New Life in Christ Jesus: Devotion for Thursday July 2, 2020

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Thursday July 2, 2020

Topic: New Life in Christ Jesus                        

Text: Ezekiel 36:25 – 38                             

Water is an emblem signifying cleansing our impure souls from sin as God promised in Ezekiel 36:25. But no water can do more than take away the filth of the flesh. Water seems in general the sacramental (baptism) sign of the sanctifying influences of the Holy Ghost in the Old Testament; yet this is always connected with the atoning blood of Christ as we have in the New Testament.

The beginning of all true reformation is the inward cleansing of the soul by God's Spirit. His power alone can change the heart of stone to flesh. When this is done, men will render willing obedience to all God's statutes and judgments. This act of cleansing with water is the sign or beginning of new life in Christ Jesus as we have in the New Testament.

Have you actually received the sprinkling of this water? If you haven’t received it, you can hardly live a fruitful Christian life.

In our bible text, God stated the benefits of having the spiritual cleansing in Ezekiel 36:27 – 33. List them out. The aftermath of these promises is that God will make His presence and power so manifest in the life of His people, that their enemies shall be compelled to see and acknowledge that He is with them, as their Almighty Friend and Helper.

It is my prayer that God will do something in your life this season that will make people around you to say it is good to serve God.

Food for Thought: Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing power? Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?                                                                     

Memory verse: Ezekiel 36:27                                                                                     

Prayer: Lord God, wash me with the cleansing power in the blood of Jesus that I might have new life in Christ Jesus, Amen

God’s Word Gives Life: Devotion for Wednesday May 20, 2020

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Wednesday May 20, 2020

Topic: God’s Word Gives Life                               

Text: Ezekiel 37:1 – 14                               

Many lessons are in this biblical passage especially when we feel discouraged in life. It shows us the power of God over hopeless situations. It also reveals the power in God’s word and inabilities in man. God alone is the one whose word stands.

The bible says in Lamentation 3:37, “Who is he who speaks and it comes to pass, when the Lord has not commanded it?” God used this revelation to illustrate how He will restore Israel from their hopeless situation in captivity to glory in their land (37:12 – 14). God likened the spiritual dead situation of Israel at that time to dry bones.

Your church may seem like a heap of dry bones to you, spiritually dead with no hope of vitality. But just as God promised to restore His nation Israel, He can restore any church, no matter how dry or dead it may be. Rather than give up, pray for revival and renewal, for God can restore it to life. The hope and prayer of every church should be that God will put His Spirit into it (37:14). In fact, God is at work calling his people back to Himself, bringing new life into dead churches.

On the other hand, your spiritual life; you business, your marriage, etc, may be as dry as bones and there seem to be no more lives in them. Never mind, God is able to turn it around. Go to Him in prayer today and He will send revival and renewal.

Food for Thought: God has answers to dryness in our physical and spiritual lives.

Memory verse: Ezekiel 37:7

Prayer:

1. Lord God, cause life into any dryness in my physical and spiritual life.        

2. God revive everything in your church especially where I worship.

Do You Have Idols In Your Heart? Devotion for Thursday March 19, 2020

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Thursday March 19, 2020

Topic: Do You Have Idols In Your Heart?                                             

Text: Ezekiel 14:1 – 11 

Most of us undermine the fact that God knows the intents of our hearts in whatever we do. These elderly people who came to Ezekiel have not actually repented of their sins before coming to God. With one hand they held on to sin and were using the other hand to inquire of God. You cannot mock God because He is a Spirit.

The offence of these men that came for inquiry is that they have made idols in their hearts which can never take the place of God. He is a jealous God. He doesn’t share our hearts with idols. Hence He instructed them to repent (v6) so as to avoid the consequences that might follow (v 8 – 11). Idols in the heart according to our bible reading are things that made them to stumble and fall into sin.

Beloved, what are the idols that can occupy our hearts and make us stumble? Can you mention five of those idols in hearts of people? Admittedly, most Christians have set up idols of money/wealth, hatred, anger, pride, lust, etc., which easily lead them into sin. God doesn’t take pleasure in the outward form of worship when it is connected with a wicked heart and life.

Again, He cannot be deceived by those who come to inquire of Him, and He will not allow them to mock Him when they are also serving idols. If they love iniquity and secretly practice it, He will answer them in wrath, and not in mercy. Therefore be warned so that similar thing will not come upon you.

Action: Write down things that can become idols in your heart.

Memory verse: Ezekiel 20:3

Prayer: Deliver me O Lord my God from every idol in my heart so that my worship will be acceptable to you in Jesus name.

The Word Of God Gives Life

Devotion for Friday May 25, 2018

Topic: The Word Of God Gives Life

Text: Ezekiel 37:1 – 14

There are many lessons in our bible reading for the day especially when we feel discouraged in life. It shows us the power of God over hopeless situations. It also reveals the power in God’s word and inabilities in man. God alone is the one whose word stands. The bible says in Lamentation 3:37, “Who is he who speaks and it comes to pass, when the Lord has not commanded it?” God used this revelation to illustrate how He will restore Israel from their hopeless situation in captivity to glory in their land (Ezekiel 37:12 – 14). God likened the spiritually dead situation of Israel at that time to dry bones. Your church may seem like a heap of dry bones to you; spiritually dead with no hope of vitality. But just as God promised to restore His nation, He can restore any church, no matter how dry or dead it may be. Rather than giving up, pray for renewal and for God can restore it to life. The hope and prayer of every church should be that God will put His Spirit into it (Ezekiel 37:14). In fact, God is at work calling his people back to Himself, bringing new life into dead churches. On the other hand, your spiritual life; your business, your marriage or other aspects of your life, may be as dry as bones and there seem to be no more life in them. Never mind, God is able to turn it around. Go to Him in prayer today.

Sing A&M 362, Abu 86

Food for Thought: God has answers to dryness in our physical and spiritual lives.

Memory verse: Ezekiel 37:7

Prayer: God, cause life into any dryness in my physical and spiritual life. 2. God revive everything in your church especially where I worship.

STAND IN THE GAP: Devotion for Monday October 3, 2016

STAND IN THE GAP: Devotion for Monday October 3, 2016

Text: Ezekiel 22:23 – 31      Memory verse: Ezekiel 22 verse 30

Whatever we do as leaders or priest will always have effect on the people we lead whether good of bad. If only we hope to make great impacts on the people we lead, we should be very cautious of what we do; the kind of policies we introduce and the kind of advice we receive from people. When wicked leaders collaborate with wicked and false prophets, and priests to ruin a nation and corrupt its faith and practices through false doctrines, ungodliness and iniquity, it will bring unbearable consequences because it will definitely permeate the masses.

This is the case in this our country and most other countries of the world. Unfortunately, the deceiver and the deceived cannot escape God’s anger. At the revelation of His anger, the people with their rulers and teachers will become like briers and thorns ready to be consumed by the fire of His wrath. None of them will be spared. That is the extend God can go in dealing with us in His anger.

As Christians who fear God, we should unite to promote His truth and righteousness; as wicked men of every rank and profession plot together to run them down. This is what is expected of us if only we can make our world a better place for all of us to live in. A situation where we who ought to be bearers of light turn out to become agents of darkness will at the long run receive the wrath of God.

When the society is morally bankrupt, it will be hard to see anyone who seeks the face of God in fasting and prayers. This was the reason God expressed sadness over the situation in Ezekiel 22:30. God sought for a man that would stand in the gap; that would faithfully exhort, reprove and counsel, with all long-suffering and doctrine because there was a serious breach made in the moral state and feeling of the people. But none was to be found! Today, most of us instead of standing at the gap because of the moral decadence in our society, we resort to joining them or complaining. We should stand at the gap always for that is what God expects from us.

Food for Thought: Isaiah 59:16

Prayer: Lord, grant me the grace I need to stand at the gap always for my family and my nation in Jesus name.

WHEN GOD IS ANGRY: Devotion for Sunday October 2, 2016

WHEN GOD IS ANGRY: Devotion for Sunday October 2, 2016

Text: Ezekiel 22:17 – 22       Memory verse: Ezekiel 22 verse 21

Our bible reading for the day is a continuation from where we stopped yesterday. In this our text for today, the prophet compared Israel with other nations, as the gold and silver are compared with baser metals. The prophet describes them as the refuse that is consumed in the furnace, or thrown away when the silver is refined. What a comparison and assessment! This result ought not to be associated with people who have the Almighty God as their God.    

This is very unfortunate when compared with the glory they have enjoyed when they were in good terms with God. Then nations were afraid of them. What happened to Israeli nation is also same with anyone who has tasted the mercies of God and later fall out of faith. In God's assessment and account, they were seen as useless and good for nothing. In the furnace, the dross shall be fully separated, and the good metal purified. That is the essence of the furnace.

When God brings His own people into the furnace, He sits by them as the refiner by his gold, to see that they are not continued there any longer than necessary. This is how God treats us. We know the case of Job. God didn’t allow him to stay longer than necessary when he had proved that his sickness and troubles of life shouldn’t make him to curse God as Satan anticipated. I have personally had such experience.

Therefore, it is expedient we take to heart this warning from Matthew Henry Concise Commentary. In his opinion, those who suffer pains, or lingering sickness, and find that their hearts can scarcely bear these light and momentary afflictions, take warning to flee from the wrath to come; for if these trials are not sanctified by the power of the Holy Spirit, to the cleansing their hearts and hands from sin, far worse things will come upon them. God’s anger can consume us in a twinkle of an eye and the only way to avoid it is to amend our ways. We should escape it by repenting of our sins and turning back to Him. Are you willing to do it today?

Food for Thought: Nahum 1:6

Prayer: My God and my Father, give me a truthful heart to love and obey you because it is a fearful thing to fall into your hands in Jesus mighty name I pray. Amen.

REPROACH TO NATIONS: Devotion for Saturday October 1, 2016

REPROACH TO NATIONS: Devotion for Saturday October 1, 2016

Text: Ezekiel 22:1 – 16      Memory verse: Ezekiel 22 verse 4   

Happy independent celebrations to Nigeria and Nigerians! Today is the 56th Independence Anniversary of Nigerian nation. We congratulate Nigerians as they celebrate this day.

Here in our text for the day, Jerusalem is called a bloody city because of her crimes. This chapter of Ezekiel explains why Jerusalem’s judgment would come (Ezekiel 22:2–16), how it would come (Ezekiel 22:17–22), and who would be affected by it (Ezekiel 22:23–31). The sins which Jerusalem stands charged with are exceedingly sinful – murder, idolatry, disobedience to parents, oppression and extortion, profanation of the Sabbath and holy things, seventh commandment sins, lewdness and adultery.

What would have led a nation adopted by a holy, righteous and pure God into this level of sin, crime and evil? Not being mindful of God led them into this wickedness. They took the mercies and grace of God for granted and thus due to their complacency and lukewarmness, they started compromising which took them into these evil they were charged of here.    

Sinners provoke God by forgetting Him. When they do not take His ordinances to heart, they can do anything they like. When they also see the worship of God as ceremonies without spiritual attachment to it, their worship will not have any impact on them. Jerusalem has filled the measure of her sins. Family Bible Notes says about Ezekiel 22:4 that, “When we see a community giving itself up to the practice of iniquity of every kind without restraint, we may be certain, from the sure testimony of God, that its days of punishment are near.” The position of Family Bible Notes here can well be said of our present generation where all manner of evil are seen on daily basis.  

The sins charged against Jerusalem, are similar to what we see in Nigeria today – murder, oppression and extortion, adultery, etc. The spate of Fulani herdsmen and marauders, killings, abduction and kidnapping, Boko Haram, budget padding, corruption, etc are all pointers to the assertion that our present day Nigeria is similar to what Ezekiel saw in Jerusalem at the time he was prophesying. Just like Jerusalem became a reproach to nations around her so our country, Nigeria has become a reproach to nations around her.

As Family Bible Notes posited above, we are expecting God’s judgment upon this country for we have turned against God in so many ways. In fact we have started reaping the fruit of our evil, greed, corruption, hatred, in ability to forgive ourselves, etc with the current economic recession and poor leadership we have experienced in Nigeria since independence.

Think of the number of churches in our country. What are the effects of these churches in our nation? Are the perpetrators of these crimes not found in our churches? We should be prepared for the day of the Lord. How prepared are you for God’s judgment because it will certainly come? Don’t think you can escape it unless you repent. Nigeria needs a Solemn Assembly which should be led by our leader. Until we sincerely and truly repent, we cannot escape the wrath of God that will be revealed to avenge the blood of innocent souls spilled in this country.

Food for Thought: Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people - Proverbs 14:34.  

Prayer: Lord God, heal our country and her people that we will no longer be reproach unto nations in Jesus name.   

      

IDOLS IN THE HEART: Devotion for Saturday March 12, 2016

IDOLS IN THE HEART: Devotion for Saturday March 12, 2016

Text: Ezekiel 14:1 – 11         Memory verse: v 3  

God knows the intents of our hearts in whatever we do, which most of us are unaware of or undermine. That is why most things we think that matter are not so with God and vice versa. These elderly people who came to Ezekiel have not actually repented of their sins before coming to God. With one hand they held on to sin and were using the other hand to inquire of God. God cannot be mocked. Their offence is that they have made idols in their hearts which can never take the place of God. God says He is a jealous God. He doesn’t want to share our hearts with idols. Thus He instructed them to repent (14:6) so as to avoid the consequences that might follow (14:8–11).

Idols in the heart according to our bible reading are things that made them to stumble and fall into sin. Beloved, what are the idols that can occupy our hearts and make us stumble? Can you mention five of those idols in hearts of people? Admittedly, most Christians have set up idols of money/wealth, hatred, anger, pride, lust, etc, which easily lead them into sin. God doesn’t take pleasure in the outward form of worship when it is connected with a wicked heart and life. He cannot be deceived by those who come to inquire of Him, and He will not allow Himself to be mocked by people who claim to be serving God and idols at the same time. If they love iniquity and secretly practise it, He will answer them in wrath, and not in mercy. Therefore be warned and don’t be a victim.

Action: Write down things that can become idols in your heart.

Prayer: Deliver me, O Lord, my God, from every idol in my heart so that my worship will be acceptable to you in Jesus name.

          

A BAD TESTIMONY: Devotion for Monday September 14, 2015

A BAD TESTIMONY      Monday September 14, 2015

Text: Ezekiel 3:1 – 9         Memory verse: v 7

Ezekiel was told that he will receive the truths of God as the food for his soul, and to feed upon them by faith, and he would be strengthened. Gracious souls can receive those truths of God with delight, which speak terror to the wicked. Ezekiel must speak all that, and that only, which God spoke to him. How can we better speak God's mind than with his words? If disappointed as to his people, he must not be offended but warn them out of love.

God gave a testimony about Israel that they will not repent because of their impudent and hard-heartedness. What testimony can God give about you? The people of Nineveh repented after Jonah had preached but Israel was unwilling to do same. Are you like that who will not be moved despite all the preaching you hear? The testimony of God is what matters about us.

Food for Thought: What can God say about you today?

Prayer: God my Father, grant me the heart to believe, fear and honour you

OMNIPRESENT GOD

OMNIPRESENT GOD        Tuesday June 30, 2014 

Text: Ezekiel 35:10 – 15       Memory verse: v 10

Idumeans (Edomites) were planning how to overrun Judah and Israel but the Lord God Almighty was there. This verse 10 is an encouragement never to worry about the plans of the enemies against us because for every plan the enemies make, the Lord is always there. He will either thwart the plan or wait for the appropriate time to act. This reminds us about Elisha and the king of Syria, whose war plans and strategies God reveals to Elisha (2 Kings 6:8 – 17). 

We have here the record of the sins of the Edomites and their bad conduct towards the people of God. They thought of conquering and possessing Judah and Israel; and they would have succeeded, but only the Lord was there; and this spoiled their plans, and blasted their hopes. Every plan your enemies are making will attract God who will spoil their plans and blast their hopes in Jesus name. Let us note that, no plan your enemies have made or will make that God is not aware of.

Are you apprehensive of what the enemies have planned? Are you now panicking that they are about to consume you? You shouldn’t worry yourself because your Father was there when they were planning. You don’t even know what He has said about the matter; maybe what He said is in Isaiah 41:11 – 16 and 54:15. When we hear anything the enemies have planned, we should ask God because He was there when they planned and will never keep quite to allow their plans prevail.

Food for Thought: Isaiah 54:15

Prayer: God, when enemies gather against me, frustrate them in Jesus name.