Oluwafemi .The Word of God is a light to my Path.

  Our Designer Has the Power! Scripture: Colossians 1:16 “…Visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. ” (Colossians 1:16) This passage Scripture helps us become familiar with the Word of God. We have been created for Jesus Christ. I want to know what he created me for, and what his purpose is for me. Only through the Word of God can we find the answers to these questions. He is the grand designer; everything has been created for his purposes. Faith and power are a big part of this equation: “… So that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. ” (1 Corinthians 2:5) The power involved in creating everything, both visible and invisible, is incomprehensible. The powers human agencies exert are nothing compared to the power God. As we begin to comprehend the scope of this truth, we can see why Paul said, “ Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming fr...

  Avoiding a fight is a mark of honor; only fools insist on quarreling. Proverbs 20:3 Don’t Take the Bait It’s easy to get into conflict with others, to be offended and upset by what they say or do, and to want to pay people back. But you’re not supposed to engage in every conflict, and it’s not your job to straighten them out. Don’t fight battles that are not between you and your destiny. Most of the things we face are simply distractions. The best thing you can do is ignore it, don’t give it the time of day. Let God fight your battles. Let God be your vindicator. When something comes against you, you need to ask yourself, “Is this a battle worth fighting or is it simply a distraction?” You have to stay focused. Avoiding a fight, not taking the bait, not being drawn into the conflict takes your face being set. It takes discipline to say, “I’m not going to respond. I’m not going to sink down to their level and waste my time and energy. I have a destiny to fulfill.” Keep honoring Go...

  The Last Hour! Scripture: 1 John 2:18 “ Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour. ” (1 John 2:18) WOW! The last hour, from God’s perspective, is here! What does this say to you and me as  converterlators ? It tells me we must be busy doing the King’s business. We need to stay on mission, doing the works God has prepared for us. Many of our fellow believers have been swept aside by “mission drift.” According to this “last hour” passage, our loaf of time is getting short. We need to counter the false messages of the antichrists who cause many not to find the way, the truth, and the life revealed to us by Jesus Christ. It is critical we listen and obey what Peter said: “ Because of that experience, we have even greater confidence in the message proclaimed by the prophets. You must pay close attention to what they wrote, for their words are like a lamp...

  Introduction John 16:25–33: Today’s reading concludes the “Farewell Discourse” which began with John 14 (see the reading from June 23). While Jesus tells the disciples that the world will make them suffer, he assures them that he has defeated the world and that God loves them. Today’s Key Verse: John 16:33b [Jesus said:] “Be brave. I have defeated the world!” Read 25  “I have used figures of speech to tell you these things. But the time will come when I will not use figures of speech, but will speak to you plainly about the Father.  26  When that day comes, you will ask him in my name; and I do not say that I will ask him on your behalf,  27  for the Father himself loves you. He loves you because you love me and have believed that I came from God.  28  I did come from the Father, and I came into the world; and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father.” 29  Then his disciples said to him, “Now you are speaking plainly, without usin...

  New Life! Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:17 “ …Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! ” (2 Corinthians 5:17) This is what relationship is all about when we trust Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior. Everything becomes new, and we are given a new lease on life. We discover that Christ himself is our inheritance, our treasure. As we  SOAK and SOW  in his living and powerful Word, and then FLOW with the Spirit, we are transformed. When we are down, he restores our soul and he leads us in the way we should go. He becomes the strength of our heart. With increasing confidence we develop a strong sense that “ The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands. ” (Psalm 138:8) We experience the reality of this when we cast our burdens on the Lord. We discover this amazing truth: “He will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be ...

  John 16:16–24: The disciples are unable to comprehend what Jesus tells them about his impending suffering and death. Jesus tells them that they will be sad for a while, but that their sadness will turn into gladness. Today’s Key Verse: John 16:22b [Jesus said to his disciples:] “Now you are sad, but I will see you again, and your hearts will be filled with gladness, the kind of gladness that no one can take away from you.” Read 16  “In a little while you will not see me any more, and then a little while later you will see me.” 17  Some of his disciples asked among themselves, “What does this mean? He tells us that in a little while we will not see him, and then a little while later we will see him; and he also says, ‘It is because I am going to the Father.’  18  What does this ‘a little while’ mean? We don't know what he is talking about!” 19  Jesus knew that they wanted to question him, so he said to them, “I said, ‘In a little while you will not see me,...

  He is Our Defense Scripture: Proverbs 30:5 “ Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. ” (Proverbs 30:5) We are influenced by both the world we see and the unseen spiritual world: “ For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. ” (Ephesians 6:12–13) Many times what we see in this world is the result of spiritual battles being fought in the unseen world. The Psalmist prayed, “ My soul, wait silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved. ” (Psalm 62:5–6) Scripture makes it clear that all power belongs to God: “ God has spoken once, twice I have heard this: That power belon...

  “Therefore, prophesy to them and say, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: O my people, I will open your graves of exile and cause you to rise again. Then I will bring you back to the land of Israel.’” Ezekiel 37:12 The Breath of God The Israelites who had been taken into exile in Babylon complained about how big their obstacles were and how they would never make it back to their homeland. They said, “We’re just dead bones and our hope is gone.” But God gave the prophet Ezekiel a vision of a valley filled with dry bones. He asked Ezekiel, “Do you believe these dead bones can live?” Ezekiel could have said, “God, that’s impossible. They’re just bones.” But instead he said, “Yes, Lord, I believe.” Then he spoke to the bones, and those bones suddenly joined together and morphed into people. God breathed life into them, and they stood up like a vast army. It was the promise of the Israelites being restored to their homes. You may have dreams you’ve buried, things you were believing...

  The Lord’s Return Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17 “ For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. ” (1 Thessalonians 4:16–17) Yes, the Lord is going to return to this world. Count on it. Just as there were many prophecies in the Old Testament regarding the first coming of Jesus Christ, there are many passages like the one above stating how Jesus Christ is going to return to this world to set up his Kingdom. We are told to watch, and to be prepared for this event. This world is not our home. In fact, we become more uncomfortable in it as we see more of the previews of coming attractions recorded in the book of Revelation: “ For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lo...

  “Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?” Esther 4:14 You’re Not Limited by Your Background Most of the greatest leaders in the Bible didn’t come from prominence. Esther was a Jewish orphan girl who had been taken into exile and was living in Persia. All the odds were against her ever doing anything significant, but God caused things to fall into place and she became the queen of King Xerxes. It was not just for her sake, though. She was strategically put there to help save the Israelites from a plot to destroy them. God is raising up a new generation of Esthers. It’s not going to happen just because of your talent, your ability, or your background. It’s the favor of God. It’s His divine purpose. Your part is to honor Him, to keep Him first place. When you’re being your best where you are, you’re proving to God that He can trust you. When you’re being faithful, determined, developing your skills, and helping others, God will take you higher than you...

  The Path to Personal Peace, Part 1 Scripture: Philippians 4:9 “ Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. ” (Philippians 4:9) What an example to follow! How many people could make that statement about themselves? Just put into practice what you have seen and heard from Jesus, and you will experience peace. Peace is a rare commodity. People spend billions to find peace through drugs, alcohol, pleasure, and other experiences. Paul shows us the only way to true peace. Peace is sourced in the person of Jesus Christ. Peace comes from God: “ Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. ” (John 14:27) Paul, who experienced much tribulation, shows us how to tap into the source of this peace. Only people who have a personal relationship with Christ can experience what he is telling us. So what can we lear...

  “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap.” Luke 6:38, NIV Give It Away None of us has gotten to where we are by ourselves. Somebody encouraged you, taught you, brought you to church, believed in you, took a chance and gave you a position, prayed for you. They were instrumental in you being where you are, so why don’t you reach out and help somebody else? Give away what’s been given to you. Sometimes we live ingrown, focused on ourselves. We’re grateful, we thank God for what He’s done, but that’s not going to sustain His blessings in our life. The real test is, are you taking the time to encourage someone? Are you going out of your way to be good to people? Are you strengthening others? Here’s the key: As long as you keep the encouragement flowing, being good to people, helping them overcome, comforting them, then the blessings are going to keep coming. The healing is going to keep coming, the...