A Scripture Based Devotional for Overcomers

 

26 February

Amos 1:3-5
The certainty of God’s judgement

According to this passage, the Lord promised not to turn back His wrath (Amos 1:3). This means that His wrath is most certain to come upon the nation of Damascus. This promise to judge Damascus was fulfilled to the detail or letter of it (see 2 Kgs.16:9). Heaven and earth will pass away, but not the promise of God (Matt.24:35). As God promised to judge Damascus (Amos 1:3-5), He has also promised to judge the whole world through Jesus Christ (Acts 17:31). As the judgment of Damascus took place as He promised (2 Kgs.16:9), so will that of the world take place when Jesus returns (2 Cor.5:10). No one can cancel or exempt himself from God’s judgment (see Rev.6:15-17) But one can find mercy from His judgment by turning from sin to Christ (see Jn.3:18; Rom.8:1-4; cf.Rom.8:33-34). The best response to the coming judgment of God (Acts 17:31; 2 Cor.5:10) is not to deny or doubt or disbelieve it but to turn from sin and seek His mercy through Jesus Christ (Jn.3:18; Rom.8:1-4; Prov.28:13).

PRAYER: 1. Father, please let your mercy be my portion when you judge the world through your only Son Jesus Christ.
2. Father, please enable me to be ready for your judgment.
3. Father, please take away whatever can keep me from being ready for your judgment.

 

27 February
Ps.133:1-3 The benefits of unity

Here the psalmist extols unity (Ps.133:1). Where unity abounds, there is goodness and pleasantness(Ps.133:1). He likens it to a precious oil poured on the head down the beard (Ps.133:2), and to the due of Herman falling on Mount Zion (Ps.133:3). Both figures speak of the tranquility or solemn peace and blessings that thrive where there is unity (Ps.133:2-3). Strife is the order of the day where there is no unity. The benefits of unity spoken of by the psalmist apply wherever there is unity: in families, Churches, communities and nations (Ps.133:1-3). Jesus prayed for unity among His followers (Jn.17:20-23). We obey Him when we work or stand for unity. Apart from forfeiting the benefits of unity (Ps.133:1-3), we disobey and rebel against Jesus when we oppose or undermine unity among His followers (see Rom.16:17-18). Disunity does not have a place in God’s plan and work (cf. Tit.3:10). Believers must keep away from agents of disunity (Rom.16:17-18).

PRAYER: 1. Father, please overcome all the agents of disunity in my life, family, Church and nation.
2. Father, please grant me unity in my life, family, Church and nation

 

28 February
2 Kgs. 1:16-17
The outcome of consulting another god: the Lord's verdict

King Ahaziah of Israel sent men to consult Baal Zebub, the god of Ekron(2Kgs.1:1-2). The Lord declared that because he did this, he will certainly die (2Kgs.1:16). It is his action that determines God's verdict. Because he abandoned the Lord, the Lord also abandoned him to death. This explains why so many perish in the hands of juju priests and traditional and witch doctors. It angers the Lord to consult them. Besides, they have no right whatever over human life. The right and final answer of life lies in the Lord's own hands exclusively, not with anyone else. No god can save except the Lord. It is vain for anyone to consult someone else in his time of need except the Lord

PRAYER: 1. Father, please help me strenghten in my faith and trust in you

 

29 February
Jn. 14:5-6
The only Way to God

We are all used to travelling to several places using several ways to get to our destinations. Take for example travelling to the famous city of Lagos in Nigeria. You can access the city by aeroplane, by car, by boat, by foot, and most recently by train. Thus, there are five ways altogether to get to Nigeria’s most populous city. It is completely the opposite when it comes to finding God. The Scripture states clearly that the way to God is not only one but unique ( Jn. 14:6 ). First, the way to God is a person, Jesus Christ ( Jn. 14:6). It is not a virtue or thing. Second, it is not any person but Jesus Christ alone (Acts 4:12). God accredited no other person for this purpose than Him (see Acts 2:22). Any other person who claims to be the Way to God is an impostor ( see Jn.10 : 11-13). Third, this way is completely free, without any cost attached to it (see Eph. 2:8-9). One is not required to pay any cost or price to ride by this Way to God. Lastly, this Way is one and the same for all mankind, regardless of nationality, race, or language (see Jn. 3:16; Rom. 3:22-24).
Therefore, unlike travelling to earthly destinations, the Way to God is only one. And that Way is a person, Jesus Christ. And this Way is the only one available for every human being, nationality or race notwithstanding.

PRAYER: Father, I hereby accept Jesus Christ with all my heart as the Way to find you.

1 March
Ps. 135:7 The Lord does whatever pleases Him

The psalmist states here that the Lord does whatever pleases Him in the heavens and on the earth, in the seas and all their debts (Ps. 135:7). This means that He alone is God, and that there is no God or Lord but Him (Ps. 113:5). There is no rival or equal to Him (Ps. 113:5). It means He is the Lord of all the earth, and is subject to none, whereas all are subject to no one but Him (Ps.97:5; Ps.47:7-8). The heavens and the earth and everything in them are all His, thus subject to Him (Ps. 24:1-2; Ps.113:4). It means no one can stand before Him (cf.Ps.76:7). It means His will alone prevails, and that whatever is not His will cannot see the light of day. It also means that nothing can take place without His authorization (see Matt. 10:29). What the psalmist states in this passage concerning the Lord is an everlasting decree. Therefore, we must put all our trust in Him, for no one who ever did so was put to shame (Rom. 10:11). And it is vain to try to circumvent Him or His will in our lives. We need not fear any other but Him (Deut. 6:13).

PRAYER: 1. Father, please do whatever pleases you in my life, family, in the Church and throughout the heavens and the earth.
2. Father, please cancel and bring to nothing whatever does not please you in my life, family,
in the Church and throughout the heavens and the earth.

2 March
Jn. 1:16 Jesus is the sole source of our blessings

This passage indicates the source of all our blessings and gifts. According to it, our blessings and gifts come from Jesus Christ (Jn. 1:16). The Scripture is quite consistent in stating this fact (see Eph.4:7-13; cf.Rom.12:6-8; 1Cor.12:4-11). The Father bestows His blessings and gifts through Jesus Christ His Son. As is the case with salvation (Acts4:12), so it is with the blessings and gifts that accompany it. The Scripture means what it says that apart from Jesus we can do nothing or bear any fruit (Jn.15:4-5). Anyone who desires God’s blessings and gifts can only receive them from Jesus Christ. There is no other source God has provided than this. To seek for life’s blessings and gifts outside of Jesus is to seek in vain. Whatever blessings and gifts one may get outside of Jesus are illegitimate. There are no legitimate blessings and gifts outside of Him.

PRAYER: 1. Lord Jesus, please be my one and only Saviour and Lord.
2. Father, please bless me through your only Son Jesus Christ.

3 March
Acts 19:5-6 - Jesus gives the Holy Spirit

While in Ephesus in the course of his missionary work , Paul found some disciples who had only received John’s baptism and had not even heard of the Holy Spirit (Acts 19:1-4). He baptized them into the name of Jesus, placed his hands on them, and the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied (Acts 19:5-6). John’s baptism did not entitle them to the Holy Spirit (Acts 19:1-4). It was baptism into the name of Jesus that did (Acts 19:5-6). Baptism into any other name does not entitle anyone to receive the Holy Spirit. It is only baptism into Jesus’ name that does (See Acts 2:28:39; Acts 19:5-6). Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit to His followers (Jn. 14:16-17, 25-26; Jn. 16:7). This promise was first fulfilled at Pentecost (Acts 2:1-12). The promise is meant for all believers and is still subsisting today (Acts 2:38-39). But it is baptism into the name of Jesus that will entitle us to baptism of the Holy Spirit (Acts2:28-29; Acts 19:5-6). The testimony of these Ephesian disciples was not adequate until they were baptized into the name of Jesus and received the Holy Spirit (Acts 19:1-6). In the same way, our testimony is not adequate unless it is authenticated by the Holy Spirit. Without the Holy Spirit’s authentication, our claim to belong to Jesus may be spurious (Rom. 8:16).

PRAYER: 1. Father, please fill me with the Holy Spirit.
2. Father, please take away everything that hinders me from being filled with the Holy Spirit.

4 March
2 Thess. 1:5 Defining Christian suffering

In this passage, we find a definition of Christian suffering (2 Thess.1:5). According to this passage, Christian suffering refers to suffering for the kingdom (2Thess.1:5). Therefore, it is only when one suffers for the kingdom of God or in relation to it that one is suffering as a Christian. This includes when one suffers because he is a believer or on an account of Jesus Christ or His cause (Matt. 24:9- 12; Jn.15:18-21; 1 Pet. 4:12-14). With this definition, not every suffering can be considered Christian suffering (see 1 Pet.3:17; 1 Pet. 4:15-16). In effect, anyone who is not suffering for the kingdom or in relation to it is not suffering for Christ. It is only in respect of Christian suffering that there is hope and reward (see 1 Pet. 4:12-14). There is no hope or reward for suffering that is not for the kingdom or in relation to it. If anyone is suffering for the kingdom or in relation to it, his suffering is not in vain (1 Pet. 4:12-14). The one who suffers for the kingdom or in relation to it is blessed (1 Pet. 4:14). The one who suffers for any other purpose than the kingdom suffers in vain.

PRAYER: 1. Father, please keep me from suffering for any other purpose than that of your Kingdom.
2. Father, please give me the grace to suffer for your Kingdom if necessary.
3. Father, please give me courage and hope when I suffer for the Kingdom.

 

 

 

Our Daily Key: A Scripture Based Devotional for Overcomers

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