Tag: In His Presence

Read: Hosea chapters 1-6 

Meditation verse: 

“Come and let us return to the Lord; for He has torn, but He will heal us; He has  stricken, but He will bind us up” (Hosea 6:1). 

Gomer was a harlot; even The Almighty referred to her as such, so she was well  known. Yet, God offered her a candle of light to enable her to begin her journey  of redemption from being a harlot to being a wife and mother. Gomer became  the wife of God’s prophet, Hosea. Even when she returned to prostitution and  messed up her God given opportunity, disappointing her husband, and  disgracing her family, Hosea kept going back to her, referring to her as Gomer  (my beloved). He emptied his pockets to keep buying her back from the arms of  other men. God chose her as an illustration of His relationship with the nation  of Israel.  

Perhaps you have strayed from God’s love many times, messed up your chances,  and returned to a life of sin; now you feel lost and beyond restoration. Like  Gomer, God will not give up on you. He is calling you by your name and saying  “I want you back. I already paid the price for your redemption, come back to Me,  come back home”. That voice of condemnation that whispers ‘it is too late’,  belongs to the devil, God does not condemn you.  

Why not heed His call today. Return to the arms of your Father; focus on what  Jesus Christ did for you on the cross of calvary. Just as Gomer emptied his  pockets, Jesus emptied His life to buy you back from Satan’s grip. There remains  no more sacrifice. Jesus paid in full. It is finished.

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: Luke 1:1-24 

Meditation verse: 

“Now after those days his wife Elizabeth conceived; and she hid herself five  months, saying, “thus the Lord has dealt with me, in the days when He looked  on me, to take away my reproach among people.” (Luke 1:24-25).

“My best years are over” “I’m now too old”, “I have wasted my life”. Do any of these words sound like you? Who says you are too old? Too old for  what precisely? Elizabeth, whom the bible described as “well advanced in age,  conceived and bore the fore runner of the saviour of mankind. Sarah gave birth  to Isaac, the promise child in her nineties. Grandma Moses, an American folk  artist, successfully began a painting career in her seventies. Her paintings  became very famous. Who says your best years are behind you? 

Isaiah 66:9 says, “shall I bring to the time of birth, and not cause delivery?” says  the Lord. Shall I who cause delivery shut up the womb?” says your God”.  Whatever it is that you are desirous of birthing; be it a natural baby or your  destiny baby, your time of conception and delivery will come. God’s promise  over your life will be fulfilled at the appointed time. There is a set time in God’s  calendar for every promise; His calendar is different from that of man. He has  time in His hands. With the Lord, one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand  years as one day” (2 Peter 3:8). In His time, He makes all things beautiful, with  God nothing will be impossible.  

Hold on to your dreams, do not give up. You are not too old; you still have plenty  of time. Your life is not wasted, your best years are ahead. Get excited at what  lies ahead of you. “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord,  thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah  29:11). He is the same yesterday, today and forever. If He did it for Elizabeth, He  can still do it again. All things are working together for your good.

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: 2 Samuel 6:1-23 

Meditation verse: 

“Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul  came out to meet David, and said, “How glorious was the king of Israel today,  uncovering himself today in the eyes of the maids of his servants, as one of the  base fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!” (2 Samuel 6:20).  

Michal, David’s wife, had been married to another man before ending up in  David’s house. Perhaps this was the reason why she harboured a grudge in her  heart for David or perhaps it was simply because she was King Saul’s daughter as there was no love lost between her father and David. Whatever was  responsible for her resentment, it cost her dearly. After criticizing her husband  for dancing before God in an “undignified manner”, God shut her womb and she  had no children up till the day of her death.  

Bitterness, anger, resentment, and envy are like cancers tearing at the fabrics of  our lives. If you remain bitter, critical, resentful or harbour a grudge towards  your spouse, with whom you are supposed to be one, you are endangering your  destiny. When a woman’s heart is bitter towards her husband, her eyes are  blind, and she is incapable of seeing anything good about him. She would end  up resenting even the things that are right about him. How could anyone be  criticized for dancing and praising God? Who determines the way God should be  praised? 

If you are currently harbouring a grudge towards your spouse, due to a past  wrongdoing settle it before it undermines your future. If you are currently a  bitter, angry, and critical woman because of your past, ask God to heal your  heart and give you a new beginning. Shake off the dust of your past. Every day  is a fresh opportunity to start anew. Take hold of today’s opportunity.

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: 1 Samuel 25:1-44

Meditation verse:

“Then David said to Abigail: “Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, who sent you this  day to meet me!” (1 Samuel 25:32).

The bible describes Abigail as an intelligent, beautiful humble woman. Her  husband Nabal was wealthy, but he was harsh, insensitive, and unwise. When  king David sent his men to him to give them some of his supply, he treated the  men with disdain. David was furious and he determined to kill every male  connected to Nabal. His men had provided security for Nabal’s shearers and  sheep in Carmel, and he had expected him to be more gracious.  

When the matter was reported to Abigail, she made haste and took two hundred  loaves of bread, two skins of wine, five sheep already dressed, five seahs of  roasted grain, one hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs,  loaded them on donkeys and set off to meet David. “She fell at his feet and  pleaded on behalf of her husband. Through her wisdom, discernment, and  ability to act quickly, she prevented the wiping out of every male linked to her  husband. She could have said “that’s his business”, when the matter was  reported to her, but she knew her husband’s weakness and how to make up for  it. She was also not willing to let his shortcomings undermine her entire  household. She also knew her own strength and how to deploy them to her  advantage. Through her persuasive words, she won King David over. Sadly, her  wisdom did not rub off on her husband.  

Whilst Abigail was making up for her husband’s errors, he was busy making  merry and getting drunk, oblivious of what was going on. In the morning, when  the wine had gone from him, she told him all that happened. His heart died  within him, and he became like a stone; and died after about ten days. At the  end of the day, we are all responsible for our own actions; and life does not  always spare us the consequences of our acts of indiscretion. “So then, my  beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath,  for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God” (James 1:19- 20).

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: Psalm 78:70-72 

Meditation verse: 

“From following the ewes that had young, He brought him, to shepherd Jacob  His people and Israel, His inheritance” (Ps 78:71).

Today’s work, not matter how insignificant it may seem, is not a wasted effort.  Whatever you are doing today is preparing you for tomorrow’s assignment. It is  storing up experience, skills, knowledge, and talents for future use. Little wonder  the bible says: “whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might” (Eccl  9:10a). David spent his early years shepherding sheep, without knowing that he  was in training for his future responsibility as king where he would shepherd  God’s people. (1 Sam 16:11-12). At the appointed time, God took him from  caring for sheep to caring for His people.  

The role of a shepherd is critical. The flock is dependent on the shepherd for  provision, guidance, and protection. So, when God was looking for a king to care  for His people and not just to rule them, David was the right person. God had  tested him with sheep, and he had done a fantastic job. As king, he did a fantastic  job too. “He shepherded the people according to the integrity of his heart and  guided them by the skilfulness of his hands” (Ps 78:72).  

Several years ago, I began to develop a deep hunger to acquire knowledge, so I  invested a huge amount of time and resources building my knowledge base. I  had no idea that God was preparing me for the assignment of teaching and  transforming lives  

Yesterday’s work is ‘stored work’. So, approach whatever you are doing now with all the seriousness it deserves and work at doing it excellently. “If you are  faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest  in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities” (Luke 16:10  NLT).

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: 1 Samuel 16: 1-23

Meditation verse:

“So, Saul said to his servants, “provide me now a man who can play well and  bring him to me” (1 Samuel 16:17).

Preparation of Circumstances: The last area is the preparation of the  circumstances that will usher you to the place of your assignment. God began  preparing the circumstances needed for David to emerge as king when He rejected King Saul as king over Israel, due to an act of disobedience on his part.  Next, He set David up to fight with Goliath. Then He began training him for life  in the royal court by setting up work for him there as the King’s armorbearer.  “So, David came to Saul and stood before him. And he loved him greatly and  became his armorbearer… And so, it was, whenever the distressingspirit from  God was upon Saul, that David would take a harp and play it with his hand. Then  Saul would become refreshed and well, and the distressing spirit would depart  from him” (1 Samuel 16:21 & 23).  

Similarly, preparation of your circumstances will be part of God’s plan to get you  to the place of your assignment. God is busy working behind the scene in your  life to prepare the circumstances that will enable you succeed in the task He has  for you. He has information known to Him only. Your circumstances may look  bad now, but be encouraged, because God may just be preparing you for your  assignment.  

Refuse to allow what you see dictate what you believe. Do not judge by what  your eyes see, but by what you hear in the spirit. Do not label any occurrence in  your life as a coincidence or happenstance. God is for you. He is already ahead  of you rearranging the circumstances to favor you. You must be sensitive and  totally submissive to His leading, else you may get discouraged and give up even  before you begin. 

As Jesus (The word) works in you to change your character, the Holy Spirit is  bringing about His fruit to bear in your life. Develop your competence and track  your circumstances. In the fullness of time, you will emerge in the place of your  God-ordained assignment.

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: 1 Samuel 16: 1-23 

Meditation verse: 

“Look, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skilful in playing, a  mighty man of valour, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a handsome person;  and the Lord is with him” (1 Samuel 16:18). 

Preparation of Competence: Your competence will also need to be prepared.  Every assignment requires a particular set of competencies and these need to  be sharpened. Practice is the best way to sharpen a competence. Musical  competence requires diligent practice. A warrior needs to develop fighting skills  alongside courage. A preacher needs to immerse himself in scriptures to preach  from it. A gifted speaker needs to practice. Even looking good requires effort.  So, the period of preparation is a period for working at your competencies. 

Before David began his reign as king, he had had enough practice and experience  at developing the competencies he needed: He had mastered the act of  shepherding, he had great courage and an ability to speak. When a particular  skill- ‘playing the harp’ was required in the palace, David received an unsolicited  nomination because his skills stood him out.  

Several years ago, before I became aware of my assignment, I began to develop  a deep hunger to acquire knowledge. I had no idea that God was preparing me  for the assignment of building and equipping lives. God uses the competencies  we learn: our degrees, our skills and everything else we have. He can take all of  these and strategically position you in the place of your assignment. So, 

whatever you are doing now, work at doing it better. You just might be in a  season of preparation for your God-ordained purpose. God is a God of  excellence and He requires you to be excellent at whatever He has entrusted  you with. Success is often said to be the meeting point of preparedness and  opportunity.

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: Psalm 105: 17-24

Meditation verse:

“They bruised his feet with fetters and placed his neck in an iron collar. Until the  time came to fulfil his dreams, the Lord tested Joseph’s character” (Psalm  105:18-19, NLT).

Before God uses you, He will take you through a period of preparation. The  greater the assignment, the longer and more strenuous the preparation will be. Biblical characters like David, Joseph, Paul and even our Lord Jesus Christ did not  start their ministries immediately. They all went through periods of preparation.  Joseph moved from his dream to the pit, from the pit to Potiphar’s house, from  Potiphar’s house to prison, before he was exalted to the palace. Every step of  the way, in character and competence, he was being prepared for his dream.  Saul had a 3- year gap before he began his ministry as Paul, the Apostle. Between  ages 12 and 30, Jesus immersed himself in scripture, worked with his father,  Joseph on his trade and looked after his mother, before He began His ministry  at age 30. There are three main areas of preparation: Preparation of Character,  Preparation of Competence and Preparation of Circumstances. We will be  looking at each in the next couple of days. 

Preparation of Character: Certain character flaws need to be dealt with before  God will use you. Character is often shaped by trials and suffering. In every trial  you face in life, God is teaching you something. James 1:2-4 says “my brethren,  count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your  faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be  perfect and complete, lacking nothing”. If God is going to prepare your  character, He may allow you to pass through some not so pleasant experiences  and you must cooperate with Him.  

Character is also prepared as you mature in your relationship to God. “When I  was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but  when I became a man, I put away childish things” (1 Cor 13:11). Character is  shaped in the place of solitude and stillness. “In returning and rest, you shall be  saved, in quietness and confidence, shall be your strength” (Isaiah 30:15).

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: Genesis 6:13-22

Meditation verse:

“And of every living thing of all flesh, you shall bring two of every sort into the  ark, to keep them alive with you…” (Gen 6:19).

God said to Noah: “And of every living thing of all flesh you shall bring two of  every sort into the ark, to keep them alive with you; they shall be male and  female. Of the birds after their kind, of animals after their kind, and of every  creeping thing of the earth after its kind, two of every kind will come to you to  keep them alive”. (Gen 6:19-20). And Noah did exactly what God commanded  him to do. Have you ever wondered what would have happened if Noah had  hesitated or refused to build the ark? Every living thing would have been wiped  out. By taking two of every flesh into the ark, posterity was preserved.  

Your ark symbolizes your assignment on earth. And just as Noah’s ark was not  meant to accommodate himself alone, your ark is meant to accommodate  others. It is your God ordained service to others. There are people you are called  to serve; either to build up, teach, heal, encourage, set free, feed, or serve in  any other way. These are the people who are meant to be in your ark. Their  destinies are tied to your assignment. If you fail to build your ark, you would be  depriving them of whatever blessing there is to be derived from you fulfilling  your assignment.  

God makes provision for you in the place of your assignment. He said to Noah  “And you shall take for yourself of all food that is eaten, and you shall gather it  to yourself; and it shall be food for you and for them” (Gen 6:21). I recall when  God called me to ministry, He said “in the place of ministry I bless you, I prosper  you, I correct you and I build you up”. So, you may be depriving yourself of the  blessings that God has in store for you if you fail to build your ark. It is also very  important that you build your ark (carry out your assignment) exactly as God has  commanded you to. “For My thoughts are not your thoughts nor are your ways  My ways,” says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My  ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts” (Is 55:8-9).

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: 1 Corinthians 15:50-58

Meditation verse: 

“In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet  will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed”  (1 Corinthians 15:52).

In the evening of October 4th, 2021, Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp  crashed and stopped working. And it happened suddenly; one moment they  were on and the next all three platforms froze. Initially, my husband and I did  not realize what had happened. We refreshed our browsers, changed our  internet providers, and even restarted our devices, believing the source of data  was the problem. But then we received a message that all three platforms had  stopped working. How could this have happened? It had never occurred. It took  us unawares leaving us with unsent messages and contents we had previously  scheduled for posting.  

The bible speaks of a future event which would occur in a similar manner.  Suddenly and in the twinkle of an eye, the trumpets will sound, and Jesus Christ  would appear in the sky. The dead in Christ will rise first and then we who are  alive will be caught up in the air to meet Him. Just like with the crashing of the  platforms, most people would be unaware. As certain people begin to disappear  from the earth, their loved ones would wonder where they are and begin  searching for them. Then, it would dawn on all that the ‘rapture’ has taken place.  And there will be messages not delivered, apologies not said, and mistakes not  corrected. 

Luke 21:34 says, “but take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down  with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that day come on you  unexpectedly”. If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and  you are living your life in accordance with His word, then you are prepared, but  if you are still living a life of sin, let the sudden events of October 4th remind you  of the need to surrender your life to Him. You can do so right away.

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.