💎✨RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SUNDAY DECEMBER 22ND, 2024. PASTOR CHRIS.💎✨ TOPIC :✨UNDERSTAND LOVE FROM GOD’S PERSPECTIVE✨

💎✨RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SUNDAY DECEMBER 22ND, 2024. PASTOR CHRIS.💎✨ TOPIC :✨UNDERSTAND LOVE FROM GOD’S PERSPECTIVE✨

SCRIPTURE📖 :And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God (Ephesians 3:19).

I like the fact that at Christmas time many profess love; they say it’s a season to love one another. But most only assume to know what love is, whereas they really don’t. What most have experienced and understood is tolerance, not love. Tolerance is your ability to bear with others; it’s a good thing, but it shouldn’t be confused as love. That you tolerate people doesn’t mean you love them.

Even the Jews had difficulty understanding love. The Jewish mind was complex, and one of the ways God could get their attention was to give them the golden rule: “Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD” (Leviticus 19:18). He said to them, “Love your neighbour as yourself.” But how could a man love his neighbour as himself when even he isn’t conscious of loving himself?

This wasn’t God's best delineation of love, but He had to work with them from the "outside." So, He said to them, “Do unto others as you want them to do to you" (Matthew 7:12, Luke 6:31). After a while, they began to abuse this.A man could take another’s wife and say, “I don't mind if you do the same to me. Take my rude wife.”

But when Jesus came, He manifested God’s love in a way that was different. He said, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). He showed them love from God’s perspective, and not only did He preach this love, He proved it. You can’t show or manifest true love if you don’t know Jesus. 

When you hear someone say, “I can’t please you and displease myself,” such a person is quoting from the Old Testament. But Jesus says no; it's not about pleasing yourself; it's about laying down your life for others. It’s about making others happy even at the expense of your own feelings. There's no greater love than this. Your understanding of this will completely change your life and your commitment to Jesus Christ, and to those for whom He died.

                        CONFESSION

By the Spirit, I have an understanding of the dimensions of God’s love. I’m filled with the love of Christ, which surpasses all knowledge. I love others as Christ has loved me; my actions are motivated by genuine love, and I serve others with joy and compassion, following the example of the Lord Jesus. Hallelujah!

FURTHER STUDY: 1 John 4:7-10; Romans 12:10; 1 Corinthians 13:4-5 NIV

1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Revelation 13:11-14:1-20 & Habakkuk 1-3

2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN Revelation 17:11-18 & Haggai 2 4

💎✨RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY 21ST, DECEMBER 2024. PASTOR CHRIS.💎✨TOPIC :✨ETERNAL LIFE DEFINED✨

💎✨RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY 21ST, DECEMBER 2024. PASTOR CHRIS.💎✨

TOPIC :✨ETERNAL LIFE DEFINED✨

STRUCTURE📖 :That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life (John 3:15).

Imagine preaching the Gospel to someone and the person asks you, “What is eternal life?” What will you say? I'll give you two simple statements that’ll help you understand what it is. The first one is that eternal life is the life and nature of God. This in itself isn’t a definition but an expression that describes what kind of life it is. Eternal life is a life that's different from other kinds of life; it’s the life and nature of God.

As a definition, eternal life is the organic and existential attributes of deity. Why is this important? It’s because all over the world, people talk about different gods. There’re so many deities in different cultures represented in so many ways. But none of them has eternal life.

Eternal life is the life that Jesus, in Scripture, declared the Father has, which essentially distinguishes Him from all others that may be called gods: *_"For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself"_* (John 5:26). The Bible declares, *_“...And now we are in God because we are in JESUS CHRIST HIS SON, WHO IS THE ONLY TRUE GOD; AND HE IS ETERNAL LIFE”_* (1 John 5:20 TLB). Jesus Christ is God! In Him, we find and can relate with the organic and existential attributes of deity.

When He walked the earth, He was life encapsulated in a human body and manifested to us: *_“For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us”_* (1 John 1:2).

This eternal life is what He brought to the world (John 10:10). This is the message of the Kingdom of God: that Jesus Christ offers eternal life freely. That's why it’s called Gospel; you don't have to pay anything for it.

                        CONFESSION

*_I rejoice in knowing that I have the life and nature of God in me —the organic and existential attributes of deity. This divine life sets me apart and empowers me to live victoriously. I walk in the consciousness of this incorruptible, impregnable and invincible life in me, in Jesus' Name. Amen._*

*FURTHER STUDY:*

*John 17:3* And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

*1 John 5:11-13* And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. *12* He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. *13* These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

*1 John 5:20* And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.

1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN : Revelation 13:1-10 & Nahum 1-3

2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN : Revelation 17:1-10 & Haggai 1

If you are not yet born again, we invite you to make Jesus Christ the LORD of your life by praying thus:

*_“O Lord God, I believe with all my heart in Jesus Christ, Son of the living God. I believe He died for me and God raised Him from the dead. I believe He’s alive today. I confess with my mouth that Jesus Christ is the Lord of my life from this day. Through Him and in His Name, I have eternal life; I’m born again. Thank you Lord for saving my soul! I’m now a child of God. Hallelujah!”_*

💎✨RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY DECEMBER 20TH, 2024. PASTOR CHRIS.💎✨TOPIC:✨YOU KNOW HIM✨

💎✨RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY DECEMBER 20TH, 2024. PASTOR CHRIS.💎✨

TOPIC:✨YOU KNOW HIM✨

SCRIPTURE📖: You know the way to the place where I am going. Thomas said to him, Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way? (John 14:4-5 NIV).

The Lord Jesus, just before His crucifixion, had a meeting with His disciples where He told them He would be going away to Heaven. They were saddened by the news, but Jesus comforted them, saying, “...I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going” (John 14:3-4 NIV).

Notice His language: always succinct, always positive. It shows you the Master’s mentality. He said, “You know the way to the place where I am going.” But Thomas, who was thinking in the flesh, said, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus’ response to him was profound. He said, “...I am the way, the truth, and the life…” (John 14:6). What an answer!

Jesus was speaking by the Spirit, and His answer probably made Thomas more confused because Thomas was reasoning in the flesh. Then Jesus said in the next verse, “If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him” (John 14:7). Remarkable!

 Notice that Jesus didn't say, “Okay, Thomas, from henceforth, I'm going to try to introduce the Father to you”; no! Rather, He said, “You know Him.” This is the way He wants you to think. He doesn't want you arguing and declaring your lack of knowledge. Respond in the spirit. The Bible says you have an unction from the Holy One and you know all things (1 John 2:20). Hallelujah!

The Lord has said you know the Father; therefore say, “Yes sir! I know Him.” Blessed be God! When you agree and affirm the Word like that, suddenly, the knowledge of God will well up in your spirit, and you’ll discover the truth. Remember, He is the way, the truth, and the life. What He tells you is truth. If He says you know Him, that's the truth. Moreover, He also said it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the Kingdom (Matthew 13:11, Luke 8:10), and that includes knowing the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Hallelujah!

                           PRAYER

 I thank you Father, for you’ve revealed yourself to me in the Lord Jesus and by your Spirit. I declare with confidence that I know you, and I walk in that truth always. This knowledge transforms my life, my language and interactions. I walk as a victor, and your grace in my life is multiplied as a result of my knowledge of you, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

FURTHER STUDY: John 14:16-17; John 17:3; 1 John 2:13; Jeremiah 9:24

1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN Revelation 12 & Micah 6-7

2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN Revelation 16:11-21 & Zephaniah 3 4

💎✨RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 19TH DECEMBER 2024. PASTOR CHRIS.💎✨TOPIC :✨THE MESSAGE OF CHRIST✨

💎✨RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY 19TH DECEMBER 2024. PASTOR CHRIS.💎✨

TOPIC :✨THE MESSAGE OF CHRIST✨

SCRIPTURE📖 :Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart (2 Corinthians 3:2-3). 

What's an epistle? It’s a letter or written message. So, when Paul said, “Ye are our epistle…,” he was saying, “You’re our message, known and read of all men.” Jesus Christ was the message of God. He was the Word of God—God’s message—sent to the world to be read of all men. He was manifested in the flesh. 

When men encountered Jesus in Bible days, they encountered the Word of God. When He spoke, it was the Word speaking. When He acted, it was God's Word in action. When He healed, it was God's Word performing the miracles. Everything He did was the manifestation of the Word of God in flesh. So, He was manifestly declared to be the Word of God in the flesh. 

Now, referring to us, Paul says exactly the same thing: “Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us….” Did you see that? You are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ the same way Jesus was manifestly declared to be the Word of God in the flesh. This means you’re the message of Christ, and being the message of Christ means you’re the message of God. 

If you are the epistle of Christ, then you’re the epistle of God. If you are the word of Christ, then you’re the Word of God. Knowing this amazing truth, how are you going to live your life? That’s why God has given us His written Word so we can learn His language and talk His language. 

The necessary result of that is an outflow of the God-life through you. That’ll be your experience every day. There’ll be no defeat in your life. Irrespective of who your adversaries are or the circumstances in which you find yourself, you’ll be an absolute victor. Glory to God!  

                        PRAYER

Dear Father, thank you for making me the epistle of Christ, your living message to the world. I acknowledge that I'm your Word in the flesh, manifesting your glory, grace, and truth. As I study the Word meditatively, and speak it forth, I experience an outflow of the God-life, living in absolute victory and dominion in Christ Jesus. Amen.

FURTHER STUDY:

John 1:14  

1 John 4:17  

2 Corinthians 3,2-3NKJ

1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN

Revelation 11 & Micah 4-5

2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN

Revelation 16:1-10 & Zephania 1-2

💎✨RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 18TH 2024. Pastor Chris.💎✨TOPIC :✨DEMONS ARE REAL—CAST THEM OUT✨

💎✨RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 18TH 2024. Pastor Chris.💎✨

TOPIC :✨DEMONS ARE REAL—CAST THEM OUT✨

SCRIPTURE📖 :And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils…(Mark 16:17).

There’re people who say they don’t believe in the existence of demons, saying that devils or demons only exist in the imagination of certain people. Such folks are ignorant because the Bible tells us that Satan and demons are real. 1 Peter 5:8 says, “…your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” 

Jesus taught about demons and how they operate, and He cast out demons on several occasions. In fact, the very first sign He said would follow those who believe in Him is what we read in our opening scripture: the ability to cast out demons. 

Once, He was teaching in the synagogue and the Bible tells us that a certain woman who was bent double and couldn’t straighten up herself came into the synagogue. The Bible says, “And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity” (Luke 13:12). In the 11th and 16th verses, it’s clearly stated that the woman’s condition was caused by the devil, and Jesus proved it when He touched her and commanded her to straighten up, and she was restored instantly.

There were also instances where He commanded deaf spirits to come out of people who were deaf and dumb, and they instantly began to hear and speak. Many of us have done the same thing over the years in His Name. We’ve cast out deaf and dumb spirits, and instantly, the people who were afflicted started to hear and to speak. We did exactly what Jesus said to do and what He did. Glory to God!

He told us to cast out demons because they are real and are responsible for many of the troubles and infirmities that people suffer with and that we see around us. So, don’t be deceived by Satan’s incognito; if he can get you to believe he doesn’t exist, then he can mess up your life and mess up things around you. The Bible says we’re not ignorant of his devices (2 Corinthians 2:11). Ephesians 4:27 tells us to give him no place, no foothold. 

Satan and his demons may be real, but they’re powerless, defenceless and paralyzed before us. Whenever they show up, cast them out; truncate their activities, manoeuvres and manipulations. You have absolute dominion over them; exercise it.

                           PRAYER 

Dear Father, thank you for the authority I have in the Name of Jesus to cast out demons and to destroy their works and schemes. Thank you for the victory and dominion I have over all the power of the enemy. I walk in this authority today and always, in Jesus' Name. Amen.

FURTHER STUDY

Luke 10:17-19; Luke 13:10-13 NKJV; Mark 3:14

1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN

Revelation 10; Micah 1-3

2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN

Revelation 15:1-8; Habakkuk 3

💎✨RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17TH 2024. Pastor Chris.💎✨TOPIC : ✨ONENESS WITH HIM✨

💎✨RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17TH 2024. Pastor Chris.💎✨

TOPIC : ✨ONENESS WITH HIM✨

SCRIPTURE📖 :To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27).

When the Bible says “Christ in you,” what does it mean? “Christ in you” means Christ literally dwells in you. You’re His house; He lives in you, walks in you, and talks through you through the Holy Spirit.

The Bible says, “For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones” (Ephesians 5:30). You’re His feet, and you’re His hands. You’re the limbs of Christ: “Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ...” (1 Corinthians 6:15). As a Christian, you’re inseparably one with Christ; you’re fused as one with Him. Remember His words in John 14:20, “…I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.” Hallelujah!

In 2 Corinthians 3:5, Paul wrote about his experience of the Gospel as inspired by the Holy Spirit. He said, “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God.” Here was a man writing about his life, and he says, “My sufficiency is of God.” The same is true about you.

In his letter to the Philippians, he said, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4:13). How could he have such a mentality? It's because he understood the meaning of “Christ in you.” He knew he was no longer ordinary; he had become one with Christ, which means oneness with deity. The Word declares in 1 Corinthians 6:17, “But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.”

You’re one with the Lord; therefore, every so often, boldly declare: “My sufficiency is of God!” That means the ability of God is working in and through you; that’s the reason you’re invincible, ever prosperous, fruitful and productive. Glory to God!

                             CONFESSION

Christ dwells in me, and I in Him. I’m inseparably one with Him, a member of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. I’m the vessel through which He manifests His glory and reveals His multifaceted wisdom without limits. My sufficiency is of Him and through Him, I can do all things. I walk in the consciousness of this divine reality today and always in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

FURTHER STUDY

John 14:20; 1 Corinthians 6:15; Philippians 4:13

1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN

Revelation 9; Jonah 1-4

2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN

Revelation 14:11-20; Habakkuk 1-2

💎✨RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY DECEMBER 16TH, 2024. PASTOR CHRIS.💎✨ TOPIC :✨THE WORD IN FLESH✨

💎✨RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY DECEMBER 16TH, 2024. PASTOR CHRIS.💎✨ TOPIC :✨THE WORD IN FLESH✨

SCRIPTURE📖 :And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth (John 1:14).

In one of our previous studies, I explained to you that Jesus is the Son of God—God in human flesh! The Bible shows us something more about who He is in John 1:1. It says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” The 14th verse says, “…the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us....” But a more accurate rendering is “the Word became flesh”; Jesus Christ is the Word of God become f lesh.

 It’s easy to accept that Jesus is the living Word, the Word become flesh, but do you know that the same is true about you? The Bible says: “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever” (1 Peter 1:23). You were born again by the Word of God, which lives and abides forever.

Think about it: Jesus Christ is the Logos of God, the Word of God, become flesh. Now, that same Word thatbecame flesh gave birth to you. That makes you God's Word in flesh. Paul understood this and called us the epistles of Christ—the words of Christ: “Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in f leshy tables of the heart” (2 Corinthians 3:3).

Then he points out something extraordinary in the 18th verse: “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Corinthians 3:18). He says as you reflect on God’s Word, as you ponder and meditate on it, you see yourself—as the reflection of God’s glory, for you’re the offspring of the Word. Hallelujah! 

                               PRAYER

Dear Father, I thank you for your Word that has given birth to me; now I have and live the life of the Word. I'm influenced and transformed by your Word to live the glory-life. I walk in the consciousness of this truth as I manifest your righteousness, wisdom, grace and truth in my daily life. Thank you for this divine life that I have in Christ Jesus. Amen.

FURTHER STUDY: 2 Corinthians 3:2-3; James 1:18; 1 Peter 1:23-25

 1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Revelation 8 & Obadiah

2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Revelation 14:1-10 & Nahum 1-3 3