KEY SCRIPTURE: John 6:5 KJV” When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?”

Our Lord is not ignorant of the plight of all men. He is not just aware of our plight but is always moved to do something about it. In our key scripture the multitude thronged Him, to hear the word from His lips, yet they were hungry. The Lord said, where can we get bread to buy for this multitude? The Lord is always concerned about the total well-being of all persons that come to him. These people had come to him, all by themselves. He had not made any promise to feed them and so nothing bound him to feed all these multitudes. He is moved by great passion to alleviate men of their difficulties.

Most men find themselves in all kinds of miserable situations, and they ask, is there a God, who sees all the pain and agony that they go through? Please I want you to know that no matter how long and discomforting a condition may be, God knows about it, and he is indeed ready to save man from it. His name is Jesus, which means Jehovah is Saviour or salvation. On many occasions men are just not ready to receive the help he provides. God has designed that anyone who will partake of His bounties or blessings, must come to him like a little child. This is what is too difficult for most people to do, because they are so sophisticated.

Just consider what our Lord Jesus says about those God reveals His blessings to. Matthew 11:25 KJV” At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes”. Dear one if you would act like a little child and accept God and His words like the little ones do, you would come out of most of your difficulties.

How do children receive promises from parents?

1. Children do not imagine any difficulty about how a condition may be. So long as daddy or mummy promised, to them it is done.

2. Children believe their parents can do whatever they have promised.

3. Once their parents promised it, it is done and so they expect it.

May we be like little children so that our father will be able to do for us those things that we have no answer for. Yes, he wishes to do them for us.

CONFESSION

God my father is Lord of all. He freely gives me all good things to enjoy. I humble myself before Him. I accept and believe in all his promises.

THOUGHT: CHILDLIKENESS IS SYNONYMOUS TO TRUST

FURTHER STUDIES

Matthew 11:28 KJV:” Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Matthew 18:3 KJV “And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.”

KEY SCRIPTURES: John 6:2 KJV “And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased.”

Miracles are mysterious acts to men, yet they are the normal acts of God. Miraculous acts answer the questions of men.

 All men, no matter their status, colour, race or what have you, will always be drawn to where miracles occur. Christianity was birth through the miraculous resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Christianity has survived the times of life through a stream of miracles.

 Without the miraculous Christianity is just another religion. Every minister of God should never underrate the importance of miracles.

 The truth is that every child of God and every minister can be a vessel for the miraculous.

Our key scripture reads, John 6:2 KJV” And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased. ” They followed Him because they saw the miracles. He did this to alleviate people of situations and conditions that they could not free themselves by any humanly possible means. 

In Mark 16, the Lord revealed that certain signs shall follow them that believe. He was simply saying they shall be miracle workers. We have come to know that it is not all so-called believers who are workers of miracles. Acts 2:22 said the following about Jesus. It said “Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you, by miracles   wonders and signs……” Note the word APPROVED. One goes through a regime of required standards to be ultimately approved. He passed some standards for the Father to declare that, this is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased. What did He really do?

 He completely threw away His will and lived only for the will of the Father.

John 8:29 KJV “And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.” It is the presence of the Father with Him that makes the difference. (Acts 10:38)

 The Father is ever present with everybody, yet it is those who have turned their will over to Him, that He works through. Acts like fasting, prayer, bible study and giving unto God are all practices, one does as a result of His submitted will. There may be individuals who may, subject themselves to fasting prayer and many more, yet may not have a submitted will to the Lord.

 For God to stay with one, to do mighty works through him, it is not what He does but who he or she is ; whether a surrendered life or not?

God will always want to show His presence but what limits or allows Him is whether the individual has a submitted will or not. This is the secret of the life of miracles.

CONFESSION

I am yielded to the Lord. My will is dead to my personal cravings, but alive to the word, will and ways of God. My Father is first in all I do. I seek His will His power works through me, to save many asking questions because of pain.

THOUGHT: GOD WOULD USE ANY TOOL HE CAN TURN ANY WAY HE LIKES

FURTHER STUDIES

John 8:29 KJV “And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.”

Matthew 16:24 KJV Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

KEY SCRIPTURES: John 6:2 KJV “And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased.”

Miracles are mysterious acts to men, yet they are the normal acts of God. Miraculous acts answer the questions of men.

 All men, no matter their status, colour, race or what have you, will always be drawn to where miracles occur. Christianity was birth through the miraculous resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Christianity has survived the times of life through a stream of miracles.

 Without the miraculous Christianity is just another religion. Every minister of God should never underrate the importance of miracles.

 The truth is that every child of God and every minister can be a vessel for the miraculous.

Our key scripture reads, John 6:2 KJV” And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased. ” They followed Him because they saw the miracles. He did this to alleviate people of situations and conditions that they could not free themselves by any humanly possible means. 

In Mark 16, the Lord revealed that certain signs shall follow them that believe. He was simply saying they shall be miracle workers. We have come to know that it is not all so-called believers who are workers of miracles. Acts 2:22 said the following about Jesus. It said “Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you, by miracles   wonders and signs……” Note the word APPROVED. One goes through a regime of required standards to be ultimately approved. He passed some standards for the Father to declare that, this is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased. What did He really do?

 He completely threw away His will and lived only for the will of the Father.

John 8:29 KJV “And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.” It is the presence of the Father with Him that makes the difference. (Acts 10:38)

 The Father is ever present with everybody, yet it is those who have turned their will over to Him, that He works through. Acts like fasting, prayer, bible study and giving unto God are all practices, one does as a result of His submitted will. There may be individuals who may, subject themselves to fasting prayer and many more, yet may not have a submitted will to the Lord.

 For God to stay with one, to do mighty works through him, it is not what He does but who he or she is ; whether a surrendered life or not?

God will always want to show His presence but what limits or allows Him is whether the individual has a submitted will or not. This is the secret of the life of miracles.

CONFESSION

I am yielded to the Lord. My will is dead to my personal cravings, but alive to the word, will and ways of God. My Father is first in all I do. I seek His will His power works through me, to save many asking questions because of pain.

THOUGHT: GOD WOULD USE ANY TOOL HE CAN TURN ANY WAY HE LIKES

FURTHER STUDIES

John 8:29 KJV “And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.”

Matthew 16:24 KJV Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

KEY SCRIPTURE: John Joh 5:47 KJV” But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?”

The bible is one whole. It was written over one thousand five-hundred-year span yet its message is one. It is all about God’s redemption of mankind. The bible is written by about forty authors across three continents, Africa, Asia and Europe. Despite these long-time intervals, as well as varying authors across three continents it still maintains one message. This reveals that, the bible was basically inspired by one author who is the Holy Ghost. 2nd Timothy 3:16 KJV “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:”

The prophet Moses gave the following prophecy about the Lord Jesus. Deuteronomy 18:18 KJV “I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.” In Acts 3:22 after apostle Peter had healed the cripple who lay at the gate to the temple, he confirmed what Moses said in Deuteronomy 3:22. Moses taught on atonement and all the sin offerings in Leviticus were all about Jesus Christ.

What do we do with all that we have learnt about Jesus in the above discussions?

1. It teaches us that Jesus who is the last revelation of God to mankind as the Saviour, shows us the heart of the Father. God is always ready to save men from any kind of danger, distress or unpleasant state.

2. It also teaches us that Jesus who is the grand theme of the bible must have the preeminence in all things. Colossians 1:18

3. Thirdly we must announce Him to all men as the only Saviour and the only name given among men whereby, we might be saved.

4. Finally you must love the Lord above every person, thing or state.

CONFESSION

Jesus is the only Lord of my life. I am saved from every evil work of darkness. The Lord Jesus has the preeminence in everything I do. Jesus is all that matters to me in this life. He gives meaning to my existence

THOUGHT: WHEN JESUS IS LORD OVER YOU, EVERY OTHER THING SETS UP WELL.

FURTHER STUDIES

Colossians 1:18 KJV “And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.”

Acts 4:12 KJV “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 5:45 KJV” Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust.”

The Lord continued His discussion with the Jews. He told them that He will not accuse them before the Father, rather Moses will. What did He mean by Moses will accuse them to the Father.?  It meant since they claim they live by the law of Moses, that same law will judge them. Romans 2:12 KJV” For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;” God is a just God. Each person will be judged according to the opportunities that he or she is exposed to.

Dear reader we are not expected under this era to keep living under the Law. The law is God’s holy and righteous demands that every man is expected to obey. Grace also says all these laws are fulfilled in Jesus, and by believing in Jesus the laws are fulfilled in us Romans 10:4 KJV

” For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth”.

Under grace, we believe in Jesus who likewise expresses Himself through us. The law must be fully obeyed by our effort, yet by grace through faith we welcome Jesus who has fulfilled all the law to live through us.

The law was therefore a schoolmaster leading us into this era of grace which is through faith. Galatians 3:24 KJV” Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith”. Under grace we have received justification as well as the life of Christ all by faith. This is the reason the scripture said sin shall not have dominion over you, because you are not under the law but under grace Romans 6:14.

Those under the Law are not in faith and so have not received any divine ability to fulfill the requirements of God’s laws.

The Lord taught in the opening scripture that those who claim to be under the law would be judged by the very law they have. Now the scripture tells us that, it is a curse to live under the law, if they do not keep all the law. Galatians 3:10 KJV” For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.” The dispensation of the law ended when our Lord died, was buried and resurrected. Turn from your self-effort and trust the Lord to save you and also live through you for a victorious life.

CONFESSION

I believe in Jesus who washed me from every sin and gave me His very life to be ever victorious in this life. By grace through faith, I am free from all the entanglement of the devil because it is Christ now living in me. Glory be to God.

THOUGHT: THE LAW DEMANDS MY SOLE EFFORT, GRACE GIVES ME A HELPER

FURTHER STUDIES

Galatians 3:11 KJV” But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.”

Galatians 3:12 KJV “And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 5:43 KJV “I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive”.

The Lord reveals in the key scripture a common error of many. On many occasions those who speak the truth are rejected, whiles those who come with sugar coated lies are swallowed hook, line and sinker. When men fail to accept and acknowledge the truth, then the bible says, God gives them over to lies. Romans 1:28 KJV ” And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;” In this very chapter, the bible said God gives up those who receive the truth and decide to forsake it and rather believe a lie.

It is very unfortunate to hear intellectuals say that Christianity is an European religion to enslave the Blackman. These people claim the religion of the African is idol worship. History and archeology reveal that Christianity and the bible came from the Middle East. It migrated into some parts of Africa and later spread more into Europe, who’s dominant religion then, was idolatry or sorcery. It was the power demonstrated by the fathers who brought the faith to Europe that soon made it to topple the worship of idols and sorcery in Europe. Men like St Patrick of Ireland and others demonstrated the power of God to the point that, many were converted from idol worship and sorcery to Christ.

The story of Africa is also not different. Christianity will never have stayed or thrived in Africa if it did not prove to be more powerful than the power of the gods here. The practice of African traditional religions was not just ideologies and empty believes with no manifestation of supernatural powers. For Christianity to have taken roots and so much grounds, it means, these powers were subdued. In spite of this historical background many go round saying Christianity just came to brainwash the Blackman. This is a big error and do not allow yourself to be deceived. Europe has fallen away from the truth of Christianity today, not because there was any greater power, but ideological persuasions like Darwin’s theory of evolution and other theosophical doctrines that promote sensual liberties. These teachings appealed more to the egos of the people, and so they fell for it. Well, the bible said this is what would happen in the last days. 2nd Timothy 3:1-3.

The bible maintains its consistency in speaking to the hearts and minds of men for complete transformation. It does not attempt to defend itself, does not attempt to defend anyone or people. It continuous to appeal, warn against rebellion, and encourage men to yield to God.

CONFESSION

The bible contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers, its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true and its decisions are immutable. Read it, to be wise, believe it to be saved, and practice it to be holy.

FURTHER STUDIES

1st Thessalonians 2:13 KJV” For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.”

1st Thessalonians 1:5 KJV” For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 5:42 KJV “But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you.”

As a reminder to all patrons of this devotional, we are still looking at a walk with Jesus through the gospels. We are now considering the gospel of John. In our key scripture, the Lord Jesus tells the Jews that, he knows that they have no love for the Father in their hearts.

Loving God is the highest duty of man. In fact, it is the first commandment of God Matthew 22:36-37. Anyone who sincerely loves God above all things is a high flyer in life. Experience and history have proven that all those who have the love of God in their hearts stand out among all others.

True love for God is the foundation for victory in all the challenges of life.

1 John 4:17 KJV “Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.” This word ‘judgement’ is the Greek word “krisis” out of which we have the word crisis, or trying moments. Love for God is what makes us bold or gives us an unyielding faith to overcome all difficulties in the times of crisis. The man without this kind of love in him, lacks that ability to oppose challenges in boldness. This kind of boldness cannot be worked out if one does not have the love of God in Him. Why do we have so much failure around us? It seems Satan is in charge of the world. Evil, diseases and death seem to be the order of the day. Why is this so? The answer is, many lack the faith to challenge and stop the onslaught of the enemy. There is so much we hear about God and His word, yet only a few are really stopping Satan. This should not be the case.

Dear brother, it is the will of God that every child of God is, and lives as a devil master always.

For whatsoever is born of God overcomes the world, and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our Faith. 1st John 5:4. Dear one faith works by love. (Galatians 5:6)

What is stealing your heart from loving the Lord? Take some time and consider that thing which is competing with God for your heart. That thing is your real enemy. It is the real canker that weakens and deprives you of your real authority to be free and win in life. Take some time off to pray in tongues till your heart is free of all those things that compete with the love for God in your heart.

 Your love for God is your real access to power.

Never bargain it for anything. Cut off every sin, habit or person that take God’s love from your heart.

CONFESSION

I love the Lord my God with all my heart. My love for God, is my strength. Nothing will compete with my love for God. My love for Him liberates me from every evil power of darkness. My love for God means honouring Him in all I do. Thank you, Lord.

THOUGHT: STRONG FAITH IN GOD, IS BUILT ON STRONG LOVE FOR GOD

FURTHER STUDIES

Matthew 22:37 KJV Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

1st Corinthians 2:9 KJV “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 5:41 KJV” I receive not honour from men.”

The Lord declares a very important statement in our key scripture: He says He does not seek honour or praise from men. It takes one who truly knows God to make such statements.

 Seeking the praise and honour of men drives people into all kinds of errors, vanities and foolish actions.

 One of the very serious effects of seeking the honour of men is that, they do various things only to get men praising them. Anytime one acts to receive the praise of men he loses God’s rewards Because he’s received his rewards from the people who praised him.

 Looking for men’s honour is the simplest means of short-circuiting God’s power. It is one of the reasons many ministers do not see the manifestation of the power of God in their lives. He is faced with someone, with a very serious health condition, and ask himself, how will this turn out after the condition refuses to change. Wouldn’t it be very humiliating before the congregation?

When a man begins to enjoy or seek the honour of men, he will easily compromise God’s place in his life. King Herod killed John the Baptist, because he chose to honour men than God. When he was torn between saving John’s life or pleasing Herodias daughter, he rather chose to please man and killed a man. Mark 6:26 KJV” And the king was exceeding sorry; yet for his oath’s sake, and for their sakes which sat with him, he would not reject her.”

Now where does the exaggeration in preaching come from? All these proceed from the place of honouring men before God, or seeking men’s honour What drives certain pastors to get involved in evil rituals to enable them perform false miracles to attract multitudes? It emanates from that fame that men would offer him. In Jesus’ day, He spoke so much about the Pharisees who constantly regarded the praise and honour of men, to do all kinds of things that dishonoured the Lord.

What is the root cause of people seeking to honour men or seeking men’s praise rather than praising God? Such people do not truly know God, and so have lost any

sense of fear for God and His judgement for people who live in such ways. To come out of such lifestyle, take time to consider the reality of God, and how terrible it is to face His wrath. 2nd Corinthians 5:11 KJV” Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.”

CONFESSION

God my father created me to bring Him honour with my life. I live to honour him alone. I do not seek men’s honour or my honour, but to bring God pleasure by honouring Him and Him alone.

THOUGHT: TO SEEK MAN’S HONOUR IS CLEAR FOOLISHNESS, FOR NO MAN WILL JUDGE OR REWARD YOU AT THE END OF THE DAY

FURTHER STUDIES

Galatians 1:10 KJV” For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.”

1st Samuel 15:22 KJV” And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 5:40 KJV “And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life”.

Religion specialises in producing adherents to various doctrines, teachings and observing certain ordinances. It is the aspiration and actually the demand of the teachers of such religions that, to be acceptable to God or the supreme being, your good works must exceed your wrongs. The Lord Jesus gives a different view outrightly. He said He came to bring man life. Man had a fundamental problem from the beginning. In Genesis 2:17, the Lord said to our first parents that, they could eat of every tree in the garden, but of the tree that gave knowledge of good and evil they should not eat. On the day they ate it they would die. This death was a departure of the presence or life of God in them. They did eat and so they lost this presence of God. The presence of God is also called the glory of God. Romans 3:23

 The need of man is a restoration of the life of God.

Jesus said, you would not come to me, that you might receive the life of God. The Lord Jesus gave His life to give men life or the glory of God.

 He said I came that ye might have life, and have it more abundantly.

Men are lost. Let’s consider a condition that shows how men are lost. The apostle Paul writes as follows. Romans 7:9 KJV “For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.” He says the absence of divine life in him, exposed his weakness. There are even some people who call themselves Christians, yet are struggling with all manner of sins.

 The mystery of Christianity is Christ living in you. (Colossians 1:27, Galatians 2:20)

Dear reader these things I am discussing are for real.  We are not just talking about following certain doctrines or teaching, but Jesus personally walking, talking and living through you.

 He said I stand at the door and knock, if any man would open the door of his or her heart, I will come in and eat with him and you with me. Revelation 3:20. It is a life of power over sicknesses, sin and Satan.

It is a life of love for all men, even those who hate you. It is a life of peace because He comes with His peace. These have been proven experiences, over and over again. I am a living witness to these things and there are many who can testify to walking in this realm of life. What you need is the very life of the resurrected Jesus Christ in you. Religion without Jesus is a mirage, you need reality.

CONFESSION

 My life has been supplanted by the life of Jesus. He is presently at home in me. I am victorious over sin, sicknesses and Satan. I am a Son of God, a servant of men, and a *master*over Satan.

THOUGHT: RELIGION WITHOUT JESUS IS A MIRAGE, YOU NEED REALITY

FURTHER STUDIES

John 10:10 KJV “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly”.

Matthew 20:28 KJV “Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 5:39 KJV” Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.”

During the Lord’s discourse with the Jews, He asked them to search the scriptures for that would make them know how to have eternal life, because the scriptures testify of Him. The scriptures the Lord spoke about was the Old Testament. From Genesis to Malachi in summary, talks about Jesus. One has to search in order to find all that has been said about Jesus. The whole message of the scriptures is about God’s plan of redemption. The Father introduced this redemptive program right after the fall of man. In Genesis 3:15, He talked about the seed of the woman, (Jesus was the seed of Mary and not with any other man) who bruised the head of the serpent at the place of the skull John 19:17. In Genesis 3:21, the Lord made coats of skins to cloth them, after they sinned against Him. This was the sacrifice of an innocent animal to cover their nakedness. This act was a symbol of the substitutionary work of Jesus to save mankind.

The scriptures indeed testify and reveal our Lord Jesus in its pages. God’s focus in presenting the scriptures to men is to show to man the way to eternal life. He says that we must search the scriptures. Searching involves a sense of longing to find. It will also call for discipline and an attitude of openness. One attitude that has blinded most people from seeing the amazing truths in the scriptures is approaching the scriptures with preconceived notions. Some approach the scripture with a made-up teaching or concept that they hold to. When one comes to the bible with such attitudes, or views he would hardly see the many nuggets about our Lord Jesus redemptive work.

The Lord instructs us in the opening scripture to search the scriptures. This requires attention and patience. We live in a period that information abounds so much that, people have so much to look at and so cannot be patient to spend quality time with the scriptures. The audio and video posts and films easily take people away from reading. Reading and studying requires total attention. So long as you are able to give that needed attention you are able to discover certain hidden truths that could have easily escaped your awareness. Please heed to the master’s instruction and search the scriptures, for it is in doing that, that you know you have eternal life, for they would reveal the Saviour Jesus to you.

THOUGHT: GOD’S REDEMPTION OF MANKIND THROUGH JESUS IS THE GRAND SUBJECT OF THE BIBLE

FURTHER STUDIES

Proverbs 4:20 KJV “My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.”

2nd Timothy 3:16 KJV “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:”