His Voice Devotional

Text : 1 Cor. 15:19  If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. Having known that our hope in Christ Jesus is not just in this present life, but also in that which is to come. We shall then be looking at the hope we have in Him in this present life. While awaiting the hope to come, we also live for the hope Himself-Jesus Christ.  Our hope in the now is stated in Romans 8:29 "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." The expectation (hope) of our calling in this present life is our conformation to the image of  the Son of God. The hope we live for on this side of eternity is to *CONFORM.* That is, to be conformed to the very image of Jesus. If you don't  have this hope of conformation, you will not do well as a child of God(believer) in your pilgrimage on earth. The Greek word "summorphos" where conform is taken, can also me...

Text :  Act 1:11.  Which also 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. It was prophesied long ago that the Messiah will come. In Isaiah 9:6, Isaiah boldly declared that, _For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace._  Again, very explicitly, Isaiah 7:14 says, Therefore, the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.  When this was prophesied thousands of years ago, some people did not believe it because they refused to listen to the voice of the Spirit. Some others didn't believe because it didn't sink with both logic and science. However, today, everyone knows that indeed Jesus Christ wa...

Text : Proverbs 22:6.  Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Note that the Bible did not say "train up your child in the way he should go... " rather,  it says "train up a child in the way he should go... " I checked several versions of the Bible on this verse and realised that none said "your child", because children ultimately belong to God and not the parents,  parents are only care-givers.  Having said that, let us look closely at what the Lord will have us hear from His word today : 1. *Train* : I know training has different meanings for different individuals. But we'll stay within the confines of what the Bible says regarding training.  Heb 12:11 says No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, for those who have been trained by it, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace. So we can deduce from this verse that training is :  A.  *a discipline*  -a cont...

Text :  Mark  14:3  And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head. Do you know that It's possible for Mary to go about flaunting the alabaster box everywhere she goes without ever allowing the content to spill out. Unlike Mary, many are flaunting the fact that they are Christians, yet the people around them cannot perceive the aroma and aura of Christ in them.2 Timothy  3:5 says these people have a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof: from such turn away. You are not a Christian just because you professed to be one, you are a christian because you are living and behaving like Christ. Matthew 5:16 says *Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.* That is, apart from what you professed to be, your good works are what people wil...

Text :  Mark  14:3  And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head. I know you are familiar with the story of Mary and the Alabaster box of special ointment that she broke on Jesus, yes, but let's glean some lessons from this very peculiar act of hers. The Alabaster box is a very beautiful container, it's so beautiful that it is used as a decoration piece. This container was made out of marble stone and it is usually used to store expensive, fancy, and beautiful perfumes and oils for special occasions. Beautiful as this box is however, it has to be broken before its content can be useful. The box was made in such a way that without breaking it, you can't fully access its contents.  This Alabaster box is symbolic. It can be liken to you as a human being, and its precious ointment is symbolic of the Jesus in your ...

Text: Psalms 133:1  Behold, how good and how pleasant [it is] For brethren to dwell together in unity Good and Great things happen when brethren come together in unity. For instance, the Holy Ghost came down on the day of pentecost when Jesus' disciples stayed together in unity. Acts 2:1 says, "when the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place." The Holy Ghost wouldn't have come down if the disciples had not stayed together in one accord. They were all with one accord and in one place. If only the local churches could stay together in one accord and in one place, they would have been experiencing greater things than they are experiencing now. If husband and wife could stay together in one accord and in one place, their family will achieve great and mighty things. If organisations stay together in one accord and in one place, their bottom line (profit) will skyrocket. If two friends stay together in one accord and in one place, they w...

Text: Revelation  3:5   He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels .  The Book of life is a book where names of people that will reign with Christ eternally are recorded. Jesus once told His disciples not to rejoice because they cast out devils, but that their names are written in heaven. (Luke 10:20). It is clear from here that your Joy should always be centred on the fact that your name is written in the book of Life. *Nothing in this world should surpass the joy of having your name written in the book of life.*  It is clear from our  text that one's name can be blotted out from the book of life if one did not overcome. Only overcomers shall be clothed in white  garments.  Jesus said that He would not blot out the names of overcomers from the Book of life, but that He would confess their names before His Father and...

Text: Isaiah 50:7  "For the Lord GOD will help Me; Therefore I will not be disgraced; Therefore I have set My face like a flint, And I know that I will not be ashamed." All the troubles and difficulties around you, and your life are orchestrated by the enemy with one goal in mind, and that's to take away your focus on Jesus. You will recall that when Peter requested that Jesus bid him to come on the water, he (Peter) actually stepped out and started walking on the water until, he got distracted by the boisterous wind.  Matthew 14:28 renders it thus: _"And Peter answered Him and said, "Lord, if it is You, com-mand me to come to You on the water."So He said, "Come." And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, "Lord, save me!" While it is important for you to know that God is always willing to help...

Text :  Micah  7:8  Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD shall be a light unto me. Like a ball, you are made of a bouncing material. You are not like a flower vase made from ceramic; hence when you fall you shall rise again,  you will not be broken and shattered like flower vase. Proverbs  24:16 says  that "For a just man falls seven times, and rises up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief". When a righteous man falls, he rises again, but when a wicked man falls that's the end. Today, we shall be looking at the latter part of our text which focuses on those sitting in the darkness.  When you find yourself sitting in darkness, the LORD Himself shall be a light unto you.  This is the reason Jesus came as the light of the world. _"The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up"_ Matthew  4:16. To b...

Text :  Micah  7:8  Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD shall be a light unto me.  *As long as God's breath remains in you, you must keep hope alive even in the face of great adversity.* You must know that there is always a rising up for you even when you fall.  Our text says, "when I fall..." and not "If I fall..." because it is certain there would always be a down and dark times in one's life. It is at this time, your enemy likes to rejoice over you. For instance, David's  down and dark time was when he left his throne and palace because his son, Absalom committed treason against him.  This season was a challenging moment in his life. While David and his men were on the run, a man by the name Shimei accosted them and began to curse king David.  Shimei cursed King David and said to him,  _"...Come out! Come out! You bloodthirsty man, you rogue! The LORD has brought upon you all t...

  Text:  Mat 16:18.  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. Simon Peter, one of the twelve Apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ was popularly called "Simon" before Jesus came to the scene. His full name was Simon Bar-Jonah. Simon means, “reed-like” or “wavering,” while Bar-Jonah means son of Jonas, which can be translated as “wine-bibber.” Roughly translated, Simon Bar-Jonah means “unstable son of an alcoholic.” Now, Jesus gave him a new name. When Jesus is in your life, He will address the abnormalities in your life and give you a new name. Luke 6:14 made it clear that Jesus was the one who added  Peter to Simon's name. Prior to this time, Simon's life was really reed-like. He was uncontrollably unstable (inconsistent) in words and deeds.  However, Jesus changed the narratives  for Peter. From an unstable, non-committed man, Peter became unflinching even in ...

Text:  Genesis  17:5  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. Every name has its inherent meaning and import. That you are oblivion to the meaning your name carries doesn't mean its import is not robbing on you. God changed Abram's name to Abraham. Abram means exalted father. Being called an exalted father is not a bad thing, but it didn't quite fit the intention of God for His life, so God changed his name from Abram to Abraham which means Father of many nations. If names are not important, God wouldn't have to change Abraham's  before he can fulfil his destiny.   *Ultimately, your life will go in the direction of the name you answer, hence, the need to choose your name wisely.*  Jacob's name was changed to Israel.  From a supplanter to one who prevails with God. Sarai was changed to Sarah, and Simon was changed to Peter, to mention a few. You must note however...

Text: Job  14:7   For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease .  *Do not give up on God, always keep your hope alive in Him.* He shall always come true for you even in your darkest hour. What keeps you going in life is hope for what the future holds. Do not allow the enemy cast you into despair. Once you are hopeless, then you won't  be able to see the brighter side of life anymore. Things can be tough around you and in your life today, but you must keep the flame of Hope alive at all times. If there is hope for a tree that has been cut down to sprout again, then there is hope for you to rise again.  When you are down don't ever  say or think that all hope is gone. Once your trust is in God, you will surely rise again.  Look at the case of Lazarus of Bethany, he was dead for four days. All hope was gone.  No one could ever believe that he would rise again, but wh...

Text:  Proverbs 4:13.  Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life. Taking instruction lightly is at one's peril. Today, many believers pay keen attention to other unimportant things while neglecting the weightier matters.  You must learn to always major on  things that matter most.    Jesus was once received by Martha into her home, while running up and down making preparations to host the Lord, Mary was busy receiving instructions from the Lord. Jesus called Martha and said, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her." (Luke 10:41-42). Mary chose one thing that is needful by listening to instructions at the feet of Jesus Christ.  Are you paying attention to the  most needed instruction?  *When you study the bible, you must always be eager to look out for instruction than promises. This is ...

Text:  Proverbs 4:13.  Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life. Simply put, instruction is like oxygen, when you let go of it, you let go of living. We are where we are today as humans because our first parents refused to follow instructions. On the other hand, man receives a way of escape from eternal damnation because Jesus Christ our Saviour followed instructions to the letter. Wisdom and instruction always go hand in hand. There's no way anyone can get wisdom if he disdains instruction.  The essence of the book of proverbs is to give wisdom through series of instructions. So, to forsake  instruction is to forfeit wisdom. The introduction of the book of proverbs spelt out the objective of the whole book,  it says the book is to know *wisdom* and *instruction* ; to perceive the words of understanding; Proverbs 1:2. In order words,  to milk out the blessings from the book (and from the whole bible as it were),  you...

Text : 2Timothy 3:2  People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,  *Doesn't it marvel you to know that ingratitude is one of the signs of end time? Just ask yourself, how many times have you been ungrateful in the past?*  I know you know the meaning of gratitude, but permit me to spell out what the dictionary meaning is nonetheless. Gratitude is the state of being thankful or appreciative. That is, ingratitude is the absence of gratitude and thankfulness.   *No known human culture or religion teaches people to be ungrateful. So the question is, where is ingratitude coming from,* and why is it on the increase?  Well, the answer is straight and simple,  ingratitude is one of the features of the end time. Human behaviors are fashioned and regulated by spirits. *If you are not being influenced by the Holy Spirit, you are being influenced by the evil spirits, no middle g...

Text:Mark  13:31   Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.  The Psalmist says, "Forever O Lord, your word is settled in heaven (Psalms 119:89). The heaven that will pass away is our own heaven and not God's heaven. In the heaven where God resides, His word is as settled as His throne. It is therefore sure and certain that God will do whatever He would to bring His word to pass. Hebrews 4:12 says, "For the word of God [is] living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."  *Jesus' Words has the capacity to minister to the whole needs of man-spirit, soul and body.* The word reaches the body to heal it, it reaches the soul to convert, and it quickens the spirit. Since God's word is Jesus Christ, then Jesus' words are God's word as well.(Hebrews 1:1-3). Hence, *when you become a true...

Text:Mark  13:31   Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. It is important for every believer to know that this present earth and heaven shall soon pass away. Apostle  Peter made it clear that the day of the Lord shall bring an end to this present home of man. He said, *"But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up." (2Peter 3)*  This is one truth that needs to be established in your heart-everything in this present world shall all pass away, except God's words. So, *anyone who is wise will place more value and priority on Jesus's Words above this present earth and all that is contained therein in an immeasurable way.*  The words of Jesus is an enduring word, it lives and endures beyond this present earth and heaven. Having known this, you must also know ...

Text :  1 Timothy 6:6. But godliness with contentment is great gain. We learn very quickly in life that *man's needs are insatiable. The more you get, the more you want to get more-beware of covetousness. As a student in a class, you desire to move to the next class, once you are in the next class, you desire the next. As a fresh graduate,  you desire a juicy job, once you bagged this achievement, you start craving for promotion,  once gotten, you crave for more and more. As a tenant,  you pray to have a house of your own, once you become a landlord, you want to have more and more. Basically, there's is a void in man that no success or achievement in this world can satisfy. This void was created by God, and only God can fill it. The earlier you understood this truth, the easier life becomes for you. Man is wired to hunger and thirst. This is why people are struggling for survival in a rat race that seems never to end.  However,  Jesus said in John 6:35 that...

Text:  1 Timothy  6:12   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. Another thing to pursue in fighting the good fight of faith is Godliness. We understand through the Holy scriptures that godliness is profitable unto all things.   *For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.* 1 Timothy  4:8.  You will reap the reward of your godliness not only when you get to heaven, but from here on earth. And this is why we are admonished to exercise ourselves unto godliness. (1 Timothy  4:7), because godliness with contentment is great gain.1 Timothy  6:6. Godliness is the practice of conforming to the image of God by reflecting the nature of the kingdom of God in the course of everyday life. In other words, godliness is living and portray...

Text: Galatians 5:13. For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. Today, we shall be looking at the second extreme side of the mountain top (liberty) that Jesus is calling you to. While the first extreme side of this mountain is legalism, the second side of the extreme is Licensing.  Dictionary defines license as:   a.Freedom to deviate deliberately from normally applicable rules or practices (especially in behaviour or speech). b.) Excessive freedom; lack of due restraint. Believers are often tempted to either live by laws, leading to legalism or in the flesh, leading to licensing. Neither of these extremes is acceptable unto God, rather, He wants us to live in liberty. Chapter 5 verse 19-21 of Galatians detailed the license (works of the flesh) which you must refrain from as a believer. Contemporary English Version put it thus: _People's desires make them give in to immoral ways, filt...

Text: Galatians 5:13. For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. As you journey here on earth in the Lord, it is important for you to always exercise  caution so as not to be at either side of the extremes of the mountain. As far as God is concerned, He simply wants you to be at the very centre of the mountain top.  This is to say that you simply seek to see, live and walk as Jesus did while on earth. Jesus Himself said, "The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord. It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord...." (Matthew  10:24-25). You cannot walk and behave like Jesus until you've understood how to walk in your liberty. Before I explain how you can walk in the liberty wherein Christ has made you free(Galatians 5:1), let me quickly point out two of the extremes you must avoid as a believer.  A good number of genui...