Devotional

May 25 2023

Celebrating An Amazing Woman

Celebrating An Amazing Woman Worthy of Double Honor

The elders who perform their leadership duties well are to be considered worthy of double honor (financial support), especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching [the word of God concerning eternal salvation through Christ].
– 1 Timothy 5:17 (AMP)

“We don’t honor just to get a reward; we honor because it is the heart of God, and it is our delight.”
– John Bevere

Thursday, May 25, 2023

Living a life of honor is pivotal to cultivating thriving relationships – with God and with others.

Although honor seems to be going extinct in our day and age, we are still deeply moved by displays of it. That’s why acts of honor should not just be admired and applauded – they must become a way of life

The word honor simply means ‘a valuing’. Another definition of honor is appreciation, esteem, favorable regard, and respect. Honor can be displayed in action, word, and even thought. But all true honor originates from the heart.

Someone said; “True honor is an outflow from a heart that fears God.”

To honor someone is to genuinely love them because it takes unconditional love to walk in true honor. Honoring someone is bestowing dignity upon them, which communicates their value.

Paul instructed; ‘Let love be without hypocrisy, Abhor what is evil, cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another’
-Romans 12:9-10

First of all, Paul states true love has no hypocrisy. A definition of hypocrisy is ‘the concealment of one’s real character or motives’.

This would be characterized by one who acts as though they honor by their outward actions and words, but within they criticize, envy, or even despise you. Or in your absence, they cut down, defame or slander you.

To extend true honor, it must be done without hypocrisy. It can never be done in pretense. It’ll only lead to deception, and there’s definitely no reward for the counterfeit.

On this 25th day of May, let’s rise to honor and acknowledge an amazing woman of faith that is indeed worthy of double Honor, one in whom there is no guile or deceit.

We make bold to say the world will be a far better place if we have more women like Pastor Funmi Johnson.

Happy Birthday to the amazing founder of Whitefield Foundation, Convener of Couples’Breakfast Meeting, Radio Host & Producer of Family Today with FunmiJohnson, a serial investor and business consultant, a passionate intercessor, lover of God, Associate Pastor at the Capstone (Church Without Walls), mother of three wonderful children, wife and much more a son of the Most High God.

Go ahead today and appreciate her with kind words, and gifts of love. You can also reach her on social media (@thefunmijohnson), and let her know she is indeed an honorable leader.

Remember to always appreciate and honor the men and women God has connected you with in your life.

Above all, don’t pay lip service to the kingdom of God, your Father in Heaven is to be honored, adored, and worshipped with all your heart, so Honor God with your life

LET US PRAY:

In Jesus’ Name, I pray for Mrs. Funmi Johnson.
I ask that every burden is lifted from her shoulders.
I pray that every yoke be destroyed from her neck.
I pray her into purpose, I pray her into joy, I pray her into prosperity and increase.
May the Lord answer her when she calls;
May the name of the God of Jacob protect her and all that belongs to her.
God will send her help from the sanctuary and grant her support from Zion. Her sacrifices and burnt offerings will be acceptable to God.
God will give her the desires of her heart and make all her plans succeed.
May we shout for joy over her victory and lift up our banners in the name of our God.
May the Lord grant all our requests in Jesus’ Name.
Amen.

May 24 2023

Don’t Do A Pablo

Olutayo Fadipe Devotional 0

‘ Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.’
– 1 Corinthians 10:12-13

Wednesday, May 24, 2023

Once upon a time, there was an interesting driver named Pablo.

Pablo drives a pretty aging car but does not like checking the dashboard to see the indicators. As you know, the dashboard has sets of indicators that give information to the driver on the state of critical parts of the car like fuel level, engine oil gauge, speed, etc.

When asked why he does not like checking the dashboard, he said ‘It’s because I don’t want to have a panic attack. The indicator lights get me scared and worried so I’ll rather drive till the car stops, then find out what’s wrong and get it fixed. After all, what will be will be.’

What Pablo does not know is that the indicators on the dashboard are to help save him from embarrassment, sudden stops, the cycle of disappointments, and even fatalities.

Poor Pablo!

Unfortunately, there is a ‘Pablo’ tendency in so many of us believers today, we live without paying attention to the dashboard in so many phases of life; health, finance, career, investments, family, and most especially life in the spirit.

We go go go; active in ministry, work hard in career pursuit, chase business interests, attend to other people’s needs, and more activities but often never take care of ourselves. So much performance, and little time for reflection.

For a check, when last was your prayer point about sincerely seeking the mind of God and not just asking for more ‘breakthroughs’?

The saying, ‘where there is a will, there is a way’ applies to us when money is at stake but in spiritual matters, we procrastinate and say things like, ‘God is not that hard’ or ‘We can always do it another time’.

Want to check your life dashboard indicator, ask yourself any of the following questions:

Do I pray less often than I use to do?

Do I read my Bible daily or once in a while?

Is the Bible becoming less preferred than other books?

How much time do I spend on personal entertainment and personal agenda compared to time with God?

I urge you therefore to pause and reflect on your activities and actions.

2 Peter 1: 5-11 is a great read, Vs 10-11 encourages us;
‘ Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; ¹¹for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.’

Today, allow the Holy Spirit to re-focus and re-adjust your heart where need be, it will save you from the heartache of frustration and the cycle of defeats.

Stop and take a look at the indicators in your life and relationships, don’t take things for granted or get burnt out.

God’s investment in you is too precious to be wasted, don’t do a Pablo.

LET US PRAY:

Dear Lord, set my heart on fire for you. Send a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit to my church, my city, and my nation. We need another revival like the great awakenings of past generations. Do it again, Lord.

Let the book of Acts be repeated in my lifetime. Unleash the full force of Pentecost, and let me be a part of it. I don’t want to be a spectator in this movement. I want to be in the very middle of it! Let my heart burn with the anointing of the Holy Spirit, and let me carry that fire everywhere You send me.

In Jesus’ Name, I pray Amen.

May 23 2023

Spirit of Innovation

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‘When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. “Where did this man get these things?” they asked. “What’s this wisdom that has been given him? What are these remarkable miracles he is performing’
– Mark 6:2

Tuesday, May 23, 2023

Robotics, machine learning, big data, artificial intelligence, and virtual reality, are some of the new frontiers technology is exploring as boundaries of knowledge keep expanding every day.

Watching technology evolve over the years, I wondered how much innovation is constantly taking place in various fields in the developed nations of the earth…and then I began to think…what new thing have I done?

What innovation has the Lord introduced to my community through me?

Isn’t it amazing how some Christians could sometimes dismiss innovations and accomplishments of “unbelievers” as “satanic” and yet largely remain unproductive and constantly critical of everything new that everyone else does?

Noah introduced ship-building technology, Moses brought the Laws on tablets of stones, Abraham showed the path to prosperity with well-in-the-desert solutions, David, military excellence, and Solomon innovatively managed and multiplied wealth.

Romans 12:2 says Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Renew and innovation are similar words.

God’s word declares in Isaiah 43:19-See, I am doing a new thing… meaning that without any doubt, God is still doing new amazing things.

The question is this…why isn’t He doing them through many of us?

There is a type of person that God will use to express His creativity. You must decide to be a change agent on Earth.

If you will obey God and “take dominion, subduing the earth…(Genesis 1:28)” as commanded by God then you must “Study to show (ourself) approved…( 2 Timothy 2:15) and ‘renew your mind..’ (Romans 12:2)

Dig deep into your field of calling and interest. Reflect, Rethink, Reimagine, and Ask Questions. Prayerfully ask God to do a new thing through you in there. Only then will you have a similar testimony as Jesus Christ, one full of the Spirit of innovation.

LET US PRAY:

In Jesus’ Name, I declare I am a change agent on earth. I grow myself beyond average. I diligently put to use my creativity to bring innovative solutions to the earth, and glory and honor to God.

I renew my mind daily. Behold old things are passed away and all things are new in my life.

Dear Heavenly Father, do something new in my life, with my life, and through my life.
In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

May 22 2023

Born To Rule

Olutayo Fadipe Devotional 0

So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”’
– Genesis 1:27-28 (NKJV)

Monday, May 22, 2023

Adam (before the Fall) was actually created with a nature to rule, govern, and exercise authority.

When interpreted in the light of the definition of governing (Webster’s dictionary), the man was created “to direct and control; to maintain the superiority,” not to be lorded over by other people, evil forces, or even unfortunate circumstances.

Through the second Adam, Christ Jesus, we were redeemed and our dominion mandate was restored. Hence, you who believe in Christ have become an overcomer, a conqueror.

When Adam was placed in the Garden of Eden, God’s instruction to him— which remains the same for you & me today —was to subdue, have dominion and multiply.

The innate drive to govern and legislate is divine. It should never be buried but rather refocussed through the help of the Holy Spirit.

Demon spirits always work to hinder the destiny of individuals and nations since they are fallen angels themselves. Their intent is to frustrate, and if possible terminate continuous progress and existence.

You and I must rise in the power of the Holy Spirit, with a mentality of one with dominion mandate to destroy all the plans of the enemy against our individual lives, families, communities, and nation.

Always remember the following truth;
You are the hope of the nations.
You have the dominion mandate.
You are part of the sent ones with the authority of heaven.
You are sent to where you are now by God for His good purpose

LET US PRAY:

Dear Heavenly Father, grant unto me the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Christ. I pray that my eyes of understanding will be enlightened so that I may walk in revelation knowledge and my God-given authority

May the peace of God prevail in Nigeria and the nations of the earth. May God’s counsel and kingdom be established in this nation today. The earth (Nigeria inclusive) is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

May 20 2023

Imitate Christ

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⁵In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

⁶Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;

– Philippians 2:5-6

Saturday, May 20, 2023

It’s our Bible reading day and we are in the letter of Apostle Paul to the Philippians chapter 2. In this passage, we will learn about Christ and His relationship with the Father. You will also gain insight into the attitude and mindset to develop in order to be a true disciple and representative of Christ.

Join me let’s read and meditate on Philippians 2:1-18. Pray that the Holy Spirit will speak to you and open your eyes of understanding to see beyond the letters. Amen

Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, ²then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. ³Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, ⁴not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

⁵In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

⁶Who, being in very nature God,
    did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
⁷rather, he made himself nothing
    by taking the very nature of a servant,
    being made in human likeness.
⁸And being found in appearance as a man,
    he humbled himself
    by becoming obedient to death—
        even death on a cross!

⁹Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
    and gave him the name that is above every name,
¹⁰that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
¹¹and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
    to the glory of God the Father.

¹²Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, ¹³for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.

¹⁴Do everything without grumbling or arguing, ¹⁵so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky ¹⁶as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain.

¹⁷But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. ¹⁸So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.

May 19 2023

Happy Happy Home

Olutayo Fadipe Devotional 0

..a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding.

– John 2:1-2 (NIV)

Friday, May 19, 2023

Isn’t it interesting to note that the fate of humanity is hanging in the balance, and Jesus is whipping up some choice of wine at a wedding party?

Well, the first item on God’s agenda after creating the world in the Old Testament was also a wedding, Eve and Adam.

So it’s no surprise that the New Testament miracles also started at a marriage ceremony.

Jesus cares about every detail of our lives including our relationships. Do you know why Jesus was there? “Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding.” (John 2:2)

Jesus was invited. If you know only one thing about Jesus, know this: He will come into any situation where He is invited.

Is He invited into your home too? There is a song we used to sing while growing up, but I am not sure it’s so common again. It goes thus;

‘With Jesus in the family,

Happy Happy Home’ ‘

With Jesus in the family,

Happy Happy Home’‘

Happy Happy Home!’

If you feel like Jesus isn’t involved in your relationship or marriage, maybe your invite is not clear and direct enough— He won’t just party crash. You have not because you ask not. — James 4:2

If you feel overwhelmed or pressured by the demand of a marriage relationship, then you need to specially invite Jesus. He is never too busy, it’s never too late with Him.

Ask Him into your children’s life, family finance, and love life, and give Him no restrictions. Invite Him to any and every area of your relationship.

No matter the state of your marriage, daily invite Jesus Christ to your home. Make Him the Lord and King in your home and let everyone and everything be subject to His authority.

LET US PRAY:

Dear Lord Jesus Christ, I invite you into my love life and family affairs. I ask you to be the leader in my relationship.

Mold and shape all my relationships into your pattern. I ask that you bring my family into our divine purpose and full restoration of all blessings.

May your joy and Spirit strengthen my home.

In Jesus’ Name, I pray. Amen.

May 18 2023

Honor God

Olutayo Fadipe Devotional 0

‘ You who fear the Lord, praise him! All you descendants of Jacob, honor him! Revere him, all you descendants of Israel! ‘

– Psalm 22:23

Thursday, May 18, 2023

Our culture tends to treat God as common. We’re too familiar with him. We refer to Him as “the Man Upstairs” or “the Big Guy,” or we say things like “Jesus is my big bro!.”

Hmmm…, Jesus is more than your big bro. He is the savior, the Righteous One who shed His blood so that we would live.

You have to stop treating God as common or like your mate. When you’re able to see Him as He is, you’ll honor others not because you want to be good people but because His name is in your heart.

If you’re a believer, what makes you different and valuable is the name of Jesus written on your heart. Because of what He did for you on the cross, the only reasonable response is to do something with your life that honors Him.

May we not be a generation that gives God only lip service. Instead, we’ll show Him honor from our hearts. It’s because of what He did that we are who we are.

You should value others and show them honor, and help them see that they were valuable enough for Jesus to give His life.

When you place your selfish egos, love for comfort, and the feeling of entitlement on the altar of honor, you become aware of the value that God places on each and every life, including yours.

Praise God today, Honor God with your life, honor the people around you, and let the name of the Lord be treated with utmost respect and honor.

LET US PRAY:

Dear Heavenly Father, I yield my heart, my love, and my joy to you. I offer my everything to you. Help me to honor you in all things and at all times.

Help me to love and honor others too, friends, colleagues, relatives, and siblings.

Help me to honor people in authority, and leaders, especially, my Parents and my church leaders.

In Jesus’ Name, I Pray. Amen.

May 17 2023

Honor Each Other

Olutayo Fadipe Devotional 0

‘ Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.’
– Romans 12:10 (NLT)

Wednesday, May 17, 2023

The word honor simply means ‘a valuing’. Other definition of honor is appreciation, esteem, favorable regard, and respect.

Honor gives preference to others because it values and esteems another.

When we honor people, we will look out not only for our own interests but also for the interest of others.

Rather than compete against others, we’ll treat them the way we desire to be treated.

Honor carries with it great rewards God desires you to have. But the greatest reward is seeing others rise to their potential and become whom God has destined them to be.

As we honor those in our world, we activate the gifts of God within them and we empower them to flourish.

Living an honorable life leaves a lasting impression on all those we come across. That’s because people won’t always remember what we did for them, but they will always remember how we made them feel.

And that’s the very essence of an honorable life: placing value upon others.

Let’s see honor restored to the sons and daughters of God. People are extremely valuable to God, and that’s the reason Jesus died for us.

When we honor people, we honor God.

Honor can be displayed through acts of service, speaking kind words, and giving thoughtful and relevant gifts. But all true honor originates from the heart.

Go ahead today and appreciate the men and women God has connected you with (family, workplace, neighborhood, church, etc).

Above all, Our Father in Heaven is to be honored, adored, and worshipped with all your heart, so Honor God with your life.

LET US PRAY:

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for your love and exceeding grace towards me. I thank you for the men and women you have placed in my life to influence me for good and God.

Today I pray especially for all the people in my immediate circle of influence; in my workplace, church, and neighbourhood. May they live strong and true. May they live exemplary lives and come to the saving revelation knowledge of Christ.

I bless them, their families, and all their endeavors.
In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

May 16 2023

Holy Spirit Infilling

Olutayo Fadipe Devotional 0

“So I say, live by the Spirit, and will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.

17 For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other so that you do not do what you want.

18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.”
– Galatians 5:16-18 (NIV)

Tuesday, May 16, 2023

Our world today is full of many self-help strategies, feel-good techniques, and goose-bumping motivational cliches that make men (and women) believe that there is no need for the supernatural.

With the great advance in artificial intelligence, robotics, machine learning, etc. has come a big disregard for the power of the Holy Spirit. This ought not to be so.

More than ever before, this is the time to get closer to the Holy Spirit. He is the only one that can help navigate the course of life when all looks very uncertain, ambiguous, volatile, and complicated.

God is calling you to shake off every lethargy and lean into the supernatural power of the creator. The real truth is that when all is said and done, the eternal controls the temporal.

For us to walk in our full power as children of God, we must put the Holy Spirit back at the center. We need a fresh infilling of the Holy Spirit to once again be all that we are created to be.

37 On the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink.

38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.”

39 By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.” (John 7:37-39 NIV)

Jesus Christ our savior here makes it very clear that the infilling of the Holy Spirit is the real deal.

Isaiah 55:1

“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.”

Ps 16:8-11 NIV

“I have set the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

9 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure,

10 because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay.

11 You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.”

You will experience a life filled with joy when you set the Lord as your focus and priority.

Luke 11:13

“If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Receiving the Holy Spirit is not a fable or rocket science. All you need is to ask God, He will give you freely and abundantly.

It’s time to calm down, refocus, and ask for a fresh infilling of the Holy Spirit… there in is all we need for life and godliness.

LET US PRAY:

Dear Lord Jesus, I set you as my King, and Lord, fill me afresh with the water of life. I come to you to drink from the living water.

Dear Lord, I thirst and hunger for the Holy Spirit. I receive gifts of the Holy Spirit and from now on I shall walk in the full complement of the Spirit. I manifest all the fullness of God.

in Jesus’ Name, I pray, Amen.

May 15 2023

Rest In God’s Favor

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‘ For you, O Lord, will bless the righteous; with favor You will surround him as with a shield. ‘
– Psalm 5:12

‘ The church is the primary arena in which we learn that glory does not consist in what we do for God but in what God does for us’
– Eugene H. Peterson

Monday, May 15, 2023

Do you remember the story of Ruth? Ruth was a poor Moabite widow who ended up meeting and marrying Boaz, one of the richest men in Bethlehem. (Interestingly, Bethlehem was also the site of Jesus’ birth, isn’t God so strategic)

Her life started to change for the better after she confessed favor upon herself. When she went out to glean heads of grain, she said to Naomi, “Please let me go to the field, and glean heads of grain after him in whose sight I may find favor.” (Ruth 2:2–3).

What God did for Ruth, He can do for you too. He can make the right happenings happen for you. Simply believe and confess that you have favor with Him.

Ruth confessed favor and happened to find herself in the field of Boaz. Who do you think was leading and guiding her?

With all our “wisdom” and high IQs, we are not always able to put ourselves in the right place at the right time to experience blessings or even escape disasters.

Only God can do that supernaturally. That’s why favor with Him gives us rest. Because when you trust in the favor of God, even if you are not very smart naturally, God can put you in the right place at the right time and prosper you!

Beloved, when you live life believing that you are favored by God, you don’t have to worry about the things that you don’t know.

Believe that God will make known to you what you need to know. You don’t have to live life trying to make sure that you have everything covered.

Rest in God’s unearned and unmerited favor and watch Him put you in the right place at the right time!

LET US PRAY:

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for the truth of your word. I receive the blessing of the righteous in my life by the blood of Jesus. I declare that I am highly favored. I am surrounded with favor as a shield. I live above struggles and stress. I rest in God’s favor. I am blessed indeed.
In Jesus’s name, I pray, Amen.