Milady's Diary: Recent Episodes
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My journey as a human, wife+mother (to be), big sister, entrepreneur, advocate for change and culture enthusiast. I see the world and you, through my eyes; I hope to inspire you as much as you inspire me♥️
TOPIC: THE GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD.
Tuesday, April 14th,2020;
Pastor Chris Oyakhilome;
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).
Many in the Church really don’t understand the Gospel of Jesus Christ. You couldn’t understand the Gospel and not be enthused and compelled by its truth. It’s not an assumption; it’s not some fairytale; the Gospel is real and sublime.
Think about it: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; God, in human flesh, came into this world to take the place of sinful man. He was crucified on the Cross, buried, and rose from the dead and He’s alive today. Everything He accomplished on the Cross was for the whole world.
When He died on the Cross, we died in Him. When He was buried, we were buried in Him. When God raised Him up, we were raised together with Him. Today, because He lives, we live also. What a story! The One who knew no sin was made to be sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God in Him!
Our opening verse 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.” I’m compelled by this truth of the Gospel that, whereas we were all dead, cut off from the life of God, now in Christ we live. What a hope! What a message! There’s nothing like it in the world; it’s the greatest story ever told. It’s as fresh as tomorrow!
To think that this is the Gospel that Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and the Patriarchs looked forward to! This is the same Gospel that Moses, David and all of the prophets that spoke about Christ, prophesied about. This is the Gospel that we’ve embraced; that has become so real to our spirits. How amazing! It’s an unending song, an ever-flowing stream of bliss. How could I ever see and think but through His eyes and love only!
When I think about Jesus and what the Gospel means, and all that He’s done for us, I’m compelled to make it known to the world. What about you? Would you join to take this saving message to the ends of the earth?
PRAYER
Dear Father, what a message we have in the Gospel! Through this gracious and glorious Gospel—the good news of Christ’s salvation and deliverance from eternal death—faith is stirred in the hearts of many, and salvation abounds! Today, many are snatched from the jaws of destruction into the Kingdom of your Love Son, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY: |
| Colossians 2:10-13 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: 11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: 12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with [him] through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. 13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; ||
|| Romans 1:16-17 AMPC 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, 17 For in the Gospel a righteousness which God ascribes is revealed, both springing from faith and leading to faith [disclosed through the way of faith that arouses to more faith]. As it is written, The man who through faith is just and upright shall live and shall live by faith. || || 1 Timothy 1:15 This [is] a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. ||
DAILY SCRIPTURE READING 1-Year Bible Reading Plan=> Luke 14:1-24 & Judges 17-18 2-Year Bible Reading Plan=> Romans 1
TOPIC OF RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FOR 11TH APRIL 2020 IS “WRITING THE WORD IN YOUR HEART.”
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 45:1
…My heart is inditing a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made touching the king: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer .
Click here for yesterday’s Rhapsody of Realities message by Pastor Chris Oyakhilome
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY As a student in school, when you were being taught, the teachers gave you notes or you took notes as they were lecturing. When you got out of class, you went back to study more on the subject, and made more notes, and as a result, you had better knowledge than what was taught in class. That way, you did better during exams than the guy who didn’t go the extra mile to research, study some more, and make his own notes.
The foregoing illustration was to further help you understand our study today, picking up from our previous study. We learnt that the Word is written in your heart, but it’s what you write that’s more important. So, how are you going to write it? Our opening verse gives us the answer. It says, “My heart is composing something; it’s framing something, and my tongue is the pen of a ready writer.” So, how do you write something on your heart? It’s with your tongue; you write in your heart with your tongue.
This is the reason for meditating on the Word. There’re three levels of meditation: you ponder, you mutter, and you roar. You think through the Word, mutter or speak it under your breath, and then you voice it. When it gets to coming out of your mouth boldly, you’re writing it on your heart—on the tables of your heart.
If you don’t write it in your heart, you’re not going to have it when you need it. So, write the Word in your heart with your tongue, by affirmations.
Your tongue is the pen of a skillful writer; as you study or listen to the Word, you find your heart overflowing with this composition. As you speak forth the Word, it gets framed on your heart.
Writing it in your notes is with ink; but He wants it written on the fleshy tables of your heart. Read it; it says, “…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). Hallelujah! When you have it inside, out of that abundance, you’ll bring forth good things. Blessed be God!
CONFESSION: The Word of God is in my heart and in my mouth, producing fruits of righteousness. As I meditate on the Word, it mingles with my spirit, causing me to walk in success, victory, prosperity, peace and everlasting joy. Amen!
FURTHER STUDY: 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.
SCRIPTURE: 2 Corinthians 3:2 NIV
You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everybody. When you study the verse above in the Amplified Classic Version, you’d notice a bit of difference. It says, “[No] you yourselves are our letter of recommendation (our credentials), written in your hearts, to be known (perceived, recognized) and read by everybody.”
Notice the underlined phrase; in the NIV and the KJV, it says “our hearts” while the Amplified says, “your hearts.” Why is there such a difference? When the translators work, they don’t always focus on all the points that are required. Sometimes, they focus on principle, context, message or pure language.
It depends on what their vision was and their readiness to review complexities in the text. When you find some complex areas, what you need is the ministry of the Spirit to really give you guidance. The verse above is a complex area; not the verse itself, but the truth packaged therein; it’s such a powerful reality, but a bit complex. It says, “…you yourselves are our letter of recommendation (our credentials), written in your hearts…” (AMPC).
Now, when you read the epistle of Paul to the Corinthians, for example, you probably got excited at the truths. But that was a written epistle; and here the Bible says you’re a living epistle, known and read by everybody; a letter from Christ! This is amazing. Who is Jesus? He’s the living Word; the Word who became flesh.
To be Christ’s epistle, therefore, means you’re Christ’s Word in flesh, and Christ’s Word is God’s Word. So, you’re the Word of God in flesh. Some people can’t handle this with their religious mind, but it’s simple to understand when you realize that in life, everything gives birth after its kind: dogs give birth to dogs; humans give birth to humans; the Word gives birth to the Word.
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.” As offsprings of the Word, we’re the epistles (word) of Christ. Hallelujah!
CONFESSION
I’m born of God; therefore, I’m a living epistle, a letter from Christ, known and read by all. I live the life of the Word, full of glory, virtue and honour. I express the divine nature, living the Kingdom life of victory, prosperity, peace and joy now and always, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY: John 1:12-14; 1 Peter 1:23 AMPC; 2 Corinthians 3:3
Daily devotional to enlighten and uplight your spirit daily. Read by me Tamunotonye Pamela Daniel
TOPIC: “YOUR LIFE IS THE REAL MESSAGE .”
SCRIPTURE: 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.
Being born again, you’ve been. commissioned to preach the Gospel; to take the message of Christ’s salvation to your world and beyond. But did you know that much more than the things you say as you witness for Christ, your life is the real message?
When people see you, what would be their testimony of you as it pertains to Christ? Your life is the real message. In other words, what you preach and teach must first be evident in your own life.
It’s often said, “Practise what you preach”; but the reverse, “Preach what you practise” is also right. It’s a hard sell to try to impact someone else with a message or Gospel that hasn’t yet impacted your own life. So, as one ordained to bear the message of the divine life, the impact of that message must first reflect in the quality of your personality.
People should look at you and see the results of your preaching. It begins with you digesting the Word for yourself; understanding it and doing the Word in every situation. Become fully yielded to the Word of God to mould your life and character and help you lead a life of righteousness.
That way, you’ll certainly bear fruits of righteousness. 2 Corinthians 3:6 AMPC says that God “…has qualified us [making us to be fit and worthy and sufficient] as ministers and dispensers of a new covenant [of salvation through Christ], not [ministers] of the letter (of legally written code) but of the Spirit….” Nevertheless, the real message that you have is a revelation of what’s inside you.
Don’t be a “professional preacher.” No matter what you preach or teach, at the end of the day, the most important thing is the true life that you have inside; that’s your real message. Therefore, invest in God’s Word for personal development. Build your life with the Word by taking your times of study and meditation seriously.
CONFESSION
My life is a message; a message of the divine life, of God’s love, goodness, righteousness and true holiness; these are expressed unreservedly to my world. I’m fully yielded to the Word to culture my life and character, giving me the right mindset, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY: 2 Corinthians 3:6 AMPC; Matthew 5:16
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Luke 11:14-36 ; Judges 3-4
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Romans 8:12-19 ; Psalm 110-111
Clik Here To Download Rhapsody of Realities For April 2020
Rhapsody of Realities is written by Pastor Chris Oyakhilmr