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Tag: In His Presence

  • [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Increase comes from God

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Increase comes from God

    By Oke Chinye

    Read: 1 Corinthians 3:1-15

    Meditation verse:

    “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase” (1 Corinthians 3:6).

    We were created to work and not to be idle. Ephesians 2:10 says, “we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them”. As soon as God created the first man, he gave him an assignment; to till the garden, be fruitful and dominate the earth. You were put on this earth to fulfill your own assignment and take dominion over the earth. There will always be work for you to do. Ecclesiastes 9:10 says that whatever your hand finds to do, do it well. The size of a task is immaterial, your responsibility is to always give it your best. The outcomes and results you get whilst accomplishing a task are up to God.

    The Apostle Paul said he planted, and Apollos watered but God was the one who gave the increase. In order words, the results of their efforts were in God’s hands. This is an important insight for anyone feeling discouraged by the outcomes of their efforts in whatever task they are doing. If you have toiled in a particular endeavor but have seen minimal results, keep toiling. Proverbs 16:33 (NLT) says “we may throw the dice, but the Lord determines how they fall” Ecclesiastes 11:5 says as we do understand the path of the wind or how the bones grow in a woman with a child, so we do not understand the working of God. Psalm 75:6 says that promotion does not come from the East, West, or South. Romans 9:16 says that it does not therefore depend on man’s efforts.

    Increase comes from God. Keep working at the tasks you have been given. Commit to whatever your hand finds to do. Stay faithful and do not relent. “Now the just shall live by faith; but if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him” (Hebrews 10:38). Do not cast away your confidence, for in due season, you will reap if you do not lose heart (Galatians 6:9). Be rest assured that whatever God is involved in must grow. So, commit your work to Him and you will succeed.

     

    IN HIS PRESENCE is written by Dcns 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.

  • [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: The rule of first

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: The rule of first

    By Oke Chinye

    Read: Mathew 6:25-34

    Meditation verse:

    “But seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you (Mathew 6:33).

    Whatever it is that we consider most important in life is what will always come first. And whatever comes first, we would always prioritize and make time for. This is the rule of first. This rule also states that we commit our resources: be it time, attention, money, energy, commitment or focus to what comes first in our lives. Whatever comes first to us, we preserve, nurture and service.

    It therefore follows that whatever you put first in your life will be the master of your life. “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one, and love the other or else, he will hold on to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money” (Mathew 6:24, NLT). The amplified version stretches it further by saying “you cannot serve God and mammon (money, possessions, famer, status or whatever is valued more than the Lord)”.

    God is not against your prosperity. Psalm 35:27 says He delights in the prosperity of His saints. In John 10:10, He says he came that we may have life and have it in abundance. 3 John 2 states “Beloved, I pray that you may [prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers”. However, God understands the rule of first and so He wants you to put Him first before any other thing. Mathew 6:33 says, “But seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you”.

    Here’s the difference. When you put these other things first, you miss out on God’s best for you, but when you put God first, you get His best and in addition, He adds the best of these other things to you. Given both options, which would you choose? Choose wisely.

     

    IN HIS PRESENCE is written by Dcns 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.

  • [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: It may sometimes seem foolish

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: It may sometimes seem foolish

    By Oke Chinye

    Read: 1 Corinthians 1:18-31

    Meditation verse:

    “Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men” (1 Corinthians 1:25).

    Consider the following scenarios:

    • Abraham packing all his things at over ninety years and leaving his homeland to a place he knows nothing about.
    • Noah telling people that God was bringing flood waters to destroy the whole earth and then proceeding to build an ark the size of three hundred cubits in length, fifty cubits in width, and thirty cubits in heights.
    • Young Joseph telling his parents and older brothers that they would bow before him and then ending up locked up in prison.
    • Daniel stubbornly refusing to stop praying to his God and then ending up in a pit surrounded by hungry lions.
    • The son of a carpenter whom everyone saw growing up, starts telling people He is the son of God and then ends up being crucified between two notorious criminals.

    However, these stories did not end this way. Abraham went on to be the father of many nations. The floods came and consumed the whole earth, but Noah, his family and two of each type of animal entered the ark and the doors were shut. The young lad Joseph, went from prison to the palace, and became the Prime Minister of Egypt. The hungry lions did not touch Daniel all night, his God was then pronounced as the only true God in the province. And guess what? Death could not hold the carpenter’s son captive. He arose on the third day and has been saving mankind since then. What do all these characters have in common? In fulfilling their destines, they all had to do something that seemed foolish to the world.

    The foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. Conversely, what seems wise to the world, is foolishness in God’s sight. Do not interpret the events of your life based on what seems right to you. Do not reject the counsel of The Almighty because it appears foolish compared to the ways of the world. God says ““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 (Isaiah 55:8-9). It is better to look foolish before men but be wise in God’s sight, than to be wise before men, but appear foolish before God.

     

    IN HIS PRESENCE is written by Dcns 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.

  • [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Rebuilding the broken walls

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Rebuilding the broken walls

    By Oke Chinye

    Read: NEHEMIAH 1 & 2

    Meditation verse:

    “And they said to me, “The survivors who are left from the captivity in the province are there in great distress and reproach. The wall of Jerusalem is also broken down, and its gates are burned with fire.” (Nehemiah 1:30).

    Nehemiah had just received a disheartening news; the city of Jerusalem was in ruins. The wall of Jerusalem was broken down and the gates were burnt down. The surviving Jews were in a desperate situation; without the city gate and walls, they were easy prey for further invasion. On hearing the news, the prophet wept, but then he realised that weeping would not change anything, so he turned to God in prayer and fasting. However, he did not stop there. He knew the walls had to be rebuilt and was willing to put himself forward instead of waiting for someone else to do it. “And I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favour in your sight, I ask that you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers’ tombs, that I may rebuild it” (Nehemiah 2:5).

    There is so much decay around us. There is so much that needs to be fixed in our world today. Broken individuals who are victims of drug addiction, prostitution, rape, bullying and sexual molestation who need help. There are broken families, hungry and homeless children. There are nations with broken systems infested with corruption, decay, insecurity, crime, terrorism, and other forms of lawlessness. 2 Timothy 3:1-3 (NLT) says that: “In the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good”. We are currently living in such times.

    The question then is what are you and I doing about the brokenness that is around us? Have we set ourselves to wait on God in fasting and prayer? “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14). Have we identified an aspect we can help and put ourselves forward to begin? Remember the famous saying: “There was a task that needed to be done. Anybody could have done it, but nobody did it because everybody was waiting for someone to do it”. Be a Nehemiah today. Identify a broken wall around you, ask God for help, then step out and begin to rebuild.

     

    IN HIS PRESENCE is written by Dcns 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.

  • [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Your eternity is serious business [2]

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Your eternity is serious business [2]

    By Oke Chinye

    Read: Revelation 20:11-15

    Meditation verse:

    “The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works.” (Revelation 20:13).

    My husband, who was already dissatisfied by the doctor’s ineptitude, rejected the request for a second surgery, a decision that turned out to be divinely inspired. He demanded that I be discharged from the hospital and went on to perfect arrangements so I could be flown abroad the next day. I was admitted in a hospital as soon as we arrived.

    Till date, the words of the surgeon at the hospital send cold chills down my spine. He said: “if you had gone to the theatre a second time, it would have been fatal”. He said my abdomen was highly infected, such that opening it up again would have caused the infection to spread throughout my system. A long needle guided through my rear side by a C.T scan was used to drain out the collection of pus, whilst I lay face down. I was discharged after about 2 weeks and God perfected my healing in the weeks and months that followed.

    I was given a second chance at life as I could have gone for the second surgery and died. I have shared my story for you to see that death can come knocking when we least expect it. What is your own story? Where are you today in your journey through life? Our time here on earth is limited, eternity is what counts. Where you would spend eternity is serious business. Examine your life and determine whether the life you are living now will earn your name in the Book of Life. If your answer is no, start afresh today and make things right with God by praying: “Lord, I acknowledge that the life I am living right now is not in complete obedience to Your word. I ask for mercy and rededicate myself to You this day. Fill me afresh with Your spirit and enable me to live in total submission to Your will”.

    “We are given a fresh start not only at the beginning of the year, but every morning when we wake up. We have the chance to start anew and make things right” (Maria Fontaine).

     

    IN HIS PRESENCE is written by Dcns 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.

  • [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Your eternity is serious business [1]

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Your eternity is serious business [1]

    By Oke Chinye

    Read: Revelation 20:11-15

    Meditation verse:

    “And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:15).

    “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). After death, everyone, small and great will stand before God and face ‘The Great White Throne Judgment’. The books would be opened, and we will be judged according to our works, by the things written in the books and “anyone not found written in the Book of Life will be cast into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:15). The bible refers to this as the second death. This is a spiritual death signifying an everlasting separation from God. For your name to be written in the Book of Life, you must have trusted and accepted Christ as your Lord and Saviour, for “except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3).

    After salvation, the Holy Spirit comes to reside in you, and through His help, you put to death the former deeds of the flesh (Rom 8: 13-14). The Holy spirit helps you to keep God’s commandments, live a righteous and holy life to the end. “Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may enter through the gates into the city. But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie” (Rev 22:14-15). We do not know the day or hour of Jesus’ return neither is the date of our death known us. So, we must be always prepared.

    I narrowly missed an appointment with death several years ago. I had gone to a hospital for what was to be a simple surgical procedure. After the surgery, I was told that I would be ready to leave the hospital in 24 hours. Unfortunately, this was not to be. Shortly afterwards, I began to feel severe pains and my abdomen began to swell up. The most terrifying part of my ordeal was the knowledge that neither my surgeon nor any member of his team had a clue as to what had gone wrong. After 10 days of intense suffering, the surgeon requested for an abdominal scan, claiming that it was likely I had developed post-surgical abscess, which would require a second surgery to drain. The scan revealed two large collections of pus and blood in my abdomen. And I was told I would be taken back to the theatre the following day.

     

    IN HIS PRESENCE is written by Dcns 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.

  • [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Ageing gracefully

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Ageing gracefully

    By Oke Chinye

    Read: Psalm 92:12-15

    Meditation verse:

    “They shall still bear fruit in old age; they shall be fresh and flourishing” (Psalm 92:14).

    Developing and nurturing a right relationship with the one who created your body is the only guarantee you have for ageing gracefully and transiting peacefully unto the life beyond. Isaiah 40:30-31 says, “even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, but those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint”. Athletes have been known to collapse and die during sporting events and fitness addicts have been afflicted with deadly diseases such as cancer. The bible states that “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” (1 Tim 4:8).

    God promises to uphold and deliver you from the time you are born to your old age (Isaiah 46:3- 4). He says that He will satisfy you with long life and show you His salvation (Psalm 91:16). He declares that you shall bear fruits even in old age and you shall be fresh and flourishing. What an amazing life He has in store for us, and His promises are worth holding on to because He never fails. However, God’s promises are usually tied to conditions. Deuteronomy 5:33 states that “you shall walk in all the ways which the Lord your God commanded you, that you may live and that it may be well with you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which you shall possess”. Ecclesiastes 12:1 instructs us to remember God in the days of our youth, so that He would remember us during the difficult and dark years of ageing.

    A life without God will lead to a lonely and unfulfilled old age, full of regrets. A life centred around and lived for God will bring fulfilment and cause you to age gracefully. Even if sickness or difficulties arise, you will experience joy and peace. You will glow in the assurance that God is upholding you and will eventually carry you safely to the other side when your time on earth is up. Seek God now whilst you are young and active. Love Him with all your heart, soul and might and keep His commandments. Serve Him with joy and gladness and stay away from sin. “When you let God’s love fill your heart, it will show on your face” (Joanie Yoder).

     

    IN HIS PRESENCE is written by Dcns 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.

  • [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Train them in the way they should go

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Train them in the way they should go

    By Oke Chinye

    Read: Deuteronomy 6:1-9

    Meditation verse:

    “You shall teach them diligently to your children and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up (Deuteronomy 6:7).

    Every parent has a God ordained responsibility to raise his or her child in a godly environment in which the knowledge of Christ is evident. Parents should be (in words and deeds), the image of Christ, which the child sees because children learn mostly by observation and association. Parents are the first people they observe as they spend most of their formative years with them. Bring up your children in the fear and admonition of the Lord. Implant God’s word in their hearts from a very early age and encourage them to pray, using bible verses.

    Teach them biblical principles of relationships such as sacrificial giving, kindness, sharing, mutual respect, acceptance, diligence, forgiveness, and self-control. These are very important values that can serve them for life. Ensure that rules for acceptable behaviours are in place and let each child know the boundaries that cannot be crossed. For instance, let them know that inflicting physical injuries or using vulgar languages on one another is prohibited. Be sure to enforce discipline when such lines are crossed. “Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child: The rod of correction will drive it far from him” (Proverbs 22:15).

    Raising godly children in the current digital age is a nightmare. Never has raising children been as challenging as it currently is. We are living in an era where all information, including those which are perverse, make their way to the Internet, available for our young ones to see. Movies, videos, songs, and games unashamedly promote violence, sex, pornography, and other satanic activities. Social media friendships through the various online platforms have replaced face-to-face communication, exposing our children to dangers from sexual predators, cyber bullying, and cyber-attacks. Technology is impacting negatively on family relationships, as children would rather spend countless hours on their devices, than with their parents or other family members.

    Whilst the benefits of technological advancements cannot be overemphasized, the dangers are equally glaring. You must teach your children how to safely navigate the Internet if they are to escape being ensnared. You need to be a watchman or guardrail on this highway of online information by monitoring and supervising their Internet use. Rules must be put in place and adherence to these rules, strictly monitored. For instance, there should be time limits for the use of devices and certain online platforms should be out of bound for younger children. Parental control apps should be utilized to restrict what your children can access.

    Romans 12:2 cautions against conforming to the traditions of this world. It is imperative that your children realize that not every lifestyle advertised on the Internet should be copied. Raising godly children requires wisdom, commitment, sacrifice, and discipline, but it is potentially very rewarding. If you invest in your children, you will reap a fulfilled old age, if you do not, you will reap bitterness and regret in your old age. “A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish son is the grief of his mother” (Proverbs 10:1). Choose wisely.

     

    IN HIS PRESENCE is written by Dcns 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.

  • [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Thriving against all odds [2]

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Thriving against all odds [2]

    By Oke Chinye

    Read: 2 Corinthians 4:7-18

    Meditation verse:

    “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” (2 Corinthians 4: 17).

    Another lesson we get from the story of little Joe is that it may not always be in your best interest to follow the crowd or the path that is most familiar. Neither is it useful to always tow the path of least resistance. You need to learn to search the unlikely and unknown or even difficult places for the things you desire in life. For in so doing, you may discover unexpected treasures.

    Finally, the bad things that happen to you in life are not necessarily meant to defeat you but to strengthen you and prepare you for a greater glory. The pains of yesterday can become the gains of tomorrow. The pain of losing a dear brother built an inner resolve in that old man: a resolve that yielded a desired outcome.

    “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed— always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So then death is working in us, but life in you.

    And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed and therefore I spoke,” we also believe and therefore speak, knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you. For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God. Therefore, we do not lose heart.

    Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal” – 2 Corinthians 4:7-18.

     

    IN HIS PRESENCE is written by Dcns 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.

  • [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Thriving against all odds [1]

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Thriving against all odds [1]

    By Oke Chinye

    Read: 2 Corinthians 4:7-18

    Meditation verse:

    “In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I’ve conquered the world” (John 16:33b MSG)

    The story is told of a little boy Joe, who disappeared whilst staying with his grandmother in a rural community. He had been playing outside his home and suddenly was nowhere to be found. A search party was sent out to look for him, but the search went on for hours without yielding any result. An elderly man in the community decided to join in the search. His son tried to discourage him, as he had just had a surgery for a heart bypass. Besides, he reasoned that there were already so many people looking for the boy. What difference would an old man who probably would not walk fast make? But the old man refused to be dissuaded, so his son decided to go with him. They felt it was better to go their own way since joining the crowd may slow them down. They also wanted to focus on the unlikely places that would be overlooked by the crowd.

    After a few hours of walking, they came across a thick forest, fenced off with barbed wires. The son argued that little Joe would never have wandered this far, let alone gone through the wired fence. But again, the old man insisted that it was the way to go, he entered the forest, leaving his son behind. The old man had suffered a painful loss as a little boy. He had lost his little brother in a car crash and had carried the guilt of not being able to save his brother, for several years. As he trudged along the thick bush, images of his little brother flashed across his mind, and he just kept going. After what seemed like ages, he saw a dog, and then, he saw little Joe frightened and huddled in a corner. He picked him up, held him tightly in his arms and began making his way back to the crowd. The joy in his face could not be mistaken.

    There are several lessons to learn from little Joe’s story.

    Firstly, just as little Joe disappeared without any warning, life can happen at any time. You have very little control over certain occurrences in your life. Jesus said: “In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I’ve conquered the world”. You must trust God and keep striving to get ahead.

     

    IN HIS PRESENCE is written by Dcns 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.