ojaysjoel blog

"But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel. Timothy 5:8" Devotion : The Bible wants Christians to be living examples of the Word of God, and Jesus Christ wants the world to know that He can provide for His own. He is the good shepherd, and He makes us lie down in green pastures and leads us beside still waters. Our Savior wants us to learn from Him so that we will also be able to provide for our own households. Because He says even unbelievers are able to provide for their households, Christians should be in a position to do it even better than unbelievers can do. Anything less than that is unacceptable, and that is why a Christian who cannot provide for his household is worse than an unbeliever; he has truly denied the faith. King David said he had never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging for bread; indeed, God is able to provide for His children. Dear beloved, what ...

"My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. John 3:18" Devotion : There are people who can make you believe in them, but in the end, they are unable to deliver what they had promised. The principle of the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ is to walk the talk. If we back the Word of God with action and deliver what we promise, it will distinguish us from the rest of the world. Jesus Christ is a living example; He talked about love, healing, abundance, death, resurrection, and ascension, and He made sure He demonstrated all these to distinguish Him as the Son of God. He is the only one who has resurrected and ascended to heaven. The children of God, as witnesses of Christ, should share the Word of God, talk about it, and, above all, live it with their deeds and in truth. Dear beloved, are your words different from your actions? How do you hope to change this? Share your comments here. http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=kjv...

"That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Colossians 1:10" Devotion : God our Father Has qualified us to be partakers of His inheritance, and because of this, He wants us to walk worthy of our calling, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. He also wants us to be strengthened with all might according to His power. Finally, He wants us to walk in patience and joyfulness. Since we have been qualified by the Most High, we have to live according to His expectation so that He can give us more grace. With this grace, we can bear fruit for Him and live in joy. You have been qualified by God, so you don't need man to qualify you before you live a life worthy of your calling. Live a life of responsibility because you have been qualified. Hallelujah! Share your thoughts here. http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=kjvstudybible.bible.kjv.bibleverses.bib...

"By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. John 13:35" Devotion : Love works like a magnet since everyone wants to be loved. Jesus shared a big secret with His disciples-the secret to winning more souls for Him. When Christians love one another, anyone who sees them will want to join them because everyone is looking for love. When they find it, they will want to stay there. This is the very thing the enemy hates. The devil and his cohorts of darkness will do everything possible to put confusion in the midst of those who love one another. This is why the church should be on the lookout to identify the strategies of the devil when members who once loved begin to do otherwise. The devil will want to use talebearers, backbiters, and critics to cause the love in the church to fade away. These groups must be identified and prayed for as well as counseled so that the love in the church can remain active. Charity within the church must be en...

"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Hebrews 12:1" Devotion : There is a race set before every child of God and he or she is expected to win this race. The race may not be the same for everybody, but the expectation of winning is the same for everybody. What must we do then? The opening scripture gives us a clue to the answer: We should lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily besets us, and run with patience. The weight in your life may be laziness, pornography, overeating, ignorance, failing to study the Bible frequently, etc. The sin that easily besets you might be telling lies, stealing, gossiping, fornication, adultery, drunkenness, etc. It is our duty to identify that sin in our lives; they may not be the same for everyone since we all have different temperaments and weaknesses. Onc...

"Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Psalm 119:11" Devotion : Christians need to have knowledge about where to keep the Word of God. The Holy Scriptures are to be kept in the hearts of believers in Christ Jesus. That is why our Lord Jesus Christ wants us to be students of the Word. He kept the Word in His heart and was able to defeat the devil when He was tempted during His forty days fasting and prayer (Matthew 4:1-11). He quoted from the Holy Scriptures stored in His heart, and we need to learn from Jesus Christ and also continually keep the Word of God in our hearts so that we can be victorious in all circumstances. The psalmist discovered this and was able to overcome sin in his life. When we continually hide God's Word in our hearts, we will win the battle against sin, doubt, anxiety, poverty, deceit, ignorance, and devils and demons. Dear beloved, where are you keeping the Word of God? Share your comments here. http://play.google.co...

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Philippians 4:13" Devotion : The Word of God and the knowledge of God are power. There are no longer any limits to what the children of God can do in this world because Jesus Christ gives Christians the ability to do all things. Without Christ, you are faced with limitations: sin, fear, sicknesses, infirmities, challenges, death, and the like. However, when Jesus Christ comes into your life, He gives you grace to overcome all of these. Apostle Paul knew this secret, and therefore he declared, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Whenever you face any limitation, declare the same words as Paul: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." As you continue to declare this, the limitation will vanish. Hallelujah! Dear beloved, are you confronted with any limitations? What do you think you must do? Share your thoughts here. http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=kjvstudy...

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Philippians 4:13" Devotion : The Word of God and the knowledge of God are power. There are no longer any limits to what the children of God can do in this world because Jesus Christ gives Christians the ability to do all things. Without Christ, you are faced with limitations: sin, fear, sicknesses, infirmities, challenges, death, and the like. However, when Jesus Christ comes into your life, He gives you grace to overcome all of these. Apostle Paul knew this secret, and therefore he declared, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Whenever you face any limitation, declare the same words as Paul: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." As you continue to declare this, the limitation will vanish. Hallelujah! Dear beloved, are you confronted with any limitations? What do you think you must do? Share your thoughts here. http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=kjvstudy...

"Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. Jeremiah 17:7" Devotion : Everybody who comes across this scripture should be happy indeed. God has blessings for those who trust and hope in Him! These are some of the easy blessings that Christians can take advantage of as they walk with God. God expects an absolute trust and hope from His children, and if you are deceived to doubt Him, then you will lose the blessings that come from trusting and hoping in God. It is time for believers in Christ Jesus to start trusting the Holy Scriptures and hoping in the Word of God for easy blessings. Dear beloved, do you trust and hope in the Bible you carry? Share your thoughts here! http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=kjvstudybible.bible.kjv.bibleverses.bibleoffline

"But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: Peter 2:9" Devotion : Knowing who you are determines your continual victory and success as a Christian. The Holy Scriptures have thrown light on who Jesus Christ has made Christians: a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and a unique people. Believers in Christ Jesus should never look down on themselves and neither should they allow anyone to demean them. You have to be proud of who the Lord Jesus Christ has made you. You have been selected, made a priest, sanctified, and made special to declare the praises of Christ, who has called you into His marvelous light. When you live a lifestyle of who Christ Has called you to be, you will show the praises of Christ by your lifestyle. On the other hand, if you live like you are dejected, good for nothing, and sinful, while ...

"I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations. Psalm 89:1" Devotion : It is a good thing to make music unto God; when you rise early in the morning, make music unto Jesus. How do you feel when you wake up early in the morning and hear the birds singing? You feel excited! That is how God feels when you sing new songs to Him from a sincere heart. The psalmist found this secret key and said he would sing and make known the faithfulness of the Lord to all generations. Dear believer in Christ Jesus, don't remain quiet over what God is doing in your life. Testify about the faithfulness of the Lord Jesus Christ, and let others know about the mercies of God in your life. There are those who only sing and thank God when things are rosy in their life, but this should not be the case for you. The psalmist said he would sing of the mercies of the Lord forever. He had a culture of celebrating the Lord in good time...

"With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: Ephesians 6:7" Devotion : People have various intentions or motives when rendering service; their intent may be ulterior, evil, good, etc. The only motive permitted by believers in Christ Jesus, however, is to serve people with good intent; serve others as unto the Lord. Wherever you find yourself, be it at the office, on board a vehicle or aircraft, in the community, or at home, serve as though you are serving the Lord. The reward for our service comes from the Lord, and as we serve with good intent, He will bless us here on Earth as well as in heaven. However, if we serve as unto men, seeking favor from them, we will be disappointed in the end because men have no eternal reward for us. Dear beloved, what motive do you have for the service you are rendering? Share your comments here. http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=kjvstudybible.bible.kjv.bibleverses.bibleoffline

"Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. John 14:1" Devotion : There are many people in this world who believe there is a God, but when it comes to believing that Jesus Christ is God, they don't believe. The disciples themselves had to be made to believe that Jesus is God. There was one occasion where Philip asked Jesus to show them the Father; Jesus Christ's response was that if they have seen Him, they have seen the Father (John 14:9). On another occasion, Jesus told the Jews, "I and My Father are one" (John 10:30). In the opening scripture, Jesus Christ had to allay the fears of His disciples by asking them to believe in Him. After Jesus had resurrected, however, they believed that Jesus Christ is God. When Apostle Thomas saw the resurrected Jesus, touched His hands, and put his fingers into His side, he said, "My Lord and my God" (John 20:28). Even in some Christian denominations, Jesus is considered to be only on...

"Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved. Psalm 55:22" Devotion : The God kind of life is a life that is totally dependent on God. God is your burden bearer, and therefore, there is absolutely no need to burden yourself with the issues of life. If you have knowledge of the opening scripture and you are still carrying your burden, then you are demonstrating that you want to be a god unto yourself. Instead, our responsibility is to cast the burden on God in prayer, and He will then sustain us. Jesus Christ buttressed this point when He said all who are heavy laden should come to Him and He will give them rest (Matthew 11:28). God knows how to take care of His children, and He is always ready to rescue the righteous from any kind of struggle. We need to learn to cast the burden of sin and our physical needs on Jesus Christ because we are the reason why He came. Dear beloved, are you still carrying your burdens? Tu...

"As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. Psalm 103:15" Devotion : The psalmist came to a point in his life where he began to understand that life is short. He compared the human life to the grass and flowers of the field. In essence, when you are aware that life on Earth is short, you put forth your very best to live a fulfilled life-a life of knowing God and the Lord Jesus Christ and living to please them. Finding God's purpose for your life should be your priority. Once you have found it, live it to the fullest, knowing that you will have to give an account for your stewardship of it. There is a way to prolong your days: to fear God and depart from evil (Proverbs 10:27). Let's cheer up and live a fulfilled life unto the Lord. Hallelujah! Share your thoughts here. http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=kjvstudybible.bible.kjv.bibleverses.bibleoffline

"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. Luke 10:19" Devotion : Jesus Christ is a good God, and He has given power to all who believe in Him. One of the uses of this power is to tread on the serpents and scorpions. Another use of this power is to exercise dominion over our number one enemy, the devil. The serpents and scorpions represent the cohorts of darkness who are helping the devil to do all manner of evil. This scripture brings relief to Christians who are bound by fear and the shadow of death. Begin to exercise authority over that fear and the shadow of death, and they will disappear. Our Lord Jesus added that nothing will by any means hurt us. Any time the devil wants to deceive you into believing that he still has some power, be quick to place him where he belongs- under your feet. Dear beloved, no matter how the devil may try to put fear in you, don't give in ...

"And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. John 6:35" Devotion : There are two things that affect mankind on a daily basis: hunger and thirst. Not satisfying the physical hunger and thirst for a period of time could lead to starvation and death. This is also true when it comes to spiritual hunger and thirst, which can lead to eternal death. Jesus Christ is the bread of life, the only person who can satisfy spiritual hunger and thirst. When you receive Jesus Christ into your life, He gives you eternal life to destroy eternal death, which is eternal separation from the Father, in the lake of fire. After satisfying your spiritual hunger and thirst, He makes sure that you are also satisfied physically from physical hunger and thirst. As the good shepherd, Jesus Christ is able to take care of His children both spiritually and physically. This should encourage anyone to yearn to receive...

"Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: Hebrews 12:14" Devotion : The children of God have two relationships: their relationship with God and their relationship with men. When the children of God deal with men, they are expected to deal peacefully with them. The Scriptures say that as much as lies with the children of God, they should live peaceably with all men (Romans 12:18). It is only in the midst of this peace that we can experience continual development. On the other hand, the children of God must live a holy life because without holiness, we cannot experience the Lord. God is holy, and we can only see Him with a pure and sincere heart. If Christians are able to appropriately hold to these two standards in their relationships, they will live in continual joy and prosperity. Dear beloved, how do you live with your fellow men? What is your relationship with the Lord? Share your thoughts here. http://play.google.com/store/apps/det...

"And said, O man greatly beloved, fear not: peace be unto thee, be strong, yea, be strong. And when he had spoken unto me, I was strengthened, and said, Let my lord speak; for thou hast strengthened me. Daniel 10:19" Devotion : The Word of God is the solution for everything; whatever challenges you might be facing, the Holy Scriptures have answers for you. The prophet Daniel saw a vision of the Lord and became weak out of fear, but the angel of the Lord spoke the Word of God to him, and he regained his strength. Hallelujah! The angel of the Lord has taught us a lesson here: In the midst of our challenges, let's still depend on the Word of God and speak the Holy Scriptures to our difficulties, and we will receive the solution that we need. The Word of God is so quick and powerful that as soon as it is released, it goes out to accomplish the purpose for which it is released (Hebrews 4:12). Believers in Christ Jesus should have confidence in the Word of God and use it to sol...

"But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. Apostles) 1:8" Devotion : There is a very good reason why every Christians need the power of the Holy Spirit. When Apostle Peter received the power of the Holy Spirit, he could not deny Jesus Christ any longer. Instead, he was emboldened to preach for Jesus Christ and was prepared to die for Him. The Holy Spirit empowers the believer in Christ Jesus to witness for Christ and be bold to live for Christ. When you are born again, ask for the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. Because the Holy Spirit is already in you, you can ask Him to empower you to minister for Him, and He will do it. The initial sign is prophesying and speaking in tongues. After you have been filled, go out and witness for Jesus Christ, starting with your family or neighbors. As you do that, He will give you mor...

"Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: John 11:25" Devotion : Both resurrection and life involve existence - this is who God is. Nowhere in the Bible does God say that He is death or responsible for bringing death into existence. On one occasion, Jesus Christ even said God is the God of the living and not the God of the dead (Matthew 22:32). In other words, He is telling us that death does not come from God; instead, it came from the devil. Jesus Christ proved that He is the resurrection by raising Lazarus from the dead and then resurrecting Himself after His death on the cross. At the end of time, He will raise the dead and judge them- the righteous to everlasting life and the ungodly to everlasting damnation in the lake of fire. Without Jesus Christ, there is no essence of life; He makes life worth living. He said, "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more ...

"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Matthew 6:33" Devotion : The kingdom of God operates differently from the kingdom of this world. The kingdom of this world is all about acquiring material wealth, fame, popularity, money, etc. On the other hand, the kingdom of God seeks God's desire and His righteousness, which is His Son, Jesus Christ. If we put Jesus Christ first, He said He will add the wealth, money, job, spouse, etc., that we need. If we can only understand God and move along with Him, we will find everything we need in life quite easily. Our aim is to seek God's desire; doing what God and our Lord Jesus want will bring us other things that we may need. Let us walk with this understanding, and we will never be anxious for anything. Dear beloved, what do you need to seek first in your life? Share your comments here! http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=kjvstudybible.bible.kjv.bibleve...

"Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. Matthew 24:34" Devotion : There are two things revealed by the opening scripture: that which passes away and that which does not pass away. Heaven, earth, and mankind will all pass away, but the Word of God abides forever. The only way to ensure that you don't pass away is to become the Word of God, and this is not impossible. It is said that you are what you eat; in the same manner, you can become the Word when you continually feed on the Word and abide in the Word. The aim of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is for us to abide in Him and abide in His Word; it is only then that He can call us His disciples (John 15:7). Dear beloved, choose to feed on the Holy Scriptures and abide in the Word. Then you will live forever. Hallelujah! Share your comments here. http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=kjvstudybible.bible.kjv.bibleverses.bibleoffline

"Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me? Jeremiah 32:27" Devotion : The Almighty God, creator of heaven and Earth, has asked His children a question that must be answered. Everyone must come to the point where they can answer this question personally. Sometimes, because of the challenges, trials, sufferings, and difficulties we go through, we can feel anxious and focus on our circumstances instead of focusing on the Almighty God. God wants to tell all creation, including His children, that there is absolutely nothing that is too hard for Him. Jesus Christ came on the scene and said that although with men it is impossible, with God all things are possible (Matthew 19:26). Dear beloved, no matter what you are going through, never be so carried away that you cannot focus on God. He can do the impossible for you, and He will do it for you. Hallelujah! Share your thoughts here. http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=kjvstudybible.bibl...

"He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit. Thessalonians 4:8" Devotion : Apostle Paul, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, cautioned the church in Thessalonica not to look down on one another or one another's gifts. Every believer has been bought by the precious blood of Jesus Christ, so in God's sight, we are equal and should treat one another as such. Since all of the believers at Thessalonica were children of God, whatever they did to one another - whether good or evil - they were doing it to God. The Holy Spirit, who is the seal of our salvation, lives in every Christian, and therefore we must respect one another and never belittle anyone. We should also exhort one another daily (Hebrews 3:13). When we do these things, there will be unity among us, and we will do the work of God with joy instead of bitterness. When there is love and oneness among us, it is easy for the world to see the light in us and ...

"For if I have boasted any thing to him of you, I am not ashamed; but as we spake all things to you in truth, even so our boasting, which I made before Titus, is found a truth. 2 Corinthians 7:14" Devotion : The people of God have a certain kind of lifestyle that has been designed for them, and this should be a way of life if they want to continue to be the children of God. Their lifestyle could either bless their possessions or vise versa. To receive blessings from God, you first have to do everything God's way. In order to receive the blessing of healing from God, He has demanded humility, prayer, seeking His face, and repentance. Only then can He heal His children and their land. Today's Christians should not take God for granted; He still demands humility, fellowship, prayer, and repentance today because He is still a holy God. Dear beloved, if we want God to be close to us, fellowship with us, and answer our prayers, then we need to live lifestyles of prayer, hum...

"And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. Colossians 3:17" Devotion : It is really possible to live a perfect life or a blameless life. The Lord Jesus Christ said the object of perfection is God, and therefore we should be perfect or blameless as our Father in heaven is (Matthew 5:48). When Jesus walked this earth, Philip, one of His disciples, asked Him to show them the Father. Jesus answered and said that anyone who has seen Him has seen the Father (John 14:8-9). Jesus Christ is the express image of the Father, so if anyone wants to be like the Father, they should be like Jesus Christ. Apostle Paul came to know this in his own walk with Jesus Christ. That is why he said our words and our deeds should be Jesus focused while giving thanks to our Father. When we are focused on Jesus Christ and talk and act in His name, we are living in the path of perfection. Hallelujah! Dear beloved, do your words ...

"But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Hebrews 11:6" Devotion : God is a Spirit and requires that we worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4:24). He does not want us to have to see Him before we believe that He exists; He wants us to worship Him and relate with Him in faith. What He has said in the Holy Scriptures about Himself is all we ought to need to worship, serve, and relate with Him. Therefore, faith is the response of the human spirit to the Word of God. There are three things God requires in our faith: to acknowledge that He exists, to know that He is a rewarder, and, finally, to seek Him diligently. Let us therefore approach God in faith, and we will continually please Him and find rest for our souls. Hallelujah! Share your comments here! http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=kjvstudybible.bible.kjv.bibleverses.bibleoffline

"That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:15" Devotion : God Almighty does not discriminate when it comes to the subject of salvation. The invitation for salvation has been sent to all mankind for God is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34). If you will only believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Son of God and receive Him as your Lord and personal Savior, you will be saved and given eternal life as a free gift for your faith. He is ready to give it to whoever believes, so the question is, do you believe? If you do, then you shall receive His precious gift of eternal life. Don't ever demean yourself; He is not only the God of the Israelites but He is the God of all nations, tribes, races, genders, and tongues. Just come to Him with a sincere heart and receive your salvation. Without salvation, you cannot enter the kingdom of heaven. Dear beloved, what did you learn from this gospel? Share your comments here! http://play.google.com/...

"He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. Luke 6:48" Devotion : Jesus Christ compared those who do what He says to a wise builder who built his house on the rock. In other words, the foundation of the building determines both the strength and lifespan of the building. Jesus Christ is the rock of ages on which we ought to build our lives. He said if we do His Word, we are wise builders. The wise builder is ready to face the floods and storms of life - which represent the challenges, trials, and difficulties of life - without being shaken by them. He is certain that life is not all rosy, and therefore His disciples must come to terms with this and prepare themselves to face life; He is expecting nothing but success from them. Dear beloved, what foundation are you building your life on? Build your life on ...

  "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Matthew 5:6" Devotion : As a child of God, do you know what it means to be hungry and thirsty after righteousness? It means righteousness is what you eat and drink; in other words, you are always looking forward to doing what is pleasing unto God and are not ready to compromise whatsoever. Such people are even ready to sacrifice their lives for righteousness; this can be said of the twelve disciples of Jesus Christ and other martyrs of Christ. If you are determined not to compromise for righteousness, you will be filled with the fullness of the person of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, because He is the righteousness of God, 1 Corinthians 1:30. Those who are filled with the fullness of Christ Jesus will never die but live eternally to testify of God's goodness on earth. Hallelujah! Dear reader, do you want to live on earth without seeing death? If your answer is yes, then hunge...