problem, because He gave us authority over demons and the powers of darkness. The problem, for the most part, has been that some of God’s children focused more on personal gains instead of the faith to save men. Our world would surely be a better place if we would focus more on the souls of men in fervent prayers, intercessions, supplications, giving of thanks and preaching the Word.
That’s what He charged us to do, and He told us the outcome and why we should do it: “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:1-4). Follow the Word and pray like this.
Jesus said, “…men ought always to pray, and not to faint (Luke 18:1). If we’d follow the order and pray as the Spirit indicates, we’d take this whole world for Jesus Christ. Glory to God!
FURTHER STUDY 1 Timothy 2:1-4 & James 5:16 AMPC
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 18 OCTOBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THE RIGHT FOUNDATION
KEY VERSE: As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby (1 Peter 2:2)
Everything that would stand and endure needs a good, rock-solid foundation. Therefore, every Christian must have the right foundation of the Word of God and doctrine of Christ. It begins with a ravenous appetite for the pure, unadulterated Word of God. Nothing but God’s Word guarantees your spiritual growth.
The Scriptures emphasize growing unto perfection, starting with ensuring you understand the fundamentals. Luke reports how the Apostle Paul used The School of Tyrannus to debate and teach, presenting the Word of God on a daily basis to the new Christians for a space of two years (Acts 19:1-10).
Paul had different categories of people who were at different stages of learning, but he ensured they all had the right spiritual foundation. After the foundations, however, it’s important to move to the higher class, the more advanced teachings: “Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And this will we do, if God permit” (Hebrews 6:1-3). All of these help to lay a good and solid foundation upon which a successful and fulfilling Christian life and ministry can be built.
The words of Jesus about having a solid foundation for your life is an important food for thought; meditate on it always. He said, “…everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash” (Matthew 7:24-27 NIV).
FURTHER STUDY
1 Corinthians 3:2 & Hebrews 5:12–14
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SUNDAY 17 OCTOBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: BE BOLD ABOUT HIM KEY VERSE: It’s news I’m most proud to proclaim, this extraordinary Message of God’s powerful plan to rescue everyone who trusts him, starting with Jews and then right on to everyone else! (Romans 1:16 MSG).
The Apostle Paul was passionate about the Gospel and proclaimed it with all passion, boldness, audacity, faith, and conviction. In Romans 1:16-17, he said, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.” If you love Jesus, you’ll be passionate about His message and about serving Him. If you truly believe that the message of the Gospel has changed your life, you’ll be bold to speak about it openly; you’ll be bold to reach out to others with the Gospel you’ve received.
Never be shamefaced about Christ, the message of the Gospel or your identity with Him. At every opportunity, preach the Gospel. You might say, “I don’t know what to say”; begin with your testimony of Christ—how He changed your life. Talk about our inextricable oneness with Him, His liquid and unconditional love for all, His grace, mercy and kindness.
Be impenitent about your love for Jesus. Don’t be ashamed of who you are in Him, and don’t let others make you ashamed of what you believe. Jesus said, “For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father’s, and of the holy angels” (Luke 9:26). If you think Jesus changed your life, you have to be bold to talk about it; be bold to express it; be bold to tell others what Jesus Christ means to you and what He’s done in your life. You’re a witness of who He is.
FURTHER STUDY Matthew 28:18-20 & 2 Corinthians 5:18-20
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY 16 OCTOBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: DON’T BE CARELESS WITH WORDS
KEY VERSE: And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground(1 Samuel 3:19). Our theme verse shows us something very significant about God; He places premium on words. Jesus emphasized the importance of words several times in His teachings. In Matthew 12:36, He said, “…every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.” That’s a serious warning.
Notice He didn’t say men shall give account for some idle words that they speak, but for every idle word. Idle words are empty, ineffectual words; careless jesting and ramblings; coarse language. In Ephesians 4:29, He said, “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.”
Not only must your words be gracious and edifying always, they must also be faith words. Words are things; they have substance; they create or destroy. “Death and life are in the power of the tongue...” (Proverbs 18:21). Don’t be careless with words. Your words represent you; they’re your life.
Mark 11:23 says, “For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea…he shall have whatsoever he saith.” You’re what you say. Jesus said in Matthew 12:37, “For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.” Even salvation is activated by words. Romans 10:9-10 tells us, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Take words seriously.
FURTHER STUDY
Matthew 12:36-37 AMPC & James 3:2
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY 15 OCTOBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: HE DIED FOR THE UNGODLY
KEY VERSE: And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled (Colossians 1:21).*_
The scripture above describes the ungodly as alienated from God, and enemies in their minds by wicked works. In other words, they were enemies of God in their minds because of their wicked works. Evidently, it wasn’t God who declared them enemies; rather, He’s the One reconciling them. The Bible says, “To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them…” (2 Corinthians 5:19).
This is similar to what transpired between God and Adam in the Garden. Adam sinned against God and ran into hiding (Genesis 3:8). But God came looking for him; He said, “Adam, where are you?” How gracious He is! While we were sinners, in God’s mind, we weren’t enemies; He was working out how to bring us to Himself; He was working on a plan.
Colossians 1:22 tells us that the purpose and summation of Christ’s redemptive work was “…to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight.” He knew what He was going to do before He did it. Romans 5:6 says, “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.” This is so touching.
He didn’t wait for us to become godly before He died for us. He initiated the reconciliation: “For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life” (Romans 5:10). Hallelujah! Let this love be expressed through you to the ungodly in reaching out to them with the Gospel. Let them know God isn’t mad at them; they can come to Him just as they are and be accepted.
He said in Isaiah 1:18, “…though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” He’s the One that washes, sanctifies and justifies the ungodly in the Name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY
Romans 5:6-8, Acts 13:38-39, Romans 4:5-8
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 14 OCTOBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: LIVE IN HEALTH
KEY VERSE: What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?(1 Corinthians 6:19).
Christ in you is your assurance of divine health. No Christian ought to be sick, because the Lord Jesus consummated the plan of divine health. The Bible says He brought life and immortality to light (2 Timothy 1:10); that means only life works in you; the law of the Spirit of life is at work in you.
Take charge of your health and rule over your body with the Word of God. If you notice any problem in any part of your body, declare, “In the Name of Jesus, I cut off this anomaly from my body.” Maybe it’s migraine headaches, and it has affected your academics or your job; put your hands on your head and say, “Head, in the Name of Jesus, I command you to be healed!” Don’t excuse sickness; don’t let it hinder you from making an impact in your world with the Gospel!
You don’t need that heart trouble you’ve been suffering with; it’s time to wake up to who you are! Place your hand on your chest and say, “Heart, become normal, in the Name of Jesus!” And it’ll be so. Refuse to yield your body to sickness. Divine health is your right in Christ; it’s God’s will for you. He said in 3 John 1:2, “...I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.”
The Word of God is medicine to your body (Proverbs 4:22). Choose to be healthy and strong. Live by God’s Word, and refuse to observe lying vanities. Praise God!
FURTHER STUDY John 1:12-13, Isaiah 33:24 & Romans 8:11
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 13 OCTOBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: WE HAVE SOMETHING THEY CAN’T WITHSTAND
KEY VERSE: For through the voice of the LORD shall the Assyrian be beaten down, which smote with a rod (Isaiah 30:31).
In the Old Testament, God prophetically described the spirit of the antichrist in several ways for us, and He helped us understand what that spirit would do in different phases, until he’s fully manifested in a man. But as long as we’re still in the earth, before the Rapture of the Church, Satan and his cohorts of darkness don’t stand a chance in establishing their evil order. We have something that they can’t withstand: the Name of Jesus and the Word of God spoken in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Observe something in our theme verse: the phrase, “the voice of the LORD”; it refers to the Word of God spoken by the power of the Holy Spirit. That means the “rhema” of God, which is the sword of the Spirit; it discomfits Satan and the princes of darkness.
Satan puts people in bondage and makes tyrants and despots out of leaders. Think about a man who was very humane when he was elected a government official but suddenly becomes a tyrant afterwards. Why? Satan took over his mind. This is what happened in some countries. Suddenly, some leaders metamorphosed into cruel dictators and the people lost their civil liberties.
But the Bible says, “And the LORD shall cause his glorious voice to be heard, and shall shew the lighting down of his arm, with the indignation of his anger, and with the flame of a devouring fire, with scattering, and tempest, and hailstones. For through the voice of the LORD shall the Assyrian be beaten down, which smote with a rod” (Isaiah 30:30-31).
“The Assyrian” is one of the prophetic names of the Antichrist. Thus, by the Word of God on our lips we cut off and beat down this evil prince of darkness and thwart his plans. As long as we, the Church of Jesus Christ, are in the earth, only the will and purpose of God will be established. Glory to God!
FURTHER STUDY Isaiah 10:24-27 Mark 16:17 & Ephesians 6:17
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY 12 OCTOBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: HEALING IN HIS WINGS KEY VERSE: But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall (Malachi 4:2).
In the Scriptures, there’re several instances where people touched the hem of Jesus’ garment and received instant healing. For example, Luke 8 talks about the woman with the issue of blood, who suffered for twelve long years, spending all her earnings on physicians to no avail. But the Bible says she “…touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched” (Luke 8:44).
The word, “border” in this verse is “Kraspedon” (Greek), and it means fringes or tassels. Also, in Matthew 14, when Jesus came to the land of Gennesaret, the people of that region rushed to Him for healing, and the Bible says they “...besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole” (Matthew 14:36).
They brought so many sick people to Jesus, and He didn’t have to do anything; all they needed was to touch the fringes of His garment. Remarkable! Mark 6:56 says, “And whithersoever he entered, into villages, or cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets, and besought him that they might touch if it were but the border of his garment: and as many as touched him were made whole.” What was special about the border of Jesus’ garment? Every Jew had the same fringes in their garments as Jesus (Read Numbers 15:37-38). So, it wasn’t about the fashion or style of His garment but the one wearing it. Those that touched Him to be healed believed He was the Messiah; therefore, everything about Him, including the fringes of His garment, would produce healing.
That’s what we read in our theme verse. It says: “…the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings….” The word, “wings” is “kânâph” in Hebrew, and it refers to the border or the fringes. Jesus had healing in His fringes, and they knew it! Glory to God! That power is still available today in His Name. So, if you’re sick in your body today, or you know someone who is, use the Name of Jesus against that sickness, disease or infirmity; healing is guaranteed. Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY: John 10:10, Acts 3:16 & Luke 8:43-48
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 11 OCTOBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: PRAYING WITHOUT CEASING
KEY VERSE: Pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
When the Bible says, “Pray without ceasing,” what does it mean? Moreover, how is that even possible? God never tells us to do something we couldn’t do. First, understand that in the verse above, the Apostle Paul wasn’t addressing an individual, but the church in Thessalonica. How could they have prayed without ceasing as a church? It’s simple; it’s by scheduling.
That’s what we’ve done since 2020 with the Pastor Chris Live “Pray-A-Thon.” We worked out a schedule so we could pray without ceasing, round the clock, every day, all year-round in a non-stop prayer-chain. Through our heartfelt, continued prayers, we’re causing changes and enforcing the will of the Father here on earth.
Never take this spiritual admonition as an exaggeration; take the Word of God seriously. When you re-interpret such clear instructions of the Spirit, you weaken the meaning and then lose the power of it. If as a family, or a group, you plan to pray for a specific number of hours, commit to it. Form a prayer chain; schedule those who would pray at different times during the day.
Let’s say, Susan, for example, takes a certain number of minutes; then Dave follows, and Casey takes the next slot, and Ben takes another and so on, such that no one breaks the chain. If you’d do this diligently, you’d be amazed at the giant leaps and strides you’d experience in the spirit. He didn’t ask us to pray without ceasing for nothing. The joy of it all is the answers we receive. Hallelujah!
Remember, the Church is the only restraining force against the evil manipulations and dictates of Satan. Through our prayers, we contend for the souls of men, and cancel the wicked plans of the devil, and establish the will of God in the earth. Always take advantage of the privilege, opportunity and blessings of prayer. When it’s time to pray, avoid all forms of distractions. If you’re going to walk in God’s unusual blessings continually, then you must pray without ceasing.
FURTHER STUDY: 1 Timothy 2:1-3, Luke 18:1 James 5:16 AMPC
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SUNDAY 10 OCTOBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: MANAGING YOUR BODY
KEY VERSE: I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service (Romans 12:1).
Being born again, though your body is the temple of God, you’re its caretaker or custodian. It’s your responsibility to manage your body and keep it in health, in its utmost shape for God to use. Satan will try to do anything to ravage your body; he’ll run rampage in your body if you let him; but you must say, “No!”
Recall what we read in our theme verse; it says, “…present your bodies a living sacrifice….” God doesn’t do the “presenting” for you; rather, He tells you to present your body to Him. He gave you the authority to manage your body. This is why some Christians, even though they’ve received the Holy Spirit, can still be sick in their bodies. The reason is they’re the ones in charge of their bodies. God has a right to rule your body, but He appointed you to rule it for Him. Imagine the Mayor of a city; he has the authority to run the city, but he doesn’t run the individual homes in the city. He leaves the running of your home to you.
It’s the same with your body; you have to stop the devil from manipulating any part of your body. Use the authority that’s been granted you in Christ; use the Name of Jesus. Furthermore, the Bible says you were bought with a price; therefore, glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s (1 Corinthians 6:20). You’re a spirit; you have a soul and live in a body. Your soul is the seat of your mind, your emotions and your will. God doesn’t control your will, your emotions, and your mind; He tells you to do that.
The Bible says in Romans 12:2, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind….” Just as it’s your job to manage your mind, it’s your responsibility as well to manage your body. Renewing or managing your mind is done through the Word—meditating on the Word! That’s also how to manage your body and keep it in divine health. The Bible says the Word of God is medicine—health to your physical body (Proverbs 4:22).
FURTHER STUDY
Proverbs 4:20-22 & Isaiah 33:24
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY 09 OCTOBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: DECLARE WHAT YOU WANT IN HIS NAME
KEY VERSE: Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son (John 14:12-13).
When Jesus said, “And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do,” He wasn’t talking about prayer. The word “ask” is the Greek “aiteolj” and it’s a substitute for the word “require.” It’s different from what we have in John 16:23 where Jesus said, “And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.”
In the case of the latter, the word “ask” is “erotao lj ” lj(Greek), which is prayer. Here, Jesus was showing us how to pray to the Father in His Name. But the “ask” in our theme verse is talking about you making a demand in the Name of Jesus.
In Acts 3:1-6, the Bible shows us how Peter and John put this to work. They encountered a man crippled from birth who daily begged for alms at the temple gate. Peter said to him, “...Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk” (Acts 3:6). This isn’t prayer; Peter made a demand in the Name of Jesus.
Many of the evil things happening in our world today are caused by demons. But with the Name of Jesus, we prevail; we have the victory. Every time you face distressing situations, declare what you want in the Name of Jesus, and there’ll be a change. It’s about His authority. Use the Name of Jesus to keep your body in health, calm the storms around you, and effect changes in your home, family, community, town, city, and in your country.
FURTHER STUDY Acts 14:8-10 & Mark 16:17-18
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES *FRIDAY 08 OCTOBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: HIS SPIRITUAL TEMPLE
KEY VERSE: When the LORD shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory (Psalm 102:16).
Zion in the scripture above doesn’t refer to Israel at the Millennium but to the Church of Jesus Christ. When you read about the millennial reign from the beginning to the end, whatever the Bible says will happen at the Millennium must first happen with the Church; the reflection is in the Church. So, before building the temple in Jerusalem, which is going to be at the Millennium, He’s going to build His temple, which is the Church.
In Zechariah 6:12, the Bible says, _“And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD.”_ Jesus is the One referred to as “The BRANCH,” and He’s going to build the temple of the Lord, and it started from the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came upon the apostles. Ephesians 2:22 shows the veracity of the ongoing building; it says, _“In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.”_
Jesus is already building His spiritual temple of the Church, and He says we’re members of that very building. Hallelujah! Hebrews 12:22-23 says, _“But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect.”_ The Church is Zion in this context, spelt “Sion.”
In building His Church, He gave some to be apostles, and some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip His people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up (Ephesians 4:11-12). When He’s done building His Church, He’ll appear in glory! Until then, the Church will reign in His Name, over the powers of darkness and the elements of this world, for He said, _“...I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it”_ (Matthew 16:18). “...Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven” (Matthew 18:18).
CONFESSION
Dear Father, what a blessing it is to be your habitation through the Spirit. I acknowledge your divine presence in me, as you lead me by your Spirit, through your Word, in your perfect will. Thank you for beautifying my life with the glory of your presence, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY
Ephesians 2:21-22
_21- in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord,_
_22- in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit._
Acts 20:32
_32- “So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified._
1 Peter 2:5
_5- you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN Colossians 1:24-2:1-5 & Isaiah 46-47
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN John 4:30-42 & 1 Kings 14
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 07 OCTOBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: PRACTISE ETERNAL LIFE KEY VERSE: And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son (1 John 5:11).
Oh, how the Church needs to teach and preach eternal life! Most have never understood it, because they’ve never been taught. In 1 John 5:13 NIV, John said, “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” He wanted them to know they had eternal life, because just like today, many don’t know. So, you find a lot of Christians living as victims, buffeted by the vagaries and elements of this world.
It’s the reason for the colds, headaches, fevers and all the sicknesses and diseases many suffer from. Sadly, some even think it’s okay to be sick. No; not for the Christian! The life we have is divine. If an injury happens in your body, remind yourself that you’ve got divine life in you; it works in you—in every fibre of your being. Then, heal the wound! Command it to close up and be normal. You’ve got to practise this.
1 Timothy 4:15 says, “Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them….” The expression “Meditate upon” is “Meletao” (Greek), and it also means to practise. Many years ago, as I started learning this, I had a cut on my hand and it was bleeding profusely. But I wasn’t agitated. I had the consciousness of eternal life. So, I placed my finger over the cut and said, “stanch and be healed, in Jesus’ Name!”
Guess what? Not only did the bleeding cease, there was no trace of a wound whatsoever. Hallelujah! It’s important you learn to live the life that God has given you; practise it. Remember, when you were a child, you had to be taught how to talk and walk like humans, and you didn’t perfect it overnight but grew through practice into perfection.
Likewise, now that you’re born again, practise living the divine life. Superimpose the power of that life over your physical body by meditation, prayer (especially praying in the spirit), and by constant affirmation of the Word of God.
FURTHER STUDY: 1 John 5:11-13 & Romans 8:11
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 06 OCTOBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: DELIVERING “LAWFUL CAPTIVES”
KEY VERSE: Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive delivered? But thus saith the LORD, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children (Isaiah 49:24-25). Sometimes, there’re things that happen to certain individuals, families, cities, communities or even nations because of sin—evil and wickedness that thrive in their midst; and such people become lawful captives. But because of the mercy of God, we’re able to deliver them through prayer. That’s part of what we read in our opening scripture. How do you do this?
The first part is when you issue your word of faith in the Name of Jesus Christ, and the second part is when you engage in heartfelt, continued intercession. Since they became legal captives by reason of their actions, you can’t just free them by issuing words of faith. You have to intercede in prayer. You may even have to get other like-minded Christians to join you to intercede for that family, city, or nation.
One of the rules in intercession is that you must be persistent, and continue in prayer for as long as it takes for you to see the desired result. You can put Satan’s dominion in your family, community, city and country to an end and liberate men and women from his clutch-hold, in the Name of Jesus, in heartfelt, continued intercession. Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY Ezekiel 22:29-31 & Luke 4:18-19
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY 05 OCTOBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: POWERED BY THE HOLY GHOST
KEY VERSE: Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts (Zechariah 4:6). You have what it takes to win, irrespective of the adversities you may face in life. If you’ve found yourself in a precarious situation, be comforted; there’s someone living inside you, who is greater and stronger than Satan, the world, and all the troubles, elements and circumstances of this world—the Holy Spirit. You’re powered by the Holy Spirit.
No wonder John said, “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). Become ever more conscious of the Spirit—His power, glory and ministry in your life.
Even in prayer, you must rely on Him to pray effectively. Some people pray, but nothing happens, because they speak words that aren’t powered, communicated or inspired by the Holy Spirit. The power of the Holy Spirit is the missing element in many people’s lives; it explains why they live as victims whereas God has made them victors.
In Ephesians 5:18-19, the Apostle Paul tells us, “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.” Being filled with the Spirit is the answer. When you’re filled with the Spirit, you’ll bring the supernatural power of God to bear on your words and all you do.
The Holy Spirit makes the difference; He’s the power of God and He lives in you in His fullness; in His entire glory and might. How then could your life be ordinary? In the book of Acts, the apostles understood this and ministered always in and by the power of the Spirit. Oftentimes, they were described as men full of the Holy Ghost; for example, Stephen (Acts 6:5). Then it says in verse 8, “And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.”
The same can, and should be said of you; you’re full of the Holy Ghost and power because Acts 1:8 says, “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you….” You can have extraordinary results in your life and ministry because you’re powered by the Holy Ghost. Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY Luke 24:49, Acts 1:8 & Ephesians 5:18-19 AMPC
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 04 OCTOBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: BUILT TO OVERCOME
KEY VERSE: For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will…being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience (Colossians 1:9-11 NIV).
God’s people are soldiers; we’re built to withstand and prevail against the pressures and adversities of life. There’re no sissies in God’s army. Don’t faint in the day of adversity. The TLB version of the Bible says in Proverbs 24:10: “You are a poor specimen if you can’t stand the pressure of adversity.”
Be strong and tough for Christ! It makes no difference how fiercely you’re persecuted for the Gospel; count it all joy! 2 Corinthians 4:17 says, “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.”
2 Timothy 2:3 says, “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.” Some people endure with tears, but our theme scripture says to do so with joyfulness. Always remember, the contrary winds make your roots go deeper. The quality of your personality has to be tested. The bigger the trouble, the greater your victories. Without pressures, your greatness may never manifest.
Therefore, in the face of opposition, declare, “Greater is He that’s in me, than he that’s in the world!” James 1:2 says, “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations.” Why would God admonish you to rejoice in adversity? It’s because victory is in your spirit.
Paul said, “We glory in tribulation, for tribulation produces patience” (Romans 5:3). Always remember that greater is He that’s in you, than all the troubles you could ever face. With the Word in you, you’ll stand any test! You’ll always win. Praise God!
FURTHER STUDY Proverbs 12:13, Psalm 40:2-3 AMPC & I John 4:4
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SUNDAY 03 OCTOBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF PRIESTS KEY VERSE: Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way (1 Samuel 12:23).
The Bible says in Revelation 1:6 that the Lord Jesus has “…made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” So, in Christ, you’re a priest before God. Each one of us is occupying that office today, and there’re responsibilities attached to that office.
The first responsibility of priests is ministering to the Lord. When Aaron was going to be made a priest, God said to Moses, “…take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office…” (Exodus 28:1). But how do we minister to God as priests?
1 Peter 2:5 says, “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.” We don’t offer bulls and goats as they did in the Old Testament but spiritual sacrifices: the calves of our lips (Hosea 14:2). Hallelujah! Secondly, priests make the Word of God known. When Jesus gave the great commission in Matthew 28:19-20, it was to us—the priests of God. He said, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
You’re to make pupils of those in your world; teach them about God and the Kingdom-life; let them in on the fundamentals of the glorious Kingdom we’ve been brought into. The Bible says, “It’s the job of priests to teach the truth. People are supposed to look to them for guidance…” (Malachi 2:7 MSG). This is your ministry as a priest; it’s your calling, and responsibility, to make His Word known to the world; people should seek, inquire for and require knowledge from you about the life of righteousness.
The third responsibility of priests is intercession. We’re like Jesus our High Priest, about whom the Bible says, “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them" Hebrews 7:25). Our theme verse shows us Samuel as a teaching priest who wouldn’t cease to pray for the people. Be like-minded. Pray often for all men and for your country.
God has given us the dominion and the authority to alter the course of events in the earth, using the Name of Jesus. Therefore, in prayer, let’s bring His will to pass in the earth, in the lives of those around us, in our cities, and nations. Take your place of priesthood in ministering to the Lord, teaching and intercession. Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY
Revelation 5:10, Malachi 2:7 & 1 Peter 2:9
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY 02 OCTOBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: HE QUALIFIED US FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS
KEY VERSE: 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). When you confessed the Lordship of Jesus over your life, instantly, His righteousness was imparted to your spirit; His righteousness became your righteousness. You’re now living in the righteousness of Jesus Christ.
Jesus was righteous before God; He was the only one born sinless and lived without sin. Thus, He qualified to be man’s substitute. He fulfilled all the righteous demands of justice in our behalf. He became sin on the Cross, for our sakes, so we could be made righteous. He qualified us to be righteous. Hallelujah!
The Bible says Adam’s transgression made all men sinners; likewise, the obedience of Christ has made all men righteous. This is legal before God. Anyone who acknowledges the obedience and sacrifice of Christ, and confesses His Lordship is immediately catapulted into the vital experience of salvation and the life of righteousness
Romans 5:1 says, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” To be “justified” means you’re acquitted by your faith in Christ Jesus; you’re declared righteous as though you never sinned, because of what Jesus did.
Now you’re in oneness with God, in fellowship with Him by Jesus Christ. This is so huge; but sadly, many haven’t grasped it yet; as a result, they’re still struggling to be righteous. There’s nothing that you do today, or could ever do, that’ll make you righteous before God; that’s why He gave you His own righteousness. How He loves us so much!
Being born again, you’re as righteous as Jesus is righteous. He substituted His righteousness for your sin-nature; think about that! Now you can fellowship with God unashamed, with boldness, confidence and joy, knowing that He loves you unconditionally. Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY 2 Corinthians 5:21, Ephesians 2:8-9 & Philippians 3:7-9
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY 01 OCTOBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: LIFE WORKS IN YOU
KEY VERSE: Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned (Romans 5:12).*_
Through Adam’s transgression, death passed upon all men. What is death? Many think that death is just the cessation of life, but it’s much more than that. Firstly, death is the expulsion or removal of God’s presence, Spirit and influence from any creature.
Life comes from God; therefore, anything that hasn’t been imparted by the presence of God or His Spirit can’t have life. Science, with all its discoveries, can’t create or give life; they’ve got to get the life from something else that God already made. Anything can be fabricated, but it’ll not have life except there’s contact or influence with what already has life.
Secondly, death is the corruption of a creation and resultant dissolution into its original components. Anything that has life has been influenced by God; it has God’s presence and has been touched of the Spirit. But Satan, who had the power of death, is against that. He works towards the expulsion or removal of that presence. Death begins with the corruption of the creation.
If you have pure water in a vessel, and then drop some little impurity in it, it’s corrupted; it’s now less than a hundred per cent pure. Death begins with corruption of a creation; a change into something that makes it less glorious than it ought to be. Satan aims for the corruption and eventual dissolution of that creation into its original constituents. For example, when a human body dies, the spirit departs, and the body eventually decomposes into water and dirt.
Satan hates God’s creation and seeks to destroy it. That’s why when sickness attacks the body, it’s a corruption of the person’s health. But thanks be unto God! Jesus put an end to death! The Bible says, “…Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel” (2 Timothy 1:10). Hallelujah! Death has been abolished.
In Christ, you’ve been brought into “deathlessness!” Whereas everything in the natural world degenerates, life works in you and in everything that’s connected to you, because you’re in the realm of life. You’ve passed from death to life (John 5:24). Romans 5:17 says, _“…they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.”_
FURTHER STUDY: 1 John 5:11-12, John 5:24 & 2 Corinthians 4:7-12
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 30 SEPTEMBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: YOUR FRUITS MUST REMAIN
KEY VERSE: Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward (2 John 1:8).
In John 20:21, Jesus said, “…as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.” He sent us with the fullness of the Spirit (John 3:34); and so, we must produce lasting results in bearing fruits of righteousness. In John 15:16, He said, “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain….” In these last days, we’re reaching a lot of people with the Word of the Gospel; we’re bearing fruits. But these fruits must remain. We don’t just walk away after we’ve reached them for Christ; we must follow them up. The Bible says, “And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do” (Acts 15:36).
When people give their hearts to the Lord, they’re like new born babies. That’s why the Bible says as new born babes they should desire the sincere milk of the Word that they may grow thereby (1 Peter 2:2). They need to grow and be established in Christ. So, you must continue to teach them the Word, encourage them and travail in prayer until Christ is formed in them as Paul said in Galatians 4:19.
In 2 Corinthians 11:3-4, the Apostle Paul shows us that Satan could take advantage of those who aren’t yet firmly rooted in the Word and deceive them as he did Eve. They could be tempted by others who are preaching a different message or being led by some other spirits. Therefore, in your evangelical efforts, persist until you see that those you’ve ministered to are established in Christ, firmly rooted and grounded in Him, and they in turn are winning others.
FURTHER STUDY:
2 Corinthians 11:2-4
& Hebrews 6:10 AMPC
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 29 SEPTEMBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: CHRIST IS ETERNITY
KEY VERSE: As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him (Colossians 2:6). The New International Version of the verse above says, “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him.” A valid question to ask would be, “If this refers to Christ as a man, how can you walk or live in a man?” But evidently, Christ isn’t only the man Jesus or the head of the Church and His body; Christ is also a place!
When Jesus said in John 14:2, “...I go to prepare a place for you,” that place is called “Christ”; that’s your new home and environment. That’s the reason it says in the ensuing verse 7 of Colossians 2, “Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving” (Colossians 2:7). The place is called “there” in this context. It says, “abounding therein”; that means overflowing with thanksgiving and joy in that place called Christ. Hallelujah!
He tells us in Hebrews 12:22: “But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels.” All the saints in glory are there. God’s plan is that He’ll gather all things in Christ.
The Bible says, “That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him” (Ephesians 1:10). Christ is eternity! Now that you’re in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17), you live in eternity. You have eternal life. You’ve passed from time into timelessness. Glory to God!
FURTHER STUDY: Ephesians 1:10, John 14:2-3 & 2 Corinthians 5:17-18
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY 28 SEPTEMBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: SACRIFICES OF PRAISE KEY VERSE: By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name (Hebrews 13:15).
In 2 Chronicles 5, the Bible shows us an extraordinary moment at the dedication of Solomon’s Temple. The singers were with clashing cymbals and strings, giving thanks and offering praises to the Lord. The Bible says all the priests came together, “Also the Levites which were the singers, all of them of Asaph, of Heman, of Jeduthun, with their sons and their brethren, being arrayed in white linen, having cymbals and psalteries and harps, stood at the east end of the altar, and with them an hundred and twenty priestssounding with trumpets)” (2 Chronicles 5:12). They were all rejoicing before the Lord.
The 13th verse says they “…lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever….” These are spiritual sacrifices! They did exactly what God wanted. The killing of the animals during the ceremony didn’t bring the glory. But as they offered spiritual sacrifices to God, the Bible says, “…then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD” (2 Chronicles 5:13).
In 2 Chronicles 20, the Bible tells us how Judah had been surrounded by enemies. Then Jehoshaphat did something. The Bible says, “…when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the LORD, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the LORD; for his mercy endureth for ever” (2 Chronicles 20:21). The battle was led by singers. And what happened to their enemies?
The Bible says “…they were dead bodies fallen to the earth, and none escaped” (2 Chronicles 20:24). Hallelujah! When you face difficulties and adversities, praise the Lord in the beauty of holiness; bless His Name and affirm that His mercy endures forever. In the midst of that seeming hardship, declare that His faithfulness is unto all generations. This is your office as a priest unto Christ; you’re to offer sacrifices of worship and praise to God always: “By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name” (Hebrews 13:15).
FURTHER STUDY: Acts 16:25-26 & Psalm 47:1-9
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 27 SEPTEMBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: HE MADE US HEALERS
KEY VERSE: And these signsshall follow them that believe… They shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover (Mark 16:17-18). Acts 28 shows us one of Paul’s experiences on the Island of Malta where he and a company of others stayed as a result of a shipwreck. During their stay, the Bible says Paul healed the father of Publius. Publius was the headman in that part of the island: “And it came to pass, that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and of a bloody flux: to whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him” (Acts 28:8).
Notice the spirit’s language; it says Paul prayed, laid his hands on him, and healed him. Some people tell us, “We must be very humble and never say we healed anybody; only God heals.” But Jesus told us to heal the sick. He was very emphatic; He said, “Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give” (Matthew 10:8).
In Luke 9:1-2, the Bible says, _*“…he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.” He made us healers. Hallelujah! Read Acts 14; the Bible says Paul was preaching in a city called Lystra and noticed a certain man who was crippled from his mother’s womb, and healed him (Acts 14:8-10).
The eleventh verse says, “And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men.” Notice the underlined portion: the people saw what Paul had done. Understand that this is the Spirit’s account, His narration of what transpired. The Spirit says Paul did it.
You’re not an ordinary person; you’re a divine package of power to bless and heal your world. As you preach the Gospel, do what Jesus said to do: heal the sick, raise the dead, and cleanse the lepers. Your hands are healing hands; they transmit the power of God. Through you, His divine presence is made manifest to those in your world.
FURTHER STUDY: Mark 16:17-18, Acts 8:6-8 & John 14:12
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SUNDAY 26 SEPTEMBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: MAKE THINGS RIGHT WITH THE PROPHETIC WORD
KEY VERSE: You have heard [these things foretold], now you see this fulfillment. And will you not bear witness to it? I show you specified new things from this time forth, even hidden things [kept in reserve] which you have not known (Isaiah 48:6 AMPC). When you read our opening scripture further into the 7th verse, you’d observe that the “specified new things” Isaiah spoke of were created by the prophetic word: “They are created now [called into being by the prophetic word]…” (Isaiah 48:7 AMPC).
The prophetic word is the “rhema” of God that’s put in your mouth, words that you speak for God. These are utterances the Lord gives you by His Spirit; they come from the inner recesses of your spirit. Remember, your spirit was created by the Word of God, and the Word lives in you (1 Peter 1:23).
Also, the Word, the “logos” of God that dwells inside you sees, understands and knows all things: “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do” (Hebrews 4:12-13). How then do you bring these things that the Word sees, understands and knows, to pass? It’s by the prophetic words you utter by the Holy Spirit that’s in you.
The Bible says, “And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy…” (Acts 2:17). This doesn’t only apply to your personal life; you can direct the very course of this world by the prophetic word. For example, when the governments of nations, leaders of industries, and others gang up against the Church, take up words from the Spirit and utter them in faith. We’re not hamstrung; we know what to do to alter events and cause things to align with God’s perfect will! He sent us as His witnesses and as His ministers.
God has put His Word in our hearts and in our mouths and sent us as saviours to our world, just like Obadiah, the prophet, said, “And saviours shall come up on mount Zion…” (Obadiah 1:21). Through your words—the prophetic word—make things right in your life, in your home, in your ministry, job, business, city, and nation. Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY: 1 Corinthians 2:9-13, 1 Corinthians 14:39 & Joel 2:28
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY 25 SEPTEMBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: WHEN GOD SPEAKS IN PROPHECY…
KEY VERSE: If what the prophet spoke in GOD’s name doesn’t happen, then obviously GOD wasn’t behind it; the prophet made it up. Forget about him (Deuteronomy 18:22 MSG). When God gives a prophetic word, it’ll come to pass whether or not you believe it. Think about this: Jesus said to Simon Peter, “...Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice” (Matthew 26:34). Did Peter believe? No! In fact, he insisted, “Even if I must die with You, I will not deny or disown You...” (Matthew 26:35 AMPC).
But did the words of Jesus come to pass? Yes! Peter denied Jesus and disowned Him. In fact, on a certain occasion, Peter cursed and swore that he didn’t know Jesus. How about the story of Judas? When Jesus told His disciples one of them would betray Him, Judas Iscariot didn’t accept what Jesus said about him neither was he happy about it.
Then the Bible tells us in Luke 22:3 that an evil spirit entered into Judas Iscariot. When that happened, he walked out of where Jesus and the disciples were, went to the Chief Priests to conclude arrangements to betray Jesus. Look through the Scriptures, you’ll find several prophetic words to kings, and prophecies to nations; they didn’t have to believe those prophetic words, but the words came to pass nonetheless.
However, when you believe the prophetic word, you’ll be blessed; more so, when the word of prophecy concerns you for your benefit. For example, when Mary received the prophetic words about the birth of Jesus, she said, “...Be it unto me, according to thy Word...” (Luke 1:38).
Mary believed and gave birth to the Lord Jesus Christ (Luke 2:6-7) according to prophecy. The Bible says, “And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord” (Luke 1:45). When you believe, those words of blessings come to pass in your life.
The difference, however, is that when God speaks prophetically about your nation, about your time, your course of life, whether or not you believe it, it’s going to happen anyway. So, what you do is to learn the Word; understand the Word; find and take your place in that prophetic word, and you’ll be victorious always.
FURTHER STUDY:*
Isaiah 55:11 , 1 Timothy 1:18 & 2 Chronicles 20:20
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY 24 SEPTEMBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: WORSHIP HIM ANYWHERE…ANYTIME
KEY VERSE: 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). In the Old Testament, the Israelites worshiped God in a temple, but in the beautiful revelation of the New Jerusalem, the Apostle John gushes in admiration about how the city of God could exist without a temple. One would have expected to see a temple, just as it was in Old Testament days. But this New Jerusalem, however, doesn’t need a temple because the entire city is the dwelling place of Almighty God and the Lamb. That’s remarkable!
In other words, His presence is everywhere in that city; the whole thing has become His temple. That brings to mind what Jesus said as He engaged a woman in Sychar, a Samaritan village. The woman had said, “Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship” (John 4:20 NKJV). But then, Jesus replied, “…the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him”*_ (John 4:23). Why? It’s because in the spirit, they’d experience the presence of God anywhere, and everywhere.
Today, everywhere you go, you carry His presence in you, and with you. Now you can better understand the words of the Apostle Paul in Acts 17:28: “For in him we live, and move, and have our being….” We’re not apart or separate from Him. We don’t seek or look for Him; we’re in Him and with Him, and He’s in us, with us and about us! Wherever you are, wherever you go, you live and move in Him.
This same Apostle said in Romans 1:9, “For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers." Can you see how Paul did it? He served God with his “spirit” in the Gospel of His Son. The word “serve” actually refers to “worship.” That’s why we can worship Him anywhere, and at any time.
This is different from the Old Testament where they had to go to the right place to offer the right sacrifice; if they didn’t go to the right place, it was not accepted. In fact, when they set up a new temple in Samaria, God was angry, because according to His instruction, the temple was only to be in Jerusalem. But in Christ Jesus, we worship God with our spirits. Hallelujah!
Even now, lift your hands in worship to the Lord and offer Him a sacrifice of sweet-smelling savour. From where you are, worship the Father from your spirit and according to His Word. FURTHER STUDY: Philippians 3:3 & Hebrews 13:15 AMPC
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 23 SEPTEMBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THE BLESSING OF THE NEW TESTAMENT
KEY VERSE: 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).
If you’ve ever been to Israel and the Old City of Jerusalem, you’d have heard of or visited the Western Wall, or Wailing Wall. It’s one of the most significant historic sites for the Jewish people. While thousands of people from different nationalities throng the Wailing Wall every year to relish this archeological masterpiece, others religiously journey there to say or recite prayers, hoping their prayers will be answered faster at this site.
No doubt, the Wailing Wall is an iconic religious site, but God isn’t more there than He is in you. Some are carried away by the idea that if they pray at, let’s say a “prayer mountain,” a forest, or the Wailing Wall, God will hear them more. If that were true, Jesus would have taught about it; He’d have instructed us to pray at the Wailing Wall, but He didn’t.
The Apostles would have said so too, but they didn’t. In fact, Jesus said, “…believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father…But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him” (John 4:21-23). The inspiration and blessing of the New Testament is in your heart; it’s with you everywhere.
The Spirit, through the Apostle Paul, reveals the truth about Christianity—the mystery that was hidden from ages and from generations. That mystery is “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:26-27). This is God’s vision; that’s the reason for the New Testament. Everything you’d ever need in life is in Christ, and Christ is in you; to have Christ is to have everything.
Henceforth, look into your heart, for that’s where all the answer is. Christ resides in your heart. You’ve already been blessed with all spiritual blessings in Christ (Ephesians 1:3). The totality of the character and nature of the man Jesus, all that He represents—His life, power, wisdom, majesty, glory and grace—are all tabernacled in you. This is the blessing of the New Testament. Praise God!
FURTHER STUDY: Philippians 4:13, Colossians 3:1-4 & Colossians 1:26-27
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 22 SEPTEMBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: LIVE IN AND FROM CHRIST
KEY VERSE: For in Him we live and move and have our being; as even some of your [own] poets have said, For we are also His offspring (Acts 17:28 AMPC). Ephesians 2:4-6 says, “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus." When Jesus was raised from the dead, we were raised together with Him and made to sit together with Him in heavenly places.
Therefore, we’re seated with Christ right now, at home in Him and with Him. No wonder we’re told, “…whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him” (Colossians 3:17). Then Colossians 2:6 says, “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him.”
Now that we’re in Him, seated together with Him, we must live by and through Him. We must live and walk in the Name of Jesus. How do you live and walk in His Name? It evidently conveys to you that His Name is a place, an environment. When you were born again, you were born into Christ; you were immersed, baptized into Christ; therefore, you’re in Christ.
Understand the difference between “you in Christ” and “Christ in you.” “Christ in you” is about your life, your glory. “You in Christ” is about your environment, where you live. So now that you’re in this environment, live therein. Transact your affairs in, and from, Christ twenty-four hours a day! Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY:
Acts 17:28, 2 Corinthians 5:17 & Colossians 1:27
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY 21 SEPTEMBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: A SPECIAL ATMOSPHERE
KEY VERSE: And the Lord will create over the whole site, over every dwelling place of Mount Zion and over her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day and the shining of a flaming fire by night; for over all the glory shall be a canopy (a defense of divine love and protection) (Isaiah 4:5 AMPC). Glory to God! The theme verse today foretells of a phenomenon previously experienced by Israel, a reference to the pillar of a cloud and of fire which attended them in their exodus from Egypt. They were under God’s divine protection, provision, love and care. Exodus 13:21-22 says, “And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire….” Even though they were in the desert, in that terrible arid land, they weren’t scorched by the sun. Then at night, they were kept warm by a pillar of fire. Thus, day or night—they were under a special atmosphere. That’s amazing! This didn’t happen for one day, three days, a few months or a year; it was for forty long years. God protected them!
Read the psalmist’s account of this in Psalm 105:37 (AMPC): “He brought [Israel] forth also with silver and gold, and there was not one feeble person among their tribes.” Deuteronomy 29:5 (NKJV) says, “And I have led you forty years in the wilderness. Your clothes have not worn out on you, and your sandals have not worn out on your feet....” This is extraordinary; they were in God’s presence and He fed and nurtured them.
Nehemiah 9:20-21 (GNB) says, “In your goodness you told them what they should do; you fed them manna and gave them water to drink. Through forty years in the desert you provided all that they needed; their clothing never wore out, and their feet were not swollen with pain.” He hasn’t changed. The same God takes care of you and nurtures you today. His presence in, with, and about you today makes you an oasis of love and grace in a troubled world.
You live in His presence, in a divine atmosphere of joy, bliss and glory, where you’re absolutely independent of circumstances. Be mindful of this always. There could be chaos or anarchy everywhere, but in Him you’re at peace and in safety. Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY: Jeremiah 17:7-8 & Isaiah 43:2-3
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 20 SEPTEMBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THE SAME QUALITY OF LIFE KEY VERSE: Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God... (1 John 3:1).
Some people ask, “Do we really have the same quality of life as our heavenly Father right now in the earth or is it something that’ll happen when we get to heaven?” Some get confused by their misunderstanding of what the Apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 15:52: “…and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”
First, it’s important to understand that your real life—your spirit—came from the Word. So, beyond the physical frame, you have in you the life and nature of God, the life of the Word. God’s Word is seed (Luke 8:11), and the seed is the life-carrying faculty of a living thing. The life of God is transferred or transmuted through His Word, which is His seed.
For example, when He said to the Virgin Mary, “You shall conceive and give birth to a son,” the Word He spoke became Jesus. Through the agency of that same Word, He gave birth to us as new creatures: “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever” (1 Peter 1:23).
The underlined word “seed,” is translated from the Greek word “sperma” from where the English word “sperm” is derived. The Bible says, “Of His own will begat He us by the Word (seed) of truth that we should be the first and the best of His creatures” (James 1:18). This is how we became sons and daughters of God, with the same quality of life as our heavenly Father.
Our opening verse says, “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God….” Right now, we’re the vital sons of God in truth, because we’re actually born of Him. In the next verse, John emphasizes it: “Beloved, now are we the sons of God…” (1 John 3:2). On the outside we may not look so great, but in our spirits we’re absolutely like Him, being born of Him. He brought us into His realm, His class of being. No wonder 1 John 4:17 says, "…as he is, so are we in this world.”
FURTHER STUDY:
1 John 5:11-13 & Romans 8:29
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SUNDAY 19 SEPTEMBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: BORN OF THE LIFE-GIVING SPIRIT
KEY VERSE: _And just as we have borne the image [of the man] of dust, so shall we and so let us also bear the image [of the Man] of heaven (1 Corinthians 15:49 AMPC)._
Every human person born into this world comes with the natural human life. That life, however, is corruptible; it’s mortal, subject to sickness, disease and death. This was the life and nature of the first Adam and all those born after him—unregenerate men.
1 Corinthians 15:47–48 says, _“The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.”_ Notice the tenses; it says _“… as is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy,” and that’s absolutely right. That’s why Jesus, in His communication with Nicodemus, said to him, “You must be born again”_ (John 3:7).
When you’re born again, you’re born after the Lord from heaven. So, as Christians, we have the divine life, we have the God-nature NOW. The one who’s yet to receive this God-life is “earthy” and susceptible to the depravities and negativities of this world. He or she is subject to the elements and systems of this world and snowed-under by their corrupting influences. But thanks be unto God! Your ties with the first Adam have been severed completely and forever. Christ is your root and heritage; you hail from God:
_“Ye are of God little children…”_ (1 John 4:4). Whereas death works in the unregenerate man, you’re of the life-giving Spirit: _“And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit”_ (1 Corinthians 15:45). Life works in you. Glory to God!
PRAYER
Dear Father, thank you, for I’ve been severed from perishing because I’m born of God, in the likeness of the second and last Adam—Jesus Christ. I’m not of this world; I’m heavenly, a fellow citizen with the saints, and of the household of God, bringing many into the Kingdom, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
John 3:3-7
_3- Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”_
_4- Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”_
_5- Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God._
_6- That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit._
_7- Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’_
John 1:12-13
_12- But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:_
_13- who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN Galatians 3:26-4:1-20 & Isaiah 1-2
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN Luke 23:34-43 & 2 Samuel 11-12
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY 18 SEPTEMBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: INHABITANTS OF THE HEAVENLY JERUSALEM
KEY VERSE: Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined (Psalm 50:2).
Paul, in his letter to the Galatian Christians, referenced the allegory of Sarah and Hagar (Galatians 4). Through the two women, Abraham had two sons: Ishmael and Isaac. Sarah and Hagar represented two covenants. Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia, and is a figure of the present city of Jerusalem in the middle East, which the Bible says is in slavery with all its people (Galatians 4:25).
Then, there’s the Jerusalem that is above: “But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all (Galatians 4:26). How beautiful! Read the 30th to 31st verses: “Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.”
The Jerusalem that is above is the mother of us all; that’s the one to which we belong; we’re there now! Hebrews 12:22 tells us, “But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem....” In Isaiah 60:14 (MSG), Zion refers figuratively to Israel as the people of God: “The descendants of your oppressor will come bowing and scraping to you. All who looked down at you in contempt will lick your boots. They’ll confer a title on you: City of GOD, Zion of The Holy of Israel.”
But today, in the New Testament, Zion refers to God’s spiritual Kingdom, which we’re a part of. Hebrews 12:18,22-23 (MSG) says, “Unlike your ancestors, you didn’t come to Mount Sinai--all that volcanic blaze and earthshaking rumble—…No, that’s not your experience at all. You’ve come to Mount Zion the city where the living God resides. The invisible Jerusalem is populated by throngs of festive angels and Christian citizens. It is the city where God is Judge, with judgments that make us just.” So, in the mind of God, we live in Zion, the heavenly Jerusalem, NOW, in the same way that the natural born Jews live in Jerusalem that’s in the Middle East. Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY: Psalm 48:11 AMPC, Psalm 50:2 & Psalm 69:34-36
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY 17 SEPTEMBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: FAITH TALKS
KEY VERSE: We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak (2 Corinthians 4:13). What a beautiful and inspiring description we have in Hebrews 11 of those in faith’s hall of fame. The Bible says these men and women tamed and framed their worlds, their eras, by faith. Abel’s offering to God, for example, was an act of faith: “By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh” (Hebrews 11:4).
Abel wasn’t just carrying out some ceremony with his mouth shut, no! He said some things, such that even in death, his blood still speaks. What exactly was his confession? It most certainly would have been in sync with what the other patriarchs confessed. The Bible says they confessed that they were strangers in the world: “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth” (Hebrews 11:13).
The key thing is that they spoke faith words. That helps us learn how they created and constructed their times. They talked their future; they said what was going to happen, and did all that they did, by faith. It’s the same spirit of faith at work in us today. We believe, and therefore speak.
Faith is the noun of believing; believing is a verb. Your faith is demonstrated in words that propel you to action. You can’t believe and be quiet. Even in the negative realm—the satanic realm—they use the same principle because it’s a spiritual principle. If they don’t say it, they know it’ll not happen.
Isn’t that what Jesus said in Mark 11:23? He said you shall have what you say: “For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.” Declare faith-filled words and rule your world.
FURTHER STUDY: Proverbs 18:21, Matthew 12:35-37 & 1 Peter 3:10 AMPC
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 16 SEPTEMBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THE WORD ON YOUR LIPS
KEY VERSE: Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear (Hebrews 11:3).
There’re three important words to note in our theme verse; they are framed, words, and world. The word “framed” is translated from the Greek “katartizo¯”, and it means to restore or mend. “Worlds” is translated from the Greek “aion” which means “course of life”; the structure and administration or seasons and times of one’s life on earth.
“Word,” on the other hand, is translated from the Greek word “rhema,” and it means the spoken and active word to a specific person, for a specific purpose, at a specific time. From the foregoing, we observe that the “aions” were framed, mended, restored by the Word (rhema) of God.
The expression “rhema of God” as you find in the New Testament is never applied to God talking by Himself, but to God putting His Word in man’s heart for man to speak. So, our theme verse doesn’t mean that God was “framing the aions”; it means that men framed their worlds—courses of life— by using the Word of God; they uttered “rhema.”
With “rhema” you give shape, structure and beauty to your world, to your life; you construct the conditions—what your world and life should be like— with the Word on your lips. What’s your life like today? Do you want a life of ever-increasing grace, glory and dominion? The key is your mouth!
It makes no difference what obtains presently in your “aion”; you can mend what needs mending; you can restore what needs restoration; you can fix anything that’s been ruined. You can quell terror and put a halt to the malicious destructions and havoc the devil seeks to wreak in your world, life, family, city or country, or in the lives of your loved ones, by uttering the Word of God that your spirit has taken a hold of.
Use the Word. Put it on your lips and use it to keep the adversary in his place. Use it to frame the course of your life to be consistent with God’s plan and purpose for your life. Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY: Mark 11:23 & Joshua 1:8 AMPC
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 15 SEPTEMBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: TAKE CARE OF OTHERS KEY VERSE: Therefore encourage (admonish, exhort) one another and edify (strengthen and build up) one another, just as you are doing (1 Thessalonians 5:11 AMPC). There’re Christians who got offended and almost gave up the faith because someone in their local church mistreated or disappointed them. That’s wrong. God didn’t tell us everyone in the church will like us, treat us well and always be helpful to us. But He told you to like others, treat them well, and always be willing to help. So, it begins with YOU!
Don’t let the reason you’re the member of any particular church or group in church be that you’re looking for someone to help you; rather, develop a desire to render service, to help others. Acts 20:35 tells us that it’s more blessed to give than to receive.
If you felt ignored, rejected and uncared for, that should let you know what some others might be feeling too. So, take up the responsibility and look out for those in a similar situation and encourage and strengthen them. That’s Christian ministry; it’s one of the beautiful blessings and privileges you get from being a member of a local church. The church—the local church—has a ministry, and God wants you to be a vital member.
There’s no one on earth who has no family; everyone belongs in a family. If you find that you’re the only one you know in your entire family, reach out and help someone else who’s lonely, and make them part of your family. You should never be alone. Don’t live for yourself only. Be responsible for others, just as there’re leaders over you who are responsible for you.
FURTHER STUDY: Hebrews 10:24-25 & 2 Corinthians 13:11 NIV
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY 14 SEPTEMBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: CUSTODIANS OF ETERNAL BLESSINGS KEY VERSE: …I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing (Genesis 12:2).
The Christian is blessed in all things. He’s blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. In Genesis 12:2, God didn’t say to Abraham, “I will bless you and make you ‘lucky’”; rather, He said, “…I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing.” This is what you need: the consciousness that you’re blessed and are a blessing!
You’re empowered to be successful; the ability to prosper in all things has been invoked in your life; it’s inherent in you and works all the time. Everywhere you go, there’s favour. Your steps are always ordered of the Lord; you don’t go anywhere by chance, and you don’t go anywhere alone, for He’s in you and with you always. This is the heritage of the seed of Abraham. It worked for the physical descendants of Abraham— Isaac and Jacob; they were blessed in all things and bequeathed the same blessings to their generations.
It’s even better with us today; the Bible says, “And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” (Galatians 3:29). Ours is a better covenant, established upon better promises (Hebrews 8:6); promises that have all been fulfilled in Christ. You ought to know like Abraham, Isaac and Jacob that you’re blessed, and the custodian of blessings. Make this your consciousness and confession.
FURTHER STUDY:
Ephesians 1:3 & Galatians 3:7-9
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 13 SEPTEMBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: WORD-BASED SONGS KEY VERSE: Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? (1 Corinthians 3:16)
Have you ever heard some Christians sing, “Holy Spirit, come down; rain down on us.” Such a song is inconsistent with truth, because the Holy Spirit already came on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-3) and lives in you today. It’s also no use singing, “Come live in me Holy Spirit.” It’s clear from our opening scripture that He dwells in you: _“Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?”_ (1 Corinthians 3:16).
Some even get emotional and cry, singing, “Fill me, O Lord!” But the Word never said God is going to fill you. Paul, by the Spirit, said in Ephesians 5:18, _“And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit.”_ It’s your responsibility to be filled with the Spirit. He told you to do it. Therefore, no matter how much you sing and cry to the Lord to fill you, you’ll never be filled, because the Word already shows how to get yourself filled with the Spirit.
Singing the wrong songs creates unbelief and deepens ignorance. Therefore, when you sing, listen to the words; sing songs that are founded on the truth of God’s Word in the Gospel of Christ. Our worship, praise and thanksgiving or even songs of edification must be correctly delivered in words consistent with the New Testament of Christ. It’s not about singing your favourite song or the one that gives you goose bumps; it’s about singing scriptural songs of the present truth. FURTHER STUDY: Exodus 15:1-3, Revelation 4:8-11 & Judges 5:1-3
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SUNDAY 12 SEPTEMBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: HE’S GOT YOU COVERED
KEY VERSE: Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations (Jeremiah 1:5).
There’re those who are hesitant to let God have His way in their lives. They think He’ll change their “lofty” dreams and ambitions. They’ve painted the picture of what they want in life and the direction they want to go, and they think if they let God have His way, He may change their destiny and lead them to become something they don’t want to be. That’s a terrible mistake.
The Lord knows better and loves you more than you love yourself. Therefore, trust Him with your life. He’s more ambitious for your success than you could ever be. All He’s ever wanted is the best for you. What joy thrilled my soul when I discovered that the Lord was more ambitious for my success than I could ever be, and that He loved and cared for me more than I could ever imagine! He created the whole world and He knows everything about me and about my future.
Therefore, it was easy to trust Him and follow the path that He’s prepared for me. Every so often, I’d say, “Lord, you know exactly what to do with someone like me. You’re experienced in dealing with all kinds of people, so you know exactly what to do with my life.” When you’re conscious of this, you’d become bold, sharp, focused and unafraid; you’d know that your future is secure in Him.
Nothing could be more fulfilling and gratifying than knowing and following God’s plan for your life. Stop holding on to some dream, idea or aspirations that aren’t in line with God’s purpose for your life. He’s got you covered; so, let Him guide you.
FURTHER STUDY: Ephesians 2:10 AMPC & Jeremiah 29:11 MSG
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY 11 SEPTEMBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: MAKING A LASTING IMPACT
KEY VERSE: How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him (Acts 10:38). It’s not how long you live; it’s the impact you make that matters, and Jesus was a typical example of that. He didn’t have a long life on earth, but He impacted the world tremendously. Luke 3:23 NLT says, “Jesus was about thirty years old when he began his public ministry....” At thirty-three, He was crucified. He ministered for just three years and changed the whole world.
Throughout history, no single individual has made or could ever make the kind of impact on the whole world as Jesus. Even the world’s dating system—back and forth—is referenced to Him. The period of His birth is used as the dividing point of world history: B.C (Before Christ) and A.D (anno Domini). Amazing!
He lived and manifested the glory of God in His days on earth. He walked on water, talked to the wind and the waves, unstopped deaf ears, opened blind eyes, healed lame legs, restored maimed limbs, and raised the dead. He died and resurrected and made salvation possible for humanity.
The beautiful thing is that He did all that He did through the power of the Holy Spirit. In John 14:10, He said, “…the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works”; that’s the Holy Spirit. In John 8:38, He said, “I speak that which I have seen with my Father….” Jesus walked in union with the Father in an extraordinary way. He did nothing without the power of the Holy Spirit.
We have the same ability within us to function likewise, because the same Holy Spirit that was the power and essence of Jesus lives in us today. He said in John 20:21, “…as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.” This means you have His authority; therefore, let those words propel you to make a lasting impact in your world. You can do what He did and be impactful through the power of the Holy Spirit. FURTHER STUDY: 1 John 4:17 & Acts 10:38 AMPC
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY 10 SEPTEMBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: IT BEGINS WITH YOU
KEY VERSE: Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend (Proverbs 27:17) The Message translation of the theme verse says, “You use steel to sharpen steel, and one friend sharpens another” (Proverbs 27:17). Perhaps you’re concerned that your close friends, or others in your church, fellowship, cell or care-group aren’t as passionate about spiritual growth and God’s Word as they should be. You could even be the leader of such a group. The first place to begin is to check yourself, because hunger begets hunger. As the leader of the group, how rapacious is your appetite for the Word?
How passionate are you about spiritual things? Passion is palpable and infectious. What you’re hungry or passionate about, soon enough, will rub off on those around you. Haven’t you noticed that oftentimes, when people yawn, those around them may start yawning as well? Or once someone says, “I’m hungry”; others who are present and may also not have eaten, immediately become conscious of hunger.
If you have a ravenous appetite for God’s Word, those around you would cultivate the same hunger soon enough. Therefore, be the first to be on fire. Be the example of what you want to see in those you lead. Lead by example. For example, don’t just encourage them to pray; be a praying person yourself.
But if a pastor isn’t prayerful, and he’s calling for prayer meetings, he may be wasting his time, because those gatherings would be void of the Spirit. Copy Jesus, His devotion to the Scriptures, and to prayer.
At a tender age, the Bible says He was in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening, and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and His answers (Luke 2:41-47).
The Bible also tells us, “And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed” (Mark 1:35). In another instance, “…he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God”*_ (Luke 6:12). So, it’s got to begin with you. Spiritual or numerical growth isn’t a mystery, a miracle or an accident. It’s the application of revealed principles and means.
FURTHER STUDY:
1 Peter 2:21-23, Ephesians 5:1 & 1 Timothy 4:15 AMPC
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 09 SEPTEMBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: WE BELIEVE AND SPEAK
KEY VERSE: _We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak (2 Corinthians 4:13)._
Many read our opening verse as though we speak so that we will believe, but it’s not so. The confessions of the Word that we make aren’t so that we can finally believe what we’re saying. Read what it says: _“We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak.”_
That’s the principle of the spirit of faith: Faith works from inside out, not the other way round. We speak because we have believed. In fact, the opening verse actually reads, “We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I have faith, therefore have I spoken; we also have faith, and therefore speak.” We speak according to our faith.
When I speak, it’s my faith talking. It brings to mind the story in Matthew 9 of the two blind men that Jesus healed. They cried out, “Thou Son of David, have mercy on us.” Jesus asked them, “Do you really believe I can do this?” They said, “Yes, Master!” Then He touched their eyes and said, “… According to your faith be it unto you” (Matthew 9:29). The Bible says, _“And their eyes were opened…”_ (Matthew 9:30). Why? It’s because they had faith and they vocalized it.
Faith is expressed primarily through words, and the Bible lets us know that we all have faith. If we didn’t have faith, it would have been a problem, but we have it; He gave it to us as Paul said in Romans 12:3, _“For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you…according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.”_ That’s the faith with which you believed in Jesus Christ, and that faith speaks.
Tame and rule the world; reign over circumstances through your faith proclamations. Don’t cry because of any problem; don’t gripe over anything; speak words of faith. Perhaps you’ve been experiencing challenges in your job or business; speak and effect a change! Jesus said you shall have what you say (Mark 11:23). Your blessing is in your mouth. Declare victory only and always, and that’ll be your experience.
CONFESSION
My faith is the victory that overcomes the world and its systems. The Word of God is my life, and the glory and blessings therein are evident in my life, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Mark 11:23
_23- For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says._
Matthew 12:37
_37- For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”_
Romans 10:6-8
_6- But the righteousness of faith speaks in this way, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ down from above) or,_
_7- “ ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead)._
_8- But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach):_
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN 2 Corinthians 8-9 & Proverbs 24-26
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN Luke 22:1-13 & 1 Samuel 28
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 08 SEPTEMBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: YOUR LIFE IS SHAPED BY YOUR THOUGHTS KEY VERSE: Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life (Proverbs 4:23).
It’s not every thought that comes to you that is from God. The only way you know the source of your thoughts is through the light of God’s Word, and the ministry of the Holy Spirit. It’s very important what you think about, and how you think, because your life is shaped by your thoughts. Our theme verse in the Good News translations says, “Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts.”
Screen and filter your thoughts; mount garrison over your heart, because out of your heart are the issues of life! You have to be the policeman of your heart; take charge of your heart. Don’t allow every thought. Allow only God’s thoughts, righteous thoughts and thoughts of love in Christ Jesus.
The Bible specifically lets us know the kind of thoughts to allow: “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things” (Philippians 4:8).
You’re the character of your thoughts. What you think about, you become. The Lord Jesus actually related this in His teachings in a most enlightening way. He said, “Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart” (Matthew 5:27-28).
Your thoughts can deliver to you a glorious life or keep you on the sidewalk of life. If you’d let the Word dominate your thinking, it’ll create the right thoughts in you and give you the right mindset. You’d think victory, success, dominion and possibilities only.
Romans 12:2 says, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind….” When your thoughts are consistent with the Word, your life will be a reflection of His glory, for the glory is in the Word. So, discipline your mind to accept only the right thoughts.
FURTHER STUDY:
Romans 12:2
& 1 Timothy 4:15 AMPC
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY 07 SEPTEMBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: YOU’RE THE OBJECT OF HIS LOVE KEY VERSE: The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise (Proverbs 11:30). What God cares about the most in the earthis the souls of men. The Bible says in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” He loved the world of humans, not things; we’re the object of His love. Each one of us is more important to Him than the planets and galaxies.
He’s got angels that supervise the galaxies, and angels appointed over other matters. But the angels with the most honourable job are the ones appointed over people, over the souls for whom Jesus died. When you understand this as a Christian, especially as one who heads a cell or care-group or fellowship in the local church, your premium will be on people.
You might say, “I only have three people in my fellowship!” But as small as that number might seem, you’re more important to God than the one who’s put in charge of the environment and all the infrastructure in any particular planet or continent. A cell leader in the house of God has more value in God’s book of honours than one who’s not born again but might be politically in charge of a whole nation.
Read the words of Jesus in Mark 8:36-37: “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” This means the whole world—all of the cosmos—doesn’t compare to the value of one soul. The value of a soul is the blood of Jesus.
If you were the only person on the face of the earth, Jesus would have still come to die for you. He didn’t come because we were many; He came because we were valuable to God. That’s why God isn’t willing that anyone should perish.
If anyone goes to hell, it isn’t because God wanted him or her to go to hell; He’s done everything to stop men from going to hell, and He’ll do everything to stop them. The only thing is, He can’t decide for you, because He gave you a very important gift: the ability to make decisions; the right to choose. And in His love, He went ahead to tell you what to choose: life in Christ (1 John 5:11).
FURTHER STUDY: Luke 15:7 AMPC & John 3:16
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 06 SEPTEMBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THE AUTHORITY OF HIS NAME
KEY VERSE: _Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him and given him a namewhich is above every name: That atthe name of Jesus every knee shouldbow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth (Philippians 2:9-10)._
The scripture above is definitive about the authority of Jesus. This is different from the character or identity of His Name. For example, Jesus passed by many sick people who didn’t take advantage of His identity to receive healing when He walked the earth. In fact, the Bible says He came to a place where there were many impotent folks, He healed one person and went away from there (Read John 5:1-15). Yet He had His identity, had His character. So, in using His Name, it’s about His authority.
You’re not even required to squeeze up faith to use His Name. His Name is an instrument and a gift given to you to use. And the authority of His Name is over things, beings, and anything that can be identified. Anyone of us can use that Name and the power in it. John 14:12-14 says, _“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.”_
He gave us the power of attorney—the legal right to act in His stead—to use His Name. So, don’t cheat yourself; use His Name. Use it against Satan, the forces of darkness and circumstances, and they’ll respond to you as they would to Jesus.
CONFESSION
The seal on everything that God made bears theawesome Name of Jesus. I do all things and workwonders in His Name! Thank you Father for theprivilege to use the most awesome and powerful Name of Jesus to effect changes in my life and in my world. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY
Philippians 2:10 CJB
_10- that in honor of the name given Yeshua, every knee will bow - in heaven, on earth and under the earth_
Mark 16:17-18
_17- And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;_
_18- they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”_
Acts 3:6-8
6- Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.”
7- And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.
8- So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God.
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN 2 Corinthians 5:1-6:1-2 & Proverbs 18-19
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN Luke 21:10-19 & 1 Samuel 25
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SUNDAY 05 SEPTEMBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: IT’S ABOUT YOUR KNOWLEDGE
KEY VERSE: _They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. (Isaiah 11:9 NIV)._
In Acts 27-28, Luke reports an inspiring incident with Paul while on a journey to Rome. The ship ferrying them and some two hundred and seventy-four others was caught in a violent storm. Thankfully, all aboard swam safely to shore on the island of Malta.
The people who lived there showed them great kindness, and made a fire, and called them all to warm themselves. As Paul gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out of the heat and fastened itself to his hand.
When the natives saw the creature hanging from Paul’s hand, they said to one another, “No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he has escaped the sea, yet justice does not allow to live” (Acts 28:4 NKJV). While the onlookers expected Paul to swell and suddenly drop dead as a result of the venom, he simply shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm. They concluded that he was a god.
What made Paul so different? He was eternal life-conscious. He knew that the one who has the Son of God has eternal life: _“…the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord”_ (Romans 6:23). The one who has eternal life can’t be poisoned. Jesus said so in Mark 16:18: _“…if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them....”_
This is the life that He’s given us, but many don’t know it. The Bible says through knowledge shall the just be delivered into their inheritance. So, you see, it works by knowledge! It’s about your knowledge of the immortal and incorruptible life of Christ that’s at work in you. No wonder John said, _“These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life…”_ (1 John 5:13).
PRAYER
Dear Father, I thank you for bringing to my consciousness the supernatural, immortal and incorruptible life of Christ that’s at work in me. I live above sickness, disease and all the depravities that affect the human nature. I’m an associate of the God-kind, manifesting the glory and virtues of divinity, in Jesus’ Name. Amen…
FURTHER STUDY
John 10:34
_34- Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your law, ‘I said, “You are gods” ’?_
Mark 16:17-18
_17- And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;_
_18- they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”_
1 John 5:11-12
_11- And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son._
_12- He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN 2 Corinthians 3:7-4:1-18 & Proverbs 16-17
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN Luke 21:1-9 & 1 Samuel 24
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY 04 SEPTEMBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: ALWAYS IN CHARGE
KEY VERSE: In your patience possess ye your souls (Luke 21:19).
The words above are the words of Jesus, and He’s telling you to always be in control while you wait; it’s an attitude of victory. When you’re confident in the Lord, in His ability and power at work in and through you, nothing shakes you.
Perhaps you suddenly received news that your spouse, child or a loved one has been rushed to the theatre for an emergency procedure. Instead of being rattled, be in charge and in control. Don’t start pacing the floor, edgy about the situation: relax. Take charge!
Never panic or be overwhelmed with fear when you face dire circumstances or opposition; maintain your composure and use your authority in Christ. Pray in rest, for He’s brought us into His rest. Take a hold of God’s Word, knowing who you are and your authority in Christ, and then issue commands. Tame the situation.
The challenges you face are “bread” for you; they’re the springboard to your next and higher level of glory. That’s why the Bible says, “Count it all joy when you go through diverse tests” (James 1:2). 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 calls the adversities you face “light afflictions,” transient and short-lived troubles—they produce for you a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.
There’s nothing in this world that should get you ruffled or agitated. Meditate on these words of Jesus in John 16:33 AMPC: “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you].” FURTHER STUDY
Philippians 4:6 AMPC & John 16:33 MSG
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY 03 SEPTEMBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: AN OUTWARD SHOW OF AN INNER TRUTH
KEY VERSE: Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the LORD (Psalm 134:2). Have you ever wondered why oftentimes, people look towards the sky when we say, “Let us pray?” It’s actually an outward show of an inner truth, of something spiritual, because the Father isn’t in the sky but inside us; He lives in you. So, don’t get confused by the motions and outward expressions and gesticulations.
Psalm 141:2 says, “Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.” When David, a prophet of God, wrote this, he was well acquainted with the priesthood ministry of the Old Testament in the old tabernacle. He spoke prophetically and likened the evening sacrifice in the Old Testament to the lifting of our hands in worship today.
Also, the Bible says, “Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the LORD” (Psalm 134:2). The Apostle Paul reiterated the same thing; he understood the importance of lifting our hands in worship when he said by the Spirit, “I will therefore that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands without wrath and doubting” (1 Timothy 2:8).
When your hands are lifted up in worship, you’re affirming that the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made you free from death and the law of sin; you’re affirming your liberty, joy, access into God’s presence and your oneness with Him. You’re not trying to “reach out” to God as though He were far away; He’s in you, you’re in Him; and you know it. Blessed be God!
FURTHER STUDY: 1 Corinthians 3:16 & Psalm 134:1-2
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 02 SEPTEMBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: AN ENDLESS ERA OF GLORY KEY VERSE: Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen (Ephesians 3:20-21) The Greek word translated “ages” in the verse above is “genea” and it means generations; “all ages” here refers to all the generations of the
Church. Then it goes further to say, “world without end,” meaning “an endless era.” When Christ rose from the dead and sent the Holy Spirit to begin the Church, we began an endless era; the era of the Church that’ll never end!
Satan only takes over this world after we’ve been raptured. We’ll be with the Lord for seven years (timeline on earth), and then come back with Him to this earth to reign and rule with Him.
The power and glory of God that we see in Christ today isn’t about to come to an end. We’re into something that knows no end; the glory only goes on. The Bible says, “But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day” (Proverbs 4:18). This is what the world doesn’t understand. No one can ever bring down the Church of Jesus Christ.
When Satan tries to incite his demons against the Church or against the work of God, all that’s necessary is for any child of God who’s full of faith and the Holy Ghost to rise up and exercise dominion. Glory to God! There’s “a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” waiting for us (2 Corinthians 4:17). This is why you can be full of joy every day, because your life can only be ever more glorious. Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY Proverbs 4:18 NIV, Matthew 16:18 & Ephesians 3:20-21 MSG
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 01 SEPTEMBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THE GREATNESS OF HIS NAME KEY VERSE: Christ rules there above all heavenly rulers, authorities, powers, and lords; he has a title superior to all titles of authority in this world and in the next (Ephesians 1:21 GNB). Did you know that in the Millennium, they’d have to use the Name of Jesus? That’s the same Name we’ve already been given and have lived in, lived by, used and enjoyed for almost 2000 years. Glory to God! Sadly, many today still don’t understand the authority that’s vested in the Name of Jesus and the power of attorney given to us to use it. That’s why they’ve never fully enjoyed the benefits of it.
Jesus has a Name that’s superior to all titles of authority in this world and in the next. So, learn to use His Name. The Weymouth New Testament describes the transcendent greatness of His power, the infinitude of His might, and the supremacy and dominion of His Name, reign and glory both in this age and in the age to come: “…that you may know…the transcendent greatness of His power…as seen in the working of His infinite might when He displayed it in Christ by raising Him from the dead and seating Him at His own right hand in the heavenly realms, high above all other government and authority and power and dominion, and every title of sovereignty used either in this Age or in the Age to come” (Ephesians 1:18-21 WNT).
The most beautiful part is that His authority, His rulership, reign and dominion is for the benefit of the Church. He is all that He is—His Name wields all the power that it wields—for our benefit. Ephesians 1:22 NLT says, “…God has put all things under the authority of Christ, and he gave him this authority for the benefit of the church.”
Never live as a victim. Don’t live an ordinary life. Use the Name of Jesus. He said, “All authority is given unto me in heaven and in earth.” Then on the basis of that authority, He said, “Go ye therefore…” (Matthew 28:19). Devils, angels, life, death, hell, the world, circumstances, living and non-living things hear and respond to you in His Name. Therefore, be conscious of the transcendent greatness of His Name; live and do all things in His Name.
FURTHER STUDY
Isaiah 45:23, Ephesians 1:19-23 & Philippians 2:9-10
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY 31 AUGUST 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: WE’RE SELF SUFFICIENT
KEY VERSE: Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content (Philippians 4:11).
One of the attributes of God is that He’s self-sufficient. He doesn’t need anything from anyone or anywhere. Everything is in Him. He doesn’t “need” power; He is power. He doesn’t “need” wisdom; He is wisdom. He doesn’t “need” righteousness; He is righteousness. He’s the self-existent and self-sufficient God. Did you know that’s the life He’s given you as well?
Like Him, you don’t have to depend on external forces or factors. Everything you require to fulfil all that God wants you to do, and to be all that He created you to be is in you. Consider the Greek rendering of the word “content” in our theme scripture; it’s “autarkes,” from where the English derived the word “Autarchy.” Autarchy is the policy of economic independence on external forces; to be self-sufficient.
When you study 2 Corinthians 9:8 (AMPC), you see this clearly as God’s will for His children. It says, “And God is able to make all grace (every favor and earthly blessing) come to you in abundance, so that you may always and under all circumstances and whatever the need be self-sufficient [possessing enough to require no aid or support and furnished in abundance for every good work and charitable donation].”
This is simple to comprehend because truly, a Christian is one in whom Christ dwells, and Christ is everything. When you have Christ, you’re full; you have it all. This was something I meditated on much in my youth, and I made up my mind it was going to be my experience and it’s been ever since.
Make up your mind to live in blessings and abundance, because it’s the life God has given to you in Christ. Refuse to allow circumstances determine or dictate the outcome of your life. Live in God’s Word. Even if it’s power you thought you needed, the Holy Spirit Himself, who is the power of God, lives in you.
His power in you is inherent; self-generating. Your responsibility is to activate and put it to work at all times. Get to know who you are and live accordingly, independent of circumstances. Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY
2 Corinthians 3:5 AMPC,
1 John 4:4, 2 Peter 1:3
& Colossians 1:27
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 30 AUGUST 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: EVER-INCREASING GRACE, FAITH AND GLORY
KEY VERSE: _And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace (John 1:16)._
In Christ, we were given a life that started with grace. The English Standard Version (ESV) of our theme verse says, _“And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.”_ Hallelujah! It was with grace that your salvation came. There’s absolutely nothing in this world—including its fame or fortune—that could be compared with what the grace of Jesus Christ has bequeathed to you.
His grace granted you all things. By His grace, you’ve been endowed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 1:3). You have all that you require for life and for godliness (2 Peter 1:3). His grace brought acceptability, advantage, favour, joy, liberality, pleasure, and fulfillment. Glory to God!
Secondly, your life is also from faith to faith; ever increasing faith! Talking about the Gospel, the Bible says, _“For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith…”’_ (Romans 1:17). The more you receive God’s Word, the greater your faith, for _“…faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God”_ (Romans 10:17).
Then, as you understand faith, and walk in God’s righteousness, it goes to the next level, which is “from glory to glory.” So, your life never goes down; it’s upward and forward only. So, be more conscious of the glorious life of boundless grace, faith and glory that you have in Christ. Every so often, declare, “I’m moving from grace to grace, faith to faith, and from glory to glory.” Hallelujah!
CONFESSION
My life is characterised by grace; grace heaped upon grace! God’s grace that brings favour, prosperity, health and supernatural increase has been lavished on my life! And by my faith, I’m leaping over walls; the world is beaten down before me; I reign over Satan and the elements of this world. My life is for the glory of God; His glory in, and through me is ever-increasing, to fulfil His purpose for my life, in the Name of the Lord Jesus! Amen.
FURTHER STUDY
Hebrews 4:16
_16- Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need._
2 Timothy 2:1
_1- You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus._
Romans 4:16
_16- Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all_
2 Corinthians 3:18
_18- But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN 1 Corinthians 14 & Proverbs 3-4
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN Luke 19:41-48 & 1 Samuel 18
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SUNDAY 29 AUGUST 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THE CHURCH IS THE BODY OF CHRIST KEY VERSE: For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones (Ephesians 5:30).
There’re some who see the Church as a Gentile nation that got some “second-class” salvation from God. Those who hold such erroneous beliefs about the Church don’t understand the mystery of the Church.
The reason some people don’t understand the Gospel of Jesus Christ about the Church is that the Old Testament, which is what they hold on to, doesn’t explain the revelation of the Church. It was a mystery; it wasn’t revealed to the Old Testament prophets. So, the experts in Judaism don’t know anything about the Church, even though the prophets testified of salvation of Gentiles. To learn about the Church, you’d have to study from the gospels (from the words of Jesus Himself) and then into the epistles where the revelation of the Church as the Body of Christ was unveiled.
Ephesians 2:16-17 says, “And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.” In other words, God preached peace and reconciliation to both the Jews and the Gentiles and brought them together in one body called the Church! It’s a new body made up of people from among the two groups: Jews and Gentiles. However, to be in this body, you must be born again, whether you’re a Jew or you’re a Gentile.
Neither of the two groups is inferior to the other. Our opening verse says, “For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.” It doesn’t get closer than that! The Church is His body. And when He said, “...I will build my church…" (Matthew 16:18), He was talking about the body of Christ, and that’s you and me, all our brothers and sisters around the world; we’re the expressions of His reality, of His fullness, His grace, glory, kingdom, power and personality. We’re His body! Glory to God!
FURTHER STUDY Galatians 3:27-28, 1 Corinthians 12:12 Colossians 3:10-11
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY 28 AUGUST 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THE IMPARTATION OF ETERNAL LIFE
KEY VERSE: _And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son (1 John 5:11)._
When you believed the Gospel of Jesus Christ and received Him as Lord of your life, He imparted your spirit with eternal life. Eternal life is the nature of God; the God-type of life. Christianity starts with the impartation of the life and nature of God into your human spirit, right after which you’re awakened to the fatherhood of God; you come alive in God! That’s also the evidence that you’re in the Kingdom of God’s dear Son.
The Bible says we were delivered from the domain of darkness, and transferred into the Kingdom of God’s Son (Colossians 1:13). You live in the Kingdom of God now; and you have eternal life now. But if you don’t recognize this reality, you can’t live the Kingdom life; you’ll be walking as a mere mortal.
Now that you’re born again, immortality took over mortality: _“This truth is now being unveiled by the revelation of the anointed Jesus, our life-giver, who has dismantled death, obliterating all its effects on our lives, and has manifested his immortal life in us by the Gospel”_ (2 Timothy 1:10 TPT). You don’t have two natures in you; you have one, and it’s the immortal life and nature of God. You’re a divine being encased in a human body; born of the Word of God.
Don’t think you’re an ordinary person or like your next-door neighbour who isn’t born again just because you have a similar physical body. No; you’re a partaker of the divine nature. You’re in God’s class of being; it was His work; He determined for it to be so. It’s what Jesus came to do: He came to give us eternal life and make fellowship—oneness with God—possible, and He accomplished it. Hallelujah!
CONFESSION
I’m a partaker of the divine nature; an associate of the God-kind. My spirit has been imparted with eternal life—the God-type of life! Therefore, I live in the realm of incorruptibility, immortality, everlasting joy, peace and glory; reigning and ruling over Satan, his demons and the elements of this world. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY
John 10:10 NIV
_10- The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full._
1 John 5:11-12
_11- And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son._
_12- He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN 1 Corinthians 12 & Psalms 146-150
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN Luke 19:20-27 & 1 Samuel 16
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY 27 AUGUST 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: WALK AND STAY IN TRUTH KEY VERSE: For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist (2 John 1:7).*_
The Word of God is truth; you can’t know the Word and be deceived or follow the wrong voice. 1 John 4:1 says, “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” Always, there’s a light in your spirit when you know the Word of God such that you’re not misled by false prophets, false teachers, and false brethren.
One of the ways that many are easily misled is through wrong associations. If as a Christian, you start associating with certain individuals who aren’t supposed to be in your “aion” (your course of life)—individuals who have a doctrine or training that’s inconsistent with the teaching and truth of the Word—you’re definitely in a wrong direction. With time, such people could become your advisers, and before long, your language will change.
This is how many are motivated or inspired by the spirit of error, and they go into error. The Bible says, “We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error” (1 John 4:6). Stay in the truth!
The Apostle John was so concerned about God’s people knowing and walking in truth. In 2 John 1:1, he said, “The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth.” God wants you walking in the truth because as read in our theme verse, many deceivers are in the world who don’t confess that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. They acknowledge neither the incarnation nor the resurrection of Christ.
To confess that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh means making confession to this truth, living a life that’s worthy of this truth, giving glory to God. So, in these last days, walk in truth. John says, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth” (3 John 1:4).
FURTHER STUDY:
1 John 2:26-27, 2 John 1:7-8, 3 John 1:11-12 & 1 John 4:6 NIV
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 26 AUGUST 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: TRUST THE GRACE OF GOD KEY VERSE: Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus (2 Timothy 2:1). There’s no doubt that as Christians, we’re mightily graced of God; He’s lavished His grace upon us in superabundance. An important question to therefore ask would be, how far can we go with this grace? How much more can we explore this grace? Our theme verse admonishes us to “be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.”
To be strong in the grace of God is to walk in the fullness of His grace. In Acts 3, the Bible gives us a perfect example of how we can use the grace of God and produce supernatural results. Peter and John were going into the temple at the time of prayer, and they found a man who was crippled from birth. The Bible says the beggar, “Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms” (Acts 3:3).
Peter knew this was an opportunity to put the grace of God to work. So, he said to the man, “Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk” (Acts 3:6). But the man didn’t quite get up. Then Peter yanked him up, and immediately, his ankle bones received strength, and the man was healed. Blessed be God! He placed a demand on the grace of God, and it worked!
This is what you’ve got to do in your life. Explore the grace of God in your everyday affairs, in simple matters; use it. Depend on it for the results you expect, the positive outcomes you desire in your life, ministry, work, family, business or academics.
Grace promotes. Grace lifts; it’ll take you from where you are right now to your next and higher place in and with the Spirit. Remember what He said to the Apostle Paul when he (Paul) was in a predicament: “...My grace is sufficient for thee...” (2 Corinthians 12:9); in other words, that’s what you need! Trust the grace of God to help you accomplish God’s call and purpose for your life.
FURTHER STUDY
John 1:16 AMPC, Romans 5:17 & 2 Corinthians 9:8
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 25 AUGUST 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: MIRRORING YOURSELF IN THE WORD
KEY VERSE: But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord (2 Corinthians 3:18).
The term “glass” in the scripture above is the Greek “katoptrizomai,” and it means to mirror oneself. The New International Version says, “And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” It’s talking about the mirror of God, which is the Word of God.
As you study and meditate on the Word, you’re mirroring yourself! What you see in the mirror is the glory of God. Through meditation, the Word takes root in your spirit and becomes one with your spirit; it creates a picture in your mind: the image of God’s glory.
For example, you may have thought you were a dirty sinner, but then you looked in the mirror of God and saw that you’re the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus; you’ve been declared not guilty; divinely acquitted! Blessed be God! This should completely change your perception and cause you to become immediately righteousness-conscious, and walk henceforth in righteousness.
Perhaps you were told you wouldn’t amount to anything in life; you’re a poor, wretched nobody. But the Word—the mirror of God—shows otherwise. It shows you belong in a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people—handpicked by God to display His manifold wisdom and express the virtues and perfections of divinity (1 Peter 2:9). This is the truth about your personality that you must accept and endorse. Hallelujah!
Maybe for several nights, Satan has been oppressing you in your sleep, and you thought you needed “deliverance.” But you look in the mirror and see, “Giving thanks unto the Father…Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son” (Colossians 1:12-13). Immediately, that truth should get a hold of your spirit and you begin to exercise dominion over Satan and the forces of darkness.
There’s so much that happens to, and in your spirit as you meditate on the Word; you’re transformed to become what you see. Hold on to the picture, the image of you that’s projected by the Word; that’s the reality you must keep affirming, regardless of circumstances. FURTHER STUDY Romans 12:2 & James 1:23-25
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY 24 AUGUST 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: DON’T CONDEMN OTHERS
KEY VERSE: Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven (Matthew 5:16).
In your life, don’t be too quick to find fault with others. Don’t give in to the urge to condemn. The Bible says the Lord Jesus has been “…ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead” (Acts 10:42 NKJV). He alone is the true Judge, and He’s rich in mercy. There may be some people around you, perhaps, even in your local church that may not be living right; don’t judge them. Instead, be the light that wins them over. That’s what Jesus said in our theme verse.
One of the reasons people may not be living right where you are may be that your light isn’t shining brightly enough. When a Christian condemns other Christians about their way of life, he may think he’s being spiritual when it’s actually an expression of carnality. Don’t write anyone off because of their errors; Jesus also paid the price for their mistakes. He took responsibility for all our wrongs. He alone has the right to judge; yet, He doesn’t condemn us.
The Bible says “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit” (Romans 8:1). People who are carnally minded only see the wrong in other people. Those people may have actually made mistakes, or are making mistakes, but their hearts may be right with God such that when they realize their error and are corrected, they’d quickly repent.
A good example is David; he did something that was wrong, but he was truly repentant and sought and received the Lord’s forgiveness (Read 2 Samuel 12:1-13). But that wasn’t the case with Saul. When Saul was rebuked for what he did wrong, he defended himself, and God was angry with him (Read 1 Samuel 15).
The local church isn’t for “perfect” people, but for perfecting people. Come as you are, and the Word of God will wash you clean; the Word will perfect you. The five-fold ministry gifts listed in Ephesians 4:11-12 are for the perfecting of the saints for the work of the ministry and for the edifying of the body of Christ.
In the Church, we can recognize when people do something that’s wrong; yet, like Jesus, don’t judge them. That’s why we share the Word of God (Read 2 Timothy 3:16-17). The Word of God has the ability to correct any man, and help them redirect their steps. Share the Gospel; don’t condemn others.
FURTHER STUDY: Matthew 7:1-2 TLB, Ephesians 2:4-5 & Luke 6:37
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 23 AUGUST 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THE POWER OF OBEDIENCE KEY VERSE: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross (Philippians 2:8). God has His structures and systems, and operates by principles, but there’re those who always choose their own way. The Bible says there’s a way that seems right to a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death (Proverbs 14:12). It pays to listen to God and follow His ways. Never walk in disobedience.
For example, as a result of Adam’s disobedience, the Bible tells us “Death ruled like a king …” (Romans 5:17 CEV). The Amplified Classic translation puts it this way: “…because of one man’s trespass(lapse, offense) death reigned through that one….” Well then, as one man’s disobedience led to condemnation for all men, so also did Christ’s act of righteousness lead to eternal life and divine acquittal of all men. Jesus, the second and last Adam, did this by obedience.
We also read in our opening verse that He _“...being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”_ Remember that Jesus is Himself God, but nothing was going to make Him rebellious against the Father. He was going to be obedient unto death, even the death of the Cross. God had to respond to the obedience of Jesus: “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name” (Philippians 2:9). He was given the highest title that could be conferred, because of His obedience. Glory to God!
Obedience is a great blessing in the realm of the Spirit. Being born again, you have an obedient spirit; the Bible calls us obedient children (1 Peter 1:14). So, it’s natural for you to walk in the light of God’s Word, and be completely yielded to spiritual instructions.
FURTHER STUDY: 1 Peter 1:13-14 & Philippians 2:5-10
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SUNDAY 22 AUGUST 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: REIGNING IN RIGHTEOUSNESS KEY VERSE: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).
Every child of God is a king in this life, and called to reign in righteousness. Righteousness gives you the ability to stand in the presence of God without condemnation; to stand in fellowship with God, having His rightness in your spirit. This is where our audacity of faith comes from.
This is the reason we’re bold to make demands in His Name, decree a thing and have it established. It’s because our righteousness is of Him, not what you did or didn’t do, but what Jesus did. God declared you righteous freely, and declared Himself to be righteous by so doing: “To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus” (Romans 3:26). Hallelujah!
Righteousness makes us masters; it gives us dominion. You’re not a victim, but a victor in Christ Jesus. John knew this and declared, “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).
God has imparted His nature of righteousness to you, and that’s what makes you like Him. That nature makes you think, see, and talk like Him. You’ve been raised to His level through Christ. Our opening verse says, _“…they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.” You’ve received grace to reign over and above Satan and the elements of this world.
The Bible says He’s made us kings and priests and we shall reign on the earth. Kings reign by issuing decrees and pronouncements; Ecclesiastes 8:4 says, _*“Where the word of a king is, there is power: and who may say unto him, What doest thou?” No wonder the Bible says you shall decree a thing, and it shall be established unto you (Job 22:28).
FURTHER STUDY Romans 5:17 AMPC*
Romans 5:20-21
Revelation 5:10
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY 21 AUGUST 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THE WORD CONDITIONS YOUR SPIRIT
KEY VERSE: And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind… (Romans 12:2).
Something very significant the Word of God does in your life is the conditioning of your spirit. The Word of God can condition you to think like God. It’s the reason we’re admonished to renew our minds with the Word through meditation.
When the Word gets into your spirit through meditation, you’re programmed to live accordingly. Circumstances, the world around you, and other voices may try to sway you from the Word, but they won’t succeed if your spirit is conditioned by the Word.
For example, if you’ve been timid or afraid, meditate on the Word. 2 Timothy 1:7 says, _“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”_ Keep affirming, “I have a sound mind; I’m bold, courageous, and full of power.” Before long, the Word will condition your spirit with boldness, courage and excellence; you’ll become audacious in faith. The Word has conditioned my spirit to think the Kingdom way, to be bold and very courageous; and nothing can change that.
The Word is the foundation for a great life. The Word in you makes you impregnable to the crises of life; it makes you think, see and act from the view-point of advantage and victory only. With such a mentality, everything you do prospers; you walk in excellence and grace. It makes no difference the challenges you face or who might be working against you; you’re unperturbed, because the Word has conditioned your spirit to know that nothing and no one can successfully stand against you.
Get the Word into you. Colossians 3:16 says to let the Word of God dwell in you richly. Take your personal study of the Word and times of meditation more seriously. That way, the Word will mingle with your spirit, grow mightily in you and over any situation you’re dealing with, and prevail. Then you’d find that you’re full of joy every day, full of health and strength. Praise God!
FURTHER STUDY Romans 12:2 AMPC, Joshua 1:8 _8- Colossians 3:16
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY 20 AUGUST 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: A PERFECT HEART AND A WILLING MIND
KEY VERSE: And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts… (1 Chronicles 28:9).
Whatever you do for the Lord, the heart from where it comes, and the attitude with which you carry it out, matters. God searches all hearts, and understands all the thoughts and goings-on of our minds. So, He seeks a perfect heart and a willing mind. He said in 2 Corinthians 8:12, “For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted….” Remember what the Bible says of Amaziah the king; he did what was right in the sight of God but not with a perfect heart (2 Chronicles 25:2). But how’s your heart going to be right with God? How’s your mind going to be willing? It’s through the Word. A heart that’s perfect and willing is one that’s yielded to the Word; sanctified, renewed and under the sway of the Spirit through the Word.
The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 4:6, “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts….” How did He do it? It’s through the Word! His Word illumines our hearts to
know His will. Then it says in Romans 12:2, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” You wouldn’t know God’s mind; His thoughts and opinions, His perfect will concerning anything if you don’t know His Word.
That’s the reason you must study and know the Scriptures for yourself. Jesus said, “...Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures…” (Matthew 22:29). If you want to serve God rightly, then get to know the Word. It’s about the Scriptures getting into your spirit and culturing your mind. Give more attention to studying the Scriptures for the wisdom and insight of the Spirit, by which He gives you guidance on how to serve God truly, with a pure heart, and a willing mind.
FURTHER STUDY: 1 Samuel 16:7 & Proverbs 23:26
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 19 AUGUST 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: YOUR FAITH IN THE WORD
KEY VERSE: He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him (John 3:36).
“I’ve prayed; I’ve confessed the Word; I’ve fasted; I’ve even sowed a seed; yet, my condition hasn’t improved.” Oftentimes, people agonize like this, as they struggle with their faith. This is because, for the most part, they haven’t learnt how to use their faith.
Until you discover how to make your faith work, you’ll keep struggling. We have a book titled, “How To Make Your Faith Work”; read it to learn more on the subject. There may be a time of struggling in any area of your life, where you find a difference between what the Word says and your personal experience. At such times, meditate more on the Word. Don’t focus your mind on what’s happening, but on the Word, on what you believe. Soon enough, the Word will grow mightily in you, and over that situation, and prevail. That’s the guaranteed outcome.
Your faith is the victory over all circumstances and adversities of life: “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith” (1 John 5:4). Keep acting your faith on the Word. You might say, “What if it doesn’t work?” Faith always works. If it didn’t work, then it was never faith.
Take advantage of God’s extraordinary power in overcoming life’s adversities by expressing your faith. Faith not expressed will not prevail (James 2:17 & 26). You express your faith in words and actions, remaining undaunted in the face of adversity.
Jesus said, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you can achieve anything; nothing shall be impossible unto you (Matthew 17:20). So, cheer up; the victory is yours already. Hallelujah! There’s a guarantee that your faith will work if you’d act on the Word.
FURTHER STUDY Mark 11:22-23 & Romans 4:18-21
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY 17 AUGUST 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: HONOUR THE NAME OF JESUS
KEY VERSE: Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth (Philippians 2:9-10).
Jesus is head over all things; He’s the head of all principality and power. His Name has power in heaven, in the earth, and under the earth. Everything responds to His Name. Demons bow to His Name and scamper in terror; contrary circumstances are changed at the mention of His Name.
You have to learn to honour His Name for its power to work for you, in you, and through you. Your result, or how much that Name works for you is to the extent that you honour it. Honour, primarily, means to show respect to, towards or for. Honouring the Name of Jesus means giving recognition to Him, and serving Him as Lord. His Name only works for those who honour Him as Lord.
For instance, there’re sinners who agree that the Name of Jesus is the greatest Name, but they don’t serve Him; they aren’t following Him. As a result, the Name isn’t working for them. In the same way, as a Christian, you have to be subject to the Lord Jesus.
Honour Him in your life for His Name to work for you. God said in 1 Samuel 2:30, “…them that honour me I will honour….” Jesus said, “…if any man serve me, him will my father honour” (John 12:26).
FURTHER STUDY: Philippians 2:9-11 MSG, Acts 3:16 & Matthew 10:32-33
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 16 AUGUST 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THE PLACE OF POWER AND AUTHORITY KEY VERSE: But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:4-6).
According to the Bible, when Jesus ascended to heaven and sat on the right hand of power (the right hand of God), we were in Him. So, we’re seated together with Him in the place of power and authority. That’s why He gave us His Name to live by, to use in the earth, because in heaven, He represents us. We stand in Jesus’ stead and enforce the will of the Father here on earth. But in heaven, we answer His Name.
You’ve got to use the Name of Jesus. Colossians 3:17 says, “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus….” Imagine what victories you’d have if you lived in the Name of Jesus! The forces or elements of this world may want to exert their negativities on you, and get you to believe or act contrary to the Word. But you have to dominate them in the Name of Jesus!
It doesn’t matter what infirmity tries to ravage your body; place your hand over it and command it to leave your body in the Name of Jesus Christ. As the watchman over your body, give no place to sickness in your body. Jesus said in Mark 16:17-18, _“And these signs shall follow them that believe…they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.”_ Jesus said, “heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons” (Matthew 10:8). Therefore, exercise your authority and dominion in Christ over sickness, disease, death and the elements of this world.
CONFESSION
I’m seated with Christ in the place of power, dominion and majesty, and in a position of authority. I give no room for darkness, sickness, defeat and pain, for I dwell in a place of absolute mastery in Christ Jesus, and I’ve overcome the world. Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY
Luke 10:19 AMPC
_19- Behold! I have given you authority and power to trample upon serpents and scorpions, and [physical and mental strength and ability] over all the power that the enemy [possesses]; and nothing shall in any way harm you._
Ephesians 2:4-6
_4- But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,_
_5- even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),_
_6- and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,_
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN 1 Corinthians 1 & Psalms 104-106
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN Luke 16:19-31 & 1 Samuel 1
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SUNDAY 15 AUGUST 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: DIVINELY FAVOURED KEY VERSE: And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace (John 1:16 ESV). If you’re a child of God, you’re divinely favoured, and it’s important that you recognize it. When we talk about being divinely favoured, it means that God’s grace has been lavished upon you in Christ Jesus. The Bible says, “For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ” (John 1:17).
Romans 5:17 says, “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.” That’s what we received: Abundance of grace! Our theme verse calls it “grace upon grace.” Hallelujah! Every so often, you should declare, “I’m walking and functioning in divine favour.”
Recall the salutation from the angel to Mary in Luke 1:28: “Hail, thou that art highly favoured….” The same expression is used in Ephesians 1:6, but wrongly translated as “accepted”: “To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.” The Greek is “charitoolj” and it means to grace or be imbued with special honour; make accepted or be highly favoured. So, we’re “highly favoured in the beloved.” Hallelujah!
You’ve got to take advantage of the grace of Jesus Christ at work in you. With that grace, everything works: The earth responds to you; the heavens respond to you; life is glorious; and whatever you lay your hands to do, prospers. Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY: John 1:16 AMPC, Psalm 5:12 & Ephesians 4:7
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY 14 AUGUST 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: HE’S RIGHT INSIDE YOU KEY VERSE: Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works (John 14:10).
Christianity is Christ in you, not Christ with you, or among you, but in you. There’s a clear difference. When it dawns on you that truly, this great God of glory, in all His fullness and power, lives in you, it’ll change the way you think and the way you live; you’ll have a completely different outlook on life. This is what you need to train and exercise yourself in: the consciousness of the indwelling Christ.
For some, God is in Heaven, so far away; so they pray and sing, “Draw me nearer to thee O Lord!” How much “nearer” do you want to get to someone who’s right inside you? Have the mentality of Jesus; when He was on earth, He lived in union with the Father, and was constantly mindful of the Father’s indwelling presence.
We read His words in our opening verse; He said, _“…the Father that dwelleth in me…”_; He was referring to the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is coequal with God. He’s the Father that lives in you! So you see? He’s not far away; He’s in you! Some people worry that sometimes, it’s like their prayers don’t go beyond the ceiling; it doesn’t need to. The God to whom you pray is right inside you, where you are, under the ceiling.
1 Corinthians 6:17 talks about our inseparable union with Jesus; it says, _“But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.”_ This is the reason you can enjoy rich fellowship with Him, and walk in union with Him. There’s no need to try to reach out to Him, crying out as though He were far away. Everywhere you are, He’s in you, and you in Him.
He is your home; you were born into Him when you were born again. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, _“Therefore if any man be in Christ…”_; you live, move and have your being in Him. Like Jesus, be bold to say, “I am in the Father, and the Father is in me” (John 14:11). Blessed be God!
FURTHER STUDY: John 14:16-18, Galatians 4:6 & Colossians 1:26-27
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY 13 AUGUST 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: BOLD AND PASSIONATE FOR THE KINGDOM
KEY VERSE: And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen (Mark 16:20). Preach the Gospel with passion, and as you do, the Lord will confirm His Word with signs following. We have something to give to the world; it’s the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ. Recall what the Lord charged us to do: “Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely you have received, freely give” (Matthew 10:8). He has given us both the power and authority to do mighty works in His Name and demonstrate the character of the Holy Spirit to our world.
Therefore, take your place in the ministry of the Gospel. Never lose focus of the Master’s calling on your life. Serve Him selflessly, with an undying passion. If you’re passionate for Him, He’ll be passionate for you; He’ll stand up for you if you’d stand up for Him: “Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 10:32).
The Bible says, “For the love of Christ constrainetus; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead” (2 Corinthians 5:14). Here, the Apostle Paul says our love and passion for the Lord compels us with the truth of the Gospel.
The Lord is with you, strong and mighty; and with the faith of God in your spirit, take your partnership in the Gospel to a higher level. Get “wild” for God! Invest your time and resources in world evangelism. Keep winning souls and let nothing quench your love for the Lord.
The Bible says those that turn many to righteousness shall shine as stars forever (Daniel 12:3). Shine evermore by making an impact with the Gospel. Be so passionate for the Gospel that its impact in men’s lives, and spread around the world, is all that matters to you.
FURTHER STUDY Philippians 4:15-17 CEV, Matthew 6:33 & Acts 20:18-24
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 12 AUGUST 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: WE EXECUTE JUDGEMENT ON SATAN AND HIS DEMONS
KEY VERSE: Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds. Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a twoedged sword in their hand; To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people; To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; To execute upon them the judgement written: this honour have all his saints. Praise ye the Lord (Psalm 149:5-9). The Lord Jesus occupies the most exalted position there is. He’s seated at the right hand of the Father, far above all principality, and power, might, and dominion, and every name that is named. But the most exciting part is that you’re in Him. You’re seated with Him in glory, with dominion over Satan and the princes of darkness (Ephesians 2:6).
That’s the reason in Christianity, we don’t fight the devil or negotiate with him; we cast him out. We exercise dominion and execute judgement over Satan and the principalities of darkness. They’ve been judged, and we’re the ones authorized to execute the judgement; it’s part of our heritage in Christ:
_“To execute upon them (Satan and his demons) the judgement written: this honour have all his saints. Praise ye the LORD”_ (Psalm 149:9). In John 16:11, Jesus said, _“…the prince of this world is judged”_; it’s your responsibility to keep him under your feet. That’s why the Bible says to cast him out! You don’t struggle with Satan. The resurrection of Jesus made a champion of you. You operate from a higher realm where your words are backed by Deity.
Even now, address Satan with words of power and break his influence over your town, city, country, home or environment. You’re the one in charge. Use your authority in the Name of Jesus to frustrate and overturn his activities. Jesus gave you all authority in heaven and in the earth (Matthew 28:18-19); use it every day against Satan and the demons of darkness. Glory to God!
CONFESSION
I walk in dominion over Satan and the princes of darkness, because I’m seated with Christ in glory, dominion and power. I reign and rule over circumstances and elements of this world, today and always, because I live in, and by the Name of Jesus. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY
Ephesians 2:4-6
_4- But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,_
_5- even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),_
_6- and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,_
Matthew 28:18-19
_18- And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth._
_19- Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,_
John 12:31 AMPC
_31- Now the judgment (crisis) of this world is coming on [sentence is now being passed on this world]. Now the ruler (evil genius, prince) of this world shall be cast out (expelled)._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN Romans 14-15:1-4 & Psalms 90-93
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN Luke 15:11-19 & Judges 20
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 11 AUGUST 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THE DAY OF SALVATION KEY VERSE: (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation) (2 Corinthians 6:2).
More than ever before, there’s a burning passion in the hearts of God’s people to preach the Gospel, just as there’s a great hunger and yearning for salvation in the hearts of men and women around the world. The Spirit has been poured out upon all flesh. Recall the words of Jesus in Acts 1:8: “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”
That’s the season we are in now! We’ve been endued with power to be effectual in soul winning. The message is available to everyone, and everyone can give their hearts to Christ, because this is the acceptable time! Jesus called it “...the acceptable year of the Lord” (Luke 4:19). And it’s aptly corroborated in our theme verse: “…now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation).” This is the day of salvation. Glory to God!
However, the acceptable time would wind up and judgement would begin. Jesus brought in the acceptable time; He’ll come back for the day of vengeance. But at the moment, we’re workers together with God in the acceptable time, bringing men and women into salvation (2 Corinthians 6:1).
Help those around you receive salvation through the power of God that works in you in this hour of His grace. Take the Gospel to the lost, hopeless, hurting and downtrodden in your world and in the regions beyond. Remember, the time is short; therefore, glorify God by being fervent and effectual in leading souls to Christ.
FURTHER STUDY Isaiah 49:7-9 TLB & Hebrews 3:7-8
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY 10 AUGUST 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: SEPARATED FROM JUDGEMENT KEY VERSE: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16). There’s a word of judgement and condemnation that’s already working in the world. Anyone who’s born into this world inherits that judgement. But when you’re born again, a new life begins with acquittal: “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ”(Romans 5:1). Romans 8:1 declares: “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”
It parallels the words of Jesus in our opening verse; anyone who believes in Him is severed from judgement. You’re not numbered amongst them that perish; there’s a divine decree to that effect. All the negativities in the world: the darkness, diseases, sicknesses, infirmities, poverty, defeat and failure are a result of the curse, the judgement that’s at work in the world. But you’re not of this world (John 17:16); you’re from above; from a heavenly kingdom.
Keep yourself separated from, and in dominion over, all the negative influences and elements of this world through your faith-filled words. 1 Corinthians 2:12-13 says “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak….” Keep declaring the Word of victory over your life.
Every so often, affirm that you live above this world and have overcome its failing systems! Your life is for the glory of God, for the expression of His righteousness, dominion and excellence. No sickness, disease or infirmity should be allowed to thrive in your body, because the Spirit of Him that raised Christ from the dead lives and perambulates in you! He’s invigorated your whole being with the divine life. Have this consciousness and make these affirmations always.
FURTHER STUDY: Galatians 3:13 AMPC & Romans 8:1 AMPC
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SUNDAY 08 AUGUST 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: FOLLOW THE MASTER’S EXAMPLE KEY VERSE: And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men (Matthew 4:19). Everything about your life should focus on winning people to Jesus Christ; there’s no higher priority than that for the Christian. The Lord Jesus Himself was a Master soul winner. In John 4:6-42, He encountered a certain woman at the well of Samaria, and engaged her in a dialogue. The woman came to draw water from the well. But to get her attention, the Lord initiated a conversation with her on something that was of interest to her—the water.
Upon getting her full attention, the Master witnessed to the woman, who believed and went about telling others about her encounter with the Christ. Matthew 4 tells us another beautiful story of how Jesus walked along the shore of Lake Galilee and saw two brothers who were fishermen: Simon Peter and his brother, Andrew. He said to them, “…Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19).
The Master always knew how to engage others in a conversation on a subject that was of interes to them, in a bid to witness to them. If you’ve often wondered how to engage people in a conversation in order to lead them to Christ, emulate the strategy of the Master.
Observe what such people might be interested in, and initiate a conversation along that line. You can ask that he or she explain something to you about a book or magazine they might be holding or reading, and then you listen with rapt attention. If you do, they’re more likely to also give you their attention when you start witnessing to them.
Of course, there are times the Lord could give you specific instructions about someone you need to witness to. At such times, don’t negotiate; go right ahead and follow the Lord’s guidance. Whatever He tells or inspires you to say at that time and place, that do. He said in Psalm 81:10, “…open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.” Always be bold, and the Lord will honour His Word in and through you.
FURTHER STUDY: 1 Corinthians 9:16 & Acts 17:22-34
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY 07 AUGUST 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: RAISED TOGETHER WITH CHRIST KEY VERSE: If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God (Colossians 3:1). When Jesus died on the Cross, He died for all men. This means legally, all men have been saved. But Christianity didn’t begin from the Cross or death of Jesus, but from the resurrection. His resurrection made the new life in Christ possible.
This is the reason the only way anyone can experience the vital reality of salvation is to act on Romans 10:9-10. It says, “…if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
Recall the words of the Spirit through the Apostle Paul in Romans 6:4: _“Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”_ When God raised Jesus from the dead, we were raised together with Him, to a newness of life. We became new creatures in Christ Jesus, alive to God, with the transcendent life.
The new creation is the product of His resurrection. You’ve been brought out of spiritual death into life. You’ve been raised together with Christ, and seated with Him in the heavenly realms; now the Bible says you should seek those things which are above: “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth” (Colossians 3:2).
Have the consciousness of one who’s born from above and is seated together with Christ in the place of dominion, glory and power! Let the things of God, of His heavenly Kingdom to which you’ve been born mean more to you. Speak the heavenly language; live and see from above.
FURTHER STUDY: Ephesians 1:18-23 & Ephesians 2:4-6
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY 06 AUGUST 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: CHRIST AT HOME IN YOU KEY VERSE: 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).
“Christ in you” refers to all that’s in the character, personality, potency of the glory and graces of Christ embodied in you. And that’s done by the Holy Spirit. Recall the words of Jesus in John 14:23; “…If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.” This was before His death, burial, resurrection and ascension to heaven. He had said in John 14:16-17, “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter…ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.” He made good on His promise, and on the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came and indwelt the disciples. Today, being born again, we’ve become His living temple; He’s set up His abode in us. This was a mystery in the Old Testament; the prophets and even the angels wondered how it would be possible for God to make His home in men’s hearts.
But it was ever God’s desire; He said in Proverbs 8:31, “…my delights were with the sons of men.” Paul, by the Spirit, eventually writes and unveils this mystery as read in our theme scripture. So, when we say, “Christ in you,” we’re looking at the character, the beauty, all of the glory, power, and the righteousness of God encapsulated in a man.
Ephesians 3:17 says, “That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith….” That word “dwell” means “settle”; so, you’re one in whom Christ has settled. He has made His home in your heart by faith; there’s a mingling; a oneness of spirit. His very life, the very quality of His personality and the characteristics of His glory are all in you today. Glory to His Name forever!
FURTHER STUDY: 1 Corinthians 6:19, John 14:16-17 AMPC & 1 Corinthians 3:16-17
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 05 AUGUST 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: ALIGN YOURSELF WITH GOD’S VISION
KEY VERSE: _And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18).._
Some people live their lives pursuing their own selfish interests, not aligning themselves with God’s vision. What’s God’s vision? It’s that men come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:4). Therefore, connect your dreams to His dream; and purify your motives with His love.
Soul winning should be the compelling motive and propelling force in your life. You’re first a Christian before being a politician, teacher, banker, student, etc.; therefore, fulfil your calling in the Gospel. Let the expansion of God’s Kingdom be your number one passion. Therein lies true joy, fulfilment and all the blessings you could ever desire.
There’s a depth in God, a realm of joy and fulfilment you’ll never know until you make your life count in soul winning. Jesus said in Mark 16:15, _“...Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.”_ In Matthew 24:14, He said, _“And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.”_
The instruction to take the message of salvation to the ends of the earth wasn’t just to pastors and evangelists, but to every Christian. You’re a minister of the New Testament (2 Corinthians 3:6); a bearer of the glad tidings of salvation. You’ve been commissioned to reach out to those living in darkness with the light of salvation.
You’re a light in a dark world; therefore, be aglow with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Beam it with steady radiance to others so they can become lights as well. You’re God’s man for the hour, holding forth the word of life—opening the eyes of them that are lost—turning them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God.
PRAYER
Dear Father, thank you for the grace for salvation that’s at work even now as your children all around the world proclaim the Gospel. Many are turned from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, as they hear and receive the Gospel today, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY
Habakkuk 2:14
_14- “Behold the proud, His soul is not upright in him; But the just shall live by his faith._
Acts 26:16-18
_16- But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you._
_17- I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you,_
_18- to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’_
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN Romans 8:18-39 & Psalms 70-73
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN Luke 13:10-21 & Judges 11
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 04 AUGUST 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THE KINGDOM IN YOU KEY VERSE: Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God (Mark 1:14). Jesus came preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom of God. He said the time was fulfilled, and that the Kingdom of God was near (Mark 1:15). What is the Kingdom of God? The Kingdom of God isn’t a place; it’s the reign of God, where He rules as Lord, and expresses Himself—His glory and His goodness.
That’s why Jesus cautioned that when we’re told, “the Kingdom of God is over there,” or “it’s over here,” don’t believe it, because the Kingdom doesn’t come by observation; it’s within you (Luke 17:20-21). God’s plan in this age is to set up His Kingdom in the hearts of men as a spiritual kingdom.
Recall when Jesus was brought before Pilate, in John 18:36-37; Pilate asked Him some questions to which He responded, “…My Kingdom is not of this world…” (John 18:36). God’s Kingdom isn’t a physical structure; yet Jesus said, “It has come!” Indeed, it has, because it’s in our hearts.
The Gospel today is that God’s Kingdom can be set up in the hearts of men; it has arrived! Jesus said, “…If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him” (John 14:23). This wasn’t provided in the days of Abraham, Moses, Elijah, Elisha, David, Solomon and the patriarchs of old; but it is in our day.
When Jesus came, He brought the Kingdom in Him. Now that we’ve received Him, we have the Kingdom in us: the glory, grace and the life of God—all of divinity has been set up in your heart! God is at home in you now. You’ve become, not just a citizen of the Kingdom, but also the bearer or carrier of the Kingdom, of divine verities. Hallelujah! FURTHER STUDY: Colossians 1:27, 2 Corinthians 4:6-7 & Luke 17:21
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY 03 AUGUST 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: RIGHTEOUSNESS THROUGH THE GOSPEL KEY VERSE: For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith... (Romans 1:16-17). Through the years, men have sought righteousness, but the righteousness of God is only revealed in the Gospel of Christ. Until one accepts the Gospel he or she will never know or receive the righteousness of God, and be able to live a righteous life.
This Righteousness is the rightness of God in the human spirit. It is the nature of God that gives the ability to stand in the presence of God without condemnation, guilt, fear or inferiority. It’s the ability to stand in fellowship and rightness with God. There’s no other way to come into this extraordinary fellowship and oneness with the Lord except through the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
This is why we can’t afford to be quiet about the Gospel. It’s the answer to man’s cry. There’s no other way for men to receive salvation, learn of and understand the righteousness of God, outside of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. So, preach the Gospel. Spread the good news of righteousness to everyone in your world, being absolutely convinced that it’s man’s only way to be made right with God.
Romans 10:9-10 says, “…if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” If you’ve never been born again, now is the time: Confess the Lordship of Jesus over your life, believing in your heart that God raised Him from the dead. Accordingly, the life and nature of God will be imparted to your spirit—with the ability to walk in, and manifest the righteousness of God. Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY Romans 3:20-22 & Romans 4:1-5
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 02 AUGUST 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: JUSTIFIED AND AT PEACE
KEY VERSE: _Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1)._
The death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ has brought you into a harmonious union with God; an inextricable oneness. Before Jesus came, we were estranged from the God-life; we were in enmity toward God: _“And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight”_ (Colossians 1:21-22). Blessed be God!
Ephesians 2:13 (NIV) says, _“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.”_ Following His substitutionary work, you’ve been justified, acquitted, declared righteous. So, God isn’t mad at you and doesn’t count your sins against you.
Read what He says in Romans 5:6-10: _“For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.”_ This is absolutely profound.
Don’t be afraid that one day God may remember all the wrong things you’ve done and punish you as a result. You’ve come home to Him; you’re at rest in Christ Jesus. Now you can relate to God as your loving, heavenly Father. Romans 5:2 says, by Him we have “… access by faith into this grace wherein we stand….” In Christ, we’re in God’s divine presence, at peace and in fellowship with the Father. Hallelujah!
PRAYER
Dear Father, I thank you for bringing me into a life of peace and fellowship through Jesus Christ! Now I live in your presence forever, justified, holy and righteous before you in love. Thank you for an everlasting life of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY
Romans 5:15-17
_15- But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man’s offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many._
_16- And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification._
_17- For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.)_
1 John 1:3
_3- that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN Romans 6:15-23; Romans 7:1-6; Psalms 60-63
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN Luke 12:35-48; Judges 8
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SUNDAY 01 AUGUST 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: HIS STRENGTH FOR YOUR “WEAKNESS” KEY VERSE: And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness… (2 Corinthians 12:9).
As you serve the Lord, you should know that He never allows you to burn out or wear out. He renews your strength. Isaiah 40:30-31 puts it beautifully; it says, “Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” Hallelujah!
The Hebrew word translated “renew” above literally means “to bring back to life.” The picture is of an axed tree that’s expected to die but suddenly revives. It’s a kind of transformation where “death” is replaced with a new life; weakness is replaced with strength. One of its synonyms is “substitute” or “exchange.” Thus, your weakness is exchanged for His strength.
No wonder Paul said in Colossians 1:29, _“Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.”_ So, it’s about His divine strength at work in you.
Also, in 2 Corinthians 3:5-6, he said our competence (Greek: Hikanotes)—the ability with which we function as able ministers of the Gospel—is divine and not human: “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament….”
This is God’s plan; He gives power and strength to the weak (Isaiah 40:29). With Him, you never run out of might and inspiration. It brings to mind the words of the Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 4:16: “For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.”* As a labourer with the Lord, working for and together with Him, there’s a renewal of your strength. You’re constantly refreshed and rejuvenated by the Spirit of God to be afire, inspired and full of joy as you serve Him. Be conscious of this.
FURTHER STUDY: Isaiah 40:29
Psalm 103:1-5 & Ephesians 3:16
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY 31 JULY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: KEEP SATAN IN CHECK ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils… (Mark 16:17). ______________________________________________
One important truth every Christian must understand is that Satan and all his demons have been thoroughly, and completely dethroned and defeated by Jesus. So, no Christian should be afraid of Satan; he’s not a factor. Think about the fact that the very first thing Jesus said we could do in His Name is casting out devils; it shows just how much Satan has been paralysed.
Even if you only gave your life to Christ moments ago, you have authority over Satan and can cast out demons. That’s because being born again, you have the life of God and the righteousness of Christ; you have the authority of Jesus. Therefore, keeping Satan in check isn’t a question of how long you’ve been a Christian or how “spiritual” you think you are; it’s about Jesus and the authority He’s given you to walk and live in His Name.
Satan has no right to run things in your life, in your home, city, nation, or in the lives of your loved ones; cast him out! Exercise your authority in Christ over him. Cast him out any day, anytime and anywhere by using the Name of Jesus. When you address Satan in the Name of Jesus, he responds as though he’s hearing directly from Jesus.
You might ask, “What if the demon doesn’t go when I try to cast him out?” That’s not an option if you’re doing it in the Name of Jesus; when you have the consciousness of what that Name represents. Understand this: we walk in His Name, and walking in His Name is recognizing the power and authority of His Name; living with the consciousness of what His Name represents.
Philippians 2:9-10 says, “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth.” You couldn’t know this and be negotiating with demons; you cast them out! No devil can stand the Name of Jesus; they know what that Name represents because they are aware that in hell, Jesus spoiled principalities and powers and made a public spectacle of them (Colossians 2:15). Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY: 1 John 4:4, Luke 10:18-19 & Acts 16:16-18
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY 30 JULY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: SETTLE IT IN YOUR LIFE ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: Forever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven (Psalm 119:89). ______________________________________________
Never accept anything contrary to what the Word says about you. Never question the integrity of the Word. Believe, accept and affirm that you’re who God says you are, you have what He says you have, and can do what He says you can do.
Let the Word of God give you a new mentality, a new way of thinking. Don’t say you’re sick just because you felt the symptoms of sickness in your body. To talk that way is to take sides against the Word. The Word says if the Spirit of Him that raised Jesus from the dead lives in you (and thank God He does), that same Spirit shall vitalize your mortal body (Romans 8:11). Your confession, therefore, should always be, “I’m vitalized by the Holy Spirit; divine health is my nature and one of the many blessings I have and enjoy in Christ Jesus.”
If you’re experiencing weakness, doubt, discouragement or lack, don’t accept these anomalies as what your life should be; your life is for the glory of God. 1 Peter 2:9 (AMPC) says, “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 marvelous light.” The Word of God is practicable; when you read a scripture like this, you must respond. You say, “Blessed be God! My life is full of the glory, beauty, wisdom and excellence of the Spirit, and I manifest these to my world!”
The Word says, “All things are possible to a believing one”; respond by saying, “Yes, Lord, because of your ability that’s at work in me, my potentials are limitless; I have an ever-increasing capacity to do more.”
The Word of God will work for you only when you give it the right response. Yes, God’s Word is all-powerful and settled in heaven, but you have to settle it in your life by your affirmations: “He has said…that we may boldly say…” (Hebrews 13:5-6). Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY: Isaiah 55:10-11 & Mark 13:3
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 29 JULY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: YOUR MIND: THE INSTRUMENT FOR YOUR TRANSFORMATION ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God (Romans 12:2). ______________________________________________
The Word of God is clear on how to have a fruitful, productive and efficient life of success: it’s by the renewing of your mind with the Word. Why is your mind so important? It’s because God has fashioned the mind as the instrument for your transformation.
Your mind is unlimited in its potential to create whatever you desire. When you put your mind-power to work, the possibilities are endless. There’re no limits to what you can achieve, and absolutely no restrictions to how high you can propel yourself in life.
Your prosperity is essentially determined by the content and quality of your mind, because with your mind, you can change anything about yourself: you can establish a perfect structure and administration for your life, and enjoy to the utmost the special life and blessings God has given you.
Open your mind to God’s Word through study and meditation. 2 Timothy 2:15 says, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”*
Through conscious meditation on the Word, your mind is organized and programmed for excellence, greatness and success. Its contents and processes are synchronized with God’s thoughts and perfect will for your life. This is what brings about the transformation.
Who you are today is a function or expression of your mind-work. Through God’s Word, you can work on your mind and change its contents, and that change will show up in your life as an upgrade, reflecting in your character and the results you produce. Proverbs 4:23 & *Philippians 4:8
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 28 JULY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THE HOLY SPIRIT—YOUR ADVANTAGE ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: But you shall receive power (ability, efficiency, and might) when the Holy Spirit has come upon you…(Acts 1:8 AMPC). ______________________________________________
In your life, career, ministry, business, job or academics, are there limits you want to break? Are there new records you want to set? Do you want to chart new vistas? What is it you want to achieve? The Holy Spirit in you is your advantage! There’s something about His power and grace that causes you to do the extraordinary and unimaginable!
If you were tasked with any project or assignment, maybe in your school, place of work or an evangelical assignment in your local church, execute it by the power, wisdom and guidance of the Spirit. Become conscious that you’re up to that task because of the greater One who lives in you; working in, and through you.
The Bible says, “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13). Zechariah 4:6 says, _“…Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.”_ That same Spirit is in you today, and has brought the glory of God into your life, giving you guidance and direction, with the wisdom and ability to walk through “walls” and blaze new trails. He’s filled you with supernatural ability to do things that can’t be humanly explained.
2 Corinthians 3:5 AMPC says, “Not that we are fit (qualified and sufficient in ability) of ourselves to form personal judgments or to claim or count anything as coming from us, but our power and ability and sufficiency are from God.” Blessed be God! Every day, tell yourself, “I can do all things by the Holy Spirit who lives in me!”
Take advantage of the person, power, grace and ministry of the Holy Spirit in your life! He’s your advantage. He causes you to see, think, say and do things ordinary men can’t. FURTHER STUDY: John 14:16-17 AMPC & Colossians 1:26-29
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY 27 JULY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: “A COMPELLING DESIRE FOR CHANGE ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: …The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working] (James 5:16 AMPC). ______________________________________________
Any kind of positive change you might desire is possible in the Name of Jesus, through the power of the Holy Spirit. Looking through the Scriptures, you’d find examples of people who were desperate for a change and what they did. You too can learn what they learnt, act as they did and get what they got.
Take Hannah for an example. For many years, she remained childless until she decided she must have a miracle. She went into the house of the Lord, fell on her face before God and prayed, made a vow and prevailed.
How compelled are you to change your financial status? How compelled are you to change your health situation? How compelling is your desire to move to the next level and experience the supernatural in your daily walk, in your ministry, academics, business or career?
Success and progress in any area requires very simple and basic principles. One of such is a strong compelling desire. Let your desire be strong enough to compel you to take the right and necessary actions.
In Mark 5:25-29, we see another striking example of an actualised desire for change. It’s the account of the woman with the issue of blood who, having suffered for twelve long years, made up her mind to receive a miracle.
Compelled by her desire, she pressed through an impossible crowd to get to Jesus, defying the injunction that forbade her from having physical contact with other people. The haemorrhage she suffered made her ceremonially unclean; therefore, she stood the risk of being stoned to death if found in public, following the Jewish law of the day (Leviticus 15:25-27).
However, her desire for freedom, for her healing, compelled her to act her faith and she got a miracle. In Mark 9:23, Jesus said, “…all things are possible to him that believeth.” So, it makes no difference where you are in your life today, anything is possible. Act on God’s Word. Act your faith and be absolute about the result that you want, and it shall be so.
FURTHER STUDY: Luke 18:1-8, Hebrews 11:32-33 & Mark 5:25-29
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 26 JULY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: WALKING IN BLESSINGS ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing (1 Peter 3:9). ______________________________________________
Isn’t it great to know that the life of blessings is your heritage in Christ Jesus? God already blessed you beyond measure; He’s blessed you with ALL spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ (Ephesians 1:3). According to the Scriptures, He blessed you ever before you knew Him. How gracious the Lord is!
However, it’s one thing to be called to inherit a blessing, and a completely different thing to actually walk in it. To walk in God’s blessings, you have to recognize that you’re blessed. You have to see yourself the way God sees you and call yourself what He calls you.
Whenever God looks at you, all He sees is a success, a victor, an excellent person. In 1 Peter 2:9 AMPC, He says “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 marvelous light.” God’s Word is His Word of wisdom about your life; speak it continually.
1 Corinthians 2:12-13 says, “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak....” Your affirmation of blessings establishes them in your life. You have to declare that you’re the righteousness of God, even if you’re feeling condemned. You have to declare that you have and live in divine health, even if you’re feeling a pain in your body.
Always declare your state and estate in Christ. You’re an heir of God, and a joint-heir with Christ (Romans 8:17). 1 Corinthians 3:21 says, “…all things are yours." You’ve been called to a life of glory, honour, dominion and power; know it, affirm it, and walk accordingly.
FURTHER STUDY: Ephesians 1:3, Genesis 12:2-3 & Galatians 3:29
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SUNDAY 25 JULY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: “DISTRIBUTING” THE HOLY GHOST ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will? (Hebrews 2:4). ______________________________________________
The word translated “gifts” above shouldn’t have been translated gifts, but “distributions,” because it’s the Greek “merismos.” The Douay-Rheims translation actually renders it correctly. It says, “God also bearing them witness by signs, and wonders, and divers miracles, and distributions of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will.” What does the Scripture mean by “distribution of the Holy Ghost?” What Jesus did in John 20:22 gives us an idea. The Bible says He blew on His disciples and said, “...Receive ye the Holy Ghost” (John 20:22). He “distributed” or ministered the Holy Ghost to them. Hallelujah!
We’re ministers of the New Testament, not of the letter, but of the Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:6). We’re distributors and administrators of the Holy Ghost. Recall what we read in our theme verse! Who were those that performed the signs and wonders, and special miracles? It was the Apostles! God did signs, wonders, miracles, and “distributions of the Holy Ghost” through them.
The Bible says we’re stewards or ministers of the New Testament, of the mysteries of Christ (1 Corinthians 4:1). Hallelujah! We “serve” the Spirit, the blessings of the New Testament, like that waiter who serves in a restaurant. So, like Paul, you can say, “I’m a minister of the Spirit.”
You can lay hands on someone and say, “Receive the Holy Spirit” and the person will be filled with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit from you can go into five, ten, hundred people and more. Glory to God! This is what He’s called us to do as His ministers and ambassadors; we’re bearers of the divine order. Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY Acts 8:14-17 & 2 Corinthians 3:4-6
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY 24 JULY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC:HE ACCOMPLISHED HIS PURPOSE ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints…which is Christ in you, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:26-27). ______________________________________________
Let’s review three portions of scripture that refer to Jesus accomplishing His work. The first is in John 17:4, where He said to the Father, “…I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.” The second occasion was on the Cross, when He said, “...It is finished...” (John 19:30). The third one is in Hebrews 10:12-13 and states, “But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.” The Lord Jesus, today, is seated and waiting until His enemies are made His footstool.
He wouldn’t be sitting if He hadn’t accomplished His purpose. But the problem has been that most people never knew what He came to do. When you read Ephesians 3:3-5, you’d discover that His real purpose for coming was a mystery. There are many written prophesies about the Messiah and when He’d be born into this world; and He fulfilled all of the amazing things written of Him. But His purpose remained a mystery to the Prophets.
What was this mystery? It’s what we read in our opening verse: Christ IN you, the hope of glory! This is the mystery which was hidden from ages and from generations, but has now been made manifest to His saints. Glory to God!
So, there’s an assurance, a guarantee that your life is glorious, because Christ is in you! That’s your hope for a healthy, prosperous, vibrant and successful life! You have a right to walk out of any predicament; you can walk out of poverty, lack and want, because of what Christ has accomplished in your behalf. What you need is to become ever more conscious of His presence an glory in your life.
FURTHER STUDY: Romans 8:10-11, Ephesians 3:3-6 & John 10:10 AMPC
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY 23 JULY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THE KNOWLEDGE OF “THE FATHERS” ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning… (1 John 2:13). ______________________________________________
The Bible says, “Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world” (Galatians 4:3). This is referring to those who are “neljpios” (Greek), spiritual babies; they’re the ones down with the flu today, and then headaches and heart trouble tomorrow.
But you can come out of that level through knowledge. There’s a training that’s required; that training brings you into “epignosis” (Greek); the exact or precise knowledge of God, full knowledge with intimacy. It’s called the knowledge of the fathers. In His prayer for the Church, the Apostle Paul, by the Spirit, shows us how to get this knowledge of God.
He says, “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him” (Ephesians 1:17). As you meditate on the Word, secrets about the Kingdom-life and how to walk in the reality of the Word are unveiled to you. From then on, you know how to live in glory, with dominion over circumstances.
I would to God more of God’s people would come to the realization of who they are and what they have in Christ Jesus! How could you have the very life of God in you and be down with kidney problems, heart trouble, or any other kind of sickness or disease? It’s an anomaly; it’s not supposed to be.
The life in you can’t be sullied by infirmities; it’s superior to Satan and the elements of this world. Therefore, rather than be agitated when you feel the symptoms of sickness, boldly declare, “I have the life of God in me, and that life permeates my whole being and gets rid of all ailments and maladies.”
Make such declarations again and again, and soon enough, you’ll literally experience a surge of God’s power coursing through your whole being. This is how “the fathers” respond to circumstances and situations; it’s with the Word! They’re not slaves to the elements of this world; they live above them. Blessed be God!
FURTHER STUDY: 2 Peter 1:2, 2 Peter 3:18 & Ephesians 4:14-15
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 22 JULY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: SAINTS AT WORK ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry…(Ephesians 4:11-12). ______________________________________________
God’s idea and expectation isn’t just for some of us to be effective in the work of the ministry, while some others in the Church are spectators. The work of the ministry is for every Christian. The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 5:18, _“And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation.”_
Notice the underlined: God gave US—not just the apostles, prophets, teachers, evangelists and pastors—the ministry of reconciliation! No one is left out in this. His purpose in teaching us His Word is for us to be raised to live the Kingdom life; to subdue this world and establish His righteousness in the earth and in the hearts of men.
As we carry out the work of the ministry, the world will wonder at the life of glory, success, victory and prosperity exuding from us. This is because we’re His ambassadors; the light in the midst of darkness. This is the time for those around you who don’t have the divine life to wonder whether you’re an angel, as you minister the Gospel to them in such power and demonstration of the supernatural. They said the same of Stephen in Bible days (Read Acts 6:15).
The preceding verse 5 says Stephen was a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost; he was neither an apostle nor a prophet. He was made a Deacon in the early Church, being full of faith and power and the wisdom of God.
This is your time to shine ever so brightly with the light of the Gospel, bringing men and women into the Kingdom. Everywhere you are, let men see your good works and glorify your Father, who is in heaven. As the Bible says, “...the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising" (Isaiah 60:3). In other words, as you manifest Christ everywhere, bearing the truth of His glorious Gospel, they’ll turn from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God. Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY Mark 16:15-18, 1 Peter 2:9 AMPC & Colossians 4:17
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 21 JULY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: SUBMIT TO HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: _And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God (James 2:23)._ ______________________________________________
It’s so important to understand that there’re several broad applications and definitions of righteousness. But righteousness, first and foremost, is the nature of God, His nature of rightness. The nature of God can be described from different perspectives, like we say, “God is love”; so, love is His nature. But when we talk about righteousness, that’s a different nature we’re describing.
Righteousness as God’s nature is His ability to be right and do right only and always. It’s His perfection, accuracy and distinction in glory. Righteousness distinguishes God in glory from everyone else. Now, this righteousness is absolutely unattainable by man or any creature. Therefore, in God’s benevolence, He attributes, bestows or imputes to us a kind of righteousness which is called “Right standing.”
You may have heard what in some countries is called “a certificate of conformity”; it’ll help you understand what righteousness or right standing is. It stipulates that a particular product meets the required standards or specification of the government or authorized agency. There’s also the “certificate of good standing,” which certifies that a company is properly registered with the state and it’s up to date on all state levies and required documentations, and therefore legally permitted to engage in business activities in the state.
Now, right standing, like the certificate of good conduct or good standing is the ability to stand before God and be accepted. Now we can fellowship with Him, unafraid and unashamed. The most beautiful part is that He didn’t wait for you to have “complied” or “filed” the necessary “documentations” and meet all the required standards first; He declared you righteous because of what Jesus did in your behalf.
Recall we read in our theme verse that _“...Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness….”_ God gave Abraham the certificate of right standing for believing. Likewise, righteousness was imparted to you as a result of your faith in Jesus Christ. It’s the gift of God—a gift of grace imparted to all men, which becomes effectual the moment one submits to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
CONFESSION
By grace, I’ve received God’s nature of righteousness and I’ve been translated into the Kingdom of His Love-Son, where I reign and rule with Him. I have dominion over the devil and circumstances, and I live in the righteousness of God, and live as the righteousness of God. Nothing, and no one, can condemn me anymore, because God has justified and acquitted me. Glory to God!
FURTHER STUDY
Romans 3:26-28
_26- to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus._
_27- Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith._
_28- Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law._
Romans 4:5-8
_5- But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness,_
_6- just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works:_
_7- “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, And whose sins are covered;_
_8- Blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall not impute sin.”_
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN Acts 27:1-26 & Psalms 21-22
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN Luke 10:1-9 & Joshua 18
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY 20 JULY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: PUT YOUR BODY IN SUBJECTION ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness (2 Peter 1:5-6). ______________________________________________
Temperance is from the Greek word “egkrateia” and it means self-control, the ability and will to control your impulses, to delay immediate gratification for a long-term gain. That simply means the ability to wait or hold on, saying “no” or “not now” to your impulses.
This was the virtue Moses displayed after he had been raised as a prince in Pharaoh’s house. The Bible says, “…when he grew up, refused to be treated as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to share the oppression of God’s people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin” (Hebrews 11:24-25 NLT).
“What if I don’t have temperance?” someone may ask. As long as you’re born again, you have the virtue of temperance. The Bible says it’s the fruit of the recreated human spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). The man who desires to operate effectively with this virtue must learn to control his senses. And that can be achieved by training your body.
You have to discipline your body; break it the way you break a horse until it does what you say, not you doing what it says. If your body can’t be subject to you, then it means you’re a slave to your body. And you can’t do anything serious for the Lord if you’re body-ruled.
In 1 Corinthians 9:27, Paul said, “…I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection….” For instance, you can decide you’ll not sleep whenever you’re in church, or whenever you’re studying the Bible or listening to God’s Word; that’s temperance.
Also, when you fast; don’t find yourself going for food barely an hour into the fast. Part of the essence of a fast is to deny yourself the natural cravings in order to put your body in subjection to your spirit. You have the ability and will to control your impulses, to subdue your body and tell it what to do, and it’ll comply.
FURTHER STUDY: Galatians 5:22-23 & 1 Corinthians 9:24-27
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 19 JULY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: PUT THE KINGDOM FIRST ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: _But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state. For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state. For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s (Philippians 2:19-21)._ ______________________________________________
When I came across the scripture above many years ago, it caught my attention. Paul was deeply concerned about the church in Philippi, and desired to minister to them. But he couldn’t personally visit them, because he was in prison. Then he said to them, “Timothy is the one that I can send to you, because the others seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s. How enlightening!
There’re many like that in the Church today; they seek their own and live unto themselves; they’re selfish. Yet, the Bible says in 2 Corinthians 5:15, _“…that he (Christ) died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.”_
Selfish people can’t walk in truth, and can’t truly walk in love. Selfishness is contrary to the Word of God. When you have a dream for something you want to do, even if it’s something you want to do for God, it’s important you ask yourself what your real motivation is.
You may find yourself struggling between the love of God and the love of yourself, struggling between serving Jesus and serving your interests. That’s what Paul was referring to; He could only pick Timothy, of the several people he had with him, to send to the Philippian church. Paul was convinced Timothy would do the work from a pure heart; he’d do it selflessly, in love. Paul was writing, not just for that day but also for us to learn.
In Matthew 6:33, Jesus communicated a similar thought when He said, _“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”_ He didn’t say the first of the things you should seek is the Kingdom of God and after that you can seek other things. No; He said be Kingdom-conscious; pursue Kingdom expansion and the establishment of God’s righteousness; put that first, and you’ll never need to struggle for anything in life. Trust God with your life; serve Him with a pure heart, and watch Him take you from glory to glory.
PRAYER
Dear Lord, thank you for your words of counsel and admonition. I live every day purposefully, serving you with my life, for your glory. Above everything else, I put the expansion of the Kingdom first, serving you in love, with a perfect heart and a willing mind, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY
2 Chronicles 25:1-2
_1- Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem._
_2- And he did what was right in the sight of the Lord, but not with a loyal heart._
Matthew 6:31-33
_31- “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’_
_32- For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things._
_33- But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN Acts 26:2-18 & Psalms 17-18
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN Luke 9:37-48 & Joshua 15
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SUNDAY 18 JULY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: BE CONSCIOUS OF THE SPIRITUAL ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8). ______________________________________________
In Luke 13, a woman who was bent double came into the synagogue; the Bible says for eighteen years she couldn’t straighten up herself. But Jesus knew her problem was spiritual. So He said to those present, “…ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?” (Luke 13:16).
Who could have thought it was a spirit of infirmity that held her bound? Medical doctors would have been trying to find out what happened to her bones, the muscles, the tendons, or her ligaments—carrying out futile tests. But Jesus discerned that it was a spirit of infirmity.
It’s important that you’re spiritually discerning; be spiritually minded. You have the Holy Spirit living in you; He’s the Spirit of knowledge. Through the revelation and enlightenment He brings to your spirit, you can know the truth about any situation. He’s the Spirit of truth, and part of His ministry in your life is to guide you into all truth. That way, you can always telwhat’s behind a particular problem or situation.
It’s also not enough to simply know what’s behind the problem or that a case is spiritual. Learn from what Jesus did; the Bible says, “And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity. And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God” (Luke 13:12-13). Hallelujah!
Jesus said the woman was bound by the devil, and if His diagnosis was wrong, His prescription or response would have yielded no result. Jesus always interpreted and dealt with issues from the spiritual standpoint. Likewise, you must be spiritual and spiritually minded. Listen to the Spirit of God; study and meditate on the Scriptures; pray often in the Spirit, and your spiritual alertness and sensitivity will be at its peak always.
FURTHER STUDY: Colossians 1:9, 1 Corinthians 2:14-16 & 1 John 4:1-4
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY 17 JULY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: HIS WISDOM IN AND THROUGH US ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: _To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God (Ephesians 3:10)._ ______________________________________________
The phrase “might be known” in the scripture above is “gnoljrizolj” in Greek, and it means to certify, declare, make known or give to understand. The Church is designed by God to house, display or manifest the manifold—many-sided—wisdom of God. This is huge!
It means the Church will make known to the principalities and powers in heavenly realms, the awe-inspiring, endless, wisdom of God. This is our calling in the now of our lives; God seeks to demonstrate His power, His wisdom, through us NOW.
The question is, how is this possible? It’s pretty simple: He filled us with wisdom. 1 Corinthians 1:24 declares that Christ is the power and wisdom of God. Christ in you is God’s great answer to all human need. Christ in you is your glory and wisdom. Until you understand this, you may never take advantage of it.
That’s why there’re lots of Christians who act confused in life, walking in darkness, when they’re the light of the world. Christ has been made unto you wisdom. Just as easily as you can say, “I’m the righteousness of God in Christ,” always be quick to affirm that this vital resource of divinity—divine wisdom—is deposited within the recesses of your human spirit and expressed in your daily walk.
Remember, being filled with the Holy Spirit means you’re filled with Christ, the wisdom of God. Even now, affirm boldly that Christ is your wisdom; you’re led and guided in wisdom; you speak wisdom and deal wisely in all your affairs. Glory to God!
CONFESSION
Christ is made unto me wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption! Therefore, I don’t lack wisdom, because Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, lives in me. I have access and insight into mysteries and secrets. Praise God!
FURTHER STUDY
Ephesians 1:16-17
_16- do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers:_
_17- that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him,_
1 Corinthians 2:6-7
_6- However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing._
_7- But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory,_
Proverbs 24:3-4
_3- Through wisdom a house is built, And by understanding it is established;_
_4- By knowledge the rooms are filled With all precious and pleasant riches._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN Acts 25:1-12 & Psalms 7-10
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN Luke 9:18-27 & Joshua 13
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY 16 JULY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THE GOD-NATURE IN YOU ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature… (2 Peter 1:4). ______________________________________________
Every man has an intuition that he’s more than an animal, and that’s correct. Jesus is the very embodiment of the divine nature, the very revelation of God, the express image of divinity, the outshining of God’s glory. He became a living example for us to see and to behold God’s plan, purpose, and expectation.
The Bible says, “In him was life; and the life was the light of men” (John 1:4). Then we read in 1 John 5:11-12, “And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life…" When you were born again, the divine life was imparted to your spirit; from that moment, you became a partaker of the divine nature—an associate of the God-kind.
This is what men have always sought consciously and unconsciously! This is the mystery, testimony and power of Christianity: the reality of our oneness with Deity. The bane of many has been their ignorance of the power, import and impact of the divine life in them. They aren’t conscious that as Christians, we’re God carrying vessels, fully loaded with God!
Be awakened to this reality, so much so, it reflects in your language. If you’re still one to make statements such as, “I was scared to death”; or “That thing almost killed me,” then you haven’t come to the awareness that you’ve received the life and nature of God into your spirit! You don’t yet know who you are.
We don’t die! Life works in us. We don’t have the spirit of fear, but of love, power and a sound mind. Being born again, you belong to a heavenly pantheon; you’re in the God-class. The life in you can’t be tainted, corrupted or impaired by sickness, disease or death. But because many don’t know this truth, they live as victims.
No wonder the psalmist lamented, “I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High. But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes” (Psalm 82:6-7). How sad! Let your divinity soar; give expression to the God-life, the God-nature in you. Don’t live as an ordinary man or woman, for Christ has made you extraordinary. Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY: 2 Peter 1:3-4 & 1 John 4:4
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 15 JULY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS TOPIC: KNOW AND WALK IN TRUTH ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses (1 Timothy 6:12). ______________________________________________
In 2 John 1:1, the Bible says, “The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth.” Nobody wrote about the truth and the use of that word like John. Why was he so eager to talk, and so conscious, about the truth? He caught it when Jesus said, “...I am the way, the truth, and the life…” (John 14:6).
None of the other writers of the gospels quoted Jesus on that; but it was very important to John. In 3 John 1:1, he said, “The elder unto the wellbeloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth.” Here, John calls the Gospel of Christ, the Truth.
Truth is reality. The Word of God that’s been given to us is truth: “…thy word is truth” (John 17:17). You can be as prosperous, healthy and successful as you want to be. What you need is to train your mind to stay on the truth of God’s Word always.
It doesn’t matter what you hear or what you’re being told; whether it’s about your health, family, finances, business, etc., as long as it doesn’t measure up to God’s truth, it’s not a factor. Truth has nothing to do with physical manifestations or sensory perceptions.
When you know truth, for instance, you won’t be bothered if the devil told you you were going to die of cancer or whatever disease. When he whispers such thoughts to you, silence his voice by responding with God’s truth: “The Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in me, and He has vitalized my mortal body! The Holy Ghost perambulates my body. Hallelujah!”
That’s walking in the truth! There’re things you’d completely disallow in your life—everything that isn’t of God—because you’re compelled by the knowledge of the truth. Glory to His Name forever!
FURTHER STUDY: 1 John 2:21, Hebrews 2:1 & John 8:32
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 14 JULY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: A CONSCIOUSNESS OF YOUR DIVINITY ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life (1 John 5:13 NIV) ______________________________________________
It’s important that you come into a consciousness of who you really are in Christ. You have to learn and recognize who and what Christ means to you and in you.
The thrust of John’s admonition in our theme verse is the word “know,” which is “eidolj” (Greek), and it means awareness. So, John says, “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may have the awareness that you have eternal life.” You already believe; you already know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God; you already know in the deepest recesses of your spirit that you have eternal life; but is it in your present-moment, every-day consciousness?
He’s talking about a certain kind of knowledge that affects your current behaviour, your current decisions and opinions. He wants your current actions to be guided by this knowledge. He wants you to know that you were born into eternity when you were born again. You have eternal life now. This is why Peter the
Apostle stated in 2 Peter 1:3-4 that we’re associates of the God-kind: _“According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust”_ (2 Peter 1:3-4).
With such awareness, when you face challenges, you’re unflustered, because you know who you are. Meditate on the Word of this life, and it’ll promote health in your body. Be aware of your roots in Christ, your divine lineage and heritage. It should become part of the scope of your knowledge that your life is for the glory of God; you’re more than a conqueror. Hallelujah! FURTHER STUDY: 1 Corinthians 2:12-13 & Ephesians 1:17-18
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY 13 JULY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: BE SPIRITUALLY DISCERNING ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak (Matthew 26:41). ______________________________________________
God said, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge…”_ (Hosea 4:6). And Jesus said, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free”_ (John 8:32). Many are walking in darkness without knowing, because they don’t know the truth; they don’t know the Scriptures. They’re honestly seeking truth; they want to know God, but then they go to the wrong place for knowledge.
Just because you heard some people say, “Shout hallelujah and clap for Jesus,” doesn’t mean it’s a church of Jesus Christ. You’ve got to be spiritually discerning. In Acts 16, while walking through the marketplace, Paul and Silas encountered a girl possessed with an evil spirit. The Bible says, “The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation” (Acts 16:17).
Wasn’t she stating a fact? She was! But the 18th verse says, “…Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.” What she was saying sounded nice, but she was being influenced by a spirit of divination. Paul discerned this, for as she spoke, he (Paul) was grieved in his spirit.
When the Spirit of God speaks, a child of God isn’t grieved in his spirit; rather, you’re edified. When you hear a voice or a message, you have to know by what spirit such a message is coming to you. Many Christians have listened to the voice of Satan and mistaken it for God’s voice, because they were undiscerning.
We’re in the last days, and Jesus told us these things would happen; so He says, “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation….” And in Matthew 10:16, He said, “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.” Then in Ephesians 5:15 AMP He tells us not to be ignorant, but to always discern the will of God: Therefore, see that you walk carefully [living life with honor, purpose, and courage; shunning those who tolerate and enable evil], not as the unwise, but as wise [sensible, intelligent, discerning people.
FURTHER STUDY:
John 10:27, 1 John 2:27, Isaiah 30:21 & Psalm 32:8
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 12 JULY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: STRONGER EVERY DAY ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus (2 Timothy 2:1). ______________________________________________
There’s no better time to be strong in the Lord, taking advantage of all His might, than in these last days. You have to be strong in the spirit. Paul the Apostle, in writing to the church in Ephesus, said, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might” (Ephesians 6:10). How important this is for us today.
There’ll be a time of testing in your life, and in that testing period, you must remain in the Lord. There may be so much happening in your life; the challenges may be fierce and the storms raging hard; but be strong in the Lord; in His grace. He said, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord…” (1 Corinthians 15:58).
The Word says in Matthew 10:22, “…he that endureth to the end shall be saved.” You have to not just finish but finish stronger than how you started. That’s the path of the righteous; it’s “…like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day” (Proverbs 4:18 ESV).
In Christ, we get stronger; the glory continues to increase. It’s from faith to faith, glory to glory, and grace heaped upon grace. That’s the life He’s given us. As long as you’re strong in the Lord—keeping His Word in your heart and in your mouth—you’ll continually walk in victory and dominion.
Yes, there’re tests, trials and challenging times in our journey of faith, but the Bible says, “If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small” (Proverbs 24:10). To gripe and cower when situations challenge your faith is to checkmate your chances of promotion. Recall what the Spirit says in James 1:2: “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations.” He knows that victory is in our spirit.
Never be overwhelmed by any situation, for there’s a strengthener in you—the Holy Spirit. And in Him, by Him, and through Him you’ve overcome: “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). Praise God!
FURTHER STUDY 2 Corinthians 12:10 & Ephesians 3:14-16
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SUNDAY 11 JULY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: EXPRESS LOVE—ESPECIALLY IN YOUR WORDS ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body (James 3:2). ______________________________________________
The verse above tells us about Christian perfection or maturity in Christ and how to measure it. He says, “If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man….” Jesus said, “For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned” (Matthew 12:37). He put the premium on words.
In other words, whether you go to heaven or you go to hell would depend on the words you speak. Your life came by words, and so, it’ll always be dependent on words. Some people don’t understand this, so they speak carelessly, using profane and derogatory words, especially when they’re angry or unhappy.
Don’t pride yourself in your ability to subdue others with ugly words that damage their self-esteem. It may be someone who’s confided in you about something, but now there’s an issue; don’t see it as an opportunity to “expose” him or her. Think about the the ministry of the Holy Spirit in your life: even though He knows everything about you, He never accuses or denigrates you before anyone. He loves and protects you always.
Jesus is that way too. He knew all men and knew everything about everybody, but He related to them in love. Even as He ministered to some of those who rejected His message, He said, _“I judge you not”_ (John 12:47). How gracious He is! That’s the example He gives us to follow. If He never accuses you, if He doesn’t condemn you, if He doesn’t berate you with disparaging words, why do you think it would be proper to do that to your brothers and sisters? Express love only, especially in your words.
FURTHER STUDY: Colossians 4:6, Ephesians 4:2 NLT Ephesians 4:29 & Luke 6:45
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY 10 JULY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: PROSPERITY BY GRACE ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth...(Deuteronomy 8:18). ______________________________________________
Prosperity has nothing to do with how hard you fast and pray; it’s the Lord’s doing. God is the One who prospers you. He delights in your prosperity (Psalm 35:27). You don’t have to wonder whether or not God wants you to prosper. He doesn’t want you to put your trust in step-by-step human calculations, because that won’t work. They may seem to work for some time, but they won’t last. True and lasting prosperity comes by grace.
A story is told in Mark 10, of a rich young ruler’s attitude to wealth. He wanted to know what he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus told him to obey all the commandments; but he said, “Master, all these have I observed from my youth.” The Bible says Jesus looked at him with love, and said to him, “Go and sell all that you have, and give it to the poor, and come and follow me” (Mark 10:21). At that, the rich young ruler went away sad. He was tied to his possessions, for the Bible says he had great possessions; or as someone rightly put it: “his great possessions had him.”
Jesus then looked round about and said to His disciples, “...How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!” (Mark 10:23). Jesus was letting them understand that salvation wasn’t going to be by their money, or great possessions, but by the Spirit of God. Jesus wanted the rich young man to put his trust, not in his wealth, but in God, the giver of wealth.
Your prosperity isn’t dependent on any man, your business, the systems and governments of this world, or the economy, but on God. It’s by His grace. Now you can understand why He says in 2 Corinthians 9:8: “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.” The power that God gives His children to get wealth is spiritual power, not political power or economic power. It’s the power He gives every Christian to propagate God’s righteous course. Praise God!
FURTHER STUDY: 1 Chronicles 29:12, 2 Corinthians 9:8 AMPC & Psalm 35:27 AMPC*
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY 09 JULY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: BE UNAPOLOGETIC ABOUT THE GOSPEL ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: _Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord...(Philippians 3:8)._ ______________________________________________
When I analyze some of the things going on in the world today, I remember the commitment of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. They said to the king, “We will not bow to your image of gold.” And the king got angry and threatened to throw them into a burning fiery furnace. But they responded boldly, “Our God is able to deliver us from your fire; but if He doesn’t, we still won’t bow” (Read Daniel 3).
They weren’t refusing to bow to the king’s image because they expected that God would deliver them. It didn’t matter to them whether or not they’d be delivered from the fire. They were standing their ground because of their commitment to the Lord, recognizing that He’s the only true God. Thus, in spite of the intimidation, they wouldn’t budge! What a conviction!
It was a similar case with Daniel. There had been a decree against prayer to any God but the king for thirty days. But Daniel continued in prayer; the Bible says when he found out a decree had been passed to outlaw prayer, he prayed again as he always did, knowing that the supervisors were watching (Daniel 6:6-10).
For refusing to yield to the obnoxious decree by the King, Daniel was thrown into the Lion’s den. There’s no record that Daniel prayed to be delivered from the lion’s den; he was rather ready to be eaten up by lions than deny his faith in God. These are set for us as examples. Our situation today isn’t any different. When it comes to what God has said versus what anyone else is saying, it’s not a difficult choice; there’s just one way we go—Jesus only! We serve the Lord Christ. When it comes to the call of the Gospel, live or die, we’re the Lord’s! Hallelujah!
Never find yourself apologetic, intimidated or reluctant to express your convictions about Christ and the message of the Gospel. We’ve got to be ready. We’re from a lineage of those who gave everything and requested no deliverance; they wanted a better resurrection, a victorious one. Come what may, be undaunted; be bold about your faith in Jesus Christ. Be convinced and compelled by the truth of the Gospel and preach it boldly.
CONFESSION
I’m convinced and compelled by the truth of the Gospel; and I refuse to be afraid of persecution for proclaiming Christ Jesus. Nothing in this world can daunt my love for Christ and passion for the Gospel. I preach it boldly everywhere, and He’s with me and in me, confirming His Word, with signs following. Praise God!
FURTHER STUDY
2 Timothy 3:12
_12- Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution._
Acts 20:22-24 AMPC
_22- And now, you see, I am going to Jerusalem, bound by the [Holy] Spirit and obligated and compelled by the [convictions of my own] spirit, not knowing what will befall me there_
_23- Except that the Holy Spirit clearly and emphatically affirms to me in city after city that imprisonment and suffering await me._
_24- But none of these things move me; neither do I esteem my life dear to myself, if only I may finish my course with joy and the ministry which I have obtained from [which was entrusted to me by] the Lord Jesus, faithfully to attest to the good news (Gospel) of God's grace (His unmerited favor, spiritual blessing, and mercy)._
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN Acts 20:1-16 & Job 19-21
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN Luke 7:36-50 & Joshua 5
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 08 JULY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: FOCUS ON THE MISSION ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:2). ______________________________________________
There’re many today, including leaders, who have forgotten the purpose and mission of the Church. They’re carried away by the work, so much so they’ve forgotten the objective. It’s like being on a journey but forgetting the destination; they’re carried away by the sights and pleasures, the many distractions and attractions on the way.
Why do you live? What’s your purpose? In 2 Corinthians 1:8-9, the Apostle Paul 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: But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead.” It’s only when you understand your mission that you can have an attitude and mindset as the one we see in the verses we just read.
Without a consciousness of the mission, you may be enjoying the journey, but you’re going nowhere. Therefore, you must live as one who has a destination, a God-given purpose. That way, nothing in this earth can shake you; the things of this earth will have no value to you, because your mind is on your purpose and on your mission.
It was so with Jesus, who “…for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame...” (Hebrews 12:2). It didn’t matter that they put a crown of thorns on His head with blood dripping from Him, and the excruciating pains from those nails; He endured it all.
It doesn’t matter what challenges you’re facing in your life; focus on the destination. Don’t let the things that happen along the way distract you from finishing your course. Paul demonstrated his resolve as stated in Acts 20:22-24: _*“And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.” FURTHER STUDY: 1 Corinthians 15:19, Isaiah 50:7 & 2 Timothy 4:7-8
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 07 JULY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: CONSCIOUSLY STAY IN THE WORD ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee (Isaiah 26:3). ______________________________________________
To see your life go from grace to grace, make giant leaps of faith, and experience the uplifting power of God, you have to make certain decisions. The first is to surround yourself with the right information, and that can only be gotten from God’s Word.
If you’re not giving yourself to God’s Word as you should, there’ll be other information that’ll come to you, albeit, negative, to keep you from living a life of victory. Make a conscious decision to study and meditate on the Word; let the Word of God dwell in you richly. Discipline yourself to keep listening to the Word of God, day in, day out.
You might say, “It’s a busy world; how do I create the time to consistently listen to, or study the Word?” While you are dressing up in the morning getting ready for work, or even while you’re on the go, listen to a message on your device. This is one sure way to constantly bombard your mind with the Word of God so that your faith will keep growing to meet the challenges and the crises of life in the present hour.
If you stay in the word, your faith will be strong. Romans 10:17 says, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Perhaps you commute long distance to work every day; maximize those times. If you’re on the bus or train, put your earplugs on; shut the world out and listen to God. If you aren’t driving, get out any of our books, be it in print or digital format and study; inundate your mind with thoughts from God’s Word.
Your spirit has ears that are different from your physical ears; so, don’t stop listening to the Word. When the crises of life come, your faith will prevail; you’ll always win. Take advantage of our different platforms, like the Pastor Chris Digital Library (PCDL), the Rhapsody of Realities mobile app (where you can download Rhapsody of Realities and our other books) and build your life with the Word of God. Listen to, and study these materials, not just once but consistently, until the message gets into your spirit and stays. That’s what will produce the results you desire. FURTHER STUDY
1 John 5:4 & 2 Corinthians 3:18
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY 06 JULY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: BE PLEASED ABOUT TODAY ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: [And it is, indeed, a source of immense profit, for] godliness accompanied with contentment (that contentment which is a sense of inward sufficiency) is great and abundant gain (1 Timothy 6:6 AMPC). ______________________________________________
It’s so inspiring to know that as a child of God, you can win and have a glorious life, every day; a life that you can be happy about, every day. A key factor for enjoying your life is learning to enjoy the process of growth; learning to recognise and be satisfied with your present accomplishments as you aspire to greater heights.
Some people are never satisfied with their lives. They carry an air of sadness and discontent all the time. This attitude worsens their situation, so they never really know what it means to be truly joyful. True joy is in fulfilling your God-given purpose—being in God’s place, at God’s time, for God’s purpose in God’s way. Nothing could be more fulfilling than that.
Forget the missteps of yesterday. Don’t be bothered about tomorrow. Enjoy today. The regrets of yesterday and apprehensions about tomorrow are enemies of today’s happiness. If you aren’t satisfied about today, tomorrow’s dreams may never materialise.
Being satisfied about today doesn’t mean shelving your dreams for a greater tomorrow; it just underscores your hopefulness, preparation, anticipation and excitement for a more rewarding future. Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY: Matthew 6:25-26 & Philippians 4:12-13
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 05 JULY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: VESTED WITH ALL POWER ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven (Revelation 12:7-8). ______________________________________________
The Bible tells us that after the Rapture, there’ll be a war in heaven. Satan and his demons will fight to retain their place in the heavenlies but Michael and his angels will prevail over them, and Satan will be cast out into the earth, meaning that he’ll have no place anymore in the heavenlies.
Someone might be wondering, “Does that mean Satan currently has a place in the heavenlies?” The Bible says he does: “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:12).
Ephesians 2:2 also says, “Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience.” Oftentimes, when there’s chaos, anarchy and turmoil in a society, many don’t realize that the devil is behind such things.
From his place in the atmospheric realms, Satan runs families, cities, kingdoms, and nations, determining a lot of things that happen in them. He’s only restrained—his efforts, operations and manoeuvres are only thwarted by the prayers of the saints of God. When we pray, God’s mercy is released and angels are dispatched upon our request and according to His will.
This is why you can’t afford to sit idly by or be complacent while the devil runs rampage in your family, business, city, or nation. You need to learn how to pray and pray the right way. You need to learn how to use the Name of Jesus and stand against the demonic powers that lure men into destruction and foment trouble in the nations of the world and around you.
We’ve been vested with all power and authority in heaven and in the earth to subdue, dominate and decimate satanic powers, their activities, and take charge of our world. We have the power to frustrate the devil and keep him under our feet. We’re not helpless at all. You have the authority to determine what happens in your life, in the lives of your loved ones, in your nation, and around the world by using the Name of Jesus. FURTHER STUDY: Philippians 2:9-11 & Matthew 28:18-20
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY 03 JULY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS TOPIC: HE’S THE LORD THAT CROWNS ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer (Revelation 6:2). ______________________________________________
One day while in prayer, I was singing a hyn that went thus: “All hail the power of Jesus name, let angels prostrate fall; bring forth the royal diadem, and crown Him Lord of all.” Suddenly, the Lord stopped me and said, “Crown Him Lord of all? You can’t do it.”
For the first time, I thought about it and realized that no man can crown Him; not even the whole world could. With what will they crown Him? We don’t have a good enough crown to put on Him, neither do we have any authority to bestow on Him. More so, you can’t crown the One who has all authority. All power is His.
It explains why some Bible scholars have difficulties understanding certain portions of Scripture such as Revelation 6:2. It says, “And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.”
Some think the horse rider in the verse above is Jesus, but He’s not. First, it says the rider had a bow. Jesus never uses a bow; the Bible however says He (Jesus) has a sword (Revelation 2:12). In Revelation 6:2, we read that “…a crown was given unto him....” But a crown wasn’t given to Jesus; He’s the King of kings. The description: “…he went forth conquering and to conquer” isn’t of Jesus, but of the Antichrist.
Jesus will only battle the nations at His second coming. That’s when He’ll ride on a white horse and judge the nations in righteousness. Revelation 19:11-12 says, “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.” Notice that a crown wasn’t given to Him; rather, He has many crowns, and He gives crowns (James 1:12; 1 Peter 5:4).
It’s important to know who Jesus really is, and to sing the right songs to worship Him. He is “…the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Ameen (1 Timothy 6:15-16).
FURTHER STUDY: 1 Chronicles 16:8-12, 1 Peter 5:4 & James 1:12 CEV
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY 02 JULY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: OUR PRAYERS AS INCENSE ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints (Revelation 5:8). ______________________________________________
In the Old Testament, the Lord gave instructions to the priests to burn incense morning and evening in the Tabernacle. They were also to offer sacrifices in the morning and in the evening. Yet, the Bible says all that was a shadow of things to come (Hebrews 10:1). God wanted something better and spiritual.
Many years later, the Apostle John, by the Spirit, sees into the heavens and is shown this amazing truth: “…golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints” (Revelation 5:8). Blessed be God! When we pray in the earth, it comes before the Lord as incense.
King David had a revelation of this; the Lord had guided him to understand that our prayers are actually set before God as incense. So he said in Psalm 141:2, “Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.” The kind of prayer referred to is one of worship and intercession. In worship, we offer sacrifices of praise to the Lord with the fruit of our lips—words of praise and thanksgiving (Hebrews 13:15). Our intercessory prayers go up to God, thwarting the plans of the enemy and changing things in the heavenly realm. This is such a heavenly ministry!
Think about it: As we pray, we send incense; fragrance of a sweet smell—a sacrifice acceptable and well-pleasing to God—resulting in positive changes in the earth! That’s why you should always pray. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 says, “Pray without ceasing.” 1 Timothy 2:1-4 says, “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority....”*_ As saints of God, we have a ministry of prayer. It’s our responsibility to pray for sinners that they may receive salvation. Each one of us has a primary ministry of worship, which is ministering to the Lord. These prayers of intercession and worship are the incense before the Father.
FURTHER STUDY: Revelation 5:8 CEV, Revelation 8:4 & Hebrews 13:15
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 01 JULY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: SEALED BY THE HOLY GHOST ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: …Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads (Revelation 7:3). ______________________________________________
After the Rapture of the Church, there’ll be a time of Great Tribulation, according to the Scriptures, particularly during the second half of the seven-year treaty to be signed with Israel and a coalition by the Antichrist, the man of lawlessness.
During this period, 144,000 Jews will be anointed by God to preach the Gospel and get people prepared for the second coming of Christ. While they’re at it, they’d need to be sealed because of the different judgements that would be poured out on the earth throughout that period. Men will be plagued, except those with the seal of God on their foreheads (Revelation 9:4), even as we the Church had been sealed during the Church age.
The Bible says, “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise”*_ (Ephesians 1:13). 2 Corinthians 1:21-22 also says, “Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.” Having received the Holy Spirit, you’ve been sealed by God. Because of this, you have God’s approval, His authority, and His protection.
Therefore, it doesn’t matter what’s happening in the world; refuse to fear. There’s a decree that you shouldn’t be hurt like others; you’re separated, severed from perishing because you believe in Jesus Christ. So, don’t mix fear with your faith. The Kingdom to which you belong, and the life that God has given you, function with the exclusion of fear.
Meditate again on John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish…” (NKJV). Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY: 2 Corinthians 1:21-22 & John 14:16-17
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 30 JUNE 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: TRUST AND LIVE IN THE WORD ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves…But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed (James 1:22-25). ______________________________________________
The Word of God is immutable and infallible; its integrity is unquestionable. The Word is able to produce in and for you the message that it bears. God’s Word is everything. Any change or miracle you desire in life is possible through the Word. God’s Word is His material for your blessing, which is why you must get the Word into your spirit; trust and live in the Word.
God’s response to you, His solution to every problem, is His Word. To those who were afflicted and in distress, Psalm 107:20 says, “He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.” When He wanted to launch Abraham to a new level in his life, He gave him the Word. He said to him, “Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee” (Genesis 17:5).
Though Abraham had no physical descendants at the time, in the mind of God, he was the father of many nations. That was God’s destiny for him, a destiny created through God’s Word. Don’t assume that as long as God has given a word concerning you, it’ll come to pass; you have a role to play. You must connect to and align yourself with His message to you to experience the blessings thereof.
God’s Word is full of power, and that power is real and available to us. However, the way to make contact with that power and use it to your benefit is walking in the Word, being a doer of the Word. It’s the doers—not the hearers of the Word—that are blessed. Read our theme scripture again.
FURTHER STUDY: *Matthew 7:24-27, Psalm 107:17-20 &
Isaiah 55:10-11
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY 29 JUNE 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: HIS INVIGORATING POWER IN YOU ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man (Ephesians 3:16). ______________________________________________
When the Holy Spirit came to live in the quarters of your heart, you ceased to be an ordinary being. Many have received the Holy Spirit, speaking in tongues, but they haven’t understood this truth; they haven’t been taught what the Holy Spirit has the power and ability to do inside them.
The Holy Spirit living inside you makes you a superman! That’s what the Apostle Paul was referring to in our theme verse. He prayed that God’s people be “strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man.” The word “strengthened” is to be invigorated with might.
The Bible tells us that when the children of Israel were brought out of Egypt and headed for the Promised Land, “...there was not one feeble person among their tribes” (Psalm 105:37). None of them had to be carried because he or she was too weak.
They were divinely invigorated. It’s the same with you today, and even better. Now that you’ve received the Holy Spirit, your hitherto mortal body has been quickened—made alive. You can live without any form of weakness in your body. Romans 8:10 tells us that since Christ now lives in you, even if your body had been ravaged by sickness and disease, the Spirit gives it life because of righteousness. That’s divine vitalization.
Christ in you—the Holy Ghost in you— is your assurance of healing, divine health and a glorious life in Christ Jesus. But if you’re not taught this, it’ll not be real in your life. That’s why you find many Christians who believe it’s okay to be sick; no! Christians aren’t supposed to be sick; not when you have the Holy Spirit.
The Bible says your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19). The Holy Spirit perambulates your body (2 Corinthians 6:16). How can sickness thrive in your body, where the Holy Spirit perambulates? What you need is to be more conscious of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, of His power and glory in you. Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY: Ephesians 1:18-19, Romans 8:10-11 & Ephesians 3:20
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 28 JUNE 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: IT’S IN YOUR MOUTH ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: Giving thanks unto the Father…Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son (Colossians 1:12-13). ______________________________________________
Exodus 17, the Bible shows us that the Amalekites became one of Israel’s enemies in the early periods of their history. So, Moses said to Joshua, “Choose men, and go and fight with Amalek; but I’ll go up to the mountain of God with the rod of God in my hand” (Exodus 17:9). Exodus 17:10 says, “So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.” While the battle was raging, Aaron and Hur noticed that whenever Moses held up his hands, Israel prevailed, and when he lowered his hands, the Amalekites prevailed. The Bible says they “…took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; an to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.” While the battle was raging, Aaron and Hur noticed that whenever Moses held up his hands, Israel prevailed, and when he lowered his hands, the Amalekites prevailed. The Bible says they “…took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun” (Exodus 17:12).
As a result, Joshua, leading the army of Israel, discomfited Amalek: “And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword” (Exodus 17:13). But the war was won from the mountain, through the lifting up of Moses’ hands; they controlled things in the earth, from the spiritual realm. On a previous occasion, God had said to Moses, when the Israelites, being chased by the Egyptians, came before the red sea, “Stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it” (Exodus 14:16). But in Joshua’s day, the revelation progressed; it was about where the soles of their feet shall tread upon: “Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses” (Joshua 1:3).
No wonder when it was time for them to cross the Jordan, Joshua didn’t have to stretch his hands over Jordan. The Bible says soon as “…the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water, (for Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of harvest,) That the waters… failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho” (Joshua 3:15-16). Blessed be God! In our day, it’s even better! We only need to speak from wherever we are, and the power of God will be activated for supernatural results anywhere in the world. The power is in your mouth! The Word is in your mouth. The authority is in your mouth, by the blessed Name of the Lord Jesus Christ! We don’t need to climb up the mountain like Moses; we’re already on the mountain of God! We were born there, for the Bible says we’ve arrived on Mount Zion (Hebrews 12:22). Praise God forever!
FURTHER STUDY: Joshua 1:8, Ecclesiastes 8:4 & Mark 11:23
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SUNDAY 27 JUNE 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: REASSIGN THE EARTH’S DESOLATE HERITAGES ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: _…and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages (Isaiah 49:8)._ ______________________________________________
The KJV construction of the verse above, especially the latter part, is somewhat complex; but the NIV simplifies it. It says, _“…to restore the land and to reassign its desolate inheritances.”_ Notice the underlined expression; it’s so powerful. It means that as God’s people, we’re designated to reassign the earth’s desolate heritages.
In other words, in places where Satan has wreaked havoc, we can overturn his activities, his manipulations and manoeuvres, and establish the will of God. The Bible talks about the dark places of the earth that are filled with the habitations of cruelty (Psalm 74:20); but it’s not enough to cast the devils out of such regions and places; we must reassign such places to angels and insist that only the righteousness of God prevails therein.
Therefore, if you have noticed satanic activities in your city, town, village, county, region or country, do what Jesus said to do in Mark 16:17: Cast the devils out, as you pray fervently in the Spirit and charge them to return no more. Then reassign these regions, formerly destitute of the Spirit of God, to angels.
Why is this important? It’s because of what Jesus said; He said the devil that you cast out goes to the dry places seeking rest, looking for where to go. If he doesn’t find any, he comes back to the same place from where he was cast out, and if he finds it empty, swept and garnished, he’ll bring in seven other spirits more wicked than himself (Read Matthew 12:43-45).
So, you’ve got to learn to reassign desolate heritages. You have the authority and there’re angels at your service. And so, when you dispossess evil spirits from a family, city or a nation, you say, “In the Name of Jesus, I reassign this family, city or nation to angels of God!” The Holy Ghost knows exactly which of the angels should take over that place to ensure things are run by the principles of the Kingdom of God, ensuring only the Word of God dominates and prevails. Praise God!
PRAYER
I have the authority and power in the Name of Jesus to reign and rule over Satan and circumstances; therefore, I declare that the righteousness of God, and the reign of God’s Kingdom prevails in my family, my city, and nation; and Jesus is glorified. Amen…
FURTHER STUDY
Isaiah 49:8 NIV
_8- This is what the Lord says: “In the time of my favor I will answer you, and in the day of salvation I will help you; I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people, to restore the land and to reassign its desolate inheritances,_
Matthew 12:43-45
_43- “When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it._
_44- Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order._
_45- Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation.”_
1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Acts 13:1-12 & Nehemiah 7-8
2 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Luke 4:33-44 & Deuteronomy 25
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY 26 JUNE 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: WE ARE OF THE TRUTH ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth (John 17:17).* ______________________________________________
As God’s children, we’re born of His truth; thus, we’re children of truth. We live in and by truth. We’re located by truth, and receive truth. But the children of the world feed on lies, and therefore live a lie.
It brings to mind the words of Jesus to the Jews who wouldn’t hear and receive His Word. He said, “Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not” (John 8:43-45).
They couldn’t hear and receive His truth because they didn’t belong to Him; they weren’t children of truth. Anyone who is of the truth will hear His voice. How can someone be of the truth? It’s by believing the truth; by receiving truth. How can you know truth? Truth distinguishes itself. The Bible says, “But wisdom is justified of all her children” (Luke 7:35). You’ll know truth when it comes to your spirit. God’s truth produces faith in you;
it produces the love of God in your heart. His truth fills you with hope and brings liberty to your spirit. It’ll also give you direction, because the Word of God is light. Psalm 119:105 tells us, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”
FURTHER STUDY: John 8:31-32 & John 8:44-47
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY 25 JUNE 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: BE IN THE CENTRE OF GOD’S WILL ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live (Ephesians 2:10 AMPC). ______________________________________________
Something I always wanted with God was to be in the centre of His will for my life. I didn’t want anything to push me out of it. I knew that being in the centre of His will is the perfect place of safety; nowhere else would satisfy. When I found out that He already had my life all planned out, I chose to run with that plan and no longer have to make my own plan.
We aren’t some form of afterthought in God’s plan; no, our lives were carefully orchestrated. The works God commanded us to do were planned beforehand. The question isn’t whether the plan has been made; the question is whether you’ll agree in your life to live according to His plan. Our theme verse says we’re to take _“…paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live].”_
Your path of life was prepared ahead of time. He planned for you, not just to live, but to live the good life! If you aren’t living a good life, it means you aren’t on the path that God prearranged for you; and I’m using the Word of God to correct you, even now.
In 2 Timothy 1:9, the Bible says God _“...hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.”_ Purpose and grace were given us in Christ Jesus before the world began. The plan was already there, and now, it’s made manifest (2 Timothy 1:10). Would you embrace it?
This is your time for a realignment. He wants you to have a full, deep and clear knowledge of His will, His purpose for your life, and fulfil it. Nothing could be more important.
FURTHER STUDY: Colossians 1:9 & 2 Timothy 1:8-10
You can watch the video on my Instagram @diariesofagirlinlovewithjesus https://instagram.com/diariesofagirlinlovewithjesus?utm_medium=copy_link RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 24 JUNE 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: AVAIL YOURSELF OF HIS POWER IN YOU ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power (Ephesians 1:19). ______________________________________________
In the scripture above, the Spirit, through the Apostle Paul, prayed for the Christians at Ephesus that they’d know the exceeding greatness of God’s power at work in them. Of course, everybody knows God is powerful; if there’s a God in heaven, He must be powerful. But is that power directed towards you? Is that power available for your use?
That’s what Paul was talking about. He wants you to come to the point where you know that the power of God is available for your use, for your application in the “now” of your life. He wants you to have the knowledge and be conscious that it’s the power of God that’s working in our behalf. That’s the power He demonstrated when He raised Jesus from the dead.
The second part of the opening scripture talks about the authority that we have in Him. Verses 22 and 23 says, “And hath put all things under his (Jesus’) feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all” (Ephesians 1:22-23). That’s us!
He’s letting you know the power of your authority in Christ Jesus. When you come to understand that you have His dominion, His all-encompassing and unlimited authority, you’ll never be afraid of Satan, man, or anything. You’d think and talk like David who said, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil…” (Psalm 23:4). “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?...Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear…” (Psalm 27:1, 3). Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY: Luke 10:19 AMPC & Ephesians 2:5-6
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 23 JUNE 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: BE FERVENT IN SOUL-WINNING AND INTERCESSION ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience (Ephesians 2:2). ______________________________________________
One of the most pitiful things to read about is the actual state of those who don’t know Jesus Christ. The scripture above is telling us about such people; those who aren’t Christians. It says they walk “according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience.”
It helps you understand why they think the way they do; they’re controlled by some other force. It says the prince of the power of the air is at work in them—the children of disobedience—those who have rejected the truth. This is where we come in; we must break the power of Satan over such folks and take the light of God’s Word to them.
The Bible says you must bind the strongman to plunder his house (Matthew 12:29). For us to record a massive harvest of souls in the nations of the world in these last days, we must break the power and influence of Satan and demons over the minds and lives of those who haven’t yet known the Lord, so the light of God’s glorious Gospel can shine in their hearts.
Anyone who’s not born again, whether it’s your father, mother, uncle, auntie, brother, sister, cousin, nephew, niece, in-law, friend, colleague, neighbour, etc.; they’re all under the control and dominion of these wicked rulers of darkness, until they receive the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
2 Corinthians 4:3 says, “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost.” Ephesians 4:18 says they have their understanding darkened. That’s why you must do something about it; they’re your responsibility. Be more fervent in soul winning and intercession; the harvest is ripe. Right from the day of Pentecost, the Bible tells us the Holy Spirit was poured out upon all men, in accordance with the prophecy in Joel 2:28.
This means men now have the potential ability of recognizing and receiving the truth. As you pray, declare that the power and influence of Satan and his demons over the people are broken in the Name of Jesus, and men and women hear the Gospel, perceive, understand and receive it for their salvation in Christ Jesus. Hallelujah! We must do this with all earnestness.
FURTHER STUDY: 2 Corinthians 4:3-4, 1 Timothy 2:1-4 & 2 Corinthians 5:19-20
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY 22 JUNE 2021 PASTOR CHRIS TOPIC: USE THE WORD TO MAKE YOUR LIFE GLORIOUS ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all (Galatians 4:1). ______________________________________________
“God is going to see me through; He’ll make a way for me, where there’s no way….” These are some of the unscriptural statements you hear from some Christians from time to time, and they wonder why their situations remain unchanged. You need to understand who you really are as a Christian; you’re one with God! As He is, so are you (1 John 4:17); and who is He? He is the WAY!
If He’s the way, which other way do you want Him to make? Understand this: nothing that you face is set to your disadvantage. You can walk through any barrier, or adverse circumstance in victory and great glory. That’s your heritage as a child of God.
Quit thinking, talking and living as though you’re in the Old Testament. You don’t need a “breakthrough” from anything; you already “broke through” with Jesus when He rose triumphantly from the grave two thousand years ago. You were delivered (past tense) from the domain of darkness, and translated into the Kingdom of God’s Love-son. You’re in the place of dominion, power and glory.
2 Peter 1:3 says, “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue.” It’s about your knowledge of Him. What becomes of your life is now entirely up to you. If you’re waiting on God to do anything about your life, or give you anything, you may wait in vain. He already did and gave you all that you require for an excellent, glorious and triumphant life. The works were finished from the foundation of the world (Hebrews 4:3 NKJV).
In Joshua 1:8, God didn’t say, “I’m going to make your way prosperous”; rather, He said, “YOU will make your own way prosperous.” God’s responsibility is to give you the recipe for prosperity, success and the good life, and He already did that through His Word. Now, you’re to use the Word to make your life glorious. Use the Word to subdue circumstances and prevail against adversities. Praise God!
FURTHER STUDY: Hosea 4:6, Ephesians 4:11-14! & Acts 20:32
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 21 JUNE 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: UNBELIEF AND OBEDIENCE ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience (Ephesians 2:2). ______________________________________________
The word “disobedience” in the scripture above is translated from the Greek word “apeitheia” and it means disbelief (obstinate and rebellious); it’s characteristically unbelief. So, it’s referring to the children of unbelief. It describes something that’s very much like the spirit of the antichrist.
2 Thessalonians 2:7 AMPC says, “For the mystery of lawlessness (that hidden principle of rebellion against constituted authority) is already at work in the world, [but it is] restrained only until he who restrains is taken out of the way.” “Mystery of lawlessness” refers to rebellion; a defiant opposition to God; to be highly opposed to God’s will; to God’s Word.
There’re people who, without even knowing why, find themselves doing the things they do, in defiance to God. That’s how come you find people who say, “I just don’t like Christians.” If you were to ask them the reason for such hatred, they’ll say, “Nothing; I just don’t like them.” The Bible shows us what spirit is working in such people.
1 Corinthians 2:12 talks about the spirit of the world; and it’s the same spirit we read about in our opening scripture: “...the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience” (Ephesians 2:2). But thank God the Bible says that’s not what we received. We received the Spirit of God and He teaches us and nurtures us in the will of the Father: “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God” (1 Corinthians 2:12). Hallelujah!
Romans 8:12-14, Galatians 5:25 & 1 Peter 1:14 TPT
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SUNDAY 20 JUNE 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: TRUST AND BOAST IN HIS NAME ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him (Colossians 3:17). ______________________________________________
In 1 John 5:13, John writes, “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.” Notice the underlined construction; it simply means to put the Name of Jesus to work! His Name is your access to every city and every nation. It’s your guarantee of consistent victory and unending blessings.
The Name of Jesus is bigger than the whole world. Philippians 2:10 says, “…at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth.” That Name is named upon you. This is the reason you can be unruffled and at peace in any city, region or nation, irrespective of the adversaries or adversities that you might face. His Name is your security.
Solomon had an idea about this and said in Proverbs 18:10, “The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.” That was in the Old Testament; today we don’t “run” into the Name of The Lord; we were born in Him, and have inherited His Name. We live in and by His Name. Hallelujah!
This was what Peter and John knew and acted out when they healed the lame man at the gate of the temple called Beautiful; they put the Name of Jesus to work (Read Acts 3:1-10). The man was crippled from birth, but Peter fastened his eyes on him and said, “…In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk” (Acts 3:6).
The Bible says Peter grabbed him by the arm, yanked him up, and instantly, his ankle bones received strength. Maybe today, your finances, job, or business is in a “crippled” state; use the Name of Jesus! Are there doors that seem to have been shut against you? Put that Name to work.
Unlike your own name, or any other name, the Name of Jesus can be trusted. The Psalmist said in Psalm 20:7 AMPC, “Some trust in and boast of chariots and some of horses, but we will trust in and boast of the name of the Lord our God.” It doesn’t matter the challenges you might be facing in your finances or in your health; put the Name of Jesus to work. If it’s a pain or a growth in your body, command it to dematerialize in the Name of Jesus, and it shall be so. His Name is the Name you can trust.
FURTHER STUDY: Acts 3:16
John 16:23 & Philippians 2:9-11
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY 19 JUNE 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: ESTABLISH HIS WILL FOR YOUR WORLD ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh… (Jeremiah 17:7-8). ______________________________________________
In Hebrews 11:3, the Bible says, “Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God….” The word “framed” is “katartizolj” (Greek), and it means to repair or adjust, to complete thoroughly, to restore, prepare, mend or to make perfect. With faith, you can frame the course of your life in line with God’s perfect will.
There’re things happening in your world today— circumstances and situations—that aren’t consistent with the will of God. They try to mess up your world; don’t let that happen; frame your world.
Your responsibility is to establish the will of the Father in the earth. His will won’t be fulfilled without His hand, and you’re His hand to establish His perfect will. It’s your life, your ministry, and calling to establish the will of the Father as far as it concerns you in your world. Otherwise, it’ll not happen.
Don’t fold your hands and watch the devil wreak havoc in your life, family, city or country, or in the lives of your loved ones. Let the Word of God in your heart come out from your mouth. With the Word on your lips, you truncate and decimate the efforts of the adversary!
In Joel 2:28, when God said, “...I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy...,” He was letting you know with what to control the “aions,” the circumstances of your life; it’s by your words of prophecy! You can live in an oasis of peace in a troubled world.
The whole world can be chaotic, rocking around you, whereas you’re in absolute peace. That’s the message in our theme verse: you’ll not know when heat comes. They may be depressed, and you’re in absolute prosperity. How? Through your faith-filled words. Don’t keep the Word only in your heart; speak it forth and frame your world! Frame how you want things to be with you and for you.
FURTHER STUDY : Hebrews 11:1-3, Joshua 1:8 & Mark 11:23
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY 18 JUNE 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: A KNOWLEDGE OF RELATIONSHIP ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him (Ephesians 1:16-17). ______________________________________________
Just because you’ve been a Christian for a long time doesn’t necessarily mean you’d be effective for God, and in the things of God. It takes more than singing nicely, praising God joyfully, and even preaching, to be effective for Christ and for the Kingdom; you have to know Him in a very personal way.
That’s the reason for Paul’s prayer for the baby church in Ephesus, as read in our opening verse. Paul heard about their love for God; they were excited about the things of God. But he knew they lacked something and prayed that the Lord would grant it to them: “...the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him….”
There’s a certain type of knowledge, a certain type of revelation of God that you ought to have; it’s called “Epignosis” (Greek); knowledge that relates with the known; a knowledge of relationship. This knowledge is different from theology, or mere science.
You can appropriate that prayer of the Spirit through Paul for yourself; put your name there and say, “I have the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the accurate knowledge of God.” You’ll experience the unveiling! It’s the work of the Spirit of God.
Without this kind of knowledge, you’ll be a religious Christian, doing things religiously, without having a real relationship with God. When you have that relationship, you no longer see Him as the God of David or the God of Elijah; He becomes your God; He’s personal to you. That’s when you really appreciate and celebrate your union and oneness with Him.
FURTHER STUDY:
2 Peter 1:2-3 & Ephesians 1:16-17 AMPC
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 17 JUNE 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: A BALANCED LIFE ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God (Colossians 1:10). ______________________________________________
The Holy Spirit inspired the Apostle Paul to pray the prayer above for the Church, letting us understand God’s will for our lives. He prayed that you’d walk in the way of true righteousness, pleasing God in all that you do, fruitful and productive, as you mature in the rich experience of knowing Him in His fullness. Hallelujah!
God wants your life to be fruitful in every good work. With this fruitfulness, He wants you increasing in your “epignosis” (full, exact and experiential knowledge) of Him. What a balanced life! For some people, when they become very productive with their work, business or career, they don’t have time for God anymore. They hardly even study the Bible or participate in church meetings and activities. The more they make progress in their job, the less time they devote to spiritual things; something is wrong.
The life of the Christian is one of ever-increasing glory; all-round success. That is, you’re making good progress in your work, your family is doing fine, your children are growing up strong in faith and in righteousness, and at the same time, you’re increasing in the knowledge of God.
Oh, how important the knowledge of God is! The Bible says, “Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord” (2 Peter 1:2). Do you want more grace in your life, and peace multiplied unto you? Go for the knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ!
God doesn’t want you deficient in any area of your life. In the 11th verse of Colossians 1, Paul continued in his prayer declaring that you be strengthened with all might, according to God’s glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness. You can be very fruitful, productive, and strong. God wants your life to be balanced; and you can actualize His desire in your life by walking in the knowledge of His Word. FURTHER STUDY: Hebrews 13:20-21 & 3 John 1:2
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 16 JUNE 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: REIGNING THROUGH CHRIST ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: 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). ______________________________________________
We have received abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness. Now we reign in and by Christ Jesus. We reign through Christ over the world and its systems, circumstances, and over Satan and his demonic community.
The Bible says whatever you do, in word or deed, do all in the Name of Jesus (Colossians 3:17). His Name is the greatest and highest name in heaven, in earth, and in hell! The Name of Jesus commands the greatest respect. He told us we could cast out devils in His Name. Make sure you’re doing it. Hallelujah!
I recall something that happened when I was a student many years ago. There was a certain university that was troubled by cultists. I mobilized a few friends of mine and we went to the place where the foundation stone of the school was laid.
When we arrived there, we placed our hands on the stone and declared, “In the Name of Jesus Christ, you demons of darkness that have been controlling this school, controlling the students, responsible for cultism here, we break your authority and influence; be gone in the Name of Jesus!”
Guess what? On that same campus, we set up the fellowship that would become the largest fellowship on that campus, till this day. Of course, we don’t have to go to any foundation stone; from wherever you are, you can issue commands to demons anywhere, in the Name of Jesus, and dislodge them.
Christianity is living in the Name of Jesus. The Bible says, “… be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might" (Ephesians 6:10); that means take advantage of His ability; take advantage of His might, of His power, standing in His Name and functioning under His auspices. You can’t have that Name and be helpless; never! Use it today and always, and live victoriously evermore. Glory to God!
FURTHER STUDY:
Colossians 3:17, Philippians 2:9-11 & Romans 5:17 AMPC
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY 15 JUNE 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: FOLLOW PROPHETIC INSTRUCTIONS ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life (Proverbs 4:13). ______________________________________________
In 2 Kings 13, we find a very interesting story concerning the Prophet Elisha and Joash, King of Israel. Joash was having trouble with the Syrians and wanted victory over them. So, he came to the man of God, Elisha. Part of their ensuing dialogue was Elisha instructing Joash to take some arrows and smite them upon the ground.
The Bible says Joash did it three times and stopped (2 Kings 13:18). Elisha, the man of God was furious (the Bible says wroth) with King Joash (2 Kings 13:19) because he stopped. He should have kept on shooting the arrows until the Prophet told him to stop. Shooting the arrows only three times meant he was only going to defeat Syria three times; whereas, God’s plan was something far better. Joash didn’t know that it mattered how many times he shot the arrows. The prophet didn’t ask him to stop, but he stopped by himself.
Here’s what I want to get across to you: Sometimes, many ignore very important things without knowing it, such as paying attention to prophetic instructions, which is part of God’s guidance for His children. A prophetic instruction is an instruction of the Spirit that’s given to you by the Spirit; it’s directed to you, for you. It could come to you directly by the Spiritof God from within you or through someone whom
He’s given some leadership influence over your life. For example, the Lord may be asking you to fast for a certain period of time, but you don’t think it’s important; so, you either didn’t fast at all or you didn’t meet the duration, and then something unpleasant happens. You may not realize that it’s connected to the instruction that you didn’t follow. Such things matter; so, don’t take them lightly. It could be some spiritual instruction from your Pastor, to you or to the congregation of which you’re a member. These are all important.
When God gives you a prophetic instruction or guidance, it’s in your interest to follow through. Your entire destiny or the next level of your success, promotion and greatness may depend on it.
FURTHER STUDY: Proverbs 4:13 NIV, 1 Corinthians 1:24-25 & Proverbs 8:10
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 14 JUNE 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: “PRAYING IN PRAYER” ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months (James 5:17). ______________________________________________
The Greek connotation of the words “prayed earnestly” is an interesting emphasis; it actually says that Elijah “Prayed in prayer”; like when Jesus said to His disciples in Luke 22:15, “...With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer.” How do you “desire” something with desire?
Or “pray” in prayer? It’s a way of strengthening the communication. Thus, by including the word “earnest,” he helps us understand the strength of what he wanted to communicate. It means “heartfelt, continued prayer,” like the Amplified Classic version puts it: “…The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working]”*_ (James 5:16).
1 Kings 17 gives us the details of what transpired during the course of prayer: “And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word” (1 Kings 17:1).
Elijah didn’t just say, “There’ll be no rain according to my word,” just because he felt like it; no! The 18th chapter lets us know Elijah did what he did at the word of the Lord. When it was time for the drought to end, he “prayed in prayer” again, or like the King James puts it, he “prayed earnestly”; it was heartfelt and continued until he had the desired results (study 1 Kings 17-18).
The same way Elijah was effective in prayer, you also can trust in the same living God and “pray” in prayer when you desire a change. Elijah prayed and something remarkable happened to a whole nation. We can effect changes in our nation, state, city or institution. The earnest, heartfelt, continued prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available, dynamic in its working. Pray this way. Pray with deep desire, with intense passion, and there’ll be a change. Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY: James 5:17-18 AMPC & Luke 22:39-44
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SUNDAY 13 JUNE 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: PRAY FOR ALL MEN ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel (1 Chronicles 21:1). ______________________________________________
The Bible shows how evil spirits influence men to do wrong. One of such instances is what we read about David in our theme verse. Imagine David, a righteous king, was moved by Satan to number Israel against God’s will. As a result, God took actions against Israel.
There’s another incident recorded for us in the gospels. When Jesus made it clear to His disciples that it was necessary for Him to die on account of our sins and be raised back to life for our justification, Peter took Him aside and began to “rebuke” Him, saying, “God forbid, Lord! This must never happen to you; you’re not going to die” (Matthew 16:22).
Jesus, right away, identified that it was Satan speaking through Peter, and the Bible says “...he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men” (Matthew 16:23). So, even good men can be moved by Satan to do or say the wrong things. That’s why God wants us to know the truth; know His Word. When you know the truth, you can walk in the light of it. You’ll know how to pray, and how to put a stop to Satan’s works and influences around you.
Learn to pray for all nations of men, leaders and those in authority as admonished in 1 Timothy 2:1-2. Boldly declare by the Spirit that the will, plans and purposes of God be established in and around you, in the hearts of leaders in your community, city, town, nation and in the organisation where you work. Pray that they refuse to yield to negative influences that could stir them to wickedness; rather, they rule with justice and equity, righteousness and truth. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY: Luke 18:1 & 1 Timothy 2:1-4
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY 12 JUNE 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: DON’T LIVE IN NAME ONLY ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead (Revelation 3:1). ______________________________________________
Jesus said concerning the church in Sardis, “…thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.” The church lived in name only, but was dead. It’s like living in history. The death mentioned here isn’t total death. It’s a state where, even though there’re still works and activities, there’s so much apathy and “spiritlessness.”
Being alive in name only isn’t a good thing. Some nations and churches are like that. They have a name of a living church, or are recognised in the comity of nations, but they’re dead. This can also happen to an individual, because churches and nations are made up of individuals.
A worship leader, for instance, could sing and people would think he’s alive, but he knows that he struggles to pray, doesn’t fast, and no longer reads the Bible. God wants everyone in this position to repent. The Master’s instruction to such folks is to be watchful and strengthen the things that are ready to die. That’s quite interesting.
For that worship leader, it may be the singing that’s ready to die and he or she doesn’t know it. So, fan the embers of your desire for the Lord and the things of the Spirit. Be aglow and afire for Him always. Pray often. Win souls. Study and meditate on the Word. Be watchful and strengthen these things. Be fervent in spirit, serving the Lord in truth.
FURTHER STUDY: Colossians 3:23-24 & Romans 12:11-12 AMPC
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY 11 JUNE 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand (Matthew 3:2). ______________________________________________
Matthew, in the verse above, used the term, “the kingdom of heaven” as he talked about the message that John the Baptist came preaching. But when you read Mark’s account, he (Mark) used the term, “the kingdom of God”: “And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel" (Mark 1:15).
Whenever the writers of the Synoptic gospels—Matthew, Mark and Luke report the same event, with some disparity, Matthew’s account is likely to be the most verbatim in quoting Jesus, because among the three writers, he was the only one of the twelve apostles, hearing directly from Jesus. A good example is when He used the expression “kingdom of heaven” and when He used “kingdom of God.”
You might ask, “Is there a difference between the two?” Though synonymously used, both expressions are clearly different. The Kingdom of Heaven is that part of the Kingdom of God established in the earth, and headed by Jesus. In fact, the Greek rendering is “Kingdom of the heavens,” which means a kingdom from heaven.
“Kingdom of God” refers to the rulership of God, the dominion of God, the realm of God. The Kingdom of God is universal; it goes beyond mere territories. It goes as far as to your heart—which is why the Kingdom of God can be established in your heart. Jesus said the kingdom of God is within you (Luke 17:21).
Jesus came to establish the Kingdom of Heaven in the earth, to project the Kingdom of God, as the ambassador of the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of Heaven is the Embassy of the Kingdom of God. So, Jesus sets up His headquarters in the earth and His job is to bring people into God’s Kingdom.
In essence, the Kingdom of Heaven is about the work of Jesus Christ in the earth; it’s the extension of the Kingdom of God in the earth, headed by Jesus Christ. The Kingdom of Heaven is here now, of which we’re a part. Hallelujah! FURTHER STUDY: John 3:3, John 3:5 & Matthew 10:7
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 10 JUNE 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: HIS TRUE DELIGHT ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him; Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men (Proverbs 8:30-31). ______________________________________________
Jesus said, “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you” (John 14:16-17). These words corroborate the Spirit’s true desire as revealed in Proverbs 8:31 RSV: “…delighting in the sons of men.”
The desire of the Spirit of God, who is the conveyor of the blessings of God and of all that’s been given to us in Christ Jesus is to dwell in you and have fellowship with you. His desire wasn’t to live in heaven without us, but to be with us, and in us.
This explains one major reason we got filled with the Holy Spirit. He came to live in us because He loves us and desires deep fellowship with us. That’s why Jesus encouraged us about fellowship with the Holy Spirit. It also brings to mind Paul’s beautiful prayer for the Christians in Corinth: “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen” (2 Corinthians 13:14).
At the end of all things, His ultimate desire will be made manifest, because Revelation 21:3 says, _“And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.”_ Blessed be God.
Think about the fact that this awesome infinite personality of the Godhead—the Holy Spirit—lives in you in His fullness, making you the headquarters of His operations in the earth. You’re His moving house, bearing His grace, glory and righteousness. This has always been His desire. Hallelujah!
If you’d learn to fellowship with the Holy Spirit, He’ll transform your life. He’ll cause the glory of Christ to be seen and expressed through you in ways you never thought possible.
FURTHER STUDY: 2 Corinthians 6:16, 1 Corinthians 3:16 & Colossians 1:26-27-27-
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 09 JUNE 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: CIVIL AUTHORITIES ARE FOR GOOD WORKS ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: For civil authoritiesRHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 09 JUNE 2021 PASTOR CHRIS TOPIC: CIVIL AUTHORITIES ARE FOR GOOD WORKS ______________________________________________
God’s Word teaches that we obey civil authorities because they’re established by God (Romans 13:2). So, whether it’s the king, the prime minister, the president, the governor or mayor, etc., we’re to obey them, but only in the context of God’s Word.
1 Peter 2:13-15 says, “Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men.” Peter, by the Spirit, shows us that these ordinances were set up for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.
However, we’re in a world where some government leaders do the exact opposite of what the Word says. That’s why it can become a problem if you leave the definition of “right” or “wrong” to the government. The Word of God is what determines right and wrong. In Romans 13:1-4, the Spirit of God, through the Apostle Paul, admonishes everyone to obey state authorities, because no authority exists without God’s permission.
But He didn’t stop there; He went further to spell the responsibilities of the state: “For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil” (Romans 13:3-4).
You may then ask, “Doesn’t it follow that whatever a leader does, therefore, is from God?” Absolutely not! You have to apply the right contextual understanding; otherwise, where would you place the likes of Stalin, Mussolini, and Adolf Hitler? Their actions were ungodly. So we understand that not all leaders please the Lord.
Civil authorities are to promote a righteous cause; they’re for good works not evil. Proverbs 29:2 & 4 (AMPC) says, “When the [uncompromisingly] righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; but when the wicked man rules, the people groan and sigh…The king by justice establishes the land, but he who exacts gifts and tribute overthrows it.”
FURTHER STUDY Proverbs 29:2, Ezra 7:10, Proverbs 21:15
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY 08 JUNE 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: AS WHITE AS SNOW ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool (Isaiah 1:18). ______________________________________________
The Lord Jesus was divine and without sin; yet, He became the sin-sacrifice, offered up for the sin of the world. He took our place of sin on the Cross, so that we might take His place of righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21).
As a result of what Jesus did, we’re declared holy and without blame before the Father. We can boldly stand in the presence of God without guilt, inferiority or condemnation. The truth is that God holds nothing against you. To Him, you’re as perfect as Jesus is, because your righteousness is the righteousness of Jesus Christ.
Picture it this way: An amazing prince beckons on you to attend his banquet. Whereas you’re wearing rags—dirty and smelly and wouldn’t want to come close to him or his guests because of your filthy looks—with a warm smile, he signals that you come in and flings open the banquet door.
Noticing your reluctance, he entreats further that you come in so he could introduce you to the others in the hall. But with a look of dejection, you refuse the invitation. Finally, the prince says, “I know how you feel; I’ll not make you ashamed. Can you trust me?” Then, you trust his word, and go in. However, you still can’t imagine yourself mingling with such clean and flawless people.
Knowing your thoughts, the prince says, “Now that you’ve believed, look at yourself again!” Then you did and suddenly, you were as regal and immaculate as the prince and everyone else in the room. This is akin to your righteousness in Christ Jesus. The Bible says, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1). Glory to God!
No wonder He says in 1 Corinthians 6:11 that you’re washed, sanctified, and justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. Now He’s made you His partner in bringing others into this amazing life of righteousness, to experience the same peace and glory you have in Him. Hallelujah! Don’t keep it to yourself.
FURTHER STUDY: 1 Corinthians 6:11, 1 Corinthians 1:30 AMPC & Colossians 1:21-22
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 07 JUNE 2021 PASTOR CHRIS TOPIC: STRIVING IN PRAYER ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers…(Colossians 4:12). ______________________________________________
The phrase translated “laboring fervently” in the scripture above is “agōnizomai” (Greek), and it doesn’t translate into mere labouring; it means to strive. In fact, the first synonym is “to fight”; it also means to struggle or contend with an adversary. The same word is what we have in 1 Timothy 6:12 which says, “Fight the good fight….” Now, Paul, by the Spirit, tells the Christians in the church in Colossae that Epaphras was always “fighting” for them in prayers. He was contending with satanic forces in their behalf. That’s part of what you do in interceding for others. 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 says, “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” Here, we see why we must strive in prayer for the souls of men.
Perhaps you have family members and loved ones, friends, colleagues and neighbours you’ve been witnessing to and they’ve refused to heed the call of salvation; God’s Word shows what the real problem is: Satan—the “god of this world”—has blinded their minds! For such people, you must contend for their souls in prayer; you “agonize” in intercession for them. You declare, “In the Name of the Lord Jesus, you evil spirit of darkness that has blinded their minds, I break your influence over them!”
But you see, you don’t stop there; you continue in intercession; it’s called prevailing in prayer. You travail in prayer over their minds, that their hearts be opened to the Lord, and be guided to the Word of God, in the Name of Jesus. You pray that the light of the glorious Gospel shines in their hearts, and they embrace the grace of God for their salvation; the presence of God mantles their hearts and God’s Word prevails in their lives. Hallelujah!
Pray like this for your friends or family members who aren’t yet born again, and you’ll be amazed at the result. Praise God!
FURTHER STUDY Colossians 4:12 GNB,
1 Timothy 2:1-4 & Galatians 4:19 TPT
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SUNDAY 06 JUNE 2021 PASTOR CHRIS TOPIC: DIVINE ACQUITTAL ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1). ______________________________________________
The Bible says Jesus wasn’t only delivered to death on account of your sins, He was also raised back to life for your justification (Romans 4:25). What does it mean to be justified? The word translated “justified” means to be acquitted and declared righteous; it is to be declared “not guilty”; free of guilt.
Therefore, in the mind of justice, there’re no charges against you! The mystery of divine acquittal beats human imagination. How can a man be acquitted in an onward and permanent way? How is that possible?
In natural justice, you’re only acquitted today from charges of past offenses; you can’t be acquitted from charges of future offenses. But it’s not so with God. Your divine acquittal covers past, present and future offenses. There’s a badge on you everywhere you go that says “Acquitted!”
Read the theme verse again. It says, _“Therefore being justified by faith…” (Romans 5:1). What is faith? The Bible says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). You don’t apply faith for what’s behind you, or what you already have with you.
Therefore, “being justified by faith” means, from this moment, you’ve entered into the future with divine acquittal. It’s the result of what Jesus did. Now you can further appreciate when He said in Colossians 1:21-22: “And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled…to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight.”
You’re holy, unblameable and unreproveable in His sight. This is the way God sees you. Why would anyone want to live in sin when they understand this truth? You’re too holy, too righteous, too clean, and too pure: this is what God has given you as a gift!
He declared Himself to be righteous in granting you divine acquittal for believing in Jesus: “To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus” (Romans 3:26).
FURTHER STUDY: Romans 5:20-21, Romans 5:17 AMPC & Acts 13:38-39
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY 05 JUNE 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: CHILDREN OF THE WORD ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant… (Acts 3:25). ______________________________________________
I’ve often said that as Christians, we’re not in covenant with God; we’re the results or children of the covenant. There’s a huge difference between being in covenant, and being the result of the covenant.
Think about it this way: when a man and woman get married, they come into a covenant; when they have children, their children are the result or fruit of that covenant. You can’t say the children are in covenant with their parents; only the parents have a covenant with each other. You have to understand this; otherwise, you’ll never really enjoy the blessings and glory of Christianity.
So, in our theme verse, Peter, preaching to the Jews, spoke spiritually. He didn’t mean they were the children of the Prophets in the sense that they were born by the wives of the Prophets; no. When he called them the children of the Prophets and of the covenant, he meant children of the promise, or the spoken Word. And that’s exactly who we are.
The Apostle Paul, in his epistle to the Galatians, writes: “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” (Galatians 3:27-29).
We’re as much Abraham’s seed as the Jews that Paul addressed in his epistle. The new creation is the actual spiritual seed of Abraham. We’re heirs of the promise. Romans 8:17 says, “…if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ….” That’s who you are; that’s your identity! Glory to God!
FURTHER STUDY: Acts 3:25 & Genesis 22:15-18
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY 04 JUNE 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: EVER CONSCIOUS OF HIS PRESENCE ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen (2 Corinthians 13:14). ______________________________________________
The most important thing in your life now that you’re in Christ is your fellowship with the Holy Spirit. Until and unless this becomes a present-hour consciousness to you, your Christianity would be a form of religion. You have to know, love and relate with the Holy Spirit as not only a real person, but also as the very essence of Christ and Christianity. He’s the One who raised up Jesus from the dead; and without the resurrection, there would have been no salvation. Everything you’d ever want, admire and love in Jesus is in the Holy Spirit.
The Lord Jesus is now in heaven; the Holy Spirit is here with us, and the beautiful thing about it is that we have Him (the Holy Spirit) in us and with us anywhere and everywhere. The disciples couldn’t take Jesus home with them; they were with Him in their waking hours, in their work hours, but when He went to heaven, they had to welcome the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit came to take the place of the ascended Christ. He lives in you today. So, be ever conscious of His presence in you; take advantage of His grace and power in your life. With Him, you can do anything; life becomes a glide and smooth sail in glory. Hallelujah!
The apostles in the early Church understood and took great advantage of the Holy Spirit’s presence in their lives. After they received the Holy Spirit, their lives and ministry changed; they ministered and did all things by the power of the Holy Spirit. No wonder they had such extraordinary results and made such a marvelous impact with the Gospel. FURTHER STUDY: John 15:26 & John 14:16-17
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 03 JUNE 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: YOU’RE IN GOD’S REALM OF LIFE ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: 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). ______________________________________________
1 Peter 1:23 says, “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.” The word translated “incorruptible” is “aphthartos” (Greek), and it means not corruptible, immortal. You were born again by God’s immortal seed.
Immortality is translated from “aphtharsia” (Greek) in 2 Timothy 1:10, meaning life that can’t be damaged, dented or shortened. That’s the life you have in you now that you’re born again. When you received Christ to live in you, you were brought into life and immortality: “…by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel” (2 Timothy 1:10).
Thus, you’re in God’s realm of life; you’re to reign through the Word. Every king has a realm in which he reigns; yours is the realm of life where death has no power. Blessed be God! You need to be awakened to this reality; the reality of your immortality. You’re not an ordinary person; you’re not subject to the elements and rudiments of this failing world of darkness.
You’re seated with Christ in the realm of glory, dominion, and power. You ought to affirm every day, “In my path, there’s no death; there’s no failure; everything works! There’s glory, excellence and victory only, because I dwell in the realm of life.”
Completely refuse and reject anything that isn’t consistent with the God-life in you. Reject sickness, disease, infirmity and all works of darkness. According to the Scriptures, you’ve passed from death to life, from mortality into immortality, from age into agelessness, because in Christ, you live in God’s realm of life. FURTHER STUDY: Romans 8:10-11, Colossians 3:10 & John 5:24
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 02 JUNE 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: HAVE NO FEAR; BELIEVE GOD’S WORD ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: And these signs shall follow them that believe…they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover (Mark 16:17-18). ______________________________________________
In the past year, perhaps, more than ever in the history of this generation, we’ve seen intense distress of nations, with many living in immense fear. Even amongst Christians, we’ve seen church leaders go as far as putting up a sign to indicate they’re shutting down their churches because of fear.
But such actions are inconsistent with the ministry of Jesus Christ in whom we’ve believed. How can a Christian—who the Bible says is the salt of the earth and the light of the world, the one who’s anointed with the Holy Ghost; a God-carrying vessel—be afraid?
Jesus highlighted the signs with which to identify those who believe in Him, part of which we read in our opening scripture. No one who truly believes in Jesus will be afraid of any sickness or infectious disease. He said in Luke 10:19, “Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”
Your reaction to the things going on in the world today shows whether or not you truly believe in Jesus. It’s the pressures of life that reveal your convictions. If as a Christian, you’re “afraid” of sickness or disease, then in which God did you believe? Certainly not the same God that Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, the Prophets and the Apostles knew and talked about.
For many years, I’ve laid hands on people with some of the most contagious diseases in the world; very infectious diseases; but I could never have any fear of becoming infected, because it’s the same ministry of Jesus, by the life and power of the Holy Spirit. We have the divine life that’s “uninfectable” and impregnable to any sickness or disease. Take the Word of God seriously; study it; believe it, and live it.
FURTHER STUDY: Mark 16:17-18 NKJV, Psalm 82:5-6 & John 14:1 TPT
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY 01 JUNE 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: PRAYER: A JOYFUL RESPONSE TO GOD’S INVITATION ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us (1 John 5:14) ______________________________________________
Ephesians 6:18 says, “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.” Notice that it says, “Praying always”; not “Praying sometimes.” It parallels what Jesus said in Luke 18:1: “…Men ought always to pray, and not to faint.” If you’re a praying Christian, you’ll be an effective Christian; effective through the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said to His disciples, “…without me ye can do nothing” (John 15:5). In prayer, you maintain that connection in your communication; you remain open to His will and bring others to Him in your heart, as you pray for them.
Some think prayer is the response of the helpless or the weak to insurmountable and overwhelming challenges; no! Prayer, primarily, is fellowship with God; and even though when one is oppressed or suffers injustice, he should pray, that isn’t the reason for prayer. Prayer is the joyful response of the one who, with a heart full of faith, trusts in the living God.
Prayer is a response, more to God’s invitation to pray, than the response to a situation. He invited us to pray because He intended to answer. So, the greatest part of prayer isn’t the prayer itself; it’s the answer. We haven’t had a great prayer time if we didn’t receive answers to our prayer! Irrespective of what we have said in prayer, it’s God’s response that truly matters.
Thanks be unto God! We’re ordained to receive answers when we pray, because He said if we pray according to His will—His rule for prayer, which is praying in the Name of Jesus—He hears us. If He heard us, then He answered us. That’s the beauty of prayer: the fact that we’re guaranteed of a hearing (1 John 5:14). You ought to rejoice each time you pray, and say like Jesus, “Father, I thank you, because you hear me always” (John 11:42). Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY: 1 Thessalonians 5:17 *Ephesians 6:18
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 31 MAY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS TOPIC: KEEPING HIS WORD ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:25). ______________________________________________
In John 14:21, the Lord Jesus reveals the secret to winning every day, living triumphantly. He said, “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.” If you want Him to show up in your life, and for His glory to be manifested in and through you, He says it’s simple: “Keep my words.”
His glory is manifested when you act on His Word. Recall at the wedding in Cana of Galilee; when they needed more wine, Mary admonished the servants saying, “Whatever He tells you to do, do it.” Jesus then told them to fill the water pots with water, and when they did, the water turned into wine. It was Jesus’ first recorded miracle.
John then tells us concerning that miracle, “This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him” (John 2:11). Prove your love by doing His Word, and you’ll experience blessings and miracles in your ministry, job, business, finances, physical body, and everything about you.
If you’ve found yourself in a situation where everything around you seems hard, don’t despair. Put the things you’ve learnt to practice. We’re Word-practitioners; we do the Word. The challenges you face are your opportunity to demonstrate your trust in the Lord, and prove His Word. Therefore, keep declaring your health, success, prosperity, and victory in Christ Jesus.
FURTHER STUDY: John 14:12, John 14:15 & James 1:22-25
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SUNDAY 30 MAY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: IN CHRIST YOU’VE OVERCOME ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world (John 16:33). ______________________________________________
In 1 John 5:5, John, by the Spirit asks, “Who is he that has overcome the world?” He immediately gives the answer: it’s the one who believes that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God! In the world, there’s hunger, poverty insecurity, sickness and disease, death and darkness. But you’re “in Christ.” Stay in Christ, for in Christ you’ve overcome Satan, the world and its failing systems.
It’s only when you look outside Christ that you see and are overwhelmed by the troubles, sorrows, distresses and corrupting influences in the world. He said, “In me, there’s peace; cheer up.” That’s His Word unto you. Accept it, and suddenly, you’d realize that nothing in this world can put you down.
No wonder He 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). This is the reason we’re forever excited about preaching the Gospel and making the love and righteousness of Christ known. How could anyone know this truth and be quiet?
The whole world needs to know that there’s a Name that’s above every name, and that at that Name, every demon bows! At that Name, sicknesses give way! At that Name, poverty has no chance! They need to know that there’s success in life that’s independent of the world’s economics. True peace and prosperity are only found in Christ. This is where you come in; refuse to be quiet.
Open your mouth, and declare the Gospel freely and boldly. Let those you come in contact with know that only in Jesus Christ is there salvation. Let them know that God isn’t mad at them, and that they can now embrace life through the Gospel. Hallelujah! FURTHER STUDY: 2 Corinthians 3:5-6 & 2 Timothy 4:2
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY 29 MAY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: INSPIRE LOVE ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works (Hebrews 10:24). ______________________________________________
In Christianity, we provoke one another to love, to produce works of righteousness. We don’t provoke to hate, anger, jealousy or malice. Don’t provoke someone else to become resentful of another person. Always say and do things that promote love and peace, for you were created to love.
Jesus said in John 13:34, “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.” Spread love. When people try to instigate a dislike within you for someone else, know that it’s a wrong spirit working through them, and lovingly let them know that they’re wrong.
Don’t entertain anything that’ll make you bitter or enraged towards someone else. Walk in love and inspire others to love. Jesus said, “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:35). God has given you His love and the ability to express it lavishly. Romans 5:5 says, “…the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” Let love show in your language. Let it reflect in your actions. Walking in love reveals the perfection of your spirit and person. Jesus said in Matthew 5:48, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.”
But right before that, He said, “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven…” (Matthew 5:44-45). He wants you to love unconditionally like your heavenly Father. FURTHER STUDY: 1 Thessalonians 4:9 & 1 John 3:16-18
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY 28 MAY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: GRACE FOR SOUL WINNING ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ (Ephesians 3:8). ______________________________________________
In the scripture above, the Apostle Paul acknowledged that grace—a supernatural enablement, a gifting, an ability, a blessing—had been granted him to preach the unfathomable riches of Christ to the Gentiles. The same is true about you today because the Word of God is undated, and has universal applicability.
What we read came through the Apostle Paul by the Holy Spirit. That’s why it’s Scripture for us; but Paul has gone to heaven; however, that word has to be worked here. God is waiting for anybody who would step into it and announce it like Paul did. He’s waiting for whoever would be synchronized with it! I already got in sync with that verse years ago; so, I’m on it. Great grace has been granted me to preach the unsearchable riches of Christ, and I’m making full proof of it.
It’s your job to make everybody hear about and be influenced by Christ Jesus and His amazing love, and to have Christ in them. In the different organizations, platforms, forums and places you find yourself, see yourself placed there as a missionary. It makes no difference where you work; in that place, you’ve been graced to preach the unsearchable riches of Christ and bring glory to the Lord. Become conscious and strategic about it.
Perhaps you travel a lot; certainly, you meet people while on such trips; minister the Gospel to them. Moreover, when you arrive your destination, there’re souls there! Find out how you can effectively reach them. You can begin by giving them copies of Rhapsody of Realities. Be an effective witness for the Lord. That’s the reason for your life. Jesus said, “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you” (John 15:16).
FURTHER STUDY: Matthew 6:33 & 1 Corinthians 9:16
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 27 MAY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS TOPIC: JUSTIFIED WITH A NEW LIFE ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1). ______________________________________________
Each time I think about all that Jesus did for us, oftentimes, tears of worship and appreciation flow freely from my eyes. I’m elated with uncontrollable joy. Think about it: because of Jesus, we’ve been declared not guilty; justified; acquitted.
Ephesians 2:4-6 tells us, _*“But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” When Jesus died, we died with Him. When He was buried, we were buried with Him. When God raised Him from the dead, we were raised together with Him.
We were in Him in His death, burial, and resurrection. Romans 4:24-25 says, “But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.” We weren’t justified by His death; we were justified by His resurrection.
When He was raised from the dead, He was born again (Acts 13:32-33). He’s the head of the new creation. The Bible says, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
You’re not the same person that was born of your biological parents; that’s the old man that had the nature of sin. That old man died in Christ, and a new YOU was born when you were born again. No wonder He says in Romans 6:4, “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” Walk in the consciousness and light of your new life and nature in Christ. Hallelujah! FURTHER STUDY: Galatians 2:16, 1 Corinthians 6:11
& Acts 13:38-39
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 26 MAY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: HIS BLOOD SPEAKS BETTER THINGS ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: And toz Blood Still Speaks Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel (Hebrews 12:24). ______________________________________________
In 1 Corinthians 11:25, the Bible says Jesus took “…the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.” His blood represents His life. He gave His life for you that you may live. The Bible says we weren’t redeemed with silver or gold or precious stones but with the blood, the precious blood of Jesus Christ, Son of the living God (1 Peter 1:18-19). His blood is your true value; and His blood speaks! It speaks blessings in your behalf.
His blood speaks your righteousness, justification, victory, prosperity and divine protection. You’re not left to the dictates and mercy of the adversary or the dominion of sin. You’re purified and preserved by His blood. The Bible says, “Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us” (Hebrews 9:12).
Thank God for the blood of Jesus Christ! It speaks your salvation. Hallelujah! The Bible says He was made sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:21). Jesus didn’t just save you from sin; He gave you His life and nature. Today, sin, its effects and consequences have no dominion over you. You’re free to serve the Lord and live for Him.
Before Jesus came, there were sacrifices and offerings for the atonement of sins in the Old Testament. This involved the killing of animals, several bulls and goats. But the Bible says in Hebrews 10:4, “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.” Jesus Christ, with one sacrifice, has PERFECTED FOREVER all those who are called in Him. He offered Himself once, for the total blotting away, the removal of sins (Hebrews 9:14). He purged our sins by His own blood: “Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high” (Hebrews 1:3). FURTHER STUDY: Hebrews 9:13-15 & Hebrews 10:1-7
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY 25 MAY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS TOPIC: ENDLESS JOY ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost (Romans 14:17). ______________________________________________
According to the Scriptures, there’s a relationship between joy and the Holy Ghost. Romans 15:13 says, “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.”
Also, in 1 Thessalonians 1:6, the Bible says, “And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost.” And our theme verse says the Kingdom of God is “righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.”
Although some Christians have received the Holy Spirit, their hearts are full of troubles; they’re worried about many things. They’re worried about their children, their health, business, etc. They just seem to have so many reasons to not be happy.
Someone may say, “With the things happening in my life, I need a change of environment; I need to travel somewhere I can really be happy.” No! Don’t look to anything external to give you joy. Joy is one of the fruits of your recreated human spirit. So, it’s in you. Your spirit produces endless joy. It’s called, “…joy unspeakable and full of glory” (1 Peter 1:8).
True joy and happiness have nothing to do with what’s going on around you. Our joy is independent of circumstances. We’re joyful in adversity. That’s what the Bible says: count it all joy, when you go through diverse tests (James 1:2).
Some thoughts may come to you to dampen your faith, to douse your joy and dampen your spirit; always be quick to discard such thoughts. Be joyful ALWAYS! The Spirit of God does more for and with us in an atmosphere of joy and happiness. So, make up your mind to be joyful, today, and always.
FURTHER STUDY: 1 Peter 1:7-8, Proverbs 17:22 & Nehemiah 8:10
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 24 MAY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: MONEY IS AN ILLUSION ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: 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). ______________________________________________
I’ve often said that money is an illusion that exists only in the minds of the poor. There’s no such thing as “money.” Money is a deception and a distraction in the world. When God made this world, there was no such thing as money. Money evolved with time. With what’s happening in the world today, many now better understand that money is a game of numbers.
What God expects is that you live as the champion that He’s made you. Fear nothing in this world, and refuse to be intimidated. That’s the Gospel. Prosperity is beyond money. The presence or absence of money doesn’t change your state or condition spiritually, and therefore shouldn’t change your testimony of God.
If, for example, you require something, and your money isn’t enough for it, that doesn’t mean you can’t have it; you can get it free! That’s the life of prosperity I’m talking about. God never said, “Except you have the money, nothing will be yours”; rather, He said plainly, “…all things are yours” (1 Corinthians 3:21).
What’s important is the purchasing power, and your purchasing power isn’t money; it’s your faith! You have what God says you have, irrespective of the currencies you have at hand or don’t have. Believe this and you’d be free from the power and intimidation of money.
FURTHER STUDY: 1 Corinthians 3:21-22, 2 Peter 1:3 & 3 John 1:2
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SUNDAY 23 MAY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: VICTORIOUS BY THE WORD ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come (2 Timothy 3:1). ______________________________________________
In Ezra Chapter 6, the children of Israel decided to build the house of God upon their return from exile. The Bible tells us that as they built it, they prospered. Ezra 6:14 tells us how they prospered: “… they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo….” The latter part says, “And they builded, and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the commandment of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia.” This is profound, instructive and enlightening. They prospered in their work, they built and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and the instructions of Kings Cyrus, Darius and Artaxerxes, who were kings of Persia at different times. Those prophets caused it to happen through their message. They brought them the Word of God.
The ministry of the Word is so important in our lives; it’s integral to every success. That’s why we bring the Word to you every day through this devotional, to strengthen you, especially in these dark days. We’re not moved by what’s happening in the world today, because we know that in all these things, we’re more than conquerors (Romans 8:37). We prevail by the Word. Our glory, victories and success were preordained before the foundation of the world.
We’re aware that the current imbroglio around the world is the handiwork of Satan. He tries to weaken the nations and their economies. But God never leaves you stranded. He keeps bringing you His Word to guide, encourage and strengthen you. Through the ministry of the Word, the wisdom and skill you require to be victorious are imparted to you.
Keep learning and meditating on the Word of God; it’ll grow mightily in you and prevail. You’ll be a wonder to your world, dominating circumstances, living above Satan and the elements of this world.
FURTHER STUDY: Proverbs 4:18
John 16:33 & Acts 20:32
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY 22 MAY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS TOPIC: ALL ABOUT SOUL WINNING ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature (Mark 16:15). ______________________________________________
As a Christian, you must be effective in soul winning. You’re a missionary here on earth, an ambassador for Christ. You’re commissioned of God to take the message of salvation to others. That’s the instruction given to us, as read in the scripture above. Your life should be about soul winning; dedicate your time, effort, and resources to it.
Be known for your passion for the Lord, His Gospel, and the souls of men. Soul winning was Jesus’ lifestyle. On a certain occasion, as He passed through Samaria on His way from Judea to Galilee, He needed to rest a bit; so He sat at a well, while His disciples went to get some food.
While at the well, a woman came to draw water, and Jesus began to preach the Good News to her (Read John 4). Jesus encountered this woman and brought her out of her shell—the feeling that she was “nobody.” Despite being a total stranger to her, He gave her a new self-value. The Bible tells us to follow His example (1 Peter 2:21).
Sometimes, there’re those that we have to reach out to. You may notice someone who’s sitting quietly in a corner somewhere, and you pull a chair and sit beside that one, and say, “Can I be of help to you?" Then in the process, minister the Gospel to that one.
There’s the one who’s alone and seems helpless; then you come by, sit with him or her and you lead them to Christ. Don’t ignore them and act like they’re not there. Become concerned about their plight. Your life is all about being an effective witness for Jesus Christ. You represent Him in your world.
Your lifestyle and actions before non-Christians should, and must, be such that endear Christ to them, to believe and receive the Gospel. Your job is to win them and bring them into the Kingdom.
FURTHER STUDY: Luke 4:18-19 & 2 Corinthians 5:18-20
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY 21 MAY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: CELEBRATE THE NAME OF JESUS ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him (Colossians 3:17). ______________________________________________
You need to learn to celebrate the Name of Jesus. I mean you shut your door for privacy, and dance to the Name of Jesus, all by yourself! For some people, when they’re alone, they mope and gripe about everything that bothers them and makes them unhappy. They’re always overwhelmed by their challenges, thinking about some unattained goals or “disappointments” they may have experienced. They can’t see what God has done. That shouldn’t be you.
When others aren’t with you, in your closet, you can say what you want and really express yourself in the presence of the Lord with no inhibitions. You can shout as much as you want to in celebration of the Lord, for His greatness and grace upon your life. Before long, you’d find yourself so stirred in the anointing of the Holy Ghost that you’d prophesy. Hallelujah!
I like to shout. I may not shout in a way that somebody else will hear me; I know how to shout “under my breath,” all by myself. I never have time for gloominess or to mull over negativity. The life of God in us is a great miracle; you ought to learn to celebrate it all the time.
There’s no reason for frustration or for you to be disadvantaged. If you’d learn to do these things, and do them consistently, even if you were in penury, He’ll bring you out, into abundance. Even if you thought you were already a failure, you’ll come out of that place. When you live your life in joy, in celebration of the Lord—His Name, and your life in Him, every day—you’ll always be on top. Glory to His Name forever.
FURTHER STUDY:
Psalm 103:1-2, Ephesians 5:20 & 2 Samuel 22:50
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 20 MAY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS TOPIC: A PURPOSEFUL LIFE ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: 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). ______________________________________________
There’s a popular story that’s been told for years, and it bears repeating because of its relevance today. It’s about a very wealthy man who had thousands of employees, but one day, he decided to commit suicide by drowning.
Somehow, there was a young man watching who had known this rich businessman for over twenty years. He rushed to the scene, just in time! At the risk of his own life, he dragged the old man back to shore. While they were both on the floor exhausted, trying to catch their breath, the old man said, “Why did you save me? You’re contributing to the frustration of my life.”
The young man, in complete shock, said, “But Sir, why would you want to die? Your family is the best in town. You’re well known in the community, and everybody loves you.” The old man retorted, “That’s the problem. I’ve lived for everybody. I’ve given jobs to thousands. I’ve made money for everybody. I’ve made people happy. But I’ve never been happy, myself. It’s not worth it. You should have allowed me to drown.” Then he pulled the young man close to himself and said, “Young man, try not to be like me. I’m a failure.” How sad.
But this is the situation of many. Don’t be carried away by the world’s symbols of success. Take for instance someone who, all his life, was raised with good character, but because of inordinate ambition for fame and wealth, he puts aside a good reputation and character to become a criminal. He thinks that’s the cheapest way. Because he thinks if he doesn’t measure up with the society of his day, that’s when he’s a failure. But man is not what he has!
Remember the words of Jesus, _“…a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.” The most important thing in life is to discover your purpose, and fulfill it. It begins with living your life for Jesus, making impact with the Gospel; that’s living a purposeful life.
FURTHER STUDY: Psalm 62:10 Luke 16:15, 1 Timothy 6:6-7 & 2 Corinthians 5:15
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 19 MAY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: LABOURING IN INTERCESSION ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God (Colossians 4:12). ______________________________________________
Some Christians are committed to interceding for others; they just know it’s their job to do so. We all should be that way, because God needs such people. It’s possible the reason you’re able to study the Word today like you’re doing right now is the dedication of such people. It could be the reason you’re growing in the things of God and standing in the faith today.
You may not know it, but many are Christians today because of someone else who laboured in intercession, praying fervently, for their lives. The Bible says woe to that man who is alone; when he falls, he has no one to lift him up (Ecclesiastes 4:10). It’s important we support and lift others through prayer.
This doesn’t mean you become “a prayer collector,” enlisting “prayer warriors”; the local Church takes care of that. It’s the Pastor’s responsibility to train the Church to pray for one another. Those who were around the Apostle Paul, one of whom is Epaphras, understood this message. A read in our theme verse, Epaphras interceded for the Church, God’s people in Colossi, to come to maturity. How inspiring!
When you take up the ministry of intercession, you’re siding with God as a labourer in the Kingdom. You’re working with Him to improve and impact the lives of others. Hallelujah! Jesus said, “The harvest is plenty, but the labourers are few” (Matthew 9:37). He needs those who would labour in prayer like Epaphras for the souls of men. Be that man or woman that He’s found to stand in the gap, to pray for people to come to Christ, to pray for fellow Christians who are yet to come to maturity in the things of God, and also for ministers of the Gospel to fulfill their call and destinies in the Gospel. FURTHER STUDY: 1 Timothy 2:1-8 NIV
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY 18 MAY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: HIS WILL IS IN FORCE ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come (1 Corinthians 11:26). ______________________________________________
The word “shew” isn’t exactly the same as “show”; to show is to display. Of course, it also means, in a certain way, to declare, to make known. But more typically, “shew” which is translated from the Greek word “kataggello” is to announce, to proclaim. When we take the Holy Communion, we’re announcing or proclaiming the Lord’s death. We’re being emphatic that the testator died; and as a result, His testament (His will) is in force.
That testament left you an estate; everything He owned, He gave to you; it’s declared in His will. A will is the last disposition of a man that died. All you need to enjoy what’s in the will is proof of death. Once he’s dead, the testament becomes effective. When we take the Communion, we’re reaffirming the Lord’s death, declaring that His testament is now in force. There’s no argument; Satan can’t stand against that. Hallelujah!
Every time you have the opportunity to participate in the Holy Communion, it’s an announcement of glory, of your triumphant life in Christ Jesus. You’re declaring that all blessings of the New Testament are your present-hour reality. You’re in dominion and walking in glory; nothing has power over you.
No sickness, disease or infirmity can thrive in your body. His blood was shed for you that you may live. And now, you live, because He lives. This is the eternal significance of the Communion; it’s an announcement that His testament is in force. FURTHER STUDY: Colossians 1:13-14 & 1 John 5:11-12
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 17 MAY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: UNDERSTANDING THE SPIRITUALITY OF LIFE ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace (Romans 8:5-6). ______________________________________________
The Lord Jesus had a spirituality that was unmistakable. He was very spiritual. For example, in Matthew 16:17, even while responding to Peter’s answer to a question He (Jesus) had asked, He dealt with the spiritual nature of what Peter said. Jesus had asked the disciples, “Whom do men say that I am?” Peter answered correctly, and Jesus replied, “…Blessed art thou, Simon Bar jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.”
Peter didn’t know that it was God that gave him the revelation; he just spoke as it was in his heart. But Jesus immediately addressed the spirituality of his answer. He let Peter know that his answer didn’t come to him by his flesh or senses; it wasn’t from his study. Also, consider how He taught His disciples to pray in Matthew 6:9, when He gave them a format for prayer. He said, “Our Father which art in heaven….” He talked about the Father in heaven. The spirituality of His communication is so inspiring.
Even at His arrest, He said to the soldiers and the priests who came to arrest Him, “…this is your hour, and the power of darkness” (Luke 22:53). He let them know what power was behind their actions—the power of darkness. He dealt with the spirituality of every subject. This is how He wants us to live.
There’re some who think that being spiritual is excessive, but to live or do things any other way is death. When you’re motivated to do something, always consider whether your motivation is coming from God, from the flesh, or even Satan. You can tell by the Spirit and through the Word. Understanding the spirituality of life is where the victory in life really is. That’s where life’s purpose actually resides.
You’ve got to connect your life with that which is spiritual. Whether or not you realize it, you came from the Spirit. God made you and God is a Spirit. So, your origin is spiritual. Therefore, always be spiritually minded. Walk wisely. The Bible tells us to walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16). Your consciousness should be spiritual.
Think like Jesus. Talk like Jesus. Practise His way of thinking. But you can’t do that except you meditate on the Scriptures. The Word shows you what spiritual things are and delivers them to you. Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY: 1 Corinthians 2:12-15 & Romans 8:12-14
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SUNDAY 16 MAY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: HE INVITED US TO PRAY ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint (Luke 18:1). ______________________________________________
God asked us to pray, because He plans to answer. Prayer is His idea; He invited us to pray. This should inspire you to pray, because the beautiful part about praying is the answers you get.
Some people have become so used to praying without answers that they now lack the confidence to pray. The reason is that they don’t understand this truth. Moreover, they’re praying amiss; they’re not praying the right way. I always get results when I pray, and you should too. The question then is, “How do you pray?”
In the New Testament, we pray in the Name of Jesus. We can ask the Father for anything in the Name of Jesus, and He’ll give it to us. This was what Jesus meant when he stated in John 16:23-24: “And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.”
When we pray, we stand in the place of Jesus, we’re taking His place; so, we can’t be praying to Him in His Name, or while standing in His stead. In addition, we may demand that something be done or occur, in the Name of Jesus; this isn’t prayer; rather, it’s exercising the authority of His Name, as in John 14:12-14. That’s what Peter did in Acts 3:6: “Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk."
So, prayer in the New Testament is geared to effecting changes. You can effect definite changes in the realm of the spirit through prayer, to your advantage. That’s why Jesus said, “…men ought always to pray, and not to faint.” That means pray always, and don’t give up, because when you pray, you make power available for the works of righteousness. Through prayer, we cause the will of God to be done in the earth as it is in heaven. Praise God!
FURTHER STUDY: 1 Thessalonians 5:17 & John 16:24
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY 15 MAY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS TOPIC: RECEIVING PROPHECIES ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare (1 Timothy 1:18). ______________________________________________
In our theme verse, the Spirit of God admonishes Timothy to war a good warfare with the prophecies spoken concerning him. Since this is God’s Word, it then means it’s not peculiar to Timothy; it applies to you just as much. What have you done with all the prophecies that have been spoken over you, including the ones written concerning you in the Scriptures?
The Scriptures are replete with words of blessings and prophecies concerning the new creation; take them seriously. Use them in your fight of faith. Some have said, “You know, I’ve never really had anyone prophesy to me”; then prophesy to yourself! God said every one of us in the Church should covet the gift of prophecy, because it’s such an important gift in the Church (1 Corinthians 14:39).
The Bible says prophecy edifies the Church, and you’re a member of the Church. So, if anything edifies the Church, it should edify you. So, when there’s a word of prophecy in the church, receive it and personalize it.
Sometimes, the word can come to you in a song while the choir is ministering, or while the preacher is preaching or teaching. It can come to you in your own spirit, because God is talking all the time to each one of us. Don’t forget where He is—He lives in you. If you pray and listen to Him in your spirit, the prophetic word will come to your spirit.
Besides the prophecies you receive in the church, the written word—the Bible— is full of prophecies. Get into your privacy, open a portion of the Bible that’ll exhort you, and begin to read the scriptures out to yourself. The Psalms have a lot of exhortation and prophecies. As you read them aloud, put your spirit with it; trust and believe the Word. Your spirit will immediately be in sync with the Spirit of God that authored the Word that you’re reading, and pick up words from the author of the writings and you’ll continue to prophesy. Prophecy is one of the ways to bring the supernatural power of God into manifestation.
FURTHER STUDY: 1 Corinthians 14:3-5, 1 Corinthians 14:3 & Psalm 81:10 10:23-31; Numbers9*
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RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY 14 MAY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THERE’S MORE GRACE FOR YOU ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble (James 4:6). ______________________________________________
There’re those who think what they need is a double or more anointing. But there’s no place in the Word of God where we’re admonished to ask for more or double anointing; what God gives is more grace. The life that He’s brought us into is one of grace to grace (John 1:16); grace heaped upon grace.
It’s amazing how some people outrightly ignore or don’t recognize the grace of God. There’s so much grace that you can take advantage of. But grace must be recognized, celebrated and used. Think about it: God’s throne is called “The throne of grace” (Hebrews 4:16). It says, “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”
In other words, you can “take” whatever grace you require. You have to determine which grace you need, because there’re several different “graces.” Is it the grace for soul winning, or giving (2 Corinthians 8:6-7 NIV)? Which grace do you want?
This is a special season in God’s calendar; He’s releasing more grace! Take advantage of that special grace even now for your work, your family, your finances, leadership, etc. Do you realize it requires grace to deal with certain people and handle certain situations?
There’re situations that you may not have been able to handle with your current level of grace. But with more grace, you can! That means the Lord is promoting you to the next level, with more grace for your new level. Receive more grace for these times, and walk in dominion and absolute victory and mastery over circumstances, by the power of the Holy Ghost. Glory to God!
FURTHER STUDY 2 Timothy 2:1, 2 Corinthians 8:6-7 & Hebrews 4:16
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 13 MAY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS TOPIC: LOVE IN HIS VOICE ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left (Isaiah 30:21). ______________________________________________
The Lord Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27). So, you can’t miss the voice of God talking to you. There’s one distinguishing element in His voice that makes it unmistakable: Love!
Let’s review His love-nature, as penned for us in the Scriptures. 1 John 4:7-8 says, “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.” Verse 16 further tells us, “And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.” These verses reveal that love is the totality of God’s nature. This is much more than someone having love in his heart or the ability to love; rather, it means God is love personified. He’s not a God of love; He is love.
Everything He does is from His love-nature. Therefore, whenever He speaks, you’ll always hear the voice of love. Even His reprimands and judgments are in love. Everything about Him emanates from love. That’s why, when God talks to you, if you aren’t rebellious, you’ll always hear Love’s voice in your spirit.
As an offspring of Love, you have it in you to respond to Love; to hear and respond to Him in love. The Bible tells us, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. We love him, because he first loved us” (1 John 4:18-19). FURTHER STUDY: John 15:13, John 17:23 & 1 John 4:16
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 12 MAY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: MAKE IMPACT WITH YOUR GIVING ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field (Matthew 13:44). ______________________________________________
In the Kingdom of God’s dear Son where you now live, all your resources, including your home, finances, and your physical body are all kingdom property. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 makes it clear; it says, “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price….” You’re the temple of God, and the temple sanctifies all things that are brought into it. Everything that’s brought to the temple is different from the things outside the temple. When money comes to you, for example, it becomes Kingdom-money, one sanctified for the Master’s use and glory. Until you recognize this, your money won’t be different from the money of the sinners, and what happens to their money will happen to yours.
2 Corinthians 9:8 (AMPC) declares: “And God is able to make all grace (every favor and earthly blessing) come to you in abundance, so that you may always and under all circumstances and whatever the need be self-sufficient [possessing enough to require no aid or support and furnished in abundance for every good work and charitable donation].”
In this Kingdom, your greatness never diminishes, for He brought you into a life of ever-increasing glory, ever-increasing faith and ever-increasing grace. 2 Corinthians 9:10 says, “Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness.” Make impact for the Kingdom through your giving and watch your life blossom in righteousness. FURTHER STUDY: 2 Corinthians 8:9-10 & 2 Corinthians 9:7-10
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY 11 MAY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THE BLOOD AND THE TESTIMONY ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death (Revelation 12:11). ______________________________________________
The way to use the blood of Jesus against the adversary is taking the Communion, the breaking of bread and drinking of the cup in remembrance of Him. 1 Corinthians 11:26 says, “For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.” As you take the Communion, you’re proclaiming, speaking of, and shouting aloud, the Lord’s death and all the wonderful blessings of His redemptive work, consummated in your behalf, till He comes. Through His death, burial and resurrection, you were given a new life and brought into oneness with God. Furthermore, when it says, “They overcame him by the word of their testimony,” the Greek word translated “testimony” is “marturia,” which means record. John used the same word in 1 John 5:11: “And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.”
The saints overcame the enemy by declaring “the record”; that is, their testimony of eternal life. What are your declarations today? Learn to say over and over again: “I have eternal life; I hail from God and His divine Kingdom. I’m a child of God, separated from sin, defeat, lack, sickness, oppression, and the world.” Hallelujah!
You don’t belong in the land of failure. You have a right to divine protection, prosperity, victory, success, liberty, divine health and all the blessings of salvation. These should be the words of your testimony. If you’d put the Word in your heart, and speak it forth with your mouth, you’ll always win. Keep affirming your triumphant life in Christ.
Celebrate the life of liberty, victory, health and success that you have in Christ Jesus, whose body was broken for you, and His blood shed to bring you into sonship with God. Hallelujah!
FURTHER READING: Hebrews 13:5-6 & Revelation 12:11 AMPC
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 10 MAY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: LET YOUR DIVINITY SOAR ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High (Psalm 82:6). ______________________________________________
How can anyone read what the Psalmist penned in the scripture above and still preach, believe or teach a message that tries to convince God’s people that they’re mere humans? That isn’t consistent with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
The message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is that “Ye are gods!” Even Jesus reiterated it (John 10:34). Therefore, when you profess your divinity, you’re not arrogating anything to yourself that God Himself hasn’t already said about you. The more you have, and walk in the consciousness of your divinity, the better and faster your growth in Christ.
Everything in the epistle teaches us that our humanity was nailed to the Cross. Romans 6:6 tells us, “…that our old man is crucified with him….” When you were born again, you were born after Christ, as a new type of being. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature….” Peter said, “We’re partakers (sharers) of the divine nature” (2 Peter 1:4).
When someone says, “We’re only humans,” it suddenly shows how ignorant they are of their divine life. If you say you’re human, you’ll suffer what humans suffer: the frustrations, depression, sickness, disease, lack, pain, misery, satanic oppression, and corrupting influences in this world. But if you profess your divinity and walk accordingly, you’ll live as a champion in this world, over and above the elements—the sufferings, distress, miseries and pain.
You might ask, “How about when we feel discouraged? Isn’t that part of our humanity?” But that’s the very thing that God said we must never allow. He said to Joshua, “I’ve commanded you to be strong and brave. Don’t ever be afraid or discouraged…” (Joshua 1:9 CEV). It doesn’t matter what happens to you; refuse to be discouraged.
No matter the adversities you face, be bold, courageous, and audacious in faith. James 1:2 says, “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations.” Humans cry when they go through tests and trials, but we rejoice, because we know that in all these things, we’re more than conquerors (Romans 8:37). Hallelujah!
FURTHER READING: 1 John 4:4 & 1 John 5:11-13
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SUNDAY 09 MAY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS TOPIC: DELIVERED AND TRANSLATED ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son (Colossians 1:12-13). ______________________________________________
Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son (Colossians 1:12-13).
Many assume and believe that one day, in the sweet-by-and-by, the Lord will graciously deliver us from the power of darkness. But Paul, by the Spirit, lets us know in our opening verse, that it’s already happened. Not only has the Father qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the Kingdom of light, He’s also “delivered” us from the power of darkness, and translated us into the Kingdom of His Love-son. Glorious news!
Notice the tenses used; they’re all in past: “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness…and hath translated us….” That’s why those who seek deliverance day in day out are just acting ignorantly. It’s inconsistent with God’s present truth. God’s people don’t need deliverance from Satan or the powers of darkness.
The only deliverance some may need is from ignorance, and the cure for that is the knowledge of God’s Word: “…through knowledge shall the just be delivered” (Proverbs 11:9). Being born again, you’re not under Satan’s jurisdiction or authority. But that isn’t even the best part, because God doesn’t just “deliver” or bring you out to leave you; He brings you out to bring you in!
Having taken you away from the domain of darkness, evil powers and all their works, He TRANSLATED you into the glorious Kingdom of the Son of His love. Therefore, that you’re in the same compound or live in the same street or city, or work in the same office with someone who isn’t born again doesn’t mean you’re in the same “place.” You’re in Christ; they are of this world—in the kingdom of darkness, under Satan’s dominion.
You’ve been raised up together, and made to sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. That’s where you are now: a place of glory, power, dominion, and authority. Hallelujah! FURTHER READING: 2 Corinthians 5:17 & Ephesians 2:6 AMPC, Colossians 3:1-3 AMPC
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY 08 MAY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS TOPIC: LIVE FOR HIM ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: They are astonished and think it very queer that you do not now run hand in hand with them in the same excesses of dissipation, and they abuse [you] (1 Peter 4:4 AMPC). ______________________________________________
All your life, you must have been hearing that the coming of the Lord is near. But make no mistakes about it, it’s closer now than you can imagine. Your role is to be prepared, and look forward to His return. Be one of those eagerly awaiting His return. He said in, “And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.”
1 Thessalonians 5:2-3 says, _“For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.”_ The Word shows us that these things will be fulfilled towards the ending of time, and we’re in those days that the Scriptures talk about. We can truly see all the prophetic signs manifesting right before our eyes.
Now, Hebrews 2:3 cautions, “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation….” Be sure that your life is in sync with God, living according to His Word. Don’t be ashamed to stand up for the Lord. He stood up for you, and saved you. Don’t be ashamed that they may call you names, insult you and even persecute you; live for the Lord.
The Bible says it’s better to suffer persecutions for doing the right thing than to join those who live in error. If they ostracize you for believing in Jesus, it makes no difference; Jesus loves you. If they forsake you, He won’t forsake you; He’s always in you and with you. Therefore, distinguish yourself for the Lord. That’s what God wants you to do.
Remember, the Rapture itself doesn’t have a sign. In other words, it can happen anytime. Therefore, serve the Lord heartily and with joy, so that when He comes, He’ll meet you aglow, and burning with the Spirit, serving the Lord. FURTHER STUDY: 1 Peter 4:1-7
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY 07 MAY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: CLEANSED FROM ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: 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). ______________________________________________
Thank God for Jesus! The Bible says in Him we have our riddance (redemption) through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins (Colossians 1:14). This is so powerful! Because of Jesus, all your sins are remitted (completely removed)—past, present and future.
No wonder we’re called His justified ones. We’re not “ordinary sinners saved by grace.” You’re not a “wretch”; like they sing, “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a ‘wretch’ like me….” Even the sinner isn’t a wretch. Jesus didn’t die for a wretch. You’re somebody special.
Your value is the blood of the Son of God. That blood, the Bible says, cleanses you from all sins—all unrighteousness. Notice the present progressive tense, “cleanses,” which means it happens as often as you require it.
We live in an unclean world, with so much unrighteousness around us. Sometimes these impurities rub off on us. But thanks be unto God! The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses you from ALL unrighteousness; it’s automatic. Hallelujah! That’s what we read in our opening verse.
It didn’t say you’ll be cleansed after you pray for the forgiveness of your sins, neither did it say, “the blood is going to cleanse you from sin”; no! It’s not futuristic; it’s a continuous automatic process: His blood CLEANSES you each time the need arises! This is perfectly legal before God.
No wonder He calls us holy, unblameable and unreproveable in His sight (Colossians 1:22). Then, in 1 Corinthians 6:11, He says you’re washed, sanctified, and justified, in the Name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. Blessed be God!
Get to know, understand, and consciously walk in the light of God’s Word, in the light of your righteousness, and you’ll not have to worry about sin, because your nature in Christ isn’t subject to sin. FURTHER STUDY: 1 John 1:7, Romans 4:6-8 & Micah 7:18-19
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 06 MAY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: MINISTERING THE WORD WITH POWER ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the LORD of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the LORD of hosts (Haggai 2:9) ______________________________________________
In Acts 4, we read that the saints of the early Church, in a time of intense persecution, prayed to the Lord. They said, “…grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus” (Acts 4:29-30).
Few chapters after that, Peter went into the house of Cornelius the Roman centurion and the Bible says, “While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word” (Acts 10:44). Remarkable indeed!
The word “fell” is translated from the Greek “epipipto,” which means to embrace with affection, to fall like rain or fall upon someone in an embrace. As Peter spoke those gracious words of salvation, the Holy Ghost embraced everyone in Cornelius’ household, and they were all recreated and filled with the Spirit. Hallelujah!
Such experiences ought to be commonplace through the Church of Jesus Christ. In these last days, the Spirit of God is moving on His children to preach and teach His Word with power, with miracles, signs and wonders. God’s people around the world are going to be amazed at the move of the Spirit in their lives at a degree they’d never seen before.
Become conscious of this as you go preaching the Word everywhere. While you’re yet speaking and preaching in the offices, in the shops, in the streets, schools and shopping malls, the Holy Ghost will fall on your hearers and they’ll be filled with the Spirit.
Get yourself immersed in Him every day. Before you go out, get filled with the Spirit. Soak your spirit more in the Holy Spirit through fellowship. Pray and fast often. God’s power to save, heal, deliver and bless is in the Gospel, which has been committed to your trust to share with others by the power of God’s Spirit. And this is the time!
FURTHER STUDY: John 7:38-39, Acts 4:31, 33 & Mark 16:20
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 05 MAY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: PERFECTED FOREVER IN RIGHTEOUSNESS ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified (Hebrews 10:12-14) ______________________________________________
Blessed be God! The Lord Jesus offered the one supreme sacrifice for sin for all time. And by His one sacrifice, He perfected us forever! He made us perfect, holy and complete for all time. How glorious this is!
This isn’t something we qualified for or achieved by ourselves; Jesus did it for us. He perfected us in righteousness and holiness of truth. That’s what Paul refers to when He said in Ephesians 4:24 that you should put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
2 Corinthians 5:21 says, “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” Never see yourself as unrighteous and imperfect. Christ is your perfection. You’re perfect, because the One who gave birth to you is perfect. Hebrews 2:11 declares, “For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one….” You’re like Him. 1 John 4:17 says, “…as he is, so are we in this world….”
Colossians 2:10 says, “And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power.” The word “complete” also means perfected; you’re perfected in Him. Some have asked, “Doesn’t Ephesians 4:12 talk about “the perfecting of the saints”, meaning that we’re not yet perfect? No; that verse refers to the maturing or maturity of the saints; it means equipping or training the saints for the work of the ministry.
It’s like when a child is born; that child is perfectly as human as the parents are. But the child needs to be trained and equipped with information, education and strength to live a fully functional human life. That’s what the Apostle Paul meant by “perfecting of the saints.”
Already, you are, and have, the righteousness of God. But as you receive the Word of God into your spirit, you’re being trained in the life of righteousness; you become more skilled in the doctrine, understanding and application of your righteousness in Christ.
Phillipines 3:8-9 & Hebrews 10:12-14
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY 04 MAY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THE FULLNESS OF HIM ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all (Ephesians 1:22-23). ______________________________________________
Have you ever thought about the fact that the Church is the fullness of Christ? We’re the completion of Christ; He’s the head, and we’re the body. We’re the fullness of Him that fills everything.
John 1:16 says, “And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.” We’ve received of His fullness. When you received the Holy Spirit, you received ALL of Him. Your humanity was supplanted by the life and nature of God. Today, you’re God’s living tabernacle; you’re immersed in Him and He in you. Hallelujah!
You’ve received in all fullness everything that’s of deity in Christ Jesus. All of His power, glory, dominion, strength and wisdom; everything He is, owns and represents—you have received! Imagine if you’ve lived all your life with this consciousness?
Remember the words of Jesus in John 10:10, “I came that they may have life, and have it to the full.” You didn’t need more life from God when you were born again; all that He’s got, you have received. You’ve received of His ability, wisdom, knowledge, glory and dominion.
No wonder John tells us in 1 John 4:17, “...As He is, so are we in this world….” If we had less life than He does, we wouldn’t be described as “the fullness of Him” (Ephesians 1:23). Each one of us is filled in Him, and with Him. You’re replete with God. This was God’s plan from the foundation of the world: for us to be and have His fullness; and He accomplished it in Christ Jesus, and by sending the Holy Spirit to live in us. FURTHER STUDY: John 3:34 & Colossians 2:9-10
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 03 MAY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: TELL THE GLORIOUS NEWS ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay (Matthew 28:5-6). ______________________________________________
If you truly believe in what Jesus Christ did for you, if you believe that His work of salvation was important, and that you actually received that salvation, you can’t keep it to yourself. He said in Mark 16:15, _“…Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”_ Those are our marching orders.
You have to tell others about Jesus. You can win at least one soul before the end of this week; plan for it. Pray specially about it. There’re still many who don’t know what Jesus came to do; they’re not aware that He came as their substitute. They’re not aware He already saved them from the punishment, as well as the life and nature of sin. The world needs to hear this truth.
But the question, according to Romans 10:14 is, _“How can they hear without a preacher?”_ That’s why each one of us must be personal about the Great Commission. Preach the Gospel with greater fervency, especially as we prepare ourselves and others for the coming of the Lord.
Don’t relent in your efforts; seek out the lost; those hopeless and confused in your world and let them know there’s salvation in Christ Jesus. Let them know eternal life, fellowship with God, a life of peace, righteousness, eternal victory and prosperity are now both possible and available in Christ Jesus. Tell others this glorious news.
FURTHER STUDY: 2 Timothy 4:2 & Romans 10:13-15
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SUNDAY 02 MAY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: KEEP GROWING IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF CHRIST ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: But grow in grace, and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen (2 Peter 3:18). ______________________________________________
In 1 Peter 2:2, Peter writes to Jewish Christian pilgrims in certain cities, and he says to them, “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.” The word “babes” there is “brephos” (Greek) and it refers to infants, children. Peter was writing to infant churches and young Christians; they had recently given their hearts to Christ.
But then there’s another group of Christians described in 1 Corinthians 3. The Apostle Paul called them “babes in Christ.” He said, “And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ” (1 Corinthians 3:1).
The word “babes” in this case is the Greek “nepios.” It means one who can’t talk right. He may be twenty years old, but he’s not able to communicate correctly. He’s unskilled, untrained, not mentally coordinated, in spite of his age. So, when it’s applied spiritually, it’s dealing with somebody who is a spiritual babe, one that’s not cultured, even though he’s been a Christian for many years. Such people can neither grasp spiritual communication nor communicate spiritual truths. Paul berated them, saying, “I have fed you with milk, and not with meat…” (1 Corinthians 3:2). “Milk” refers to the elementary principles of the Word of God, the elementary doctrines of Christ.
One who’s a spiritual babe will pray and cry to God to bless him. If he were spiritually mature, he’d have known that God already blessed us with all spiritual blessings in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 1:3). He hasn’t grown to understand the mystery of Christ, that the day he was born into Christ, he became an heir of all the blessings of God in Christ Jesus.
Grow in the things of God. Press on for more knowledge, for more understanding. Keep learning the Word, with an unquenchable desire to know the Lord more and have His glory revealed in your life. FURTHER STUDY: Ephesians 5:27, 2 Peter 1:3 & Proverbs 11:9
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY 01 MAY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: ENTHRONED TO REIGN ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: 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). ______________________________________________
In Ephesians 2:6-7, the Bible says we’ve been raised up together, and made to sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus; so that in the ages to come, God might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. The underlined portion actually means “ages following”; the ages following the sitting of Christ.
After the resurrection of Christ, He ascended to Heaven, sat on the throne, and a new age began. Now, we’re seated with Him. God enthroned us with Christ in the heavenly realms. So, the Scripture is telling us that He wants to demonstrate the exceeding riches of His grace to the Church in the successive ages following the enthronement; that’s now! It’s not in the future; it’s not during the Millennium or after the Millennium; it’s now!
Another important word to note in Ephesians 2:6-7 is “through,” in the phrase, “through Christ.” It’s translated from “en” (Greek), and it means “in.” We operate in the earth in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 3:21 says, “Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.” It’s all happening here with us—the Church—not in heaven.
This is why we can’t fail. We’ve got to do everything He’s called us to do in this time. If we don’t recognize this reality, we won’t be able to take advantage of it, and suddenly, we’ll be in the Millennium. At the Millennium, we’ll reign with Christ, but now, we reign through Him. This is the time of the Church. If you don’t reign in Christ now, when are you going to fulfill it?
Use the authority He’s given you to dominate your world. This is your time. You’ve been enthroned to reign. You were born to exercise dominion over Satan and the circumstances of life! Whatever comes against you in life, take charge and reign over it through your faith declarations in the power of the Spirit. Praise God!
FURTHER STUDY: Romans 5:17 & Ephesians 2:6-7
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY 30 APRIL 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: KEEP YOUR BODY IN HEALTH WITH YOUR WORDS ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you (Romans 8:11). ______________________________________________
When you’re born again, you have a new life. That life affects your whole spirit, soul and body. Our theme verse says if the Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, that same Spirit shall vitalize (make alive) your mortal body. This already happened, because the Spirit lives in you now.
Many aren’t experiencing this reality of the Word of God in their lives because they’re not acting on the Word. Even if you were born again fifty years ago, if you don’t understand this truth, you’ll be subject to the elements of this world; dominated by headaches, fever, diabetes and all manner of sickness and disease.
Don’t go through what spiritual slaves go through; come to a place in your life where you say, “Enough is enough; I refuse to be sick.” Learn to exercise authority over your body. If you can’t exercise authority over your body, how are you going to exercise it over cities and nations? Your body is the first place to practise authority.
If you feel the symptoms of sickness in your body, say, “No! A thousand times no! I’ve got the Spirit of God in me! I’ve got the life of God in me! I’ve got the strength of God in me, from the crown of my head to the soles of my feet! I’m healthy and sound! My body is the temple of the Holy Ghost, and no sickness, disease or infirmity can thrive therein! Hallelujah!”
Use your mouth. Speak words of healing and health over your body. As you speak, don’t let Satan deceive you that nothing is happening. Everything you say will happen! You can mend your heart; you can mend your lungs; you can mend your kidneys! Talk to your skin, your bones, your blood, and keep them in health. Glory to God!
FURTHER STUDY Proverbs 4:20-22, 1 Corinthians 3:16 & 3 John 1:2
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 29 APRIL 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: WE HAVE AUTHORITY ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: _When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness (Luke 22:53)._ ______________________________________________
We’re in a time when there’s so much abuse of political power in many parts of the world. There’re some hostile laws, policies and actions in some states designed to be inimical to Christians because of their faith. If you’d read the story of Jesus’ arrest, before His crucifixion, you’ll see that these kinds of injustices aren’t new. Jesus experienced the abuse of power in high places.
John 18 recounts how Judas led the soldiers and officers sent by the high priests and Pharisees to arrest Jesus. Knowing all that was about to befall Him, the Lord went out to them and said, “Whom do you seek?” and they answered, “Jesus of Nazareth!” Then, Jesus said, “I am He.”
Immediately Jesus spoke and identified Himself, the soldiers and temple police were knocked out by the power of God and fell to the ground. Luke 22:52-53 NKJV tells us, _“Then Jesus said to the chief priests, captains of the temple, and the elders who had come to Him, Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs? When I was with you daily in the temple, you did not try to seize Me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness.”_
Notice the statement, “this is your hour, and the power of darkness.” Jesus understood that the power of darkness was at work, and that these men that came to arrest Him were not motivated by themselves, but by Satan. Jesus faced six trials within a few hours and none of them could convict Him.
The high priest had to frame something against Him out of anger, saying of Jesus, _“…He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? Behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy”_ (Matthew 26:65). A few hours later, He was crucified on the Cross. Thanks be unto God! He offered Himself of His own free will (John 10:17-18). The quick trials, unreasonable laws, the lies and unchecked manipulations today aren’t new. Hence we must get on our knees to pray fervidly in the spirit, declaring that our cities are dominated by the light of the Gospel, and impacted by the force of righteousness. We have authority, and Jesus is Lord over all. Stand up for Him and His Church everywhere!
FURTHER STUDY*
2 Thessalonians 3:1-2 & Prov 16:12 AMPC
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 28 APRIL 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: FAITH FOR THE GOOD WARFARE ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: Timothy, my son, I am giving you this command in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by recalling them you may fight the battle well, holding on to faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and so have suffered shipwreck with regard to the faith (1 Timothy 1:18-19 NIV). ______________________________________________
Our theme scripture is very enlightening: to war a good warfare requires faith and a good conscience. Also, it’s important to know who you’re up against in this warfare. Ephesians 6:12 says, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”
These rulers of darkness are the ones that run the course of this world, manipulate and control the thoughts and minds of those who are rebellious to Christ and the Gospel. There’s no good whatsoever in demons. Everything about them is evil, and they have no restraint to wickedness except when we, by the power of the Holy Spirit, and in the Name of Jesus, restrain them.
Ephesians 6 tells us with what to put up our onslaught and wage our defense against these evil forces of darkness. Verse 13 says, “Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand….”
Then in the 16th verse, after identifying the defence paraphernalia, he says, “Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked… and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:16-17). Here’s why the message of faith is so important; because it says, “Above all, taking the shield of faith!” This doesn’t mean you’re to look for a shield called faith; rather it means as you operate your faith in God’s Word, it’s a shield with which you shall, without doubt, be able to quench, neutralize, defuse and put out all the fiery darts of the wicked.
It doesn’t matter what missile the enemy throws at you; your faith quells and neutralizes them. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God (Romans 10:17). The more of God’s Word you hear, the more your faith increases. And the more you put the Word of God to work, the more your faith is strengthened. Keep hearing God’s Word and putting it to work; your faith will be strong and effective. Hallelujah! FURTHER STUDY: Ephesians 6:13-17 AMPC
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY 27 APRIL 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: WORKING THE WORD ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation (Romans 10:10). ______________________________________________
There’re three vital things you must do to effectively work the Word and enjoy God’s provisions for you always. First, your heart must line up with the Word. The Bible says, _“For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness…”_ (Romans 10:10). That means you’re made right with God when you come into agreement with His Word in your heart.
The second thing is, your mind must line up with your heart on the Word. This implies that the Word must have meaning in your understanding. Without that meaning, you can’t communicate what’s in your heart through language.
Then, third, you must speak the Word—“rhema” (Greek); a word directed to a specific person, at a specific time, for a specific purpose. It’s the active Word given for a particular situation. That was what Ezekiel uttered in the valley of dry bones; he said, “I prophesied as He (the Lord) commanded me” (Ezekiel 37:10).
If your speech or utterance isn’t in line or agreement with what God has said, you’ll get the wrong result. The opening text says, “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 10:10). The word translated “confession is made” is the Greek word “homologeo,” which means to speak in consent, or in agreement with another.
The inspiration of the Spirit provides us with God’s Word (rhema). Our meditation on this word or declaration of it produces tremendous results, bringing the Word into manifestation. FURTHER STUDY: 1 Kings 22:14 & Luke 4:4
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 26 APRIL 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THE DIVINE ESSENCE ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses (1 Timothy 6:12). ______________________________________________
The Bible says God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that anyone who believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16). That’s why Jesus came; to give eternal life to men so they could be in fellowship with God. The question to ask is, did He achieve His purpose? Emphatically, yes!
The Bible says, “And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son” (1 John 5:11 NIV). He’s not about to give us eternal life; He’s done it! The next verse says, “He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life” (1 John 5:12 NIV). He’s referring to the life and nature of God; the divine essence.
That life is incorruptible; it’s neither subject to failure nor death! This is the life you have in Christ. Ephesians 2:1 says, “And you hath he quickened (made alive), who were dead in trespasses and sins.” You’re not dead in sins anymore. Why? You have eternal life now! Not many Christians know they have eternal life. So, John says, “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:13 NIV). John wrote this to them because they lived as though they didn’t have the divine life.
Now, you can better understand why Paul, writing to Timothy, said, “…lay hold on eternal life….” The underlined portion is “epilambanomai” (Greek), and it means to take a hold of something without letting go. That’s how you should relate with eternal life. Don’t let it be a mere theoretical knowledge to you. Seize it; make it work for you.
Every so often, declare, “I have eternal life, in the Name of Jesus; therefore, I live above the elements of this world; I’m in dominion. Blessed be God!” If there’s been an issue with your health, don’t cry; rather, declare, and keep declaring, “I’m perfected in Christ Jesus; I refuse to accommodate any sickness, disease or pain in my body, because I have the life of God in me! I’ve taken hold of eternal life!” Soon enough, your physical body will comply, because it’s been impacted by the divine life in you.
FURTHER STUDY: Ephesians 2:1-6 & John 3:16
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SUNDAY 25 APRIL 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: LAYING HOLD OF YOUR INHERITANCE ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:9-10). ______________________________________________
The Master taught His disciples to pray, following the pattern in the scripture above. He didn’t say to them, “Pray this prayer”; rather, He told them to pray “after this manner.” This was before the completion of His redemptive work. Now that He’s made salvation available to all—both the Jews and non-Jews—we need not pray to God anymore to give us our daily bread, because He’s already done it!
The essence of the scripture above is that it lets us know there’s a daily allocation of blessings for us from heaven. The Christian is born with, and into, a glorious inheritance in Christ. Sadly, a lot of God’s children have never laid claim to what rightfully belongs to them. And so, there’s an accumulation of blessings waiting to be claimed.
God’s provision for you today isn’t like the “manna” of the Old Testament that the Israelites ate in the wilderness. Though manna came from heaven, the people couldn’t keep any leftovers, because it would decay by the next day. In this dispensation, however, our leftover allocations remain intact, and we can always lay claim to them by our words; calling them forth, in the Name of Jesus.
All creation has the capacity to respond to spoken words. This is key to laying hold on your inheritance in Christ. Everything in creation, whether existing in tangible or intangible form, has memory. And so, they can all respond to spoken words. So, speak the right words always, and your life will be full of blessings. Through your words, you can claim all the accumulated blessings already granted you in Christ.
FURTHER STUDY: 1 Corinthians 3:21-22, Psalm 2:8 & Acts 20:32
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY 24 APRIL 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: DON’T BE AT EASE IN ZION ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, and trust in the mountain of Samaria, which are named chief of the nations, to whom the house of Israel came (Amos 6:1). ______________________________________________
There’re those of us who have learned the truth; we’ve received the Word. And through the Word, we’re triumphant every day, living a wonderful and fulfilling life. However, we must still give attention to helping those who haven’t known the truth yet, those who haven’t understood the Word of God yet.
We’ve got to care about our brothers and sisters all over the world, especially those in prison or experiencing all kinds of hardships. Until and unless we’ve brought them in, it’s not over. It’s not over as long as Satan is deceiving others and seeking to destroy lives; we can’t be “at ease in Zion.”
Read the Lord’s touching words in Amos 6:6, “You drink wine by the bowlful and use the finest lotions, but you do not grieve over the ruin of Joseph” (NIV). When you hear about churches being burnt or priests and pastors and ministers being incarcerated unjustly because of their commitment to the Gospel, don’t act like it doesn’t concern you. Get on your knees and pray!
Don’t think only of yourself. Until the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ is celebrated in every country, it’s not over. Be it those in the presidency, or in the Prime Minister’s office, or among Monarchs, etc., we have to realize that God has given us an assignment to pray for them and reach them with the Gospel.
We have to bring others into the peace, love, and joy that God has given us; otherwise, our job isn’t done. So, keep preaching and teaching others God’s Word. Keep interceding for men and women all around the world to come into God’s light and righteousness. And at the end, you can boldly affirm, “I fought a good fight.”
FURTHER STUDY: Philippians 3:13-14 & Ephesians 6:18
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY 23 APRIL 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: HE LOVES “ALL MEN” ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16). ______________________________________________
The Bible says, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). This is inarguably the best and greatest news on earth; that He loved us while we were yet sinners. And because of His love, He sent Jesus to save us from destruction, sin and judgement. Blessed be God!
Romans 5:6 says, “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.” Oh, the strength of this communication from God! If He loved sinners then, He still loves them today. He didn’t die for Christians; He died for the ungodly—the hopeless, wicked sinners; people who hated God. If His work of salvation hadn’t been perfect or sufficient and He had to do it again, He’d have done it! That’s how strong His love is.
This is to let you understand the heart of God in this hour. When He sees Satan using men to destroy other men, He’s grieved. Even the very human instruments of Satan, the very people that Satan uses to destroy other men, God loves them! And He’d want them to turn away from their ignorance and recognize His love.
God loves men so much that He impresses upon us to intercede for them in their wickedness, ungodliness, ignorance, and in their sinfulness. In 1 Timothy 2:1, He makes praying for all men a priority: “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men.” This is so consistent with God’s love.
The first thing He thinks about in the earth is the value of every man. Before you pray for your needs, your work, etc., pray first for all men. He wants them to come to the knowledge of His love and His truth. 2 Peter 3:9 says He is unwilling that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. Such amazing love!
FURTHER STUDY:
1 Timothy 2:1-4 &
2 Corinthians 5:19
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 22 APRIL 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THE POWER AND CHARACTER OF THE SCRIPTURES ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE:For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith (Mark 11:23).*_ ______________________________________________
If you’re born again, you’ve got the power to turn negative situations around through your words. Ezekiel prophesied to the wind and commanded life into dry bones and they came alive (Read Ezekiel 37). You too can talk to anything and have it respond to you: Prophesy to your finances, business, academics, family and ministry. You can create what you want with your words.
The Bible says, _“…we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery…”_ (1 Corinthians 2:7). That means esoteric language; the world doesn’t understand it; yet it’s ordained by God to produce results for us. Glory to God! What kind of words do you speak? Are they constructive or destructive words?
Remember, the breeding ground for wrong talk is wrong thinking; so, you must change your thinking first. And don’t justify your negative talk by saying, “I’m only saying what’s happening around me.” No! You’re supposed to declare what should happen around you! You’re a king. Kings say what should happen.
Don’t worry if you don’t immediately see a change. Some things may not change outwardly right away, but rest assured that the moment you give the word, creation is set in motion. Recall the tree Jesus cursed? (Read Mark 11:12-24). Outwardly, everything looked the same, but the Bible says it withered immediately from its roots. As you release words of faith concerning your finances, job, business, ministry, academics and so on, you’ll see many instant changes.
However, there may be other miracles that may take a while to manifest. The time in-between your declaration and its manifestation isn’t the time to give up or complain; rather, it’s the time to intensify the pressure on the adversary; you keep speaking until the “clouds are full.” The Bible says if the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth (Ecclesiastes 11:3). Hallelujah!
PRAYER
*Dear Father, what a blessing it is to have the gift of prophecy operational in my life, with which I alter the course of events in my world. I prophesy that by the power of your Spirit and the Word, wholeness, health, strength, vitality, prosperity, success, peace and joy are manifested in my life, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.FURTHER STUDY: Mark 11:23-24 Ecclesiastes 8:4 & Eccleciastes
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 21 APRIL 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC:KNOW THE SCRIPTURES BY THE SPIRIT ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE:Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures (Luke 24:45). ______________________________________________
It’s so important that you know the Scriptures for yourself. It’s the only material guaranteed to help you through the rough roads ahead, successfully. God told Joshua if he’d meditate on the Scriptures, he’d be a success and make his way prosperous.
Jesus was the very embodiment of knowledge and wisdom, yet He referred His hearers to the Scriptures. In fact, the first miracle He’d perform after His resurrection was about the Scriptures, as read in our theme verse. He so wanted them to know the Scriptures that He opened “their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures.”
He emphasized the Scriptures. He taught them the words of the prophets throughout the Scriptures to let them know the prophecies concerning the Christ. Earlier, in His ministry, He stood up in the Synagogue to read from the Scroll of Isaiah as mentioned in Luke 4:21, and He said, _*“…This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.” He emphasized the fulfilment of the Scriptures and that the Scriptures were the revelation of Himself as He ministered to these disciples after His resurrection.(Rhapsody of Realities 21 April 2021)
The Bible says, “And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself” (Luke 24:27). His whole life was about the Scriptures. This is something you must take seriously; focus your life on the Scriptures. John 5:39 says, “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” But to know the Scriptures isn’t in the head; to know it is by the Spirit; without the Spirit, you can’t know it. It’s not to quote it to impress anybody, but to live by it. It’s no use learning it to be able to explain it to everybody and impress others whereas it has no power in your life. If you don’t live it, the head-knowledge of it will do you no good. So, make up your mind that through the Spirit, you’ll specialize in the Scriptures. Give attention to the Word. Know it by the Spirit. It’s what you must live by.
FURTHER STUDY: Matthew 22:29 & Proverbs 4:20-22
RHAPSODY Of REALITIES HE WANTS YOU IN HEALTH Tuesday, April 20th. Pastor Chris
Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth (3 John 1:2).
Divine healing is one of the beginning stages of a greater life. Healing is wonderful, but there’s a greater life than healing. God doesn’t want you to live in the realm of getting healed from one sickness or the other every now and then. He wants you to come to a place of victory, where you understand divine health, which is greater than divine healing.
You may say to me, “Pastor Chris, I minister to people and they get healed, but when I have trouble in my body, I pray and do everything I know, but I don’t get healed.” It’s simple: God never told you to pray for yourself to be healed. Just because it worked for you when you were a baby Christian doesn’t mean you should go on like that (Acts 17:30). This is the sad situation of a lot of Christians; they’re even having a problem with getting healed, when they shouldn’t be sick in the first place.
Our theme verse says, “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health….” It doesn’t say, “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be healed.” He wants you in health. God’s plan for you is divine health! He doesn’t want you suffering from headaches, colds and fevers; there should be no diabetes, stomach trouble or any such thing with you. Grasp this truth and live by it.
If you’ve been falling in and out of sickness, say to yourself, “I’ll never be sick another day in my life, because the Word of God guarantees my divine health.” If you experience any symptom in your body, don’t panic. Use the Word! Keep yourself in health with God’s Word; it’s medicine.
Proverbs 4:22, referring to God’s Word, says, “For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.” Discipline your body to comply always with God’s Word. Transcend the level of needing healing, to living every day in divine health. You’re a new creature in Christ, with the divine life, the very life of God. How could you have that life and be subject to the elements? Walking in divine health is God’s best for you.
FURTHER STUDY: 1 Corinthians 13:11, 1 John 5:13 & Isaiah 33:24
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 19 APRIL 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THE POWER AND CHARACTER OF THE SCRIPTURES ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee… (Romans 9:17). ______________________________________________
Some years ago, after a certain programme which had several ministers in attendance, one of them said to me, “You talk about the Scripture as though it’s a person.” I said, “Oh, yes; it is!” It matters that you know this: the Scripture has personality and character. This is what Jesus revealed in the various things He said about the Scripture.
His apostles captured the same truth, and propagated it. For example, our theme verse says, “For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh….” He could have said, “For God saith unto Pharaoh…” and that’d be right, because we know that God did talk to Pharaoh; that’s what the Scripture tells us. The Bible says Moses went to Pharaoh and said, “…Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Let my people go…” (Exodus 5:1).
Again, we find Paul echoing the same truth in his writing to the Galatians in Galatians 3:8. He said, “And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.” It doesn’t say the Spirit preached to Abraham, or the Lord preached to Abraham. It says the Scripture preached to Abraham. The Scripture “talked” to him.
Galatians 3:22 says, “But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.” Also, look at Galatians 4:30; it doesn’t say, “What saith God?” Rather, it says, “…what saith the scripture?” It’s so important that you put a premium on the Scriptures.
When you want to know anything, get into the Bible to find out what God says about it. Whatever God says about it is what should matter to you. Build your life on the Scripture, for they’re able to make you wise unto salvation (2 Timothy 3:15), and make you an absolute success; complete and proficient, well-fitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work (Read 2 Timothy 3:16 AMPC). Hallelujah! FURTHER STUDY: 2 Timothy 3:14-17 , Romans 15:4 & Romans 9:17
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SUNDAY 18 APRIL 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: TAKE YOUR PLACE AS A PRAYING-PRIEST ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a twoedged sword in their hand; To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people (Psalm 149:6-7). ______________________________________________
The bad decisions and choices of many world leaders have brought about the destruction and decimation of economies, and other untold hardships experienced around the world today. In the Scriptures, you’d observe these things were foretold a long time ago, and they are today being hatched by satanic powers.
The plans for a one-world government, one-world economy, and one-world religion were all foretold in the Bible. The Bible declares: “So justice is driven back, and righteousness stands at a distance; truth has stumbled in the streets, honesty cannot enter. Truth is nowhere to be found, and whoever shuns evil becomes a prey. The LORD looked and was displeased that there was no justice. He saw that there was no one, he was appalled that there was no one to intervene; so his own arm worked salvation for him, and his own righteousness sustained him” (Isaiah 59:14-16 NIV).
The phrase, “no one to intervene” actually means “…there was no intercessor….” Can you see why you must take your place as a praying-priest, an intercessor? We’re the executors of the will of the Father; we’re the ones to establish His reign and righteousness in the earth and in the hearts of men. This is your role today as a Christian.
Don’t just sit idly by and watch these vicious destructions and chaos continue unabated. Take a stand and say “no!” to the havoc, mayhem, destruction, chaos and turmoil the devil is unleashing in the world!
Intercede fervidly for world leaders, Presidents and Prime Ministers of nations, that their hearts and minds be guided away from the devil’s manipulation. Pray that they desist from choices and decisions that jeopardize the future of their nations, whilst resisting ideas that plunge their people into poverty and death.
It could take days, weeks or months before you see the change that you require, but don’t stop; keep praying, because you’re causing a “shifting” in the realm of the Spirit; things are changing in the direction of God’s will and purpose for our world as we pray. Glory to God! FURTHER STUDY: James 5:16 & Ephesians 6:18
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY 17 APRIL 2021 PASTOR CHRIS TOPIC: A KINGDOM PRINCIPLE ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows (Galatians 6:7 NIV ______________________________________________
The Kingdom of God is a real functional kingdom, with principles. For example, giving and receiving is an important kingdom principle. Genesis 8:22 AMPC tells us, “While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease. In John 12:24, the Lord said, “Listen carefully: Unless a grain of wheat is buried in the ground, dead to the world, it is never any more than a grain of wheat. But if it is buried, it sprouts and reproduces itself many times over (MSG)." Except you sow your seed, you have no reason to expect a harvest. The kingdom principle of seed time and harvest positions you for the prosperous life that God has ordained for you; it’s a principle that works. It doesn’t matter how beautiful a seed is in your hand or what else you do with it; until you sow it, it’ll produce no harvest. That’s the kingdom truth! The seed doesn’t reckon who’s holding it—whether it’s a good man, or wicked fellow—once the seed gets into the right environment, it’ll produce the necessary results.
This kingdom principle applies to everything about life. The harvest a farmer gets is a direct result of the seeds he plants. Just as it is with the farmer, so it is with you. Your seed could come in different forms; it could be your time, talent, or any other gift God has blessed you with for a glorious life. How great and glorious your life will be is hinged on what you do with your seed.
For example, this material you’re reading right now, “Rhapsody of Realities,” is an indispensable tool for mass evangelism. You can be a part of its spread, penetration and distribution around the world in these end times. Commit to ensuring the Gospel reaches the unreached, and gets even to the remotest villages. Give your best into it.
Remember, the more you give, the more the Lord blesses you, and the greater you become. Operate this principle and see your life move from glory to glory. The Lord will multiply your seeds sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness. He’ll overwhelm you with grace for ever-increasing fruitfulness and superabundance.
FURTHER STUDY. Gen 26:12 & 2 Corinthians 9:6-11
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY 16 APRIL 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: OUR WEAPONS OF WAR ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal (man-made), but mighty THROUGH GOD to the pulling down of strong holds (2 Corinthians 10:4). ______________________________________________
The weapons of our warfare are mighty through the Holy Spirit to the pulling down of fortresses of darkness: mental, physical, intellectual, or financial fortresses. When fortresses are built against God’s work, God’s house, or the ministry of the Gospel, we deploy our weapons!
Not many Christians realize that we’re at war; the Bible tells us to “war a good warfare” (1 Timothy 1:18). Our theme verse isn’t talking about the weapons of Jesus’ warfare, but “our warfare.” Thanks be unto God we have weapons! One of them is what the Apostle Paul called “…the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:17).
That sword of the Spirit is the same thing Daniel referred to when he said “A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him…”(Daniel 7:10). Daniel saw it in a more glorious way. John called it “a sword from his mouth” (Revelation 19:15). And in 2 Thessalonians 2:8, Paul called it _“…the spirit of his mouth….”_ He’s dealing with that fiery stream that Daniel talked about. When it’s needed to be a sword, it works as a sword; when it has to go as spirit, it fulfills the purpose. Hallelujah!
Our God leads His children in war to victory (Exodus 15:3, Exodus 14:14, Psalm 24:8, Revelation 19:11). There are warrior angels whom the Lord deploys in our behalf. Thus, we’re victorious in all wars. Hallelujah!
In your life, fear nothing; fear no one. Use the sword of the Spirit. Use the Name of Jesus. The Word declares that we have overcome all antichrist spirits. The forces of darkness are under our feet. In Christ Jesus, we have overcome the world. In every situation, you can declare, “I’m more than a conqueror. Greater is He that’s in me, than he that’s in the world!” As we deploy our weapons through the Holy Ghost, we win at every count. Praise God!
FURTHER STUDY: Jeremiah 1:10 &
Zechariah 4:6-7
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 15 APRIL 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: CREATE WITH WORDS ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear (Hebrews 11:3). ______________________________________________
Maybe you desire a change in your finances, business, health, academics, family or ministry; no matter the situation is, you can create that change. Just like your heavenly Father, you can utter words and have your desires created. You can change the course of your life with words and make it conform to God’s plan for you. The Bible says you were created in God’s image and likeness (Genesis 1:26). Therefore, you have the ability to speak to things, or situations, and elicit a definite response from them. Genesis 1:3 says, “And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.” He simply commanded it to appear, and it did. 2 Corinthians 4:6 sheds more light on what happened in that instance. It says, “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts….”
Also, in Genesis 1:11-12, the Bible says God spoke to the earth to bring forth grass and plants, and it did. In Genesis 1:20-21, likewise, the Bible says, “And God said, let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life….” He spoke to the water, and it brought forth all manner of creatures. Our theme verse says, “Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear” (Hebrews 11:3). If the things which are visible to the optical eyes were made of things which are invisible, then these “invisible things”—the spoken words from our lips—must be subatomic particles.
Spoken words are coded messages that create sound waves. These sound codes are thus transmitted to the elements, darkness, earth, water—and God elicited a definite response from each of them. The fact that these elements produced the exact things God demanded is proof that there was an interpretation of the codes sent to each of them through words.
Ephesians 5:1 AMPC says, “THEREFORE BE imitators of God [copy Him and follow His example], as well-beloved children [imitate their father].” God expects you to copy Him, to act like Him. Therefore, with your words, you can change hopeless situations. Even if you had a great life already, you can make it much more glorious by your faith-filled words. FURTHER STUDY: Hebrews 11:3 & Psalm 33:6
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 14 APRIL 2021 PASTOR CHRIS TOPIC: SET YOUR MIND ON COURSE IN PRAYER ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God (Romans 8:27). ______________________________________________
When you pray in tongues, keeping your mind focussed on the subject of your prayer is very important. It’s akin to the operation of the Spirit in the stretching forth of hands in the Old Testament. For example, God told Moses to stretch forth his hand over the sea and divide it (Exodus 14:16).
On several other occasions, He instructed them to stretch forth their hands to cause things to happen (Read Exodus 7:19, Exodus 8:5, Joshua 8:18). He was showing in the Old Testament that the power of God can be directed with your hands. The power goes in the direction of your hands.
But the higher level of that is the mind. Your mind does far more than the stretching forth of your hands. That’s why the pollution of the mind is one of Satan’s biggest strategies. If he can pollute your mind and make your mind ineffective, then your mind won’t be an effective tool to direct the power of God.
It’s one of the reasons God wants you to maintain the purity of your mind. The purer the mind, the more refined and effective it is in directing and communicating the power of the Spirit.
So, when you pray in tongues, set your mind over that “thing” you want the Spirit of God to channel His energy and power to. If your mind wanders, steer it back. If the wrong picture comes to your mind, cast it off. Discipline your mind. Every so often, you say, “In the Name of Jesus, my mind is set on course!”
Of course when you pray in tongues of the Spirit, your spirit is edified, even when your mind wanders without a focus. But there’s a difference when you need to direct the power of the Spirit towards a particular end: your mind’s vision is then required. So, in prayer, learn to set your mind on course, and your victories and testimonies will be endless. Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY: 1 Corinthians 14:14-15*
& Isaiah 26:3
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY 13 APRIL 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THE PROGRAMMING OF THE WORD ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye. Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart (Proverbs 7:2-3) ______________________________________________
2 Timothy 3:16-17 AMPC says, “Every Scripture is God-breathed (given by His inspiration) and profitable… So that the man of God may be complete and proficient, well fitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work.” It’s impossible for anyone whose life is regulated and propelled by the Word to fail or be disadvantaged in life. The Word programmes you to be an absolute success.
If you sow a corn seed, for example, you aren’t going to have a harvest of mangos, apples or oranges. The reason is that the seed was programmed to reproduce its kind.
Also, you must have heard of computer programming: creating a sequence of instructions to enable the computer to do something. It’s similar to how God’s Word functions as well. It’s the mystery of writing, and God invented writing. Writing is about one thing— programming.
When God talks to you, when His Word comes to you, what He seeks is to write the “programme” and have it stored in your “heart,” which you can further process, because of who He’s made you. Psalm 82:6 says, “…Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.” He created creators. You’re an innovator.
1 Corinthians 6:17 says, “But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.” He’s brought you into union with Himself, and into His class of being. No wonder Jesus reiterated the words we read in Psalm 82:6 in John 10:34 (NKJV): “…Is it not written in your law, I said, You are gods?” There’s another beautiful one in James 1:18: “Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.” How powerful this is!
You’re the “Godkind” of man; the first, best and most sublime of His creatures. Hallelujah! Being born again, you were brought into union with Him; you’re a comrade of the heavenly pantheon. Glory to God!
FURTHER STUDY Deuteronomy 11:18 & Proverbs 6:20-21
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 12 APRIL 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: PREPARE YOUR HEART WITH THE WORD ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: For skillful and godly Wisdom shall enter into your heart, and knowledge shall be pleasant to you. Discretion shall watch over you, understanding shall keep you (Proverbs 2:10-11 AMPC). ______________________________________________
If you’d pay attention to what’s written in the Scriptures about the last days, and relate it to current happenings in the world, you’ll surely realize that the Lord is getting ready, preparing the Church for His coming. Your responsibility is to prepare your heart through the Word; live your life for Him daily.
Nothing can prepare you for the coming of the Lord like the Scriptures. 2 Timothy 3:15 tells us, “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.” Notice our underlined portion; the wisdom of God is what carries you all the way through to the end of salvation in the presence of the Lord.
Jesus emphasized the importance of the Scriptures when He said, “…man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God” (Luke 4:4).
Search the Scriptures. Study and build your life on God’s truth. His Word cultures you to have Kingdom consciousness, with the goal and desire to please Him always and in all things. The Word cleanses and keeps you in the state of readiness to meet the Lord. FURTHER STUDY: Acts 20:32 & 1 Timothy 4:15-16 & Revelation 22:20
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SUNDAY 11 APRIL 2021 PASTOR CHRIS TOPIC: THE “OUTBREATHINGS” OF GOD ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: All scripture is given by inspiration of God… (2 Timothy 3:16). ______________________________________________
The Bible, as we have it today, didn’t “drop” on us from heaven; it was chronicled and written by holy men of God as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. The reason some question the veracity of the Bible is that they’ve not been able to distinguish between the “author” of the Scriptures and inspired writers.
The sixty-six books that make up the Bible have several writers. From the Old Testament to the New Testament, writers vary; they all penned words as they were inspired by the Holy Spirit. For example, Paul wrote most of the Epistles, such as the Book of Romans, First and Second Thessalonians, Galatians, First and Second Corinthians, Philippians, Colossians, etc. The Holy Spirit also moved prophets like Moses, Jeremiah, Isaiah, and apostles like Peter, John, James to write the Scriptures, but they can’t be said to have authored the Scriptures. In our theme verse, we’re shown the authorship of the Scriptures: “All scripture is given by inspiration of God…” (2 Timothy 3:16).
The Greek word translated “inspiration” is “theopneustos,” which means the outbreathing of God! “God” in this context is the Holy Spirit. He’s the author of the Scriptures. If you ever want to know and walk in God’s perfect will at all times, understand His judgements and His perspectives on all of life’s issues, study and meditate on the Scriptures.
The concluding part of 2 Timothy 3:16-17 further shows us the purpose of the Scriptures: It’s “…profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience, [and] for training in righteousness (in holy living, in conformity to God’s will in thought, purpose, and action), So that the man of God may be complete and proficient, well fitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work” (AMPC). These and more are what the Scriptures can do in, and for you as you study and meditate on them! You’ll have all the advantage you need in life, and enjoy the full blessings of your heritage and life in Christ. FURTHER STUDY: Ephesians 1:15-17 & 2 Peter 1:3
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY 10 APRIL 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: ATTAINING SPIRITUAL MATURITY ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake. I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one… (1 John 2:12-13). ______________________________________________
The Apostle John, in the opening text, addresses three classes of God’s people: first, the little children, then the young men, and finally, the fathers. “Fathers” in this context isn’t referring to a male parent, but to those who have attained spiritual maturity in Christ; those who have raised others and have been in the Lord long enough to have the experience of God through the Word. It refers to those who have come to spiritual manhood. In them, the Word of the Lord is fulfilled. Through the Holy Spirit, these ones are able to understand and interpret the mind of God on wide variety of issues and establish His righteousness.
Attaining to this level of spiritual maturity is simply by giving yourself to the Scriptures in study and meditation, knowing God’s Word and living by it every day. In 2 Timothy 2:15 AMPC, Paul admonished: “Study and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved (tested by trial), a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analyzing and accurately dividing [rightly handling and skillfully teaching] the Word of Truth.” Also, Jesus said in John 5:39, “Search the scriptures….”
The Scriptures have the capacity to build you unto maturity: _“And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified” (Acts 20:32). The Word is your life; therefore, yield yourself to the Word to build and nourish you. The Bible says, _“As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the Word that ye may grow thereby” (1 Peter 2:2). The Word is the only ingredient that can transform and build our lives on all three levels: spirit, soul and body.
FURTHER STUDY
Mark 12:24 & Acts 17:11
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY 09 APRIL 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THE ACTIVE WORD FROM GOD ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: …It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God (Luke 4:4). ______________________________________________
The verse above is the Master’s response to one of Satan’s temptations, and it gives a most remarkable insight on how to use the Word. What Jesus actually said is that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word (rhema in Greek) of God. He wasn’t referring to the Logos of God, which is the whole body of truth; the revealed Word of God that expresses His thoughts, character, plans, purposes and personality. But “rhema,” on the other hand, is the spoken and active Word from God to a specific person, for a specific purpose, at a specific time.
Even though something is written in the Scripture, you may not be able to live by it if you don’t know it or if you don’t personalise it, being addressed to you. What you have in Scripture is the Logos of God, the entire body of truth, but you live by every word of that Logos that’s addressed to you in the “now” of your life, or every word that the Spirit of God ministers to you for you.
This is the reason prophecy is important. When you receive a prophetic word, it blesses you because it’s what you need for the moment. For example, you may be in a precarious situation and suddenly, you receive a word from the Lord saying, “…lo, I am with you always…” (Matthew 28:20).
Now, those words were written in the Scriptures long ago, but it becomes “rhema” when the Spirit of God brings it to you in the now of your life in whatever situation you’re in. As brief as those words are, they’re loaded, and reaffirm God’s commitment to you. He’s with you, and for that reason, you have it made; you’re energized, strengthened and inspired to win! Hallelujah! FURTHER STUDY Colossians 3:16 & 2 Timothy 3:16
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 08 APRIL 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: FAITH DOESN’T REQUIRE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1). ______________________________________________
Assume it was your birthday, and your favourite uncle, rich and generous, called you on the phone to tell you he just bought you a car. You’d believe him and immediately get excited, even though you hadn’t seen the car. That’s faith; it doesn’t require physical evidence.
The reason you believe and rejoice is that you trust your uncle’s character; otherwise, you’d express doubt upon receiving the news. Similarly, when you think, talk and act based on the integrity of God’s Word, you’re expressing faith, and you’re bound to have extraordinary results.
Someone once lamented how God gave him a specific word about his healing, prosperity and restoration, yet he claimed he didn’t see evidence that the Word came to pass in his life. His language actually manifested unbelief. What other evidence is there concerning your blessings and triumphant life besides the Word of God?
Become fully persuaded by the Word of God. Don’t wait for any physical manifestation before you take what God says is yours. Accept His Word and live accordingly. Your faith is the manifestation, for faith perceives as fact that which has been declared by the Word.
FURTHER STUDY: Hebrews 11:6 & Matthew 15:28
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 07 APRIL 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: WHEN HIS WORDS ARE AT HOME IN YOU ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you (John 15:7 ESV). ______________________________________________
The Wuest translation helps us see that Jesus’ remark in John 15:7 is more of an instruction than a promissory note. He’s commanding you to ask whatever your heart desires. It says, “If you maintain a living communion with me and my words are at home in you, I command you to ask, at once, something for yourself, whatever your heart desires, and it will become yours.”
Can you trust His Word? Yes, you can! Faith is about acting on the integrity of God’s Word. In these challenging times, you can rely on the Word of God. He said, “If you abide in me, and my words are in you, ask what you want, and it shall be done for you.”* The Complete Jewish Bible puts it this way: “If you remain united with me, and my words with you, then ask whatever you want, and it will happen for you.”
All that’s required is for you to abide in Him and for His words to be resident in you. Are the words of Christ at home in you? Or do you set them aside? When His words are at home in you, it’s blessings all the way; victories only; success unlimited.
Colossians 3:16 says, “Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly…." When the Word is in you and abides, your faith is built strong; then you’re positioned to make a demand and create the kind of life you want, irrespective of circumstances.
FURTHER STUDY: Hebrews 12:2 & Jeremiah 17:7-8
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY 06 APRIL 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: VICTORY IN YOUR MOUTH ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: Now Jericho was straitly shut up because of the children of Israel: none went out, and none came in. And the LORD said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valour (Joshua 6:1-2). ______________________________________________
Joshua was one of such characters in the Bible who was guided to victory by divine revelation. As he prepared to lead Israel in one of her defining battles, the angel of the Lord appeared to him and gave him the strategy by which he should defeat the enemy. Even though the city, Jericho, was greatly fortified against aggression, God’s Word to him at that moment assured him of victory.
The Holy Spirit gave Joshua the winning strategy. He said, “And ye shall compass the city, all ye men of war, and go round about the city once. Thus shalt thou do six days. And seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of rams’ horns: and the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, …and when ye hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the people shall ascend up every man straight before him” (Joshua 6:3-5).
Those walls weren’t ordinary walls; they were fortifications of massive proportions. However, when the Israelites shouted according to the Lord’s instruction, the walls came crumbling down (Read Joshua 6).
Aside that day, never in the history of mankind has it ever happened that people shouted and great walls fell down flat. I believe that when they shouted, every one of them released a sound code that caused the walls to come down: the energy of words! If releasing the right words or sound could bring down physical barriers, it’ll also remove financial barriers or any other kind of barrier.
Perhaps you’re in a financial strait; no money is coming in and none is going out; things are extremely hard. It’s time for you to get a hold of God’s Word for that situation and release it. Keep speaking until there’s a change. The same Holy Spirit that gave Joshua the strategy to take Jericho has given you His Word. He said in 1 Corinthians 3:21, “…all things are yours.” In Romans 8:17, He said you’re an heir of God, and a joint-heir with Christ.
Keep His Word in your heart and in your mouth in meditation. Keep pondering, muttering and shouting the Word until the situation you’re dealing with crumbles before you. Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY: 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 & Zechariah 4:6
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 05 APRIL 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: OPERATING THE GOD KIND OF FAITH ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: …even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were (Romans 4:17). ______________________________________________
Faith is a principle by which we live in the Kingdom of God. The Bible says, “…the just shall live by faith” (Romans 1:17). And the faith we’ve been given is the God-kind of faith. You can apply it as God did throughout the Scriptures and be guaranteed the same results. The Bible says by faith, He framed the cosmos, the worlds (Hebrews 11:3).
No wonder Jesus averred in Mark 11:22, “…Have faith in God.” Several translations read “Have the faith of God” or “the God-kind of faith”—the supernatural faith that God operates. We read about it in our opening verse: He calls things that are not as though they were; seeing the unseen. By the spoken word, you bring into physical manifestation things which are not perceptible to the senses.
What about things that are already there that you don’t want? The Bible says, “And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are” (1 Corinthians 1:28). He says we use “things which are not, to bring to nought things that are.” What a principle!
The word “nought” is from “katargeo”(Greek), meaning to make void, bring to nought or nothing, to make or become of no (none, without) effect; to decimate. This you can achieve with your words—your faith proclamations. With words, you can destroy or decimate things which are. Remember, you can call things that are not, as though they were. Hallelujah!
There’s no disadvantage to the child of God. Whatever the situation you’re facing today, there’s a way out. The victory is in your mouth. Don’t look at the circumstances, for they’re subject to change. Look at the unseen—your victory—the picture the Word of God projects. Look at what the Word is telling you, and stick to the Word.
The more dire the situation or circumstance is, the more you affirm the Word and proclaim that you’re victorious in the Name of Jesus! The Name of Jesus can’t be overthrown. Use it, and you’ll always win. Blessed be God!
FURTHER STUDY: Hebrews 11:1-3 & Romans 12:3
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SUNDAY 04 APRIL 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THE PROOF OF HIS LOVE ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). ______________________________________________
When we say, “God loves you,” many think it’s just a generic communication about God’s love for everyone. Yes, He does love everyone, but He thinks of, and relates to you like you’re the only one on the face of the earth. Each one of us is uniquely valuable to God; as valuable to Him as Jesus is. This is so huge a truth that it takes understanding the Word of God and the thinking of the Spirit to accept it.
God proved His love for you with the price He paid: the life of Jesus. The Bible says, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). If you were the only one on earth that needed salvation, Jesus would have still come to die for you. He didn’t come because we were many.
Luke 15:7 says, “I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.” If that’s the truth as it is, I want you to think what it means to the Father for anyone to go to hell. 2 Peter 3:9 tells us, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” He wants everyone to know, embrace, and walk in the truth of His love. He’s entrusted us with the message of His love, to share it with the whole world. Remember, He saves you and makes you His partner in saving others—a soul winner. Therefore, make this Easter count for someone in your world who hasn’t yet known the Lord. The responsibility is on you to reach those in your sphere of influence with the news of Christ’s love and saving power.
Think about what the apostles of Christ did for us regarding this glorious Gospel; they gave everything and even their lives because they thought it was worth that much. They wanted to make sure that the Gospel went to others, until it got to us.
Let it be your ultimate passion, joy, love and pride to give of your finances, time and energy for the spread of the Gospel around the world. It’s such a great honour and privilege to be a part of something so sublime and so divine.
FURTHER STUDY: Proverbs 11:30 & John 3:16
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY 03 APRIL 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: BE CONDITIONED TO YOUR DIVINE NATURE ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? (1 Corinthians 3:3). ______________________________________________
If you’re born again, even though outwardly you may look like your next-door neighbour who isn’t born again, a real transformation took place in your spirit. You were actually, literally, born divine—born anew with the life and nature of God. Not only are you godly, you’re God-like.
But because many don’t know this, they say, “We’re all humans.” No, we’re not; that’s what you were before you were reborn. The human “you” died, and a new you came from God. That’s what John meant when He said, “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); it means you hail from God; your life is divine.
What God expects is that you become conditioned to your divine nature. It’s the purpose for the renewing of your mind: Romans 12:2 says, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind….”
You may say, “But in the Book of Acts, Peter told Cornelius that he himself was a man.” You may also refer to the occasion where the people at the cities of Lycaonia almost worshipped Paul because of the signs and wonders he had performed, and he told them, “… We also are men of like passions with you…” (Acts 14:15).
But here’s what you must understand: the apostles, at this time, hadn’t fully understood the mystery of the Gospel. Otherwise, they’d have communicated differently. Think about it: Jesus never talked like that. He said, “…I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world” (John 8:23).
When it dawned on Paul through revelation of the Spirit that he was the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus, he expressed it differently. He said the Christian is “a new creature”—a new type of man (2 Corinthians 5:17). The same Peter also graduated to a higher class and in His epistle, he called the Christian “partaker of the divine nature”; associate of the God-kind.
Psalm 82:6 says, “I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.” If you talk and live as a man, you’ll suffer the things men suffer. Become conscious of your divine nature and practise the divine life.
FURTHER STUDY: Psalm 82:5-7 & John 10:33-36
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY 02 APRIL 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THE WORD, PRAYER AND WORSHIP ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: But we will continue to devote ourselves steadfastly to prayer and the ministry of the Word (Acts 6:4 AMPC). ______________________________________________
In relating with God, the first thing you need to understand is what He has to say to you (the Word). Secondly, what He gives you the privilege to say to Him (prayer). Third is your worship, which is also in the form of sacrifices and offerings (Hebrews 13:15). These three are central in our relationship with the Lord.
Man is a spirit, and the spirit of man came from God’s Spirit, and was created by the Word of God: “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever” (1 Peter 1:23). Being born of the Word, you must, therefore, continually feed on God’s Word to truly live. 1 Peter 2:2 says, _“As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.” The Lord Jesus said in Luke 4:4, “_…It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.”
The Father always speaks; He’s always in communication with your spirit, sharing His thoughts with you. So, it’s not just the words that you say during the times of prayer that matter, but the opportunity it provides for the Spirit of God to minister to you as you minister to Him.
We also give quality time to worship, that is, to sing unto the Lord in praise, and adoration. When we worship the Lord, it’s a mingling of spirits; a moment of divine ecstasy, where you’re enraptured in the bliss and glory of His presence.
The Lord Jesus, in John 4:23, outlines true worship as that which is done in spirit and in truth; meaning that you’re to worship the Father from your spirit and according to His Word. Thus, it involves making confessions to His Name on the basis of who He is, in line with the revelation of His personality in the Word. Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY: Acts 20:32*
_32, Ephesians 6:18*
Philippians 3:3
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 01 APRIL 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: DISCOVER WHO YOU ARE IN HIM ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God (Romans 12:2). ______________________________________________
Before the coming of the Messiah, it was prophesied that Elijah would come first (Malachi 4:5-6). The Scribes used this prophecy as evidence against the messiahship of Jesus. But the disciples, having seen Elijah with their own eyes talking with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration (Read Matthew 17:1-3), asked Jesus, “…Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come?” (Matthew 17:10).
To their surprise, Jesus confirmed the Scribes insistence that Elijah must come first before the Messiah. He said, “…Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things. But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them” (Matthew 17:11-12). The Bible says, “Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist” (Matthew 17:13). Elijah already came, but they didn’t know it, because they were looking in the flesh!
There’re many Christians who are like that today. All they’re dreaming, praying, struggling to be and have in God, they already are, and already have, but they don’t know it. This is why you must know the Word. Through the knowledge of the Word, you’re enlightened as to your identity and heritage in Christ.
Nothing could be greater or better than Christ in you, and you in Christ. You’ve got to come to the full realization that as He is, so are you (1 John 4:17). You’re His righteousness, the expression of all the perfect things that are consistent with His nature—His goodness, His kindness, His love, His humility, and excellence!
This is why our theme verse admonishes that you renew your mind, because it’s only through the Scriptures, by the Spirit, that you discover what God has already made you and granted you in Christ.
FURTHER STUDY: 1 Corinthians 3:21-22, 2 Peter 1:3 & Romans 8:17
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 31 MARCH 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THE NEW AND LIVING WAY ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh (Hebrews 10:19-20). ______________________________________________
How awesome this is! Jesus opened for us a new and living way to the Father; He took off the veil to the Father’s presence and ushered us in. Blessed be God! Remember His words in John 14:6: “…I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
Recall that in Genesis, Adam had sinned against God and was driven away from the presence of God, together with his wife, Eve. They’d been in fellowship with God in the Garden of Eden, but the Bible says God sent an angel with a flaming sword to stay at the gate of the Garden to disallow them from re-entering the garden.
Suddenly, the rich fellowship man once had with God was over. That was the beginning of religion. Man began to do everything he could to get that divine presence again. All the religions of the world today are seeking the same thing: the divine presence. Man had no way to get back into that presence, until Jesus came. He made a startling statement which we read earlier. He said, “...I am the WAY…no one comes to the Father, but by me!” (John 14:6).
This was what Adam needed. This was what the Patriarchs of the Old Testament all needed—the way to the Father’s presence. Jesus is that way. When He died on the Cross, the Bible says the thick veil that separated the temple from the Most Holy Place was torn in two, from top to bottom (Matthew 27:51), making the presence of God accessible.
Today, there’s no veil, no separation anymore between you and the Father. You live in His presence, and the Bible says, “In His presence is fullness of joy and pleasure evermore” (Psalm 16:11). If you haven’t found your way into His presence, if you’re not yet born again, there’s no need to wallow in sin, defeat and ignorance anymore. There’s no need searching for the way; Jesus is the Way. All you have to do is confess His lordship over your life, and your spirit will be recreated to begin an exciting life in God’s presence for eternity. Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY: Ephesians 2:18-19 & Romans 5:1-2
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY 30 MARCH 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THE SANCTIFIER IN YOU ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption (1 Corinthians 1:30). ______________________________________________
Besides being your wisdom, righteousness, and redemption (riddance), Christ is also your sanctification. The word sanctification used in our opening verse refers to the act or process of making holy or setting apart unto God for His eternal purpose.
It’s translated from the Greek word “hagiasmos” which means, “a purifier.” So, the sanctifier has come to live in you. Christ isn’t in you, trying to sanctify you; He has sanctified you, and continues to sanctify everything you do. He’s your separator; He has separated you from the rest of the world, from sin and evil, unto the glorious liberty of the sons of God. Hallelujah! Just as you’re required to activate wisdom by speaking wisdom, you’re also required to speak sanctification—words that cleanse and purify.
Recall what Paul said in 1 Timothy 4:4-5: “For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.” You can purify or sanctify anything that belongs to you with the Word of God and prayer.
The Lord Jesus said in John 15:3, “Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.” Jesus has gone to heaven, but He lives in, and through you today. You’re the one bearing those wonderful sanctifying words today. Keep speaking words of blessings, to cleanse and sanctify your environment. As you speak, people are purified; they’re transformed from glory to another.
Hebrews 2:11 says, “For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren.” Christ the sanctifier is in you; He’s one with your spirit now (1 Corinthians 6:17). And through you, He’s carrying out His ministry of sanctifying all things to Himself.
FURTHER STUDY: Hebrews 2:11 & 1 Thessalonians 5:23
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 29 MARCH 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: IT’S SOONER THAN YOU THINK ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book (Revelation 22:7). ______________________________________________
Some have wondered why we preach the Gospel the way we do, all around the world, with so much urgency, fervency and passion. It’s because the Master gave us a mandate to evangelize the world before He comes back, leading men and women into righteousness.
In Mathew 28:19, He said, _“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.”_ He gave us a message for the whole world about what He came to do in the earth, so that when He comes back, many will be prepared for Him, and go with Him. Hallelujah!
This is our inspiration and the urgency of the moment. We’re not just trying to get people excited about Christianity; it’s about Jesus Christ and His living message: He came to die for the whole world, and God raised Him from the dead. He ascended into heaven, and He’s alive today, and will come back any time from now.
How ready are you for His return? If you’re still wondering when, and how soon He is coming back, I can tell you this: it’s a lot sooner than many realize, judging from the timelines revealed to us in Scriptures. All the things He told us will happen before He comes are happening exactly the way He said they would.
There aren’t too many signs or events left to be fulfilled before the Master’s return. This is why we must keep preaching the Gospel, preparing men and women all over the world for the Rapture. He was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin, unto salvation (Hebrews 9:28). Therefore, be prepared and ready for Him. FURTHER STUDY: Acts 1:11, 1 Corinthians 16:22 & Revelation 22:20
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SUNDAY 28 MARCH 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: SERVE THE LORD HEARTILY ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines (1 Samuel 7:3). ______________________________________________
We’re in the final moments of the last days, and it’s important that you’re focused on the Lord, serving Him heartily. The Bible says, “You may as well know this too…that in the last days it is going to be very difficult to be a Christian” (2 Timothy 3:1 TLB). Notice it doesn’t say, “It shall be impossible to be a Christian,” but “difficult.” So, it’s telling you to serve the Lord, regardless and independent of circumstances or persecution.
This isn’t the time to hide your Christian identity. Nothing whatsoever should be viable enough to take your attention away from the Lord and His Kingdom. Some are only fervent in serving the Lord when everything seems rosy, when their business is thriving and their finances are booming. But the true test comes when trouble strikes, and they get discouraged, and suddenly lose their fervour.
Some others only serve the Lord during times of challenges. But as soon as they have a miracle and are out of the dilemma, their commitment to the Lord immediately wanes. Something is wrong. Don’t let that happen to you. Be on fire for the Lord all the time. Be instant in season, and out of season.
Let nothing compete with, or inhibit your love for and commitment to Christ. The Bible says, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord…” (1 Corinthians 15:58). When everything is going smoothly, be steadfast. And when it’s a period of adversity, serve the Lord heartily still. The Bible says, “If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small” (Proverbs 24:10). Colossians 3:23 tells us, “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord….” Praise God!
FURTHER STUDY:
Romans 12:11-12 AMPC & 1 Corinthians 15:58 AMPC
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY 27 MARCH 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: MORE THAN LETTERS ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; Who also hath 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 3:5-6). ______________________________________________
The Word of God is more than letters; it’s spirit and life. The letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. Jesus said, “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63). The Word builds, lifts, and transforms us from glory to glory. It’s the reason we emphasize meditating on the Word of God.
Meditation gets the Word into your spirit to become personal to you. As you study or listen to God’s Word, every time there’s a stirring in your spirit to speak forth words on the basis of what you’re studying or being taught, don’t suppress it. Speak forth. Each time you hear the Word, it’s God talking to you, but He always wants you to respond; that’s where the glory is!
Until you respond to God’s Word, it won’t produce any results. The Word will be mere letters to you. But the Word in your mouth is God talking; it’s the sword of the Spirit with which you cut the devil down and prevail over the adversities of life.
That transformation you desire in your finances, health and family is dependent on you, your response to the Word. Psalm 119:89 says, “For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.” His Word is settled in heaven, but you must settle it in your life through your affirmations of the Word. Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY: Isaiah 55:11, Acts 20:32 & 2 Timothy 3:16-17
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY 26 MARCH 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: CLOTHED IN GLORY ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified (Romans 8:30). ______________________________________________
How beautiful this is! We’ve been called, justified and glorified. Your life is full of glory. That’s the reason you can manifest the glory of God; it’s what He called you to do: “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 marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9 AMPC).
Jesus said in John 17:22, “And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one.”*_ It’s important that you see yourself in this light. See yourself in, and as, the glory of God. When Adam and Eve disobeyed God in the Garden, their fall made them “see” that they were naked, and they became ashamed and afraid (Genesis 3:7). When God called out to Adam in the Garden, he replied, “…I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself” (Genesis 3:10).
The Lord’s response to him was, “… Who told thee that thou wast naked...?” (Genesis 3:11). Adam saw his guilt and his shame, but that’s not what God wants you to see. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “…if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” The word “behold” is the Greek, “idou,” which is akin to the Hebrew word, “chazah.” It means to become spiritually aware, to see, and come alive to what you see. God wants you to see that you’re clothed with glory.
You were born to reign and manifest the glory of the Kingdom of God in the earth. Romans 8:19 says, “For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.” What a life! The same way Jesus came to the earth to express God and manifest His glory, you’ve been chosen of God to show forth His glory. You’ve been called to display God.
Read Colossians 1:27: “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.” This means glory has been realized. Therefore, SEE that you’ve been glorified. There’s no reason to be afraid or run from God. He’s taken away all guilt, reproach and shame from your life. He’s justified you. Now, He wants you to live as His glorified one—in His righteousness—as a champion. Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY: 1 Peter 2:9 & 2 Corinthians 3:18
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 25 MARCH 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: DOMINATE YOUR WORLD ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances (Colossians 2:20). ______________________________________________
Our opening verse lets us know that we’re not subject to the principles of this world. Jesus dominated this world; He lived above the decadence of the world, the corruption and failure of His society. He lived far above, and beyond the government and systems of the day when He walked the earth. That’s the life He’s given us: one that’s not subject to, but lords over, the rudiments of this world.
He’s made us self-sufficient, to function above and beyond the systems of this world. He said you’re in the world, but not of the world. That means you’re to dominate the systems and corrupting influences in today’s world. Many around you may be influenced, and provoked to compromise as a result of the deceit, corruption and wickedness in today’s world, but not you. You hail from God’s Kingdom, and your life is built on, and regulated by, His truth only.
Keep learning God’s Word. It’ll make you think and talk like Jesus. In John 16:33, He said, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” Have the same consciousness, because He overcame the world for you. Although He lived in a world plagued by gross darkness, deceit, economic hardships, sickness, oppression, deaths, disasters, etc., He had a victor’s mindset; the kind He expects you to function with.
When you face challenges, persecutions, distressing situations, turbulent times, trials, and temptations, be unruffled; because in Christ, you have overcome the world (1 John 4:4). Let this consciousness reflect even in your prayer-language. It makes no difference the challenges you face; when you pray, declare that in the Name of Jesus, you’ve overcome the world and its systems; its hatred, deceit, poverty, corruption, depression, falsehood and antichrist spirit. Hallelujah!
*
FURTHER STUDY: 1 John 5:4-5- For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith._
_5- Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?_
Psalm 8:4-6
_4- is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him?_
_5- For You have made him a little lower than the angels, And You have crowned him with glory and honor._
_6- You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet,_
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Luk 6:1-16 & Deuteronomy 29-30
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Matthew 25:31-46 & Exodus 34
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 24 MARCH 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: RECEIVING FORGIVENESS IS AN ACT OF FAITH ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: 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). ______________________________________________
Did you know that in the New Testament, God didn’t tell us to ask Him for forgiveness? Asking Him for forgiveness is like asking Him to save you. Think about it: If you do ask Him for forgiveness, when will you know He has answered?
Likewise, if you’re asking Him to save your soul, how will you know He has saved you? You’ll never know, because there’s nothing for Him to do about saving you that He hasn’t already done. It’s the same thing with forgiveness; you receive forgiveness; you don’t ask for it, because the blood of Jesus Christ was shed for the remission of your sins.
Some Christians are always asking God for forgiveness, and because they’re asking for something that’s been provided for, they don’t apply faith. You’re to receive forgiveness as an act of your faith. Afterwards, live above that situation through the power of the Holy Spirit and the Word.
You’ve already been washed and purged of your sins. Colossians 1:21-22 says, “And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight.”
This happened before you ever did anything right or wrong. Therefore, refuse to be sin-conscious. You’re the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus; think and live righteousness. Our opening text says if we walk in the light (the Word) as He is in the light, the blood of Jesus automatically cleanses us from all sin. Since this is true, you don’t have to be confessing your sins all the time.
If you do something wrong, simply say, “Lord, I’m sorry for what I did; I receive forgiveness in Jesus’ Name”; and that’s it. You might ask, “Is it that simple?” Yes, it is. In Christ, we have automatic cleansing from sin; it’s part of the redemptive work of His blood in our behalf. FURTHER STUDY: 1 Corinthians 6:11 & Romans 8:1
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY 23 MARCH 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: PERFECT COMPLETION ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power (Colossians 2:9-10). ______________________________________________
The totality of divinity resides in Jesus Christ. When you see Jesus, you’re looking at the fullness of the God-head; He’s the house of God in totality. Whether or not you agree with this doesn’t make any difference. You may think of Him and say He’s just a man, but He is Himself God!
“Fullness” in our theme scripture means “a completeness,” where nothing that’s necessary is out; where there’s no shortage; a perfect completion. And something most amazing about this is what we read in the latter part: “You’re complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.”
When God looks at you, He sees everything you require for life and godliness in you. 2 Peter 1:3 says, “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue.” This is the reality. Refuse to live with a lack mentality, as though there’re certain things you don’t have. Take off the limits.
Refuse to think that your completeness is in the government, your place of work or any human structure, organization or association. Your completeness is in Christ. You’re sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency. Become totally inundated with this consciousness.
Your confession, every so often, should be, “Father, I thank you, because I have all things! I’m complete in Christ; there’s no shortage in my life, but completeness.” Do this consciously and continually, and see your life blossom in righteousness, glory, wisdom and dominion of Christ, beyond your imagination. Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY: Colossians 1:16-19 & 1 Corinthians 3:21-22
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 22 MARCH 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: MARKED FOR VICTORY AND SUCCESS ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper (Psalm 1:3). ______________________________________________
As a child of God, you’re called to live each day of your life in glory, in victory over every situation. You’re marked for success. The triumphant life is your birth-right, because God has raised you up, and made you to sit together with Christ in heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6).
You’re seated far above the devil and the cohorts of darkness, and the negative influences of this world. Have the mentality that you can’t be defeated or disadvantaged. Nothing in this world can successfully stand against you, for “…greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4). You’ve been translated into the Kingdom of God’s dear Son, who leads you in the triumphal excursions of life.
What a life He’s given us! Imagine what He tells us in our opening verse; the same truth is expressed in John 15:16 where He says, “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.” Jesus brought us into a life of power, fruitfulness and productivity.
You’ve been chosen to bring forth lasting results. This means He has made you efficient and effective; it’s one of the beautiful results of having the Holy Spirit in your life. Acts 1:8 AMPC says, “But you shall receive power (ability, efficiency, and might) when the Holy Spirit has come upon you....” This is the mind-set with which you must approach the things you do. There’s increased grace for you.
The Lord is at work in you, both to will and to do of His good pleasure (Philippians 2:13). He’s your sufficiency (2 Corinthians 3:5); your “able-to-do-it-ness.” Every so often, declare that you’re marked for success and victory; you produce excellent results. This is the life God has given you; it’s a life of dominion, where you triumph gloriously, and honour Him with your works and fruits of righteousness.
CONFESSION: FURTHER STUDY: Jeremiah 17:7-8 & Psalm 92:12-14
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SUNDAY 21 MARCH 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: CHRIST OUR LIGHT ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE:In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not (John 1:4-5). ______________________________________________
In John 8:12, Jesus said, _“…I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” Again, in John 9:5, He said, “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” For anyone to live without Christ, therefore, is to live in gross darkness, utter hopelessness, confusion, and be void of beauty. Light defines; gives direction, beauty, and illumines.
You can’t even know yourself outside Christ; only under His light is your true identity and personality revealed. The Bible says with Him is the fountain of life: in His light shall we see light (Psalm 36:9). Hallelujah!
If you use all the lights in the world to define your life, you’re sunk, because you’re sure to see the wrong things. But in Him, in His light, you see the glory of God. You see that you’re excellent and full of glory. His light shows who you are, what you have, and your abilities in Christ. It shows you have the greater One living in you.
No wonder the Psamist said in Psalm 119:105, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Christ and His Word are one. Apart from showing you your endowments and blessings in Christ, the Word guides you in God’s perfect will for your life, imparting to you the wisdom to fulfil it.
Through His Word, you receive guidance as to specific details about your life, your ministry, career, etc., and definite steps to take in actualizing your set goals. The Bible says Christ has been made unto us wisdom from God. Become more conscious of this, and you’ll function with greater insight and knowledge, walking in success, health, prosperity, peace, and strength always!
FURTHER STUDY: 2 Corinthians 4:6, Psalm 119:130 & Isaiah 2:5
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY 20 MARCH 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: PRAY FOR WORLD LEADERS ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty (1 Timothy 2:1-2). ______________________________________________
It was all over the news some time ago how a man strangled his four-year-old child to death in a bathtub. After killing him, he screamed with tears, “I don’t know why I did it!” Of course, he went to prison for it. In his words, he said, “I felt a power beyond myself and I strangled my own son.”
Also reported, was a sixteen-year-old boy who walked into his home, killed his mother and father with gunshots. Just standing there, bemused, he said he didn’t know why he did it. You’re talking about sons and daughters, men and women, husbands and wives, dads and moms from hell! Why are they from hell? It’s because they’re possessed of demons; evil spirits have entered into them to carry out such despicable acts.
That’s why God tells us to pray for leaders because they aren’t left out of such demonic influence. You’ve got to pray for them because an evil spirit can enter into them. The Bible tells us in Luke 22:3 that an evil spirit entered into Judas Iscariot. When that happened, he walked out of where Jesus and the disciples were, went to the chief priests to finalise arrangements to betray Jesus, the Son of God.
When Judas saw Jesus hanging on the Cross, he thought Jesus would miraculously come off the Cross, but He didn’t. Matthew 27:3-5 tells us, “When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and the elders…So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.” What does that tell you? Satan caused him to do it.
That’s what’s happening to some leaders today; they’re taking steps that are detrimental, damaging and harmful to their nations, people, businesses and the systems. You might say, “I trust my leaders”; but they can be influenced and overpowered by these demonic forces to sign policies or do despicable things they never planned to do. Therefore, you must pray for them.
Pray that they’ll have the will, desire, and boldness to do what’s right in spite of pressures, and refuse to yield to corrupting and negative influences. It’s not out of place to also pray for the removal of those who push their selfish or satanic agendas at the detriment of their people. Most importantly, pray for the salvation of men and leaders alike.
Dear Father, I pray for my leaders today, that wisdom and understanding be granted them to lead in accordance with your divine will and plan, and to make the right decisions that’ll benefit the people, and cause peace and prosperity to be established, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY: 1 Timothy 2:1-2 AMPC & Ezekiel 33:6-7
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY 19 MARCH 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: HOLY, FAULTLESS AND GUILTLESS ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish (Ephesians 5:26-27). ______________________________________________
The Lord Jesus is coming for a glorious Church, one without blemish, a faultless Church. You say, “is that possible?” Absolutely! That’s what His redemptive work was all about. Colossians 1:21-22 (CEV) says, “You used to be far from God. Your thoughts made you his enemies, and you did evil things. But his Son became a human and died. So God made peace with you, and now he lets you stand in his presence as people who are holy and faultless and innocent.” Through the sacrifice of His own body as the sin-payment on your behalf, you now dwell in His presence. There’s no enmity between you and the Father (Read Ephesians 2:13-16). How comforting it is to know the true nature and character of our heavenly Father! He brought us to Himself. James 1:5 says, He “…upbraideth not…,” which means He doesn’t reproach or criticize you. He doesn’t blame you for anything. He doesn’t count your sins against you (2 Corinthians 5:19).
You’re free from accusation; you’ve been justified. No wonder Paul got poetical in Romans 8:33-34 saying, “Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again….” Then in verses 38 and 39, he climaxed, “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Christ Jesus already died for you; He was condemned in your place. Thus, no one should condemn you anymore (Romans 8:1). Christ is your righteousness (1 Corinthians 1:30). It doesn’t matter who accuses you; you’re holy, faultless and guiltless before God, because Jesus took responsibility for all your sins. He’s the reason God doesn’t charge you with wrong. Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY: 1 Thessalonians 3:13 AMPC & Romans 5:8-9
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 18 MARCH 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: PERSECUTED FOR HIS SAKE ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you (1 Peter 4:4). ______________________________________________
In 1 Peter 4, the Apostle Peter emphasizes that living in accordance to God’s Word comes with a price of being ridiculed. Many will be surprised when you don’t join them in the same wild and reckless living; and so they’ll insult, vilify and speak evil of you.
The Amplified Classic translation of the opening text tells us, “They are astonished and think it very queer that you do not now run hand in hand with them in the same excesses of dissipation, and they abuse [you].” Irrespective of the evil or abuses they haul at you because you ‘follow’ Jesus, never be ashamed. Your association with Christ is the greatest honour ever.
The Bible says, “For it is better to suffer for doing good, if this should be God’s will, than for doing evil” (1 Peter 3:17). So, distinguish yourself for the Lord. Arm yourself with the same mind—the mind of Christ. Don’t be ashamed to stand up for the Lord no matter the persecutions. He stood up for you, and saved you; so, you must stand up for Him. Don’t be concerned that you may be isolated or ostracized.
Jesus loves you even if all others forsake you, and according to the Word, He won’t forsake you. He’s in you and always with you: “...lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen” (Matthew 28:20). Read His words in Luke 21:33-36: _“Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth....” We’re in the end times, and the current happenings around the world are a fulfilment of these prophecies, right before our eyes. But here’s a question you must answer in Hebrews 2:3: “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?....” Live according to God’s Word and let nothing cause you to ignore or neglect your salvation. Jesus said in Matthew 5:11-12, “Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.” FURTHER STUDY:
2 Corinthians 7:1 NIV & Matthew 5:11-12
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 17 MARCH 2021 PASTOR CHRIS TOPIC: WORSHIP WITH KNOWLEDGE ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the father in spirit and in truth: for the father seeketh such to worship him (John 4:23). ______________________________________________
When you really know Jesus, your worship or praise to Him becomes meaningful. It wouldn’t just be because the song is melodious; rather, it’ll effuse profusely from the deep recesses of your heart, in true fellowship and knowledge of His greatness and loving kindness. There may not be any instrumental music or melody while you’re worshipping, but your heart will be so enraptured and entwined with Him, with outbursts of spirit songs in spiritual melody.
Remember, people praise, worship and pray in all religions. The question is, who is the object of their worship? Who are they praying to? What are they saying to Him? And what might be His response, if any? Your worship or praise has to come from a place of knowledge of the Word. The Word says, “Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands be as the evening sacrifice” (Psalm 141:2). Also, in 1 Timothy 2:8, the Bible tells us, “I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.”
As you lift your hands in worship or prayer, you’re offering to Him a sacrifice of sweet-smelling savour. Go ahead and practise this now. Worship the Father from your spirit and according to His Word, with your hands lifted up.
FURTHER STUDY: Hebrews 13:15 AMPC & 1 Peter 2:9 AMPC
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY 16 MARCH 2021 PASTOR CHRIS TOPIC: GLORY THROUGH THE CHURCH ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen (Ephesians 3:20-21). ___________________________________________
In the first chapter of the book of Ephesians, the Apostle Paul, by the Spirit, began to explain who Christ is, with respect to God, and who the Church is. He also went on to explain why the Church isn’t a conglomeration of religious groups; rather, it’s the Body of Christ, full of glory.
In Ephesians 3:6 NKJV, he explained “that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel." 1 Corinthians 12:27 tells us that we’re the Body of Christ and members in particular. How did we become members of the Body of Christ? It was by being baptized into Christ at the New Birth. Our theme verse says, “Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.”
The Greek word translated “ages” is “genea” it means a generation. That means from generation to generation, the Father is glorified in the Church, by Jesus Christ. The desire and ministry of Jesus is to glorify the Father always, and this He does through the Church.
Even in the face of diverse persecution and belligerent oppositions, we remain bold and courageous for and with the Gospel, because His glory is in, and upon us. With that glory, we triumph over sickness, diseases, poverty, and reign victoriously in the realms of life. The Church of Jesus Christ is glorious, triumphant, flourishing, and full of dominion, wisdom and power.
Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY: John 17:22 & Colossians 1:26-27
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 15 MARCH 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: VICTORY UNTO VICTORY ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him (2 Corinthians 2:14 NIV). ______________________________________________
You can win every day, and achieve extraordinary success. The Amplified version of the scripture above says, “But thanks be to God, Who in Christ always leads us in triumph [as trophies of Christ’s victory] and through us spreads and makes evident the fragrance of the knowledge of God everywhere.” As we get ourselves prepared in these days before the Rapture, you’re not only going to be triumphant in your city but everywhere you go.
1 John 5:4 says, “For whatever is born of God is victorious over the world; and this is the victory that conquers the world, even our faith” (AMPC). The question is, What’s your mentality? How do you see yourself? When we say Christ has given your life a meaning, that’s what we’re talking about, because you’ve come to a place where you realize life isn’t for defeat; your journey is victory unto victory. That’s our heritage in Christ.
It makes no difference that the world is in crises; there should never be fear in you. Jesus said, “…be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). He overcame the world for you. To be born again is to be born of God, and it says whatever is born of God is victorious over Satan, the world and its failing system. Hallelujah!
Get excited when you face troubles or crises, because you’re certain it’ll all turn out for your good. This is because, in our kingdom, we win only, and make progress from glory to glory. We dominate this physical world with the principles of our heavenly Kingdom. Hallelujah!
Romans 8:35-37 & 1 John 4:3-4
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SUNDAY 14 MARCH 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: OUR WEAPONS OF WORDS ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: Giving thanks unto the Father…Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son (Colossians 1:12-13). ______________________________________________
From the scripture above, we see that there’re only two groups of people: those under the power of darkness and those in the Kingdom of God’s dear Son. Until you’re born again and transferred into the Kingdom of God’s dear Son, you remain under the power of darkness, and Satan becomes the god of all that concerns you.
Remember, Jesus said to the Jews who came to arrest Him, “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do...” (John 8:44). This is why we oftentimes find leaders and rulers of nations that are influenced and controlled by the principalities of darkness. When such leaders make wicked decisions and enforce repressive policies, it’s because they’re being influenced by evil forces. That’s why we pray for leaders, so that instead of being influenced by the forces of darkness, they’d be influenced by the Spirit of God.
The Bible says, “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority…” (1 Timothy 2:1-2). Then, 2 Corinthians 10:4 says, “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds.” The word “warfare” is “strateia” (Greek) and it’s telling us that we’re in the strategizing office, leading a military expedition in the Spirit. When we speak words in prayer, angels of God and the Spirit of God take those words and weaponize them. That’s what makes them mighty to the pulling down of fortresses.
So, as a Christian, recognize the enormity of the responsibility on you, to intercede for leaders of nations. Every so often, pray fervently in the spirit for the leaders in your country. With authoritative words, rebuke the forces of darkness to desist from influencing them, and affirm that their hearts are turned to the Lord to do His will. This is what we must do for leaders of nations to be influenced by God’s wisdom and righteousness; we must pray for them in line with God’s Word. FURTHER STUDY: Ephesians 6:16-18 & 2 Corinthians 10:3-5
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY 13 MARCH 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: WE’VE BEEN ENTHRONED ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us…And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:4-6). ______________________________________________
The phrase “sit together” in the scripture above is “sugkathizo” (Greek), and it means to give (or take) a seat in company with; a joint-sitting. Think about that! What could be greater than having a joint-sitting with Christ! Weymouth New Testament version renders it so beautifully; it says God “raised us with Him from the dead, and enthroned us with Him in the heavenly realms as being in Christ Jesus.” We’ve been enthroned! Blessed be God!
Now that we’ve been enthroned, what are we supposed to do? Romans 5:17 tells us: “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.” The word “reign” is “basileuō” (Greek) which means “to king.” And Revelation 5:10 perfectly corroborates this truth; it says, “And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.” Yes, at the millennial period, we’re going to be reigning with Christ, according to the Bible. But today in the earth, we’re reigning through Him or by Him, because we’re using His Name; operating in His stead. We’re called to exercise dominion and to live as masters and victors in life through Jesus Christ. We reign over Satan, darkness, the world and all creation.
The Bible says, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:5 ESV). Hallelujah! This is why the Bible says, _*“For the mystery of lawlessness (that hidden principle of rebellion against constituted authority) is already at work in the world, [but it is] restrained only until he who restrains is taken out of the way” (2 Thessalonians 2:7 AMPC).
We—the Church—are the ones restraining evil in the world. Jesus said, “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world” (John 9:5). In the same way, until we’re taken out of here by the Rapture, darkness can’t prevail, because we have a joint-sitting with Christ in the place of power and dominion. And we exercise that power and dominion now!
FURTHER STUDY: Ephesians 1:19-22 & Colossians 2:10
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY 12 MARCH 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THE STAKES ARE HIGH ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord (Romans 12:11). ______________________________________________
Clearly, we see from the Scriptures that we’re in the final days before the rapture of the Church. This isn’t the time to loaf around; there’s a lot the Lord wants to do through you with the short time left. Our theme verse says, “Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord.” You’ve got to work with the mentality that His appearing could be any minute, and become very passionate in your spirit for the Gospel—ensuring its spread and impact around the world.
As the Scriptures tell us, the Antichrist is only going to be given three and a half years for the Great Tribulation. It’s going to be a period of intense trouble, worse than the world has ever experienced and will ever experience (Matthew 24:21); and it’ll be world-wide in scope. Jesus said, “And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved…” (Matthew 24:22).
Imagine the kind of evil and destruction that’ll be perpetrated by the Antichrist for only three and a half years that warrants a divine shortening. That also tells us something: We can do a lot of good within a short time; we can shake up this world. It begins with you giving more attention to prayer, especially praying for the impact of the Gospel around the world in these last days.
This is very important; the stakes are very high. It’s not just about you; it’s about the future of our world. Before the Rapture, we’ve got to dominate this world like never before! Jesus isn’t planning to “snatch” us out of this world as though we’ve been victims. Remember that He overcame the world. He’s coming for a victorious Church; a triumphant Church. Glory to God!
Romans 12:11 AMPC, Daniel 12:3 & 2 Timothy 3:1
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 11 MARCH 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: A SOLID FOUNDATION WITH THE WORD ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word (Acts 6:4). ______________________________________________
A solid foundation of the Word of God is what will determine your reaction and disposition to life and circumstances around you. Think about the happenings in the world in the past months; the reaction and actions of some Christians is proof they never had the right foundation. Some were completely disillusioned and ran into hiding—to “isolate” themselves—while looking to government leaders for help and guidance. They were terrified by the same things that frightened the world; that shouldn’t be.
The Church isn’t a group of sissies; we’re soldiers. We’re tough for Christ. How could a Christian be afraid of a virus, after Jesus said in Luke 10:19, “Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” This is a sovereign declaration; it’s unequivocal. You’re superior to anything that hurts or binds; you’re “uninfectable.”
But you see, if you don’t know this truth, you’d be terrified. This is why we bring you the Word of God every day, to build you up in Christ, to impart knowledge to you. Acts 20:32 says, “And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up….” If you’re brought up on the foundation of the Word of God, nothing will move you. Recall the words of Jesus in Luke 6:47-49 as He distinguished between the one whose life is founded on the Word of God, and the one whose life isn’t.
He said, “Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.” Build a solid foundation for your life with the Word of God.
FURTHER STUDY: Matthew 7:24-27,
Romans 12:11-12 & Colossians 3:1-3
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 10 MARCH 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: BE PREPARED AHEAD OF THE EVIL DAY ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might…For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand (Ephesians 6:10-13). ______________________________________________
The first part of our opening scripture admonishes that you be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. The Lord never tells us to do something we couldn’t do. If He says, “Be strong in the Lord,” it means that’s what you need to do. He gives further instructions in the eleventh verse: “Put on the whole armour of God that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” This is telling you to prepare, and stay prepared ahead of the evil day. He tells you what to do against the devil. If you put on the whole armour of God as He has said, you’ll be able to stand against all the stratagems, schemes, maneuvers, and manipulations the devil.
The reason many falter when they face challenges is that they don’t act on the Word. In the verses we read in our theme scripture, God instructed us clearly on what to do. What He said in verse thirteen is the reason for verses 10-12. There’s a day of trouble (the evil day); it’s to be anticipated. There’s an enemy out there seeking whom to devour, and when he has the opportunity, he’ll strike. But we’re not ignorant of His devices.
Satan isn’t a factor. As long as you’re strong in the Lord—keeping His Word in your heart and in your mouth—you’ll discomfit the enemy whenever he shows up. As long as the Word of God is your arsenal, you’ll always win. The Word of God is the sword of the Spirit with which you cut the devil down. Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY: 1 John 4:4 , James 4:7 & Ephesians 6:10-18
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY 09 MARCH 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: STAND IN HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus (Romans 3:26). ______________________________________________
Jesus Christ has become your righteousness. That’s why in Christianity, we don’t walk in our righteousness; rather, we stand in His righteousness. We declare and boldly affirm that Christ is our righteousness and walk in the light of His righteousness. It’s like being covered in His glory; you’re not seen. It’s His light that’s seen; it’s His glory that’s seen.
It’s His power that’s made manifest as you walk in His righteousness. That’s our blessing as new creatures in Christ Jesus. Don’t be “performance-conscious” before God. Don’t allow sin and the guilt of your mistakes dissipate your zeal for God and faith in Him. 2 Corinthians 5:21 says, “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
You’ve become the effulgence of His righteousness, because He manifests His righteousness through you. He took your place of sin, and gave you His righteousness. Now, He manifests His righteousness through you. This is an amazing reality! Your new life started with the resurrection of Jesus Christ: “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4).
2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature…”; a new species or kind of man, born in righteousness. This is the reason you can practise righteousness and produce fruits and works of righteousness, because that’s your nature in Christ Jesus. Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY: Romans 6:4-5, 1 Corinthians 1:30 & Philippians 3:8-9
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 08 MARCH 2021 PASTOR CHRIS TOPIC: CONSCIOUSLY PRACTISE THE WORD ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed (James 1:25). ______________________________________________
Consciously practising the Word is how you can enjoy its full blessings in your life, because the power of God is in His Word. For example, the Word says, “...Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you” (Matthew 5:44). Consciously practise this; let it be your daily walk.
When you start out practising something, you may miss it, but don’t give up and say, “Well, I tried.” Keep at it until you gain mastery. Again, the Word says, “...take no thought for your life...” (Luke 12:22); in other words, have no cares. Practise it. Don’t find yourself worrying over the mundane things of life, with fear of lack; rather, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. Psalm 1:3 reveals something phenomenal about the extraordinary life of blessings you have in Christ.
It says you’re like a tree planted by the rivers of water—ever luscious and green—fruitful and eternally productive. Affirm this every day about yourself. Irrespective, and independent of the happenings in the world, be unmoved, because you know you’re empowered to prosper. For you, it’s blessings only. Hallelujah!
We’re Word-practitioners; Jesus Christ is the Living Word, and we’re born after Him. Paul said, “Ye are the Epistles of Christ” (2 Corinthians 3:3). That means we’re the expression of the Word. The Apostle Peter referenced a similar thought in 1 Peter 1:23, saying, “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever.”
Being born of the Word means you must live in, by and through the Word; you must live it out in your daily walk.
FURTHER STUDY: James 1:22-25 & Colossians 3:16
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SUNDAY 07 MARCH 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: DIRECT THEIR COURSE THROUGH PRAYER ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty (1 Timothy 2:1-2). ______________________________________________
Our theme scripture is the Spirit’s admonition through Paul to the Church on the importance of earnest intercession for all men, our countries of domicile, and the leaders therein. The result of such is an overwhelming experience of God’s blessings of peace and prosperity. This is part of what you do in obedience—praying, contending for the hearts of men in your country, and around the world—that God’s righteousness be established, and all forms of evil, turmoil, wickedness and terror, be thwarted.
Today, the happenings in our world are a great source of concern. But the Church holds the solution. The Church is the only restraining power against evil in the earth today (2 Thessalonians 2:7). So, you must pray and not complain. If you don’t pray for your country, the leaders and people, where would peace come from? Read our theme verse again; God’s directive on how we must pray in order to experience peace in our nations is clear; it’s not by bearing arms or becoming riotous
Rise to the challenge and take up the responsibility of prayer. Pray earnestly and fervidly in the Spirit for the nations and leaders of the countries where you live or work, and the rest of the world. Declare that God’s righteousness prevails, and His glory rests on, and influences men’s hearts as God’s people boldly proclaim the Gospel.
Pray also for ministers, that they’d be granted more grace to preach the Gospel with boldness and power, that many more souls would be added to the Church all around the world. Until the rapture takes place, we hold the true reins of power in the nations, and have the authority to direct their course through prayer.
FURTHER STUDY: Colossians0 4:2, Luke 18:1 & Jeremiah 29:7
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY 06 MARCH 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THINK BEYOND YOURSELF ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand (Philippians 2:3-4 MSG). ______________________________________________
1 Timothy 2:1-4 says, “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” It’s our responsibility to change the world through prayer, ministry and protagonism. That’s what you have to do. Otherwise, you haven’t lived.
In Nehemiah 4:14, as the children of Israel began to build the wall of Jerusalem and prepared to defend it, Nehemiah said to the people, “…fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses.” He didn’t say, “Fight for yourselves.” And the word “houses” there doesn’t mean buildings; he was referring to clans, whole families, like you’d say, “The house of Joseph.” He was calling out the champion spirit in them.
Champions don’t fight for themselves; they fight for others. That’s what we read in our theme verse; it says, “Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage.” When you pray, it shouldn’t always be about your business, your family or things related to you; it should be for a greater cause. Think beyond yourself.
There’re many who are going through a lot of hurt for whom we must pray. The Bible says of the Lord Jesus that He’s touched with the feeling of our infirmities (Hebrews 4:15). Be moved by the conditions of the sinners and others who are suffering around you.
Let the plight of the poor, the sick, and the downtrodden stir compassion in you to intercede for them and cause a change in their lives today. We’re to continue in intercession for the nations, leaders, and peoples of the world, especially in these last days.
FURTHER STUDY: 1 Timothy 2:1-4 AMPC & Ezekiel 33:7
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY 05 MARCH 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: STAND OUT AND BE COURAGEOUS ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee (Joshua 1:5) ______________________________________________
I often recall how, many years ago, cult activities in tertiary institutions were on the rise. Some Christian groups were threatened and intimidated from time to time by these nocturnal groups. But as I studied my Bible and read about the exploits of people like David, Moses, Jephthah, etc., I couldn’t understand why any Christian would be intimidated by cultists. So, I prayed, “Lord, give me just one chance; I’ll force those cult members out!”
Finally, I got into the university, and then came my first experience in my first year! One night, the cult members came dancing into the campus in their full regalia, and there was complete pandemonium.
But while many scampered in different directions, looking for where to hide, I got on my knees, spoke in tongues, and I said, “Lord Jesus, by your grace, I‘ll deal with this; they’ll never have such effrontery on this campus again.”
Then on another occasion, a year later, they sent out a message that they were “sailing” that night. And I said, “Sailing where? Never!” When it was night, I gathered some of the brethren, and said, “We’re sailing tonight!” As they (the cultists) were making noise and rabble-rousing, we were out on the other side, dancing and singing, “The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but they are mighty through the Holy Ghost!”
We were singing with the consciousness that in the spirit, we’re declaring them arrested. Guess what? The next day, the Police came looking for them, and they were arrested! Praise God! The months following, several of the cult leaders and members received salvation and joined us.
As Christians, we should never be intimidated by anything or anyone. It’s something the Lord said to me years ago; He said, “As I was with Moses, so I’ll be with you. I’ll not fail you nor forsake you”; and He’s saying the same to you, even now. Be strong, and very courageous. God’s Word is dependable. That’s what I’m telling you today. You can stake your life on it. FURTHER STUDY: 1 John 4:4, 1 Corinthians 16:13 & Ephesians 6:13
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 04 MARCH 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: KEEP “PUSHING” IN PRAYER ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much (James 5:16). ______________________________________________
When the Bible says there was no rain in the land of Israel according to the word of Elijah, it wasn’t that Elijah suddenly woke up and said, “There’ll be no rain in Israel for the next three and half years.”No, the Bible says he prayed earnestly. 1 Kings 18:42 shows how he prayed; it says Elijah “bowed deeply in prayer, his face between his knees” (MSG).
The Amplified Classic version of our theme verse aptly describes this kind of prayer: “...The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working].” It says the prayer is earnest, and there’s a persistence about it. In other words, it’s a sustained kind of prayer that’s marked by a deep feeling of conviction.
This isn’t the kind of prayer you pray at the dining table or when you’re hurrying off to work. There’re certain times and situations where you don’t just speak the word and go away; you persist in prayer. You keep pushing. You may be saying the same thing, but you’re pushing. Jesus did that too in the Garden of Gethsemane.
He said the same things in prayer, and He prayed that way for an hour. It wasn’t a two-minute prayer. He persisted, because he understood the stakes of the moment. We’re in a similar moment today. The stakes are high. You’ve got to take your personal prayer life more seriously.
Always stir yourself and respond to the call and urgency of prayer from your spirit, declaring the Word and crushing the forces of darkness, in the spirit. It may look like nothing is changing, but you keep pushing.
You might ask, “But when do I stop?” You stop when you “know that you know” in your spirit that it’s done! Glory to God! You’ll surely get the note of victory.
FURTHER STUDY: Colossians 4:2 AMPC, 1 Thessalonians 5:17 & Ephesians 6:18
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 03 MARCH 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: HAVE NO FEAR OF MAN ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: …Be not ye afraid of them: remember the Lord, which is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses (Nehemiah 4:14). ______________________________________________
Many years ago, while I was in the university, the government of the day, a military government, banned all religious activities on campus. Some of the members of our fellowship came to convince me to comply, but I had heard from God; He told me to remain on campus.
Some of them weren’t ready to stand with me, perhaps, because they were afraid. But if God had told me to continue, why should I stop because of what someone said? Always, God’s Word or counsel to you is what counts. He made the Vice-Chancellor, Governor, President, Prime Minister, etc.
The Bible says the powers that be are ordained of Him; He put them in office. If they go rogue against Him by coming up with laws and policies that don’t favour His righteous cause, you’re not obliged to comply. No authority supersedes God’s authority. So, I went ahead with the programme I had scheduled on campus, because I’d rather obey God; and it was a remarkable success.
Subsequently, we were never stopped from holding services on campus till I graduated. Was I defying the government? No! I was only obeying the orders of a higher government. It was the same with the apostles. Peter and the other apostles confronted the authorities in their day. Once, they said, “...You yourselves judge which is right in God’s sight---to obey you or to obey God” (Acts 4:19 GNB).
As a man or woman of God, as a Christian, as one who walks with God, have no fear of men! Have no fear of their laws or decrees; have no fear of anything. The Bible says there’s no wisdom against the Lord (Proverbs 21:30). Human beings can never come together and come up with enough wisdom or strategy against God.
It’s impossible. When you’re walking in sync with His plan and purpose for your life, it makes no difference what anyone thinks or does; it doesn’t matter the threats; you’ll win. The opposition may come from your family, your city, country, or government; have no fear, “...because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4).
FURTHER STUDY: Psalm 27:1-3,
Acts 5:25-29 & 1 John 4:4
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY 02 MARCH 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: BE VIGILANT IN THE SPIRIT ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: They which builded on the wall, and they that bare burdens, with those that laded, every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon (Nehemiah 4:17). ______________________________________________
Nehemiah was faced with an intense opposition when he decided to build the wall of Jerusalem. The Jews’ enemies were determined to stop the building by slaying the builders. But Nehemiah wasn’t ignorant of their evil plans and intentions.
As he led God’s people to build the wall, they prepared to ward off any form of attack. Each one held a weapon with the other hand, taking every necessary precaution against any onslaught from the enemy. This was written for our learning.
We’re partners and co-labourers with the Lord in building His Church—His body—winning souls and carrying out the work of the ministry. While at it, we must be ready to fight against the decrees of darkness to force us to live in a world, an atmosphere or governmental system that’s hostile to the Gospel.
Satan, knowing that his time is short, is trying to move ahead to create the environment of the anti christ before his time. So, we must be on the alert and on the offensive. 1 Peter 5:8 says, “Be sober, be vigilant….” Be vigilant in the spirit, listening in, and with, your spirit as you speak in tongues and meditate on the Scriptures. The Lord will give you strategies and guidance on how to effectively dismantle the structures of the adversary. Refuse to be moved by some of the happenings in the world today—the confusion, fear and deception.
By the power of God’s Spirit, we (the Church) are exercising our authority in Christ, bringing in the new order of things. Get vitally involved in this. Pray like you’ve never done! When we call for days of global prayer and fasting, be a part of it. We’re setting in place a new world order in the Spirit, where the Gospel has free course, and in preparation for our soon coming Lord. Amen. FURTHER STUDY: 1 Thessalonians 5:17, 2 Corinthians 10:3 & Ephesians 6:18
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 01 MARCH 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: SPEAK WORDS FROM THE FATHER ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak (John 12:49). ______________________________________________
Have you ever wondered why some of the words you speak produce the wrong results? Perhaps you’re not speaking words from the Father. Jesus spoke the Father’s words. He knew exactly the right words to say in every situation, to everyone, and concerning everything. The secret is what He told us in our theme verse.
Imagine what transpired in Luke 7:11-17. He was on a journey to the city of Nain, and as He arrived at the gate of the city, He saw a funeral procession of a young man who was the only son of a widow. Moved with compassion, He touched the casket and said, “…Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother” (Luke 7:14-15). He raised the lifeless body of that young man back to life with words!
Over a raging tempest, the Bible says, “…he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm” (Mark 4:39). It made no difference how turbulent the weather was, Jesus hushed them with words. The words He spoke came from the Father. He said in John 12:50, “…whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.” We’re to have His kind of results, because the Father has given us words to speak. Don’t speak words that you learnt from the world; speak the Word of God. Get your language from the Word of God. That’s why you have to keep studying the Scriptures (2 Timothy 2:15). Think and talk like Jesus, and you’ll have His extraordinary results.
FURTHER STUDY: Colossians 3:16 & John 6:63
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SUNDAY 28 FEBRUARY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: CHRIST IN YOU ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace, To reveal his Son in me… (Galatians 1:15-16). ______________________________________________
The Apostle Paul, in our opening text, testified that God was pleased to reveal His Son, Jesus Christ in him. This isn’t just for the Apostle Paul; it’s the calling of every Christian. Christ revealed or expressed in your daily walk is the essence of Christianity. The Bible says, “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).
Can you see Christ in you? Can you see His life manifested in and through you? If Christ is revealed in you, there’ll be no place for defeat or weakness. There’ll be no room for sickness in your body. The hope that you’ll forever be victorious, is Christ in you. You may have been diagnosed with a terminal disease; if you can contemplate Christ in you, that’ll be the end of that infirmity. The Bible says, _*“But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness” (Romans 8:10 NIV).
It doesn’t matter how large the tumour is, Christ in you will cause it to dematerialize. Peter was going through the quarters, visiting the brethren. Then he met Aeneas, who had been paralysed, bedridden for eight long years. In that condition, he received the Gospel. All that Peter said to him was, “Aeneas, Christ makes you well!” (Acts 9:34).
If you’ve been experiencing symptoms of disease or infirmity in your body, Christ makes you well. Become conscious of the indwelling Christ; He’s your strength; therefore, if you couldn’t walk, rise up and walk. In Him, and through Him, you can do all things! You’re victorious forever. He’s your riddance, your wisdom, and your righteousness. Blessed be God!
FURTHER STUDY: Romans 8:11 & Colossians 1:26-29 MSG
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY 27 FEBRUARY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THE HONOUR OF PREACHING THE GOSPEL ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare (1 Timothy 1:18). ______________________________________________
God has never used the angels to minister or preach the Gospel for the salvation of men. Even if He gets the attention of a sinner through an angel, He’ll get a Christian who has received that salvation to preach the Gospel to that sinner, because He gave the Church the honour of preaching the Gospel (Acts 10:1-6).
He also gave us, His saints, the honour of executing judgment in this earth over the forces of darkness (Psalm 149:5-9). This is so that we’ll have no excuse in preaching the Gospel and covering the earth with His righteousness. He gave us the power to use His Name against satanic forces. He said, _*“...Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature…And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils…” (Mark 16:15-17).
Be excited about preaching the Gospel and let nothing hinder you from it. Irrespective of the threats, persecutions or challenges that you might face, preach the Gospel unafraid. Remember, you’re a soldier in God’s army. Soldiers are undaunted about their cause.True soldiers don’t retreat, and they don’t surrender. They fight to the finish. So, be strong and tough in accomplishing the task of soul winning in these last days.
Pray. You represent the Heavenly Kingdom of Jesus Christ, and there’s a battle for the souls of men. Before you go out on evangelism, spend time in intercession. Prevail in prayer for the souls of men and prophesy their salvation. Prophesy to your city, your nation, and the nations of the world, that they all belong to Jesus Christ and souls are won en-mass into the Kingdom.
Take your role as a praying priest, and minister of reconciliation. Remember, this honour have all his saints. Praise ye the LORD.
FURTHER STUDY:
Romans 10:13-15 & Psalm 149:5-9 & Romans 1:16
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY 26 FEBRUARY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS TOPIC: BLESSED AND HIGHLY FAVOURED ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved (Ephesians 1:6). ______________________________________________
The word “accepted” in the scripture above is “charitoo” (Greek), and it means to grace; that is, to be imbued with special honour; make accepted or be highly favoured. So, the scripture should actually read, “…He has made us highly favoured in the beloved.” Hallelujah!
Someone in Scripture who got such a description was Mary. Luke 1:28 says, “And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured….” And that’s exactly what God is telling you; you’re blessed and highly favoured. Mary was blessed and highly favoured because she was to carry Jesus in her womb through the Word.
Today, you’re carrying Jesus in your spirit through the Word. Glory to God! His Word isn’t just in you, His Word is your life, for you’re born of the Word. What a life He’s given us!
What does it mean to be favoured? It means that you’re blessed beyond measure; you’re blessed of God even when you don’t seem to deserve it. In essence, look beyond your ability; look beyond whether or not you qualify; God Himself is your ability and your sufficiency. That’s what it says in 2 Corinthians 3:5, “Our sufficiency is of Him.”
Being highly favoured means everything you do prospers. Even when others fail or make losses, you excel, because you’re sponsored by the Spirit; he orders your steps. Even if you were surrounded by critics and detractors, it’ll make no difference because you’re God’s man or woman, piloted by grace.
As God’s favour is manifested in your behalf, doors and opportunities which can’t be humanly explained are open to you. The Bible says, “And God is able to make all grace (every favor and earthly blessing) come to you in abundance…” (2 Corinthians 9:8 AMPC).
This is God’s desire for you. Psalm 5:12 says, “For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.” Everywhere and every time, throughout this year, be conscious that you’re blessed and highly favoured.
FURTHER STUDY: 2 Corinthians 3:5 AMPC, Psalm 1:1-3 AMPC & Psalm 102:13
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 25 FEBRUARY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THE SPIRIT HAS BEEN POURED OUT ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions (Joel 2:28). ______________________________________________
The Bible says “...no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost" (1 Corinthians 12:3). No one can confess the Lordship of Jesus or decide to serve God, except drawn by the Holy Spirit. When the Bible says the word of salvation is nigh thee, even in thy mouth and in thy heart (Romans 10:8), it’s the Holy Spirit that puts that word in your heart. Right from when someone professes the Lordship of Jesus for salvation, it’s the Holy Spirit already working in his or her life.
God, knowing that everyone needs the Holy Spirit to believe the Gospel, said in our theme verse, “…I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy….” Note the underlined phrase, “all flesh.” In fact, the Complete Jewish Bible clarifies it. It says, “After this, I will pour out my Spirit on all humanity. Your sons and daughters will prophesy…” (Joel 3:1 CJB). So, the “all flesh” in the KJV actually means “all humanity.”
The Spirit has been poured out on ALL HUMANITY; this is the reason anyone today can hear and receive the Gospel. In Acts 2, the Bible says a large crowd of Jews came from different nations of the world to celebrate Pentecost (Read Acts 2:9-12). As Peter ministered the Gospel to them, three thousand of them gave their hearts to Christ.
The next time Peter ministered, it was five thousand souls that got converted (Acts 4:4). Before long, there was a multitude of believers in Jerusalem! Why? The Holy Ghost had been poured out on all men, as promised in Joel 2:28. Glory to God!
This is why we preach the Gospel, because we know everyone has the capacity to accept the Word of God. The Holy Spirit is all over the world, working, convicting the world of sin and drawing men to righteousness. Praise God!
FURTHER STUDY: Mark 16:15-16, John 3:16 & 1 Corinthians 9:16
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 24 FEBRUARY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: SEE THE WORD IN PICTURES ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal (2 Corinthians 4:18). ______________________________________________
When you study the Scriptures, learn to do so with pictures; see with the eyes of your spirit; believe and act accordingly. It’s the blessings that your spirit takes a hold of that’ll manifest in your life.
Therefore, as you listen to, or study the Word, visualize your victory, prosperity, health, peace, progress and success from within, and affirm accordingly.
Before the physical manifestation of the glory and victories that you desire in life, you must see them first within you. Once you can see it from within, then it’s yours. You can never have it on the outside if you didn’t first have it within. That’s where some have missed it.
They want to see first with their physical eyes before calling it real; that’s not faith. Faith is calling real that which the physical senses can’t perceive.
For example, God said to Abraham, “Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee…” (Genesis 17:5-6). Abraham first had to visualise himself as the father of many nations. At the time God spoke to him, he was ninety-nine years old, and Sarah his wife, was equally old and barren.
Nevertheless, the Bible says, “He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God” (Romans 4:20). In Genesis 15:5, the Lord had said to him, “…Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and … So shall thy seed be.” Abraham believed. He saw the picture of his uncountable descendants—numerous as the stars—from within.
What is it that you desire in your life today? Is it a child? See it inside first. Is it the growth and expansion of your church, a new job or business? Create the picture and take possession in the spirit, and with your spirit, first, because it’s already real in the spirit-realm.
Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY: Ecclesiastes 3:11, Genesis 13:14-15 & Genesis 15:5-6
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY 23 FEBRUARY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: LIVING FOR HIS GLORY ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again (2 Corinthians 5:15). ______________________________________________
In these last days, there’s only one thing that matters: living for the Lord; living for His glory; living a life of purpose. Jesus showed us the example to follow in this regard. In John 17:4, He said, “I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.” That ought to be your thinking as well; glorifying the Father should be your passion and purpose for living. How do you glorify the Father? It’s by doing His will; doing that which He commits to you and finishing the work. Have you discovered His purpose for your life? Are you about His work?
The purpose of the Father is the salvation of the whole world. That’s the reason He sent Jesus. And your purpose in life is connected to this. No matter what you do in life, if you’re not reaching the lost and winning souls, you’re living an empty life. The Bible says God is unwilling that any should perish but that all men should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). You bring Him glory in making this happen.
He seeks to beautify the lives of those around you, and lead them into righteousnes through you; that’s living a purposeful life. It doesn’t matter how fruitful or effective you might have been in other areas, you must seek to excel in soul winning, in taking the Gospel to the lost, hopeless, hurting and downtrodden, not just in your world, but also in the regions beyond.
A life well lived, a successful life that pleases God, is one that achieves those things God destined you to do. Therefore, bring Him glory by being effectual in leading men to righteousness.
+FURTHER STUDY:
*John 15:8, Matthew 5:16 & 2 Corinthians 5:15 AMPC
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 22 FEBRUARY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: YOU’RE WHAT YOU SAY ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith (Mark 11:23). ______________________________________________
Your life is the summation of the words that come out of you. Our opening verse emphasizes the importance of framing your life with your words. That’s the most beautiful natural gift from God to man; the gift of words; the ability to speak and make words.
Life produces for you a harvest of what you say, and here, there’s no middle ground. As a Christian, you must keep talking; if you want to live in health, talk health. If you want to walk in righteousness and always produce works of righteousness, then talk righteousness; every so often, consciously declare, “I’m the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. I produce works and fruits of righteousness.”
You have to say it, to live it. You might say, “What if I haven’t been saying anything? What will my life be like?” You’ll still have a harvest; unfortunately, it’ll be the wrong one. It’s like leaving a garden unattended; weeds will definitely grow of their own accord. Keep yourself in victory, dominion and prosperity with your words.
God already did all that’s necessary for you to have and enjoy life in Christ to the full, through the power of the Holy Spirit. It’s your responsibility now to keep things that way and it’s mainly by your confession.
Always affirm that you have a great life. Declare that you’ve been called to glory and virtue; a life of power, and moral excellence. Make these declarations every day.
There isn’t anything you don’t have (1 Corinthians 3:21; 2 Peter 1:3), and there isn’t anything you can’t do (Philippians 4:13). Therefore, always declare abundance, supernatural provisions, strength, possibilities and victories, and your life will go in that direction only. FURTHER STUDY: Hebrews 11:3 &
Matthew 12:36-37 NIV
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SUNDAY 21 FEBRUARY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: “ONE BREAD AND ONE BODY” ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat (John 6:31). ______________________________________________
What we read in our theme verse was the Lord Jesus addressing the Jews. In verses 32-33, He continued, “…Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.”
Then in the forty-ninth verse, He further emphasised His point: “Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die” (John 6:49-50). Jesus is the Living Bread; the bread which came down from heaven.
He explained this to His disciples in John 6:51, saying, “I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”
Then the Apostle Paul, in 1 Corinthians 10:17, explains how this connects to us. He said, _*“For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.” If we’re one bread with Him, it therefore means we have the same life, because we’re born of the Word (1 Peter 1:23), just as He is the Word made flesh (John 1:14).
Colossians 1:18 says, “And he (Christ) is the head of the body, the church….” The head and the body share the same life. If we share His life, then we also share His health, prosperity, strength and glory. No wonder He calls us, “Partakers of the divine nature”; associates of the God-kind. 1 John 4:17 says, “…as he is, so are we in this world.” You’re of the same stock with Christ. Therefore, walk as He walked—in glory, righteousness, strength and dominion. Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY: Ephesians 5:30, 1 John 4:17 & 1 Corinthians 10:17 AMPC
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY 20 FEBRUARY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: YOUR FAITH WILL BE TESTED ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth (Revelation 3:10). ______________________________________________
In 2 Thessalonians 2:3, Paul the Apostle said, “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition.” It says many will defect from the Faith. Why would this happen? In Judges 7, when God wanted Gideon to go fight the Midianites, God assured him through the angel that he (Gideon) would defeat his enemies.
Gideon thought he’d need an army; so, he gathered his soldiers. But God said to him, “If you go with so many soldiers, you might think that you won the battle by yourselves. Tell everyone who’s afraid to go home”; and the Bible says twenty-two thousand of them went home (Judges 7:3). Then God said, “I want to test the remaining ten thousand soldiers. Bring them to the stream and tell them to drink water. You’ll retain only those who watch out for the enemy while they drink.”
And the Bible says only three hundred of them passed that test (Read Judges 7:4-6). They didn’t even know they were being tested. Also, in Jeremiah 9, the Bible says the people accustomed their tongues to lies. They were so false that even a brother couldn’t be trusted. Because of this deceit and hypocrisy, and lying, God said, “...Behold, I will melt them, and try them…” (Jeremiah 9:7). This is going to be happening in these last days. A great test is coming, and it has already begun, because God must separate those that are real from those that aren’t real; those who were never true with God.
If this weren’t serious, Jesus wouldn’t require to intervene on behalf of the church in Philadelphia, as read in our theme verse. If your faith in Christ is genuine, it’s going to be tested: “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:7). Let Jesus Christ and His Kingdom be all that matters to you in this life.
FURTHER STUDY: Job 23:10, Colossians 3:1-2
Revelation 3:9-10 CEV
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY 19 FEBRUARY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: A GIFT TO THE WORLD ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour (Titus 1:2-3). ______________________________________________
How beautiful this is; eternal life was a promise before the world began, which has now been fulfilled. God’s plan was to make it available to men through the preaching of the Gospel. It was a gift to the whole world. You might say, “O, I thought eternal life was a gift to Christians?” No; John 3:16 says, _“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
When a sinner believes in Jesus, and confesses his Lordship, he or she receives eternal life, and becomes a Christian. Receiving that life brings you into oneness and sonship with God. Jesus said in John 5:26, “For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given Lto the Son to have life in himself.” John tells us in his epistle, “And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life” (1 John 5:11-12). Eternal life is the present-hour possession of the one who has Jesus: “…this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life.”
For many, eternal life means the life that goes on and on forever; but that’s only a part of it. Eternal life is the superior life and nature of God; the God-life.
It’s the essence of divinity. This life in you makes you superior to Satan; and it supplanted your human life when you were born again. Glory to God!
FURTHER STUDY: Romans 6:23, John 10:26-28 & John 17:3
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 18 FEBRUARY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS TOPIC: IT’S IN YOU ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us (Ephesians 3:20). ______________________________________________
Some people blame God for every unfortunate event in their lives and in the world, and that’s as a result of their ignorance. God is all-powerful; yet, His power to produce the miracle you desire or require is inside you; you only need to put it to work.
Read our theme verse again carefully; it says, “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.” Whatever God will do in your life is to the extent of the operation of His power in you.
Therefore, you really can’t, and shouldn’t hold Him accountable for all the happenings in your life. He’s also not the one “delaying” the fulfilment of His Word in your life; you’re the one to activate the power in you. It makes no difference what you need; be it healing, increased finances, a new job, a child, growth and expansion in ministry, business or in your career, success in your academics, etc. the power to make it happen is inside you. The Lord Jesus said in Acts 1:8, “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you….” That power is the dynamic ability to effect changes, and the quickest way to activate it is speaking in other tongues.
1 Corinthians 14:4 says, “He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself….” That means the one who speaks in other tongues energises or activates himself in the supernatural; he stirs up divine power from within. That power of God is also activated when you affirm His Word with boldness.
God and His Word are one. When you declare the Word concerning any situation, you’re invoking His power to bring about a change in that situation. Maintain the habit of meditating on the Word; contemplating and speaking it forth, and you’ll experience the release of the power of God in your life.
FURTHER STUDY:Colossians 1:29, Romans 8:26-27 AMPC & Ephesians 5:18-19
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 17 FEBRUARY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: EXAMINE WHAT YOU HEAR ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: My dear friends, don’t believe everything you hear. Carefully weigh and examine what people tell you. Not everyone who talks about God comes from God. There are a lot of lying preachers loose in the world (1 John 4:1 MSG). ______________________________________________
There’re those who quote Romans 13:1 and assume they should do whatever they’re told to do, as long as the one giving such instructions is a person of authority. They’d say, “He’s a renowned leader; therefore, he must be speaking the truth”; but that’s not how it works.
First, let’s review that scripture properly; it says, “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God” (Romans 13:1). Our opening verse tells us to test the spirits. That’s why you don’t just run with, or do whatever you’re told by just anybody; examine where that authority is coming from. It could be from Satan. So, you have to be careful.
God can choose a leader, and the leader can go rogue against God. The Scripture is replete with examples of those that went against God, even though they were chosen of God. Let’s take the story of King Saul as a case study. In 1 Samuel 15, Samuel the prophet gave very definite instructions to King Saul. He was to go to war against Amalek and destroy everything connected to them, with no exception Saul went out as instructed, and had the victory.
He utterly destroyed all that was despised and worthless, but spared what he deemed choice and valuable. Not only did he spare Agag, the king, he also spared the best of the sheep and oxen, and all that was good. What was God’s response?
He said to Samuel the prophet, _“I regret making Saul king, for he has turned back from following Me and has not performed My commands…” (1 Samuel 15:11 AMPC). This shows that not every leader listens to God or wants to do what’s right.
Therefore subject all things to the light of God’s Word. 1 Thessalonians 5:21 says, “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.” Just because you felt good about what someone of authority told you doesn’t mean it was from God. Always remember that God’s Word is the supreme authority by which we judge all things.
Also, to the leaders, it’s important you listen to God. Find out what He wants, and do His will. Refuse to compromise. Examine your policies to be sure they’re good for God and for people.
FURTHER STUDY: Matthew 7:15-16 & 2 Corinthians 11:13-15
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY 16 FEBRUARY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: ADD MORE KNOWLEDGE ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: Study and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved (tested by trial), a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analyzing and accurately dividing [rightly handling and skillfully teaching] the Word of Truth (2 Timothy 2:15 AMPC). ______________________________________________
God said, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children” (Hosea 4:6).
The knowledge of God’s Word for each one of us is very important. You must therefore seek to have, by all means, an accurate knowledge of the Word; there’s no alternative to it.
The will, nature, and purpose of God are revealed in His Word. To neglect the Word is to be in the dark about the will of the Father and how He wants you to live.
We’ve produced several materials to help you in your personal study. For example, Rhapsody of Realities devotional is a life guide designed to enhance your spiritual growth and development by bringing you a fresh perspective from God’s Word every day.
Features like the day’s topic, theme scripture, the day’s message, the daily confession and the Bible reading plan segment are all aspects designed by the Spirit to bring the richness of God’s Word to you on a daily basis. Take advantage of them.
You can also take advantage of the previous editions; the words are just as fresh; read through and study them. Remember, the Word of God is undated. It’s good for today.
There’re also myriads of other materials, both audio and video, available on the Pastor Chris Digital Library (PCDL), spanning various life issues. Avail yourself of these materials, and you’ll be amazed at how fast, and stalwart your faith will grow. So, make your personal study of the Word an integral part of your daily routine.
FURTHER STUDY: *2 Peter 1:5 &
Acts 20:32
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 15 FEBRUARY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS TOPIC: GIVE MORE ATTENTION TO PRAYER ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: …The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working] (James 5:16 AMPC). ______________________________________________
Matthew 17 recounts the story of an epileptic boy whom Jesus’ disciples couldn’t heal. He was eventually brought by his father to Jesus, and the Bible says, “…Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour” (Matthew 17:18).
The disciples, bemused, went privately to Jesus and inquired why they couldn’t cast the devil out. Jesus replied, “…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).
Jesus’ response gives us an idea as to a certain kind of preparation that’s necessary for certain things. So, the kind of impact you want to make in the spirit will be determined by the seriousness that you put in prayer. If you’re going to birth something, for example, that of course, would require some more time of intense fellowship in prayer.
It’s part of the reason we emphasize personal times of prayer, where you shut everything and everyone else out to spend time with the Lord. Have a planned and robust prayer routine; schedule quality times devoid of distractions, for personal fellowship with the Lord. Give more attention to this, especially in these last days.
FURTHER STUDY: Jeremiah 29:12 & Ephesians 6:18 AMPC
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SUNDAY 14 FEBRUARY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: DO IT FOR HIS GLORY ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves (Philippians 2:3). ______________________________________________
The Amplified Classic translation puts our theme verse in a clearer perspective. It says, _“Do nothing from factional motives [through contentiousness, strife, selfishness, or for unworthy ends] or prompted by conceit and empty arrogance….”_ It brings to mind the confrontation between the Prophet Elijah and the false prophets of Baal in 1 Kings 18.
Some have studied that portion and ran off with the idea that what Elijah did was to project himself for others to applaud, but that’s not true. The prophet challenged King Ahab to gather the Israelites and the prophets of the false gods—four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and four hundred prophets of Asherah—at Mount Carmel. They were to prepare a sacrifice, and call down fire from heaven to consume the sacrifice. The one who succeeded would be revealed as the true prophet.
Each group prepared a bull on an altar and called on their god to send fire from heaven. The prophets of Baal called on their god and cried and cut themselves, but there was no response from their god. When it was Elijah’s turn, he drenched the sacrifice with water; then he called to God and God sent fire from heaven. The fire completely engulfed the sacrifice.
Read Elijah’s words in 1 Kings 18:36: “…LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word.” He was following the guidance of God’s Spirit. That confrontation wasn’t a show of his sense of self, or self-importance; it was solely based on the Lord’s guidance.
Observe the result: the Israelites lost faith in Ahab and followed Elijah’s guidance in trusting and recognizing God’s sovereignty. What Elijah did glorified the Lord God of Israel before the people. Whatever you do for the Lord shouldn’t be out of selfish ambition or conceit. It should be for His glory.
You must learn to follow the Spirit in the Word, by the Word, and through the Word just like Elijah did. And your works, and your ways, will glorify the Lord.
FURTHER STUDY: 1 Kings 18:30-39
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY 13 FEBRUARY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: MAKE POWER AVAILABLE FIRST ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: …The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working] (James 5:16 AMPC). ______________________________________________
Many don’t understand the importance of heartfelt, continued prayers. They speak forth words ever before spending quality time in prayer and they wonder why their declarations aren’t effective. You have to learn how to make power available, first!
When you’ve made power available, then make proclamations of faith, the change you desire would be established. Read the story of Elijah in 1 Kings 17-18.
He had prayed drought into existence—and it didn’t rain—not a drop for three and a half years. When it was time for the drought to end, Elijah petitioned the Lord for rain. It wasn’t just some short, casual cobbling of words in prayer; no! It was earnest, heartfelt, continued and fervent.
He sent out his servant six times to see if there was a sign as he continued in prayer, expecting an answer. The servant came back the seventh time and said, “I see a small cloud, very small, like the size of a man’s hand, rising out of the sea.” That was all Elijah needed; he knew he had prevailed!
He told his servant, “...Quickly then, on your way. Tell Ahab, ‘Saddle up and get down from the mountain before the rain stops you’” (1 Kings 18:44 MSG). Observe the sequence. Elijah made tremendous power available through heartfelt prayers, and then gave the word.
Same way, after you’ve stirred up a Holy Ghost storm in your closet, that’s when you speak forth “rhema.” That’s one sure way you can effectively alter the course of events to align with God’s divine plan, purpose and will in your life, family, city, nation and around the world.
FURTHER STUDY: James 5:16-18 AMPC & 1 Kings 18:41-44
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY 12 FEBRUARY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: PERSISTING IN PRAYER ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much (James 5:16). ______________________________________________
The Amplified Classic version of our theme verse places the premium on persistent prayer: “…The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working].” The word “continued” is a clear indication that there must be some persistence. You don’t just mutter a few words and say the issue is “done and dusted”; you keep pushing, until you have the note of victory in your spirit.
Let’s take a cue from the Master. On a certain occasion, He took His three closest disciples—Peter, James and John with Him to a place called Gethsemane, to pray. Matthew 26:39 tells us, “And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.”
Luke, by the Spirit, reveals, “And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground” (Luke 22:44). Jesus was distraught, and He prayed with much intensity. This was no casual two-minute prayer! Recall that He chastised the disciples for their weakness and inability to keep watch (pray) with Him for an hour (Matthew 26:40).
The Lord persisted because He understood what was at stake. What He was praying about was beyond Himself; He was about to endure a separation from His Father. It was about the salvation of generations: past, present and future. He was looking at eternity, for all those who had gone by, and those who were living at the time, and those who would ever come. So, He prayed and persisted in prayer.
This is what is required of us today; the stakes are much higher than ever. There’s a fight for the souls of men and we must agonize in prayer for their salvation. We must keep praying and interceding until the last soul that must be won is reached and brought into the Kingdom before the Rapture of the Church.
FURTHER STUDY: 1 Timothy 2:8 & Luke 18:1-5
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 11 FEBRUARY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THE MYSTERY OF LIGHTS ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not (John 1:5). ______________________________________________
The Apostle John gave us the revelation of the incarnate Word. He describes how He (the Word) was in the world, but the world knew Him not. He unequivocally declares that God’s Word is life; that life being the light of men!
In the fifth verse, he continues, “And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.” The word translated “comprehend” is the Greek, “katalambano”; it means to seize, to attain, and also, to overcome. Thus, the light shines in darkness and the darkness couldn’t attain to its power; it couldn’t overcome, nor seize it.
The darkness couldn’t take a hold of, or comprehend the mystery of lights. The darkness couldn’t overpower or overcome light, and still hasn’t! Have you ever turned on the light in a room and the darkness was so thick that it caused the light to recede? That can never happen! Even if the light is small or a mere flicker, the darkness has to pull apart.
This should help you understand who you are when Jesus said, “Ye are the light of the world…” (Matthew 5:14). He was talking about your calling as a Christian, and you must become conscious of this truth. You’re called to light up the darkness in your world, in your sphere of influence; you’re that light that darkness can’t comprehend.
Perhaps you’re a student, a security guard, a lawyer, a banker, doctor or scientist; you’re the light in your community of practice. If there’s so much darkness surrounding a subject, you’re the one to proffer answers. You’re the light in that field, imbued with supernatural ideas and genius for the solutions needed.
Light up your world today: “Let your light so shine before men that they may see your moral excellence and your praiseworthy, noble, and good deeds and recognize and honor and praise and glorify your Father Who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16 AMPC).
FURTHER STUDY: Matthew 5:16 &
Ephesians 5:13
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 10 FEBRUARY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: IMPREGNABLE TO SICKNESS ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you (Romans 8:11). ______________________________________________
When we say we’re Christians, we’re not just saying we worship God by Jesus Christ. In John 15:5, Jesus said, “I’m the vine, you’re the branches. I’m in you, and you’re in me.” That’s mutual inhabitation! This is real to God, and it needs to be real to you. You’re not an ordinary person. The life you received in Christ can’t be destroyed by sickness, disease and infirmity.
Years ago, I shared on a very important subject, “The impact of the Holy Spirit on the human body.” The human body is impacted by the presence of the Holy Ghost. When you have the Holy Spirit inside you, your body is literally affected. Colossians 1:27 says, “…Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Then Romans 8:10 shows us the implication of Christ being in you; it says, “And if Christ be in you, though your body be dead because of sin, the Spirit gives it life because of righteousness.” He wants you to understand that Christ in you isn’t a religious statement; it’s not a meaningless statement.
Now that Christ is in you, your body is vitalized by the Spirit! You’re impregnable to sickness, disease, and infirmity. Oftentimes, a lot of the infections people suffer affect the blood; it’s due to the blood life of the human body. But being born again, your body is no longer dependent on blood for its life. Your body lives by the Spirit. Read our opening verse again and discover who you are and what you have in Christ!
Now that you’re born again and have received the Holy Spirit, you should never be sick again in your life! Refuse to yield your body to sickness. Take charge and rule over your body with the Word of God.
Jesus took care of every form of pain that could have ever come to me. Therefore, with God’s Word on my lips, I establish that victory in my life! I’m immune to sickness, disease and infirmity, because I have the life and nature of God in me! Glory to God!
FURTHER STUDY: Luke 10:19, Isaiah 33:24 & Proverbs 4:20-22
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY 09 FEBRUARY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THE HOLY SPIRIT: THE GLORY OF CHRISTIANITY ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his (Romans 8:9). ______________________________________________
It’s impossible to live the authentic Christian life without the Holy Spirit; as a matter of fact, what you’d have wouldn’t qualify to be called the Christian life. The Holy Spirit is the glory of Christianity. You couldn’t know God or love Jesus without the Holy Spirit. Christians who don’t have the Holy Spirit are vulnerable to Satan, to his attacks, manoeuvres and manipulations.
In Matthew 12:43-44, Jesus tells us something instructive, which in a sense, describes the condition of the one who doesn’t have the Holy Spirit. He said, “When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished."
The one who’s born again but hasn’t received the Holy Spirit has his “spirit” swept and garnished, but empty! Consequently, he easily falls into temptations and sin. He’d be unable to control his fleshly appetites or restrain himself from evil. It’s only through the Holy Spirit that you mortify the deeds of the body and carnal desires: “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” (Romans 8:13). Without the Holy Spirit, you can’t have the character of Christ. Jesus had to have the Holy Spirit.
The apostles had to have the Holy Spirit. Life without the Holy Spirit is empty. If you haven’t received the Holy Spirit, do so right away. Simply say, “Blessed Holy Spirit, I receive you into my heart now in the Name of Jesus Christ”; and be filled with the Spirit of God. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Acts 19:2-6 & John 14:16-17
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 08 FEBRUARY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: YOU HAVE A PERMANENT MERCY SEAT ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God (Romans 3:25). ______________________________________________
There’re those who try out all sorts of rituals to receive remission of sins. Some even inflict harsh wounds on themselves, trying to pay for their sins by their own blood or their own suffering. But all that is futile. If this has been your journey or experience, stop in your tracks! Stop the struggle! Jesus has paid for you.
The Bible says He was set forth to be the appeasement for your sins. The Greek word translated “propitiation” in our theme verse is “hilasterion,” and it means the place of mercy, or “Mercy Seat.” In the Old Testament, the Mercy Seat was the covering of the ark of God. God met there with the High Priest, and His presence was on the Mercy Seat.
But today, Jesus Christ is God’s place of mercy for us; He’s the Mercy Seat, the medium of expiation. Jesus was set forth for that purpose, so that God would declare His own righteousness for letting sinners go free. You have a permanent mercy seat—Christ Jesus! This is different from the one that the High Priests went into every year in the Old Testament.
In the Old Testament, the High Priests offered the sacrificial lamb, and confessed the sins of the people over the scapegoat. But the following year, there was a remembrance of their sins again. The sins that were past couldn’t be remitted. The Bible says, “But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins” (Hebrews 10:3-4).
But the Apostle Paul declared, “Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man (Jesus) is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses” (Acts 13:38-39).
He offered to God a perfect sacrifice for all-time and eternity, such that there’ll be no more remembrance of sins. This is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Receive it for yourself, and preach it to those in your world. Praise God!
FURTHER STUDY: Hebrews 10:11-14,
Galatians 4:4-5 & Romans 4:25
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SUNDAY 07 FEBRUARY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS TOPIC: YOU CARRY THE GLORY IN YOU ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: When the LORD shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory. This shall be written for the generation to come… (Psalm 102:16,18). ______________________________________________
The only thing the Christian is yet to receive thatshould happen in the earth is the redemption—the transformation or glorification of his physical body.
Meaning that we’re going to put on a new body, but that body is going to come from heaven and the Bible tells us exactly when that’s going to happen. It says, “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye…we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption...” (1 Corinthians 15:52-53).
However, currently, we carry in our earthly vessels, the glory of Christ. Paul calls it a treasure; he says, “...We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us” (2 Corinthians 4:7). The light of God is in you, in your spirit. You bear the perfections of Christ. Hallelujah!
The Bible says, “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:6). You’re truly the living tabernacle of God! Christ is alive in you. Why is this so important?
It’s because the Church has transcended the babyhood stage; we’ve come of age! We read in our theme verse that when the Lord shall build up Zion, He shall appear in His glory; and this shall be written for the last generation. We are the last generation; the generation called to manifest His glory in the earth.
This is what the earth has been waiting for. Romans 8:19 says, “For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.” We’re in office; we’ve taken our place of dominion, impacting our world with the glory of God.
FURTHER STUDY: John 17:22, 2 Corinthians 3:18 & Isaiah 60:1-2
YOUR HANDS ARE BLESSED .
Saturday 06 February Pastor Chris ----------------------------------Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid (1 Corinthians 6:15).-------------------------------—----
Jesus said, “You shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover” (Mark 16:18), because your hands aren’t ordinary; they’re the hands of Jesus. That’s what we read in our theme verse: “Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ?” Your feet are the feet of Christ. Your eyes are the eyes of Christ. He walks, talks, sees and blesses through you. Hallelujah!
I’ve often wondered when Christians sing, “My hands are blessed…” if they understand the implication of their words and the power of the truth professed. The reason your hands are blessed is that they’re the hands of Jesus, and He’s made you a blessing. So, your hands are the extension of you (the blessing), because you’re the extension of Christ. Hallelujah!
Therefore, learn to use your hands. There’s victory-power through your hands. There’s a profuse effusion of divine power when you stretch or lift your hands in prayer and worship. The same thing happens when you stretch it in the direction of a situation you want changed or something or someone you want blessed.
For example, if there’s something that’s been damaged in your home, or there’s a situation in your life that you want changed, with your mouth and your hands, you can change anything! The Bible tells us that by the stretching forth of the hands of the apostles, many signs and wonders were wrought amongst the people (Acts 5:12).
As you stretch forth your hands, hopes will be restored; burdens will be lifted; sicknesses and diseases will be healed; destinies will be changed, by the power of the Holy Spirit. Use your hands today in faith, and watch miracles happen.
FURTHER STUDY: Exodus 17:11-13, Luke 4:40-41 & Mark 16:17-18
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY 05 FEBRUARY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: BUILD YOUR LIFE ON TRUTH ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path (Psalm 119:105). ______________________________________________
Many have founded their lives on the misinformation, assumptions and theories of men, rather than on the Word of God. Unlike this world and everything in it, you can rely on the Word; it’s infallible, and immutable; the Word is eternal, and must be the source of the information you live by.
The internet where many consult for information has been corrupted and invaded with disinformation to rob you of your faith in the Bible and Jesus Christ.
They write things against the Bible, against the things that Jesus said, against the things the prophets said. They claim to find contradictions in the Bible and that it needs to be reviewed. These are misguided minds and deceivers who are void of the Holy Spirit!
The Bible is the only reliable material on the face of the earth. When you stand before the Lord, He’s not going to ask you what your history teacher or professor taught you. He’s going to ask you about His Word, because the information therein was God-inspired.
Our opening verse describes the ministry of the Word in giving you direction in life. No matter what you hear or read, follow only the guidance and direction of the Word. Build your life on God’s truth.
FURTHER STUDY: 2 Timothy 3:14-17, John 14:27 & John 17:17
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 04 FEBRUARY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THE HOLY SPIRIT—THE FATHER’S BLESSING ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him (Acts 5:32). ______________________________________________
Luke 11:13 is one of the scriptures many misapply and misunderstand about receiving the Holy Spirit. There, Jesus said, “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?” But then, He wasn’t talking to Christians, but to those under the Old Covenant.
Anyone could have received the Holy Spirit by asking; but sadly, most never did because they didn’t ask. Jesus said ask and it shall be given unto you (Luke 11:9). But after the New Testament was effected, from the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Word never told anyone to ask for the Holy Spirit. What we’re told is how the apostles ministered the Holy Spirit to people; they “...prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost” (Acts 8:15); and some received without prayer (Acts 10:44-46). It’s actually pointless to ask God for the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is one of the cardinal gifts of God—to all men. By simply obeying His call to believe the Gospel, anyone can receive Him. He said in Acts 2:17, “And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh….” See also, Acts 5:32, Hebrews 5:9, Romans 2:8.
Notice He didn’t say, “I will pour out of my Spirit upon all Christians, but upon all flesh.” This is the Father’s blessing. It has come now. Without the Holy Spirit, you can’t live the Christian life. God desires that you walk in the fullness of the Spirit and live righteously and victoriously in this present world.
If you haven’t received the Holy Spirit since you’ve been born again, Galatians 3:14 says, “…that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.” Simply say, “In the Name of Jesus Christ, I open my heart now, and I receive the Holy Spirit.” Then by faith, receive as simply as you received Christ. While thanking Him, you may even now be filled with the Spirit, speaking with tongues or prophesying. Glory to God!
FURTHER STUDY: Acts 19:6-7, John 6:63 AMPC & Joel 2:28-29
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 03 FEBRUARY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: REIGNING THROUGH JESUS CHRIST ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: 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). ______________________________________________
The underlined preposition “by” is the Greek “dia,” which means “through”; we’re to reign in life through Jesus Christ. In the millennium, we’re not going to reign through Him, but WITH Him. We’ll also reign with Him in the New Heaven and the New Earth.
The Bible says we “…shall reign with him a thousand years” (Revelation 20:6). 2 Timothy 2:12 says, “If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us.” But that’s all in the future. But NOW, we reign through Him, in this life. Hallelujah!
Walk in that consciousness. Remember what the Word says in Romans 6:4: “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” This new life is the life of kings. Revelation 5:10 says He’s made us kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
You’re a new person with kingly values and mentality. Look at the world differently, from the perspective of victory and reigning. The Amplified Classic version of our theme verse says we shall reign as kings in the realm of life. You’re a king; reign as one!
Rule with words; that’s what kings do. The Bible says, “Where the word of a king is, there is power…” (Ecclesiastes 8:4). Exercise dominion through words. Issue commands to Satan, and the elements of this world, and they’ll hear and obey you, because you function in, and with the dominion of Christ.
You can alter the course of events and change circumstances from the privacy of your room. That’s why you should never be moved by anything. It doesn’t matter what the situation is, you can cause them to align with the will of God through your faith-filled words. Glory to God!
FURTHER STUDY:
Romans 5:17 AMPC & Revelation 5:9-10
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY 02 FEBRUARY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS TOPIC: ALL HIS BLESSINGS ARE ALREADY FULFILLED ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “yes!” And through Christ, our “Amen” (Which means “Yes”) ascends to God for his glory (2 Corinthians 1:20 NLT). ______________________________________________
God’s Word to you aren’t mere promises; they’re statements of fact. There’re no more promises to be fulfilled for the new creation in Christ. What’s a promise? It’s a declaration that one will do a specified thing. That declaration gives the person to whom it is made a right to expect or to claim the performance or forbearance of that specified act.
There’s no place in the New Testament that tells you God is going to heal you and that you should pray that He might heal you. He did it already in Christ! Christ Jesus is the fulfilment of all of God’s promises. We’re not expecting the fulfilment of any promise. We have, and live in, the truth of His Word NOW.
There’s no need to say, “O, Lord, you promised to heal me,” or “Lord, you promised to deliver me.” To say so is to be oblivious or completely ignorant of what Christ really came to do. He came as the fulfilment of all of God’s promises; He’s the blessing of God to you.
For the Christian, good health isn’t a promise; prosperity isn’t a promise; remission of your sins isn’t a promise; justification isn’t a promise; sanctification isn’t a promise, and righteousness isn’t a promise. All these are blessings God has freely given to you in Christ.
The Bible says, “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue” (2 Peter 1:3). Quit the struggle. Enjoy your life in Christ.
FURTHER STUDY: 2 Peter 1:3-4 & 1 Corinthians 3:21-22
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 01 FEBRUARY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: “HIS WORD TO YOU IS WHAT YOU NEED” ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: Your word is very pure; Therefore Your servant loves it (Psalms 119:140) ______________________________________________
God’s Word is God’s creative material. Its power is unlimited. The Word created all things, and is effective today as ever. His Word to you at any time in your life, regarding any situation, is all you need.
Think about what He did with King Solomon; how did God make him the wisest man that ever lived, until Jesus? It was with words! He appeared to Solomon in a dream by night and asked him, “What do you want?”
Solomon asked for wisdom and understanding (1 Kings 3:8-9). God didn’t “open” Solomon’s brain to deposit wisdom inside; all He said was, “Solomon, you have it!” He said to him, “Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee”*_ (1 Kings 3:12). Blessed be God!
The moment Solomon received those words, they became to him and in him what God said. Wisdom and an understanding heart were imparted to the man. He did the same with Abraham; He said, “…thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee” (Genesis 17:5).
Abraham had no children, because his wife was barren, but God said “Your name is now Abraham, because I have made you a father of many.” From then on, it didn’t make any difference what the physical circumstances were; he refused to consider his aged body or Sarah’s dead womb and began to confess what God had said about him. His Word to you is all that matters; that’s your victory.
Read Romans 4:19-20; it says, “And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara’s womb: He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God.” That’s how it works: when God says it, and you respond by affirming the same thing, His Word to you becomes; it prevails in your life and circumstances. Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY:
Proverbs 4:10, Proverbs 4:20-22 & Isaiah 55:10-11
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SUNDAY 31 JANUARY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THE MINISTRY OF LOVE ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: ...Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will…remove thy candlestick out of his place…(Revelation 2:1-5). ______________________________________________
Think about this: Even after the Lord praised the church in Ephesus for all their labour, He had something against them; they had left their first love. What was the first love? Evidently, it refers to their love and passion for Jesus Christ, shown through their love for the brethren.
The Ephesian church was a church that was known to love the Lord and the brethren. In Paul’s epistle to them, right from the first verse, he addressed them as the faithful in Christ Jesus: “…to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 1:1).
In the fifteenth verse, he noted their love for all the saints. “Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints” (Ephesians 1:15). This was the first love he charged them with leaving in Revelation 2:4. I John 4:20 says, “If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?” To love Jesus, you must express it in loving God’s people.
By loving the brethren, you show that you love Christ. 1 Timothy 5:8 says, _“But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel”_
Paul was writing about God’s people and how their expression of the Gospel of Jesus Christ should be in their relationship with others. Jesus told the Ephesian church to do the “first works”: loving Christ so much that they express it in loving others. Thus, the love of God you demonstrate in action—towards those you can see—is so important. Do you remember those that labour or work with you? Do their conditions affect you or are you hard-hearted towards them?
Do you remember fellow ministers and neighbouring churches going through difficult times? These are things that must be foremost on your mind. If you’ve not been love-ruled, if your actions haven’t been motivated by love, just as Jesus told the Ephesian church to repent, you must repent as well.
He said if they didn’t repent, He’d take the church out of its place. That was what He meant by removing the candlestick out of his place; the church would no longer be there. This shows that the relevance of the Church is in its ministry of love. Walking in love has no alternative.
Make up your mind and train yourself to walk in love. Don’t be hardened against your brethren, your siblings or even strangers. Let your heart be softened and be easily stirred to help.
FURTHER STUDY: 1 John 4:18 & Luke 23:33-34
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY 30 JANUARY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: STIR UP WHAT YOU’VE GOT ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands (2 Timothy 1:6). ______________________________________________
For the Christian, there’s no such thing as the Spirit coming afresh on you. There’s no fresh anointing coming upon you from anywhere; it’s not in the Bible. Some say they want a double-dose anointing. How can you get a double dose of something you already have in full?
There’s no place in the New Testament that suggests that you could have a double anointing or another anointing. Stop praying, crying and begging for what you already have! What the New Testament teaches is that when you received the Holy Spirit, you were anointed with the full measure of God. You’re replete with God.
Ephesians 3:19 says, “And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.” This is God’s purpose; all you have to do is to stir up what you’ve got inside you, to be filled. Stir up the Spirit, and let that power surge through your being. The Bible says, _*“And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18). In other words, be always stirred in the Holy Ghost.
That’s what Paul told Timothy in our theme verse: to stir up the gift of God, the power of the Holy Spirit in him, which can be dormant unless you activate it, and He tells us how to do it: “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God” (Ephesians 5:19-21).
FURTHER STUDY: 2 Timothy 1:6 AMPC, Ephesians 5:18-19 & John 3:34
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY 29 JANUARY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: HE LOVES YOU PERSONALLY ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: But the very hairs of your head are all numbered (Matthew 10:30). ______________________________________________
When we say, “God loves you,” what does that even mean to you? What is love? Love is that endearing value of a person that gives you a sense of his or her importance to you as the object of your favour. Therefore, that God loves you means you’re special and valuable to Him.
You’re so valuable to Him that He takes a record of even the hairs of your head. Jesus said every hair of your head is “numbered”; notice He didn’t say, “counted.” That means every strand of hair from your head has a code number from God; none of them falls off without Him recording it.
This is the care of God for each one of us. If you understand His love for you, all that crying and feeling sorry for yourself because of what you are going through, will be unnecessary. You’d give no room to selfishness and greed. He cares so much for you. He loves you personally, in particular.
1 Corinthians 12:27 says, “Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.” The word, “particular” is “meros” (Greek), which means individual parts, definite parts. The Amplified Classic version says, “Now you [collectively] are Christ’s body and [individually] you are members of it, each part severally and distinct [each with his own place and function].” Ephesians 5:29 says, “For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church.” This is wonderful. With all the fear and discouragement in the world today, the Lord is bringing you this message as an indication of His love for you. He’s nourishing you through His Word to lift your spirit and strengthen your faith, because He cherishes you. You’re special to Him.
The Bible says, “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God…” (1 John 3:1). The word “bestowed” also means “lavished”; the Father has lavished His love on you. It’s love without limits. Glory to His Name forever!
1 John 3:1 , 1 John 4:16, Jeremiah 31:3 & Romans 8:35-38 TLB
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 28 JANUARY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: BLESSINGS IN HIS PRESENCE ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them (Luke 5:17). ______________________________________________
Sometime ago, I was in a programme with several ministers from different countries. During the Question and Answer segment, many of them asked questions bothering on various subjects, and I shared with them answers from the Scriptures.
But while at it, I noticed by the Spirit that all the time they were asking the questions and we were looking through the Scriptures for the answers, the Spirit of God was ministering to us in a very special way. Several of them that came with heart conditions, chest problems and some other ailments suddenly realized they had been healed. The ailments they came into the meeting with were no longer there!
There were healing miracles everywhere even though we didn’t particularly pray for the sick. That‘s what happens in His presence; your questions are answered; problems are solved; burdens are lifted; His glory in your life is enriched and activated. Hallelujah!
When you’re under the influence and ministry of the Word and the Spirit of God, you notice something happening in your life, even though you may not be able to tell it in words immediately. That’s how so many people can be blessed at the same time in the presence of God.
In His presence, there’s guidance; there’s direction; there’s life! No wonder the psalmist exclaimed: “Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore” (Psalm 16:11). In His presence, you’re guided by His truth, into all truth; there’s revelation; every form of confusion gives way. This year, make fellowship with God a priority.
Study the Word voraciously and pray in tongues fervently EVERY DAY. He’s given us a life of fulfilment; a life of singing and praising and thanksgiving. Maintain and live in that glory every day and experience the supernatural; the joy, peace and prosperity that’s beyond this world. Glory to God!
FURTHER STUDY:
Psalm 133:1-3, John 16:13-14 & Hebrews 10:25
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 27 JANUARY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: PEACE IS FROM GOD ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world (John 16:33). ______________________________________________
Paul the Apostle declared: “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not…” (2 Corinthians 4:3-4). The god of this world is Satan, and he’s the one responsible for the mess and chaos in the world.
The way the world is right now, the structures and systems of the world that’s driven by selfishness, wickedness, greed and hatred is designed by Satan. The implication of this is that the systems and structures of this world can never give peace. Peace is from God, just as righteousness is from God.
It’s impossible for people who have never received the life and nature of God to deliver true peace. Not even your family and friends can give you lasting peace, happiness, and joy. In John 14:27, Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”*_ Blessed Be God! The peace the world is looking for is in Jesus Christ;
no wonder it eludes them, because they’re searching for it in the wrong places. The Bible says, “...When they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape” (1 Thessalonians 5:3). This is the dilemma that the world is in today.
In our theme verse, Jesus said, “...In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” He overcame the world and gave you the victory over the world. It makes no difference what’s going on in the world, be at peace.
The peace that you have in your spirit is the peace of Jesus Christ; it gives you power over crises. Even in adverse circumstances, when it seems there’s trouble everywhere, His peace garrisons your heart and mind, causing you to be at rest in prosperity. Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY:*
*Isaiah 9:6, Isaiah 26:3
& John 14:27
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY 26 JANUARY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: NO COVENANT OF HEALING FOR THE NEW CREATION ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed (1 Peter 2:24). ______________________________________________
Many of the Scriptures on healing that have been quoted by many well-meaning Christians aren’t applicable to the New Testament. In the Old Testament, God made provisions for the children of Israel, but those provisions and messages don’t apply to the Church.
Recall that the Old Covenant was abrogated because it made nothing perfect. You might ask, “How about the covenant of healing? Didn’t God say in Exodus 23:25, “…I will take sickness away from the midst of thee?” He also said in Isaiah 53:5, “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”
Now, none of these two references is for the Christian. God didn’t make a covenant of healing with the new creation. The covenant of healing was for Israel. When Jesus said on the Cross, “It is finished” (John 19:30), that was the end of the old covenant.
It’s important to understand who the Christian really is. The Christian is one with the God-life, a life that doesn’t require healing, because it doesn’t get sick. Why are many sick then? Ignorance! God said, “My people are destroyed for their lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6).
The Bible says, “But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal (death-doomed) bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you” (Romans 8:11). The Holy Spirit, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you and has vitalized your mortal body. That means your body isn’t death-doomed or sickness prone anymore. Hallelujah!
God’s people must know, live, and spread the truth. When you become a Christian and you receive the Holy Spirit, you should NEVER be sick again in your life. What you need is the consciousness of the divine life in you, and the fact that the Holy Spirit perambulates in you to ward off every anomaly, and keep you in health.
FURTHER STUDY: Isaiah 33:24 AMPC, Proverbs 4:20-22 & Romans 8:10 NIV
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 25 JANUARY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THE FULLNESS OF THE SPIRIT ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water (John 7:38) ______________________________________________
Why would any Christian read this and still be asking for more power or double portion anointing? It’s a contradiction! You have the Spirit living in you in His fullness. The anointing is the effect of the power and presence of the Holy Spirit; why ask for the effect when you have the causative personality in you?
The Holy Spirit is the power, strength, and wisdom of God. He’s the Spirit of grace and He lives in you as a person. He took up His abode in you with the totality of His being. The fullness of His glory and power should be freely expressed in and through you.
The Holy Spirit in you makes you more than a man. There’s a divine energy working in you; it doesn’t burn out, neither does it require replenishing. Refuse therefore to be limited by your physical ability; your potentials are limitless! The Holy Spirit works in you mightily to achieve results that are beyond human ability and comprehension (Colossians 1:29). Affirm this in your life always.
Philippians 2:13 says, “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” The God that works in you is the Holy Spirit; He causes you to be willing, and then propels you to do the Father’s will. You can stir up His power to flow in and through you more by speaking in tongues, and meditating on the Word. Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY: John 3:34 & Ephesians 3:17-19
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SUNDAY 24 JANUARY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: YOUR PROCLAMATION MAKES IT REAL ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak (2 Corinthians 4:13). ______________________________________________
For your faith to produce results, not only must you know the Word and have it in your consciousness, you must speak it forth. The power is in affirmation. We believe, and therefore, we speak. If you don’t say it, it’ll not happen.
The Word of God is truth; it’s already established in heaven. Psalm 119:89 says, “For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.” But it becomes settled in your life by your affirmation. The way it works is this: you keep the Word in your consciousness through meditation, then your confession or proclamation establishes it.
In Mark 11:23, Jesus said, “… whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.” When the Word is in your heart, and spoken forth, it becomes a creative force.
Remember, God’s Word created everything; therefore, it can and will create anything. Whatever you desire today, the power to make it real is in your mouth. Jesus said a good man, out of the good treasures of his heart, brings forth good things (Luke 6:45). Through meditation, you create good things in your heart; then just as the Father did in the book of Genesis after incubating on the earth’s chaotic mass,you release words. Words are things; they have creative energy.
Use your faith-filled words to frame your world, and programme your spirit for success, victory and ever-increasing glory.
FURTHER STUDY:*
Proverbs 18:21 AMPC
James 3:2 & Romans 10:8-10
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY 23 JANUARY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THE CHURCH IS THE FULLNESS OF CHRIST ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the pre-eminence (Colossians 1:18). ______________________________________________
Did you know that Jesus isn’t complete without us? And by “us,” I mean the Church. We’re inseparably united with Him (1 Corinthians 6:17). Ephesians 1:22-23 says He “…put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all.” He’s the one who fills everything (Ephesians 4:10), yet His fullness is the Church, which is His body.
This should help you understand your importance and relevance to Christ. You’re “in Him,” and He’s “in you.” Through you, He expresses His love to the world, and establishes His Kingdom in the earth. You’re His extension in the earth, because you hail from Him and are connected to Him. He said in John 15:5, “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” It’s the Father’s grand design for Him to need us just as we need Him: He’s our glory as we are His glory.
In John 17:19-21, Jesus prayed, “…that they also might be sanctified through the truth. Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.” This prayer of Jesus is fulfilled in us today; He’s made us one with divinity.
1 Corinthians 12:13 says, “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body….” Then, 1 Corinthians 6:17 declares, “…he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.” We’re literally mingled with the Spirit as one divine creation: “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit” (1 Corinthians 12:13).
Blessed be God!
FURTHER STUDY:
1 Corinthians 6:17 & 1 John 4:17
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY 22 JANUARY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: CELEBRATE WHEN THE SQUEEZE IS ON ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal (2 Corinthians 4:17-18). ______________________________________________
Why should a Christian read the scriptures, like our theme verse above and still gripe and moan about challenges? It makes no difference the pressure you face from the adversary; refuse to give in. Never be flustered by circumstances or threats. Christ lives in you and He’s the greater One.
Therefore, when you face crises, declare, “Greater is He that’s in me than all the adversities and adversaries that could ever come against me!” Whatever you may be going through today is a light affliction; it came “to pass.” So refuse to allow anything steal your joy.
Even our transient troubles produce for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. The Word says so; hence, it’s the only outcome to expect. That’s why you must rejoice in the face of adversity. James 1:2 (TPT) says, “…when it seems as though you are facing nothing but difficulties see it as an invaluable opportunity to experience the greatest joy that you can!”
Celebrate and rejoice in the Lord when the squeeze is on. Don’t focus on the problem. Fix your gaze on Jesus, the author and finisher of your faith. In Him you triumph ALWAYS, and in every situation. Glory to God! FURTHER STUDY: 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 AMPC, Romans 5:3-4 MSG & Hebrews 12:2
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 21 JANUARY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: SEE BY THE WORD AND SPEAK ACCORDINGLY ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal (2 Corinthians 4:18). ______________________________________________
We’re not supposed to be victims in the earth, but victors. But many Christians live as victims, as captives of adverse circumstances, because they neither see nor live by the Word. The adversities, pressures and difficulties of life aren’t a factor. Paul, in the preceding verse to our opening scripture, calls them “light affliction, which is but for a moment….”
In other words, to you, that problem or adverse circumstance may have been for ten years, but it’s subject to change, and guaranteed to work for you a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. How? The answer is what we read in our opening verse! Stop looking at your present physical condition; see the invisible.
When you see the invisible, the wilderness experience will end. See God doing great things in your life and through your life this year. See yourself prosperous, healthy, vibrant and strong. See yourself walking in victory and in the glory of God. See the picture, accept it, and speak accordingly.
Consider the story of Abraham in Genesis 17. He took his gaze off what his physical senses dictated to him and looked at the invisible through the eyes of the spirit. He saw himself as the father of many, just as God had said.
The Apostle Paul, in Romans 4:17, explains to us that Abraham believed what God had said concerning him: “(As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.”
This is the beginning of a new year; something you must do consciously and consistently every day is to boldly declare who you really are. Don’t speak failure; don’t speak defeat. Have the right vision. See from God’s perspective. Meditate on and declare His Word.
When you affirm what God has said about you, your soul will be adjusted to act that way. Whatever God has said about you, endorse it, believe it, and affirm it to yourself consistently (Hebrews 13:5-6). Consciously programme your life with the Word of God.
FURTHER STUDY:
2 Corinthians 5:7, Hebrews 12:2 & 2 Corinthians 4:13
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 20 JANUARY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: VICTORIES ONLY ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day (Proverbs 4:18). ______________________________________________
In Christ, we have the transcendent life; we win always! We have an ever-joyous life, with power over crises and dominion over circumstances. This is our normal life in Christ. Does this mean as Christians, we don’t face challenges? That’s not what it means! Rather, it means irrespective of the magnitude or fierceness of the challenges we face, there’s only one outcome: we win!
You’ll have to face trials, tests and difficulties, but the Word says, “...In all these things, we are more than conquerors...” (Romans 8:37). 2 Corinthians 2:14 says, _*“Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ….” Our victory in Christ isn’t sometimes, but ALWAYS, irrespective of kind and place.
The challenges and crises of life are for your promotion. Never be intimidated; you’ve already overcome them in Christ (1 John 4:4). In Christ, you have a life of peace, strength, health and prosperity; a life of glory and power. Colossians 1:27 says, “…Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Christ is your guarantee of a victorious and glorious life. Learn to trust in Him, and follow His Word, putting it to work in your life.
FURTHER STUDY:*
*Romans 8:35-37
2 Corinthians 2:14 MSG
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY 19 JANUARY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THE WORD OF FAITH IN YOUR MOUTH ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach (Romans 10:8). ______________________________________________
The Word of God in your mouth is where the victory is. 2 Corinthians 4:13 says, “We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak.” You’re a victor in Christ Jesus, and you maintain that victory by your faith-filled words. It makes no difference what happens around you, speak as a victor. Speak righteousness; speak success, glory and excellence.
Victors don’t talk fear, lack or weakness; they speak the wisdom of God: “Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world...But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery…” (1 Corinthians 2:6-7). Others may be griping over the darkness in today’s world, the decimation of global markets and world economies; none of these should move you, because you’re not of this world.
When men are cast down, you’re to say, “I’m lifted! The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; I have a goodly heritage; my prosperity is independent of circumstances.” That’s how victors talk; they respond to circumstances and situations with the Word; they say what God has said.
Hebrews 13:5-6 says, _“…he hath said… So that we may boldly say….”_ If you’ve been experiencing symptoms of an ailment, for example, don’t voice the symptoms; declare healing and health. If you were feeling weak, declare strength; affirm that the life of God in you is superior, and therefore destroys and dispels every sickness, disease and pain from your body.
1 John 5:4 says, “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” Keep affirming your righteousness and triumphant life in Christ! Reign and rule over circumstances with the Word of faith in your mouth.
FURTHER STUDY: Mark 11:22-23 & Joshua 1:8
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 18 JANUARY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THE GLORIOUS RESULT OF HIS SUFFERING ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue (2 Peter 1:3). ______________________________________________
The Christian is called into a life of glory and excellence. He’s the fruit of Christ’s suffering. The Bible talks about the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow (1 Peter 1:11). You’re the glory He foresaw, for which He endured the Cross and despised the shame (Hebrews 12:2). You’re the glorious result of His suffering.
Jesus Christ is the effulgence of the Father’s glory; the express image of His Person (Hebrews 1:3). And that’s exactly what He’s made you, for the Bible says as He is, so are we in this world (1 John 4:17). He said, “And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one” (John 17:22). Live with this consciousness every day!
2 Corinthians 3:18 explains it some more. It lets us know that the Word of God is a mirror: “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” A mirror reflects whatever is set before it. If you stood in front of a mirror, you’d see your own reflection. The Word of God is a mirror, and the image of you that it reflects is “the glory of God”; that’s who you really are!
You’ve been glorified with Jesus. You have His life and His righteousness now, with the same Holy Spirit who raised Him from death, at work in you. This is huge! God chose you to show forth His praises and manifest His glory in the earth: “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light” (1 Peter 2:9).
FURTHER STUDY: 1 Peter 2:9 AMPC &
Romans 8:16-17
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SUNDAY 17 JANUARY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: RECOGNIZING OUR AUTHORITY IN HIS NAME ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:6). ______________________________________________
There’s so much that we can do when we take advantage of our authority and dominion in Christ. Too many Christians have been too quiet about many things, living as though they’re victims in life; no! Take charge; you’re in office.
You’re seated with Christ in the place of power, in the position of authority; you have His dominion; it’s yours by right; so, use it! Make things right in your life, in your home, in your ministry, job, business, city, nation, etc., using the Name of Jesus. That Name is greater than every government, or institution, name or title that could be conferred, both in this world and in the world to come.
Jesus Christ is LORD over all, and the God of all flesh. With this knowledge, you can, and should, put a stop to the uprisings, wars, epidemics, wickedness, perils, and havocs the devil concocts and attempts to wreak around the world. Putting a stop to these things is simple: Use the authority and power of His Name in prayer!
The Message translation gives an excellent rendering of Ephesians 1:20-22. It says, “…God raised him from death and set him on a throne in deep heaven, in charge of running the universe, everything from galaxies to governments, no name and no power exempt from his rule. And not just for the time being, but forever. He is in charge of it all, has the final word on everything….” This is extraordinary.
However, He’s not in charge and ruling if you do nothing. The way He runs the earth and sets things in order is through us, the Church. We’re His seed, prolonging His days; He rules through us. When you speak, it’s Him speaking. When you take action against the forces of darkness and wickedness in your nation, that’s Him taking an action.
Satan has no chance if you’d recognise and take advantage of your position and ability in Christ—the glory and power you wield in His Name! Even now, use that authority! Declare in the Name of Jesus, the specific changes you want in any area of your life and you’ll have a testimony. Blessed be God!
FURTHER STUDY: Ephesians 2:5-6 AMPC & Philippians 2:9-10
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY 16 JANUARY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: PRAISE MUST HAVE CONTENT ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name (Hebrews 13:15). ______________________________________________
When we talk about praise in the New Testament, there’re many who don’t understand what it is. Praise is our profuse expression of appreciation of the goodness, blessings, kindness and righteousness of God. It’s the appreciation or confession of His character. When you say, “Lord, you’re gracious and kind; you’ve blessed me; you’re righteous, etc.,” you’re defining and appreciating His character; that’s praise.
When you worship the Lord in that light, it shows who He is in your life; it separates Him from everyone else and from everything else. When you thank Him for His goodness, provisions, blessings and all the wonderful things He’s given you, and done for you, you’re attributing those beautiful works to Him. The necessary result is that He’ll do more in your life.
You might have heard some people say, “Well, anybody can worship any way he chooses; I can decide to keep quiet and worship God in my mind”; that’s wrong. Yes, God knows what’s in your heart, yet Jesus said, “...When you pray, say…” (Luke 11:2 NKJV). He didn’t say, “…think.” Worship must have content.
In the Old Testament, when the prophets or priests prayed, the contents of their prayers were written for us, showing that they vocalised it. Likewise, when Jesus Lprayed, He spoke out, such that others heard Him. He didn’t merely think in His mind.
It’s the same with worship; we worship God through the Spirit, and by the Word (in spirit and in truth)! We lift our hands to Him, making confessions to His Name: “By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name” (Hebrews 13:15). We eulogise and bless Him for His greatness, kindness, love, mercies and grace. Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY: Hebrews 13:15, Psalm 138:2 & Revelation 4:10-11
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY 15 JANUARY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: PEACE AND RIGHTEOUSNESS ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: And the work of righteousness shall be peace… (Isaiah 32:17). ______________________________________________
Psalm 85:10-11 tells us something beautiful; it 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.” In the New Testament, mercy and truth have met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other. Romans 5:1 says, “Therefore being declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
The Greek word translated “justified” in the KJV is “Dikaioo,” which means to be acquitted and declared righteous. Now that you’ve been declared righteous and have right standing with God by faith, you have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ; you’re at one with Him. The word “peace” is the Greek, “eirene” which means to be set at one again, to be brought into harmony, concord, safety, with God.
There’s no need for you to be afraid that one day, God will recall all your wrongs and punish you for your sins. You’ve come home to Him; you’re now at rest in Him through Christ Jesus. He made it possible; it’s the result of His righteousness that you’ve received.
He’s brought you to Himself. There’s a oneness now: “For he is our peace, who hath made both one…Having abolished in his flesh the enmity…to make in himself…one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross… And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh…” (Ephesians 2:14-17).
FURTHER STUDY:
John 14:27 & Ephesians 2:14-17 NIV
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 14 JANUARY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: CONSCIOUSLY SOW THE WORD IN YOU ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap (Galatians 6:7). ______________________________________________
The Word of God is seed, and what do you do to a seed if you want it to produce a good harvest? You sow it in the right environment. Through meditation, you sow God’s Word into your heart. If you don’t sow the right seeds, weeds will grow of themselves. Your heart is God’s garden and you can’t allow “weeds” to grow in it.
Weeds are wrong thoughts that are received into the heart. If you allow them, they’ll destroy the crop of God’s Word in your life. We see how this happens in the parable that Jesus gave about the sower who went forth to sow his seeds (Read Matthew 13:7, 22).
Make up your mind to only allow the right seeds in your heart, because as read in our theme verse, what you sow is what you reap. The Word in your heart will produce a harvest of the Word and great blessings in your life. Therefore, consciously sow the Word into your heart; set your heart for it.
As you study and meditate on the Scriptures, tell yourself, “I walk in truth; I walk in love; I walk in Christ; I walk by the Spirit. I have the Spirit of boldness. No sickness in my body; I walk in divine health, in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ!”
These are perilous times; the Bible says, “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come” (2 Timothy 3:1). We’re in that time that was spoken about, and only those who walk in the dominion of the Word, in the consciousness of their victory in and through the Word, will prevail.
So, learn the Word of God for yourself, for your life. Store it in your heart, and let it come out of your mouth, “...for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh” (Matthew 12:34).
FURTHER STUDY: Acts 20:32, Romans 10:10, Luke 6:45 & Philippians 4:8 _8
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 13 JANUARY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THE PLACE CALLED CHRIST ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son (Colossians 1:13). ______________________________________________
As read in our theme verse, you’ve been translated from the domain of darkness into the kingdom of God’s dear Son; that’s your new place in life. It’s the place called “Christ,” where you reign and rule with dominion over darkness.
If for example you’ve been experiencing demonic oppression at night or having nightmares, perhaps it’s because you didn’t know who you are and where you are. Now that you know, it should never happen again.
Jesus said, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32). You don’t need deliverance; you got your deliverance when you came into Christ. The Bible says, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature…” (2 Corinthians 5:17). Colossians 2:6 says, _“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him”_ (NIV).
Live your life IN CHRIST! Carry the Christ- atmosphere everywhere you go. You’re shielded, protected and kept by His power in your new home (Christ). It has to become as real to you as the house in which you live physically. Become conscious of this and you’ll never know frustration or discouragement, fear, sickness, disease or infirmity.
You may say, “Pastor Chris, what if I’ve been born again for many years, but right now, I’m going through some trouble in my body?” Simple: with the understanding that you’re in Christ, and your authority in Him, just say, “In the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, I stand in that which belongs to me! I reject the pain! I reject the infirmity, and I stand strong in Christ!” Then wrap your arms around your body and say, “Body, comply!”
Your body has no option than to comply. You’re not in Satan’s domain; you’re in Christ, the place of great glory and dominion, with power over Satan, sickness, disease and death. Blessed be God!
FURTHER STUDY: 2 Corinthians 5:17, Ephesians 2:6 & Colossians 1:12-14 AMPC
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY 12 JANUARY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: BOLDNESS IN THE DAY OF CRISIS ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world (1 John 4:17). ______________________________________________
A few years ago, a certain Christian brother was kidnapped by a cult. When they arrived at the kidnappers’ shrine, he saw the skulls of several people who had been beheaded; and shortly after their arrival, the ritualists began to call their latest captives one after the other to the slaughter slab.
Suddenly, the brother began to speak in other tongues. As he spoke in tongues, one of the ritualists came to shut him up, but he spoke in tongues even louder. While everyone else was enveloped in fear, he spoke out in tongues! Soon enough, pandemonium erupted amongst the ritualists and they kicked him out of their midst. He was freed.
That brother’s experience reveals what happens when you’re full of the Spirit; you’re bold! At that moment when trouble strikes, the power of the Holy Spirit would rise in you; words will come out of you in torrents of divine energy.
Victory is assured in the fullness of the Spirit. When trouble comes, you’re ready; you’re bold in the day of crisis. The word “judgment” is from the Greek word, “krisis”—the derivative of the English word “crisis.” It depicts a time of intense difficulty or danger.
There have been times when it was said that a Christian was travelling in a bus, and there was a terrible accident, and everybody died. Was the Christian supposed to die with them? No! He was supposed to have boldness in the time of crisis.
He could have declared at that moment, “In the Name of Jesus, I’m preserved! I don’t die!” He may not even need to say anything at all, because he was already prayed up before he got on the bus. The Bible doesn’t say, “…that we may shout in the day of crisis”; no, it says we may have boldness in the day of crisis. With that boldness of the Spirit, you’ll prevail, irrespective of the circumstances or crisis. Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY: 1 John 4:17-18, Proverbs 24:10 & Proverbs 28:1
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 11 JANUARY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: BE RESOLVED TO LIVE FOR HIM ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God (John 13:3 NIV). ______________________________________________
In Acts 21, the saints at Tyre warned and pleaded with Paul not to go to Jerusalem, because of the afflictions he’d face there. They told him he’d be tortured, imprisoned and killed. But Paul’s response is most inspiring! He said, “...Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 21:13 NIV).
What a resolve! He refused to fear; he set his face like Jesus, to go to Jerusalem, even though it meant death! The Bible says, “And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem” (Luke 9:51). The phrase, “stedfastly set” is “stērizō” (Greek), which means “to turn resolutely in a certain direction,” to be resolved.
Jesus’ countenance was so resolute that anybody that looked at Him knew He was up to something; he had made a decision. He knew what was awaiting Him in Jerusalem. He said to His disciples, “...The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified…” (Luke 24:7), but He was undeterred; He steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem.
The Samaritans were hostile to Him, because they could see on His face He was headed to Jerusalem, and they didn’t like it (Luke 9:53). His decision was obvious from His countenance; registered on His visage! Why? He knew the Father was depending on Him.
Even though the Father had given all things into His hands, the decision about whether or not to die for the world, was left to Him (Jesus); but He was focused. This is how you should be resolved to serve Him with your life, to live as a Christian, no matter what!
Make a decision that’s worthy of Jesus, because He made a decision to save you. Never allow any form of distraction in your service to the Lord and spreading of the Gospel around the world. Let it be so strong that even your countenance conveys it.
FURTHER STUDY: 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 & John 9:4
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SUNDAY 10 JANUARY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THE AFFIRMATION PRINCIPLE ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation (Romans 10:8-10). ______________________________________________
It’s astonishing that many make light of the above verses and miss the amazing revelation it brings to the Church. It’s like what’s revealed in Hebrews 13:5-6: “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.”
In these verses, the Spirit gives an important counsel at the beginning of the fifth verse. He says let your manner of life be without covetousness, and be content with what you have. He could have stopped there, but He didn’t. Rather, He continued and gave us the reason He made the statement in the first place, which we find in the concluding part of verse five: “...for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” Had he stopped here, it would have meant He merely wanted us to see a promise, which would have been okay.
However, He reveals something quite profound in the next verse and says, “…So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.” Herein is the affirmation principle: “God has said, so that you may boldly say….”
God gave us His Word, so that you may boldly respond in consonance with it. That’s what changes your life. The promise alone doesn’t change your life; the principle must be applied.
In applying the principle, you don’t merely “quote” what God has said; you give your personal faith-response to the Word, on the basis of your understanding of His required response. An accurate response is learned through the Word, and the Holy Spirit. He gave us mouths so we can vocalize and use His Word to mould and shape our lives and destinies in the direction of His perfect will. Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY: 2 Corinthians 4:13 & Mark 11:23
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY 09 JANUARY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: MANIFEST HIS GLORY ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: 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 (1 Peter 2:9 AMPC). ______________________________________________
One of the most beautiful revelations in the Word of God is the truth that as new creations, we’re the glory of God in a dark and cynical world. We’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 the indication that it’s your time to shine and light up your world. Romans 8:19 says, “For the earnest expectation of the creature 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 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.
You give meaning, direction and beauty to your world. You’re the light in a dark world and the salt of the earth. Jesus said, “...as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you” (John 20:21). He sent us to bring glory, excellence and meaning to the lives of those in our world. This is your ministry. This is your life.
FURTHER STUDY:
John 17:22 & Romans 8:30
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY 08 JANUARY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: FOREVER VICTORIOUS ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: 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). ______________________________________________
Today, so much news of gloom and doom is disseminated through the media; there’s so much hardship, harsh economic conditions, wickedness and terror in the world than it has ever been. The world is at a critical boiling point. But being in Christ, you have nothing to fear. Christ is your country, your home and environment.
In Christ, you’re forever victorious. You have overcome all the antichrist spirits of this world. 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, declared 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.”
It makes no difference the tests, trials, persecutions, and fierceness of the storms and pressures that you face; you’re more than a conqueror. The Word of God is infallible and immutable, and that Word says you’re a victor in Christ Jesus. Nothing should overwhelm you, because the greater One lives in you and causes you to triumph always, in all things, and in every place. This is your life in Christ! Blessed be God!
FURTHER STUDY: Isaiah 43:2 AMPC & Colossians 1:27
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 07 JANUARY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THE WORD IS OUR GUIDING PRINCIPLE ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils (1 Timothy 4:1). ______________________________________________
In these end times before the Rapture of the Church, one of the phenomena we’ll witness is apostasy (2 Thessalonians 2:3). Many will fall away from the Faith, because they gave heed to seducing spirits—spirits that lure people from believing in God, from believing the truth. These spirits lure men from the right path, to give attention to teachings, assertions and instructions of demons.
The doctrines of demons aren’t new. Eve sinned against God through a doctrine of Satan. Satan lied to her, lured her from the truth, and she was deceived (1 Timothy 2:14). Satan didn’t have any personal contact with her; he worked through the serpent to question the veracity of God’s instructions. The serpent suggested something else to her, which was a perversion of God’s Word. He said to her, “...Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?” (Genesis 3:1).
It’s like what you find in certain circles today; while the Word of God teaches, “Love who you marry,” they say, “Marry who you love.” What are they aiming at? The idea of same-sex marriage! So, a man can say, “Well, marriage is about love; I’m in love with another man.” That’s the seduction; a doctrine of demons!
Many are being subtly lured into the wrong path, with scriptures being misinterpreted, and they think everything is fine; something is wrong. The Bible says, “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith…” (2 Corinthians 13:5 NIV). There’s no other way to examine yourself besides the Word of God.
There’ll never be an updating of the Bible. What you believe and live by must be consistent with what the Bible says. The Word of God is, and must be, your guiding principle for life. That Word says, “Surely you know that the wicked will not possess God’s Kingdom. Do not fool yourselves; people who are immoral or who worship idols or are adulterers or homosexual perverts or who steal or are greedy or are drunkards or who slander others or are thieves—none of these will possess God’s Kingdom” (1 Corinthians 6:9-10 GNB).
FURTHER STUDY: 1 Corinthians 3:1,
Romans 12:2 & 2 Corinthians 13:5 NIV*
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 06 JANUARY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: RIGHTEOUSNESS GIVES YOU DOMINION _______________________ KEY VERSE: 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). ______________________________________________
The literal translation of the word “reign” in the verse above is 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 by Jesus Christ.”
Revelation 1:6 says He’s made us kings and priests unto God; and what do kings do? They rule and reign; they exercise authority and dominion over their realm. In the opening verse above, we reign in the realm of life.
Righteousness is the divine acquittal by faith, on the basis of the new creation in Christ Jesus. It’s a gift from God to the whole world, activated for those who receive and confess the Lordship of Jesus. They’re the ones to reign in life! The Amplified version says “…they shall reign as kings in life.”
Righteousness gives you dominion; righteousness-consciousness eliminates guilt, condemnation or inferiority, and places you above Satan and his accusations. It also gives you the boldness and confidence to pray to God and expect answers. You’re unafraid and unashamed before Him, because you have peace with Him through the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1).
Without an understanding of righteousness, you really can’t live victoriously over the adversary and adversities. You’ll be subject to the elements of this world, whereas you’re meant to rule and reign over them.
Become more conscious that you’re the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. Stay and live in the Word. Declare in faith, “I’m a king and I reign in righteousness; I’m superior to Satan, his demons and circumstances.” By the power of Jesus Christ, the whole world is subdued before you. You have the dominion over Satan and the rulers of the darkness of this world!
Glory to God!
FURTHER STUDY: Romans 5:20-21 & Romans 5:17 AMPC
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY 05 JANUARY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THE WORD IN YOU ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom…(Colossians 3:16). ______________________________________________
Your reaction to challenges and adversities of life will be to the extent of how much of the Word is richly deposited in your spirit. In the day of crisis, you can only pull from the reservoir of the Word in you. If the Word isn’t dwelling in you richly, your response would be from your head, and out of fear; and that wouldn’t work.
Take for instance a situation has arisen in your health; if you’ve programmed yourself through the years with the Word, you’d be unperturbed, regardless of the bad prognosis. This is because you have the knowledge that you’re an associate of the God-kind, an offspring of God, with the divine nature. Hallelujah!
The Word of God that you’ve imbibed—that has gained the ascendancy in your spirit—is what puts you over in the day of trouble. That’s why you must meditate on the Word consciously, so it’s not only in your head, but settled in your heart, permeating every fibre of your being! When the Word is in your heart strong, the necessary result is that you’d speak it forth, for, from the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.
With the Word richly in you, if you ever notice any anomaly in any part of your body, instead of reacting in fear, you’d affirm the Word because you have a different, solid, valid and divine information in your spirit through the Word, keeping you victorious in all circumstances. Hallelujah!
Luke 1:37 AMPC, Colossians 3:16 & Joshua 1:8 AMPC
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 04 JANUARY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: PROMOTE HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS ______________________________________________ KEY VERSE: For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south (Psalm 75:6). ______________________________________________
When God puts you in a particular job or business, His interest isn’t about the office or your designation. What matters to Him is how effectively you’re using your office to promote His righteousness. He wants you passionate for the Gospel, and the establishment of His Kingdom in the hearts of men and nations of the earth.
Everywhere you are, be busy for the Lord. Stand for Him. You’re His ambassador, and a minister of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:20-21). What counts the most in your life is what you do with the Gospel, for the salvation of men, regardless of your vocation.
The Apostle Paul, in 2 Corinthians 8:23, commended certain individuals who were with him on his missionary journeys. He was proud of their commitment to the Gospel and said, “…they are the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ.” What a testimony! Messengers of the churches and the glory of Christ. What an honour! It makes no difference where you are, or what your vocation is; see yourself as a sent one, representing the Church and the glory of Christ.
Preach the Gospel. Minister the Word to those in your world. The Bible says He’s made you an “able minister of the New Testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter kills, but the spirit gives life” (2 Corinthians 3:6). You’re God’s mouthpiece; speak for Him! Do His work. Do great things for the Kingdom.
Be bold. Let nothing keep you quiet. Keep bearing His message of faith, hope and love with urgency, for the end of all things is near (1 Peter 4:7).
FURTHER STUDY: 2 Corinthians 5:15, 2 Corinthians 5:18 & Romans 1:16
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SUNDAY 03 JANUARY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
TOPIC: THE WORD AND YOUR EXPERIENCE ______________________________________________ SCRIPTURE: Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses (1 Timothy 6:12). ____________________________________________ There’re people who say they pray and don’t 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 over my body for a long time, yet I’m sick.” If you’ve found yourself in a similar situation, here’s something you should know: Your experience should never affect your confidence in the Word. The Word never fails.
The Word of God is truth, irrespective of what your experiences might be. Just because it’s been several days or months and there’s still no change as you expect doesn’t mean the Word isn’t working. You must understand that Christian growth and maturity is progressive and there’s a fight of faith.
There’s also the issue of your limited knowledge of the Word. Perhaps you don’t know enough on the subject you’re dealing with. Therefore, what you’re supposed to do is to keep feeding on the Word and exercising your faith. It’s a training.
If, for example, at a certain time in your life, it took you a while to use your faith to accomplish a certain goal, don’t be discouraged. Rather, grow your faith to the level where it can produce that same result anytime you want it! If it took you three months the first time, tell yourself, “Next time, I’ll get it in a week 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 Word and in the faith life; you don’t give up! You stand your ground, confident that God’s Word will prevail over circumstances and put you over all the time.
FURTHER STUDY: *Jonah 2:8, Romans 4:18-20 &
Hebrews 11:6
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY 02 JANUARY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
GIVE VENT TO YOUR CHRIST-NATURE ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷× 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). ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×
The real essence of Christianity is Christ in you, manifesting and expressing Himself in, and through you. The Christian is one who expresses and demonstrates the life, nature, character and righteousness of Christ. This is one of the things you check in appraising yourself spiritually; how much your actions, attitude, words and character epitomise Christ.
For example, when you’re offended, do you give vent to your Christ-nature or allow your flesh to gain the upper hand? As one who’s born again, Christ rules your life; you have His nature. Therefore, in all you do, and at all times, refuse to yield to the flesh; rather, respond from your Christ-nature.
When you talk, let Christ be heard. Let His love effuse from your words and actions. Let His wisdom mantle your hearers as you speak only gracious and lifting words; let Him talk through you. Let Him see through your eyes, walk with your legs and work with your hands. 2 Corinthians 4:11 says, “For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.” This is Christianity.
All that God wants manifested in you is Christ; touching and changing lives through you. The prophet said, “…he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days…” (Isaiah 53:10); you’re that seed. Hallelujah! You reveal the glory and beauty of Christ. That glory is in your spirit, where Christ dwells. Therefore, look inwards; see the glory within and reveal the same to your world.
FURTHER STUDY: Ephesians 4:23-24 AMPC & 1 Peter 2:9 AMPC
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY 01 JANUARY 2021 PASTOR CHRIS
BE ANXIOUS FOR NOTHING ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷× Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things (Matthew 6:31-32). ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×
Why should anyone read this and still fret about anything in life? The one who has told you not to worry about tomorrow is the owner of tomorrow; He’s aware that everything you require for an excellent life has already been made available. So, refuse to be burdened with stress and anxiety.
Don’t worry about your work, family, business, finances, or anything. Worry is fear in disguise. It’s fear of negative possibilities; the imminence of unwanted outcomes. Fear attracts its images. If you keep worrying about getting sick, for example, soon enough, you’ll fall sick.
The cure for worrying is living in God’s Word. Jesus said, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30). Philippians 4:6 says, “Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”
Act on the Word. Rather than worry, receive whatever you require, and live in the consciousness of Christ’s victory, grace and abundant provisions. Anything short of a life of absolute joy and fulfilment in Christ Jesus isn’t God’s best for you.
Hebrews 4:3 says, “For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said….” God finished all His works from the foundation of the world before He made man and rested from His works. That’s the same life He’s given us; a life free of struggles.
FURTHER STUDY:
Philippians 4:6, Deuteronomy 31:6 & 2 Timothy 1:7
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 31 DECEMBER 2020 PASTOR CHRIS
IT WAS FOR YOUR SAKE ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷× 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). ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×
The verse above isn’t referring to spiritual riches and spiritual poverty. When you study the entire chapter in context, you’d understand Paul was dealing with financial and material prosperity. For our sake, Jesus laid down His reputation, His riches and wealth; He laid down everything and identified Himself with us, and took our place. He became us. Everything He did was for our sake. He wasn’t poor, but He became poor for your sake. In the same way, you weren’t rich, but now in Him, you’ve been made rich, just as in Him you’ve been made righteous.
An understanding of this truth will cause you to walk in your heritage in Christ; 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. He already became poor so that you, through His poverty, might become rich. Now, you’re to step into what He’s done for you and who He’s made you.
You’re to walk in the glory that He’s brought you into. That was the essence of His suffering: “...the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow” (1 Peter 1:11). The glory now follows. Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY: Galatians 3:29 & 2 Corinthians 8:9 AMPC
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 30 DECEMBER 2020 PASTOR CHRIS
HE’S MINDFUL OF YOUR WORK ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷× For God, the Faithful One, is not unfair. How can he forget the work you have done for him? He remembers the love you demonstrate as you continually serve his beloved ones for the glory of his name (Hebrews 6:10 TPT). ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×
This is as inspiring as it’s comforting! Everything you do for the Lord is recorded, and He rewards you for it. He’s mindful of your work and labour of love. You may have been told you were wasting your time or being foolish for preaching the Gospel and serving the Lord as you do, but God cares about your work. Therefore, keep at it.
He said in Revelation 22:12, “And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.” What a day that will be! What a day to look forward to! So I urge you with the same words of the Spirit by the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:58, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, for as much as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” There may be times that you’re about the Lord’s work and there seem to be adversities on every side; don’t despair. At such times, always remember that the Lord isn’t unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love. He’ll reward you for all that you do, and have done in and for His Kingdom.
He knows about your tears in intercession; your passion in prayer for lost souls. He’s aware of all your financial contributions to the spread of the Gospel, and your personal evangelical efforts to win souls for Christ. He’s aware of all the sacrifices you’ve made for His Name’s sake; the time, money, family, friends and relationships you gave up for Him!
He hasn’t forgotten. Your blessing isn’t deferred but begins here on earth (read Mark 10:29-31). You’re never a fool for your devotion to Christ. Your faith, hope and love are not in vain. Keep doing all that the Lord inspires you to do for Him; keep spreading His glory through your works of righteousness in your world, and in the regions beyond.
FURTHER STUDY:
Matthew 16:26-27,
2 John 1:8 AMPC &
2 Timothy 4:5-8
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY 29 DECEMBER 2020 PASTOR CHRIS
EXPRESS HIS NATURE ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷× 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 AMPC) ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×
Being born again, you have the life and nature of God. You were recreated in righteousness and true holiness, to express the will and nature of the Father. Your spirit was recreated in the image and 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. The Spirit’s admonition in our opening verse to “Put on the new man which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness” simply means to express His life of righteousness in you. In every matter, in every place, at every opportunity, let His righteousness be expressed through you. In anything that you’re involved in, you bear testimony by your life, actions and words to the character of God! Hallelujah!
You’re His expression and extension to your world; this has always been His dream: to express Himself fully in, and 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 work that through the Holy Spirit, everywhere you are, you’ll manifest Christ; you’ll manifest His glory; you’ll express the God-life, for that’s your calling.
FURTHER STUDY: 1 Corinthians 1:30 &
1 Peter 2:9 AMPC
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 28 DECEMBER 2020 PASTOR CHRIS
MEMORIZE SCRIPTURES
×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷× _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)._ ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×
Today, having several Bible translations and the emergence of Bibles in electronic devices has made it increasingly difficult for many to memorise Scriptures. Very easily, you can search and locate verses, and in different translations, at the click or push of a button. But this shouldn’t take the place or relegate the importance of memorizing scriptures as part of your personal spiritual growth.
Memorising Scriptures helps you 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 it’s in your consciousness, it’ll be in your mouth; and the Word in your mouth is a creative force.
As you read your Bible, pick out striking verses and recite them repeatedly by heart. This is the beginning of meditation, and the more you do this, the more the Word will gain the ascendancy in your spirit.
Set the target to memorize a verse of scripture per day and measure your progress in it. You’d be amazed at the impact of the Word in your life.
FURTHER STUDY:
1 Timothy 4:8, Deuteronomy 11:18 & Jeremiah 15:16
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SUNDAY 27 DECEMBER 2020 PASTOR CHRIS
MEDITATE ON HIS TRUTHS ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷× But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory... (2 Corinthians 3:18). ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×
Sometimes, it’s possible to look at yourself and not seem like what God says you are. Even in this season of celebration, especially after all that has happened this year, you may think through your life and wonder, “What’s really there to celebrate? Life has been so hard.” When you think or talk like that, you’re going in the wrong direction. Stop looking at circumstances; look at the Word.
Our theme verse says as you behold the glory of God in a mirror, which is the Word of God, you’re metamorphosed into the same image that you see in the Word. The more you look into (meditate) on God’s Word, the more you know who you are, see what you have, and your ability and glory in Christ Jesus. The circumstances of life are mere shadows; you don’t look at your shadow to determine who you are and what you look like; you look in the mirror.
The Bible says, “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27). It makes no difference what your experiences have been; Christ is in you. That means there’s glory in your life! That’s what the mirror shows. This is what Christmas is about! Christmas means Christ has taken up His abode in you; He’s the glory of your life. He came for you, to live in you and through you. Hallelujah! Accept this truth!
Accept what God has said about you and made you, and meditate on that! Be bold to affirm, “Now that Christ lives in me, I’ll never fail; I’m forever victorious and I express the glory and righteousness of His glorious kingdom every day and everywhere.” Hallelujah!
Throughout this season, meditate on God’s truth; who you are and your inheritance in Him. You’re a success. You’re in prosperity, health, peace and safety. He’s given you an extraordinary life of ever-increasing progress and greatness. Believe this, speak and live accordingly.
FURTHER STUDY:
2 Corinthians 4:18, Jonah 2:8 & Isaiah 26:3
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY 26 DECEMBER 2020 PASTOR CHRIS
THE WORD ALIVE IN YOU ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷× And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth (John 1:14). ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×
Christmas means the Word has come; the Word is born. The Word became flesh and walked the streets; they beheld His glory until He was slain. But God raised Him up and showed Him openly to be alive with many infallible proofs. Now, He abides in you. Praise God!
They waited for the Word, expected His glory that the prophets spoke about; they expected His light, for gross darkness had covered the world and ignorance had gained the mastery. But then the Word came, born of a virgin and walked this earth, full of glory, grace, and truth that all men might see and believe.
But many didn’t recognize Him. He asked His disciples, “Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?” Sadly, they didn’t know Him, but Peter spoke up and said, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16). John calls Him, “the Word made flesh”; He gives us the actual origin of the man, Christ Jesus—He’s the Word that pre- existed creation and by whom all things were created (John 1:1-3).
His birth brought joy to the world, a pure marvel to see the eternal Word of God wrapped in swaddling clothes; to be with, and walk amongst men! No wonder they called Him “Emmanuel” (God with us) (Matthew 1:23). He was born “Emmanuel,” but today, He’s the Word alive in you.
Every step Jesus took was the Word of God in motion; the Word personified. And the day you received Him to live in you, you became the Word in motion, for as He is, so are we in this world (1 John 4:17). No wonder Paul calls us the Epistle (Word) of Christ (2 Corinthians 3:3). Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY: John 1:14 AMPC & John 14:16-17
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY 25 DECEMBER 2020 PASTOR CHRIS
CHRISTMAS EVERY DAY ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷× For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew]... [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live] (Ephesians 2:10 AMPC). ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×
Jesus was born that men may have, and live the good life, as our theme scripture reveals. In John 10:10 AMPC, He said, “...I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).”
You weren’t born to merely live, but to live the good life which He prepared for you ahead of time—an excellent life. Now, you can be full of enthusiasm, joy and strength, doing great things, blessing your world every day. It can be Christmas for you every day! That’s God’s plan and His Word to you even now; and His Word to you is all that matters.
You have something to celebrate, not just this season, but every day: His life in you; His Word in your spirit. No matter where you are in this world, no matter the challenges you may have faced, you can shout, “I’m free” because Jesus gave you a life that’s beyond this world, a life that’s superior to the decadence and corruption of this failing world; a life that’s divine; untainted and immune to sickness, disease and infirmities; a life that’s indestructible. Glory to God!
Maybe you’ve been living in fear because of an unfavourable diagnosis from the doctors about your health; the life in you is superior to sickness. You’ve arrived in the place where sickness and disease have lost their grip on you. Let go of the fears. Walk in the truth; live in the truth.
The truth is that you have the God-life in you; you’re an offspring of the Word. Greater is He that’s in you than any sickness that may attempt to fasten itself on you. You’ve overcome diabetes, heart trouble, chest pain, cancer, fibroid, or whatever health challenge it may be!
The strength of God is in you now. So you can live and enjoy your life in sound health, prosperity, peace and joy EVERY DAY; that’s what Christmas means. That’s why Jesus came (John 10:10 AMPC). Blessed be His Name forever.
FURTHER STUDY: 1 Peter 2:9 AMPC & John 10:10
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 24 DECEMBER 2020 PASTOR CHRIS
CELEBRATING THE LIVING AND INCARNATE WORD ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷× ...he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? (John 14:8-9). ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×
Even though Christmas, which is the celebration of the birth of Jesus, is inarguably the most popular holiday in the world, there’re still many who don’t know who Jesus really is. To some, 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, Jesus said, “...search the Scriptures, for they testify of me.”
The Scriptures testify of Jesus as Deity. John 1:1 says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Verse 14 says, “And the Word was made (became) flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” This refers to Jesus; so in celebrating Christmas, you’re celebrating the living and incarnate Word.
Study the Bible for yourself, from Genesis to Revelation, and you’ll come to one conclusion: Jesus Christ is God! Recall His words in John 10:30, “I and my Father are one.” In our opening verse, He said, “If you have seen me, you have seen the Father.” He’s one with the Father.
You’ve got to come to that point in your life where you recognise that Jesus is the fullness of Deity. 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. This is the “Christ” of Christ-mas; we’re celebrating God who came to us in the body of Jesus. Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY:
John 1:10-12 & Matthew 16:15-17
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 23 DECEMBER 2020 PASTOR CHRIS
CHRIST ALIVE IN YOUR HEART ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷× The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly (John 10:10)." ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×
Christmas is about who Jesus is, and what He came to do. He didn’t come to establish a religion. He didn’t come to merely show us how to do good things; He came to give us life; God’s life. God made us, and He wanted us to have His kind of life, and His plan was that Jesus would be the one to give us that life.
He also planned that we would receive that life through faith, because His kingdom is inapparent to the senses. Hebrews 11:6 says without faith, it’s impossible to please God. The Christmas carol: “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” puts it succinctly in its verse: “...Born that man no more may die; born to raise the sons of earth; born to give them second birth.” How beautiful!
However, the biggest thing is Christ born in your heart. The Bible says, “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27). We’re talking about the Lord, the One who was raised from the dead and ascended into heaven; the Son of the living God—taking up His abode in the quarters of your heart!
This means He’s become one with your spirit. No wonder Peter said we’re associates, comrades of the God-kind (2 Peter 1:4). Christmas means you’re in Christ and Christ is in you; you have the life and nature of God in you NOW! Hallelujah! If you haven’t yet received that life, you can do so right away. Turn to the Prayer Of Salvation on page 76 and pray that prayer. Say those words and mean them with all your heart and your life will immediately become the manifestation of His goodness, glory, grace and love.
FURTHER STUDY:
Romans 6:23 &
1 John 5:11-13
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY 22 DECEMBER 2020 PASTOR CHRIS
TELL IT AROUND THE WORLD ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷× And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned (Mark 16:15-16). ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×
As we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, it’s important to realize that His glorious return is imminent, much closer than many realize. Therefore, we must intensify our efforts in reaching the lost, in telling the untold in our world and in the regions beyond that He is the way, the truth, and the life. Only through Him can men be saved and brought into God’s class of being and realm of life.
Until and unless a man is born again, his life will be the expression of all that’s happened to him, beginning from his lineage: where he was born, his nationality, locality, education, government, etc. All of these factors would form what becomes of his life. That means he’ll be limited to the environment and earthly lineage; how sad.
But when you’re born again, old things are passed away (2 Corinthians 5:17). Suddenly, you’re brought into a life that’s beyond the earthly plane, where you’re not limited by any factor or the elements of this world. You now live in a new environment by a new principle of life, which is God’s Word. You’re now a partaker of the divine nature, no longer subject to sin, sickness, disease and death, because you received the God-life.
What a message to herald to the world; that God sent His son Jesus to the world that we may have His life, and also be the dispensers of that life. Tell the untold; reach the unreached; tell the nations, the farthest islands, that He lives, and the life He brought is available to everyone who believes: “...and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life...” (1 John 5:11-12).
As you celebrate this season, be strengthened in your spirit, and propelled to tell the world that the Lord is God; and He’s brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel. Anyone who’s born again receives the same life with Him. This is the message He’s charged us to preach and spread to the world.
FURTHER STUDY: Mark 16:15-16 & Romans 10:14
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 21 DECEMBER 2020 PASTOR CHRIS
NEVER ASHAMED OF HIM ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷× Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels (Mark 8:38). ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×
There’re some people who are ashamed to be identified with Jesus and His Church; how tragic that is! Your oneness with the Lord is the greatest, most sublime and royal identity ever. Celebrate it at every opportunity. Seize every moment to glorify Jesus Christ. Let your love for Him be loud and unequivocal.
If you’re ashamed to let the world—your friends, family members, colleagues, etc.—know that you belong to Jesus Christ and are a member of the household of faith, the Master also will be ashamed to acknowledge you before the Father and the angels.
Irrespective of anyone’s perception of Christ and of Christianity, you’re in the most dignified, honourable and transcendent union there is. You’re an associate of the God-kind, a God-carrying vessel, a bearer of the divine order and conveyor of eternal verities.
Be unapologetic in declaring your oneness with Jesus Christ and your unalloyed commitment to Him, His Kingdom, and the Church. Nothing, and no one, should ever make you distance yourself from Christ or repudiate your faith in Him. Even the fiercest threats or persecution from the adversary shouldn’t get you to cower. Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY:
Luke 12:8-9 AMPC & 2 Timothy 1:7-8
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SUNDAY 20 DECEMBER 2020 PASTOR CHRIS
MAKE YOUR LIFE GLORIOUS ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷× Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life (Galatians 6:5 MSG). ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×
Some Christians try to blame God for what actually is the ir responsibility. Oftentimes, when something unpleasant happens, they conclude that it’s the will of God; otherwise, “Why did He let it happen?” they muse. What we need to realise is that the authority to change things on earth, and make our lives as beautiful as we desire, has been given to us. You can make your life glorious by living out God’s Word.
In Matthew 17:20, the Lord Jesus was emphatic when He said, “...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.” He makes it clear that you can create your victories by acting your faith on the Word of God. He already gave you the measure of faith you require to effect the changes you desire.
In Mark 9:23, He said, “...all things are possible to him that believeth.” The question is, do you believe? If you do, then you have before you a life of endless possibilities. Put the Word to work in your life, and you’ll always be victorious.
Don’t “wait” for His Word to come to pass in your life; rather, “...work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12). You’re to work out the Word in your life and make it produce results. Using your faith, you can be what you want to be, change what you want to change, and achieve whatever you want to achieve!
God has already given you the dominion and ability to make your life prosperous. He said in Joshua 1:8, “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.” It’s about what you do with the Word! You have to meditate on it and live accordingly, and the glory of God will be manifest in your life.
FURTHER STUDY: Mark 11:23, Philippians 4:13 & Joshua 1:8 AMPC
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY 19 DECEMBER 2020 PASTOR CHRIS
WE’RE THE LIGHT...JUST LIKE JESUS ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷× Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid (Matthew 5:14). ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×
In John 8, we read of a certain woman who was caught in the act of adultery and was to be stoned to death. But it turned out she knew where Jesus was and ran to Him. The mob came after her, and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, for what this woman has done, we’re supposed to stone her to death; do you have any objections?” (John 8:4-5). Jesus said, “Well, no objections, but get started with any one of you who’s without sin.”
The Bible says they all dropped their stones and went away, crestfallen. Then in the 12th verse, after mollifying the woman, He made an astounding statement; He said, “...I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” What’s the connection between this statement and what He did for that woman? If we understand it, then we can begin to understand what He expects of us.
In John 9, He came across a man who was blind from birth. Again, Jesus repeated that statement: “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world” (John 9:5). And the next thing, He performed a miracle. “...he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay” (John 9:6).
The adulterous woman was at the verge of death, and Jesus stepped in and said, “I’m the light of the world,” and saved her! Then He saw a blind man who didn’t even have eyes, and He said, “I AM your light!” Glory to God! Jesus was saying to them, “I am what you need me to be. If you need deliverance, I am your deliverance. If it’s salvation, I am your salvation. If it’s healing, I am your healing.” That’s the meaning of “I AM.” Hallelujah!
Now, He turns to us and says, “Ye are the light of the world.” Suddenly, His expectation dawns in our spirits! That means as you step out today, a change will take place in someone’s life because of you. If someone were blind, through you, he could have his eyes restored! Someone who was sick could be healed. A lame person could walk. Why? You’re the light of the world, just like Jesus. Glory to God!
FURTHER STUDY: Matthew 10:8, Mark 16:17-18 &
1 John 4:17
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY 18 DECEMBER 2020 PASTOR CHRIS
WE ARE KING-PRIESTS ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷× And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen (Revelation 1:6). ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×
The phrase, “kings and priests” in the scripture above is also rendered “a kingdom of priests” in other translations. The reader tends to assume that “a kingdom of priests” is referring to a kingdom where there’re priests. But the accurate expression is “king- priests.” He’s made us king-priests, which is a fulfilment of prophecy!
In Exodus 19:5-6, God had said to the children of Israel, “Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.” The word translated “kingdom” is the word “royal.” So, when God said to the Israelites, “I’m going to make you a kingdom of priests,” He meant, “You’ll be royal priests or king-priests.”
Peter knew that the fulfilment of that prophecy had taken place in Christ Jesus. The Bible says, “For all the promises of God in him are yes...” (2 Corinthians 1:20). Therefore, He’s got a royal priesthood: “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 marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9 AMPC).
As a king-priest, your primary responsibility is kingly intercession, with prayers and supplications. God has given you the dominion and the authority to alter the course of events in the earth, using the Name of Jesus. So, side with God in bringing His will to pass in the earth; in your family, in the lives of those around you, in your city and country. Learn to direct the influence of God’s power towards them in prayer until you have a note of victory in your spirit. Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY: Ezekiel 3:17-21, 1 Timothy 2:1-2 & Romans 8:26-29
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 17 DECEMBER 2020 PASTOR CHRIS
HE’S THERE IN YOUR NAME ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷× In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also (John 14:2-3). ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×
Some people interpret the above scripture to mean that Jesus went to Heaven to construct our mansions. So, they think when someone gives his or her life to Christ, God starts building a mansion for that person in Heaven. But they forget that the Bible says “...the works were finished from the foundation of the world” (Hebrews 4:3). Heaven is a beautiful place, and it’s already been built. So, what place was Jesus talking about then?
The answer is simple: The Bible says Jesus was victorious in hell, and when He came to the disciples in Galilee, He said, “...All hail” (Matthew 28:9). Then He went into Heaven and was given a place! That place isn’t a chair beside or close to the Father; no, He got the Father’s seat! He’s set on the Father’s throne of Majesty in the heavens. It’s the place of the highest authority.
Then the scripture says, “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God” (Colossians 3:1 NKJV). Everything Jesus did was for us. The place He went to prepare for us is the place at the right hand of the Father; He got us a place in, and with Himself in glory.
Now we’re seated together with Him in the heavenly realms. Hebrews 9:24 says, “For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.” As long as Jesus is in Heaven, we’re well represented in heaven. He represents us there! That’s why He told us to live in His Name. Colossians 3:17 says, “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus....” This is because He’s there in our Name, and we’re here in His Name. We reign and rule over Satan and the cohorts of darkness, in His Name. Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY: Ephesians 2:6 TLB & Luke 10:19 AMPC
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 16 DECEMBER 2020 PASTOR CHRIS
THE GOSPEL IS IN YOUR TRUST ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷× O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called (1 Timothy 6:20) ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×
The word “trust” in the scripture above is an interesting Greek word, “parakatathēkē” and it means a deposit, the investment of your personality. Something has been deposited in you. You have to come to the realization that the Gospel, the same message that saved your life, has been committed to your trust.
Paul knew it. In 1 Timothy 1:11, he affirmed, “According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.” What a consciousness! He took personal responsibility for the Gospel. It should be the same with you.
Your co-workers, business associates, schoolmates, family members, co-tenants, friends and all those He ever connects you with are all hanging on to the trust committed to you by God. He holds you responsible as their witness; you’re the witness to your generation. You’ve got to be committed to bringing salvation to those in your world.
That’s what success is. You become a fruit-producing branch, fulfilling what Jesus said in John 15:5: “I am the vine; ye are the branches....” Always declare, “I’m a fruit-bearing branch, in the Name of the Lord Jesus! I bear fruits of righteousness and manifest works of righteousness.” Declare it, and act accordingly. That’s what the Apostle Paul was communicating to the young minister, Timothy, in our theme verse—the consciousness of what was committed to his trust.
You carry the seeds of the Kingdom of God inside you. That’s your number one ministry in life. Remember the words of Jesus: “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33). Now that you’re in His Kingdom, make it your priority, and His glory will be manifested in and through you.
FURTHER STUDY:
2 Corinthians 5:18, Jeremiah 20:9 & 1 Corinthians 9:16-17
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY 15 DECEMBER 2020 PASTOR CHRIS
SUBMIT TO HIS DREAM FOR YOU ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷× Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths (Proverbs 3:5-6 AMPC). ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×
Have you ever asked yourself, “Is my life in alignment with God’s perfect will for me?” It’s important to be sure. Jesus said, “If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine...” (John 7:17). So, if you’re willing to do His will, He’ll teach you.
But sometimes, there’re those who are afraid to let God have His way in their lives. They think He’ll change their dream that they’ve so nursed all their lives. They feel He might lead them to become something they don’t want. Well, that’s because they don’t know Him; if you don’t know Him, you can’t trust Him. But if you ever get to know Him, you’d learn to trust Him.
All He ever wants is the best for you. He’s more ambitious for your success than you could ever be. The day I discovered this truth, I said, “Dear Lord Jesus, now I trust you with my life.” I wanted to be a success for Him, but He was more ambitious for my success than I could have been. I found out He loved me more than I loved myself; wiser than I could ever be, and I became bold and focused!
Remember, He created the whole world, including you. He knows everything inside you. Not only does He know everything about you, He knows everything about life. All He wants is that you say, “Yes, Lord, I’m ready.” He’s experienced in dealing with all kinds of people, and He knows exactly what to do with someone like you.
Trust Him with your life. Stay at the centre of His will, and you’ll never lose. 1 Peter 2:6 says, “... he that believeth on him shall not be confounded" ; that means you’ll never be disgraced or put to the blush for trusting in Him. Therefore, be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and submit to His dream for you.
FURTHER STUDY: Acts 26:16-18 Psalm 18:30 & Proverbs 16:3 NIV
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 14 DECEMBER 2020 PASTOR CHRIS
WE’VE GOT TO PREACH IT ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷× In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour (Titus 1:2-3). ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×
We’ve got to preach the Word; we’ve got to tell the untold, or they’ll never have the chance to believe it and be saved. Romans 10:13-14 says, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?” Without a preacher, they can’t hear the Gospel. This is why we’re compelled to preach the Gospel everywhere. The Apostle Paul said, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:16).
There’s no salvation without the Gospel. The power of God to bring someone out of trouble, distress, sin and death is in the Gospel of Christ.
We read in our theme verse that God promised eternal life before the world began; and now, He has fulfilled His promise, manifested His Word, and made eternal life available through the preaching of the Gospel.
See how blessed we are to be the custodians and bearers of the divine order; ambassadors of divine realities! They’re not going to get the Gospel any other way, until we preach it to them. Put your whole life into this, as it’s all that truly matters. Ensure the Gospel gets to as many as have been ordained to receive it in your world and in the regions beyond.
FURTHER STUDY:
1 Corinthians 1:18, Acts 4:12 & Matthew 28:19-20
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SUNDAY 13 DECEMBER 2020 PASTOR CHRIS
INSPIRED AND AFIRE ALWAYS
×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷× 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). ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×
Since the day I received the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, I’ve never ran out of inspiration. The key is fellowship with the Holy Spirit! That’s the secret of ALWAYS being inspired and afire for the Lord. The Holy Spirit should be your number one driving force in life. Without Him, life is a drag; dull, empty and vain!
Christianity without the Holy Spirit is mere religion. In fact, it’s very difficult to win souls without the Holy Spirit. As a child of God, being filled with the Holy Spirit every day isn’t negotiable. You have to know Him, walk in Him and with Him. He has to become a constant part of your life.
Colossians 3:16 says, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly....” Your understanding of the Word will drive you to live every day of your life for the expansion of God’s Kingdom; nothing else will make sense to you in this world, except the things of Christ. With the Word of God in your spirit, and coming forth from your mouth, you can serve the Lord faithfully and bring Him glory now, and in the ages to come. Have a wild and voracious appetite for the Word.
Your love for the Master will compel you to tell the world of His saving power. 2 Corinthians 5:14 (NIV) says, “For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.” The Apostle Paul is showing us the motivational force behind his overwhelming passion for the Gospel; it was the love of Christ. You can’t love Him and not be propelled to tell the world about it. You’ll wake up every day inspired and aflame to serve God. Praise God!
FURTHER STUDY:
2 Corinthians 5:14-15, Jeremiah 20:8-9 & Romans 12:10-12
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY 12 DECEMBER 2020 PASTOR CHRIS
PRAY FOR GOD’S PEOPLE IN DISTRESS ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷× Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you (2 Thessalonians 3:1). ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×
In Acts 12:1-2, the Bible says, “...Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.” When the Church heard that James had been arrested, they must have thought, “James arrested? Nothing will happen to him; he’s a man of faith.” But once James was killed, it got their attention.
“Where was God? How did God allow it to happen?” some may have wondered, trying to put the blame on God. But it’s not God that allows such things to happen. Jesus said, “And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you” (John 16:23).
Then in Matthew 28:18, He declared, “...All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me”; and on the basis of that authority, He said, “...go and make disciples of all nations...” (Matthew 28:19). Jesus gave us His authority; He gave us His Name. So, it wasn’t Jesus that let them kill James; it was the Christians that didn’t do their job by exercising their authority in prayer.
When Peter was arrested next, the Bible says they (the church) prayed without ceasing; God intervened and Peter was released (Acts 12:5-7). So, every time you pray, you’re making it “legally” possible for God to intervene in some ways that He wouldn’t have, had you not prayed.
This is why we must pray for ministers of the Gospel, and advancement of the ministry of reconciliation in these last days. The Apostle Paul wrote to the Christians in Colossae, “Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds” (Colossians 4:3).
Since God already told them to go and preach the Gospel, why did they need to pray to God to open for them a door of utterance? It tells you that there’re adversaries in the world. So always pray for the churches of Christ around the world.
Several reports confirm that Christians are the most persecuted group in the world. Many are in dire distress, made to face the most inhuman treatments because of their faith in Jesus Christ. Through your prayers for them, they’ll be strengthened; the Lord will intervene in their situations. Praise God!
FURTHER STUDY: 2 Thessalonians 3:1-2 & Romans 15:30-32
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY 11 DECEMBER 2020 PASTOR CHRIS
LIVE IN TRUTH ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷× And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free (John 8:32). ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×
We were created by God’s Word, and His Word is truth; that means we were created by truth. This is why truth has an eternal effect on your spirit; it has an eternal effect of success, victory, prosperity, health in your life, because truth is your source. That’s why falsehood, deceit, deception, lies and lying destroy the human spirit.
Lying isn’t consistent with your nature. Some people tell lies out of fear of punishment, while others do it for plain deception. Whatever your excuse might be, train yourself to tell the truth at all times. Our theme verse says, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free,” because man was created by God to be free, to be at liberty to serve Him; he can’t be bound, because truth is his true nature.
Before you were born again, you didn’t have the ability to live the truth and live in truth, because you were under the dominion of sin. But now, the Bible says, “For sin shall not have dominion over you...” (Romans 6:14). You have the ability to do away with the habit of telling lies. You don’t need to cry or even ask God to take it away from you.
Simply make up your mind to put away lying. The Bible says, “If you want a happy, good life, keep control of your tongue, and guard your lips from telling lies” (1 Peter 3:10 TLB). Proverbs 6:16-19 says, “These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.” Truth is in your spirit. You can live in truth; it makes you triumphant; your spirit glows. It doesn’t matter in what situation you may find yourself; truth will put you over, because truth is eternal.
Praise God!
FURTHER STUDY:
Ephesians 4:25 TLB, Proverbs 12:19, Colossians 3:9 NLT & Zechariah 8:16 GNB
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 10 DECEMBER 2020 PASTOR CHRIS
THE REAL FIGHT ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷× Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses (1 Timothy 6:12). ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×
Not many people understand what it is to fight, and by that I don’t mean physical combat; I’m talking about the fight of faith.
The fight of faith is the conflict between our earthly transient temporal circumstances and our spiritual realities. It is the unleashing of our faith on the rebellious circumstances of time to compel changes to correspond with our stubborn faith proclamations. It’s not a fight with the devil; it’s the fight in your heart to overcome the challenges that you face in life. And it’s a fight you must win.
The Apostle Paul calls it a good fight,because it’s most honourable and you win. When He tells you to fight the good fight, he’s telling you to hold onto God’s Word, maintaining your confessions in the face of staggering opposition. There’s an adversary working on things and trying to ensure that things don’t fall into place for you. The world itself is hostile to your faith; hostile to the Kingdom of God. But Jesus said, “...be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33); and because He overcame the world, you have to keep the world in that position with your faith. That’s the real fight.
You’re not trying to overcome the world; He already did. So, you walk by faith in the victory that Christ wrought in your behalf. He said, “Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy...” (Luke 10:19). No matter where you are, you’re triumphant; you know it and you insist on it.
You can do what others say is impossible. It doesn’t matter what you’re currently faced with; whether it has to do with your health, finances, business, job, family, academics; you say, “I’m a victor in the Name of Jesus! It’s impossible for me to fail. All I think is winning, and I only win, in the Name of Jesus!”
Walk in the glory and strength of Christ and with the boldness of the Spirit. Take advantage of His grace and the power of His might as you unleash your faith against rebellious circumstances and compel them to align with your stubborn faith proclamations.
FURTHER STUDY:
Ephesians 6:16, 1 Timothy 1:18 & 2 Corinthians 10:3-5
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 09 DECEMBER 2020 PASTOR CHRIS
DON’T KEEP GRUDGES
×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷× Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much (James 5:16). ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×
A minister once told a story of two women in his church who were quarrelling for a long time. One of them had a goitre for several years, and in spite of his prayers for her, it wouldn’t heal. The second woman couldn’t receive the Holy Spirit; she just couldn’t speak in other tongues, even though he had prayed for her several times to receive the Holy Spirit.
One Sunday morning, while he was sitting on the platform during the service, one of them arrived and found a seat, but soon as she noticed the very next seat was occupied by the other lady, she stood up to change her seat. At that point, the Pastor flounced off the platform to meet them, and said to them, “I’m not having any more of this; you either get together as sisters, or get out!” Suddenly, both women broke into tears and began to apologise to each other. Both of them were ready to take the blame, as they cried and hugged each other. Right there, before their eyes, the goitre disappeared, and the other woman was filled with the Spirit and speaking in tongues.
Evidently, those grudges had prevented the manifestations of these blessings in their lives for years, without them realizing it. All they needed to do was to admit their faults to each other. That’s what we read in our theme verse: “Confess your faults one to another....” It means admitting your faults; refusing to keep a grudge.
Even when you think you’re not the one at fault, it makes no difference; put the matter to rest. Do what the Word says. Don’t insist on your own way. The Bible says to rather allow yourself to be defrauded (1 Corinthians 6:7) than to hold a grudge against your brother or sister in the Lord.
FURTHER STUDY: Romans 12:9-10, Romans 5:5 &
James 5:16 AMPC
This message is for you, if you are feeling hard pressed on every side, perplexed and in despair. This is a message for you, if you are feeling persecuted, abandoned and opposed. This is a message for you if you are feeling sad, angry, betrayed, bitter, frustrated and of low self - esteem. This is a message for you to use, for that friend, for that family member that you have been trying to encourage in the Lord. For that brother, that sister, whose faith is weaning and you want to remind them of the power in the name of Jesus. This is for you, if you are looking for a reason to trust Jesus one more time. You are not alone, yes, YOU, you are SURROUNDED.
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY 08 DECEMBER 2020 PASTOR CHRIS
HE DWELLS IN YOU NOW ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷× And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also (John 14:3). ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×
Many don’t understand what Jesus was talking about in the scripture above. Some have speculated that He was talking about the Second Coming or the Rapture, but that’s not what He was talking about in that verse. To understand what Jesus meant, you’ll have to stay in the context, and understand His message with your spirit, not with your senses. He continued this interesting discourse till He got to the 16th verse where He said, “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever.”
The term “another Comforter” is the Greek phrase “Allon paraklēton,” meaning “another of same kind.” So, Jesus introduced the Holy Spirit at that point. Then He said, “...ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you” (John 14:17). How did the Holy Spirit dwell with them at the time? Wasn’t He supposed to come on the Day of Pentecost? That tells us something. He wasn’t talking about the Holy Spirit alone; He was also referring to Himself!
To drive that point home, He went back to what He said in our theme verse, saying, “I will come again, and receive you unto myself...” Then in verse 18, He said, “I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.” How and when was He going to come to them?
In the 20th verse, He said, “At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.” What day was He talking about? Evidently, He was talking about the day when the Holy Ghost comes! So, when He said, “I will come to you,” He was saying, “I’ll come to you in the Holy Spirit!” And on the Day of Pentecost, He fulfilled that precious promise: “And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:4). He’s in you today in all His fullness. Praise God!
FURTHER STUDY: Hebrews 13:5 AMPC, John 14:23 & 1 Corinthians 3:16
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 07 DECEMBER 2020 PASTOR CHRIS
FAITH FOR THE RAPTURE ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷× In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed (1 Corinthians 15:52). ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×
At the Rapture, not everyone will hear the sound of the trumpet. It’ll be audible only to the Christians who died in Christ already and those alive at the time. Everybody else won’t hear it, because the sound of the trumpet would only be heard by faith. It’s not something you’re going to make an effort to hear, because as a Christian, you already live by faith. Everything about your life and your relationship with God is by faith; therefore, you’re going to hear it.
The Bible says, “By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found...” (Hebrews 11:5). He was raptured by faith. So, with your faith in Jesus Christ, you have nothing to worry about; trust that when the trumpet sounds, you’re going to hear it.
As read in our theme verse, the sound of the trumpet will happen faster than the snap of your finger. In a twinkling of an eye, we’re out of here, and suddenly, we’re in heaven. Every Christian ought to go at the rapture. It therefore means that anyone who doesn’t make the “first flight” hasn’t been living for the Lord.
Keep your faith alive, and live for the Master every day. Walk in love and in righteousness. Focus on getting others ready for the Rapture and into the Kingdom of God.
FURTHER STUDY: Hebrews 11:5-6 & Thessalonians 4:16-17
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SUNDAY 06 DECEMBER 2020 PASTOR CHRIS
DON’T SUCCUMB TO EVIL ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷× And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time (Daniel 7:25). ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×
The phrase “wear out” in the verse above is translated from Aramaic into English. It means to afflict, to constantly harass. One of Satan’s strategies in these last days is to foment so much evil in the world that could provoke God’s people to a compromise. He seeks to wear out the saints. This opening verse shows that during the Great Tribulation, the antichrist would wear out the saints. There’ll be so much evil that many will acclimatise to sin. Wickedness will become a normal lifestyle for a whole lot of people.
The Bible gives us an account of a righteous man named Lot, Abraham’s nephew, who lived in Sodom and whose soul was vexed daily by the wickedness of the people. “And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds)” (2 Peter 2:6-8).
The underlined word, “vexed”, means the same in Greek as the Aramaic for “wear out” which we read earlier in our theme verse. It means to harass with evil, afflict, make trouble for, treat until one is used to a certain situation. Lot was vexed with the filthy manner of life of the wicked. This is what Satan would have many do in these final moments of the Church, to adjust to the ways of darkness.
But you must say, “No” and walk in righteousness, in the light of God, in spite of what’s going on around you. Never succumb to evil; rather, let your light shine, for you’ve been sanctified by the Spirit, separated to God for His divine use—holy and undefiled.
FURTHER STUDY:
2 Corinthians 6:17, Matthew 5:14-16
& Galatians 5:19-21
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY 05 DECEMBER 2020 PASTOR CHRIS
IMPACT YOUR WORLD ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷× And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it (Colossians 4:17). ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×
You were born for God’s glory. You were created to live an extraordinary life that pleases God, and you can’t live such a life without making an impact. So, go ahead and make a difference in your world through the Gospel. It’s the most significant and impactful message in all the world, saving and changing lives everywhere. Hallelujah!
Romans 8:19 says, “For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.” Then in Matthew 5:16, Jesus said, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.’’ Your true purpose in the earth is to manifest the glory of God and establish His Kingdom in your home, street, place of work, school and in your sphere of contact.
It makes no difference what your age is; you can make a difference in your world. You have what it takes—the Holy Spirit! As you fellowship with Him and function in the Church, you’ll discover what He wants you to do—your specific purpose in Him, and how exactly He wants you to live. He’s raising people He can trust; He’s building them on the Word. Be one of them.
He may not start you out with something big; but remain faithful with whatever He commits to your hands. When you’re faithful in little, He’ll account you to be faithful in much. Remember, you’re His ambassador in this world, with the God-ordained purpose to illuminate your world and impact others with the Christ-life! That’s your calling; that’s your purpose; that’s your life! Christ in you, the hope of glory.
FURTHER STUDY: Ephesians 2:10 AMPC & Acts 26:16 AMPC
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY 04 DECEMBER 2020 PASTOR CHRIS
THE WORD IN YOUR MOUTH
×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷× Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart (2 Corinthians 3:3). ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×
Writing the Word in your heart is very important. This is done through meditation and constant confession of the Word. The more you do this, the more the glory of the Word is manifested in your life. We’re admonished in the Scriptures to be filled with the knowledge of God’s Word, for out of that abundance, our words will come forth.
Your words must be consistent with God’s truths; otherwise, you’ll have trouble. The adversary will take advantage of your own words to put you in bondage. Proverbs 6:2 says, “Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.”
Many today are trapped, struggling to come out of one predicament or the other, which they may have created through their own words. Jesus said in Mark 11:23 that you shall have what you say. In Matthew 12:37, He said, “For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.”
You have to make a determination to talk God’s Word; talk Kingdom-talk. You’re in the Kingdom of God, and it’s a Kingdom run by words, where we rule and prevail by our wholesome, faith-filled words. Remember the Lord’s admonition in Joshua 1:8, “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth...”; it’s about the Word in your mouth!
FURTHER STUDY: Luke 6:45 & 1 Peter 3:10
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 03 DECEMBER 2020 PASTOR CHRIS
FOCUS ON THE LORD AND HIS KINGDOM ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷× Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this (Isaiah 9:7). ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×
David prophesied of a king who will rule over the nations of the world. He said in Psalm 72:8, “He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth.”
Our opening scripture says concerning that King, “Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end....” The Lord Jesus heads the Kingdom of God, of which we’re a part. It’s a real Kingdom; a functional spiritual kingdom. Our consciousness of the Kingdom is important; we can’t focus our minds on this earth as though everything ends here; there’s a world that’s greater than this.
Colossians 3:1-2 says, “...seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” How? By being “...stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58).
These are the last days; fix your gaze on the Lord and His Kingdom. Make Him your focus. Be on fire for the Lord all the time; be instant in season, and out of season, proclaiming His truth.
FURTHER STUDY: 1 Corinthians 15:58 , Romans 8:5-6 & Colossians 3:1-4
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 02 DECEMBER 2020 PASTOR CHRIS
UNDERSTAND AND SPEAK THE WORD
×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷× My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge... (Hosea 4:6) ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×
There’re Christians whose experiences in life are an antithesis of their faith and the Word of God. For example, they may believe that as Christians, they’re not supposed to be oppressed by Satan, yet they experience continual satanic attacks and manipulations. They believe they aren’t supposed to be sick or have infirmities in their bodies, yet they’re hardly in good health. Something is wrong.
There’re two important areas to examine in dealing with such inconsistencies. First is the accurate understanding of the Word. In Matthew 13, Jesus emphasized the importance of understanding when He taught on the parable of the sower (Matthew 13:3-9).
In His interpretation of the parable, He explained that the seeds that fell by the wayside represent those who hear the Word of God and don’t understand it. Due to their lack of understanding, Satan comes immediately and steals the Word from their hearts (Matthew 13:19).
An accurate understanding of the Word is so important. When you understand the Word, you’re able to apply it rightly to produce results for you. Proverbs 4:7 says, “...with all thy getting get understanding.”
The second thing is your communication; the words you speak. If your words are inconsistent with the Word of God, your life, which is the outward manifestation of your words, will also be inconsistent. The Psalmist said, “...my tongue is the pen of a ready writer” (Psalm 45:1).
Your tongue is the pen that writes God’s Word on your heart. What you say is written on your heart, and out of that abundance, your mouth speaks. Always study and listen to the Word; bombard your mind and your spirit with the Word, and then speak accordingly! Your life will be the manifestation of the Word. Praise God!
FURTHER STUDY: Joshua 1:8, Mark 11:23, Acts 20:32 & Ephesians 1:17-18
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY 01 DECEMBER 2020 PASTOR CHRIS
THE NEW HEAVEN AND THE NEW EARTH ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷× For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? (Mark 8:36-37). ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×
When a new model of a product or device is advertised with far better features, oftentimes, the value of the current one drops; especially if it’s to be phased out. Generally, all who are interested in the product start preparing for the new one, while losing value for the old.
This is how you should view this current world; it’s going to be burnt up and destroyed. A new Heaven, and a new earth that’ll take its place have been advertised in the Scriptures. Revelation 21:1 says, “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.” The 4th verse says, “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” And verses 18-19 say, “And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass. And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones….” The 23rd and 25th verses take it even further: “And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.” What a description! What a place to look forward to! Your focus shouldn’t be on this present world which will soon pass away.
Recall the words of Jesus in our theme verse: “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” This world, with all it represents, isn’t worth the loss of your soul; so, live your life for the Lord. Let your passion be all about the Gospel of Christ as we await His glorious return.
FURTHER STUDY:*
2 Timothy 4:10, Galatians 6:14 Colossians 3:1-2 & 2 Peter 3:12-14
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 30 NOVEMBER 2020 PASTOR CHRIS
WE GLORIFY HIS NAME ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷× Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen (Ephesians 3:21). ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×
Oftentimes, in prayer and songs of worship, some Christians would say, “O Lord, glorify your Name in all the earth.” It sounds okay, but it puts us in a position of expecting God to glorify His Name. And that’s not His idea; we’re the ones to glorify Him. Recall the words of Jesus in John 17:4 “I have glorified thee on the earth....” This is what we’re expected to do.
Our theme verse says, “Unto him be glory in the church...,” meaning that He expects the Church to give Him glory. Your life is for the glory of God. He’s glorified as you consistently live out His Word, bearing fruits of His divine life and nature in you. As you walk in health, prosperity, and impact your world with His righteousness, greatness, beauty and wisdom; as you produce Word-based results, the Lord is glorified.
No wonder Jesus said in Matthew 5:16, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” He’s glorified by your works of righteousness. In John 17:4 that we read earlier, the latter part shows that Jesus glorified the Father by doing what the Father wanted Him to do: “I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.” This is one of the reasons you must study the Word to know what He wants, so that every day, and in every place, you glorify Him by living out His Word.
Praise God!
FURTHER STUDY: John 2:11, John 15:8, Colossians 1:27 & Matthew 5:16 AMPC
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SUNDAY 29 NOVEMBER 2020 PASTOR CHRIS
HAVE A PRAISE PARTY ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷× And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the Lord, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the Lord; for his mercy endureth for ever (2 Chronicles 20:21). ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×
One of the ways to activate the power of God is worship. Throughout the Scriptures, we find inspiring accounts of how God delivered His people from destruction and dire situations when they activated His power in praise and worship. A good example is when three nations—Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir— came against Judah. King Jehoshaphat, by the wisdom of God, gathered all Judah to seek the Lord in prayer and fasting. When they prayed, God revealed to them the exact location of the enemies’ camp, and gave them the strategy to defeat them.
2 Chronicles 20:22 says, “...when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten.” When you face daunting challenges, don’t panic or fret; worship the Lord instead. Like Jehoshaphat, have a “praise party!”
Don’t wait until you feel like singing before making melodies in your heart, singing praises unto the Lord. Whether you’re happy or not, praise Him all the same; worship Him and give Him glory. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”
Recall Paul and Silas; for preaching the Gospel, they were tortured and incarcerated in a Roman prison. But at midnight, they prayed and sang praises unto God; and as they did, the power of God was activated and they were supernaturally set free (Acts 16:25-26). This miraculous encounter led to the salvation of the prison warden with his entire family.
You may be faced with a difficult situation today for which you’ve prayed and confessed that it’s all working out for your good, yet nothing seems to have changed; don’t give up; worship and praise the Lord, for His mercy endures forever.
FURTHER STUDY:
Psalm 28:7 AMPC, Psalm 107:31 & Psalm 145:1-6
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY 28 NOVEMBER 2020 PASTOR CHRIS
HIS FULLNESS IN YOU ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷× And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace (John 1:16). ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×
Before Jesus came, the Holy Spirit only came upon men in part and for a temporary purpose, after which, the unction lifted. For instance, the Bible says, “And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him (Samson), and he rent him (a young lion) as he would have rent a kid, and he had nothing in his hand...” (Judges 14:6). It was the same with David; the Old Testament folks didn’t have the fullness of the Spirit.
With Jesus; the Bible says, “For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell” (Colossians 1:19). The word, “fullness” is from the Greek, “plēroama” which means repletion or completion; the total or complete content of a vessel in its maximum capacity and entirety. That means everything the Father is, and has, is in Jesus. Colossians 2:9 says, “For in him (Jesus) dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.” When Jesus walked the streets, God Almighty, in His fullness, was in Him. Hallelujah!
The most amazing part of this is that as read in our opening verse, we’ve received this same fullness. That means everything the Father is, and has, is in you, because He lives in you. Have this consciousness. Colossians 2:10 says, “And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power.” There’s nothing of God that’s supposed to be in you that’s not in you.
Your humanity has been supplanted by the life and nature of God. This is the difference between you and the one who isn’t born again; you’re a God-carrying vessel. Through you, He manifests Himself—His life, wisdom, grace, righteousness, excellence, glory and perfection—for He lives in you in His fullness. Glory to God!
FURTHER STUDY: 1 John 4:4, John 3:34 & Ephesians 3:17-19
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY 27 NOVEMBER 2020 PASTOR CHRIS
BE PREPARED FOR THE “FIRST FLIGHT” ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷× For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×
Make no mistakes about it, the time left before the Master's return is shorter than many realize. What we’re expecting right now is the Rapture of the Church, the “catching away” of all those who are born again and walking in the light of God. Suddenly, we’ll disappear from this world to meet the Lord in the air.
Someone may ask, “How is that going to be possible? Imagine that the driver of a commuter bus or pilot of an airplane filled with people is born again, but the passengers aren’t; are you saying the driver or pilot will be raptured while the vehicle or airplane crashes?”
First, people who ask such questions haven’t understood what’s about to befall the world. The Rapture itself is judgement for the world. In Luke 17, Jesus said the day Noah entered into the ark, the floods came. Also, the same day that Lot went out of Sodom, fire came from Heaven and burnt up the city; judgement began immediately.
At the Rapture, cars and planes crashing with people on board is all part of the judgement for the rejection of Christ. At that point, the hour of His grace would have been over. If any Christian is left behind, it’s because he or she wasn’t living the life of a Christian. They’ll be amongst the ones who’ll go through the Great Tribulation that’s to take place after the Rapture. And among them, a multitude of people will eventually be saved.
But you don’t want to be in that group. Jesus said, “Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man” (Luke 21:36). Prepare yourself for the “first flight.” Each day that passes takes us a day closer to His glorious appearing. Live for Him, and get others in your world ready for that day.
FURTHER STUDY: Matthew 24:37-39, 1 John 2:28 & Revelation 1:7
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 26 NOVEMBER 2020 PASTOR CHRIS
JUSTIFIED FREELY BY HIS GRACE ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷× Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus (Romans 3:24). ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×
In John 15:25, Jesus said, “But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, "They hated me without a cause.” The expression, “without a cause” is “dōrean” (Greek), meaning freely, needlessly, for nothing, or in vain. In other words, Jesus did nothing wrong to warrant their hatred. Even though His expression of love towards them was unparralled, they hated Him still.
But then, as indicated in our opening scripture, God, in His infinite love, decided to respond in line with His own character by justifying man freely by His grace. The word, “freely” is the same Greek word, “dōrean.” He’s letting us know that just as Jesus didn’t do anything to deserve the world’s hatred, you didn’t have to do anything to be justified by God.
To be justified is to be declared not guilty; it’s to be acquitted, declared righteous. Hallelujah! And it happened without you having to do anything to qualify for it; it was without a cause, but by the faith of Jesus Christ: “Therefore being justified by faith...” (Romans 5:1).
It’s not about your works or self-righteous acts. The Bible says, ”For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). Oh, how glorious to know that all that’s necessary is to submit to God’s righteousness! Now, you can reign in life: “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). Blessed be God!
FURTHER STUDY: Romans 3:24-27 & Romans 11:6
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 25 NOVEMBER 2020 PASTOR CHRIS
THE KNOWLEDGE OF WHO YOU ARE ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷× An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered (Proverbs 11:9). ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×
Imagine that you carried and were playing with your neighbour’s one or two-year-old child and he suddenly inflicts a bite on your hand. You see the bite wound but shrug it off as nothing, because he’s only a child. Then while walking away, someone walks up to you and says, “I saw that child bite you; but did you know the child is HIV positive?”
Suddenly, your demeanour changes; you start speaking in tongues and making confessions. In your mind, you think you’re putting your faith to work, whereas you’re actually demonstrating a lack of understanding of who you are in Christ. God doesn’t want you at that level.
If you have the knowledge of God and recognise what you have inside you, and who you are in Christ, you’ll remain unmoved, in spite of the new information about the child. This was what the Apostle Paul knew that made him so different. In Acts 28:3-6, the serpent that bit Paul was a venomous one, and those who were around him were expecting him to swell and die right there. But they were baffled to see Paul unharmed. He didn’t even pay attention to it; the Bible says he shook it into the fire and went on discussing the Gospel. Hallelujah!
Someone may say, “Oh, if only I have the kind of faith that Paul had!” No, it wasn’t faith that Paul demonstrated; it was the knowledge of God at work. He had the knowledge of who Jesus said the Christian is. In Mark 16:17-18, Jesus said, “And these signs shall follow them that believe...if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them....” If any poisonous substance ever finds its way into your system—whether by accident or by intent— it’ll have no effect on you.
What you need is the accurate and adequate knowledge of God’s Word; this is what puts you over in life. Many don’t have a faith problem, for every one of us has faith (Romans 12:3). The issue is their lack of understanding of who they are and what belongs to them in Christ. The knowledge of God’s Word gives you an undeniable conviction of the transcendent life of victory and dominion. This is why you’ve got to study and meditate on the Word every day.
FURTHER STUDY: Hosea 4:6, Acts 20:32 & 2 Peter 1:2
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY 24 NOVEMBER 2020 PASTOR CHRIS
FELLOWSHIP OF THE SPIRIT ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷× The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen (2 Corinthians 13:14). ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×
Your highest calling as a Christian is fellowship with the Lord. Without fellowship, nothing you do on earth is esteemed in Heaven. To fellowship with Jesus is to fellowship with the fullest revelation of the essence of deity. But you see, you can’t fellowship with Him except through the Holy Spirit.
That’s why I often wonder why some people think they don’t need the Holy Spirit. There’s nothing more void than a life without the Holy Spirit, because He’s the author of life. Without Him, all you have will be darkness. He’s the One who gives you light and quickens the Word of God in your heart. God’s Word won’t mean anything to you without the insight and revelation the Holy Spirit gives.
The Bible says His words are life to those that find them (Proverbs 4:22); and the way to find them is through the Holy Spirit. Your desire should be to fellowship more with the Holy Spirit every day; I mean fellowship with participation, where you’re actively engaged with Him in a romance of righteousness.
The glorious thing about this is that, for all the successes that you achieve through the guidance and wisdom you receive as you fellowship with Him, He gives you the credit. Another beautiful impact of your fellowship with Him is that you become so mingled with Him that your body becomes His body; your tongue becomes His tongue, your hands, His hands, and your feet, His feet. Hallelujah!
In this kind of relationship, every limit and barrier is taken off your way; you experience nothing but progress in life. You’re so full of His glory and wisdom that they overflow from you to others. He takes over your life and you experience unprecedented manifestations of His power that causes many to wonder at you. These and more are what fellowship with the Holy Spirit will bring to you. Praise God!
FURTHER STUDY: 1 John 1:3, John 16:13 & 1 Corinthians 1:9
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 23 NOVEMBER 2020 PASTOR CHRIS
BE MINDFUL OF THE SCHEDULE OF OTHERS ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷× See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil (Ephesians 5:15-16). ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×
Did you ever meet someone who had no regard for your time? I’m sure you didn’t enjoy it. Now, if you didn’t enjoy it, then you ought to always regard the time and schedule of others in your dealings with people. If you could take the time to plan your day and prioritize your activities, you ought to expect that those you meet would have done the same.
Don’t shift or postpone appointments haphazardly; it could mess things up for someone else. There’re certain things in life that aren’t in unending supply; they’re limited; one of them is time. There’s joy and fulfilment you get when you respond to people promptly and see the look of gratitude on their faces for saving their time. When people meet you, they ought to be glad they did; they ought to leave you happier, and one sure way of ensuring this is by valuing their precious time.
If you were to schedule an appointment at work, for example, try as much as possible not to make open-ended appointments. It’s better to say, “See me at 5.15pm” and be ready at that time, than to say, “See me between 5 and 5.30pm,” and keep the person guessing when exactly to show up. And if for any reason, you know you wouldn’t be ready at the time you planned, reach out ahead of the agreed time to cancel or reschedule, tendering your apologies.
Do your best not to destabilize other people’s day. Of course, there’s the flip side to this; you could be the one who’s supposed to see someone, but you’ve fixed the same time to see five other people across the city! You’re definitely going to keep at least one or more of them waiting for you, and that’s not okay. Even as the boss in the office, be sensitive to the schedules of your subordinates. Successful people are time-conscious.
FURTHER STUDY: Ecclesiastes 3:1 & Psalm 90:12
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SUNDAY 22 NOVEMBER 2020 PASTOR CHRIS
YOU’RE IN THE LIGHT ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷× But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: (1 Peter 2:9). ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×
The underlined portion of the verse above lets you know your present location; you’ve been brought out of darkness into God’s marvellous light. That light is the light of life that shows you the path of righteousness, life and dominion. It’s like what the Lord did for the children of Israel in the Old Testament; He brought them out of Egypt, which represented darkness, into the Promised Land, which symbolizes light!
Darkness represents sin, death, evil and all the negatives of life. You’ve been brought out of sin, sickness, disease, depression, poverty and frustrations, into God’s Kingdom of light. This isn’t something the Lord will do for you as you grow in Christ; He’s already done it. Colossians 1:12-13 says, “Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son.” When you made Jesus Lord of your life, you were translated into the Kingdom of God’s dear Son; it’s a spiritual kingdom of light, where you reign in life by grace through righteousness. You’re not subject to the darkness and failing systems and structures of this world. You’ve been brought into the supernatural life of glory where you shine evermore. No wonder He said in Isaiah 60:1, “Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.”
FURTHER STUDY:
John 1:4-9, Proverbs 4:18 & Isaiah 60:1-3
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY 21 NOVEMBER 2020 PASTOR CHRIS
EVERYTHING IS SUBJECT TO CHRIST ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷× While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him (Matthew 17:5). ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×
When God said concerning Jesus in the verse above, “...This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him,” He was talking to all of creation. All of nature, animate and inanimate— everything in heaven, on earth, and under the earth—is subject to Jesus. The rocks, wind, trees, water, fish, angels, demons, etc., are under His dominion and charge. Philippians 2:9-10 says, “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth.” Now you understand why everything Jesus said came to pass. He talked to a tree and it withered (Mark 11:12-22). He spoke to a raging tempest and it hushed (Mark 4:35- 39). He talked to bread and fish and they multiplied and became more than enough to feed multitudes (Matthew 14:17-21, Matthew 15:32-38). He talked to corpses and they revived (Luke 7:11-15, John 11:32- 44).
At His word, maimed limbs grew back, blind eyes opened, deaf ears were unstopped, and demons scuttled in terror (Matthew 15:30), because they were commanded to hear and obey Him. Now, the most beautiful part is how this connects with us. 1 John 4:17 says, “...as he (Jesus) is, so are we in this world.” Then in Matthew 28:18-19, He said, “...All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth....” Then on the basis of that authority, He charged us to preach the Gospel to every creature, and tame this world.
He gave us the authority to act in His stead, the power of attorney to use His Name. Therefore, our words have the same power. Everything in life is subject to you as they’re subject to Him, because you’re one with Him. You can speak to anything in His Name and have the results you desire. Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY: Matthew 28:18-19 AMPC & Luke 10:17-19
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY 20 NOVEMBER 2020 PASTOR CHRIS
FRUITS OF HIS OBEDIENCE ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷× Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life (Romans 5:18). ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×
Under the Old Testament, God’s blessings for the children of Israel were preconditioned on their obedience to the Law. For example, God had desired that they walk as kings and priests before Him, but their obedience was a prerequisite for the blessings to take effect in their lives. In Exodus 19:5-6, He said, “Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation....”
However, they broke His laws and couldn’t enjoy the fullness of His blessings and promises. But that isn’t the case with us today in the New Testament. Colossians 1:12 says, “Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light.” We’ve been qualified to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the Kingdom of light.
We’re sharers and participants in the blessings and benefits of the Kingdom-life reserved for all of God’s saints. This didn’t happen by your obedience, but by Christ’s obedience (Romans 5:19).
Jesus Christ fulfilled the Law, and then abolished it. You’re the fruit of His obedience. By His obedience, God’s gift—His blessing of righteousness was bequeathed to you. Today, it’s no use trying to “obey” the Law for God to bless you; you were born blessed with all spiritual blessings in Christ (Ephesians 1:3).
Nowhere in the New Testament are we told to “obey” to be blessed; rather, we’re called His obedient ones (1 Peter 1:14). We’re described as having “obeyed” God’s Word of truth from the heart (Romans 6:17). So your blessings, your inheritance in Christ, are the results of Christ’s redemptive work in your behalf. Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY: 1 Corinthians 3:21 & 2 Peter 1:3-4
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 19 NOVEMBER 2020 PASTOR CHRIS
YIELD TO HIM AND FOLLOW HIS WORD ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷× Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come (John 16:13). ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×
Being born again, the Spirit of God lives in you, and He guides you by the Word, in the way that you should go. His Word is your sure guide in life. It’s the reason we encourage conscious study and meditation on the Word. Getting yourself acquainted with the Word is the way to know the counsel of God and walk in His will. He counsels you from within, in line with the Word.
No other personality in this life can lead you in success, victory and rest as the Holy Spirit would. His delight is to guide you to make accurate and excellent decisions, go to the right places at the right time, and do the right things at the right time, for God’s glory. Recognise His ministry and person in your life. Talk with Him often. Listen to Him as well, for He’s always talking to your spirit. He cares about everything you do; He takes interest in the minutest detail of your life. It’s His pleasure to successfully guide you through all your endeavours from day to day.
Many have made grievous mistakes in their lives for not listening to Him and following His guidance. His counsel and guidance are always in sync with the Word. Your life will be the expression of God’s glory, beauty, wisdom and grace as you yield to Him and follow His Word. Through the Word, He guides and leads you from glory to glory.
FURTHER STUDY: John 16:13-15 & James 1:22-25
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 18 NOVEMBER 2020 PASTOR CHRIS
IT’S A WALK OF FAITH ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷× For we walk by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×
Romans 9:8 says, “...They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God....” The children of the flesh are ruled by their senses. Instead of walking by faith, they’re controlled only by that which they can physically see, hear, touch, taste, or smell. But Christianity is a walk of faith; it’s life beyond the senses.
Spiritual realities can’t be perceived with human senses. This is the reason the natural man doesn’t understand the things of the Spirit; they’re foolishness to him (1 Corinthians 2:14). Romans 9:8 lets us know that the children of the flesh—those who are sense- ruled—are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed. The children of the promise are the children of the Word.
Paul’s climactic submission in 2 Corinthians 5:7 AMPC is quite profound: He said, “For we walk by faith [we regulate our lives and conduct ourselves by our conviction or belief respecting man’s relationship to God and divine things, with trust and holy fervour; thus we walk] not by sight or appearance”. Don’t live by sight or appearance; like those who say, “Seeing is believing,” no! That’s contrary to faith. Recall what Jesus said to Martha in John 11:40. He said, “...if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God.” You believe to see; that’s faith.
Hebrews 11:1 (AMPC) says, “NOW FAITH is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses].” You can’t please God until you’ve learnt to apprehend and call real, things that your physical senses can’t perceive, but are revealed in God’s Word. That’s Christianity; it’s a walk of faith.
FURTHER STUDY: 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 & Hebrews 11:6-12
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY 17 NOVEMBER 2020 PASTOR CHRIS
LIVING IN HIS MARVELLOUS LIGHT ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷× Giving thanks unto the Father... Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son (Colossians 1:12-13). ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×
I would to God that all of God’s children would understand how powerful the above scripture is! It says we’ve been delivered from the domain of darkness and transferred into the Kingdom of the Son of His love. That’s where you are now! But a Christian who doesn’t have this understanding will be living the life of darkness, thinking the thoughts of darkness, from where he’s already been transferred.
Darkness represents sin, death, evil and all the negative things that are associated with Satan. You’ve been brought out of everything that’s of the devil, into God’s Kingdom of light. Remember, darkness can’t overcome light. So, if you say, “I’m experiencing demonic oppression in my life,” the question would be, “Where are you? Where did the demons meet you?”
If you don’t live as one who has been translated into the Kingdom of God’s dear Son, you can’t walk in the authority of God’s dear Son. You’ve got to understand, recognize and live as one who knows that he’s been delivered from the domain of darkness and translated into God’s marvelous light.
Galatians 5:1 says, “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” Refuse to be entangled by the yoke of bondage. Relocate yourself; change position by saying, “From this day, I refuse to be under the influence or control of the darkness that rules this present world; I’m seated with Christ in power, glory and majesty, with dominion over Satan and the cohorts of darkness.” Blessed be God! No wonder Peter declared, “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light” (1 Peter 2:9).
FURTHER STUDY: John 8:36, Hosea 4:6 & 1 Peter 2:9 AMPC
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 16 NOVEMBER 2020 PASTOR CHRIS
LIVING IN HIS REST ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷× For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his (Hebrews 4:10). ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×
When you study the account of creation in Genesis 1, you’ll observe God created man on the sixth day, after He had created everything else. Satisfied, He rested from all His works on the seventh day: “And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested...” (Genesis 2:2).
Man’s first day in the earth was God’s day of rest. Adam didn’t meet God working; he met Him resting. It wasn’t that God rested so that Adam could finish the rest of the work, no; God finished all the work before Adam was formed. Adam was thus born into rest. This was God’s purpose and intent for man at the beginning. Christ is our rest. When you come into Christ, you’re free from struggles, hassles, anxieties, turmoil and hardships. No wonder we’re counselled by the Spirit, in Philippians 4:6 NKJV to “Be anxious for nothing...” ; have no worries.
If you’ve found yourself toiling and stressed out, despite being born again, it’s time for a change. First, cultivate a new mindset and realise that God made you for His pleasure; He created you to be pleased and happy about you and for your life to glorify Him. Then, you say, “I refuse the hard life and embrace the life of peace, abundance, joy and success in Christ. I’ve been given all things richly to enjoy; I don’t lack anything, because ALL things are mine.”
Your life in Christ is one of immeasurable grace, glory, dominion, joy and righteousness; it’s an extraordinary life of glory from a position of rest. So, keep dominating and subduing your world from a position of rest.
FURTHER STUDY: Hebrews 4:3 & Matthew 6:25-26
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SUNDAY 15 NOVEMBER 2020 PASTOR CHRIS
YOUR NAME IS IMPORTANT
×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷× Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee (Genesis 17:5). ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×
Whatever name you answer has a direct bearing on your destiny; your name gives meaning to your destiny. This explains why God changed the names of certain individuals in the Bible in line with their destinies in Him. A good example is Abraham, who was formerly named Abram. Abram meant exalted father or assumed father. In the process of time, he had no child, though many servants were born in his house.
But one day, the Lord spoke to him and said, “... behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee” (Genesis 17:4-5). Abraham believed God, and immediately started answering the name Abraham, “the father of many nations.”
Another important example is Jacob; he was named Jacob because at birth he held on to his brother’s heel. Jacob means swindler or deceiver; and true to his name, he deceitfully obtained his brother’s birthright, with the aid of his mother.
However, when he encountered the Lord and asked to be blessed, He wouldn’t bless him until his name was changed from Jacob (the deceiver) to Israel, a prince with God (Genesis 32:28); and his destiny was transformed for good.
Consider the Apostle Peter; before he came to Jesus, he answered the name, “Simon,” meaning a reed shaken by the wind, unstable. As Simon, he was inconsistent. But one day, Jesus said to him, “...thou art Peter, (Greek: Petros) and upon this rock (Greek: Petra) I will build my church...” (Matthew 16:18).
If the meaning of your name isn’t consistent with the Word of God, you’ve got to change it. It makes no difference that you’ve answered the name all your life; if its meaning isn’t consistent with the revelation of who you are in Christ, respond to God’s Word and change it as an act of faith.
FURTHER STUDY: Genesis 32:24-28 & Matthew 16:16-18
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY 14 NOVEMBER 2020 PASTOR CHRIS
GUARD YOUR SALVATION
×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷× How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him (Hebrews 2:3). ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×
If anything should be precious to you in this life, especially in these last days, it must be your personal salvation. Our theme verse says, “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation....” Your salvation is the number one thing in your life. Protect it. See that you’re walking in the light of God, in the totality of salvation. He said, “...work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12).
No matter your accomplishments in life, they’ll all be a waste without your salvation. Jesus said in Mark 8:36, “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” It doesn’t matter how many conferences you held or attended or how many people you helped; without your salvation, they’ll mean nothing.
Don’t trade your salvation for anything. We’re surrounded by hawks and beasts that don’t spare the flock; they’ll do anything for their personal gains. Don’t let them deceive you, and don’t lead yourself astray. Stay in Christ, in His Word, and keep expressing His love and righteousness to your world.
Remember, not only are you here for your salvation, you’re here also to help others receive salvation. When you really understand what salvation is, you’ll not only protect it with your life, but you’d also be eager to share it with others. The Apostle Paul said, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:16). The only way you can help others receive salvation is to share the Gospel with them. So make this a vital part of your daily routine and pursuit.
FURTHER STUDY: Philippians 2:12, Mark 8:36-37 & 1 Corinthians 9:26-27 AMPC
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY 13 NOVEMBER 2020 PASTOR CHRIS
HEIRS OF INEXHAUSTIBLE RICHES ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷× Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ (Ephesians 3:8). ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×
It makes no difference how and where you were born; now that you’re in Christ, you’re separated unto God and His glory. Poverty isn’t part of your life. When you understand this and discover who you are, suddenly, there’ll be a change in your mentality; you become bigger than your job, your business, and your income or salary; you become big on the inside!
The Amplified Classic version of our opening scripture says, “To me, though I am the very least of all the saints (God’s consecrated people), this grace (favor, privilege) was granted and graciously entrusted: to proclaim to the Gentiles the unending (boundless, fathomless, incalculable, and exhaustless) riches of Christ [wealth which no human being could have searched out].”
The Word is for the man or woman who steps into it. So you’re to affirm, “I have access to the unending, boundless, fathomless, incalculable, and exhaustless riches of Christ — wealth which no human being could have searched out.” You were born into inexhaustible wealth, for you’re the seed of Abraham, an heir of God and a joint-heir with Christ. Your wealth is like the bread that Jesus distributed to the multitude (five thousand men; women and children not counted). As they distributed it, it multiplied (Matthew 14).
This is how you should think about your resources; refuse to be lack-conscious. Always give. The more you give, the more your resources are multiplied to be unlimited. This should be your consciousness and confession. Glory to God!
FURTHER STUDY: 2 Corinthians 8:9 AMPC, Colossians 1:12 & 1 Corinthians 3:21
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 12 NOVEMBER 2020 PASTOR CHRIS
GLORIFIED IN CHRIST
×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷× And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them... (John 17:22). ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×
Being born again, you’re not an insignificant speck in the dust; you have honour and glory in Christ. This glory refers to the perfections of beauty, the excellence of divinity and it’s expressions, the honour of God, etc.
Jesus is the express image of God’s person, the brightness, effulgence (outshining) of the glory of God. The Bible says God gave Him His excellent glory (Hebrews 1:3). Now, here’s the most remarkable part: Just before He was crucified, He prayed a very touching prayer to the Father on our behalf. He said: “And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them...” (John 17:22).
He gave us the same glory the Father gave Him, so that we’d be one with Him and the Father, just as He and the Father are one. Today, you have the glory of God the Father, the same glory He gave to Jesus. You may be thinking right now, “Can someone like me who has done so many wrong things have the glory of God in his life?” Sure, you do, now that you’re born again!
The Bible says, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:23-24). Before Jesus came, everybody was labelled a sinner. Jesus, however, dealt with the problem of sin once and for all. Therefore, if because of sin we came short of the glory of God, now that the problem has been dealt with, we’re no longer short of the glory of God. We’re His glorified ones, according to Romans 8:30: “Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.” Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY: 2 Corinthians 3:10-11, Romans 8:30 & Isaiah 60:1-2
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY 11 NOVEMBER 2020 PASTOR CHRIS
FOCUS ON THE GREATER GOAL
×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷× Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work (John 4:34). ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×
As we earnestly look forward to the Rapture of the Church, it’s important that your focus be on the achievement of the “greater goal.” What’s this greater goal? It’s winning the unsaved to Christ.
Jesus and His disciples were on a journey from Judaea to Galilee, and they stopped in a Samaritan village. The Master needed to catch a breather while His disciples went to get some food. While Jesus sat at the well, a woman came to draw water, and Jesus began to preach the Good News of the Kingdom to her.
Much later, when His disciples returned with the food, and Jesus wouldn’t eat. When they wondered why He didn’t want to eat, He replied, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about; the food that keeps me going is that I do the will of the One who sent me, and finish His work” (John 4:32-34).
This is the example He left us to follow. Doing God’s work was number one to Jesus. Nothing should be more important to you than ensuring the spread of the Gospel in your world and around the world. You must realize that your earthly job, business, education or other career are your opportunities and vehicles for transporting the Gospel.
When you commit your life to soul winning, you discover the satisfaction and fulfilment nothing else in life can give you. You declare like Jesus, “My meat is to do the will of Him that sent me, and to finish His work.” Praise God!
FURTHER STUDY: Galatians 2:20 , 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 & 1 Corinthians 9:16
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY 10 NOVEMBER 2020 PASTOR CHRIS
EXPRESS GRATITUDE
×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷× ...be thankful in all circumstances. This is what God wants from you in your life in union with Christ Jesus (1Thessalonians 5:18 GNB). ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×
The words “Thank you” are two of the most powerful words to utter. They convey heartfelt appreciation and gratefulness which, when rightly expressed, leave an indelible impression of your sincere gratitude and evoke joy in the hearts of the recipients.
Also, when you make someone glad, it’ll relax your nerves and gladden your spirit! Therefore, every so often, ask yourself, “Who am I going to appreciate today?” Let it be part of your daily plan.
Someone, somewhere, should get a call, a visit, a card or a gift from you to say, “Thank You!” I like it when I’m able to call someone to say, “Thank you.”
Some people find it difficult to express gratitude even when occasion warrants it. But the counsel of the Lord is clear: express gratitude always and in all things. When you go out and an attendant offers you any form of assistance, don’t forget to say, “Thank you.”
In church, or at the theatre or some event, when the usher shows you to a seat, don’t sit down without saying, “Thank you. ” When a cab driver takes you safely to your destination, don’t Alight without saying, “Thank you!” All these are simple everyday situations that we experience, and sometimes, we don’t realize we ought to be thankful for these things.
If you’re a parent, learn to say “Thank you” to your kids when they do something nice. As a couple, say “Thank you” to your spouse for the things you do for each other. When people do things for you, be it a favour or even something they’re obliged to do, practise saying, “Thank you.” You’ll be amazed at the joy and fulfilment you’ll experience as a result.
FURTHER STUDY: 1 Thessalonians 5:18 & John 6:11
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 09 NOVEMBER 2020 PASTOR CHRIS
AFFIRM HIS TRUTHS IN FAITH ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷× For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith (1 John 5:4) ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×
There’s so much negative information in the world today, and this has instilled fear in the hearts of those who aren’t rooted and grounded in the Word. The Lord Jesus referred to this in Luke 21:25-26 when He described some of the signs of the end of the age. He said, “...there shall be ...distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth....”*_ In Luke 18:8, He asked, “...when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?”
You’re to stand your ground in faith, irrespective of the challenges and hardships in today’s world. Train your faith with the Word to prevail against the odds and adversities of life. Refuse to give up or give in to the pressures around you. Ephesians 6:13-16 says, “...having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.” Keep your switch of faith turned on, by staying your mind on the Word. When Satan throws the dart of fear at you, refuse it, because the greater One lives in you! It makes no difference that the world is experiencing severe economic slump as a result of the recent global crisis; you’re the seed of Abraham! You’re a joint-heir with Christ; never talk or live as one who’s disadvantaged; affirm God’s truth! The creative power of His Word becomes effective once ignited by the faith-response from your spirit, bringing about a transformation in your life and situation from glory to glory. Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY: Proverbs 18:21, 2 Corinthians 4:13 &
Philemon 1:6
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SUNDAY 08 NOVEMBER 2020 PASTOR CHRIS
HE PREPARED A WONDERFUL LIFE FOR YOU
×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷× Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ (Ephesians 1:3). ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×
God is good; God is kind, and God is love! He’s our great heavenly Father who, long before we came on the scene, prepared a wonderful and exciting life for us: a life of success, victory, peace and prosperity. He didn’t create you to suffer or struggle your way through life. He prearranged a good life of blessings for you.
That’s like what He did when He created Adam; He first created a beautiful garden where everything Adam would require was made available. Then He created Adam and put him in the garden to inhabit it and enjoy the goodness therein. God brought you forth at such a time as this, and planned ahead for you like every caring father would.
Therefore, always acknowledge and profess in agreement with Him that indeed, you’re the blessed of the Lord, walking in preordained pathways of greatness, excellence and productivity.
The Lord cares so much for you, up to the strands of hair on your head: “Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows” (Matthew 10:29-31). That’s why He doesn’t want you worried or fretful over anything in life.
He’s aware you require money, clothing, food, shelter and all the necessities of life, and has already made them yours. He said in 1 Corinthians 3:21, “... All things are yours” Believe and accept it, for it’s true. Live with the consciousness that God has truly made everything you’d ever require for a triumphant life available to you in Christ Jesus. Indeed, He’s gracious and kind.
FURTHER STUDY:
Psalm 106:1, Genesis 12:2 & Ephesians 1:3
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY 07 NOVEMBER 2020 PASTOR CHRIS
DISCOVER JESUS AND YOUR SEARCH IS OVER ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷× For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus (1 Timothy 2:5). ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×
Man doesn’t know reality until he finds Jesus, the Son of the living God. But who exactly is Jesus, the man of Galilee? First, He’s the Word- incarnate. This is an amazing truth. Think about it: Your word is the expression of who you are. It’s the expression of your views, opinions, thoughts, emotions, and ideas.
In the same way, the Word of God is the totality of God’s thoughts, ideas, opinions, will, and emotions. John 1:14 NKJV tells us that God’s Word was personified, and the result was the man, Jesus: “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us....” His laughter was God laughing; His smiles were the smiles of God. When He stretched out His hand, that was God stretching out His hand. When He loved, it was God’s love manifested. Everything He did was the expression of God.
Secondly, He’s the character and essence of God. The Bible tells us something beautiful about Him in Hebrews 1:3: “Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person....” He’s the perfect personification of the abstract idealisation of God.
In the world, the term “God” doesn’t convey a person; it conveys an idea. God doesn’t make sense to the human mind, because they can’t find or define Him. The Bible, however, presents Jesus as God’s perfect imprint, the icon of the unseen God.
Thirdly, Jesus Christ is the glory of the Father. He’s the outshining of the Father’s glory, the radiance of the Father.
The world doesn’t understand why we can be so passionate about the man, Jesus. Until you know Jesus, God will only be an idea to you. Your search, however, stops when you meet this awesome, glorious, Lord of heaven and earth. That’s why we tell people, “Discover Jesus!” When you discover Him, you discover reality; you discover life.
FURTHER STUDY: Col 1:15-19 & Heb 1:1-4
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY 06 NOVEMBER 2020 PASTOR CHRIS
TAKE THE GOSPEL TO YOUR WORLD ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷× And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18-19). ×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×÷×
Living for Jesus Christ and making yourself relevant in the ministry of reconciliation are the things that count the most in life. Your life should be about soul winning. Refuse to make the lesser things of life your focus; be all out for the Gospel.
In 1 Corinthians 9:16, Paul said, “...necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!” He lived to fulfil God’s dream of making the Gospel known to the Gentiles. You’re an ambassador and a steward of the mysteries of Christ.
You’re a soldier in Christ’s army and must therefore remain militant in bringing God’s Word to those in your world, touching them with the love of Christ and the glory of His grace. Don’t ignore sinners around you; the end of all things is near, and the Bible says it’s not the will of God that any should perish (2 Peter 3:9). He wants them saved, and He’s counting on you for their salvation.
He said in Romans 10:13-14, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?” You’re the preacher, sent of God to those in your world who haven’t yet known the Lord. Don’t let them keep living without hope, and without God in the world. Take advantage of every opportunity to preach the Gospel to them.
FURTHER STUDY:
Matthew 28:19-20 & Mark 16:15
God has a purpose for your life; He has a purpose for everything that He does. In John 10:10, Jesus said, “...I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” 1 John 3:8 says, “...For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.” Then in Luke 19:10, He said, “...the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” His purpose was clear: He came to do the will of the Father.
Understand, you were born for a purpose; you came to do the will of your heavenly Father. In Acts 26, we read about Saul of Tarsus, who on his way to Damascus had an encounter with the Lord. The Lord called him by name and said, “...I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness...” (Acts 26:16). God doesn’t do anything without a purpose.
The reason He appeared to Saul, who later became Paul, was to make him a minister and a witness, so that he (Paul) would take the Gospel to the Gentiles (Acts 26:17). Have you discovered your purpose? Do you know why you were born? If you haven’t found out, you can do that today! Be bold to ask the Lord; He’ll tell you. He’ll guide you to that purpose as you walk with Him, and do the things He’s called you to do.
You weren’t born for nothing. You were born for the glory of God. You were born to walk with Him and bring Him honour. He planned from the beginning that you’d serve Him and live unto Christ. Let that purpose become established in your heart and you’ll experience tremendous growth and success in your life, and in all that you do.
THEME VERSE ~ Eph 2:10 ; FURTHER STUDY~ Jeremiah 1:5 & Colossians 4:17
Sometimes, when people go through difficulties, they wonder if God is with them. They hope and pray that He’ll be with them. But the truth is, He never leaves you. Jesus said, “...I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen” (Matthew 28:20 NKJV). What a blessing! He’s with you through the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. He didn’t say, “I’ll be with you”; it’s not a promise. It’s a fact. God’s Word is a statement of truth, and our responsibility is to line up with His truth and live accordingly always. When He said, “...I am with you always, even to the end of the age”, it’s exactly as powerful as when He said, “...I am the way, the truth, and the life...” (John 14:6). So, think, talk, and live with the consciousness, confidence and assurance that the Lord is in you and with you, for He truly is!
This means you’re forever in safety. He’s the ever- present help in time of need, the friend that sticks closer than a brother, and He never fails. Trust Him. In Isaiah 41:10, He said, “Fear thou not; for I am with thee....” He’s in you and with you everywhere, in every place, and in every situation.
It makes no difference what the situation is; be conscious that you can neither fail nor lose; you’re attended by the presence of God. Oh, what confidence you should have in life! No wonder He said, “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper...” (Isaiah 54:17). Have the attitude of victory in everything, every day of your life, for the greater One is with you and He lives in you.
THEME VERSE: Matthew 28:20 NKJV ; FURTHER STUDY: 1 John 4:4 John 14:17 & Hebrews 13:5-6 AMPC
The Lord Jesus specified some of the agonizing signs that’ll signal the end of the age. He said, “And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity... Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth...” (Luke 21:25-26). Much of these are already happening and many have become despondent; livelihoods, businesses and economies have been decimated. Many aren’t sure about their future anymore. But as a Christian, don’t be agitated about the future; be at peace. The government or society might promise you a great future; don’t hope on their promises.
God’s plan is the best; your role is to discover that plan and walk in the light of it. The New International Version of our theme verse says, “For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Never allow the troubles in the world get you depressed. Jesus knew you’d encounter crises in this world; so, He said, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33)
Be of good cheer, irrespective of what’s happening around you or to you. Be strong. Be courageous. Don’t give in. Maybe it’s your business, job, family, whatever it is; the trouble is only for a short time. The Apostle Paul called it “light affliction.” He said, “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” (2 Corinthians 4:17). As long as you’re in Christ, you’re in safety; your future is secured. Hallelujah!
THEME VERSE ~ Jer 29:11 ; FURTHER STUDY: 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 & John 14:27
Some Christians get very excited when they read our opening verse, and then get confused when they read James 1:5 which says, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him". Since Christ has been made unto us wisdom, why then should one still ask for wisdom? They wonder.
Those two references aren’t contradictory at all; rather, it’s about levels of maturity in Christ. As you study the Scriptures, you’ll find that there’re different instructions for different groups of Christians on the basis of their maturity. Some are addressed to the babes in Christ; others, to the maturing in Christ, and then there’re instructions for the “fathers” or the spiritually mature in Christ.
The one who’s still a babe in Christ may quote and confess that Christ is his wisdom, yet he hasn’t really caught it. His words and actions may still be incongruous with the Word, and the wisdom of God. He isn’t yet manifesting wisdom, which is a fruit of righteousness. He still acts and thinks like the rest of the world, like those without wisdom. So, James admonishes those in that class to ask for wisdom.
Remember, it’s “children” that ask for things. Jesus said, “Ask and it shall be given you” ;He related it with children asking their father for bread (Luke 11:9-12). The spiritually mature doesn’t ask for anything, because he lacks nothing in Christ. This is the level God wants you to grow into, where you know that all things are yours; you’re not asking for wisdom, but walking in wisdom. Hallelujah! Theme Verse ~ 1 Cor 1:30 ; Further Study ~ Acts 20:32 & 1 Corinthians 1:24-25
In this particular episode, my sister in Christ, Sister Stephanie Kavere talks to us about courage, be blessed as you listen to the divine insights shared. If this episode is a blessing to you please share so that others may be blessed as well. You can email me on phelisterchrist@gmail.com, Instagram @diariesofagirlinlovewithjesus, Twitter @Phelisterchrist & Facebook @Phelister Christ Onyango Thank you for tuning into #WAKEUPWITHDIARIESOFAGIRLINLOVEWITHJESUS So what is courage? Courage is the ability and will to do or stand for what is right or necessary even in the face of adversity or opposition. It’s the ability to face danger and opposition fearlessly and affirm your faith in Christ no matter the adversaries or adversities that you face. It’s a virtue everyone in Christ has been granted, but not every Christian manifests it.
A person of courage understands that every opposition is an opportunity for progress and victory. Courage is what got the Church of Jesus Christ to where it is today. Had the apostles and prophets of old not exhibited courage by standing for what was right in spite of opposition, the Gospel may never have gone around the world and got to us at the time it did. They weren’t afraid of kings and despots, and they sure weren’t afraid to die. They were strong and very courageous.
Paul, in his letter to the Church in Thessalonica recounted how he and some others demonstrated great courage to preach the Gospel despite fierce opposition. He said, “You know how badly we had been treated at Philippi just before we came to you and how much we suffered there. Yet God gave us the courage to boldly repeat the same message to you, even though we were surrounded by enemies” (1 Thessalonians 2:2 TLB).
People of courage keep their focus on what they believe in, and nothing is too big for them to give or do in pursuit of their convictions. Therefore, set your mind on the Lord and His Word, and be ever ready to do anything for the furtherance of the Gospel.
Theme Verse ~
Joshua 1:9 ; Further Study ~ Ephesians 6:14-15, Acts 18:9-10 & Isaiah 43:2
1 Corinthians 1:30 says, “But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom….” Christ Jesus is your wisdom; and who is Jesus? The Word; and the Word of God is the wisdom of God. To ignore God’s Word would be to ignore wisdom.
The Bible says, “Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed…” (Proverbs 13:13). God’s wisdom is the key to a great life. In Ephesians 1, the Spirit, through the Apostle Paul, prayed for the church at Ephesus that God would grant them “…wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him” (Ephesians 1:17).
It doesn’t matter the books you’ve read or who your advisers are; for you to be a true success in life, you must walk in divine wisdom. The best part is that Christ, in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, lives in you. Therefore, you have insight into mysteries and secrets of life and of the Kingdom. Acknowledge this about yourself always.
Even now, declare that you make wise choices and decisions, because the Spirit of wisdom is at work in you. Affirm that divine wisdom is heard and seen in you today. Affirm that your actions and words are in sync with God’s plan, purpose and will, for you function by divine insight. Glory to God!
Theme Verse ~ Prov 16:16 ; Further Study ~ Proverbs 4:5-9 & Colossians 3:16
2 Peter 1:4 says, “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” Being partakers of the divine nature means we’re associates of the God-kind; we’re in comradeship with divinity. But that’s not all!
Not only did He graciously grant us to be sharers of His life, He also made us the dispensers or distributors of that life. In John 10:10, the Lord Jesus declared, “…I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” He came to give eternal life to those who would believe in Him. No wonder He’s described in our opening verse as the life-giving Spirit.
Now, having been born again, you’re one with Him; He made you a life-giving spirit. Like Him, your life’s purpose is to bring the lost into the life of righteousness through the Gospel. Jesus said in John 20:21, “…as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.” You’re His representative in the earth, to manifest the God-life in your world.
You’re the bearer of eternal verities. When you show up, life is manifested. When you touch the sick and the afflicted, the life in you is transferred and transfused into them, bringing them wholeness and perfection. No wonder Jesus charged us in Matthew 10:8, “Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils....” As you show up with the consciousness that you’re the carrier of His divine essence and people listen to you share the Word, eternal life is unveiled to them. And everything of darkness bows. The Bible says He brought life and immortality to light, through the Gospel (2 Timothy 1:10). Hallelujah!
Theme Verse ~ 1 Corinthians 15:45 ; Further Study ~ 1 Corinthians 15:45 AMPC, 1 Peter 2:9 AMPC & Luke 8:41-45 GNB
Proverbs 6:2 says, “Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.” This scripture underscores the precarious situations many have found themselves in today. They’ve been bound by their words. It’s so important that you talk right as a child of God.
When you talk right, you’ll live right; your life will turn out right. Proverbs 18:20 says, “A man’s belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.” This is referring to the words of wisdom pouring out of your mouth. If you don’t want to be broke, for example, then don’t talk poverty. Consciously speak in agreement with the Word always about your life, finances, business, health, etc.
Proverbs 18:21 says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.” You’ll reap a harvest of good things through your words. Words are things; they are a creative force. Your life today is the result of your words. Proverbs 15:4 says, “A wholesome tongue is a tree of life….” If your words are wholesome, your life will be perfect, excellent and inspiring.
Proverbs 12:18 says, “…the tongue of the wise is health.” Keep yourself in health with your words. Talk faith, success and increase. 1 Peter 3:10 says, “For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile.” This is a law of the Spirit and it works, whether or not you believe it. So, talk right and have a great life.
Theme Verse ~ Heb 13:5-6; Further Study ~ Mark 11:23 & Matthew 12:37 AMPC
True Christianity is living in the Name of Jesus. The very thought of this is so awe-inspiring. Colossians 3:17 says, “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus….” Doing all things in His Name means living in His Name. That’s the key to a supernatural life. That means you’re living for Him, in His authority. Therefore, defeat, failure and darkness can’t be a part of your life. Life for you is glory only; upward and forward, because the Name of Jesus is named upon you. His Name represents His authority and His character.
The Father gave Jesus a Name that’s above every name and set Him far above all things for the benefit of the Church. Ephesians 1:22-23 says God “…hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all.” The Church is His body, and since all things have been placed beneath His feet, Satan is under your feet! Failure, sickness, poverty and death are all under your feet. Everything in life is subject to you because you’re seated with Christ in heavenly places.
If you find yourself in a distressing situation, declare, “In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I decree a change!” Reign and subdue circumstances in His Name. You have the authority in His Name to reject anything that’s not of God and endorse only that which is consistent with His perfect will for you. Theme Verse ~ Acts 17:28 Further Study ~ Philippians 2:9-11 & Mark 16:17-18
My name is Phelister Christ and Christ is my relative, I am a girl in love with Jesus, He is the Lover of My Soul, He is all that matters to me, it's all about Jesus ❤️❤️ #BlazingItUpForJesus
diariesofagirlinlovewithjesus. You can reach out to me via Email ~ phelisterchrist@gmail.com Facebook ~ Phelister Christ Onyango Twitter ~ @Phelisterchrist Instagram ~ @diariesofagirlinlovewithjesus Feel free to share your comments and suggestions through a voice message, I love you❤️
Imagine having custody of a message—the only message that guarantees the salvation of men and can change the world! This glorious Gospel of the blessed Lord Jesus Christ has been committed to your trust (1 Timothy 1:11). You’re the steward of the mysteries of Christ, and it’s required that you’re faithful (1 Corinthians 4:2).
Don’t be unfaithful in fulfilling your ministry in the Gospel; don’t treat it with levity. You can win a soul today. These are the last days; don’t hope that, somehow, people will just hear and believe in Jesus; do something about it. Take the message out by yourself.
Become more passionate about the Gospel! The Gospel of Christ makes sinners righteous. It catapults the poor from obscurity, penury and misery to a life of prosperity, glory and excellence. It’s the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believes (Romans 1:16). But they can’t hear and believe without a preacher.
The sick need to know that there’s a saviour and a healer who gives them a new life, a life that’s divine and superior to sickness. Such glorious news! But you’re the one He trusts to preach and tell it everywhere. To live without Christ is to live without God; in damnation.
That’s why you must be fervent in spirit, preaching the Gospel (Romans 12:11). You’ve been sent to take the light of the Gospel to those living in darkness (Acts 13:47). Therefore, don’t hold back; don’t be apologetic. Be bold and recognize that you’re the custodian of the message that works. Theme Verse ~ Rom 10:14 ; Further Study ~ Acts 4:12, Rom 1:16 (AMPC) & 2Cor 5:19-20
We have a divine commission to take the Gospel to the ends of the earth. Jesus said: “...Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15). Then in Luke 22:35, He asked His disciples something rather remarkable: “...When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye anything? And they said, Nothing.”
It shows that when God sends you on an assignment, He sees to it that everything you require to accomplish it is available to you. All God needs from you is your commitment to the task. The soul winner is sponsored by God. Therefore, be determined that there’ll be no limit to how far you’re willing to go in spreading the Gospel around the world.
As far as God is with you and has made your body His living tabernacle, the Gospel won’t be limited. That’s the kind of commitment we see in the Apostle Paul, and it’s worth emulating. He said, “Woe unto me, if I don’t preach the Gospel” (1 Corinthians 9:16).
Some people have committed their time and resources to ensuring the Gospel reaches every nation of the world. They do great exploits in advancing God’s agenda, making up for the lack or short-comings of others. They give so much money to the furtherance of the Gospel; and the more they give, the more the Lord channels resources their way so they can accomplish greater things for Him. He’ll supply all you ever require to fulfil His purpose of soul winning.
Decide that through you, the Gospel will continue to prosper, and you’ll keep at it, until the rapture of the Church. Theme Verse ~ Phil 2:25-30 ; Further Study ~ John 4:34, Proverbs 11:30 & Mark 6:7-13
Power Hour Sunday - Fanning & Flaring Embers of Evangelism. This is a program I host every alternate Sunday on a Digital Fellowship Group I am part of, called IQuest. Who's IQuest, you ask? Find out from the 1st episode of this series - Establishing A Conversation On Evangelism. Our topic today is "Do The Work Of An Evangelist" This is a "Declaration Themed" episode, so much of it was on declarations. Keep saying it, don't stop talking 😊
Christianity is the outworking of the Word of God in a human person. As a Christian, you’re essentially the image of Christ; every step you take should be the expression of the divine life in you. That’s how Jesus lived when He walked the earth. He was the manifestation of God: the expression of the divine life.
You’re Christ alive to your world, your family, workplace, neighbourhood, city, and country; in that place where you are—you’re the Christ that they see. Therefore, your words and actions, the life you live, the way you do the things you do, should express the Christ-nature in you.
When people look at you, they should see the glory of the new creation. You’re a God-carrying vessel; carry this consciousness with you today; this is God’s dream for your life. True success is God manifesting and expressing Himself in, and through you; it’s how much His personality and character are revealed through you. Your goal, therefore, should be to always reveal Him.
Everything you do should be about one thing only: the manifestation of the Christ-life in you; His perfection and righteousness expressed through you. Hallelujah!
Theme Verse ~ Col 1:27 ; Further Study ~ 2 Corinthians 6:16 & Romans 8:19
The rapture of the Church is closer than ever. We’re in the closing moments or final “times of the signs” before the Lord’s appearing. It’s important that you’re ready for Him. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 says the dead “in Christ” shall rise first, and those who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them to meet the Lord in the air.
The question is: are you in Christ? If you are, then you’re one of the many the Lord is coming to receive unto Himself. If, however, you’re not, you have to give your heart to Christ right away, by confessing His Lordship over your life. The Bible says, “...Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation” (Hebrews 9:28).
Acts 1:9-11 tells us about His ascension into heaven. While the disciples stood, gazing in awe as He levitated, two angels appeared to them and said, “This same Jesus, who has been received from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11). This is the reason we’re preaching the Gospel around the world. The whole world needs to know that the rapture of the Church is imminent; the Master is coming soon.
He said in John 14:3, “…I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” The Apostle Peter, referring to the day of the Lord and the events that’ll herald His coming, said, “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness” (2 Peter 3:10-11).
Have the rapture in focus. Live every day as one expecting the Master; carry that consciousness in your heart at all times. Walk in love. Walk in righteousness. And while you’re getting yourself ready, help those around you to get ready as well by preaching and teaching them God’s Word.
Theme Verse ~ 1 John 2:28 ; Further Study ~ Matt 24:14 & Rom 13:11-14
Some have asked if Christians who never won souls to Christ would go to heaven. Their question is based on what the Lord said in Ezekiel 33:2-6 (read entire text). There’re three important reasons you must preach the Gospel and win souls as a Christian. First is your faith in the Lord Jesus and His glorious Gospel. The second reason is your love for Him and hope of His soon return. The third reason is His instruction for us to win souls. These three reasons should compel you to win souls.
If you don’t win souls, then your love for the Lord is questionable. Also, your hope of heaven is called to question, as well as your obedience to the Master’s instruction. So if you’re not a soul winner, it means you really don’t believe, and heaven isn’t a place for the “unbelieving,” as it isn’t for murderers, idolaters, etc. Revelation 21:8 says, “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”
God has determined that souls be won to His Kingdom, and He’s given us the responsibility to locate the lost in our world and share the Gospel with them. Therefore, you MUST reach the unreached and bring them to Christ; it’s your primary and solemn responsibility as a child of God.
The Apostle Paul, recognizing this, writes, “To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ...” (2 Corinthians 5:19-20). Be fully committed to the Gospel and its furtherance around the world.
Theme Verse ~ Mark 16:15 ; Further Study ~ Romans 1:16 , Matthew 28:19-20 & 2 Corinthians 3:6
After Jesus rose from the dead, He appeared to His disciples. But one of them, Thomas, wasn’t there; so he doubted the resurrection of Jesus. Then, Jesus appeared to the disciples on another occasion; this time, Thomas was present, and Jesus engaged him in a dialogue. He said to Thomas, “...Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing” (John 20:27).
Thomas reached out his hand, and felt the holes in the Master’s hands and the hole in His side. Awed at this, Thomas exclaimed, “...My Lord and my God” (John 20:28)! When Thomas addressed Jesus as God, Jesus didn’t say, “No, Thomas, don’t call me God; you’re going too far.” He accepted it because Thomas spoke reality. Jesus is Himself God.
He is the God that spoke to Moses in the burning bush. He is the One that called Abraham out of Haran and said, “Walk before me, and be thou perfect; I am El Shaddai” (Genesis 17:1). He was the One that stood before Joshua and said, “Take your shoes off your feet for where you’re standing is holy” (Exodus 3:5).
Jesus is God in a human body, but the people didn’t know. He is Adonai, the Lord, God! He was the One that said to Moses, “Your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob knew me as El Shaddai, but I’m Jehovah” (Exodus 6:3). Jehovah is Yahweh. This is why the Jewish people had difficulty accepting Jesus Christ ordinarily, because they’ll have to confess that He’s Adonai, which He is. They understood the implication.
Think about it: that seemingly ordinary man of Galilee was actually God Almighty, walking the streets of Israel! They couldn’t accept it. They condemned Him to death, but He laid down His life as a lamb for their salvation. The Bible says, “He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own and his own received him not” (John 1:10-11).
The Apostle Paul tells us that in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead, bodily. When you see Jesus, you wouldn’t need to look out for the Holy Spirit or the Father; He is the complete embodiment of Deity.
Theme Verse ~ Col 2:9 ; Further Study ~ John 1:1-3
When we say, “Jesus is Lord,” it’s much more than a religious expression; it means He’s One with supreme authority. He’s Master and Ruler; He’s the One to be reverenced and adored! That’s what “Lord” means.
Some have only been acquainted with Him as Saviour, but He’s more than a Saviour. He’s the One that has the pre-eminence, and to whom service and obedience are due. You must know Jesus in this light and walk in this consciousness every day. In your family, business, academics, job, finances and everything that has to do with your life, relate to Him as Lord! In other words, let Him have supremacy and ascendancy. Let Him have the final say in all that concerns you.
Remember, He’s the only wise God; therefore, submit to the supremacy of His will, counsel and wisdom. And if you’ve never been born again, if you haven’t yet made Jesus the Lord of your life, say this prayer and mean it with all your heart: “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 confess that Jesus Christ is Lord of my life. Through Him and in His Name, I have eternal life; I’m born again. Thank you Lord, for saving my soul! I’m now a child of God. Hallelujah!”
Theme Verse ~ Phil 2:9-11 ;
Further Study ~ 1 Tim 6:15-16 & Acts 10:36
The Bible says in Jesus dwells the fullness of the Godhead in bodily form (Colossians 2:9), meaning anyone who wants to know what God looks like should look at Jesus. No wonder Jesus said to Philip, "... he that hath seen me hath seen the Father.” Jesus is the express image of the Father’s Person.
Some believe that, in heaven, there’re three thrones: one for the Father, one for the Son, Jesus, and then another for the Holy Spirit; but that’s not true. The Father joyfully appointed Jesus as the heir of all things, including His throne. Thus in heaven, there’s only one throne, and Jesus is the one sitting on that throne. Where then is the Father? He’s in Jesus! The Bible says it pleased the Father, that in Him (Jesus) should all fullness dwell (Colossians 1:19). Then Colossians 2:9 lets us know that in Him (Jesus) dwells the fullness of the Godhead bodily. If you’ve seen Jesus, you’ve seen the Father.
No wonder when He said in John 10:30, “I and my Father are one,” the Jews picked up stones and wanted to kill Him; why? They said He made Himself equal with God: “…for blasphemy, and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God” (John 10:33).
The Jews understood what Jesus meant when He said, “I and my Father are one.” But they considered His words blasphemous because they didn’t know who He was. Jesus is the perfect image and icon of the Godhead. He’s the expression of God’s glory, and by inheritance, He obtained a more excellent Name in all of heaven and earth. Philippians 2:9-11 declares, “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth. And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” He’s the King of kings, and Lord of lords. Hallelujah!
Theme Verse ~ John 14:8-9 ; Further Study ~ Heb 1:1-3 & Col 2:9
There’re still many who haven’t understood true Christianity; therefore, they go about seeking God. You may say, “But Jeremiah 29:13-14 says, ‘And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity….” This scripture isn’t for the Christian. Being born again, you’re not in captivity. Jeremiah was referring to Israel. Don’t live an Old Testament life in the New Testament. Stop seeking God! He lives in you.
Colossians 2:6 says, having received Christ Jesus the Lord, we should continue to live in Him. Therefore, we’re not seeking Him; we have Him. We’ve arrived, for we’re born of Him, into His presence.
Christianity isn’t about pressing into God’s presence; Christianity is carrying God’s presence. You’re His living tabernacle of witness. When you arrive anywhere, God’s presence arrives! You’re “the presence.” Hallelujah! Paul said we make manifest the savour of His knowledge in every place (2 Corinthians 2:14). When you show up, He shows up, because you’re one with Him.
The moment you realise this, your search is over. From that moment, your worship changes; your prayer-life changes; your faith-life changes; everything changes! You’d find that you’re walking in fulfilment twenty-four hours a day, every day of your life, pleasing Him in all things. Blessed be His Name forever!
Theme Verse ~ Rom 10:20 ; Further Study ~ 1 Corinthians 6:17 & Colossians 1:27
Nobody ever talked like Jesus. Imagine His audacious words in the verse above! He said, “All things that the Father hath are mine." The beautiful thing is that He’s made it so for you too. Romans 8:17 says you’re an heir of God, and a joint-heir with Christ. Hallelujah!
In 1 Corinthians 3:21, the Apostle Paul said, “Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours.” He went further in the 22nd verse to say the world is yours. How can anyone know this and be in lack or want? Peter understood it and declared, “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness…” (2 Peter 1:3).
If you’d accept, meditate and live by this truth, you wouldn’t be intimidated by anything, whether circumstances, powers or government. You’d think big, because you’re conscious that the world belongs to you in Christ Jesus.
Interestingly, He didn’t say the world belongs to those who live in the “best” countries of the world. Think about it: where was Jesus born? A very small town in a small country. But from that small country, He dominated the world. He told His disciples, “…be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). He couldn’t be limited by His earthly nativity or geographical location.
Your success or greatness has nothing to do with where you live, where you were born, who your parents are, or the job you do. It’s about who you are in Christ. As heirs of the Sovereign God, the Word declares that all things are yours; have this consciousness and live in dominion and self sufficiency every day.
Theme Verse ~ John 16:5 ; Further Study ~ 1 Cor 3:21-23 & 2 Pet 1:3
In Christianity, we don’t judge by our feelings; we follow the Word. That you “feel” close to God or far from Him doesn’t make any difference. You live in Him and He lives in you. How much closer can you get to someone who lives in you? God wants you to know and grow in the knowledge of His Word, and walk in the light of your oneness with Him. He wants you to live by what the Word says about you, and not by your feelings or the opinions of others. The devil may lie to you and make you feel you’re still a sinner, but don’t be deceived. The day you gave your heart to Christ, you were recreated and became the righteousness of God in Him.
2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” God had to tell you this because your mind doesn’t know it and can’t comprehend it. It’s revelation knowledge for the human spirit, through the Holy Spirit.
Irrespective of how you may “feel,” He wants you to “see,” to reckon that you’re in Christ now. The old habits are passed away; the old frustrations and struggles are passed away. You have a brand-new life of glory and righteousness. Hallelujah! Theme Verse ~ Rom 8:8 ; Further Study ~ Rom 8:7-10, 2 Cor 5:7 & Phil 3:3
As Christians, we’re different from those in the Old Testament. In the Old Testament, they were called to obey the Word; but in the New Testament, we’re Word practitioners; we’re the expression of the Word; it’s called the mirror principle. God’s idea is that if He shows you who you are, you’d live accordingly. Therefore, when you come across a verse such as Ephesians 4:25: “Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour...,” act exactly as He said by putting lying away. The mirror shows you as one who puts lying away, so do it. It’s not a commandment. In the Old Testament, it was a commandment not to lie; but in the New Testament, we do the Word and walk in truth. The Bible says “...the law is not made for a righteous man...” (1 Timothy 1:9), and we’re God’s righteous ones (Romans 1:17).
In the Old Testament, He gave them laws, but in the New Testament, He gave us His nature, His life of righteousness, so we can live right. It explains why if you did something that isn’t consistent with your nature of righteousness, you’re troubled from within. By your own spirit, you’re able to tell and judge, because of His light in you. This is why we teach righteousness, so God’s people can become conscious of who they are in Christ and live accordingly. Theme Verse ~ Ephesians 5:27 ; Further Study ~ Col 1:20-22, James 1:22-25
The Bible tells us that God is love (1 John 4:8); love is His nature—who He is. When we talk about the attributes of love, therefore, we’re talking about the attributes of God. Apply this to our theme verse and it’ll read, “God endures long and is patient and kind; God never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, God is not boastful or vainglorious, God does not display Himself haughtily.” Hallelujah! Recall how Jesus lived when He walked the earth; He was love manifested. His works were works of love. His words were words of love. He was love in motion. Jesus in Galilee was the intrusion of love in the streets of Galilee. Love invaded that atmosphere. Now, what about you? The Bible says you’re God’s offspring (1 Peter 1:23), meaning that you’re the reproduction of love.
The offspring of an eagle would be an eagle. The offspring of a human would be a human. The offspring of Love (God), therefore, is love! So, if your name is Philip, for example, you should say, “Philip endures long; Philip is patient and kind. Philip is never envious nor boils over with jealousy. Philip is not boastful or vainglorious. Philip does not display himself haughtily.” Praise God!
God’s Word shows us who we are; it’s a mirror. When you look at that mirror, don’t forget what you look like: patient, kind, tolerant, loving and humble. If arrogance or hatred tries to gain vent through you, refuse and declare, “I’m not arrogant; I’m humble. I’m full of love as Jesus is; I live in His Name; therefore, I walk and act like Him.”
Let the love of Christ, which is the bond of perfection, rule your heart always. Lavishly express the love-nature of God in your spirit and radiate the beauty and glories of heaven to your world.
The name of Jesus has all the power, it has all the authority in the heaven, the earth and under the earth. Every knee, every situation is subject to this name that is above every other name. At His Name, every knee bows, demons tremble and hell quakes. Hallelujah! He said, “In my name shall they (those who believe in Him) cast out devils.” You never need to sweat to cast out devils. All it requires is that you use the Name of Jesus. Everything that exists in this world and beyond is subject to that Name. Live victoriously and dominate circumstances in His Name. Theme Verse - Mark 16:17 ; Further Study - John 16:23-24, Acts 3:1-10&16
Jesus, Jesus, it's all about Jesus. Jesus is the incarnate word. Jesus Christ is the Word that pre-existed creation and by whom all things were created (John 1:1-3). His birth was a marvel, for the creative Word of God was wrapped in swaddling clothes; “the Word” had come to be with, and walk amongst men! That’s why they called Him “Emmanuel” (God with us) (Matthew 1:23). Every step Jesus took was the Word of God in motion: the Word personified. Theme Verse - John 1:1-3 KJV Further Study - John 1:1-4 NIV, John 1:10-14 NIV
Do you know you are a king and a priest? If you do, are you functioning in those offices? Are you making decrees as a king and praying like a priest? Why is this important? The spate of evil, wickedness and deception perpetrated by Satan and his cohorts around the world today is something only the Church of Jesus Christ can cut a swathe through. We’re the restraining force against evil in the earth today. We have the authority in the Name of Jesus to frustrate these satanic activities.
Through prayers, we can establish God’s righteousness in places hitherto governed by agents of darkness and the principalities of evil. Don’t sit idly by; take your place as a king-priest, taking sides with the Lord in bringing His will to pass on earth. Theme Verse - Isaiah 60:18 AMPC ; Further study (Rev 1:6, 1 Tim 2:1-3 and Psalm 37:1-2 AMPC)
Being born again, and having received the Holy Spirit, you’re one with the Lord. He’s come to dwell within you and has mingled with your spirit. His purpose from the foundation of the world was to be inseparably united with you. 1 Corinthians 1:9 says, “God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.” This was all God ever wanted, but it was a mystery from the foundation of the world (Colossians 1:26-27). But blessed be God! The Lord Jesus gave us His life to make it possible. Now, anything that belongs to the Father belongs to us, because we’re one with Him; you’re His heir, and a joint-heir with Christ. Hallelujah!
"Words have power, whatever you create is as a result of what you spoke or are speaking. So speak and create ONLY what you want, don't be short sighted by sensory perception rather, maintain a good confession using the Word of God as the basis."
Hosea 14:2 says, “Take with you words....”; what do you want in your life? The Bible says without the Word was not anything made that was made! So, what do you want to “make”? Don’t cry about the situation; don’t gripe over the pain! The question is, what do you want to see? What do you want to create out of that precarious situation? The Bible says God commanded light to shine out of darkness. Don’t focus on the problem; focus on what you want and speak it forth.
Don’t say, “I have cancer” or “I have diabetes”; it’s not about what “you have”; it’s what you want in place of that cancer or diabetes. God had darkness at the beginning, but He spoke light into being. You’re created in His image and in His likeness, with His ability in your spirit, and His Word in your mouth. Speak and create what you want. Hallelujah!
My name is Phelister Christ and Christ is my relative. I don't glory in men, I boast highly in the Most High, you should as well😊
Today, our title is " It's About Your divine Orign"
Christ’s purpose in the earth was to bring you into fellowship with the Father. The Bible says our fellowship (oneness) is with the Father and with the Son, Jesus Christ (1 John 1:3). You’re an heir of God and a joint-heir with the resurrected Christ (Romans 8:17). Therefore, everything He owns belongs to you.
You can affirm boldly, “All things that the Father hath are mine....” The Kingdom of God is yours. The Bible says Christ in you, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27). Since you have Him, you have all that He owns. Blessed be God! No wonder Paul said, “Therefore let no man glory in men…” (1 Corinthians 3:21). Don’t pride yourself in any human connections. Rather, recognise and celebrate your divine ancestry and all that your union with Christ has bequeathed to you.
It pays to know who Jesus really is. Until you know Him, you can’t have true faith in Him, and you wouldn’t know yourself. Here’s something most extraordinary: anyone who believes in Jesus receives the same life that He has. John 1:12-13 says, “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God…Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” Notice that the latter part says you’re born of God, meaning that you’re born of the same Word that became Jesus. 1 Peter 1:23 says, “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.” James 1:18 says, “Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth….” We’re the same manner of men as Jesus, because we’re offsprings of the Word. No wonder John said, “...as he is, so are we in this world” (1 John 4:17). All of divinity was tabernacled in Jesus; He was God alive—walking and talking in a man’s body. That same fullness of divinity dwells in you today. Like Him, you’re the living, moving house of the living God. Hallelujah!
WAKEUPWITHDIARIESOFAGIRLINLOVEWITHJESUS💃🏽😊
Our title today is " Maintain Your Passion For The Gospel".
As a Christian, every day presents opportunities for you to keep the faith and maintain your confession of who Jesus is and what He means to you. Nothing should take your focus off the Master; He’s all that truly matters. Declare your love for Him, and your passion for the Gospel. Some allow anger or bitterness to douse their zeal and effectiveness in ministering to others. Hebrews 12:15 says, “Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled.” Don’t stop winning souls or become cold about the things of God because someone offended you.
The Bible says those that turn many to righteousness shall shine as stars forever (Daniel 12:3). Keep shining evermore in leading many to Christ. Let it be your life’s work and priority.
Power Hour Sunday - Fanning & Flaring Embers of Evangelism. This is a program I host every alternate Sunday on a Digital Fellowship Group I am part of, called IQuest. Who's IQuest, you ask? Find out from the 1st episode of this series. Today we talk about "Wisdom in Winning Souls" , and some of the nuggets we share are: 1)Understanding that it's not about you, it's about Jesus and the mandate He gave you 2)How you present the gospel really matters 3)Perseverance. There's gonna be sequel to this episode and we'll share more. Welcome to Power Hour Sunday: Fanning & Flaring Embers of Evangelism
Do you reckon that in Christ we have no needs? How rich can you get when the Lord is your inheritance? How glorious would your life be? Psalm 24:1 says, “The earth is the LORD’S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.” Since this is true, then the earth and everything in it belongs to you because you’re His heir. Paul understood this and said, “...all things are yours” (1 Corinthians 3:21).
Now you can understand why your prayer times shouldn’t be spent asking God for things for yourself. What do you want to ask of one who’s already given you everything, including Himself? You have Christ, and Christ is everything. This truth should change your mentality and life forever. Is it strength you require? The Bible says He’s your strength! Therefore, testify like the Psalmist, “…the LORD is the strength of my life...” (Psalm 27:1). Is it wisdom you think you need? The Bible says Christ is your wisdom (1 Corinthians 1:30). You’ve been granted all that you require for life and godliness; you’ve been launched into a life of glory, excellence and superabundance. No wonder the Psalmist exclaimed, “The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage” (Psalm 16:6). All things are yours!
Do you know, knowing God's voice isn't a mystery? The key is understanding God’s Word. The more you study the Word, the more you recognise and know the voice of God, because God and His Word are one. He speaks through His Word. Everything He tells you: every direction or guidance you receive from Him, always sides up with His Word. Through meditation on His Word, His voice becomes clearer to you, even in the midst of all the noise and distractions.
If you’ve hitherto found it difficult to recognize God’s voice, the solution is simple: spend more time studying the Word! Colossians 3:16 says, _“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom….”_ Proverbs 4:20-21 says, _“My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.”_ If you keep the Word in your heart, you’ll hear the Word in your heart.
2 Peter 3:9 tells us that God isn’t willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. He proved His commitment by sending Jesus to die for the salvation of all men (John 3:16). However, despite God’s commitment to saving the lost, He wills to do it through us—His saints—and has committed to us “the ministry of reconciliation.”
Jesus said in Mark 16:15, “...Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” We have the greatest honour on earth: the opportunity to preach the Gospel. God gave us the rare privilege of being His partners in changing the world: His partners in transforming lives. Think about the fact that God didn’t give the charge of soul winning to angels, but to you and me. The glorious Gospel of the blessed God has been committed to our trust (1 Timothy 1:11); be faithful in it. Be on the go with the Gospel; don’t stop until the knowledge of the glory of God covers the earth as the waters cover the sea.
Your value to God is revealed in the price He paid for your salvation, which is the precious blood of Jesus Christ. It shows how priceless you really are to God. Meditate on this truth! Think, talk and live as God’s treasure of inestimable value. The Bible says He rejoices over you with singing (Zephaniah 3:17). That’s because you’re His glory and His righteousness. See yourself the way He sees you, and your faith will be more effective. Hallelujah!
It does not matter whether you have memorized Scriptures from Genesis to Revelation. If you are not speaking it, it's of no use. A closed mouth equals a closed destiny, so speak the word! The power of God is activated when you respond to the word. Responding to the Word means more than “reciting” what God has said; you have to say something that’s consistent with what He has said. For example, He has said His divine power has granted you all things that pertain to life and godliness. Your response should be, “There’s no lack or want in my life, because all things are mine! I prosper everywhere and in all things to the glory of God!”
Your confession of the Word is your response to the Word; this is what will change your life and circumstances. Every time God speaks, anything He says is loaded with power. His words are never empty. So, what has God said to you? What have you discovered about you in the Word? Respond to the Word.
Do you know by the fact of you being called to witness for Christ means that Christ is on trial? How do you witness? Are you ashamed of the gospel or are you bold even in the face of persecution? Refuse to be silent, preach boldly. Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life, and no one comes to the Father, but by Him. Be convinced and compelled by this truth, and preach it boldly. Don't be afraid of being persecuted for proclaiming His Name.
2 Timothy 3:12 says, "In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be prosecuted" (NIV). The early apostles were beaten and threatened never to proclaim the Name of Jesus. But rather than give in to the faithless religious and government authorities, they preached Christ even more boldly and filled the whole of Jerusalem with their doctrine (Acts 5:28).
There're antichrist spirits in the world today, working against the preaching of the Gospel, but they're not a factor, because we've already overcome them. 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."
Faith In His Word: What’s your desire? In which area do you require a change or a miracle? Act your faith in God’s Word. The Word of God is the answer to every trouble. You don’t have to become suicidal because you lost your job or business. You can trust the Lord for something better. He’s the God who quickens (gives life to) the dead. He can give you back, and much more, all that you thought you lost.
Even now, act on His Word. He said in John 14:14, If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it ; ask whatever you will, knowing He’s bound by His Word and never fails.
Christians who regularly pray in tongues are more attuned to the things of the Spirit. They’re more sensitive and responsive to the leading and guidance of the Holy Spirit; no slothfulness in them. When you pray often in tongues, your spirit is trained and ready for dynamic evangelism.
Cultivate the habit of starting out your day speaking in tongues. Then at regular intervals during the course of your day, pray in tongues. The beautiful thing is, you can speak in tongues under your breath even while at work or conducting your business. It’s the fastest way to activate and energize your spirit.
There’re people who are more concerned about keeping their bodies fit than paying the most attention to exercising their spirits. As you train yourself to pray often in other tongues, apart from the many other benefits it has on your life, it’ll open your spirit to receive and understand God’s Word and enhance your walk in the divine life.
Do you know you have wells of living water resident in you? Isaiah 12:3 says, “Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.” Wells of salvation refer to all the blessings of Christ inherent in the deep recesses of your spirit. The Bible says out of your spirit are the issues of life. You carry within you a fountain of blessings.
Now, the devil always seeks to block up “the wells.”In the same way that the Philistines stopped the wells of water belonging to Isaac (in order to frustrate him) (Gen 26:15,18), Satan seeks to clog the wells of living water in your spirit by ensuring the joy of Christ isn’t expressed in your life. He also wants to keep you from ministering the same joy to other people.
His tools for clogging your “wells” include bitterness, jealousy, hatred, resentment, unforgiveness, fear, and judgmental attitude. Don’t allow Satan plant such “dirts” in your life. He knows you can’t live happily, enjoy life or bless your world effectively when you’re angry, resentful and malicious.
Choose rather to let the joy and love of God radiate from within you to others every day and the devil will have no foothold in your life.
Trust Like a Child prays like this.. "Dear Father, I live my life, trusting you wholeheartedly in all things, leaning on your Word and acting on your instructions. I commit my plans, aspirations and desires to you, being fully convinced that you’re more interested in, and passionate for my success than I could ever be, in Jesus’ Name. Amen. " This kind of trust comes from knowing the character of God. His character is made plain in the Word; He never fails. Boldly place your confidence in Him to fulfil His purpose in your life. Fix your eyes on Jesus, fix your eyes on the word and you will not stagger in your faith.
Do you know as a child of God, you have the life of God in you? Do you recognize that this very life : eternal life has catapulted you into the God kind of life? Now, you are no longer just a human being but a spirit being, an associate of the God-kind, with the very life and nature of God in his fullness.. Find out more as you listen in, and listen again. God bless you!
In this episode, I'll be sharing daily devotionals from RHAPSODY OF REALITIES, the best-selling daily devotional and Bible study guide by Rev. Dr. Chris Oyakhilome Dsc. DD.. I'll also be sharing concerning each day's topic as led by the Holy Spirit. Also, this is for you if you are looking for a way to consistently feed on the word on a daily basis. Let's learn and grow together. Feel free to share your thoughts, questions by leaving a voice message😊 Karibu sana
In this episode, I'll be sharing daily devotionals from RHAPSODY OF REALITIES, the best-selling daily devotional and Bible study guide by Rev. Dr. Chris Oyakhilome Dsc. DD.. I'll also be sharing concerning each day's topic as led by the Holy Spirit. Also, this is for you if you are looking for a way to consistently feed on the word on a daily basis. Let's learn and grow together. Feel free to share your thoughts, questions by leaving a voice message😊 Karibu sana
Trailer - Conversation with Sister Ashley Christ (Part 1) We up and about, talking everything rapture, this conversation is pegged on the Rhapsody dated 6th September 2020, you might wanna listen to that episode first before we blow your minds😂 Look out💃💃
September 2nd 2020 - Conversation with Brother Gachanja. We talk about everything Evangelism, challenges and why we should evangelize. We also talked about the role of the Word in catapulting one to different stages of maturity. (He didn't know I was recording at first, explains the audio levels at the beginning) Enjoy & feel free to share your feedback or questions via voice message, and I'll be sure to get back to you. God bless you 😊
Power Hour Sunday - Fanning & Flaring Embers of Evangelism. This is a program I host every alternate Sunday on a Digital Fellowship Group I am part of, called IQuest. Who's IQuest, you ask? Find out in the first segment of this episode. Topic: Establishing a Conversation On Evangelism. Questions tackled 1)What is Evangelism? 2) Do you witness for Christ, are you walking in your God given mandate? 3) Why should we witness?
In this episode, I'll be sharing daily devotionals from RHAPSODY OF REALITIES, the best-selling daily devotional and Bible study guide by Rev. Dr. Chris Oyakhilome Dsc. DD.. I'll also be sharing concerning each day's topic as led by the Holy Spirit. Also, this is for you if you are looking for a way to consistently feed on the word on a daily basis. Let's learn and grow together. Feel free to share your thoughts, questions by leaving a voice message😊 Karibu sana
"Look with wonder at the depth of the Father’s marvelous love that he has lavished on us! He has called us and made us his very own beloved children.." 1 John 3: 1 (TPT) I am a child of the Most High, and in this episode, I bring to you the first of the many pages of #diariesofagirlinlovewithjesus
Welcome to diariesofagirlinlovewithjesus 🤗🤗🤗🤗 My name is Phelister Christ and Christ is my relative, I am a girl in love with Jesus and this is exactly what I want to talk about, it's all about Jesus ❤️❤️