Tag: In His Presence

Read: 1 Corinthians 6:12-20

Meditation verse:

“Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in  you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?” (1 Corinthians 6:19).

God is not only interested in the salvation of your soul. He cares about your  physical wellbeing. 3 John 2 says “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all  things and be in health, just as your soul prospers”. In 1 Corinthians 6:19, your  body is referred to as the temple of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit dwells inside  of you. You carry God’s Spirit in you wherever you go. This should catch your  attention because what you do with your body matters to God. How do you treat  your body? How are you caring for God’s temple? What are you putting into it  or doing with it? The bible has a lot to say about how to treat your body.  

1 Corinthians 6:12-13 says, “All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of  any. Foods for the stomach and the stomach for foods, but God will destroy both  it and them. Now the body is not for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the  Lord for the body”. 1 Corinthians 6:18 says, “Flee sexual immorality. Every sin  that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins  against his own body”. Ephesians 5:18 says, “And do not be drunk with wine, in  which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit”. Galatians 5:19-24 says, “Now  the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness,  lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath,  selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries,  and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past,  that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the  fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness,  faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who  are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires”. 1 Timothy 4:8  says, “for bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things,  having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come”.  

Treating your body as the temple of God, keeping it healthy and in its fully  functional state through proper nourishment, exercise, and abstinence from  anything that will harm it, is well pleasing to God. 1 Corinthians 9:27 says, “but I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to  others, I myself should become disqualified”. So, discipline your body today.

IN HIS PRESENCE is written by Pst (Mrs) Oke Chinye, Founder of The Rock Teaching Ministry (TRTM).

For Prayers and Counseling email rockteachingministry@gmail.com

or call +2348155525555

For more enquiries, visit: www.rockteachingministry.org.

Read: Ezekiel 16:1-14

Meditation verse:

“And when I passed by you and saw you struggling in your own blood, I said to  you in your blood, ‘LIVE!’ yes, I said to you in your blood, ‘LIVE!’.

Today’s reading is an allegory of God’s love for Jerusalem. It begins with a  description of a baby found lying in an open field, covered with blood, bruised, unwashed, struggling to survive with the umbilical cord still intact. The passage  goes on to liken this image to the state in which Jerusalem was before God entered a covenant with her. Jerusalem was a mess and in their pitiable state,  the first thing God did was to speak forth the word; ‘LIVE’.  

Then He began His work of restoration in Jerusalem. “I made you thrive like a  plant in the field; and you grew, matured, and became very beautiful. Your  breasts were formed, your hair grew, but you were naked and bare. When I  passed by you again and looked upon you, indeed your time was the time of love;  so, I spread My wing over you and covered your nakedness. Yes, I swore an oath  to you and entered a covenant with you, and you became Mine,” says the Lord  God. Then I washed you in water; yes, I thoroughly washed off your blood, and I  anointed you with oil. I clothed you in embroidered cloth and gave you sandals  of badger skin; I clothed you with fine linen and covered you with silk. I adorned  you with ornaments, put bracelets on your wrists, and a chain on your neck. And  I put a jewel in your nose, earrings in your ears, and a beautiful crown on your  head. Thus, you were adorned with gold and silver, and your clothing was of fine  linen, silk, and embroidered cloth. You ate pastry of fine flour, honey, and oil. You  were exceedingly beautiful and succeeded to royalty”. (Ezekiel 16:7-13).  

If you are currently in a mess, God can do the same for you. Whether you are  going through a divorce or abuse in your marriage, whether you have just buried  a child or lost a spouse, whether you have just been fired from your job or your business is struggling, whatever feels overwhelming right now, God says,  “LIVE!”. Amid the trauma, trails, pain, tears, shame, lack, abuse, rape,  addictions, and guilt, He is saying to you, “LIVE! MY CHILD LIVE!”. Whoever you  are, whatever your circumstances are, LIVE! Do not give up, do not throw in the  towel, do not cast away your confidence. Keep trusting, keep believing, keep  going. As you do, God will begin a work of renewal in your life as He did with  Jerusalem several years ago. He is the unchanging God. He never fails.

IN HIS PRESENCE is written by Pst (Mrs) Oke Chinye, Founder of The Rock Teaching Ministry (TRTM).

For Prayers and Counseling email rockteachingministry@gmail.com

or call +2348155525555

For more enquiries, visit: www.rockteachingministry.org.

Read: JOB 38-40

Meditation verse:

“To whom then will you liken Me, or to whom shall I be equal?” says the Holy  One. (Isaiah 40:25).

God can do anything and everything. He oversees everything in Heaven, on earth  and underneath the earth. He laid the foundations of the earth and determined  its measurements. He created all things by the word of His mouth and  outstretched hands. His wisdom is unsearchable; He knows all things. His  understanding is infinite; He understands all things. His ownership and control  are limitless; He owns and controls all things.  

Everything answers to His command. The hawk flies by His wisdom. The eagle  mounts up at His command. He knows the time the mountain goat gives birth.  He shuts in the waters, so that they will not exceed their boundaries. He rules  the raging seas and stills their proud waves. He carves out rivers from rocks and  upturns mountains from their roots. God can furnish a table in the wilderness. 

He hunts for prey for the lions and gives food to the ravens. Indeed, all creatures  look to Him for their food. He is a father to the fatherless and husband to the  widow.  

He determines times and seasons. He commands the morning and causes the  dawn to know its place. He causes the barren woman to be a joyful mother of  children. He is the tide turning God who can lift a lowly person to a position of  prominence overnight. Promotion comes from Him. In His hands are riches and  honor. He can cause men to favor or disfavor you. He holds the hearts of kings  in His palm and turns them to whichever direction He pleases. His ability to  restore life is beyond our understanding. Trees are burnt down and can grow  back, broken bones heal, dead tissues are restored. That is the life-giving power  of God. 

What is that seemingly impossible situation before you? What God cannot do  does not exist. It’s a new month, commit that situation to the One who can do  all things. For with Him nothing shall be impossible.

IN HIS PRESENCE is written by Pst (Mrs) Oke Chinye, Founder of The Rock Teaching Ministry (TRTM).

For Prayers and Counseling email rockteachingministry@gmail.com

or call +2348155525555

For more enquiries, visit: www.rockteachingministry.org.

Read: MARK 4:35-41 

Meditation verse: 

“On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us cross over  to the other side.” (Mark 4:35).

Jesus had informed His disciples that they were crossing to the other side of the  sea. On their way, a storm arose and threatened to overturn the boat.  Meanwhile, Jesus was sleeping soundly on a cushion on the lower deck of the  boat, obviously undisturbed by what was going on. Jesus hadn’t given them any  details about their journey. He only informed them there were going over to the  other side and then went off to sleep. When the disciples woke Him up in their  fright, He said to them: “why are you afraid, do you still have no faith?”. He was  saying, irrespective of what was encountered on the journey, getting to the  other side was guaranteed. He had given them His word and it was settled. 

Psalm 119:89 states: “Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven”. If God  has spoken, it is as good as done. What has God promised you in life that looks  like it will never happen? Irrespective of the tossing or tempest going on around  you, do not doubt the faithfulness or ability of God to bring it to pass. Even  though God seems so far away, be rest assured that you will get to other side.  Here’s God’s promise to you this day: 

O you afflicted one, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I  will lay your stones with colorful gems, and lay your foundations with  sapphires. I will make your pinnacles of rubies, your gates of crystal, and  all your walls of precious stones. All your children shall be taught by the  Lord, and great shall be the peace of your children. In righteousness you  shall be established; you shall be far from oppression, for you shall not  fear; and from terror, for it shall not come near you. Indeed, they shall  surely assemble, but not because of Me. Whoever assembles against you  shall fall for your sake… No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and  every tongue which rises against you in judgment, you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is  from Me,” says the Lord. –Isaiah 54:11-17 

You are a child of God. Be rest assured, what He has promised is as good as done.

IN HIS PRESENCE is written by Pst (Mrs) Oke Chinye, Founder of The Rock Teaching Ministry (TRTM).

For Prayers and Counseling email rockteachingministry@gmail.com

or call +2348155525555

For more enquiries, visit: www.rockteachingministry.org.

Read: JOHN 16:31-33

Meditation verse:

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with  thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God,  which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through  Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).

There are three main dangers faced by a ship in a stormy weather. The first is  the inability to see ahead. Its vision is severally blurred. But with calmness,  comes clarity of vision and the ability to see several miles ahead. There is also  the danger of been tossed about and off course by the winds or of been  destroyed. Lastly, the noise of the storm is so loud that it drowns every other  distinct sound, including their own cries for help.  

The meditation verse’s prescription for dealing with anxiety is to present your  issues to God in prayers, thanking Him as you do. Note however that it did not  say you will get what you requested for when you do this, but that the peace of  God will guard your heart. When Jesus was preparing to leave His disciples, He  said “peace I leave with you, My peace I give you, not as the world giveth, give I  unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27).  On appearing to His disciples after His resurrection, again He said, “peace be  with you”. Peace is very important. 

With peace comes clarity, hope and the inspiration to dream again. The heart is  a bucket of ideas and vision, but it cannot dream when it is anxious. That’s why  your heart needs to be guarded with peace. With calmness, comes the ability to  hear God’s voice. Let God’s peace guard you out of the storms of life. If you  persist in the storm, your dreams, vision, relationships and even your health may  be destroyed. “For thus says the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel: “In returning  and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and confidence shall be your strength…”  (Isaiah 30:15). Irrespective of what is going on around you now, ‘peace be still’.

IN HIS PRESENCE is written by Pst (Mrs) Oke Chinye, Founder of The Rock Teaching Ministry (TRTM).

For Prayers and Counseling email rockteachingministry@gmail.com

or call +2348155525555

For more enquiries, visit: www.rockteachingministry.org.

Read: MATHEW 7: 7-11 

Meditation verse: 

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be  opened to you” (Matt 7:7). 

We continue looking at hindrances to receiving answers to our prayers.

1. LACK OF PERSISTANCE IN ASKING: Mathew 7:7 says, “ask, and it will  be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to  you”. To ask means to demand for what you desire. To seek means to  search for or go in search of that which you desire. It goes beyond just  asking. Knocking entails striking a surface noisily to attract attention,  until you get what you want. It can also entail demolishing barriers that  may prevent you from getting that which you desire. Most of us make  a few hard-hearted attempts at asking and give up, then we wonder  why our requests are not answered. In Luke 18, Jesus tells the parable  of the persistent widow, who continually cried out to the judge for  justice against her adversaries. Jesus concluded by asking “and shall  God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him,  though He bears long with them? 

2. LIVING IN SIN: Psalm 66:18 says, “if I regard iniquity in my heart, The  Lord will not hear”. Isaiah 59: 1-2 says “behold, the Lord’s hand is not  shortened, that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy, that it cannot hear.  But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins  have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear. Sin will not  only prevent you from receiving answers to your prayers, but it will  also waste your life. There is a way that seems right to a man, but its  end is the way of death” (Proverbs 14:12). 
3. LACK OF PREPARATION TO RECEIVE: Proverbs 23:18 says the  expectation of the righteous shall not be cut off. What you do not  expect, you cannot receive. When you expect something to happen,  you prepare to receive it. Your whole body must be aligned to your  expectation. Your words, mannerisms and actions should align to it.  You cannot speak words that are contrary to your expectation. 

You must also endeavour to walk in love if you desire answers to your prayers.  Without love, our works are in vain. Love is the energy behind your faith. Faith  is powered by God and God is love. So, faith is powered by love.

IN HIS PRESENCE is written by Pst (Mrs) Oke Chinye, Founder of The Rock Teaching Ministry (TRTM).

For Prayers and Counseling email rockteachingministry@gmail.com

or call +2348155525555

For more enquiries, visit: www.rockteachingministry.org.

Read: JAMES 4:1-6

Meditation verse:

“You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on  your pleasures” (James 4:3).

A hindrance is a thing that provides resistance, delay or obstruction to  something or someone. There are many things that hinder us from receiving the  answers we desire when we pray. 

1. WRONG MOTIVES OR PRAYING AMISS. 1 John 5:14 says “now this is the  confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His  will, He hears us”. James 4:3 says, “You ask and do not receive, because  you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures”. God will not  answer your prayers if your motives are outside His will. And how can you  tell if your motives are right? Let the word of God and your conscience be  your mirror. Psalm 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a  light to my path”. 1 John 3:20 says, “for if our heart condemns us, God is  greater than our heart, and knows all things”. 
2. LACK OF FAITH: “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence  of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1) Mark 11:24 says “whatever you ask for  in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours”. Hebrews  11:6 says “but without faith, it is impossible to please Him, for he who  comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those  who diligently seek Him. Doubt is the opposite of faith and here’s what  the bible says about it, “but let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he  who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let  not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a  double-minded man, unstable in all his ways” (James 1:6-8). 

3. RELYING ON THE ARM OF FLESH: Psalm 147:10 says, “God does not  delight in the strength of the horse. He takes no pleasure in the legs of a  man”. Psalm 20:7-9 says, “some trust in chariots and some in horses; but  we will remember the name of the Lord our God. They have bowed down  and fallen; but we have risen and stand upright. Trusting man to the  exclusion of God is a losing strategy for success. The arm of flesh will  always fail you.

IN HIS PRESENCE is written by Pst (Mrs) Oke Chinye, Founder of The Rock Teaching Ministry (TRTM).

For Prayers and Counseling email rockteachingministry@gmail.com

or call +2348155525555

For more enquiries, visit: www.rockteachingministry.org.

Read: Lamentations 3:22-27

Meditation verse: 

“They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” (lamentations 3:23).

Each day represents an opportunity for a fresh start. Lamentations 3:22-23 says,  “through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail  not. They are new every morning. Great is Your faithfulness”. Psalm 5:3 says, “my  voice you will hear in the morning, O lord, in the morning, I will direct it to You,  and I will look up”. Psalm 30:5 says, “weeping may endure for a night, but joy  comes in the morning”. 

What do these verses say about each morning? The morning is for the hopeful,  not for the regretful. No matter how long the night is, there will be the breaking  of dawn signaling a new day. According to Bishop T.D Jakes, the morning is  expectation, it is the future lying naked before you. It is the fresh hours of a new  opportunity just created for you to make a fresh start.  

What will you do with today? Remember that you are empowered by the Holy  Spirit to overcome every obstacle and become all that God destined for you to  become. You are a royal priesthood, a scion of the Almighty. Seize the  opportunity of today, take control of your circumstances, arise in Jesus’ name,  and begin to write a new chapter for your life.

IN HIS PRESENCE is written by Pst (Mrs) Oke Chinye, Founder of The Rock Teaching Ministry (TRTM).

For Prayers and Counseling email rockteachingministry@gmail.com

or call +2348155525555

For more enquiries, visit: www.rockteachingministry.org.

Read: MATHEW 6:25-34

Meditation verse:

“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what  you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than  food and the body more than clothing?” (Mathew 6:25).  

Trying to change what is outside your control is a losing strategy for your peace  of mind. And there are several things that are outside your control; chief among  which is what would happen tomorrow. Here’s what the bible has to say about  trying to control tomorrow: – “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for  tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own  trouble”. 

There are however many things that are within your control. You can control  how you spend your time today. You can control your thoughts. You can control  the words of your mouth. You can control what you feed your mind with. You  can control how you treat others. You can control the choices you make. You  can choose to stay on the straight and narrow path or follow the foolishness of  the crowd.  

Ephesians 5: 3-5 & 15-17 gives a good summary of some of the things you can  control today. “But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not  even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish  talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. For  this you know that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an  idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God”. “See then that  you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because  the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of  the Lord is. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled  with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,  singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for  all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to  one another in the fear of God”. 

Instead of worrying about tomorrow, take charge of the above today. Guess  what? These seemingly little things that are within your control are the  determinants of the big outcomes of your life.

IN HIS PRESENCE is written by Pst (Mrs) Oke Chinye, Founder of The Rock Teaching Ministry (TRTM).

For Prayers and Counseling email rockteachingministry@gmail.com

or call +2348155525555

For more enquiries, visit: www.rockteachingministry.org.

Read: JOHN 8:31-36

Meditation verse:

“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:32).

A fact is something known to exist or to have happened. It is known by actual  experience or by observation. The problem with this is that it excludes the truth  which cannot be seen or experienced. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and  the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). “In the  beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God”  (John 1:1). Jesus Christ is the truth; He is the word. His word which is the bible is  the truth which is different from the fact. And it is the truth that you know that  will make you free. The fact you know, is limited in its ability to set you free.  

In every situation in your life there is a ‘fact’ and a ‘truth’. The fact is that we are  living in perilous times, but the truth is that “No evil shall befall you, nor shall  any plague come near your dwelling; (Psalm 91:10). The fact is the doctor’s  negative report of your condition, the truth is that “by His stripes you are healed”  (Isaiah 53:5). The fact is that you are limited in your ability, the truth is that “you  can do all things through Christ who strengthens you” (Philippians 4:13). 

The problem is that when faced with challenges, we tend to focus more on the  facts surrounding the challenge. We ought to feed our minds with what the word  of God says about that situation; and this is the truth. The fact is mere letters,  and the bible says the letter kills, but the spirit gives life. (2 Corinthians 3:6). The  facts will drain you and keep you stuck in that situation; the truth which is the  life-transforming word of God will deliver you from that situation. 

How do you focus on the truth? You must first be in a relationship with the One  who is the truth, Jesus Christ. You then need to spend time studying and  internalizing the word of God. It is the truth you know that can make you free.  If your mind is starved of the truth, you have a big problem at hand. Feed your  mind with the truth today and in your time of trouble, the truth which you know  will make you free.

IN HIS PRESENCE is written by Pst (Mrs) Oke Chinye, Founder of The Rock Teaching Ministry (TRTM).

For Prayers and Counseling email rockteachingministry@gmail.com

or call +2348155525555

For more enquiries, visit: www.rockteachingministry.org.