Jesus Has Risen From The Dead

Devotion for Sunday (Easter Day) April 1, 2018

Topic: Jesus Has Risen From The Dead

Text: Matthew 28:1 – 10

Happy Easter to you! Today is Easter when we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Severally, He foretold about this day (Matthew 12:40; 17:9, 23) outside the prediction of the prophets. Mary Magdalene and her colleagues came to the tomb with the mind to anoint the body of our Lord Jesus Christ (Luke 24:1) but they met an empty tomb. The message from the angel who announced the good news of the resurrection to the women centred on four areas: (1) Do not be afraid. The reality of the resurrection brings joy, not fear. When you are afraid, remember the empty tomb that Jesus is alive and not in the grave. (2) He is not here. Jesus is not dead and is not to be looked for among the dead. He is alive, with His people. (3) Come, see. The women could check the evidence themselves. The tomb was empty then, and it is empty today. The resurrection is a historical fact. (4) Go quickly and tell. They were to spread the joy of the resurrection. It is also our responsibility to spread the great and good news about Jesus’ resurrection. His resurrection is the cornerstone of Christianity. If Christ didn’t rise from death, there wouldn’t have been any gospel today. Our gospel is simple; Jesus died for our sins and rose again so that if we believe in Him, we will have eternal life. One of the messages the angel gave was go quickly and tell them. This was also the injunction Jesus gave as He resurrected. How far are you “telling” others about this good news? If we are not doing that, it means that we are ashamed of Him and He will deny us at the end (Mark 8:38).

Sing SS&S 152; Abu 50   

Food for Thought: If Jesus did not resurrect, what would have been our position today?

Memory verse: Matthew 28:7

Prayer: Lord God, may I never be ashamed of telling people about you.

Christ Is Our Message

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Tuesday April 18, 2017

Topic: Christ Is Our Message

Text: 1 Corinthians 15:12 – 20

In our bible for the day, Paul asserts that the resurrection of Christ is the centre of the gospel message we preach. In simple terms, Jesus died for our sins and resurrected that we may have life. To buttress his point, Paul noted that if Christ was not raised from the dead, then our preaching is vain. It would be vain and useless to preach. Without the solid fact of the resurrection, the whole gospel becomes empty and unreal. If Christ had remained dead, we would have no reason to be sure our sins have been forgiven, for it is the same power of God which raised Jesus Christ that forgives our sins. Our faith then would be empty and worthless. If that were not true, the whole system was false, and Christianity was an imposition.

The word vain here seems to include the idea of useless, idle, false. Whether there are people who still believe that Jesus Christ did not resurrect of not, we Christians believe He did. That is the sole reason why we still have the boldness to preach the gospel and that is all we preach. I don’t know what your message is but my message is that Christ died for my sins and for the sins of the whole world that whosoever believes in Him shall be saved.

Beloved, what is your message as a Christian? If it is not centred on death and resurrection of Christ, then your message is not true. You are only an impostor. What we believe is not in vain because they were written before now and they have manifested. We should not be deceived by what other believe and preach.

Food for Thought: Which group do you belong: those who believe that Jesus resurrected or those who believe that He is still in the tomb?

Memory verse: 1 Corinthians 15 verse 14

Prayer: Almighty God, grant me utterance to preach Christ and His resurrection as the gospel message in Jesus name. 

Christ Died For Our Sins

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Monday April 17, 2017

Topic: Christ Died For Our Sins

Text: 1 Corinthians 15:1 – 11

Our bible reading today can be likened to our statement of faith (The creed) because it contains the summary of what Jesus did to save humanity. Apostle Paul had to write this to allay the fears and doubts in the mind of some Corinthians because some people were teaching that Jesus didn’t rise from the dead. He stated that many people saw Jesus after His resurrection at different occasions. He listed some of them to include Peter; the 12 disciples; over 500 disciples (some who were still alive at the time he wrote this epistle); James (the half-brother of Jesus) and finally Paul himself.

The centre of Paul’s message here is that Jesus died for our sins. This should be a source of joy for us above every other thing we can think of in this life. If we understand the consequences of sin and its burden, we will appreciate that ultimate sacrifice of Jesus every day of our lives. That Jesus resurrected is a historical fact.

We should not be discouraged when people doubt or deny Christ’s resurrection. Rather we should be filled with hope because a day will come when all of us shall see the proof on His return. However, on the interim, we should always be grateful to God for sending Jesus Christ to die for us. Have you accepted that ultimate sacrifice by making Him your Lord and Saviour? A time will come it will be too late. Come to the Saviour today and make no delay.

Food for Thought: As Christ died for our sins, how best can we appreciate this kind gesture of God towards us?

Memory verse: 1 Corinthians 15 verse 3

Prayer: Lord God, help me to appreciate your love for me in dying for my sins.

Who Will Roll Away The Stone?

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Easter Sunday April 16, 2017

Topic: Who Will Roll Away The Stone?

Text: Mark 16:1 – 8

Yesterday we saw how the Chief priest and Pharisees obtained permission and secured the tomb of Jesus in a bid to stopping Him from resurrecting. Our bible reading confirms that the tomb was indeed secured. These women came to the tomb of Jesus to anoint His dead body as was the custom. On their way they remembered that the tomb had been secured with a big stone which they cannot pull away. God, whose plan overrules that of man had pulled away the stone and the anointing they were planning couldn’t hold because Jesus was not in the tomb again. Sometimes when we meet with opposition as we plan to honour God, we shouldn’t be discouraged because He will certainly remove all obstacles on the way. God removed the stone to teach us that when He purposes, nothing whatsoever can stop His purpose from fulfilling.

Today, we are celebrating the effects of that stone which God rolled away. One of them is the resurrection of Christ. His resurrection brought hope for us that all our problem of sin, sickness, lack, etc have been rolled away and new things are beginning to manifest for us in Jesus name. You may have been wondering who will roll away that your problem. Never mind, the God you serve, in His infinite mercies will roll them away. As the women went back with joy that Jesus had resurrected, so you will from this day sing songs of joy and victory of what God will resurrect in your life, family, business, marriage, etc. Happy Easter!           

Food for Thought: What would been our Christian faith, if Christ did not resurrect from the dead?

Memory verse: Mark 16 verse 3

Prayer: Lord God, thank you for resurrecting Jesus Christ from the dead which has brought us hopes of victory over death and certainty of eternal life. Amen.

Price of Godliness (Imprisonment 2)

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Friday March 31, 2017                

Topic: Price of Godliness (Imprisonment 2)

Text: Act 4:1 – 4

When you have a message from God and preach it raw as received, there is every tendency it will hurt some people and puncture their ego. I have incurred the wrath of many people because of my messages. I thank God that so far, they have not arrested or sent me to prison. The Sadducees don’t believe in resurrection and for the disciples to be preaching that Jesus resurrected was not acceptable to them. They instigated the arrest of the Peter and John.

These men (Apostles Peter and John) had spoken to the people during the afternoon prayer time. The Sadducees moved in quickly to investigate. They were understandably disturbed with what the Apostles were saying because they were refuting one of their fundamental beliefs and thus threatening their authority as religious teachers. Because of their unlimited power over the Temple grounds, they were able to arrest Peter and John for no other reason than teaching what contradicts their beliefs.

Preaching the gospel can offend some people because of their tie with the devil and it can even lead to imprisonment. Though it is not always that preaching can lead to problem but we run risks in trying to win others to Christ. The risks may include attack of the enemies of the cross, rejection, persecution, imprisonment, denial of rights and privileges. Whatever risk we may face, we should note that people of God in the past suffered same and we should be willing to suffer for the sake of Christ. Whatever the risks, realize that nothing done for God is ever wasted. You will surely receive your reward.

Food for Thought: You can bind and imprison a preacher but you cannot bind or imprison his message.

Memory verse: Acts 4 verse 3

Prayer: Lord, grant utterance to your people to enable them preach no matter the risk and consequences in Jesus name. Amen.

POWER TO YOUR DYING BODY: Devotion for Wednesday March 30, 2016

POWER TO YOUR DYING BODY: Devotion for Wednesday March 30, 2016

Text: Romans 8:10 – 17                Memory verse: v 11

If the Holy Spirit be in us, Christ is in us. He dwells in the heart by faith. Christ’s Spirit lives within our human spirits. The presence of Christ in us will automatically make our bodies to resist and reject sin (8:10). Any Christian who receives the grace and Spirit of Christ, and continues to live under its influence, a life of obedience to the Divine will, shall have a resurrection to eternal life; and the resurrection of Christ shall be the pattern after which they shall be raised (8:11). The point Paul made here is that we are promised the physical resurrection of our bodies into eternal life. The Spirit of God who raised Jesus from the dead will also give life to us. So there is wonderful hope even for our prone-to-decay bodies.

In another dimension, the presence of Holy Spirit resuscitates our physical bodies too. When the Spirit of God dwells in you, Satan and sickness will not have upper hand in your body. Are you sick in the body and desire healing from God? Then you need to invite the Spirit of God into your life. You can start with praises for God dwells in the praises of His people. His presence will bring life to that withered hand and crippled legs in Jesus name. You, who is sick, and reading this devotion, God is saying to you, give me chance to come in now and you will see the difference. Will you do that?

Food for Thought: Life comes from the Spirit of God (Ezekiel 37:10)

Prayer: Release upon me O Lord, your Spirit to my dying body to revive it again in Jesus name.