ojaysjoel blog

“For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:” Colossians 1:16 (KJV)    "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   Beloved, many people are ignorant of who Jesus Christ really is; hence, Apostle Paul spent some time educating us about the greatness of Jesus Christ.  The opening scripture reveals to us that Jesus Christ created all things (John 3:3). He is the Word that proceeds from the mouth of God. Everything you can think about in heaven and on earth was created by Him—visible and invisible things, thrones, dominions, principalities and powers. Can you think of anything that was not created by Him?   Jesus is also the resurrection and life. All who believe in him have life, in them there's no d...

“The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.” Psalms 9:9-10 (KJV) Beloved, a refuge is simply a place that provides shelter or protection. The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed in times of trouble. Is it not wonderful to hear this? Of course, it is! Are you being oppressed? Are you being afflicted in any way? The only place that can provide refuge for you is to run to the Lord. He is a strong tower; the righteous run to Him and are safe (Proverbs 18:10). Beloved, God is so good that He will not forsake you if you put your trust in Him (Hebrews 13:5). It is time to trust Him wholeheartedly and get intimate with Him; when you do this, He will also get intimate with you and will be ever ready to come to your aid in times of need (Psalms 46:1). Hallelujah!   Prayer Point: My precious Father, thank You for being my refuge. Indeed, You...

 "Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. Psalm 37:5" Devotion : The children of God have been called to live a complete life unto God. As a child of God, you cannot live part of your life for God and part of it for the world. Let God, the children of God, and unbelievers know your position in Christ and what you believe. Live a complete prayer life, and once you commit your plans to God in prayer, trust also in Him.  When you commit your plans to God in prayer and then go about complaining over the very things you have committed to Him, you have not trusted Him. Instead, after you have committed your plans to Him, praise Him for answered prayer.   Then communicate faith-filled words to everyone who puts your faith to the test, and God will bring to pass what you have asked of Him. Hallelujah!   Share your thoughts here! http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=kjvstudybible.bible.kjv.bibleverses.bibleoffline

“For thou, Lord, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.” Psalms 5:12 (KJV) Beloved, the knowledge of God’s Word in you determines the number of blessings you will receive from God. Do you want to be blessed? If you do, then there are things that you must do. The psalmist has given us the clue—that is, to be righteous. When you have the right standing with God, He blesses you. When you become born again, you are imputed with the righteousness of God; hence, you are righteous (2 Corinthians 5:21). Beloved, being born again qualifies you to have fellowship with God. As you live a life of obedience to Him, He blesses you with favor; your whole life is compassed with favor like a shield. (Psalms 132:11–12) This favor causes people to bless you, respect you, and honor you. Dear beloved, don’t compromise your righteousness. Continue to live a righteous life by being kind to people and refraining from sin, and you will see the glory of God in your lif...

“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13 (KJV) Beloved, the children of God are not immune to temptation. Temptation is part of the Christian training. Remember that Jesus Christ was tempted so that He would be able to help us in times of temptation (Matthew 4:1-11, Hebrews 2:18). When Jesus Christ was tempted, He overcame the temptation with the Word of God; in fact, He armed Himself with the Word of God and was ready to take on any form of temptation. Beloved, this should be our disposition in times of temptation; we should arm ourselves with the Word of God and look for the way of escape that God has provided for us. God is faithful and He will not allow us to be tempted above our strength. Arm yourself with the Word of God and be on the alert so that you can overcome t...

"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Philippians 4:8" Devotion : Destiny has to do with your future; it is the power that controls what happens, but you can change your future by what you think.  Thoughts are so powerful that they have the ability to change what you do on a daily basis, which has a bearing on your future. If you want your future to be great, think on the following: truth, honesty, justice, purity, love, and good report. When you think on these things, you will develop good virtues for your life.    These virtues are also praiseworthy, which will influence the decisions and choices you make. Your good decisions and wonderful choices will lead you to a better future and hence a fulfilling destiny.     Dear ...

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6 (KJV) As a child of God, you have the Holy Spirit resident in you. He is there to help you (John 14:16). He has all the answers you need to succeed in every endeavor. You don’t have all the answers within your own power; that is why you need to depend on the Holy Spirit. Trust in Him with your whole heart and lean not on your own understanding. Acknowledge Him by fellowshipping with Him and engaging Him in your plans for Him to direct you. Beloved, when the Holy Spirit is involved in all your endeavors, you will know no failure or defeat in life (Isaiah 41:13, Isaiah 30:21). He should be your priority—He will draw closer to you, and He will tell you all the secrets of life. He is in your life to make you great; therefore, cooperate with Him and you shall reign in life. Hallelujah! Prayer Point:  My holy Father,...

"Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. Isaiah 41:10" Devotion : Sometimes our emotions are influenced by the enemy to make us feel that our situation is hopeless or that God has left us. If that is how you feel, then draw inspiration from the opening scripture and know that God is still with you. Don't be afraid or confused; He is your God, and He has promised to strengthen you and help you. He will also uphold you with His right hand of righteousness. This should make you wipe away your tears and celebrate the Word of God. When you meditate on this Word and celebrate Him, power and grace are released to you. You will then have enough energy and backing of the Spirit of God to move on to accomplish what God has committed to you. Know that God cannot leave you nor forsake you (Hebrews 13:5). Hallelujah! Share your comments here! ht...

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. John 6:47" Devotion : What you get is determined by whom you believe. The act of believing works for both the born-again Christian and the one who is not born again. The only difference is the product of their belief. The one who is not born again may believe in his own god, which works for him, but there is a limit to what that god can go. Likewise, there is a limit to what that god can give; he cannot give eternal life. The only one who gives eternal life is Jesus Christ of Nazareth, and you get that when you believe in Him for the work that He did for you. Eternal life is more than long life her on Earth and then life after eternity. It is God's kind of life - the life that makes God who He is. It makes you one with Him as you become His child and share in His inheritance. You become qualified to partake in all the divine blessings that He has in store for His children. Receive limitless bl...

“For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.” Psalms 103:11 (KJV) The mercy of God is so great toward us, and this should give us the reason to continually bless the name of the LORD. Beloved, the mercy of God cannot be measured; consider how far heaven is above the earth. This is how great God’s mercy is toward His children. We must count ourselves blessed to be the children of God. The mercy of God can pick you up from poverty and make you rich; it can connect you to great men and women; it can pick you from nobody to somebody (2 Corinthians 8:9). Beloved, it is because of the mercies of God that we are not consumed (Lamentation 3:22). To continually benefit from His mercy, we must fear Him. If we submit to Him, serve Him, and are always obedient to Him, He will always enrich us with His mercy. Dear beloved, may the mercies of God provide for you so that you lack nothing. Hallelujah! Glory to God! Prayer Point: Merciful Father, I bless ...

“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” John 14:3 (KJV) There are skeptics who do not believe in the existence of heaven. Jesus Christ, however, spoke about heaven on many occasions, and He makes it real to us (Matthew 13:31–33, 45–52). In the opening scripture, He told His disciples He was going to heaven to prepare a place for them and that He would come again and take them there. To prove His skeptics wrong, He ascended and went to heaven (Acts 1:9). This was something that had never happened before, so they looked shocked and amazed, and they kept looking to heaven until two angels calmed them down (Acts 1:10-11). Dear beloved, heaven is real, and you must believe that it exists. It is a place Jesus has prepared for those who love Him and are doing His work. Be heavenly-minded and keep carrying out the work of Christ, and you will never miss heaven (Colossians 3:1–3). Hallelujah! God richly bl...

"Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Isaiah 55:6" Devotion : Christianity is the life of God living and working in the human being. It is a relationship between the child of God and our heavenly Father. The Old Testament saints did not have the privilege of the Holy Spirit living in them, so they had to seek God through the prophets of their time. The New Testament saints, on the other hand, have God taking up residence in them in the person of the Holy Spirit. They don't have to seek God through the prophets anymore but rather develop a personal relationship with Him through fellowship. When you fellowship with the Father through the Holy Spirit and the Word of God, He becomes close to you. He makes you sensitive to His voice and communicates with you. Dear beloved, make time to fellowship with the Father by worshipping Him through gospel songs, meditating on His Word, and doing the work He has committed to you, and you will have fu...

"For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. John 1:17" Devotion : The Holy Bible consists of the Old Testament and the New Testament. God started a dispensation in the Old Testament where He gave laws to the Israelites through Moses. These included laws about everything concerning the family, relationships, work, worship, sacrifices, marriage, etc. Even though the laws were good, the Israelites could not obey them all of them at all times; they found themselves disobeying the laws because they were not born again. God, in His own wisdom, created another dispensation in the New Testament through our Lord Jesus Christ. Here grace and truth have been given by Jesus Christ. You become a beneficiary of grace and truth when you accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior; you then become born again, and the Spirit of God comes to live in you. This makes it easier for you to be an obedient child of God because the Spirit guides you into all truth. Therefore...

“Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.” Proverbs 31:28 (KJV) A virtuous wife is hard to find in this world because many women of today do not develop themselves to serve their husbands and their children. Beloved, a virtuous wife is a woman who fears God and serves Him (Ecclesiastes 12:13). She understands the needs of others and she is ready to meet those needs. She is dependable and industrious. She wakes up early every day to put her home in order; she plans for her household every day (Proverbs 31:15). She serves her husband and takes care of the needs of her children. Beloved, a virtuous wife even supports her maids to do their work better. Because of her love for her household, her children wake up and call her blessed; her husband praises her and supports her. When you give to others, it shall be given to you, pressed down, shaken together, and running over (Luke 6:38). Dear beloved ladies, endeavor to be a virtuous wife and you will...

“He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.” Isaiah 40:29 (KJV) Knowing that God is a great giver is the beginning of silencing all worries in your life. Beloved, the child of God has all the available resources to live a meaningful life unto God (John 14:16). Have you come to a point where you are weary and about to faint? It is time to call for help from your Father. The opening scripture says He gives power to the faint; to those who are weak or have no might He increases their strength. This is why the Holy Spirit came to dwell in us; He is the power of God (Acts 1:8). Beloved, ask the Holy Spirit for all the power you need to function in this life. If you are blessed with speaking in tongues, speak in tongue; the more you speak in tongues the more you are rejuvenated with the power of the Holy Spirit to do marvelous works (1 Corinthians 14:4). Don’t allow yourself to grow faint or weak for the enemy or allow the pressures of this life to d...

“Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.” Romans 13:1 (KJV) Beloved, the authorities established in the various institutions of the state are ordained of God. Due to this truth, God wants His children to submit to these authorities, and pray for them (1 Timothy 2:1–2). There are some who submit to the authorities in the church but neglect those in other institutions such as the police, tax officers, etc.; this is wrong. Beloved, the opening scripture tells us to submit to all authorities because God ordained them. If you are fond of evading taxes, give no regard to the traffic light, and go to work late as a civil servant, it is time to stop these habits and honor the authorities God has instituted. Submitting to them is a mark of humility, and God will promote you in due time because God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble (1 Peter 5:5). Beloved, humble yourself so that God can lift you up ...

"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14:27" Devotion : There is no perfect peace anywhere except in Jesus Christ of Nazareth. He is the giver of perfect peace. The peace of this world does not provide the divine peace that we need. It only leads to a troubled heart and fear because it is man's way of providing peace for themselves and not God's. The presence of security personnel cannot provide you with enough security, although it is good to have them. The world does not only need the presence of human security. They also need the peace giver, whose name is Jesus Christ; His peace overcomes a troubled heart and fear of all kinds. Ask Him to come into your life now if you don't have Him in your life yet so that you can have peace with God. When this peace is resident in your spirit, you will be at peace with yourself, and you will no longer be tor...

“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” John 10:10 (KJV) Knowing that the devil has nothing good to offer is the beginning of putting him under your feet. Beloved, Jesus Christ is God and knows everything about the enemy we are dealing with. He told us all we need to know about the devil; there is nothing good in him (John 8:44). He is a thief, a killer, and a destroyer. He comes only to steal, kill, and destroy. He steals your attention by telling lies and giving you wrong information; after he has succeeded, he goes further by killing your dreams and visions and destroying your future. Beloved, don’t give him your attention; give all your attention to Jesus Christ, Who has come to give life to overflowing (Hebrews 12:2). Dear beloved, give more attention to the Holy Scriptures so that it will be easy for you to identify the strategies of the devil and overcome them (Psalms...

“And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.” Psalms 50:15 (KJV) Knowing how to call on God at any time is the beginning of gaining dominance over any kind of trouble or situation. Beloved, some children of God have not learned to put their faith to work by calling on God (1 Thessalonians 5:17). They move from place to place for prayers, and some move from church to church looking for miracles. Some have become victims to charlatans who call themselves pastors or prophets. This should not happen to you. Beloved, our opening scripture has given the truth of God’s Word. He said we should call upon Him in the day of trouble, and He will deliver us and we shall glorify Him. Is that not wonderful? Of course, it is! Put your faith to work by calling on Him and He is ready to answer you (Jeremiah 33:3). Don’t stop calling on Him until He Has answered you (Luke 18:1). Delay is not denial; He will surely come to your aid, and you will have a testimony...

"Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength. Proverbs 8:14" Devotion : It is good to be born again. When you are born again, you become a child of God, and as a child of God, you have access to the inheritance of God. One of the greatest gifts of God is divine wisdom, which is the right application of knowledge to give you good results. The opening scripture throws light on what divine wisdom will produce in you. It produces good counsel, sound wisdom, understanding, and strength. Dear beloved, ask God for wisdom, (James 1:5) and He will give it to you. When you receive divine wisdom, nourish it with the Holy Scriptures since the Word of God is the wisdom of God. In the Holy Scriptures, you will find good counsel to run your life, sound wisdom to make good decisions, understanding to execute your plan, and strength to live in divine health. Praise the Lord! Share your thoughts here! http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=kjvstudybible.bible.k...

“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7 (KJV) There are many who run from place to place, seeking solutions to their plight. Beloved, the opening scripture says the solution lies in you; it says for every situation we find ourselves in, the first thing we need to do is to pray. No wonder Jesus Christ was fond of rising early before dawn to pray (Mark 1:35). Beloved, prayer is the greatest weapon you have as a child of God, and you must use it. Instead of worrying, pray and make your request known to God; He will send His peace to keep your heart and mind calm while you wait for the results. Beloved, don’t ever make a decision and execute it without praying about it—that may lead to a disaster. Learn to pray to God about everything, including the smallest matters, and yo...

"The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1" Devotion : The way you see God will determine the way you will react to Him. The psalmist had an intimate relationship with the Lord; God was his light and salvation. As his light, God directed him and dispelled all forms of darkness in his life. The Lord as his salvation provided him with all the protection, comfort, and peace that he needed. When he made the Lord his light and salvation, fear fled from his life. He was girded with strength and lived in divine health so that sicknesses and weakness became things of the past. Dear beloved, who is God to you? Have you also made Him your light, salvation, and strength? If you have, then there is no course to worry or fear because God will make sure He provides you with light, salvation, strength, nourishment, and everything you need. You will then be like the psalmist to testify of the goodness ...

“And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” Romans 5:3-5 (KJV) Being happy and joyful irrespective of the situation in which you find yourself is a mark of maturity in Christ Jesus. Beloved, the Kingdom of God is the only place that has a lifestyle of unending joy (Romans 14:17). You can be happy and joyful no matter the circumstances in which you find yourself (Philippians 4:4). Beloved, the opening scripture gives us the reasons why we should rejoice in tribulation. It says tribulation works patience, experience, and hope in us so that shame is cast out of our lives. Anytime difficult times hit you, ask for the grace to endure it because God uses challenges to develop spiritual maturity in us (James 1:2–4). This will make us attain an unwavering faith that will h...

"For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Matthew 7:8" Devotion : Jesus Christ is the hope of the world, and those who find Him have rest for their souls. He gives us assurance that there is no discrimination in the Kingdom of God. Anything that has to do with asking, seeking, and knocking has already been provided for. If you ask, you will receive; if you seek, you will find; and if you knock, it shall be opened to you. In this way, we can use the principles and tools of asking, seeking, and knocking to find the solutions to all of our needs. Whichever principle or tool you use will have an answer for you because there is no discrimination with the Father. Come to Him in faith, take your answers by faith, and the solution to your needs will materialize. Let this consciousness be in you so that you can enjoy the relationship you have with your heavenly Father. Hallelujah! Share your comments here! http://pl...

“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:” John 1:12 (KJV) Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. John 20:17"   After three days, during the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb to attend to Jesus Christ's body, but He was not there; He had risen. Jesus Christ found her and told her He was ascending to His God and to her God, what a wonderful family so if we truly belong to the family of God we already have power to succeed. Knowing that you have the power to succeed is the beginning of making success possible in your life. Beloved, it is good to be born again, because when you become born again you a family member. With that you are given the power to succeed. Our opening scripture throws light on that power: the power to become a child...

"Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. Philippians 4:6" Devotion : As a child of God, God expects you to live in wisdom to make all of your time profitable to you and to His Kingdom. The energy and time you spend worrying over things you don't have control over could be made useful instead. Simply turn all your worries and complaints into prayer, supplication, and thanksgiving. Being anxious over the needs in your life will simply make your situation worse because it will steal the joy of the Lord from your life. Learn to thank God in every situation because He is aware of what you are going through. Commit your worries to Him in prayer and humble pleading. After you have done that, live in an atmosphere of celebrating your answers before they even materialize. The continual joy of the Lord in your life will bring people around you who can supply the answers to your needs. Praise t...

"Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment. John 7:24" Devotion : To judge is to form an opinion or conclusion about someone or something after careful thought. It is also to regard someone as either good or bad. The children of God have been given the right to judge, but Jesus Christ cautioned His disciples not to look at the outward appearance. This is because outward appearance can be deceptive. On the outside, someone could be dressed nicely, but his motive for dressing this way could be wrong. Maybe he has dressed nicely to rob others of their belongings. Someone who is dressed nicely could have good motives too; the motive could be to make himself presentable to preach the Word of God or to invite clients to his business. The only way to judge right is to depend on the Spirit of God for direction; His Word will give you discernment as to what is good and what is bad. So rely on the Spirit of God and His Word to judge right. Praise the Lord! Sha...

"Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for thou art my praise. Jeremiah 17:14" Devotion : The prophet Jeremiah walked with God, and in his walk with God, he developed a lifestyle of praising God. He actually made God his praise - that was how intimate he was with God. The blessings he derived from such a close and intimate relationship with God were healing and salvation. When Apostle Paul and Barnabas praised God while in prison, they were delivered from prison supernaturally (Acts 16:25 - 30). Dear beloved, move a step further in your relationship with God by making Him your praise, and see how God will bring healing to your spirit, soul, and body. He will also deliver you from the plans and attacks of the enemy. Hallelujah! Share your thoughts here! http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=kjvstudybible.bible.kjv.bibleverses.bibleoffline

“A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.” Proverbs 15:18 (KJV) Wrath is strong, vengeful anger; it is an uncontrolled form of anger that leads to rage and, subsequently, to evil. Beloved, the opening scripture points out to us how dangerous wrath is—a man full of wrath can do nothing but stir up strife. Such a man only creates an atmosphere of violent conflict and confusion. Anger is a virtue that can be used for a good or bad course. Beloved, when Jesus Christ went to the temple and saw people selling in the temple, He was angry and drove all of them out with a whip; this kind of anger is called righteous anger because it propelled Him to work for God (John 2:13–17). We are encouraged to be slow to anger, meaning that we should check our anger and ensure that it fulfills the righteousness of God (Ephesians 4:26–27). Where there is confusion and chaos, our righteous anger can calm the situation or bring it under control. Praise the Lord! Be an ...

“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” James 1:5 (KJV) Wisdom is understanding and the right application of knowledge. Beloved, it is not enough to know the Holy Scriptures—you need to understand what you know and how to apply it in the right context to get good results (James 1:22). Why do we need wisdom? We need wisdom to make informed decisions and right choices, especially in times of trials, tests, and temptations (James 1:2–4, Matthew 4:1–11). Beloved, the book of James, chapter one from verses two to four, reminds us that the Christian journey is not all rosy and cozy; we will face trials, tests, and temptations. These are moments where we need the wisdom of God to understand what we are going through so that we can stand our ground and overcome them. Therefore, ask for wisdom any time you face challenging situations, so that God will direct you to make the right decisions and choices to b...

"I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. Psalm 91:2" Devotion : There are people who complain about every little thing, and by doing so, they tend to find themselves saying inappropriate things about God. God is still working in the lives of His people on this earth; the psalmist noticed this and made a proclamation about God as he praised Him. God was his refuge and fortress, and he put his whole trust in Him. Dear beloved, learn to say beautiful things about God. Notice the little things He does for you, and praise Him for it. When you praise and worship Him for the little things, He is motivated to draw closer to you to do the greater things that you have not even asked Him to do for you. Learn to create new songs to bless His name, and make Him your personal God so that you can also declare that "the Lord is my refuge and fortress." Hallelujah! Share your thoughts here! http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=kj...