Tag: TRTM

By Oke Chinye

Read: Daniel 1:1-18

Meditation verse:

“Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before kings; he will  not stand before unknown men” (Proverbs 22:29).

Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon had besieged Jerusalem and taken captive  some of the children of Israel. What was the criteria of selection: ‘young men in  whom there was no blemish, but good looking, gifted in all wisdom, possessing  knowledge and quick to understand, who had ability to serve in the king’s  palace, and whom they might teach the language and literature of the  Chaldeans” (Daniel 1:4).  

Among those selected were Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These  young men were gifted in knowledge, skills, and wisdom. In addition, Daniel had  understanding in all visions and dreams. They were not just gifted in skills; they  were exceptional in character and in their commitment to God. Daniel purposed  in his heart that he would not defile himself with the king’s delicacies and wine.  He insisted that they be given vegetables and water instead. At the end of their  probation period, these four young men were found to be ten times better than  all the magicians and astrologers in that area.  

How are you standing out in your place of work, community, church, or  wherever you are living your life? Are your skills, character, commitment,  excellence, and diligence causing you to stand or are you lost somewhere  amongst the multitude? The path to greatness is a lonely journey. What are you  doing differently from others that will single you out for favor and promotion? 

For the sake of what are you willing to do or not do what?

 

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.

By Oke Chinye

Read: Genesis 27:1-40

Meditation verse:

“By your sword you shall live, and you shall serve your brother; and it shall come  to pass, when you become restless, that you shall break the yoke from your  neck” (Genesis 27:40).

Jacob had pretended to be his brother Esau, and their father, Isaac gave Esau’s  blessings to him. As Esau pleaded with his father to bless him with whatever was  left, his father said to him, “behold your dwelling shall be of the fatness of the  earth, and of the dew of heaven from above. By your sword you shall live, and  you shall serve your brother; and it shall come to pass, when you become  restless, that you shall break the yoke from your neck”. 

There are certain conditions or situations that we have tolerated in our lives,  and these have become yokes unto us. We allow them to remain even though  we do not like them. A yoke is a wooden piece fastened over the necks of two  animals and attached to a cart for them to pull. Naturally these animals would  exert much effort and their pace would be slow. Scripturally, a yoke represents  bondage, servitude, or a burden. Anything that diminishes your chances of  succeeding in life is a yoke. Anything that slows your pace or causes you to be  weighed down has become a yoke in your life. A yoke could be a bad habit, a  persisting challenge, sin, servitude under a wicked boss, an abusive marriage,  excess weight causing health issues, negative mindset, or any other thing that is  taking away value from your life. Today’s scripture is saying, ‘you are only  tolerating it because you are not fed up with that situation. When you can’t take  it anymore, you will break loose and run free.  

Standing in front of a mirror several years ago, weighing over 100kg, I knew I  was fed up with the yoke of excess weight that was reducing my quality of life  by affecting my self-esteem. After years of struggling with low self-esteem and  fear, I knew it was time to break free. It is time for you to break free too. Do not  settle for less than what you know you deserve in life because of the burden of  a yoke. We only live once on earth, and we are not gifted with the knowledge of  how long we will be here. Make the most of your today; become restless and  remove that yoke from your neck. Determine what you need to do to move  forward, and then get going.

 

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: Judges 9: 7-15

Meditation verse:

“But the olive tree said to them, ‘should I cease giving my oil, with which they  honour God and men, and go to sway over trees?” (Judges 9:9).

I watched a guy called Wyn Stacks sing his original song tittle “who I am” on the  America’s Got Talent (AGT) show some weeks back and that song made a whole  lot of sense to me. Here are some words from his song: 

I’ve been closing the door all my life, held it in but not anymore 

Got two feet on the floor, this is it, I’m stronger than ever before 

Pardon my imposition, but this is my conviction, I need to get this off my mind; 

I gotta be me, Gotta be I, Gotta be who I know I am inside 

Can finally breathe, taking it in, look at me flying! 

It’s always been there, it just took me a minute to find it 

If I were to be anybody else, I’d just be hiding who I am 

Lookin’ back, back on a little boy, never gave him a chance to ever be more I didn’t love him but I’m gonna love him right now and forever 

It’s time to push open the door. Pardon my imposition, but this is my conviction Ain’t nothing left to hold me down. I gotta be me. Gotta be I, Gotta be who I know I am  inside 

Can finally breathe, taking it in, look at me flying! 

Before you were formed, God knew you and ordained you for a particular  assignment, this is your purpose on earth (Jeremiah 1:5). You are here to fulfil  this assignment. God put a distinctive seed of greatness inside you, and He has  shaped you to accomplish it. You must identify that specific purpose and live it  out fully. You must be exactly who you were created to be.  

Unfortunately, some people despise who they are and attempt to be someone  else. Wyn Starks song taught us that this would amount to hiding who we are.  His song makes us understand that true freedom can only come when you  identify who you were created to be and live it out fully without any apology.  Because when you do that, you are energised, and it feels like you are flying. Not  living out your purpose amounts to closing the door of your own life and that is  not self-love. Wyn says it’s time to push open the door and be you. Give yourself  a chance to be more. Live out the greatness that God put inside you. Do not let  anything hold you back. Be exactly who you were called to be, every other  person is taken.

 

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.

By Oke Chinye

Read: John 5:1-9

Meditation verse:

“When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time. He said to him, “Do you want to be made whole? (John 5:6).

The word ‘whole’ means entire, all, unbroken, undamaged, in one piece, complete, or totally lacking no part. God’s desire for us is that we may be complete in Him, lacking nothing. (James 1:4). Jesus said in John 10:10, I came that you may have life and have it abundantly. 3 John 2 says “I wish above all things that you prosper and be in good health, even as your soul prospers. God’s desire for us is wholeness in spirit, mind, and body. However, several people do not experience this wholeness that God desires for us. Sicknesses and diseases can afflict the body. Emotional and mental trauma can afflict the mind. Marriages and other relationships fall apart, and finances can become depleted, leaving many people broken and struggling with a sense of unwholesomeness.

Jesus asked the lame man by the pool of Bethesda a simple question: ‘do you want to be made whole’? Rather than giving a simple response ‘yes, I want to be made whole’, the lame man who had been lame for 38 years, began to analyze his condition. He said “sir, I have no man to help me and put me in the pool. I can’t help myself either, for before I enter, another man gets in before me”.  Did Jesus not know all of that before asking the question? 

Jesus Christ is asking you the same question today. Do not analyze what you have or do not have, tell him “yes, you want to be made whole and show him the area you desire wholeness. Is it financial breakthrough, promotion at work, restoration of your marriage or healing for your body? Focus on God’s ability to turn the tides in your favor. Do not focus on your inability and the many ways you are disadvantaged. Do not limit the mighty hand of God. He may not intervene in the manner you expect. The lame man expected that the only way he could get healed was by getting into the pool, but Jesus had other plans for him.  Jesus said to him, “get up, take up your bed and go”. That speaks of taking a step of faith. Sometimes you may need to go even when it does not make sense. 

Ecclesiastes 9:11 says, “I returned and saw under the sun that— the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to men of understanding, nor favor to men of skill; but time and chance happen to them all”. Time and chance happened to that lame man on that fateful day; time and chance can happen in your favor 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.

By Oke Chinye

Read: John 10:1-30

Meditation verse:

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me” (John 10:27).

There are many strange voices speaking to us that we need to be aware of.  Voices are powerful because they shape our lives. But listening to the wrong  voice can impact your life negatively. What are some of these voices that speak  into our lives? 

Your past mistakes: One of the ways the enemy tries to keep you down is by  constantly reminding you of your past failures, errors, wrong choices, sins, and  setbacks until you become imprisoned in it. That silent voice of accusation  belongs to the devil. He wants you to focus only on what is wrong with you, until  you lose your faith in God and in yourself.  

Your imagination: Our imagination always makes things seem worse because  the brain prefers to focus on what could go wrong. Your imagination can speak  into your life can causing you to focus only on what is wrong or can go wrong.  

The voice of others: Different people will speak to you based on their opinion of  you and what their intentions are. Those with good intentions will speak good  words, whilst those with evil intentions will speak negative words. Be very  careful of the voices you permit into your life.  

Your thoughts: take heed to the thoughts you allow to take root in your heart  for as a man thinketh in his heart so is he.  

Your experiences: Our experiences can take on a voice and begin to speak into  our lives. For instance, if life has dealt you many bad blows, you begin to expect  nothing good in life. That is your experience taking on a voice and speaking into  your life. Failing a few times does not make you a failure. You only experienced  failure for a season in your life, you can also experience success in a different  season of life. 

The danger with some of these voices is that while what they speak might seem  true because they mirror the realities of life, they are nit the truth. The only truth  is what God says about you in His word and that is the only voice you should  only to constantly speak into your life. John 10:2-5, NLT, says, “but the one who  enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the  gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his  own sheep by name and leads them out. After he has gathered his own flock, he  walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice. They  won’t follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don’t know his  voice”.  

In this new month, silence every strange voice currently speaking into your life  and speak God’s truth over your life instead.

 

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.

By Oke Chinye

Read: Habakkuk 3:17-19

Meditation verse:

“Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines; …yet I will  rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation” (Habakkuk 3:17-16).

I wept as I watched an episode of Simon Cowell’s ‘America’s Got Talent’ (AGT).  It was a performance by a young lady, where she sang her original song titled:  ‘It’s OK’. When asked about the inspiration behind the song, she said it was  based on the happenings of her life within the last year. Turns out, this young  lady was battling terminal cancer which had spread to her lungs, spine, and liver.  And she had been given a two percent chance of survival.  

It was not just her battle with cancer that made me weep, although that was  tough to hear. Nor was it her display of strength in showing up on the AGT stage,  whilst battling with a debilitating disease as cancer. It was her sheer gratitude  and positivity in the face of such hopelessness and pain that really got to me. As  she stood on that stage looking frail from all that she was going through, she  said the following words: “It is important that everyone knows I’m so much more  than the bad things that happened to me”. “You can’t wait till life isn’t hard  anymore before you decide to be happy”. I have been given a 2% chance of  survival, but 2% is not 0%, that is something, and I wish people know how  amazing that is”. And she said these words with the most amazing smile.  

This young lady whose stage name I was to learn later is Nightbirde, taught me  a profound lesson that day. There is always something left to hold on to and be  grateful for, amid the loss, pain, chaos, or adversity we experience in life. If you  have lost your job or means of livelihood, can you be grateful that you still have  your memory and intellect intact? If you have lost a spouse, can you be grateful  for the memories, laughter and love you shared together? If your health is failing  just like that young lady, can you be grateful for your 2% chance of recovery?  “2% is not 0%, it is something”.  

“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). Sadly,  Nightbirde has passed on and is now free from all her pain.

 

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.

By Oke Chinye

Read: JOHN 5: 1-15

Meditation verse:

“For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the  water…” (John 5:4).

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. Did you notice that after the pool was stirred,  something had to be done: ‘jumping into the pool’? 

Your heart is a pool of desires, ideas, dreams, and visions that need to be  birthed. As we go about our everyday affairs, we feel the stirring of the Holy  Spirit in our hearts every now and then. The stirring of the Holy spirit can come  in the form of a strong urge to do something, a sudden knowing or a restlessness  within us.  

And just as someone had to jump into the pool after the stirring of the pool, it is  important that you act when you feel the Holy spirit tugging your heart. Some  years back, I had already decided to close my office at the end of the year, when  I felt a strong stirring within me to host a training program I had recently  developed. And what a huge impact I had with that program.  

Determine within you to act anytime you feel a stirring in your heart. Don’t let  the fear of uncertainty hold you back.  

“So, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of  Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the  spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and worked on the house  of the Lord of hosts, their God.” (Haggai 1:14).

 

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.

By Oke Chinye

Read: Exodus 32

Meditation verse:

“Now when the people saw that Moses delayed coming down from the  mountain, the people gathered together to Aaron, and said to him, “Come,  make us gods that shall go before us…” (Exodus 32:1).

The people you surround yourself with can either help or derail you from your  destiny. It is often said that if you want to know how far a person will go in life,  check out the people they surround themselves with. The people around you  affect your life because they counsel you, speak into your life and make ties with  you in business or some other area of life. The bible is replete with examples of  individuals who deviated from God’s purpose for their lives because they  listened to counsel from people.  

In 1 Samuel 15, King Saul defeated the Amalekites, but spared the king and took  the best of the spoils, even though God had instructed him to destroy  everything. When the prophet, Samuel confronted him, he said “they have  brought them from the Amalekites; for the people spared the best of the sheep  and the oxen, to sacrifice to the Lord your God; and the rest we have utterly  destroyed.” As a result of his disobedience, God rejected him as king and tore  the kingdom from his hands. Samson lost his sight and anointing because he  listened to Delilah (Judges 16). In today’s reading, Joshua listened to the  people’s demand to make a golden image for them to worship.  

Proverbs 11:14 states that “Where there is no counsel, the people fall; but in the  multitude of counselors there is safety.” However, you must weigh the counsel  from others against God’s counsel or His word. If it is in line, then follow it, but  if it contradicts God’s word or His purpose for your life, you should reject it.  When Jesus told His disciples about His sufferings, death, and resurrection, one  of His closest disciples, Peter, took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying,  “Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!” (Mathew 16:22). But  Jesus turned and said to him, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me,  for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.” (Mathew  16:23). Bottomline; be careful of the people around you as well as their counsel.

 

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.

By Oke Chinye

Read: 1 Samuel 15: 1-31

Meditation verse:

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me” (John 10:27).

The story is told of a grandfather who went on a trip with his little grandson. He  put his grandson on the donkey and went off, walking beside the donkey. Soon  a passer-by saw them and said “how disrespectful! See that poor old man  walking, whilst the little boy is on the donkey. So, the grandfather put the little boy down and mounted the donkey. A few yards away, another passer-by saw them and exclaimed, “how cruel! See that boy little boy walking whilst the old  man is sitting on the donkey. So, the grandfather picked up the little boy and put  him on the donkey with him. A short while later, another passer-by saw them  and sighed “poor donkey, how sad to see it saddled with the weight of a man  and a boy. By the time the grandfather and his grandson got to their destination,  they were both carrying the donkey.

What’s the moral of this story? No matter what you do, people will always have  something to say. Not a few people have been pushed to act based on the  opinion of others and end up weighed down by the consequences, just as the  old man and his grandson ended up bearing the weight of the donkey. Jesus  Christ said, “My sheep hear My voice, the voice of strangers they will not harken  to”. You cannot be a people pleaser and a God chaser at the same time.  Understand this, God will not tell another person about you, more than He will  instruct you. Except of course, you choose not to listen.

Put down the donkey of other people’s opinion and determine your own race  based on counsel received from God. “Looking unto Jesus, the author and  finisher of your faith…” (Hebrews 12:2).

 

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.

By Oke Chinye

Read: Job 38:12-15

Meditation verse: 

“This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm  118:24).

Every day is a gift from God. It is a privilege to wake up to another day. The  psalmist says “I lay down and slept, I awoke, for the Lord sustained me (Psalm  3:5). It’s a 3-step process. First you lie down, then you sleep, after which you  wake up. Not everyone enjoys the privilege of all three steps. We hear of  instances where people go to bed at night, sleep but do not wake up to see the  next day; they die in their sleep. Others lie down but are unable to enjoy a good  night sleep. Still yet, there are those who do not even get to lie down. They are  harassed by the terrors of the night.  

If God sustained you through the night and enabled you to see a day, it is a  privilege because it means your assignment on earth is not yet over. Each day  comes with its own purpose and work, else it would not exist. Psalm 104:19-23  says: 

He (God) appointed the moon for seasons; the sun knows its going down. You make darkness, and it is night, in which all the beasts of the forest  creep about. The young lions roar after their prey and seek their food from  God. When the sun rises, they gather together and lie down in their dens. Man goes out to his work and to his labor until the evening”. 

Therefore, esteem each day as a gift from God, be grateful to Him and ask Him  to direct your path. Then engage the day fully in a manner that will enable you  profit maximally from it. “In the morning sow your seed, and in the evening do  not withhold your hand; for you do not know which will prosper, either this or  that, or whether both alike will be good” (Ecclesiastes 11:6). As you live out each  day of your life, let God see by your deeds that you are grateful to be alive and  be a part of the day; do good to others and put in your best, working diligently  at whatever your hand finds to do. Remember that there is no work or device or  knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you will end up someday. (Ecclesiastes  9:10).

 

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.