His Voice Devotional

Text: Matthew 7:13 Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Yesterday, we looked at one of the three major features of a narrow way, today,we shall be looking at the second one. Jesus once said in Matthew 18;3 that  unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.  The way that leads to life is narrow, hence it can only take people that are child-like at heart. A child is not as proud as as an adult. A child is humble and that's the reason the narrow way can take him. Jesus said, *"...whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 18:4)*. The narrow way does not look attractive. It is the humble way for humble people. So, if you are going to travel on the narrow way, you must be converted and become like a child. Jessu also said that  unless you are *converted* and *become* as l...

Text: Matthew 7:13 Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. I remember vividly when I was younger, I used to run errands to a particular food vendor in our neighborhood. We used to call the vendor by the name " *mama narrow way* ". This is because we often access her house through a narrow path.  The features of this path are: 1. The  path can only take one person at a time. Any second person would have to stay behind or right in front of you. 2. The road is usually used by children due to its narrowness. 3. The road does not give room for extra luggage except the plate in your hand. Just as our Lord Jesus Christ mentioned in the scripture, I could relate with the analogy of narrow way due to my childhood experience. The way to life is indeed narrow, and it takes those who can abide by the rules to walk through it. This road does not permit for side by side walk with any. You can only se...

Text: Proverbs 16:32. “ He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.” Power without restraint is dangerous. Authority without love becomes oppression. Spiritual gifts without the fruit of the Spirit will soon turn into instruments of harm rather than healing and blessing. The mark of spiritual maturity is not how much power a believer carries, but how well that power is controlled. *Many people can pray; few can forgive. Many can speak in tongues; few can tame their tongues, Many can call fire; few can show mercy.*  Jesus Christ did not deny that His disciples had power. He rebuked the spirit behind their desire to use it wrongly. Power must always be governed by the Spirit of Christ, otherwise it becomes flesh-driven and destructive. The kingdom of God does not advance by intimidation or threats, but by love, truth, and sacrifice. James 1:20 reminds us that “the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.” No ...

Text : Luke 9:54&55 When his disciples James and John observed this rejection, they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?”* *But he turned and rebuked them, In the book of second kings, Prophet Elijah killed 102 soldiers whom the king of Samaria sent to fetch him. He did this because he knew he had the power to do so. He commanded fire from heaven and consumed  two sets of soldiers (2 king 1:1-12). In chapter two of the same second kings, prophet Elisha killed 42 young men who mocked him. He cursed them in the name of the LORD, Suddenly two female bears emerged from the woods and mauled them. (2 Kings 2:23-24). In the new testament, when the days grew closer for Jesus to be taken up to heaven, he was determined to continue his journey to Jerusalem. So he sent messengers ahead of him. On their way, they went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him. But the people would not welcome him, because he was determined to go to Jerusale...

Text :  Matthew 6:34  “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Yes, life can sometimes be unfriendly. Life unfolds in phases, and there are seasons you may truly wish you could skip or wish away. Yet, your disposition toward every turn of events will largely determine what you gain—or lose—from each situation. No matter the season, God always provides a reason for thanksgiving. Often, those reasons come in small, quiet ways. *Do not turn a blind eye to the little graces and privileges God brings your way each day.* They may seem insignificant, but they are evidence of His faithfulness. Be careful not to magnify the bad and the ugly while losing sight of the good. That situation you consider unpleasant may be the very thing someone else is thanking God for today. Perspective matters, and gratitude helps us see clearly. Choose to look for what God has done, rather than cooperating with the enemy by mag...

Text :  Matthew 6:34 " Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”  *Life often feels heavy when we carry yesterday’s regrets and tomorrow’s fears into today.*  God never asked us to live all our days at once. He invites us to live one day at a time. Jesus said in Matthew 6:11 that "give us today our daily bread". This shows that God gives provision to us on a daily basis. Each morning is a gift. Even when circumstances are difficult, God’s grace is present for today. The strength you need, the wisdom you seek, and the peace you long for are released daily, not in advance. Like the manna in the wilderness, God provides just enough for the moment (Exodus 16:4).  *Enjoying the moment does not mean denying pain or pretending everything is perfect. It means choosing faith over fear and gratitude over anxiety.* It means recognizing God’s hand in small mercies, like a  breath of air, a kind word...

Text:1 Peter 5:5 Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for   God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble." The scripture instructed that we should be clothed with humility, the word 'cloth' is used just as in girding or binding  oneself with something. So, God wants you to wrap yourself with humility so as to become one with it It is therefore your responsibility to put on humility, God will not do that for you. If God  humbles you, that means you have been brought down by Him. Hence, you must take deliberate steps to keep yourself humble. A person who has humbled himself is a person who has subjected himself to another; either to God or to man. Such a person can no longer be put down or dragged on the ground. The only option that is opened to  a humble man is exaltation. A humble man is a lowly man, hence, he can only be exalted by God. He (God) has put...

Text:1 Peter 5:5 Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for   God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble. The scripture is very clear about respect for and submission to elders. While many culture and moral standards also teach that the younger people submit to elders, it's becoming crystal clear that this present younger generation has not given much attention to submission.  While the Lord instructed that the younger ones should submit to the elders, He also taught that we all should submit one to another.  *Submission is a product of humility.* If a person is not humble he cannot submit to another- and when a congregation or an assembly is not humble, submission to one another cannot be realized. God would have you submit to Him, the younger ones to the elders, the wife to the husband, the church members to their pastor/elder, the citizens to the governmen...

Text:1 Peter 5:5 Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for   God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble." The scripture is very clear about respect for and submission to elders. While many culture and moral standards also teach that the younger people submit to elders, it's becoming crystal clear that this present younger generation has not given much attention to submission.  While the Lord instructed that the younger ones should submit to the elders, He also taught that we all should submit one to another.  *Submission is a product of humility.* If a person is not humble he cannot submit to another- and when a congregation or an assembly is not humble, submission to one another cannot be realized. God would have you submit to Him, the younger ones to the elders, the wife to the husband, the church members to their pastor/elder, the citizens to the governme...

No temptation has overtaken you that is unusual for human beings. But God is faithful, and he will not allow you to be tempted beyond your strength. Instead, along with the temptation he will also provide a way out, so that you may be able to endure it.*  There are moments in life when the heart feels unbearably heavy. Times when you speak  and it feels like no one really hears or cares. Times when the pressures around you multiply so quickly that you wonder if you have the strength to keep going. At times, you feel so alone and so lonely. But *loneliness is not a sign of God’s absence. It is often the very place where His nearness is preparing to reveal itself.* Even when you feel unseen, you are held by the One who has engraved you on the palms of His hands. At times, you feel overwhelmed. But overwhelming moments are not meant to crush you; they are invitations to lean deeper into the strength of God. The waves may rise, but He remains the Anchor that never moves. At times,...

Text: *Exodus 3:6.*  Then he said, “I am the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God. God is interested in us before we feel “ready” for Him. Moses had been a fugitive for 40 years, living in obscurity and carrying guilt for his past. But God still called him, not because Moses was adequate, but because God is faithful.  *God calls the uncertain.*   *He commissions the unlikely.* *He uses the ordinary.*  Note that God’s  presence produces awe, not arrogance. If indeed you have seen God, it will reflect in how meek you are, if the God you encountered puffed you up, then you have not seen Almighty God. When Moses encountered God, he hid his face. Why? Because *a true encounter with God breaks pride and awakens reverence, Have you truly encountered Him?.*  In a world that treats God casually, Moses shows us the right response: Awe. Holiness and Hu...

Text : Exodus 3:6. Then he said, “I am the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God. When God wanted to introduce Himself to Moses He didn't just say, "I AM THE ALMIGHTY GOD". Rather, He chose to introduce Himself as the God of his (Moses')  fathers, because He is a God that works with covenant. In this moment at the burning bush, God reveals Himself to Moses with the title, “I am the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” This is not just a historical statement. It is a covenant declaration, a reminder of God’s unchanging identity. This talks about His faithfulness across generations, and His personal involvement with His people. Before God gave Moses a mission… A mandate to go speak to Pharaoh, before He unveils His plans to him, He first of all reveals His nature to him. Why? Because *every calling begins with revelation of who God is, and not what we are to do....

Text: Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. Yesterday, we considered how we automatically generate thoughts within our hearts due to the falling nature of man. Genesis 6:5 highlighted this truth about thoughts generated from within. "...the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was] great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. Today we shall be looking at thoughts that come from without.  There are different sources of thoughts from without. This includes projection from the devil and his cohorts, surrounding  circumstances and words from others.  It is possible you've always thought that the encounter our Lord Jesus had in the wilderness after his 40 days of prayer and fas...

Text: Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. One of the most difficult things to do is growing in your ability to choose your thoughts and to quench strange and negative thoughts that comes to mind. Thoughts could either come from within (your heart) or from without. Matthew 15:19 says, "For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts..." Evil thoughts proceed from the heart because *"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" (Jeremiah 17:9).* Man is unable to produce good thoughts from his corrupt heart. *The best of thoughts any man could generate without Christ is still death.* Hence, in Genesis 6:5 "...God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every...

Text : Matthew 18:33  “Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?” In this single question, Jesus reveals God's heartbeat for people- compassion. In the story from our Bible reading, the king expected the servant to treat others the same way he had been treated: with mercy, tenderness, and compassion. But the servant forgot the depth of kindness he had received and handled his fellow servant with no compassion. This is so true about many believers: We love God deeply, but sometimes fail to see people the way God sees them. Yet compassion is the very proof that we understand God’s heart. Compassion begins with remembering God’s compassion toward us. God didn’t just forgive us; He felt for us. He saw our weakness, our failures, our struggles, and He was moved. When we remember His compassion, it becomes easier to show compassion to others who are weak, hurting, slow, or imperfect. Compassion softens our response to people’s faults. People can hurt us. P...

Text : 2 Timothy 2:19. Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.  *“Be holy, for I am holy.”*  1 Peter 1:16. In a world where standards shift daily, where right and wrong often depend on culture, feelings, or trends, *God's standard remains unchanging. His standard is not adjustable, negotiable, or dependent on trends.* God’s standard flows from His nature, and because He is holy, His standard is holiness. God does not call us to measure ourselves by human standards. He says in 2 Corinthians 10:12 that, *We would not dare put ourselves in the same class with, or compare ourselves to, those who recommend themselves. Whenever they measure themselves by their own standards or compare themselves among themselves, they show how foolish they are.*  Many people comfort themselves with statements like: “I’m not as bad as others.” “I tried my best.”...

Text : 2 Timothy 2:19.  *Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.*  It is possible to think that the all-merciful God cannot condemn anyone to eternal punishment. Yet He says expressly in  Revelation 20:15 that Anyone whose name was not found written in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire. This is exactly what will happen at the close of day. Again, Matthew 25:46 says these people will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.” It is very possible to think that God cannot do what He did with the Earth's populace in the time of Noah any longer. Yet, He completely destroyed everyone in Sodom and Gomorrah after the flood experience, except for Lot and his children. The God that wiped away the Earth's populace in the time of Noah (saving only Noah and his household) with flood is still on the t...

Text: Philippians 1:2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Today, we shall begin to  look at the various operations of God's Grace and Peace upon the lives of His people, with Joseph as our first case study. Joseph was sold  by his brothers to the Ishmaelites, and he found himself in the house of Potiphar as a slave boy.  The scripture says, ".... Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. And Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him down there. The LORD was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.(Genesis 39:1-2). Joseph had just witnessed an experience that should have turned his whole life upside down, rather, the Lord prosperd him. The Lord was with him and he was successful... his master saw that the Lord was with him. (Genesis 39:2 & 3). This is Grace at work!  The presence of God in a man's life is sim...

Text: 2 Peter 1:2  Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, Every believer is saved by *grace* and brought into God's *peace*  the very moment he confesses Jesus as his Saviour and Lord. Today, we shall be looking at one way by which grace and peace can multiply in one's life.  The two scriptures below affirm that we have a measure of grace and peace at the point we were born into God's family. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:(Ephesians 2:8). Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:(Romans 5:1).  God's grace and peace can and should increase (multiply) in your life.  One of the ways to  experience multiplication of God's grace and peace is through knowledge. The knowledge of God and the Lord Jesus Christ is key and essential to growing in grace and peace. The knowledge referred to in our study text is...