His Voice Devotional

TEXT : 2 Corinthians. 4:8  We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair. The word "thlibo" from which trouble is coined could actually means to press (as grapes) or press hard upon.  So, Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthian church that they (he and his followers) were pressed on every side but not distressed. It is possible you are also being pressed hard on every side at this point  in your life, but one thing you must know is that the Lord is using the pressing to release sweet juice to people around you.  Whenever God *allows* situations (trouble) to press you on every side, it is because He wants to use it to produce patience (perseverance) in you, and this patience will birth an experience(character). Romans 5:3-5. What matters to God mostly is the experience (character) that you come out with from your troubles. This is the wine He wants to serve many with to the glory of His name.   As you patiently wait on God and cooperate w

Text : Luke 22:32  But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. The Lord said to Simon, 'Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat(Luke 22:31).This message is not peculiar to Simon only, Satan still desires to have you too today, so he might sift you away.  Infact, *Jesus told us expressly that  what He says unto one ,He says unto all, therefore Watch.* Mark  13:37. That you will be tempted by the devil is not a probability, it is certain. How well you prepare yourself for the day of temptation will determine the outcome. Proverbs  24:10 says, If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small. That is, strength to overcome is garnered before the day of adversity comes, if victory is to be ascertained. One sure way to garner this strength is through conversion. To be converted is to turn back to the Lord. Let's read our text again in Easy English Version. But I have prayed

Text :  Proverbs 22:29 & Genesis 16:2. Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.  *So Sarai told Abram, “You are well aware that the LORD has prevented me from giving birth to a child. Go have sex with my servant, so that I may possibly bear a son through her.” Abram listened to Sarai’s suggestion,*  It's easy to judge Sarai (and by extension, Abram ) for their decision to help God in meeting their need to bear children. Well,  *Talk is cheap. It's easy to pass judgement on others, but use the same yardstick to judge yourself, then, you'll understand the place of mercy.*  Whenever you jump queues, Whenever you cheat during examination as a student, or whenever you cheat in  anything, know that you are following shortcuts, and shortcuts come with its consequences.  There's no short cut to success. You spend so much energy trying to find a shortcut to success only to realize that success requires time a

Text : Genesis 16:2. So Sarai told Abram, “You are well aware that the LORD has prevented me from giving birth to a child. Go have sex with my servant, so that I may possibly bear a son through her.” Abram listened to Sarai’s suggestion,  *There's no short cuts in God, when you try to  play shortcut with Him, you end up cutting yourself short.*  The tendency to cut corners and play smart is inherent in man. By nature, man is not patient.  And this is one of the anomalies that man inherited by reason of the fall, which God is set to correct in us through Jesus Christ.  In chapter fifteen of Genesis, God made a covenant with Abram that his descendants will be as numerous as the stars in the sky and he believed God. However, by the next chapter, he, with a suggestion from his wife had decided to play a smart game on God and follow a short cut. Deep down in your heart, you believe that God's plan for you is good and great. But the pressure of life is pulling you to cut corners with

TEXT: Galatians 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.*  Due season is your harvest season. It is your time of manifestation: Keep sowing, keep watering and your due season for harvest will certainly come. There is a parable of the Chinese bamboo tree, a true story that teaches lessons about patience, faith, perseverance, growth, development and, most importantly, human potential. The Chinese bamboo tree requires nurturing – water, fertile soil, sunshine- to flourish. In the first year, there are no visible signs of activity or development. In the second year, no growth above the soil. And the third and fourth, still no signs.  Finally in the fifth year, there is growth.  The Chinese bamboo tree grows 80-90 feet tall (nearly 30 m) in just six weeks!  This story goes to say that if a farmer gives up on the Chinese bamboo tree, and stops nurturing and watering in the first, second, third or fourth year ; such farmer will never enter i

TEXT: Galatians 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. Yesterday, we considered one of the critical factors that guarantees success in any endeavour in life.  Today, we shall be looking at the second factor.  *2. Due Season:* Having a strong knowledge and understanding of due season will keep you on the track of consistency and persistency.  God is the only one who determines your due season. Your own duty is never to give up before the due season.  Due season talks about the harvest time for reaping what you have sown. Two things will always guarantee you a rewarding and fruitful due season:  1. *Don't be weary:*  To be weary is to be utterly spiritless, or to be exhausted. Whatever good you are doing or set out to do will demand that you stay strong in Christ Jesus. Apostle Paul told Timothy to be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. (2 Timothy 2:1). *Be strong in Christ and you will never be exhausted.*   *2. Don'

TEXT: Galatians 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. Do you feel like giving up on yourself or a project because you have tried many  times without success? You are not the only person, neither are you going to be the last person in this kind of situation. Most of the successful people you know today, have experienced same at some points in their lives. The only difference between those that are termed successful and unsuccessful  is simply in their tenacity. *While the successful people became successful because they never gave up, the others failed because they gave up.*  The successful people are those who  never gave up. This is because they have understood what the Bible calls "due season." The bible says, to everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven:(Ecclesiastes 3:1). To be a success in anything you are doing, you must know and do few things: 1. The power of consistency and persistency. M

TEXT. Psalms  150:6   Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD. It is easier for man to praise God when things are good, but praising God should only be conditioned upon one thing - " *BREATH* " Do you have breath? If yes, then you must Praise Him at all times.   Praising God is not primarily because He has given you  something, but because He has created and given you BREATH. _For His exceeding greatness and mighty works.Let every created thing give praise to the Lord, for he issued his command, and they came into being (Psalm 148:5). The angels, on a continual basis *PRAISE God* because they behold His Glory,   His Mighty acts and excellent greatness; The Sun, moon and twinkling stars in the  heavens *PRAISE Him;*  The skies and vapors high above the clouds. PRAISE Him; The creatures of the ocean depths *PRAISE Him; The fire, hail, snow and clouds, wind and weather *PRAISE Him;*  The mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars *PRAISE Him

Text : 1 Peter  5:6  Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Pride always go before destruction. Even God is never in favour of the proud. He says in 1 Peter 5:5 that He resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Now, *it's either you humble yourself and be lifted up or you lift up yourself and be humbled. It is your responsibility to humble yourself, because inherent in everyone is the tendency to be proud.  God promised to exalt you in due time only when you have fulfilled your part of humbling yourself.  When the disciples asked Jesus about who is the greatest in the kingdom, His response borders directly on humility.  Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:4. Humility is the way to greatness in the kingdom of God. Be humble.  Bible  Reading: 1 Peter 5:5-11. PRAYER FOCUS 1.) Father God, please give me the grace to be humble at all times

Text : Acts 4:31.  When they had prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken, and all of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak messages from God boldly. D L Moody, an American Evangelist was once asked why he urged Christians to be filled constantly with the Holy Spirit. “Well,” he said, “I need a continual infilling because I leak!”  It’s a fact that living in this sinful world, we do need to be replenished by the Spirit.  Emphatically, Jesus commanded His disciples not to embark on any work until they are endue with power from on high.   *I am sending to you what my Father promised, so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”* Luke 24:49. Again in Acts 1:4-5, Jesus repeated the same instruction to His disciples.  “Don’t leave Jerusalem. Instead, wait for what the Father has promised, about which you heard me speak, because John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit a few days from now.” Go

Text: Ruth 1:16. But Ruth answered, “Stop urging me to abandon you and to turn back from following you. Because wherever you go, I’ll go. Wherever you live, I’ll live. Your people will be my people, and your God, my God.  Today, we shall be looking at how Ruth did not burn down her seemingly unproductive bridge (relationship) with her mother in law(Naomi).  Naomi decided to return back to Israel having lost her husband and two sons in Moab.  At the point of return, her two daughters-in-law clinged unto her, wanting to go with her to Israel.  Naomi painted a vivid picture of her hopelessness to Orpah and Ruth. She said,  "Turn back, my daughters, go—for I am too old to have a husband. If I should say I have hope, if I should have a husband tonight and should also bear sons, would you wait for them till they were grown? Would you restrain yourselves from having husbands? No, my daughters; for it grieves me very much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD has gone out against me!&q

Text: Philemon 1:10 I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten while in my chains, who once was unprofitable to you, but now is profitable to you and to me. We have more teachings today telling people to cut off relationships that are unproductive in their lives. While that can be helpful sometimes, it is not helpful at some other times. Though wisdom will demand that you should know when a particular relationship has expired or when it is staled, yet you must see to it that you do not deliberately kill a relationship that you ought to maintain and restore. For one reason or the other Onesimus had left or fled from Philemon, his master. Some bible commentaries had accounted the reason for the break in relationship to be theft.  Apostle Paul met Onesimus in Rome, preached to him, and got him converted. Paul the Apostle now wrote to Philemon, appealing to him to restore Onesimus who once was unprofitable to him, but now is profitable to  both of them(Paul and Philemon). It

Text: 2 Timothy 4:3 For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. Apostle Paul strictly warned Timothy to preach the word and to be ready in season  and out of season, because a time would come when people would no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. We are currently in the time Apostle Paul  talked and warned Timothy about. It is progressively becoming more and more difficult for people to endure sound teachings of the word of God today.  *Today, many a people are no longer willing to subscribe to wholesome teachings as they have grown itching ears.*  They prefer to follow their own desires and search for teachers who will tell them what they want to hear. Many in our churches today only seek to hear what they desire to hear and not what the Lord wants to say.  So, pastors are being pressed and pressured to Prea

Text : John 10:3. To him the porter opens; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calls his own sheep by name, and leads them out. We established yesterday that one thing you can't joke with as a true follower of Christ is *His Voice.* You must recognise and hearken (obey) His voice. It is in doing this that your safety is assured.  Today, we want to see another responsibility of the Shepherd over His sheep.  To him the porter opens; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calls his own sheep by name, *and leads them out.* John 10:3.  He called you, that He might lead you. It is not enough for you to hear or recognise His Voice, you must allow Him to lead you as well.  Romans 8:14 says *For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.*   The Spirit leading you determines the family you belong to. Basically,  there are only two families in this world - the family of God, and the family of satan. In other words, we can say the Kingdom of Christ or the power of darkne

Text : John 10:3. To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.  *One thing that differentiates the sheep from the goats is that the sheep hear His  voice. Whose voice are you hearing?* If you are a member of the sheepfold, you will hear His voice.  The truth is, everyone is hearing voices.  If you are not hearing the voice of the Shepherd,  you are hearing the voice of strangers. And strangers here could range from your friends to your enemies.  And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.* Joh 10:5. Whose voice are you hearing? Whose voice are you listening to? Man will go in the direction of what he hears. That's why Romans 10:17 says faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. It is typical of Jesus to liken His disciples (followers) to sheep, while those who refused to follow are regarded as goats.  Infact,  even when He was talking about

Text : Matthew 13:11.  He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.  *Have  you ever wondered why some people are so dumb when it comes to spiritual things? Well, the things of the Spirit is indeed a mystery.*  When Jesus Christ was asked by His disciples why He always speak to the people in parables and not in plain language; He told them that matters of the kingdom are mysteries and can only be unravelled to kingdom minded people.  This is why some people make mockery of deep and spiritual matters because they couldn't make sense of it.  *For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.* 1 Corinthians  1:18. These kind of people should be prayed for, so God can open their eyes to spiritual things.  However,  it will be a double-loss if as a child of God you lack understanding of what has been given to you to comprehend.

Text : Matthew 12:42  The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here. To say Solomon was the wisest king that ever lived will be correct.  However, this was only correct till  Jesus came to the scene.  Jesus Christ is the power and wisdom of God.  1 Corinthians 1:24.  No one can be wiser than wisdom Himself. Hence, Jesus said emphatically that the one greater than Solomon is here.  While Solomon was king over Isreal, the wisdom of God was resting upon him so much so that no one could deny it. Whoever wants to see the beauty of God in man will have to travel down to wherever Solomon was to catch a glimpse of God's beauty and riches deposited in man. This was exactly what Queen Sheba did. She travelled from so far away to hear the wisdom of Solomon. Matthew 12:42. She embarked on a three month journey on camels

Text : 1 Kings 3:13.  And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days. I'm sure you have heard that Solomon was the wisest and the richest man that ever lived. Well, you heard right; because God said so in the book of 1 Kings chapter three. Solomon was so preoccupied with just one thing that when God appeared to him in a dream, even in that subconscious state, his request was direct : "Give your servant an understanding mind to govern your people, so I can discern between good and evil. Otherwise, how will I be able to govern this great people of yours?” 1Kings 3:9.  *You can't go wrong whenever you ask God for wisdom over any matter. It is wisdom to ask for wisdom.*  Moreso, God gave an open invitation for all to ask for wisdom if you truly think you need one.  *Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to everyone generously without a rebuke,

Text: 1 Kings 19:12 "...and after the earthquake a fire, [but] the LORD [was] not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice" Prophet Elijah fled after he received the life threatening message from Jezebel, the wife of King Ahab, because he didn't keep himself calm before the Lord.  *Endeavouring to listen to God in difficult times is a major prerequisite to your deliverance.*  Are you faced with a life threatening situation like Prophet Elijah, the first and most important thing you need to do is: "Set yourself before the Lord for His still small voice."  *"You will be saved from many unwarranted troubles if only you will always maintain your calm before the Lord and listen to Him."*  After Prophet Elijah heard the still small voice, then the Lord asked him, "What are you doing here?" This question shows that Prophet Elijah had left his rightful location and God-given assignment.  The windstorm he saw, revealed that he has been blow

Text: 1 Kings 19:12 "...and after the earthquake a fire, [but] the LORD [was] not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice" In the midst of your turbulence and storm, *God always want you to maintain your calm. This will enable you hear the still small voice which always guarantee your Peace.*  The windstorm, earthquake and the fire that prophet Elijah saw represented the tribulations he was encountering at that point in time.  In all of these, God was never in any of it.  He only appeared to Elijah in still small voice.  You must know and be rest assured that when you find yourself in the midst of tribulations, God's still small voice is all that you need. Jesus once showed us the path of response to tribulations. This is the only path that guarantees God's still small voice.  God's designated path to overcoming tribulation is PEACE! Jesus assured you of His Peace in tribulations. He said,  _"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may h

Text: 1 Kings 19:12 "...and after the earthquake a fire, [but] the LORD [was] not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice" Prophet Elijah was on the run from Jezebel for his dear life due to life threatening utterances he had received.  While on the run, the Lord provided for him through the hand of an angel, he journeyed for forty days and forty nights  in the strength of the meal he received twice from the angel. Elijah fled for the fear of losing his dear life to the wicked Jezebel. Though, the Lord fed him, but He asked him twice about what he was doing on that journey.   *That you are enjoying God's provision, is not a guarantee that God approves of your life or your life's journey.*  After the Lord had asked him, "What are you doing here?" The Lord asked him to go stand before Him on the mountain.  A mighty windstorm hit the mountain, but the Lord wasn't in it. After this, earthquake and fire came, but the Lord was neither in these. The

Text : Proverbs 3:5-6. Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not depend on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.  *As a child of God,  it is not a big deal to carry God along wherever you go, but do you really acknowledge Him in ALL YOUR WAYS?*  God is interested in every aspect of your life. He wants you to acknowledge Him in all you do.  Some of the burdens you carry right now will not have come your way had you acknowledged Him before you took that decision.  As a single person,  God is interested in your choice of life partner than you give Him credit for. He knows the right person for you and He's willing to lead you to him or her only if you will acknowledge Him. One area where people (Christians) seldomly acknowledge God is in the choice of a life partner.  They only come back to God after they had encountered problems or challenges in their choices. If the word of God says "acknowledge God in all your wa

Text : 2 Kings 5:20. Gehazi, the attendant to Elisha, the man of God, told himself, “Look how my master has spared this Aramean, Naaman! He declined to take from him what he brought. As the LORD lives, I’m going to run after him and get something from him.” Greed is an intense and selfish desire for something, especially wealth, power, or food. It is a demon that can capture anyone if you are not watchful.  Some are in trouble today because of greed. The scammers are still in business today because they feed on the greed of many of their victims.  *Some have landed themselves in a wrong relationship because of greed.*  Unfortunately,  like Gehazi, a greedy person don't always face the consequences alone, their families and friends sometimes share in it. Gehazi, a servant to Elisha, the man of God, invited the leprosy of Naaman not only on himself but on his entire linage.   When he (Gehazi) returned from his greedy mission, Elisha told him _Naaman’s leprosy will plague you and your

Text : 2 Kings 5:1. Now Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master, and honourable, because by him the LORD had given deliverance unto Syria: he was also a mighty man in valour, but he was a leper. *God is the God of ALL but He is not Father to ALL. Is He a father to you or is He only a God to you?*  That you are enjoying some of His benefits doesn't necessarily make you His son, because He says in Matthew  5:45  that he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. It was recorded that through Naaman the Lord had given deliverance unto Syria. Yet this man was a leper. Yes, as a sinner(leper) God can send His blessings upon you so much so that you may even be a blessing to others. But His goal is to gain your attention, so He could be your Father and have a personal relationship with you. God is more interested in having a personal relationship with you than just blessing you with things. N

Text : 2 Kings 5:1. Now Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master, and honourable, because by him the LORD had given deliverance unto Syria: he was also a mighty man in valour, but he was a leper. Sin is like leprosy, it may not stop you from worldly achievements, but a leper is a leper regardless of his achievements. In terms of achievements,  hear the records of Naaman according to 2 Kings 5:1 :  1.) He was the captain of the host of the king of Syria.  2.) He was a great man. 3.) He was an honourable man. 4.) He had brought victories to  Syria.  5.) He was a mighty man of valour.  However, added to all these beautiful accolades and achievements in this man's life is a "but", Naaman was a leper. The same is true for many today,  on the outside, they seem to be doing well, but there is a big cause for concern internally.  You might want to ask, how can a leper achieve all that Naaman achieved? Well, we can also say, how can a sinne