Ayf(st. Marks' Unit,otorho-Orogun)

FOR SOMEONE WHO MIGHT THINK ITS OVER, ITS NOT OVER, YOU HAVE ALL IT TAKES TO BE THAT PERSON YOU EVER DESIRE.

You have the power in your hands to develop, craft and produce a masterpiece with your life. Allow your intuition to guide you to the places within yourself that cannot be discovered with your eyes. Your life is a gift that has many expressions. Explore, recreate and transform yourself to be unique and highest dimension of the real you. Live from your greatness.

RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY, 9TH JANUARY.

A DAILY LIFE OF PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING.

Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light (Colossians 1:12).
The Bible says God has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 1:3). This is enough to make you ecstatic with gratitude to the Lord every day of your life. How could anyone read or hear that and still be complaining? God wants us to give thanks every day, not complaints. The Scripture is clear in saying that this is the will of God concerning you: “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
A life of daily thanksgiving, however, doesn’t suggest a life devoid of challenges. Challenges may come, but in the midst of it all, lift your hands and say, “Lord, I give thanks, for greater is He that’s in me than he that’s in the world.” There’s no need to complain or grumble about any situation; as a child of God, you were born into victory; you can’t be disadvantaged.
Romans 8:28 says, “…we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” This is why the Lord expects you to always give thanks. Even now, lift your hands and give thanks because you’ve overcome the world; you’re more than a conqueror!
In the same prayer of Paul, where the Lord expressed His desire for us to be fruitful in every good work, He also tells us to give thanks: “That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work…Giving thanks unto the Father…” (Colossians 1:10-12). Complainers can’t be fruitful in every good work; they can’t be effective soul winners. Instead, complainers gripe about their perceived misfortune. Don’t be that way; rather, give thanks.
David said, “…I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth” (Psalm 34:1). Keep His praise in your mouth, not sometimes, but always. That’s how victors live: they don’t complain; they praise; they give thanks to the Lord. Make it your lifestyle and you’ll always find angels mobilized on your behalf. A lifestyle of gratitude will continually attract blessings and favour to you, giving you more reasons to give thanks! Hallelujah.

CONFESSION

Dear Father, I give thanks to you, because my life is a well-watered garden, producing excellent fruits in and out of season. I win always, because greater is He that’s in me, than he that’s in the world. Hallelujah!

FURTHER STUDY:

1 Chronicles 16:8-10 Psalms 30:4
1 Thessalonians 5:18 AMP
1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:
Matthew 7:7-29 Genesis 23-24
2 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:
Matthew 5:1-10 Genesis 9
Everyday Devotionals at 06:25

Thursday, 5 January 2017
RIGHTEOUSNESS IS NOT RIGHT DOING BUT RIGHT BEING

Romans 4:5But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness,

What do you think righteousness is about? Something you do or something you are? Right doing or right being?

The Bible tells us that after Jesus’ sacrifice at the cross, God imputes righteousness not to those who strive to obey the law (Galatians 2:16), but to anyone who believes in His Son. Because Christ took our sins and gave us His righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21), the moment we believe in Him, God treats us as righteous apart from our works or obedience. (Romans 4:5–8) This is new covenant righteousness—a righteousness that comes by faith and not works.

You are not righteous because of how morally upright you are. You are not righteous because you exercise self-control. You are not righteous because you read 10 chapters of the Bible daily. You are not righteous because you feel righteous. But you are the very righteousness of God in Christ solely because the sacrifice of Jesus made you so. When you believe this, your faith is accounted for righteousness.

And this is what God wants you to use your faith for. If you are righteous by your deeds, you don’t need faith. You also don’t need faith to know that you are sinful. But you need faith to believe and declare that you are the righteousness of God in Christ, in the midst of your struggles with temptation and sin.

For example, when you feel lousy because you have just shouted at your wife, God wants you to exercise your faith to see yourself as still righteous in the midst of that failure. This living revelation that you are still righteous will give you the strength to love your wife and reconcile things with her.

The devil may remind you of your foul temper and question your integrity: “How dare you call yourself righteous when you just did that!” Just ignore his lies and boldly declare, “I am not righteous because of what I have done or not done. I am righteous only because of the blood and finished work of Jesus at the cross!”
Thought For The Day

You are the very righteousness of God in Christ solely because the sacrifice of Jesus made you so.

In all of the world's religions, you can take away
the founder and still have the religion. No religion
places faith in its founder. But christian we place
faith in Jesus and He is the God we worship.
You can take Buddha out of Buddhism and still
have the Four Noble Truths and the Eight-fold
path. You can take Mohammed out of Islam, and
still have the Five Pillars of Action and the Six
Articles of Belief. And tragically, you can take
Jesus out of "Christian religion" and still have the
doctrines and programs of Organized
"churchianity". Sadly Christianity has morphed
into the misnomer of "Christian religion", that
doesn't have Christ Jesus has its essence for
functioning but just man and money. JESUS
Christ is not the historical founder of a religion
called Christianity but rather HE IS THE VITAL
SPIRITUAL ESSENCE OF CHRISTIANITY. To take
Christ out of true Christianity is to have nothing.
"Christianity is Christ-in-you-ity (Col. 1:27).
Jesus did not found a religion to remember and
reiterate His teachings. Christianity is the very
personal, spiritual presence of the risen and living
Jesus living in and through those who are born
again. Jesus didn't come to change us from one
religion to another, but to give us life. He is my
All in All. Jesus didn't die for Christians, He died
for the whole world. It's those who place faith in
Him because of what He did in His death, burial
and resurrection that become Christians.
Ponder slowly

Silence the Critics
For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men.
– 1 Peter 2:15

I know from personal experience that when people start to criticize you and persecute you because you live by faith, your natural human response is to want to strike back. You want to start dishing out a little criticism of your own. Maybe if they get a taste of their own medicine, they’ll shut their mouths, you think.

But you know what? They won’t. Your words will just add fuel to their fire and they’ll criticize you harder and louder than they did before.

According to the Word of God, however, there is a way to silence them. Not by arguing with them. Not by defending yourself. But by keeping quiet and continuing to do the good works God has called you to do.

Jesus was highly criticized by the religious establishment of His day. But He never fought back. Instead, Acts 10:38 says He simply went about doing good.

When people start riding you about living the faith life, be like Jesus and just keep on blessing people. Keep on praying for folks who are oppressed by the devil and get them delivered. Keep on laying hands on the sick and getting them healed. Keep on doing what God has called you to do.

That will aggravate the devil because his primary purpose is to make you ineffective for the kingdom of God. He wants you to get wrapped up in the criticism. He wants to distract you, to get your mind off the job God has given you. He really wants you to quit.

Don’t do it! Instead, follow the instructions in 2 Timothy 3:14 and “continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of.” Silence the ignorant criticisms of men by continuing to do good and by continuing to live by faith. And when all their foolish words have faded away, you’ll still be standing strong.

Free From the Curse
Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree.
– Galatians 3:13

You know the story. Satan came to Adam’s wife in the form of a serpent and deceived her into disobeying God. Adam, although he was not deceived, followed suit.

When Satan came into the Garden that day, he didn’t have any power at all. He had to come in like a sneak, not even talking to Adam directly but talking to his wife.

Now Adam was standing there, and he should have kicked him out right then. But he didn’t. He set aside the command God had given him and did what Satan told him to do instead. And when he did that, he made Satan his lord.

In bowing his knee to Satan, Adam gave Satan the authority that God had given him. He made Satan the illegitimate ruler of the earth. Immediately things changed. Through one man’s trespass, death passed to all men (Romans 5:12).

The earth and everything in it was suddenly cursed.

“OK,” you say, “are we to live under this curse for the rest of our lives? Wasn’t there anything God could do?”

He could and He did! He sent Jesus. Through Jesus, He set us free from the curse (Galatians 3:13).

The moment you made Jesus Christ Lord of your life, you were delivered from the lordship of Satan. You were redeemed from the curse. I didn’t say the curse wasn’t out there anymore. It is! You can see it all around you. But now you have a choice. You have authority over it in the Name of Jesus, so you can stand against it.

God’s done everything that love can do. He sent Jesus to redeem you from the curse. The rest is up to you. Now you must appropriate what has already been done for you.

Our Oneness With Him .

Tuesday, May 17th .
Pastor Chris

But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit (1 Corinthians 6:17).

In Christianity, what God has done is to make us one with Him. It's the biggest thing about our salvation in Christ Jesus—our oneness with the Lord. We're not mere followers or disciples of Jesus Christ, we're in fellowship with Him; it's a vital union.

When you were born again, not only was your spirit recreated, you were also immersed into Christ; you're literally joined together with Him in an inseparable union. We're members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones (Ephesians 5:30). We're associates of the God-kind; partakers personality are revealed to our spirits. Therefore, we can know Him, and relate to Him with and from our spirits.

God may be a mystery to the spiritually unlearned, but not to you. His ways are now your ways, and His thoughts have become your thoughts. Through His Word, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, His will is unveiled to your spirit. Some people are never sure of God's will; they imagine Him as a complex, distant, mysterious being; therefore, they're unable to walk with Him.

God's purpose is what He already accomplished in Christ: He brought you into oneness with Himself, so you can be synchronized with Him in thoughts and actions; so He can live out His perfect will and purposes in and through you. That's what living by the fullness of His wisdom (Greek: Phronesis) is about. Always, you do what you ought to do, say what you ought to say, at the right time, in the right way, in the right place, for the right purpose. Hallelujah!

PRAYER

Dear Father, my joy knows no bounds, to know that I've been brought into an inseparable union with you, to enjoy the bliss of rich and intimate fellowship with the Spirit! My life is the expression of your perfect will, as you manifest yourself to and through me today, in Jesus' Name. Amen.

Further Study: || Ephesians 5:30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. ||

|| John 17:21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. ||

Daily Scripture Reading

1-Year Bible Reading Plan: John 8:12-30,
1 Kings 20-21

2-Year Bible Reading Plan: 1 Corinthians 10:1-13,
Proverbs 13

EXTRACT FROM: Rhapsody of Realities Daily Devotional

Step Out of the Boat
And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water....
– Matthew 14:28-29

It’s easy to be so afraid of making a mistake that you never get around to stepping out on faith. You can spend all your time wondering, Is this faith? Or is it presumption? What if I exercise my faith for something and find out later I’ve missed God’s will?

Don’t worry. God can handle any mistake you can make. I know because I’ve made plenty of them. When I did, I’d just go to the Lord and He’d tell me, Stay on the Word, son. Together we’ll overcome this thing. And we always did.

If you act on the Word out of the sincerity of your heart and you steadfastly stay with the Word, Jesus will never let you down...no matter how many dumb mistakes you make. He proved that the night Peter jumped out of the boat in the middle of the lake.

Have you ever stopped to think about that incident? Peter hadn’t been praying or seeking God’s will before he did that. On impulse he just blurted out, “Lord, if it’s You, bid me come.”

What was Jesus supposed to say? He couldn’t very well say, “It’s not Me.” I suppose He could have said, “Wait a minute now. You don’t have the faith to get out here. You’d better stay in that boat or you’re going to drown for sure.”

But He didn’t say that to Peter—and He won’t say it to you. If you want to get out and walk by faith, He’ll get out there with you and pick you up when you start sinking. He’ll walk you back to the boat if He has to.

It’s better to risk being presumptuous than to waste your life in the boat of unbelief! If you have to, just dive into the water and say, “God, help me!”

Don’t let fear keep you from taking that step of faith. Come on, get out of the boat today!

We re saved by the hearing of faith and we live by the hearing of faith

U must identify urself in d death burial n resurrection n sitting in Christ.

The victory is in seeing urself actively in d work.

Christ died for us dat He might live in us and thru us.

It is seeing our identification in Him dat brings us victory.
The old man has been crucified and we walk in newness of life.

Dying with Christ, we died as Him, resurrected n sit as Him

How do we live?
Anything taught to live holy is d law

We workout our salvation with fear (reverence for our husband) and trembling (distrust in our ability to do) because it's God dat works into us to will and to do

Anything u do by ur ability n ur will produces defeat, bt God works in His will

Why do we live Holy? It's in our DNA.

Just as plainly as u ve seen Christ crucified n raised, see plainly u crucified and resurrected.

We do not trust our hold on Him, bt we trust His hold on us.

Grace is forgiveness, mercy, power, strength and equipping!

Christ death was for our offences, our death makes us dead to offences...His resurrection was for our justification, our resurrection makes us walk righteously

Our new nature has been programmed for good works..

HOLINESS IS ACCIDENTAL, EVEN OUR DEFAULT IS HOLY

Andre Wommack said..If u understand the Gospel, you would live Holy accidentally, more dan intentionally

Righteousness does nt avoid sin, it overcomes sin

First face of grace...Christ dies, was buried and resurrected for us...
2nd face...all that happened to Christ happened to us and herein lies total victory

>the second face
GRACE FOR EVERYDAY
Col 2:6
As ye ve received Christ, so ye walk in Him

We received Him by grace through faith and we live by grace through faith

Frustrating the grace of God is believing u can be righteous by the law, it make grace lose it's efficacy in ur life

Trust the life u have received. This life knows how to produce the result.

Grace is Christ as a heart surgeon ripping out our hearts with our sinful passions n giving us His heart n desires

He never told us how to abide, He said abide..just stay.
We do not follow principles on how to live dis life we ve received

The two faces of grace
Christ died for us
We dies with Christ

We ve known what His death, burial and resurrection means, bt we must come to know wat our death, burial and resurrection means..

Christianity is not just dat Jesus died for us, bt we died and then we live

Grace has enough power to do away with weaknesses..

Grace is forgiveness, mercy (first face)
Grace is also power, strength, equipping

Grace kills us that we may live

When we preach wat Christ has done, we should also know wat happened to us

You do not die now, bt u died in Christ n neither do we stop at being dead, bt dat we died and re resurrected

Knowing dis, u walk righteously

The Two Faces of Grace:

What we ve in d new covenant is d best deal we could ever have, because we re enveloped btw God n God.
The covenant is all about Him and we are beneficiaries

Grace goes hard on d ego of man n removes boasting, so all we can boast in is the greatness of our God

God has shown dat none can be righteous before Him by behaviour except He rights us..
And He did dis by making us righteous.

There re various beliefs on the christian life:
•Some believe We re saved by grace and den we live by the law
•others believe, we re saved by grace n God helps us to keep d law
•others believe it is grace frm strt to finish,
•others believe it is d law from strt to finish

So which do we believe?
(Matth 5:17)
Christ came to remove d law.
For the Jews who had d law, He fulfilled it, n for the Gentiles, He removed d law, so dat dere wld be one new man..
We re dead to the law, we re free frm d law and we are nt under the law

A Christian is not someone who lives by principles, bt by the PRINCIPAL, who is CHRIST

Seeing dat whosoever is under d law is under a curse, God does nt help us live d law, He does nt help us live under a curse.

The law God wrote on our hearts is not the 10 commandments nor d other 913...bt the LAW OF THE SPIRIT OF LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS