Voice of Hope

 An Emoji Devotions for Mon,  31st May,

2021

Topic: Voice of Hope

Highlight: 

Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, "We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it." Numbers 13:30

"We can do it", "You can do it" and "I can do it", are certainly samples of the voices of hope. Then after you have done it you say "I have done it". What a wonderful impression to call someone who was wondering if you can do something and say "I have done it". The Bible says "I can do all things through Christ that Strengthens me" Philippian 4:13. This is voice of hope established in the strength of our Lord Jesus when you are able to do the impossible though faith by giving hope. 

Many years ago I have heard about Ezekiel 22:30 which reads thus in NLT "I looked for someone who might rebuild the wall of righteousness that guards the land. I searched for someone to stand in the gap in the wall so I wouldn’t have to destroy the land, but I found no one." 

God was searching for someone to stand in the gap for a city so that he will not destroy it, but he found none. Hold on, Everyone in that city chose to speak for themselves. Though there were righteous people in it but none of them chose the ambition to look out for one another in the area of intercessory prayers to God. What a pity! God went looking for someone to stand in the gap to save that city but found none.  Had not Abraham plead with God for the righteous people city of Sodom, maybe Lot life would have been destroyed. (Genesis 18:16-33) You see, God saved Lot and his family from destruction because of Abraham's intercession for the righteous in that city. Genesis 19:22. This is a lesson for all cold blood Saints living in the I-don't-care-attitude.

In Psalm 103: 23 Moses begged God to turn from his anger and not destroy His chosen Nation Isreal when they turned away from His ways. Though It was thousands upon thousands years ago but up till Today we can see that the hope is still alive in the lives of all Israelites as a Nation because of that prayer. Remember that, Jesus Christ also prayed for Peter in Luke 22:32 "But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.” Afterwards God used Peter mightily to bring gospel to the whole world.

The reason you should have the voice of hope in you is not because of today alone but for the sake of tomorrow and future. You may not know the degree of salvation you are bringing into many lives by pleading for them in prayer and by doing so, you would have saved yourself. Remember that Elijah prayed for Fire and Rain for the salvation of Isreal. You too should be concerned from now on because God is looking for people with "Voice of Hope" so he will not destroy that city. If he finds one in you then you would have joined the heroes of the next generation as you stand in the gap through your intercessory prayers for your city and the people around you. Be the Voice that God is looking for. Voice of Hope. Amen

Prayer: Father I pray according to your will to give me the voice of hope that counts in Jesus name. I plead for salvation for my city and all men in Jesus name. Amen.

Consistency of Hope

 

An Emoji devotions for Sun 30th May, 2021

Topic: Consistency of Hope

Highlight: 

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1 Cor 13:13

Hope is a Miracle. It is the basis of livelihood for all things.  We must learn the way of hope because in everything we do, we hope in one thing. Hope gives light and light gives life. When there is light, people move and when they move, there is chance to grow. People die when their hope is lost. I pray that your hope will not be hidden behind the shades of darkness in Jesus name. Our Lord Jesus Christ is hoping that his followers would one day bear fruit by showing kindness to others in his name. He said in John 15:9 NLT that "When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father." If you want to give God great joy, you must be hopeful in Jesus always. How? In John 15:10 Jesus Christ is hopeful in God by obeying His commandments to lay down his life for the salvation of man. He wants us to be hopeful in Him likewise by Obeying his commands. In everything that God created, Hope is one of the most consistent thing. Sun has never fail, river never ceases to flow, the wind never stops and each night turns into day . They always obey the commands of God.  It is a thing of panic when human deviates from hoping in their maker and turn their hope to something else.  "For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime! Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning." Psalms 30:5

If you are passing through uncertainty but are consistent in hope, it is guaranteed that better days will definitely come. It is hope that makes a child of God to plead for mercy Not their sin. God understands what you are going through right now but what is the gain if you keep silent about it. In Psalm 116:1 David said "I love the LORD because he hears my voice and my prayer for mercy." When you are always praying and seeking God's approval, You are hopeful. The river gives water to the earth and the earth yield plants that bear fruits and The fruits serves as food to all. Hope is a process. Whoever is consistent in Hope will always have understanding to be patient that God is working on their matter. Habakkuk 2:3b "... If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed."

If you have the opportunity of reading this devotion, keep it and share it to let people know that God will do something about their situation, that they should not give up. Tell them that this is the time to hope more and more in our Lord Jesus Christ. Come Lord Jesus. Amen.

Prayer: Eternal Rock of Ages. I am hoping in your light. Please do not let darkness disturb my hope in you. I pray for mercy and help. I love you because you will hear me. In Jesus name. Amen. 

Hope in heaven

An Emoji  devotions for 29th May 2021

Topic: Hope in Heaven

Highlight:

“Pray then in this way: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.
Matthew 6:9 NRSV

You can never lost contact with your God. The only problem may be the lack of will power to contact him. There is a towering rock of safety for hearts that grow faint in heaven. We   believe in people's testimonies because it can be seen but God's testimony is greater if we can focus our hope in heaven. Heaven is not far but our mind may be far Luke 17:21b says ''...behold the Kingdom of God is within you." When given assurance, who is more dependable? God or man?

Whoever believes in the Son of God accepts this testimony. Whoever does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because they have not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.  WHOEVER HAS THE SON HAS LIFE; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. 1John 5:10-12

Life? Yes the life that's the testimony, is to be hopeful in God through Jesus Christ because WHOEVER HAVE JESUS HAVE HOPE. Do not look elsewhere, its Through Christ in you that there is a guaranteed Hope of Glory. The truth that can set whoever believes free from hopeless situations.

The Bible had admonished us to believe and hope in Christ alone. God wants us to hope in heaven and that is the way forward.

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6 NRSV

It's time to give your life to Christ. It's time to receive the Spirit of Heaven. Confess Jesus as your Lord and let His words in the Bible guide you to salvation from now on. God bless you as you do so. Amen

Prayer: Lord of Heaven I hope in you. I believe that Jesus Christ is the way forward. Let the hope of heaven fall on me. I pray In Jesus name.  Amen

Hope In The Lord of Host

 

An Emoji Devotions for Mon 24th May, 2021

Topic: Hope in the Lord of Host

Highlight: David answered: You've come out to fight me with a sword and a spear and a dagger. But I've come out to fight you in the name of the Lord All-Powerful. He is the God of Israel's army, and you have insulted him too!

 1 Samuel 17:45 CEVDCI

When people come physically to assault you, God can defend you. God can manifest and can fight for His children. God can make animals to talk like humans just to fight for his children as It was In Numbers 22:28 "Then the Lord opened the donkey’s mouth, and it said to Balaam, “What have I done to you to make you beat me these three times?”   You see that as God opened the mouth of a donkey to talk because God did not want Balaam to go and hurt His children. God can do anything to help his children. One day I and a Christian brother was going on a journey and suddenly, we both fell asleep. After a while, we woke up and the driver told us that there was robbery on the way. He thought we saw everything as he was scampering to escape for his dear life. Then I told him, we were both asleep and knew nothing, he said "you are not ordinary". God only made us to wake up after the whole incident was totally calm. All Glory be to God.  When you read the Bible, you will see how God used his angels to work wonders for his Children. You too can enjoy numerous benefit when you put your hope in the Lord of Host. In our highlighted verse, you can see little David charging against a giant Goliath because he had hope that He would come out of the battle as a winner. That is what hope means. Hoping in God of Host means you bank your life on the All-powerful God for great expectations. You know you are going to win even though the situation looks different, then you do not need to be afraid because you have hope in the Lord of Hosts of angels. You are always confident that victory is sure. 

With God your victory is sure. Keep on hoping no matter the distractions. With the Lord of Host on your side. You will conquer.

Prayer: Lord of Host I acknowledge you as the all powerful and I place my hope in you. My victory is sure through Jesus Christ. In Jesus name. Amen.

Heart

 

Topic: Heart

Sunday Sermon at Rccg COC 

Highlight: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' Mark 12:30

The heart is the center of physical and spiritual being.  The heart is the link to connect to God that's why Jesus said you shall love the Lord thy God with all your heart.

Proverbs 4:23; Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.

 Looking gentle is not the way to heaven it is your heart. Your heart must not be far to God.  Matthew 15:8 - These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.

 

My son, give me your heart and let your eyes delight in my ways, Proverbs 23:26, 

Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

 Hebrews 10:22 KJV

The faith that works is linked to a believing heart. Believing heart is linked with faith. (Not thinking that spiritual things are planned out or how it will be planned) A believing heart is linked with faith that works. A believing heart is a productive heart.

Pray to be productive. 

Different Kinds of Heart

1. A Stony Heart. Very mean heart that cannot sit faith. Anyone with such heart must change. cf Exodus 20:26

2. Hard Heart cf Hebrews 3:6. Is a Heart that test God's power to prove its working before it contemplating to believe

3 Evil heart cf Jeremiah 7:24, & Heb 3:12,  A heart that never believe but walk in his own imagination.

The Kinds of Heart God bless

1 Circumcised Heart: Heart that is ready to receive Faith. cf Deuteronomy 10:16 

2 Pure Heart : Matthew 5:4, Psalm 24:4

3. Believing Heart : Heart that believe what is written in the Word of God.

How do you engage your heart

1 Study the Word (Bible) always. 

2 Be prayerful

3. Be mindful of what you say. People will always do something wrong but don't let them push you to make powerful pronouncement that could hunt you.

4. Do not forsake the assembly of the brethren. 

Prayer: Lord I pray for a heart that is connected to you in Jesus name.

Hope of Glory

 An Emoji Devotions for Fri 21 May 21

Topic: Hope of glory

Highlight: 

To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Colossians 1:27

You have this faith and love because of your hope, and what you hope for is saved for you in heaven.  The Son of God paid for our sins, and in him we have forgiveness. 

 

God decided to let his people know this rich and glorious truth which he has for all people. This truth is Christ himself, who is in you. Whoever believes in Jesus has eternal life. Anyone who have Christ will never give up to defeat. Even though they are facing hard times, they will always have hope that help will come soon to them.  

If you have ever lost a battle or you are still fighting a battle, you can rejoice because there is hope for you in Jesus Christ. If you have not received Christ into your life, you must open your heart and invite him through confession to receive the hope of glory. 

For the sick, Jesus Christ is a healer and he is still doing wonders today, for the dead - He is the ressurrection and life. For the desolate - He is the Hope for better life. It is a huge opportunity to call on Christ whenever you need him. Christ sees everyone who come to him for help as gift from His heavenly Father. In John 6:37 He said "All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out."

Do you know It is the will of God that Christ render to you the help you always need till the end of time?  Once you have that revelation, you will always call on Jesus immediately you need help. Glory to God. Hallelujah. John 6:39

Prayer: Father, I pray that you help me focus on Jesus Christ my only hope in heaven. In Jesus name. Amen

I Hope in Your Word

 

An Emoji Devotions for Thu 20th May, 2021

Topic: I hope in Your Word

Highlight: Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word.

Psalm 119:114 KJV

As believer, we need grace to stand on His word. God said in Isaiah 43:13 NLT that "From eternity to eternity I am God. No one can snatch anyone out of my hand. No one can undo what I have done.” It is advisable that we continue to hope on God's word even when things seems different. Gods word do not fail.  His words are powerful and they never disappoints. When we hope on God's word in the middle of hard times. We will be consistent in knowing and doing what is right till answer comes our way. A man called Daniel Prayed and God answered his prayers but a Prince of Persia delayed his prayer for 21 days but with the help of Archangel Micheal he was able to receive the angel with answers to his prayers. The essence of this story is that Daniel was able to persist in the place of prayer for 3 weeks because he hope in God's word. Daniel 9:2. 

It is good to hope in God's word because God is merciful when keeping His covenant. Psalms 107:20 tells us that God's word heals and saves from destruction. For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; Habakkuk 2:3a. We must continue praying for grace to hope on God's word because the entrance of His word gives life. 

Prayer: God grant me the grace to hope on your word. Do not allow enemy to sway me away from hoping on your word. Amen

Hope to live

 An Emoji Devotional Tue, 18th May 2021

Topic: Hope to live

Highlight: 

And everywhere the river goes, there will be many animals and fish. Wherever this water goes the Dead Sea will become fresh. So where the river goes there will be many living things. Ezekiel 47:6 

There is hope for you so long the river has not run dry. River gives hope to every living things. As river flows even the dead sea becomes fresh. Every living things can live because of hope. Hope is like a river; a feeling of expectation and desire for a particular thing to happen. It flows to give life to whoever wants to live. If you want to love someone and they are not loving you back, but you have hope in love. Hope will bring a better person to love you more tomorrow. In whatever you want to do in life, have hope in it. Jesus Christ is the Hope of glory. Without hope for tomorrow there is no way anyone can survive.  

It is essential to bring the hope of Jesus into your life so you can partake in His eternal glory. This is possible once you have hope in Him. It is the only hope that never disappoints. Are you having difficulty in your life. Have hope in Jesus today.  Jesus told Martha in John 11:25, "I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die;" There are many words of hope found in the Bible that can build our hope in Christ. If you have a doubting mind about the future, it is time to call Jesus the hope of hopes into your life today.

Prayer: I am calling on Jesus the Hope of Hopes to come into my life,my family and my situations from now on and forever. Thank you Lord.  In Jesus name. Amen.

Your Eyes

 

An Emoji Devotions for Fri 14th May, 2021

Topic: Your Eyes

Highlight: “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. Matthew 6:22 NIV

There is a door to your soul. Are you conscious of that aspect of your personality that sees a situation? Your Eye. 

What are your thoughts? Are you afraid or confident? Angry or sympathetic? Constructive or destructive? Is your eye closed or open to the truth.

If your eyes are healthy your whole body will be full of light. Be honest with yourself. What do you see?

He looked up and said, "I see people; they look like trees walking around." Mark 8:24

Once again, How do you see things?

Every member of thy body shall be enlightened by the light of thine eye, and directed to perform its proper office. But if thine eye be evil it will misguide thy love, thy choice, and all the tenor of thy life: if thy judgment then be blind, which must guide thee, what a miserable erroneous wretch wilt thou be!

There are treasures in heaven. It is our wisdom to give all diligence to make our title to eternal life sure through Jesus Christ, and to look on all things here below, as not worthy to be compared with it, and to be content with nothing short of it. 

Prayer: Please Lord I want to see with healthy eyes. In Jesus name. Amen.

Do Not Hide Your Face From Me

An Emoji Devotions for Thu 13th May, 2021

Topic: Do not hide your face from me!

By H.U.Wenger

Highlights: The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid? (Psalm 27:1)

Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. (Psalm 27:14)

Psalm 27 spreads joy and confidence in the victory of the Lord in the first six verses. The Psalmist is very certain about God’s help. When the wicked will devour him, they will stumble and fall, when war will rise against him, his heart gets not afraid, because he relies on the Lord. He wants to dwell in the house of the Lord to gaze on the beauty and goodness of the Lord and seek him in his temple. He firmly believes that in times of troubles the Lord will hide him in his dwelling place and eventually exalt him above his enemies. He sees himself bringing sacrifices to the Lord with shouts of joy, with hymns and music. Is the psalmist here just in an enthusiastic mood or does he depicts reality? Jesus makes clear that the words of Psalm 27 speak out a spiritual reality, for now in the faith and spirit and once in plain visible reality. (John 14:1 – 3; 17, 24 et alii) 

David has intimate moments with the Lord and gets  glimpses of what will be in the future for ever and ever, and in the same way it applies for us. Good keeps his promises, there is no doubt. David and we with him, do, however, not live yet in that glorious time.  Verse 7 has therefore a slightly different tune. It is the urgent plea to God to hear his voice, to listen to him and to answer him. He is thirsting to meet the Lord, and to look into his face. Do not hide your face from me – you are my only help – do not reject or forsake me. In all of his thoughts he clings to the fact that the Lord is his savior. Although he is afraid of his oppressors, he holds the conviction that he will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. To his own soul and to us he exclaims: “Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”

When I do not see the face of the Lord, when I have a feeling he hides his face from me, I need to keep on searching and like David, I will finally have glimpses of the future kingdom actuality. I need to search the Bible  with patience to see what His word is saying concerning my situation.  Patience in God's promises can be defined as awaiting God’s time without doubting God’s goodness and love. 

Prayer:  Lord God, thank you that you are my light and my salvation. Thank you that you are the stronghold of my life. Let me never fear humans or be afraid of circumstances or powers. Let me wait for you with patience and let me always seek your face – I need you. Amen

Blessed are those who hear the word of God and obey it.

 

An Emoji Devotions for Tue 11th May, 2021

Topic: Blessed are those who hear the word of God and obey it.

Highlight: “Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.” James 1:21-25

In the Gospel of Luke (Luke 11: 27 – 28) only, we read about a very short, but nevertheless utterly important event. Jesus is preaching to the crowd and a woman who must have been deeply touched by his teaching suddenly exclaims:  “Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you.” As a woman she may have felt the rightful pride and thankfulness of Mary, to call Jesus her son. In his answer Jesus confirms her excitement, but corrects it at the same time. The Greek word that Jesus uses here is mainly used in answers and can be translated with “yes, but much more …”   He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.” The exclamation of the woman aims to fleshly human specifics, whereas the response of Jesus gives emphasis to the attitude of the heart. 

It is no coincidence that Mary serves as well as an example with regard to that. When the angel tells her that she will get in trouble with society, by carrying a child from God without being married, she shows a very obedient reaction.  “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her. (Luke 1:38) Not what we are called to do, not what we have done or missed doing is important. We are blessed, we are to be praised when we are servants who willingly hear the word of God and do our best to obey, to live it out in our everydays life.

 “Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Colossians 3:16-17

Yes Mary is blessed and to be praised, but although she was the mother of Jesus, she has no special stand among the followers of Jesus. She is not to be praised due to her motherhood, but due to her attitude of heart. If you and I are hearing the word of God and do our best to shape our lives in obedience to the very word, we are to be blessed and to be praised in the same way. Only the obedience to the message of Jesus makes us to salt of the earth and to the light of the world. With regard to history, most of us are insignificant little people, but we all live in an environment in which we are important and significant to some people around us. By obeying the word of God, God lifts us out of our smallness and makes us to a destination boards and to a force that works against rottenness and decomposition. As a follower of Christ, you are a VIP, a very important person and an upholder for the society in which you live.

Prayer: Dear heavenly Father, let me look away from fleshly privileges and concentrate on the attitude of my heart. Do not let me forget that being obedient to you is the way to true greatness. Teach me your word and make me a professional in living it out in my everyday routine. Amen   

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge

An Emoji Devotions for 10th of May, 2021

Topic: The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge

By H.U. Wenger

Highlights: 

Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. (John 17, 3)

The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. (Colossians 1, 15 – 20)

The fear of the Lord has nothing to do with anxiety or being intimidated. Fear of the Lord means much more the acceptance or the acknowledgment that the Lord God is the origin of all existing life and the creator of heaven and earth. True wisdom and truth can only be found in him. Proverbs 1:7 therefore states: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.” By searching for him, by listening to his revelatory word, I can gain true insight in the functioning of the world and the human soul and accumulate some wisdom. If I am getting lost in the philosophies of the world, in theories about fake origins, like the evolutionary development of life from the spontaneous and random convergence of proteins into a single celled organism and from there upwards to complicated and intelligent life forms, I remain a fool.

 Everything I can produce from there is only an always new level of ignorance. Wisdom comes from the LORD and from the LORD alone. He does not only give wisdom and understanding as the bearer of GOD’s fullness, but he presents himself also as the redeemer for us as human beings. God is totally and unchangeably good for all of his creation. Our ancestors, Adam and Eve did not stick to this axiom and got alienated from God. Life in the fallen creation got heavy on them and together with Satan they became enemies of God, accusing him for the misery they got us all into. Christ paid our guilt and transgressions through his blood shed on the cross and offers now everybody who comes to him life eternal. All he wants from us is to learn from him and to change ourselves more and more into his character and image. He tells us that the same way he has been sent by the Father to show us how good, how gentle, how long suffering, how humble of heart and how forgiving the Father is, we are sent from him to show the world around us all this wonderful attributes he has revealed to us. For this we need discipline. Without disciplined following him, we remain fools and betray ourselves. By following in his footsteps we will be people of knowledge and wisdom. 

Prayer: God, I do accept that you are totally and unchangeably good for my life, no matter what. To you belongs all glory. “Teach me your way, O LORD, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. I will praise you, O LORD my GOD, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever. For great is your love toward me; you have delivered me from the depths of the grave. Turn to me and have mercy on me.” (Psalm 86:11 – 13; 16a) Amen  

 

Thanksgiving for the Lord’s guidance

 

An Emoji Devotions for Sun 9th May 2021

Topic: Thanksgiving for the Lord’s guidance

By H.U. Wenger

Highlight: Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me! (Psalm 66:20)

The highlight is the very last verse in Psalm 66. It is an exclamation of a person who has experienced the Lord’s guidance in the midst of hard and inconvenient circumstances. “For you, God, tested us; you refined us like silver. You brought us into prison and laid burdens on our backs. You let people ride over our heads; we went through fire and water, but you brought us to a place of abundance. I will come to your temple with burnt offerings and fulfill my vows to you — vows my lips promised and my mouth spoke when I was in trouble.” (Verses 10 – 14) In such testing times we are often afflicted by the devil with thoughts like, God has forgotten me, my guilt is way too big that he would save me from the dire circumstances. He does not love me, his punishment is upon me, and so on. We might even get angry at him, as did the Israelites facing the read see in front of them and the Egyptians behind them. Why could we not die in Egypt? Why that tedious journey, just to be slaughtered in the desert? But Moses was among them, and Moses was a man who believed God according to his word through the Holy Ghost, who was in him. 

Believers in the New covenant have all received the Holy Ghost and can count on the word of Jesus in John 7:38: “Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” He obeyed God and he made the impossible happen. The biggest danger turned into the biggest victory, orchestrated by God alone. 

It is therefore not astonishing that Psalmist exclaims: “Shout for joy to God, all the earth! Sing the glory of his name; make his praise glorious. Say to God, How awesome are your deeds! So great is your power that your enemies cringe before you. All the earth bows down to you; they sing praise to you, they sing the praises of your name. Come and see what God has done, his awesome deeds for mankind! He turned the sea into dry land, they passed through the waters on foot — come, let us rejoice in him. He rules forever by his power, his eyes watch the nations — let not the rebellious rise up against him. 

Praise our God, all peoples, let the sound of his praise be heard; he has preserved our lives and kept our feet from slipping. (Verses 1 – 9) You may say: “How can I praise him as I am in the midst of troubles, crying out for his help and he does not seem to care?” You can do it by faith! “Those who sacrifice thank offerings honor me, and to the blameless I will show my salvation.” (Psalm 50:23) Jesus makes in Mark 11 clear that he, who has faith in God will eventually see, what he has believed: “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” 

Psalm 66 gives us just one warning. God does not hear us, when we live in sin: “If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened; but God has surely listened and has heard my prayer. Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me!” (Verses 18 – 20)

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I want to praise you with Psalm 66. I am confessing to you all my conscious sin and I ask you to search my heart for everything that is not dedicated to you. Thank you for your abundant love to me and for the gracious acceptance of my prayer. I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief! (Mark 9:24)

Sing unto the Lord

An Emoji Devotions for Sat 8th May, 2021

Topic: Sing unto the Lord

Highlights: I will sing to the LORD as long as I live. I will praise. Psalm 104:33

Singing is known to fill us with intense feelings of pleasure. When you sing unto God with intention to please him is a great thing to do. You don't need to be an artist or musically inclined to sing unto the Lord. All you need is to just sing words pleasing unto him. 

God loves doing a new thing and renewing our body, soul, and spirit. When we sing Him a new song we are worshiping and praising Him but at the same time we are renewing our minds and souls by remembering the great things He has done.

The Bible never says, let those who have beautiful voices sing, as if natural talent were required to praise God. The Bible just says “Sing!” Over and over, dozens of times, we are commanded to sing: sing to the Lord, sing praises, sing joyfully, sing a new song. Come into God's presence with singing.

The takeaway. Research has shown that singing can be good for you on many levels. It may help lower stress, boost immunity and lung function, enhance memory, improve mental health, and help you cope with physical and emotional pain. Singing unto God is definitely great thing to do.

God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. John 4:24

Hint: Sing a song unto the Lord today.

Prayer: Dear Lord please fill me with the Spirit of Praise to you. Thank you Lord for what you have done for me. Help me to sing new songs to you. Amen.

How do I center my focus on God

 An Emoji Devotions for Thu 6th May 2021

Topic: How do I center my focus on God? Highlight: Seven times a day I praise you for your righteous laws. Psalm 119:164 Happy new month to you from where you are! I wish all readers of Emoji Devotions glorious manifestations in spiritual awakenings this month. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. When Jesus said "seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness". He is pointing to honourable worship and reverence to God. It is Most honourable way to live;- Let me show you something; when you have plans, who do you tell first? The most honourable way is to tell God first about it. By telling God first about your plans in secret shows you have refevence for Him. Note that I do not talk about the things you need*. I say it's most honourable to tell your plans to God first! "Seek ye first the kingdom..." means seek God's approval first before you *do* it. Have you ever prayed like this? "Dear heavenly father, these are my plans for today." As a child of God, our maker is our father and he deserves to truly know what is going on in our lives. Some will say, "is He not God who knows all things?" But If God says " is she not my daughter who has sharp eyes to see, she does not need my help" . Which is more justified? Remember, When God left Job for Satan to handle?, see what happened to him within an hour: Job 1:14b-18 "....They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!” While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The fire of God fell from the heavens and burned up the sheep and the servants, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!” While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three raiding parties and swept down on your camels and made off with them. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!” While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, “Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you (Job)!” If what you are planning is really important then you need to tell God first so you can be justified when you are enjoying the reward. If you do not learn from Job, you can learn from Jesus. Matthew 6:33 That is how to center focus on God. Ecclesiastes 5:2 Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few. Prayer Exercise: Give thanks to God for his support and protection. Tell Him about your plans for today, repeat same exercise each day. Write down the transformation you observe at the end of each week?

Travail

 

An Emoji Devotions for Wed 5th May 2021

Emoji Devotional for Friday 20th November

Topic: Travail

Highlights: About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" (which means "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?". Matthew 27:46

Women engage in painful and laborious effort during childbirth that is why we need to remember all travailing women in our prayers. Psalms 48:6 "Fear took hold upon them there, [and] pain, as of a woman in travail."

With travail there is pain and there are struggles, there is trial and there maybe tribulation. But travail is a positive thing that happens to people in pursuit of righteousness, freedom and Justice because after travail, good things happen and it's a child birth. "And it came to pass in the time of her travail, that, behold, twins [were] in her womb." Genesis 36:27

Are you currently facing a travailing situation in your spiritual life, business, health or even psychologically? In Exodus 18:8 "And Moses told his father in law all that the LORD had done unto Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel's sake, [and] all the travail that had come upon them by the way, and [how] the LORD delivered them."

If you are travailing right now, do not give up, your child (reward) is on its way.

"Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all." Psalms 34:19

Remember that "Creation may travail in pain but it cannot escape its destiny."

My advise for you is this; when you Travail in life, make sure you travail in righteousness and not for vain conceit. I will leave you with these two Bible verses to ponder on then we'll pray.

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:10

And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. 1 John 2:17

Let us Pray: Father Lord change my story to your glory. Strengthen me when I pass through difficult times and stay with me in good times. Please Lord, Do not forsake me in Jesus name. Amen.

What Transpired on The Cross

An Emoji Devotions for Mon 3rd May, 2021

Topic: What Transpired on the Cross 

Highlight:

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 1 Cor 1:18

Jesus knows how to do the right thing and why the whole of heaven trust him to go on His mission. The papyrus fragment includes a quote from Matthew 3:16-17, and was the earliest witness to the text of the New Testament when it was discovered. What was found in Matthew 3:16-17  was - "As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” This shows confidence in heaven on what Jesus could do. Like a football fans chanting "This is the best team in the world."

Jesus indeed delivered up to expectations as he did not disappoint heavens by accepting to die. Does not Scripture say that the Messiah will come from David’s descendants and from Bethlehem, the town where David lived?” John 7:42 so what transpired on the Cross? Jesus and Archangel Michael went to the realm of the dead in hell to take away Moses's body from the devil as a sign of salvation to humanity. Zechariah 3:1-3 confirmed it :  "Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right side to accuse him.  The Lord said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you, Satan! The Lord, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you! Is not this man a burning stick snatched from the fire?” Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel. This was later confirmed in Jude 1:9 and 23 "But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not himself dare to condemn him for slander but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” 23 save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.

Why was redemption for Moses body important. At the Mount of Transfiguration according to Luke 9:29-32 Moses and Elijah appeared to Jesus in glory. Likewise in Matthew 17:12  Jesus said "But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished. In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. Hebrews 9:22.

Jesus on the Cross, and the angels held their peace till his blood was spilled. The Armies of heaven were not allowed to fight. "About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" (which means "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?").  Matthew 27:46,. Jesus the Messiah was taken as sacrificial lamb to bring salvation to humanity and afterwards the angels began to rejoice.

And they sang a new song, saying:

“You are worthy to take the scroll
    and to open its seals,
because you were slain,
    and with your blood you purchased for God
    persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.
You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,
    and they will reign on the earth.” Revelations 5:9-10

It is very important for a Christian to remember that on the same Cross a thief was saved in the physical and a Moses body was redeemed in the Spiritual to show the power in the blood of Jesus as a reminder to the Devil that their sins have been forgiven and hell is not people's home. If you are not born again, You must go to Jesus for the Cleansing power in His blood. All is empowered by Grace of God.

Prayer: Thank You Lord Jesus for your Grace and for healing blood on the Cross. I plea your blood in confirmation that I am redeemed by grace and hell is not my home. Amen.

The place called Succoth

An Emoji Devotions for Sat, 1st May, 2021

Topic: The Place called Succoth

Highlight:

And Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built him an house, and made booths for his cattle: therefore the name of the place is called Succoth. Genesis 33:17 KJV

Succoth is the area of self realization and maturity. The first place Jacob built himself a house and made booths for his cattles. By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; Esau forgave Jacob's offense of stealing his birthright and invited him to make his home nearby (Genesis 33:12). Jacob chose instead to go in another direction: “But Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built himself a house...Gen 33:17a

There will be a time in your life when you will take a step of maturity. At that time you would have visualized your life, and determined the direction of how and where you want your life to be and then you would have journeyed towards the "Succoth" of life. Do not worry, there may be some unpleasant aspect of life trapped by dark forces following. This is how people were made in the system of life. The dark forces of fear of "if success will continue or fail". The demon is in every family. But as you journeyed to your place called "Succoth" be determined to build yourself confidence on God's word. Do you remember what Jesus said about the wise and foolish builders?

Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.  And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.  And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” Matthew 7:24-27

You need to read and phantom Jesus's words daily from the Bible to build on a good foundation for your Succoth of life. Even in the face of tribulation there is hope for you because Christ in you is the Hope of glory.  Do not worry about things that does not matter anymore, Let Jesus Christ continue to be the Lord over your life. 

Succoth of life is only given by God's grace because it is apportioned only by God and the wise will build on it. Psalm 60:6 says God has spoken from His sanctuary: “I will triumph! I will parcel out Shechem and apportion the Valley of Succoth.

His (Jesus) mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you." John 2:5

Prayer: God please take me to the place where you have apportioned for me to build like the Valley of Succoth and give me the grace and wisdom to build mansion on solid Rock. In Jesus mighty name. Amen