RHAPSODY OF REALITIES FRIDAY, DECEMBER 7th. Pastor Chris TOPIC ✨PREDESTINED FOR GLORY✨

RHAPSODY OF REALITIES  FRIDAY, DECEMBER 7th.   Pastor Chris
TOPIC ✨PREDESTINED FOR GLORY✨.

According as he hath chosen us in HIM before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love (Ephesians 1:4).

As Christians, we were chosen in Christ, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and without blame before Him in love. We were chosen in Him before the foundation of the world. From the beginning of time, God set the seal of approval, that when Christ shall come and die, and provide salvation for the world, everyone who would come into Him would be glorified.

Moreover, not only are we chosen in Christ, we’re also without blame: “…that we should be holy and without blame before him in love” (Ephesians 1:4). How could we be without blame, with all our mistakes, errors, and faults? Jesus took our blame. The Bible says, “And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled. In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight” (Colossians 1:21-22). He did all that for us on the Cross, so we could become inheritors of His righteousness; justified, holy, sanctified, and without blame. You don’t have to struggle to be holy or blameless; you don’t have to try to impress Him to accept you; He already accepted you.

Ephesians 1:5-6 says, “Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.” God set all of these in motion before the foundation of the world. He planned that you’d live the glory life, void of sickness, failure, and the decadence of today’s world. He planned that you’d be the proof of His goodness, the expression of His righteousness, and the effulgence of His glory. Hallelujah!

                PRAYER

Blessed Father, I thank you for having chosen me in Christ, before the foundation of the world. I’m holy and without blame, because Jesus took away my blame and shame, and gave me His glory and righteousness. I’m free to live in righteousness, and reign in this world as a victor and a champion, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

FURTHER STUDY:Romans 8:30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

Ephesians 2:10 AMPC For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), [a]recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live].

DAILY SCRIPTURE READING

1-Year Bible Reading Plan=> Jude & Daniel 9-10

2-Year Bible Reading Plan=> Revelation 9:1-10 & Amos 7

EXTRACT FROM: Rhapsody Of Realities Daily Devotional

RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY, DECEMBER 6TH. Pastor Chris TOPIC ✨BEING BORN AGAIN✨.

RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY, DECEMBER 6TH. Pastor Chris
TOPIC ✨BEING BORN AGAIN✨.

Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God (John 3:3).

In our previous study, we learnt that the Christian isn’t a natural man. The natural man is subject to defeat, failure, poverty, and the uncertainties of life; he’s governed by the rudiments of this present evil world, and without hope in life. Ephesians 2:12 describes his life as an utter tragedy, because he lives in this world without hope and without God; a terrible state to be in.

If the foregoing describes you or someone you know, that can change even now. Yes, you may have lived as a natural man, subject to the depravities and corrupting influences of this natural world, but you can start a new life today, by being born again. Jesus said except a man is born again, he can’t escape the destruction and perils in this world.

Why should anyone remain a natural man, and be buffeted by the storms and harsh gusts of life? Only the one who’s born again is separated from darkness, evil, and from perishing. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish….” The death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus disconnected you from the domain of Satan, and this world of darkness and turmoil, and transferred you into Christ; into the glorious liberty of the sons of God. 

The negative forces of this world can’t prevail against you. Failure, sickness, poverty, and everything negative aren’t a part of your life when you’re born again! You live in the victory of Christ every day, such that at the end of life on earth, you’ll stand before Him in glory. But that can’t happen if you’re not born again; if you remain a natural man.

The natural man can’t receive the things of the Spirit of God. But when you receive Christ into your heart, and get to know the Holy Spirit, He’ll unveil the heart of the Father to you.

If you’ve never been born again, this is your moment: turn to the Prayer of Salvation page at the back of this devotional, pray the prayer, and mean the words with all your heart.

                PRAYER

Dear heavenly Father, I thank you for my beautiful life in Christ. I’m growing by the day, in the knowledge of Christ, and of my inheritance in Him, unto maturity, ready for your divine use, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

FURTHER STUDY: 2 Peter 3:9-10 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

Titus 2:11-14 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

DAILY SCRIPTURE READING

1-Year Bible Reading Plan=> 3 John & Daniel 7-8

2-Year Bible Reading Plan=> Revelation 8:1-13 & Amos 5-6

EXTRACT FROM: Rhapsody Of Realities Daily Devotional

RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5TH. Pastor Chris TOPIC ✨YOU’RE NOT A NATURAL MAN.✨

RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5TH. Pastor Chris
TOPIC ✨YOU’RE NOT A NATURAL MAN.✨

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him… (1 Corinthians 2:14).

The natural man is the man that’s not born again; the life in him is the ordinary human life; that’s what makes him a natural man. However, when you’re born again, you’re not by any means a natural man, because your human life has been supplanted by God’s divine life. Jesus said in John 3:6, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”

The one who’s born again is born of the Spirit by the Word: “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever” (1 Peter 1:23). You’re born of the Word the same way Jesus was born of the Word; the life in you is the life of the Word. This is the reason you’re indestructible. We just read it: the Word that gave birth to you—the Word from which you came—is indestructible; it lives and abides forever.

Being born again, you’re the heavenly man; the God-man from heaven, with the life of Christ. Refuse to see yourself as human; you’re divine! As Jesus is, so are you in this world (1 John 4:17). You might ask, “Won’t that be going too far?” No; it’s the truth! 

Psalm 82:6 says, “I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.” The Lord Jesus quoted the very same scripture in John 10:34-36. Until, and unless you see yourself, not as a human being, but as a god in the earth, you’ll suffer what human beings suffer.

You’re not an ordinary person. Recall the words of Jesus in Mark 16:17-18: “And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.”

Anyone who can do the things Jesus outlined in the portion of the scripture above is certainly not human; and that’s you. You’re the believing one; a divine personality, with the same life and nature with God.

                CONFESSION

Blessed Father, how great and glorious you are! I celebrate your life in me, which gives me the nature of righteousness and dominion over this world! As Jesus is, so am I—full of your glory, power, and love. Hallelujah!

FURTHER STUDY: John 1:12-13 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, [even] to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 

1 Corinthians 2:14-15 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know [them], because they are spiritually discerned. 15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.

DAILY SCRIPTURE READING

1-Year Bible Reading Plan=> 2 John & Daniel 5-6

2-Year Bible Reading Plan=> Revelation 7:11-17 & Amos 3-4

EXTRACT FROM: Rhapsody Of Realities Daily Devotional

RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4TH. Pastor Chris TOPIC ✨ONLY BY THE SPIRIT✨

RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4TH. Pastor Chris
TOPIC ✨ONLY BY THE SPIRIT✨.

Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God (1 Corinthians 2:12).

Part of the ministry of the Holy Spirit in your life is to unveil your inheritance to you; to show you the things which are freely given to you by the Father. He’s the only one that knows your inheritance enough to make them available to you. For example, the Bible says God has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ (Ephesians 1:3). You can only know what these spiritual blessings are by the Holy Spirit!

How do you describe spiritual blessings? How do you identify them? What do they look like? How can you tell what’s from God, and what’s not from Him? It’s only by the Holy Spirit! That’s what we read in our theme scripture. The ensuing verse says, “Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth…” (1 Corinthians 2:13). In other words, these spiritual blessings are made manifest through the language of the Spirit; words inspired in us by the Holy Spirit.

For example, when you say you’re born again, man’s wisdom thinks you mean you’ve turned over a new leaf, or you’ve merely changed your ways of doing things, but no; it’s much more profound than that! It means you’ve become a new creation; one with God; an associate of the God-kind. This isn’t a piece of information for the intellect or from the intellect, but a revelation of the Spirit; an esoteric insight unveiled to your spirit by the Holy Spirit. Hallelujah!

Life in its fullness, peace, righteousness, divine healing, health, prosperity, forgiveness, fellowship with the Father and with the Son Jesus Christ, are among God’s glorious blessings given to you to enjoy freely. The Holy Spirit came, not only to reveal these blessings to you, but also to teach you to walk in the fullness of the blessings of the Gospel. Recognise His ministry in your life and He’ll lead and guide you in the transcendent life in Christ.

                PRAYER

Dear heavenly Father, I thank you for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, by whom I’m made aware, and take advantage of all that you’ve granted me in Christ Jesus. I walk in the fullness of the blessings of the Gospel; nothing good is withheld from me; I have all things that pertain to life and godliness, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

FURTHER STUDY: Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

John 14:26 But the Comforter, [which is] the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, [that] shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

DAILY SCRIPTURE READING

1-Year Bible Reading Plan=> 1 John 5 & Daniel 3-4

2-Year Bible Reading Plan=> Revelation 7:1-10 & Amos 1-2

EXTRACT FROM: Rhapsody Of Realities Daily Devotional

RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY, DECEMBER 3rd. Pastor Chris TOPIC ✨THE POWER OF HIS WORD.✨

RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY, DECEMBER 3rd.  Pastor Chris
TOPIC ✨THE POWER OF HIS WORD.✨

For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective]… (Hebrews 4:12 AMPC).

The Bible gives the account of a certain man who was sick for thirty-eight years, and laid by the Pool of Bethesda. At that pool was a rendezvous of broken humanity, waiting for the stirring of the water by an angel. The first person to get in, after the water had been stirred, got healed of whatever disease he had. However, this man hadn’t been able to get in, and when Jesus met him, He asked, “…Wilt thou be made whole?” (John 5:6).

Rather than affirm right away that he wanted to be well, he started complaining to Jesus, lamenting how there’d been no one to help him into the pool (Read John 5:7). Not minding his complaints, the Master said to him, “…Rise, take up thy bed, and walk” (John 5:8). The Bible says, “And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked…” (John 5:9).

How come the man didn’t complain this time, but acted the moment Jesus said, “Rise, take up your bed, and walk”? It reveals the power of God’s Word! There’s something about the words of Jesus; He said in John 6:63, “…the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” At the words of Jesus, life permeated the hitherto dead limbs and paralyzed body of the man, and before he could think, he was already standing, healed by the power of God! That’s the power of the Word in manifestation. Remember, he didn’t even know who Jesus was, at this time (John 5:12-15).

In several of our healing meetings, people testify of a voice telling them to walk, or do what they hitherto couldn’t do due to sickness, disease or an infirmity of the body. The moment they acted on the word they heard, a miracle ensued, irrespective of the case. They didn’t have to reason out the voice; they knew it was from God, and acted accordingly from their spirit.

That’s the way to respond to God’s Word; it’s from, and with, your spirit! God’s Word is addressed to the human spirit, not to the head or mind. He knows that the Word in your spirit, mixed with faith, will surely produce results.

                PRAYER

Dear heavenly Father, I thank you for the ability and power inherent in your Word, which produces in my life and circumstances what it talks about. I’m making progress from glory to glory, by your Word, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

FURTHER STUDY: Isaiah 55:10-11 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: 11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper [in the thing] whereto I sent it.

Acts 20:32* And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.

DAILY SCRIPTURE READING

1-Year Bible Reading Plan=> 1 John 4 & Daniel 1-2

2-Year Bible Reading Plan=> Revelation 6:11-17 & Joel 3

EXTRACT FROM: Rhapsody Of Realities Daily Devotional

RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SUNDAY, DECEMBER 2ND. Pastor Chris TOPIC ✨GRACE FOR MORE✨

RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SUNDAY, DECEMBER 2ND. Pastor Chris
TOPIC ✨GRACE FOR MORE✨

But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble (James 4:6).

When the Lord gives you an assignment, He empowers you for whatever He calls you to do, by granting you grace for the job. When He increases your responsibilities, He also increases the grace. Except He increases your ability for the higher responsibility, you really can’t accomplish that purpose. That’s why increased grace is so important. Grace here, is the bestowal of special favour and ability to fulfil God’s plan for your life.

Furthermore, as you study the Scriptures, you’d discover that there’re different graces. For instance, there’s the grace for salvation, and every child of God received that grace. The Bible says, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). It’s akin to what the Bible says concerning faith: “…according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith” (Romans 12:3).

Just as God dealt to everyone in Christ the measure of faith, even so has the grace for salvation been given to all men. But then, there’s the gift of faith, which is different from the measure of faith given to us in Christ. Likewise, Titus 2:11 says, “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men.” But there’re also different graces in Christ.  

Hebrews 4:16 says, “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, AND FIND GRACE TO HELP IN TIME OF NEED.” In other words, there’s grace for your assignment; there’s a grace for anything the Lord instructs you to do or that’s consistent with His plan and purpose for your life. Therefore, knowing the Lord’s plans and purposes, you can obtain whatever grace you require. Hallelujah!

PRAYER

Dear heavenly Father, I thank you for lavishing me with grace. I take advantage of this grace, riding on it to fulfil your plans and purposes for my life. I make full proof of your grace in my life, for my work, ministry, academics, health, finances, and all that I’m involved with, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

FURTHER STUDY:
1 Corinthians 15:10* But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace [which was bestowed] upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

2 Peter 1:2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,

Galatians 6:18 Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [be] with your spirit. Amen. 

DAILY SCRIPTURE READING

1-Year Bible Reading Plan=> 1 John 3:11-24 & Ezekiel 47-48

2-Year Bible Reading Plan=> Revelation 6:1-10 & Joel 2

EXTRACT FROM: Rhapsody Of Realities Daily Devotional

RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY, DECEMBER 1ST. Pastor Chris TOPIC ✨LOVE BEYOND THE CROSS.✨

RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY, DECEMBER 1ST. Pastor Chris
TOPIC ✨LOVE BEYOND THE CROSS.✨

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends (John 15:13).

Most people have never known what divine love is, and as a result, they define it on the basis of their relationships with human beings. They think they know and have experienced the love of God because of the things He’s done for them, such as in salvation, health, deliverance, abundance, and many other blessings they experience.

Well, Jesus dying in our behalf to prove His love for us was an awesome blessing indeed; He said, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). However, here, He wasn’t referring to divine love, but to human love. When He died for us, He didn’t die as God; He died as a man; that was what made His  death in our behalf valid. The love He expressed for us at that point was the love that a man would have for his friends.

Divine love, however, is different. Jesus said in John 14:10, “...I am in the Father, and the Father in me....” He experienced the love of the Father the way no man ever did; He walked in the Father, and the Father walked in Him. That’s the kind of love that resulted after the Cross; that’s the love He brought us into. He invites us to open our eyes, open our understanding and look beyond human love, and embrace His divine love! He saved us with His own love, gave His life for us, so we could experience the Father’s love through fellowship.

The only way you experience the love of God is to be in fellowship with the Father, and that’s what Jesus made possible through the life He gave us; the resurrection brought us into that fellowship; into divine love with the Father. With the resurrection, we came out as new creations; and He gave us the Holy Spirit so we could fellowship with the Father. Now, we can really enjoy the love that’s beyond the Cross. Hallelujah!

                PRAYER

Dear Father, I thank you for the revelation of your Word to my spirit on your divine love for me; amazing love, so sweet, so sublime, so divine! Through fellowship with you, studying and meditating on the Scriptures, I experience this immeasurable love in its power; love beyond the Cross, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

FURTHER STUDY: Romans 8:35-39 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? [shall] tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Ephesians 2:4-7 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised [us] up together, and made [us] sit together in heavenly [places] in Christ Jesus: 7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in [his] kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

DAILY SCRIPTURE READING

1-Year Bible Reading Plan=> 1 John 2:15-3:1-10 & Ezekiel 45-46

2-Year Bible Reading Plan=> Revelation 5:1-14 & Joel 1

EXTRACT FROM: Rhapsody Of Realities Daily Devotional