RHAPSODY OF REALITIES DAILY DEVOTIONAL

THURSDAY 21ST DECEMBER 2023. Pastor Chris

THEME: ENJOY THE TRANSCENDENT LIFE

THEME SCRIPTURE: The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows). (John 10:10 AMPC).

Our opening verse is so heart-warming and enlivening. It clearly states a specific reason for which Jesus came, which is for you to have and enjoy life to the full. Take a moment to meditate on this: He came for you to enjoy the transcendent life that He’s given you. That’s His plan and He doesn’t want anything to cheat you out of it.

This is contrary to what religion teaches. In religion, people may feel compelled to sacrifice themselves to please God. However, in Christ, it’s different. He died and was sacrificed for you. He gave His life for you to have His life.

The Bible says, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us”(Romans 5: 8 ). In 1 John 3:16, the Apostle John reveals, “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us... Thanks be unto God; after laying down His life for us, He was raised for our justification. And on that basis, you’re to have and enjoy life to the full, till it overflows.

It may be challenging for some to believe that He came for them to have life and enjoy it, especially if they’ve had a different experience for a long time. Some others may wonder, can one truly enjoy life while battling sickness, pain, weakness or infirmity of the body?

The answer is evident—no! But as already stated, it’s the reason Jesus gave us His life, which is uninfectable, a life that’s superior to sickness and disease. 1 John 5:11-12 says, ..this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life...You have that life now; it’s the God-life. Enjoy it!

It’s your heavenly Father’s delight to see you healthy, vibrant, strong, joyful, and brimming with life. Therefore, embrace His plan for you to have and enjoy life to the full. Be exuberant with joy as you contemplate the life of glory, dominion, abundant grace and peace that He’s given you in Christ Jesus. Hallelujah!

PRAYER
Dear Father, I embrace your plan for me to have and enjoy life to the full. I’m exuberant with joy today as I contemplate the life of glory, dominion, abundant grace, and peace that you’ve given me in Christ, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

FURTHER STUDY
1 John 5:11-12
And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He that hath the Son hath life; [and] he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

1 Timothy 6:17 NIV
Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.

DAILY SCRIPTURE READING

1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN
Revelation 13:1-10 & Nahum 1-3

2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN
Acts 2:14-24 & 2 Chronicles 35

RHAPSODY OF REALITIES DAILY DEVOTIONAL

FRIDAY 22ND DECEMBER 2023. Pastor Chris

THEME: WE ARE LIKE HIM

THEME SCRIPTURE: Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the Day of Judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world (1 John 4:17).

When you received Christ, you received His life and nature and became like Him. 1 John 3:1 further explicates this truth. It says, “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.”

We’re His offspring, born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God (John 1:12-13). Think about it, if you’re born of God, what does that make you? Divine! No wonder He said through the psalmist, “I have said, Ye are gods: and all of you are children of the most High” (Psalm 82:6).

The Lord Jesus reiterated this truth when He said, “...Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?” (John 10:34). The people of the world may not recognize us, just as they didn’t recognize Jesus when He came. But today, through divine revelation, our eyes have been opened to this truth to walk accordingly.

The Bible says “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:2). What does this mean? It means our physical bodies will be transformed into glorified bodies at the Master’s return. But right now, we have His life and nature—as He is, so are we in this world.

Recall that after His resurrection, His disciples were gathered in a room, with the doors and windows shut, but Jesus came into their midst through a wall. They initially thought He was a ghost but He invited them to touch Him, emphasizing that He had flesh and bones, unlike a ghost.

Outwardly, our divine nature, personality and identity may not be readily apparent to the people of the world, but it makes no difference. We’re who God says we are—sons of God—not only for the future but right NOW!

PRAYER
Dear Father, I thank you for your life and nature in me; I celebrate my identity, knowing that you created me in your image and in your likeness. I’m a partaker of your glory, majesty, splendour and righteousness. Thank you, for your organic and existential attributes are manifest in me, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

FURTHER STUDY:
Ephesians 4:24
And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

1 Corinthians 15:48-49 AMPC
Now those who are made of the dust are like him who was first made of the dust (earthly-minded); and as is [the Man] from heaven, so also [are those] who are of heaven (heavenly-minded). 49 And just as we have borne the image [of the man] of dust, so shall we and so let us also bear the image [of the Man] of heaven.

Colossians 3:10
And have put on the new [man], which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

DAILY SCRIPTURE READING
1-Year Bible Reading Plan: Revelation 13:11-14:1-20 & Habakkuk 1-3

2-Year Bible Reading Plan: Acts 2:25-36 & 2 Chronicles 36

RHAPSODY OF REALITIES DAILY DEVOTIONAL

SATURDAY 23RD DECEMBER 2023. Pastor Chris

THEME: THE INFINITE EXPANSE OF HIS DOMINION

THEME SCRIPTURE: And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places (Ephesians 1:19-20).

When God raised Jesus from the dead, He set Him at His own right hand, “Far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world but also in that which is to come”(Ephesians 1:21).

Right hand in Scripture means the place or seat of power. It’s like you say, "Jim is my right-hand man"; it means Jim represents and speaks for you; you’ve given him your authority. Jesus being seated at God’s right hand means He’s seated in the seat of power; God operates through Him. That’s amazing!

But then we observe something remarkable about the infinite expanse of Jesus’ dominion. His dominion surpasses all levels and hierarchies of power. It’s “Far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world but also in that which is to come” (Ephesians 1:21). Blessed be God!

The Lord Jesus reigns supreme in this world as it is now and also in the ages to come. He holds unmatched authority over all things, and His Name stands above every title. Praise God! The Amplified translation renders it beautifully. It says Jesus is far above “...every title that can be conferred], not only in this age and in this world, but also in the age and the world which are to come” (AMPC).

The New Living Translation emphasizes something even more interesting; it says, “...he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else in this world or in the world to come.” In other words, call them whatever you want—the superiority of the Lord Jesus is undeniable—transcending all persons, all limits and all boundaries.

That’s the Lord Jesus Christ in whom you believe and whose birth is celebrated at this time all around the world. His authority knows no bounds and has no equal. His power extends throughout eternity. Hallelujah!

PRAYER
Dear Father, I’m in awe of your mighty power, which was demonstrated when you raised Jesus from the dead and set Him at your right hand in the heavenly places, far above all levels and hierarchies of power, dominion and every title or name. Thank you, for I’m seated with Him in this glorious place of power and authority and have become his operational headquarters in the earth. Amen.

FURTHER STUDY:
Colossians 2:9-10
For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

Philippians 2:9-11
Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of [things] in heaven, and [things] in earth, and [things] under the earth; 11 And [that] every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ [is] Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Hebrews 1:1-3
God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by [his] Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; 3 Who being the brightness of [his] glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

DAILY SCRIPTURE READING
1-Year Bible Reading Plan: Revelation 15 & Zephaniah 1-3

2-Year Bible Reading Plan: Acts 2:37-47 & Ezra 1

RHAPSODY OF REALITIES DAILY DEVOTIONAL

SUNDAY 24TH DECEMBER 2023. Pastor Chris

THEME: HIS GOODWILL TOWARD ALL

THEME SCRIPTURE: And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night (Luke 2:8 ).

Luke 2:8-14 provides a remarkable account of the angelic announcement to the shepherds in the fields near Bethlehem. As the shepherds were keeping watch over their flock by night, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, filling them with awe and reverential fear.

The angel reassured the shepherds, saying, "Fear not" and went ahead to deliver the good tidings of great joy that would be for all people. The angel proclaimed the birth of a Savior in the city of David, who is Christ the Lord.

Furthermore, the angel gave the shepherds a sign to find the new-born Saviour. They would find the baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. Suddenly, the heavens were filled with a multitude of angels, praising God and declaring, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men” (Luke 2:14). What an announcement!

His goodwill toward all men hasn’t stopped since then. This is our Gospel! This is what Christmas is about! The Bible says, “To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:19).

God is looking at all nations today with goodwill. Jesus Christ was God’s love message; He was God’s love letter to the world. When Jesus came, He was the expression of the will and nature of God; He was the expression of the Father’s righteousness! He was the manifestation of God’s love.

Now, the most sublime of it all is that He made us the expression of His will and nature. 2 Corinthians 5:21 declares, “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”In Christ, we are made the righteousness of God. Every day of your life, you’re the unfolding of the Father’s heart. In other words, you are the revelation of the Father’s heart and of His will.

PRAYER
Dear Father, thank you for your love, grace and goodwill towards all men; we take advantage of your goodness and mercy to spread your Word of truth and thereby bring men into the glorious life, peace, blessings and righteousness in Christ, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

FURTHER STUDY:
2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

Romans 5:8-9
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

1 John 4:9-10
In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son [to be] the propitiation for our sins.

DAILY SCRIPTURE READING
1-Year Bible Reading Plan: Revelation 16 & Haggai 1-2

RHAPSODY OF REALITIES DAILY DEVOTIONAL

MONDAY 25TH DECEMBER 2023. Pastor Chris

THEME: JESUS—THE TRUE GOD AND ETERNAL LIFE

THEME SCRIPTURE: And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent (John 17:3).

As we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, it’s important for us to grasp the full import and meaning of eternal life. The fact that Jesus brought this life makes it absolutely imperative that we know what it means. What then is eternal life?

To understand what it means, you’d have to first understand what the Scripture says about God, about the divinity of Jesus Christ, idolatry, and life itself. Many have only known eternal life to be the life and nature of God. But I’ll give you a definition that clarifies it. Eternal life is the organic and existential attributes of deity.

In those few words, you have the distinguishing factors—everything that separates our God from all others that may be called gods. These attributes must be organic, and they must be existential. And you can only find that in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as expressed in Jesus Christ.

That is what makes it beautiful because we don’t see Him, yet we can call Him God. But who is He when you don’t see Him? That is why many have represented God with whatever they think He is—stones, wood, or some materials and shape—but our God is real and true.

Some people may argue that He doesn’t exist, but He came to us in Jesus Christ. The Bible says, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14 NKJV).

Jesus is Himself, God. Hallelujah! And He is eternal life: “And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. THIS IS THE TRUE GOD, AND ETERNAL LIFE”(1 John 5:20). 1 John 1:2: “For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us.”

PRAYER
Dear Father, I thank you for the revelation of your personality to my spirit. I’m overwhelmed by your boundless love. I thank you for the privilege and blessing to be a partaker of your life, and show forth your praises and express your righteousness in the earth, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

FURTHER STUDY
John 17:3
And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

1 John 5:11-13
And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He that hath the Son hath life; [and] he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN
Revelation 17 & Zechariah 1-3

2 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:
Acts 3:12-26 & Ezra 3-4

RHAPSODY OF REALITIES DAILY DEVOTIONAL

TUESDAY 26TH DECEMBER 2023. Pastor Chris

THEME: JESUS—GOD’S WORD MANIFEST IN FLESH

THEME SCRIPTURE: He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not (John 1:10).

John 1:14 says, “And the Word became flesh...” (NKJV). In essence, the Word changed form and became manifest in the flesh, and that’s Jesus! Where was Jesus before He was born in Bethlehem? He was in God as God’s Word. For example, your words right now are in you until you speak them forth.

Words are thoughts clothed with vocabulary. When you speak, you speak your thoughts. Your thoughts are clothed with language so someone else can understand. So, your thoughts reside within you until you express them in words.

When you’re thinking about something, nobody else can discern your thoughts; they remain concealed within your heart. However, when you speak, your words become tangible and can be captured in time. This is why we can record your voice and replay it later. Five years down the line, someone can hear what you said, but it was hidden in your heart until you uttered it.

Imagine if your words, once captured in time, could step out of a computer or a recorder and materialize as the very things you said. This is precisely what God did through Jesus Christ. Jesus became the embodiment of God’s will, a revelation of His divine purpose and the manifestation of His boundless love.

If you wanted to understand what God is like, you only needed to look at Jesus. He declared, “I and my Father are one” (John 10:30). And He consistently performed the works and spoke the words that emanated from the Father. In essence, Jesus was the living expression of God’s Word.

It’s quite common for people to be puzzled by certain aspects of Jesus’ life, such as when God spoke from heaven during His baptism. So, they say, “If Jesus was the manifestation of God, how come, when He was being baptized, God spoke from heaven?”

God’s nature and capabilities are far beyond our understanding. We can draw a parallel from modern technology: when I preach from a particular location, anywhere in the world, my voice is heard in every known country and territory on earth and in multiple languages. If that is possible in this world, then think about what God can do! His ability to speak from heaven while Jesus was on earth transcends human limitations.

PRAYER
Lord Jesus, you’re the God of heaven and earth; you pre-existed creation, and by you, all things exist and consist. I honour you, for you’re the embodiment of wisdom, grace and truth; the only true God! Thank you for giving me a life of victory, success, prosperity and divine health. I love you forever.

FURTHER STUDY:
John 1:1-4 NKJV
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.

John 1:10-14 NKJV
He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

DAILY SCRIPTURE READING
1-Year Bible Reading Plan: Revelation 18 & Zechariah 4-6

2-Year Bible Reading Plan: Acts 4:1-12 & Ezra 5

RHAPSODY OF REALITIES DAILY DEVOTIONAL

WEDNESDAY 27TH DECEMBER 2023. Pastor Chris

THEME: NO FORCE CAN PREVAIL AGAINST YOU

THEME SCRIPTURE: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16).

Did you know that the statement in our opening verse is a divine decree? You’re kept from perishing for believing in Jesus Christ. That means nothing and no one can harm you. Jesus said in Luke 10:19, “Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”

He also said in Mark 16:18 that if you drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt you. This is your heritage in Christ. Psalm 91:5-7 says, “Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day: Nor the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.”

Notice the latter part; it says the evil, the pestilence, and the terror that destroy others won’t come near you; why? Because you’re in Christ! Christ is a place; and therein you’re shielded from the destructions, calamities and degradations of this present world. Hallelujah!

It further reminds of the words of the Prophet Isaiah in Isaiah 54:17, “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper...This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD....” The reason the weapons can’t prosper is that you have eternal life—the indestructible, incorruptible and impregnable life of God!

Remember what we read in our opening verse: “...whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” It’s a life of absolute mastery and dominion, a life of glory, victory, success and excellence. Because of this life in you, no evil force can prevail against you. You’re more than a conqueror! Glory to His Name forever!

PRAYER
Thank you, Father, for your glorious life in me; I live triumphantly today, far above Satan and the negative systems of this world. Thank you for appointing me to a life of glory, victory, success and excellence, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

FURTHER STUDY:
1 John 4:4
Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

Romans 8:35-39
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? [shall] tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or unclothedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

DAILY SCRIPTURE READING
1-Year Bible Reading Plan: Revelation 19:1-10 & Zechariah 7-8

2-Year Bible Reading Plan: Acts 4:13-22 & Ezra 6

RHAPSODY OF REALITIES DAILY DEVOTIONAL

THURSDAY 28TH DECEMBER 2023. Pastor Chris

THEME: THE SPIRIT OF WISDOM FOR REVELATION

THEME SCRIPTURE: That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you THE SPIRIT OF WISDOM AND REVELATION in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints (Ephesians 1:17-18).

The underlined portion in our opening scripture above seems to suggest that the Apostle Paul was referring to two different things: the spirit of wisdom and the spirit of revelation, but no! He’s dealing with one and the same thing: the Spirit of wisdom bringing you revelation—the unveiling of mysteries—“apocalupsis” (Greek).

The Spirit of wisdom refers to the operations of the Spirit of God in wisdom, the Spirit of God manifesting Himself in wisdom. The use of the word “and” in that expression needs to be properly understood. In the Greek rendering, the word translated “and” is also translated “in”, “with”, or “for.” Therefore, a better rendering of that expression is “...the spirit of wisdom in revelation” or “the spirit of wisdom for revelation” in the exact knowledge of God.

In the Amplified Classic version, it says, “[For I always pray to] the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, that He may grant you a spirit of wisdom and revelation [of insight into mysteries and secrets] in the [deep and intimate] knowledge of Him]” (Ephesians 1:17). This is the ministry of the Spirit of wisdom in your life: He brings you revelation—insight into mysteries and secrets.

Secondly, He brings you light (photizo—Greek); He floods your path with light. He illuminates your mind with extraordinary sagacity and amplitude of comprehension. Thirdly, He brings you counsel and direction such that life ceases to be mysterious to you.

Always acknowledge that you’re filled with the Spirit of God in wisdom and spiritual understanding; therefore you know and can discern His will. Every so often, declare, “I have insight into mysteries and secrets; I function at the highest level of excellence and in the perfect will of God, because I’m filled with the Spirit of wisdom for revelation in the deep and intimate knowledge of Christ." Hallelujah!

CONFESSION
I’m filled with the Spirit of God in wisdom for revelation; I have insight into mysteries and secrets. I function at the highest level of excellence and in the perfect will of God, because l’m filled with the deep and intimate knowledge of Christ, in all wisdom and spiritual understanding. Amen.

FURTHER STUDY:
Ephesians 1:17-18 AMPC
[For I always pray to] the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, that He may grant you a spirit of wisdom and revelation [of insight into mysteries and secrets] in the [deep and intimate] knowledge of Him, 18 By having the eyes of your heart flooded with light, so that you can know and understand the hope to which He has called you, and how rich is His glorious inheritance in the saints (His set-apart ones),

1 Corinthians 1:30
But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

Colossians 1:9
For this cause we also, since the day we heard [it], do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;

DAILY SCRIPTURE READING
1-Year Bible Reading Plan:,Revelation 19:11-21 & Zechariah 9-11

2-Year Bible Reading Plan: Acts 4:23-37 & Ezra 7

RHAPSODY OF REALITIES DAILY DEVOTIONAL

FRIDAY 29TH DECEMBER 2023. Pastor Chris

THEME: JESUS MADE FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD A REALITY

THEME SCRIPTURE: For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us (Ephesians 2:14).

The Lord Jesus came to bring us into fellowship with God. He came to establish an intimate relationship—a oneness between God and man so that man can truly know God; and He achieved it. In Christ Jesus, we were given eternal life; the life and nature of God was imparted to our spirits.

He said in John 10:10 NIV, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” The Christ-life in its fullness is what you received when you received Jesus as Lord of your life. The Bible says in Colossians 3:4, “Christ is our life”; He’s the life of the one who’s born again. What a Gospel!

This is what He wants us to preach and teach around the world. He said in Mark 16:15, “...Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” He wants us to let the world know that a relationship with Almighty God is possible; righteousness is possible and available. All it takes is to believe: “...whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:15). Hallelujah!

Jesus died for our sins, but He rose triumphantly from the dead after three days. His death settled the charges against us, but it didn’t make us one with God. It was His resurrection that gave us eternal life and brought us into oneness with God.

Now, Jesus Christ isn’t only the Lord of your life but also one in and by whom you’ve found rich and deep fellowship: “That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ” (1 John 1:3).

1 Corinthians 1:9 says, “God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.” This is what God had always wanted with man: fellowship! Jesus made it a reality. Hallelujah!

PRAYER
Dear Father, thank you for the remarkable gift of fellowship, oneness, friendship and intimacy with you, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, who has made your presence real to me. I enjoy the depth of this relationship, and walk in the love and righteousness that Jesus has made available for me to live by. Amen.

FURTHER STUDY:
1 John 4:9-10* In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. 10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son [to be] the propitiation for our sins.

1 Corinthians 1:9
God [is] faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

1 John 1:3 AMPC
What we have seen and [ourselves] heard, we are also telling you, so that you too may realize and enjoy fellowship as partners and partakers with us. And [this] fellowship that we have [which is a distinguishing mark of Christians] is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ (the Messiah).

DAILY SCRIPTURE READING
1-Year Bible Reading Plan: Revelation 20 & Zechariah 12-14

2-Year Bible Reading Plan: Acts 5:1-11 & Ezra 8

RHAPSODY OF REALITIES DAILY DEVOTIONAL

SATURDAY 30TH DECEMBER 2023. Pastor Chris

THEME: HE REHEARSED DIVINITY TO US

THEME SCRIPTURE: No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him (John 1:18).

The word “declared” in our opening verse originates from the Greek term “exegeomai,” signifying not just a mere declaration but the act of rehearsing or unfolding something. In essence, Jesus rehearsed divinity to us. He came to reveal God in a way we could relate with and understand.

The life of Jesus was a living testament, a vivid portrayal of the Kingdom’s principles and the divine way of living. This profound truth is why the Bible instructs us to follow in His footsteps, for He’s given us an example to emulate.

1 Peter 2:21 underscores this beautifully: “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps.” Jesus came to show us the Father’s love, character and will. He said in John 14:9, “...he that hath seen me hath seen the Father...”; a claim only the One who was God in the flesh could make.

Ephesians 5:1-2 says, “Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us....” The term “followers” translates from the Greek word “mimetes,” denoting not merely followers but imitators, those who copy another. We’re called to be imitators of God, but how can we imitate God when we haven’t seen Him?

Jesus made it possible! He came to reveal God’s nature and His love for us. God loves us; we know because we see from the Scriptures how Jesus was moved by love and compassion. Jesus in action was God at work.

Now we can manifest the Father’s love, His righteousness, mercy, compassion and grace because that’s what Jesus did when He walked the earth. We have the life of Christ in us, and His love is poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5). The Apostle Paul tells us, “And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma” (Ephesians 5:2 NKJV).

PRAYER
Dear Father, thank you for revealing your nature and your love to us through the Lord Jesus. I follow in His steps and imitate Him in my daily life, loving as He loved, walking as He walked and thinking as He thought. Your love shines through me as a testament to your character and nature in me, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

FURTHER STUDY:
John 14:9
Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou [then], Shew us the Father?

1 John 3:16
Hereby perceive we the love [of God], because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down [our] lives for the brethren.

Ephesians 5:1-2 AMPC
THEREFORE BE imitators of God [copy Him and follow His example], as well-beloved children [imitate their father]. 2 And walk in love, [esteeming and delighting in one another] as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a slain offering and sacrifice to God [for you, so that it became] a sweet fragrance.

DAILY SCRIPTURE READING
1-Year Bible Reading Plan: Revelation 21 & Malachi 1-2

2-Year Bible Reading Plan: Acts 5:12-23 & Ezra 9-10

RHAPSODY OF REALITIES DAILY DEVOTIONAL

SUNAY 31ST DECEMBER 2023. Pastor Chris

THEME: OUR MINISTRY OF HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS

THEME SCRIPTURE: Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God (Philippians 1:11).

God sent us to take his presence to the people and nations of the world, demonstrating to them the character of the Spirit. But what's in that presence? It's the righteousness of God. When we bring the presence of God to an individual or a community, we're bringing them the righteousness of God.

This very much aligns with the vision of Jesus. He came to set up the Kingdom of God in the earth; He came to establish God's righteousness. Before His birth, the angel announced to Mary that His name shall be called Emmanuel— God with us (Matthew 1:23). That's God's presence, and Jesus was the righteousness of God unveiled in flesh.

God's presence is His righteousness in manifestation. That's why we preach and teach the righteousness of God; because only through His righteousness can the people experience His Person. You can't know God with your senses; you can't know Him until you understand His righteousness, which is revealed in His acts of love.

It's the reason we want the whole world to know who Jesus is. We want the whole world to experience the righteousness of God. When we talk about the love of God, the love of God actually is the demonstration of the righteousness of God.

Wherever the righteousness of God is in manifestation, the love of God is experienced. We've been made His righteousness, which means the righteousness of God is in manifestation through you in your world-in your office, in your home etc. You hold forth the fruits of God's righteousness everywhere.

It's the reason when you get involved in a matter, it shouldn't be about taking sides with anyone but about establishing the righteousness of God, because that's what we represent; that's what we're called to establish. Glory to God!

PRAYER
Dear Father, thank you for making me a conveyor of your divine presence, a dispenser of your righteousness. Everywhere I go, I exude the excellence and elegance of the Spirit. I'm the manifestation of your righteousness. I spread and speak forth your righteousness and give vent to your glory and virtue, in Jesus' Name. Amen.

FURTHER STUDY:
Philippians 1:9-11;

And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ. Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

Philippians 2:13;
For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

2 Corinthians 5:21
For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Revelation 2 & Malachi 3-4
2 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Acts 5:24-32 & Nehemiah 1-2

Hi, trust you doing well