Fruit of the Holy Spirit: Devotion for Tuesday June 23, 2020

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Tuesday June 23, 2020

Topic: Fruit of the Holy Spirit        

Text: Galatians 5:22 – 23                              

The fruit of the Spirit is that which the Holy Spirit produces in those who follow His guidance. It is the natural growth and result of the Spirit working in the life of Christian who allows the Holy Spirit to control him or her. The Spirit produces the virtues or character traits that are found in the nature of Christ. They are the by-products of Christ’s controlled life; we can’t obtain them by trying to get them without His help.

In our scriptural reading for the day, Paul spoke of the works of the flesh as many; but the fruit of the Spirit (9 of them) is spoken of as one, many works, but one fruit. There is such a connection and link of graces, “That although they are distinct in their natures, yet are they inseparable in their subject, pull one link of a chain, and you pull all; so he that has any one spiritual grace in reality, or at least in eminency, cannot be utterly destitute of any other; for where the Holy Spirit is, there cannot be a total defect of any holy grace” so says William Burkitt. Is this so in your life as a Christian?

If we want the fruit of the Spirit to manifest and be seen in us, we must join our life to His (see John 15:4-5). We must know Him, love Him, remember Him, and imitate Him. As a result, we will fulfill the intended purpose of the law, to love God and our neighbours.

Do you have these virtues and qualities in you? If your fruit is not total as we have in our text then there is a problem in your spiritual life. All you need to do is to ask God to help you to bear the fruit of Holy Spirit as expected. Note that the fruit has no plural therefore it must be whole and entire in manifestation in our lives.   

Food for Thought: A society where all people act out these 9 virtues would not need any law again.

Memory verse: Galatians 5:22, 23

Prayer: My Lord and my Father in heaven, help me to bear these fruit of the Holy Spirit in Jesus name.

Manifesting In the Flesh: Devotion for Monday June 22, 2020

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Monday June 22, 2020

Topic: Manifesting In the Flesh                            

Text: Galatians 5:19 – 21                             

We all have evil desires, and we can’t ignore them. Pretences can’t help. We must deal with them or else they will manifest and distort our relationship with God. In order for us to follow the Holy Spirit’s guidance, we must deal with them decisively by crucifying them (Galatians 5:24).

These desires include obvious sins, such as sexual immorality and demonic activities. They also include less obvious sins, such as hostility, jealousy, and selfish ambition. Those who ignore such sins or refuse to deal with them reveal that they have not received the gift of the Spirit that leads to a transformed life. Are you one of the people that ignore these sins when they manifest in your life?  

Our fallen human nature (called “flesh”) betrays itself in the work which a man does. These demonstrate that such person is not living under the influence of the Holy Spirit. In our text, Paul enumerated seventeen sins, while he listed only nine fruits of the Spirit as we shall see on Tuesday. Neither list is exhaustive, but both are representative.

The Galatian Christians had come out of a pagan background where sensual sins were not only tolerated but encouraged by the pagan priests and rituals. Thus Paul had to deal with this issue in this way so that they will understand the requirements of true Christianity. Beloved, if you are still living in the flesh, it will betray and disgrace you. Therefore, beware! Mortify that flesh now.

Food for Thought: Living in the flesh is a way of betraying your Christian faith.

Memory verse: Galatians 519, 20 

Prayer: Help me my Lord and my God to crucify flesh so that your Spirit will take full control of my life in Jesus name.

Give No Room for the Flesh: Devotion for Sunday June 21, 2020

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Sunday June 21, 2020

Topic: Give No Room for the Flesh                      

Text: Galatians 5:16 – 18                                  

To prevent the aforementioned evils in Galatians 5:15, Paul exhorted the Galatians to walk in the Spirit, that is, according to the guidance, direction, and influence of the Holy Spirit. He acknowledges the great weakness of the Godly, because they are but in part regenerated. His exhortation was a reminder that they are endued with the Spirit of God, who has delivered them from the slavery of sin, and so from the Law, inasmuch as it is the power of sin, so that they should not give themselves to lusts any more.

Being led by the Holy Spirit involves the desire to hear, the readiness to obey God’s Word, and the sensitivity to discern between your feelings and His promptings. Paul’s emphasis was that they should live each day controlled and guided by the Holy Spirit. Only then will the word of Christ be in their minds, the love of Christ will be behind their actions, and the power of Christ will help them control your selfish desires.

Beloved, what Paul is saying here is that we the present day readers should no longer give room to the fleshly desires and lust but rather we should be filled with the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. Giving room for the flesh emanates from emptiness and having wrong desires.

Walking in our text means living. When we live in the Holy Spirit, we won’t be doing what our sinful nature craves. When we become Christians, our sinful nature still exists. But God asks us to place our sinful nature under the control of the Holy Spirit so that He can transform it. Are you still under the influence of the flesh? Prayerfully place them under the control of the Holy Spirit and He will transform you.

Food for Thought: Romans 13:14

Memory verse: Galatians 5:16

Prayer: Lord, by the power of the Holy Spirit, crucify the power of flesh and lust in me.

Devotion for Tuesday January 1 2019

Devotion for Tuesday January 1 2019                

Topic: Those who are Christ’s

Text: Galatians 5:24 - And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

Welcome to the first day in 2019! Happy New Year! It is a great pleasure writing this devotion again being published in digital form only. Paul in this verse of this epistle wrote to remind the Galatians about the life they ought to live as Christians and the characteristics of such life. He asserted that the life of those who have accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour should be life whose flesh has been crucified with its passions and desires. Such a life is no longer control by emotions and desires. Such life is Christ led and obeys the spirit of God with which the Christian is sealed with at salvation.

These words of Paul are good reminder for us as we start the New Year. We must understand that our identity is and should be that of a crucified life. We should begin our year on that premise of a life led by the Spirit of God. True and sincere disciples have crucified their lives, that is, subdued, and in some degree mortified and put to death, their fleshly corruptions (carnal lusts, and sinful affections and passions).

At baptism we promised to die unto sin but we should not understand this as a total and once for all crucifixion. It is what we should do often and again as we assess ourselves through the eyes of the scriptures on daily basis. We should have it as a routine to crucify our flesh because they can disappoint us when we least expected. As you start your new year, have this behind you that you are expected to live life that is crucified to sin and has resurrected to righteousness. Have a great year as you walk with God.

Food for Thought: Are you now habitually weakening and destroying the influence of flesh in your life through the grace that comes from God.

Memory verse: Romans 13:14

Prayer: Lord God, help me to crucify my flesh and may your spirit reign in my life this day and always in Jesus name. Amen.

Walk In The Spirit

Devotion for Monday March 5, 2018

Topic: Walk In The Spirit

Text: Galatians 5:16 – 18     

He acknowledges the great weakness of the godly, because they are but in part regenerated: but he exhorts them to remember that they are endued with the Spirit of God, who has delivered them from the slavery of sin, and so from the Law, inasmuch as it is the power of sin, so that they should not give themselves to lusts. The more we obey the new nature, and follow the leading of the Spirit of grace, the more the power of indwelling sin and inbred corruption in us will be mortified and kept under check. Obedience to the Spirit enables us to walk in the Spirit because old nature and new nature cannot dwell together. They “Are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish” (Galatians 5:17). Walking in the Spirit is one of the best ways we can live lives that are pleasing to God. By pleasing God, we attract His blessings upon our lives. In this case it is best for us to walk in the Spirit. We can do this well by knowing what God wants us to do through the study of the bible. When we have the word of God rooted in us, we will no longer be ignorant about what God expects from us. Are you walking in the flesh or in the Spirit? 

Sing SS&S 485; Abu 203

Food for Thought: Walking in the Spirit makes us more like Christ

Memory verse: Galatians 5:16

Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me to walk in the Spirit so as to mortify the indwelling sin and corruption of the flesh in me. I ask in Jesus name. Amen  

SOW INTO THE SPIRIT

DEVOTION FOR FRIDAY DECEMBER 9, 2016

Topic: SOW INTO THE SPIRIT       

Text: Galatians 6:5 – 8                        

Sowing and reaping is part of our life; physically and spiritually. We sow through the words of our mouth (our speech/utterance), through what we give and through what we plant. For us to actually benefit from our world and be useful to one another, we need to sow. Sowing is a way of maximizing our gifts and talents. It holds therefore, that we sow seeds, directly and indirectly. Again, it is also a natural law that whatever one sows, he reaps (Galatians 6:7).

Another interesting fact about the consequences of sowing is that we are known by the fruit we bear (Matthew 7:16 & 20). What you sow as seed is what you will definitely get in returns. The life we live is like seed sowing. Some people sow to the flesh, the devil and the world while some others sow to the Spirit. Jesus taught us that where our treasure is there would our heart be also (Matthew 6:21).

Apostle Paul says in our text that flesh yields nothing but corruption. When you sow into the flesh, you will end up reaping greed, selfishness, etc. Its end effect would be destruction because such person can’t please God. His message here is very important for us in this present generation filled with greed and covetousness. How can someone sow to the flesh? See 1 Corinthians 10:6; compare Numbers 11:4 & 34. The flesh, lusts after material/worldly things (Genesis 3:6 & 1 John 2:16). Are these things manifesting in your life? Repent, before it will be too late. Remember what happened to people like Esau, Samson, Judas, etc.

We can sow to the spirit through self-denial (Matthew 10:24) and commitment to the advancement of God’s kingdom with the wealth God has bestowed on us. Can you mention other ways we can sow to the Spirit? Those who want to acquire heaven and earth without investing their wealth for the well-being of others are sowing to the flesh. There are benefits in pleasing God; obeying God and not our flesh. When we please God with our deeds, we are sowing seeds that we will certainly reap in righteousness.

Food for Thought: Sowing in the flesh is carnal indulgence that will end in moral ruin.

Memory verse: Galatians 6 verse 8

Prayer: God, grant me the enabling grace to sow in the spirit and not in the flesh so I will harvest eternal life in Jesus name. Amen.

MANIFESTING IN THE FLESH: Devotion for Sunday June 12, 2016

MANIFESTING IN THE FLESH: Devotion for Sunday June 12, 2016

Text: Galatians 5:19 – 21    Memory verse: v 19, 20

We all have evil desires, and we can’t ignore them. Pretences can’t help. In order for us to follow the Holy Spirit’s guidance, we must deal with them decisively by crucifying them (5:24). These desires include obvious sins, such as sexual immorality and demonic activities. They also include less obvious sins, such as hostility, jealousy, and selfish ambition. Those who ignore such sins or refuse to deal with them reveal that they have not received the gift of the Spirit that leads to a transformed life. Are you one of the people that ignore these sins when they manifest in your life?  

Our fallen human nature (called flesh) betrays itself by the works which a man does. These demonstrate that he is not living under the influence of the Holy Spirit. Paul enumerated seventeen sins, while he listed only nine fruits of the Spirit. Neither list is exhaustive, but both are representative. The Galatia Christians had come out of a pagan background where sensual sins were not only tolerated but encouraged by the pagan priests and rituals. Thus Paul had to deal with this issue in this way so that they will understand the requirements of true Christianity. A life in the flesh will betray and disgrace you. Therefore, beware! Mortify that flesh now.

Food for Thought: Living in the flesh is a way of betraying your Christian faith. 

Prayer: Help me, my Lord and my God, to crucify flesh so that your Spirit will take full control of my life in Jesus name.

GIVE NO ROOM FOR THE FLESH: Devotion for Saturday June 11, 2016

GIVE NO ROOM FOR THE FLESH: Devotion for Saturday June 11, 2016

Text: Galatians 5:16 – 18     Memory verse: v 16

To prevent the afore-mentioned evils in 5:15, Paul exhorted the Galatians to walk in the Spirit, that is, according to the guidance, direction, and influence of the Holy Spirit. He acknowledges the great weakness of the Godly, because they are but in part regenerated. His exhortation was a reminder that they are endued with the Spirit of God, who has delivered them from the slavery of sin, and so from the Law, so that they should not give themselves to lusts any more. Being led by the Holy Spirit involves the desire to hear, the readiness to obey God’s Word, and the sensitivity to discern between your feelings and His promptings. Paul’s emphasis was that they should live each day controlled and guided by the Holy Spirit who will help them control their selfish desires.

Beloved, what Paul is says here is that we should no longer give room to the fleshly desires and lust but rather we should be filled with the Holy Spirit and the word of God. Giving room for the flesh emanates from emptiness and having wrong desires. Walking in our text means living. When we live in the Holy Spirit, we won’t be doing what our sinful nature craves. When we become Christians, our sinful nature still exists. But God asks us to place our sinful nature under the control of the Holy Spirit so that He can transform it. Are you still under the influence of the flesh? Prayerfully place them under the control of the Holy Spirit and He will transform you.

Food for Thought: Romans 13:14

Prayer: God, by the power of the Holy Spirit, crucify the power of flesh and lust in me in Jesus name.

WALK IN THE SPIRIT

WALK IN THE SPIRIT                       Sunday June 7, 2015

Text: Galatians 5:13 – 23                Memory verse: v 16

If you have been living a spiritually defeated, powerless and fruitless Christian life; wondering if there is any effective result in living as a Christian, you should read Galatians 5:13 – 23. Walking in the Spirit entails giving your life totally to God, and letting Him live your life for you, directing every step you take and guiding every decision you make. When one totally surrenders to God and resolves to walk in His ways, He will grant the person the grace needed to live extra ordinary life.

The result of walking in the spirit is that you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. When we become believers, our sinful nature still exists. Would you like to know how to enjoy what Christians all over the world are experiencing? Then try walking in the spirit of God the Most High by knowing his will and applying them into your life. Thus God will be the one who directs your thoughts, actions and speech. When you walk in the spirit of God you will live a fearless life because your ways are the Lord’s.

Food for thought:  It pays to walk with God because your life will be totally controlled by God.

Prayer: Oh my God, give me the grace to walk in and with you every moment of my life.