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  • [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Don’t get scarred by your experiences

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Don’t get scarred by your experiences

    By Oke Chinye

    Read: Daniel 3:8-30

    Meditation verse:

    “And the satraps, administrators, governors, and the king’s counsellors gathered, and they saw these men on whose bodies the fire had no power; the hair of their head was not singed nor were their garments affected, and the smell of fire was not on them” (Daniel 3:27).

    To be scarred means to be deeply affected or marked by mental or physical pain or injury. Scars hardly fade away. They remain visible for a long period of time or forever. In the book of Daniel chapter 3, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had just passed through a horrible experience. They had been bound and thrown into a fiery furnace heated seven times more because they refused to bow to king Nebuchadnezzar’s golden image. But they came out unhurt and untainted by their experience. The bible states that they did not even smell of smoke; meaning there was nothing on them that showed what they had just gone through. Scorned, betrayed, thrown into a pit, and eventually sold into slavery by his own blood, Joseph had every reason to be scarred. He was accused of rape and thrown into prison. He was forgotten in prison by someone he had helped. He could have turned into an angry and vengeful person. But when he found himself in a position of authority, he refused to let his past define him, he said “you meant evil against me, but God turned it around for good” (Genesis 50:20).

    Irrespective of what your experiences were this year, don’t get scarred by them. Your past does not define you; it prepares you for your future. Do you know why the front windscreen of your car is bigger than the rear-view mirror? It is because what is ahead of you is more important that what is behind. Quit reliving the pains of yesterday. Look ahead and get set move on to what God has in store for you. 

    This is God’s promise to you as the year rolls to an end. “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). Your light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for you a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.    May you finish this year strong.

     

    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.

  • [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: It will work out for good

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: It will work out for good

    By Oke Chinye

    Read: Acts 11:19-26

    Meditation verse:

    “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).

    The persecution that arose after Stephen’s death led to scattering of Christians to places as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch. However, as they fled in fear, God was working out His purpose for good. Whilst they travelled, they preached the word to the Jews, some of whom were men from Cyprus and Cyrene. As a result of the persecution the gospel spread out from Judea and a great number, both jews, and gentiles believed and turned to the Lord. 

    God causes all things to work out for good for those who are called according to His purpose. Ecclesiastes 11:5 says, “as you do not know what is the way of the wind, or how the bones grow in the womb of her who is with child, so you do not know the works of God who makes everything”.

    This year may have brought unpleasant and unbearable occurrences, but it just might be part of God’s plan to get you to where He wants you to be. Enlargement is uncomfortable. To go higher in life, you will pass through some very difficult or painful stuff. It’s all part of the process. Comfort can only be found in the status quo. The Almighty can rearrange the details of your life to beautify it and sometimes this can uncomfortable. 

    God is working behind the scenes of your life to perfect that which concerns you. He has information which you do not have. Trust Him when He says, “for I know the thoughts that I think toward you, thoughts of peace and not evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11). Stop fretting, it will work out for good in the end.

     

    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.

  • [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: The blessings of the number ‘12’

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: The blessings of the number ‘12’

    By Oke Chinye

    Read: Revelation 21:9-21

    Meditation verse:

    “And when it was day, He called His disciples to Himself; and from them He chose twelve whom He also named apostles” (Luke 6:13).

    This is the 12th month of the year. The number ‘12’ is a number of great significance appearing in several places in the bible. It signifies perfection. When He was about to begin His ministry, Jesus Christ our saviour called and chose twelve men as apostles to bear witness to His ministry and spread the gospel to the entire world. These were the foundational members of His ministry. Jacob had twelve sons, each of which represented the twelve tribes of God’s chosen nation: Israel (Genesis 49:28). The apostle John describes the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, having the glory of God as having a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel. The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb (Revelation 21:10-14). The city was perfect in her beauty.

    The number 12 also signifies the blessings of overflow and abundance: After Jesus blessed the five loaves of bread and two fishes, five thousand people were fed. And the disciples gathered and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the meal which were left over by those who had eaten (John 6:13).

    The number 12 signifies the blessings of restoration and wholeness especially from difficult and long overdue cases. The woman with the issue of blood had carried the flow of blood for twelve years when she came from behind and touched the hem of Jesus’ garment. And Jesus said to her “be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And the woman was made well from that hour. (Mathew 9:20-22).

    Lastly, the number 12 signifies completion. Psalm 65:11 say, “You crown the year with Your goodness, and Your paths drip with abundance. Ecclesiastes 7:8 says, “the end of a thing is better than its beginning”.  In this 12th month of the year, may you experience the blessings of perfection, abundance, wholeness, and restoration in every area of your life, Amen.

     

    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.

  • [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Keep believing

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Keep believing

    By Oke Chinye

    Read: Luke 24:1-7

    Meditation verse:

    “Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, “why do you seek the living among the dead? (Luke 24:5).

    Whilst on earth, Jesus told His disciples about the death He would suffer and how He would rise after three days. He told them several times to prepare their minds. Yet, on resurrection morning, certain women amongst those who had followed Him closely, went to look for His body in the grave. They did not remember the words that Jesus had spoken to them until two men stood by them in shinning garments and said “why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here but is risen. Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee…” (Luke 24:5-6). Then they remembered His words. 

    Why did they forget what Jesus told them about His death and resurrection? Or was it that they simply did not believe Him? Whilst we may marvel at their unbelief, are we not also guilty of ignorantly seeking the living among the dead in our everyday experience as Christians? Do we not forget all of God’s promises to us in His word? Promises such as: “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5), “fear not, for I am your God, I will strengthen you, yes I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10)? Yes, we forget, and we fret, get depressed or run helter-skelter when we face challenges.

    Whatever has been your experiences or circumstances this year, do not let it cause you to doubt the life transforming power of God’s word. Do not stay in the place of doubt. Do not let delayed promises cause you to give up on God or bow down to the gods of this world by seeking for solutions in places where you would need to compromise your faith, that would amount to seeking for the living among the dead. Hold God to His word like your life depends on it because it does. You are not a foreigner to the covenant of God’s promises, you are a partaker.  You are not devoid of hope, Christ in you, is the hope of glory. God has given you everything pertaining to life and godliness, according to His divine power (2 Peter 1:3). You are destined to live a life of victory, not of defeat. Keep believing.

     

    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.

  • [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Jump into the pool immediately

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Jump into the pool immediately

    By Oke Chinye

    Read: John 5:1-8

    Meditation verse:

    “For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had” (John 5:4).

    It is a few days to the end of the year, but there are visions that can still be birthed, businesses that can be created, books that can be written as well as souls that you can still save. Some years back, I was getting set to close my office for the year, when I got a stirring within me to host a workshop which turned out to be very impactful and life changing. Had I not obeyed, I would have missed the benefits and blessings. The Holy Spirit can cause a stirring within you which could be in the form of an uneasy feeling, a restlessness that you cannot explain, a strong impulse or a deep desire to do a particular thing. What you do after the stirring is important. An activity on your part must immediately follow the stirring for you to accomplish whatever it is that God designed the stirring for. 

    Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water. For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had – John 5:2-4 

    There had to be an activity immediately after the stirring of the pool for the miracle of healing to take place. Someone had to quickly jump into the water. The emphasis was on the immediacy of the action. The Holy Spirit is a gentle spirit who will not force His will on us. When he stirs our hearts and we fail to respond, He leaves us alone and the loss is always ours, not His. When the wine finished at the marriage in Cana, Jesus’ mother said to the servants “whatever He says to you, do it” (John 2:5). 

    Towards what do you feel God’s pull this day? Why not jump into the pool immediately. And as you do, may you receive wholeness in that area of your life where you need it most.

     

    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.

  • [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: God has saved the best for the last

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: God has saved the best for the last

    By Oke Chinye

    Read: John 2:1-11

    Meditation verse:

    ““A host always serves the best wine first,” he said. “Then, when everyone has had a lot to drink, he brings out the less expensive wine. But you have kept the best until now!” (John 2:10, NLT).

    There was a wedding celebration in Cana of Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the celebration. Whilst the celebration was still ongoing, the wine supply ran out. The problem was presented to Jesus. Initially Jesus said His time had not yet come but eventually He turned six pots of water into the sweetest wine anyone had ever tasted. The master of the feast upon tasting the wine said to the bridegroom, “everyone sets out the good wine at the beginning of the feast, but you have kept the best wine until now. 

    Today’s message is a prophetic word for you in these remaining few days left in the year. Jesus Christ, the Chief Bridegroom, and Master planner of your life has kept the best part of this year until now. Wherever you have experienced lack, setbacks, emptiness, frustrations, and loss this year, set out your six empty waterpots of stone because the tides are about to be turned in your favour. If you have invited Him into your life, just as He was invited to the wedding celebration, He will fill your emptiness and lack with sweet wine. Psalm 65:11-13 says, “You crown the year with Your goodness, and Your paths drip with abundance. They drop on the pastures of the wilderness, and the little hills rejoice on every side. The pastures are clothed with flocks; the valleys also are covered with grain; they shout for joy, they also sing”.

    Do not cast away your confidence. Everything will be alright in the end, if it is not alright now then it is not the end. God is saying ‘do not put a fool stop to what I put a comma’. The year will end on a high note for you. “The end of a thing is better than its beginning; the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. Do not hasten in your spirit to be angry, for anger rests in the bosom of fools. Do not say, ‘Why were the former days better than these?’ For you do not inquire wisely concerning this” (Ecclesiastes 7:8-10). So, wait until the end.

     

    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.

  • [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Lower the bar and take stock

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Lower the bar and take stock

    By Oke Chinye

    Read: Philippians 4:10-13

    Meditation verse: 

    “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

    One of the main reasons why we fail to practice gratitude is that we set the bar of gratitude too high. We selectively focus on the big things that we have presented to God and are yet to receive answers for. If those requests remain unanswered, we complain and fail to give God thanks. 

    When you lower the bar of your gratitude, you will notice the small things which are big things in themselves.

    • Having a good night sleep and waking up healthy
    • The ability to breath freely without an oxygen mask
    • A loving family around you
    • The ability to move your arms and limbs
    • A sound mind with which we can make decisions

    Whilst we may view these everyday blessings from God as little things, they are big deals to some people. You just need to visit a hospital ward or morgue.

    Yes, you may not have a million bucks in your account, or that business is not doing as well as you thought, or you do not have a spouse or children and many of the things you have been asking God for. But wait a minute, you also do not have cancer, high blood pressure or diabetes. You are not paralyzed, bedridden or lying in the morgue. You also have not lost your mind. That’s a whole lot to be grateful for. The apostle Paul said “I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things, I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need” (Philippians 4:11-12). What he was saying was that he has lowered the bar of his gratitude that even in his lowest, he can still be grateful to God. 

    As we move closer to the end of the year, lower the bar of your gratitude and express genuine thanks to God in all things.

     

    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.

  • [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: The Lord will make room for you

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: The Lord will make room for you

    By Oke Chinye

    Read: Mark 2:1-4

    Meditation verse:

    “Thus says the Lord, who makes a way in the sea and a path through the mighty waters” (Isaiah 43:16).

    My Consulting Office is in a serviced complex where the parking spaces are not enough to serve every office. So parking is on a first come, first serve basis. On this morning as I approached the gate, I could see that all the parking spaces had been taken. But just as I drove in through the gate, someone pulled out from the first parking space, making room for me to park my car in that choice location. Instinctively, it dawned on me that this was a prophetic word for the moment as I heard the following words in my spirit “so will the Lord make room for you wherever you need to flourish, even though it may seem crowded in the moment”.

    Four men wanted Jesus to heal their paralytic friend whom they carried on a bed, but they could not gain access to Jesus because of the crowd. So, they uncovered the roof of the building where Jesus was, let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying. And Jesus honoured their faith. In today’s competitive and overcrowded marketplace, where the competition is stiff, and opportunities are few, you may have become stranded in life. Perhaps you desire that job, position, promotion, or contract, but can’t seem to make a headway due to lack of access. And unlike the paralytic who was lucky enough to have friends who could help him gain access, you may not even have anyone, no networks, no connections to help you gain access. If this is your story, then the prophetic word I received that morning is for you. 

    The Lord will make room for you in that area that currently seems out of your reach. Suddenly, someone will pull out of the race, and you will be just in the right place at the right moment to occupy the space. If God can make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert, certainly, He can make room for you in any sphere of endeavour in today’s marketplace. 

    The song writer says:

    “God will make a way when there seems to be no way. He works in ways we cannot see; He will make a way. He will be my guide, hold me closer to His side, with love and strength for each new day, He will make a way, He will make a way” Make this song your declaration and let your faith come alive again.

     

    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.

  • [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Get set to travel light (2)

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Get set to travel light (2)

    By Oke Chinye

    Read: 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

    Meditation verse:

    “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2Timothy 1:7).

    Some other weights to get rid of as you prepare to enter the new year include: 

    Debts of any kind: Be sure to clear all debts, whether financial debts, forgiveness of an offence or restoration of a broken relationship. Romans 13:8-10 says “owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbour; therefore, love is the fulfilment of the law”.  

    Wrong mindset: “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he” (Proverbs 23:7). Your mind is powerful. It is the seat of your emotions, moods, thoughts, and beliefs. If the mind is skewed or unhealthy, you have a big problem at hand. “Your thoughts influence your emotions, your emotions decisions, your decisions influence your actions. Your actions influence your outcomes in life. Be careful how you think because your life is shaped by your thoughts. Bet rid of fear, self-doubt, low self-esteem, and other limiting beliefs.

    Excuses: If you want an excuse for not doing something, especially the things that will build our faith and help us grow in our walk with God, it is so easy to find one. We can come up with so many excuses for not doing our personal devotions and bible studies each day or not fellowshipping with others and these excuses will sound genuine. But if truth be told, people always make them for what they consider as most important. The apostle Paul said, “but I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I should become disqualified” (1 Corinthians 9:27).

    Lack of clarity: Without a clear idea of where you are going, how can you even speak of travelling? “If you do not know where you are going, you’ll end up someplace else” (Yogi Berra). Write down your vision for the new year, make it plain, lay aside the weight and travel light.

     

    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.

  • [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Get set to travel light (1)

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Get set to travel light (1)

    By Oke Chinye

    Read: Romans 12:1-17

    Meditation verse:

    “Examine yourself as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Christ is in you? – unless indeed you are disqualified” (2 Corinthians 13:5).

    It is about two weeks to the end of this year. As 2022 comes to an end and we prepare to enter a new year, it is a good time to do some self-evaluation. How did you fare in your walk with God this year? Are you satisfied with your progress in the areas of personal devotion, worship, thanksgiving, bible study, fellowship, service and giving? If not, what things do you think hindered you and how can you ensure that you do not carry the same baggage (s) into the new year? Romans 12:1 says “therefore, we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us”. What weight do you need to toss aside to ensure that you travel light into the new year? Here are a few suggestions                                                                         

    Sin: Romans 6:1-2 says, “what shall we say then, shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Sin in any form is a weight that not only has the power to slow down your progress but can also waste your life. “Therefore, strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed” (Romans 12:12-13). 

    Wrong association: If you continue to hang out with the wrong crowd you will eventually end up in the wrong place. “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? …Therefore, come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord (2 Corinthians 6:14-17). 

    Laziness: Lazy people want much but get little. But those who work hard will prosper” (Proverbs 13:4, NLT). If you desire worthy accomplishments, you cannot travel with this baggage. There is a price to pay for success, the price is hard work. “Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration” (Thomas Edison).

     

    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.