Slave To Righteousness

Theme for the Week: SLAVE TO RIGHTEOUSNESS

Reading: Romans 6:15-23
_______________________

Romans 6:19 (NIV)
I am using an example from everyday life because of your human limitations. Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness leading to holiness.

Apostle Paul, in today's passage describe who a slave is, in that, you are a slave to whom you obey. This means that everyone choose to be slave to the one they obey.

Nonetheless, whom your master is determines your results in life.
Initially, we were all slaves to sin until we chose to follow Christ. Sin yields death, but Christ gives life eternal.

Dear friend, make the bold step to come to Christ and be free from sin's slavery, choosing to be slave to righteousness which leads to holiness and eternal life.
Stay blessed.

Let's Pray:
Abba Father, we thank You. Lord, may we be slaves to righteousness, in Jesus' name. Amen.

Rid Yourself From Sin

Theme for the Week: DEAD TO SIN, ALIVE IN CHRIST

Reading: 1 Peter 1:1-10
_______________________

1 Peter 2:1 (NIV)
Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind.

Now that the blood of Jesus Christ has freed us from sin, we must rid ourselves of sin. The power in the blood of Jesus gives us the authority and ability to renounce sin.

One thing you must know is that no one will live the new life for you. The Holy Spirit is available to help us rid off all sin and empower us to living a new life in Christ; He is not there to do what we must do.

Wherefore, we must lay aside every sin and weight that holds us back to our old self, and desire to grow in the Lord through His Word, prayer and fellowship.
Stay blessed.

Let's Pray:
Lord God, to You be all glory and honour. Father, empower us by Your Spirit to rid ourselves of every sin, in Jesus' name. Amen.

Jesus Blood Freed Us From Sin

Theme for the Week: DEAD TO SIN, ALIVE IN CHRIST

Reading: Revelation 1:1-8
_______________________

Revelation 1:5 (NKJV)
and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood,

The mystery about the blood of Jesus Christ is in its ability to free everyone from the power and bondage of sin. It freed not just those who were alive, but also those who were dead and those yet to be born from sin.

This is so because the blood is the penalty for the sin of man. How would one know that they have freed from sin? We must just believe.

We must believe that Jesus Christ died for our sins and rose for our justification. Having this conviction will free us from the bondage of sin and we shall live no longer as its slaves.
Stay blessed.

Let's Pray:
Abba Father, we thank You. Lord, may You wash us in Jesus' blood that we will be freed from sin. Amen.

Be Baptized In The Trinity

Theme for the Week: DEAD TO SIN, ALIVE IN CHRIST

Reading: Matthew 28:16-20
_______________________

Matthew 28:19 (NIV)
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

Although trinity is not a word the Bible explicitly used, its concept is biblical as seen in the Scripture above.

It is important to be baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (the Trinity) to signify the power under which you are submitting to.

This also initiates you into the life in Christ, as it makes you conscious of your old evil self and the new life in Christ Jesus.
As all power has been given to Jesus Christ, let us not allow ourselves to be initiated to submit to any other power than that which is of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Shalom.

Let's Pray:
Almighty Father, we bless You. Lord, may all that You give us through Jesus Christ, Your Son, see the need to be baptized in the Trinity, in Jesus' name. Amen.

Be Raised With Christ To A Holy Living

Theme for the Week: DEAD TO SIN, ALIVE IN CHRIST

Reading: Colossians 3:1-9
_______________________

Colossians 3:5 (NIV)
Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.

Holiness is birthed out after raising with Christ. Dying with Him means that you have put to death every deed of sin.

Something that is dead has no life and, thus, cannot move. So when you put to death immoral act, it must stay dead in you as a witness that you have died and rose with Christ.

In place of the evil deeds, you must instill holiness. Replace your former life with holy living, so that the old self no longer gets a place to occupy in you.
Stay blessed!

Let's Pray:
Abba Father, we thank You. Lord, help us live holy lives in Christ, in Jesus' name. Amen.

Grace Teaches Us To Say No To Ungodliness

Theme for the Week: THE LAW AND GRACE

Reading: Titus 2:11-14

_______________________

Titus 2:12 (NIV)
It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,

The grace of God, which makes us right with Him, is made available to all men, including you and me. And it gives us the power to live the Christian life.

What separates the believer from the unbeliever is the ability to live a godly life. This power is gotten from Jesus Christ, whom God has given all powers.

With the grace made available for us, we are free from sin's control; and has the power and understanding to living according to the will of God. Thus, we can say no to ungodliness.
Hallelujah!

Let's Pray:
Heavenly Father, we bless You. Lord, may Your grace be made available for all men, especially those who have not heard of Your Son, Jesus Christ, that all men may say no to ungodliness. Amen.

Grace Helps Us Not To Be Slaves To Sin

Theme for the Week: THE LAW AND GRACE

Reading: Romans 6:1-4
_______________________

Romans 6:2 (KJV)
God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

Have you wondered why sin enslaves a person? This is because sin is slavery. Just think of how difficult it is to come out of addiction or any other vices: sin can make you its slave without you even knowing it.

This is why most people regret after committing sin. It takes the grace of God made available in Christ Jesus to free you from this slavery.

Once you are baptized into Christ, you have died to sin and rose to walk in newness of life. You are no longer a slave to sin, but a child of God, so walk as a child of God.
Hallelujah!

Let's Pray:
O Lord God, we thank You for calling us  Your sons and daughters through Jesus Christ. Father, may we live no longer as slaves to sin, in the name of Jesus. Amen.

No Longer Under The Law of Sin And Death

Theme for the Week: THE LAW AND GRACE

Reading: Romans 8:1-2
_______________________

Romans 8:2 (KJV)
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

There are two major laws in the lives of man; the law of the Spirit of life, and the law of sin and death.
While the law of the Spirit of life in Christ gives life to work the law, the law of sin and death promise righteousness after working the law.

It is obvious that no one can work the law and attain righteousness, because a fall in one is a fall in all.
However, in the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus, we are justified even in our sinful nature to be righteous and equipped with power to live holy lives.

This means that the law of the Spirit of life in Christ came to fulfill the law of sin and death. And so, we are no longer under the law of sin and death, but under the law of the Spirit of life in Christ which makes us right with God without our efforts.
Selah.

Let's Pray:
Almighty God, we bless You. Lord, may You draw all men into the law of the Spirit of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Saved By Grace Through Faith

Theme for the Week: THE LAW AND GRACE

Reading: Ephesians 2:8-9
_______________________

Ephesians 2:8 (NIV)
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—

Most people think of the favour done them as grace. While favour came to meet the unfairness of the world, grace came to justify the condemned as someone without any guilt.

When God saw that the world is not fair to treat His people fairly, He brought favour. Grace came because God saw that all have sinned and fallen short of His glory, and that the wages of sin is death, thus, grace replaced the death penalty of sin with life.

This is a work that can never be achieved by our own efforts, which is why we cannot boast. It is a gift of God which no man can manipulate, so yearn for the grace of God that you may be saved.
Stay blessed.

Let's Pray:
Glorious Father, we thank Your grace made available in Christ Jesus. Lord God, may You draw all men to Your grace, in Jesus' name. Amen.

Sound Speech

Theme for the Week: A NEW PERSPECTIVE

Reading: Ephesians 4:29-31
_______________________

Ephesians 4:29 (NIV)
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

One of the way to identify a man is by speech. Words are so powerful that God has exalted His Word above all His name. For this reason, no Word of God fall down void.

Your words can make and unmake you or another, so there is a need to be mindful of the way you speak. Instead of lying to put others in trouble, build them up with words of encouragement and truth.

As believers, let others see Christ in you through your speech. By that, they will see the light in you and glorify your Father in heaven.
Stay blessed. Shalom.

Let's Pray:
Abba Father, we thank You. Lord, give us the wisdom to speak, in Jesus' name. Amen.

No Deception And Stealing

Theme for the Week: A NEW PERSPECTIVE

Reading: Ephesians 4:25-28
_______________________

Ephesians 4:25 (NIV)
Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.

There is no deception in Christ Jesus, and so as His followers, we must not be filled with deception or any other social vices. When you choose to deceive or steal, satan becomes your lord and master.

Any one who deceives has a two way of life. What he shows the public is different from what he actually do.
Nonetheless, the hypocrite shall Christ spew out of His mouth.

Who is now your master; Christ Jesus or satan? If Christ be your master, then let go of all deceptions and stealing, and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.
Shalom.

Let's Pray:
Abba Father, we thank You. Lord, may we live a life worthy of You, in Jesus' name. Amen.

Put Away Old Self

Theme for the Week: A NEW PERSPECTIVE

Reading: Ephesians 4:20-24
_______________________

Ephesians 4:22 (NIV)
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;

God created us to conform with Him in righteousness and holiness until sin made it way into us. It robed us of this glorious nature we have with God.

Sin is very attractive to the eye. It is full of things that would wet your appetite and make you desire it. However, when you have touched it, you only realize its deception; for not all that glitters is gold.

As a restoration plan, God brought Jesus Christ into our lives that we can conform again to these glorious nature of God. Let us put away the old self that is full of deception and put on the true nature of man, which is the likeness of God.
Stay blessed.

Let's Pray:
Almighty God, we adore You. You never left us to walk in deception, but brought us grace to be like You again. Help us by Your Spirit to put away every nature that do not conform to Your image, in Jesus' name. Amen.

Don't Live Like The Gentiles

Theme for the Week: A NEW PERSPECTIVE

Reading: Ephesians 4:17-19
_______________________

Ephesians 4:17 (NIV)
Instructions for Christian Living
So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.

We learnt yesterday that we are a new creation. Once a new creation, our ways of living must, thus, change, putting off the old self. How do the Gentiles live that we are not to live as them? 

They have lost all sensitivity, so their thinking is futile and sensual. This is why they can think of same sex marriage, bestiality and the rest as something that can be desired and promoted.

As a child of God, these and every kind of impurity, you must not indulge in. Do not lose your sensitivity to indulge in sensuality. Otherwise, Christ will be of no effect to you.
Stay blessed.

Let's Pray:
Abba Father, we thank You. Mighty LORD, help us to live worthy of You, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

New Creation

Theme for the Week: A NEW PERSPECTIVE

Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:16-17
_______________________

2 Corinthians 5:16 (NIV)
So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer.

A new perspective indeed! Everything about those who have died and rose with Christ becomes new, even their way of thinking and looking at things.

We see no man after the flesh, because we have died and rose with Christ.  We regard no one from the worldly point of view, because everything has become new in Christ.

We are a new creation, if we have truly met the risen Christ. The old is a thing of the past. By the Spirit of the risen Christ, we walk in newness of life. Selah.

Let's Pray:
Heavenly Father, to You be all glory and honour. Lord, help us walk in the new life found in the risen Christ, in Jesus' name. Amen.

Dying and Rising with Christ

Theme for the Week: A NEW PERSPECTIVE

Reading: Romans 6:1-4
_______________________

Romans 6:4 (NIV)
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.

If Christ were to remain in the grave, believers would have been the worst of all people on earth. Glory be to God for raising Christ from the dead.

When Christ was taking the sins of the world into the grave, mine were part, and so were yours. And since our sins have been buried with Christ, we must have a new perspective of life that we will live in this new life.

As people who died with Christ, we should no longer live for sin, but for Christ, who counted us worthy to die with Him. When we believe that we died and buried all our sins with Christ, we can be sure that God shall raise us with power, just as Christ Jesus rose with power and glory.
Hallelujah!

Let's Pray:
Abba Father, we thank You for counting us worthy to die with Christ. Lord, may You raise us from death with power to overcome sin, just as You rose Jesus Christ with power and glory. Amen.

Jesus Rules Over All Kings

Theme for the Week: JESUS - OUR EXEMPLARY KING

Reading: Revelation 1:5-6
_______________________

Revelation 1:5 (NIV)
and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by His blood,

As the prince over the kings of the earth, Jesus rules over all kings. He is the first begotten of the death; He is the Son of God, and have dominion over everything in the earth.

The kings of the earth have their boundaries, but Jesus Christ is not limited. The kings of the earth have a time period within which they can reign, Jesus reigns forever.

When Jesus was given all powers, He made us kings and priests. He has given us an example of how kings must behave. On that note, we cannot be puffed up, but rule with humility and love unfeigned.
Stay blessed. Shalom.

Let's Pray:
King of kings, we bless You. Lord, as the Prince of the kings of the earth, Jesus Christ, has given us an example, so help us to rule with humility and love. Amen.

The Majesty of Jesus

Theme for the Week: JESUS - OUR EXEMPLARY KING
Reading: Hebrews 1:1-4
_______________________

Hebrews 1:3 (NIV)
The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being, sustaining all things by His powerful word. After He had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven._

When someone befriends wise people, he is seen as wise. This is because it is believed that as he walks with them, he is equipped with the wisdom they have.

At no point were the Angels better than Jesus Christ, but due to His incarnation in order that He will purge our sins, He was compared with the Angels and was seen much better than them.

Just as Jesus is the radiance of God's glory, we are the brightness of Jesus' glory. How well do we reflect Christ into the world? In our homes, schools, workplaces, wherever we find ourselves, let us be the radiance of God's glory in Christ Jesus.
Stay blessed.

Let's Pray:
Dear God, we cannot fathom the depth of Your Glory. Lord, may we reflect Christ to the world as Christ radiates You in us, in Jesus' name. Amen.

Jesus Reigns Over All Powers

Theme for the Week: JESUS - OUR EXEMPLARY KING

Reading: Ephesians 1:20-21
_______________________

Ephesians 1:21 (NKJV)
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.

There are powers, and there is power. Unto Jesus has all power been given, whether in this age, or in that which is to come. No power or principality can be compared with that of Christ.

Jesus does not reign over a specific power or some powers, but He reigns over every power. He reigns over the power of death, sickness, affliction, darkness, just to name a few.

Dear friend, do you know that you can also have the power of Christ? By believing in Jesus Christ, you are equipped with the power to reign over all powers.
Hallelujah!

Let's Pray:
Abba Father, we thank You. Lord, fill us with the power of Christ to overcome all powers as Jesus reigns over all powers. Amen.

The Nature of Jesus' Kingdom

Theme for the Week: JESUS - OUR EXEMPLARY KING

Reading: Daniel 7:13-14
_______________________

Daniel 7:14 (NKJV)
Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom the one which shall not be destroyed.

While the scope of Jesus' kingdom is not limited to a nation, but permeates every nation, its nature is an everlasting one; one that has no end.

A time is coming where every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of the Father; because dominion shall be given Him that all people, nations, and tongues should serve Him.

Do you have to wait till that day before you will confess Christ? No. You can be part of the kingdom now; for the Bible says that whosoever believes shall have everlasting life. Join the kingdom now and live the life of Christ Jesus as we wait for the Lord.
Shalom.

Let's Pray:
Heavenly Father, we thank You for the kingdom of the Son of Man. LORD God, may we walk in this kingdom that neither passes away nor is it destroyed, that we will not be destroyed along with those that pass away, in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

The Scope of Jesus' Kingdom

Theme for the Week: JESUS - OUR EXEMPLARY KING

Reading: Isaiah 9:6-7
_______________________

Isaiah 9:7 (KJV)
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.

Christ fulfills the messianic prophecy concerning Isaiah's son, Mahershal'alhashbaz. Indeed, God is with us, Immanuel.
Unlike Isaiah's son, who was to reign within a period, Christ Jesus reigns forever.

"Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end..." Jesus has given us a good example in every sphere of life to copy.

Christ's kingdom is one of great humility and peace, bringing great light to the people who walked in darkness.
As His followers, let us illuminate the world with peace through humility.
Stay blessed.

Let's Pray:
Everlasting Father, we adore You. Mighty God, may we walk in peace as we reign as the lights of the world, in Jesus' name. Amen.

The Steadfast Love Of The Lord Never Ceases

Theme for the Week: THE BENEFITS OF JUSTIFICATION: ASSURANCE OF GOD'S LOVE

Reading: Lamentations 3:20-23
_______________________

Lamentations 3:23 (NKJV)
They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.

Have you wondered why we go to bed in the night and wake up in each morning? Or do you think that waking up in the morning is automatic? Why are we not consumed in spite of our iniquities?

If there is something we can attribute all these privileges to, it is nothing, but the love and mercy of God. The steadfast love of God never ceases in the lives of His people, in spite of their weakness; they are new every morning.

Now, the question is whether you are of the people of God justified through the grace in Jesus Christ or not. Because, if you are not, you may enjoy this steadfast love and mercy, but for your days on this earth.

Accept Jesus Christ today and enjoy God's steadfast love and mercy that never ceases.
Stay blessed. Shalom.

Let's Pray:
Gracious Father, whose love never ceases, we thank You. Lord, renew Your love for us every morning, in Jesus' name. Amen.