ojaysjoel blog

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. Galatians 5:16 ESV Devotion: Few days ago the devotional topic was are you a Christian or a Church goer. Definitely there's a great difference between the two.  A Christian is born again and he's led by the Holy Spirit in all aspects of life but a Church goer is just there to keep the population of congregants. He is not interested in knowing and accepting Jesus Christ as his Lord and savior. He glories in the fact that he was born into Christianity, maybe the father was a pastor or prophet. His mother was a deaconess and himself was a chorister. To him that is enough he doesn't need the Holy Spirit.   Dear reader that is not enough, you must be born again and acquire the Holy Spirit through fervent and earnest prayer. Your mind must be focused on Jesus and you must live a life of total obedience. Then the Holy Spirit will take over and guide you always.  Remember the Holy Spirit is lik...

Romans 10:14, 17  How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Devotion: In many places in Africa especially the Sahel region, there are many who have not heard of Jesus at all, what they probably heard of him is totally different and wrong from who Jesus is. This is the reason they do not believe him and they call Jesus' followers infidels and slaughter them like rams.   Evangelists are available to teach them but they stopped their ears because they do not want to hear. They have an agenda to implement therefore they do not want to hear of Jesus. There are such people amongst us too, who because of their evil ways do not want to hear about the gospel of Jesus Christ.   What can we do in such situation? The effective way is to pray and pray for such person or group of people. No...

“With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; with an upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright; With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself froward.” Psalms 18:25-26 (KJV)   There is no Being in heaven or on earth that is wiser than God, the Creator of all things. The Christian Standard Bible quotes the opening scripture as, “With the faithful you prove yourself faithful, with the blameless you prove yourself blameless, with the pure you prove yourself pure; but with the crooked you prove yourself shrewd” (Psalms 18:25–26). The Most High is watching the conduct of everybody on earth to devise a way to react to them.   Beloved, the one who is merciful to others obtains mercy from God. He is faithful to those who are faithful; He shows Himself pure to those who are pure; for those who are blameless or upright, He relates to them in like manner; and to the crooked, He proves Himself shrewd or outwits them (Job 5:13).   Dear ...

For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Fear not, I am the one who helps you.” Isaiah 41:13 ESV Devotion: We all know that God can not lie 2 Thimothy 2:13, Titus 1:2. what he says He'll do He will do. God says fear not that He will help you. So all you need to do is believe and call on him for help as needed. I like to ask a question though, do you position yourself to receive that help, because we cannot live in sin and expect grace to abound Romans 6:1. Therefore I urge you this morning to return to God and live right with him then the help will flow from God to you. Dear reader, do you have concerns please make it known to us so that we can pray along with you. Hallelujah. By JO.

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20 ESV Devotion: Hey! Are you a Christian, truly born again or Church goer? A friend told me he was once a choirmaster and got his wife who was a chorister from there. Thank God they both believe and still standing in faith. I used to know someone with similar story but immediately he married the lady, this man went back to idolatry and died in it few years back.   Dear reader can you confess Christ just as Paul did in today's passage? If not there's still time for you to return to God and make peace with Him. Tomorrow might be too late 2 Cor 6:2.     What is your experience, share it with us. Stay blessed in Christ Jesus. Hallelujah!

"Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. Psalms 91:8" Devotion : The children of God who read this Scripture should be consoled over the acts of the wicked: surely there is a reward of the wicked. What is this reward of the wicked? The reward of the wicked is not something that is pleasant at all; it is described as the chaff which the wind drives away (Psalms 1:4).  The following happens to the wicked: God is angry at them every day; the wicked will be destroyed; evil shall slay the wicked; they are even estranged from the womb (Psalms 58:3); they flee when no man is pursuing them. They will be destroyed like wax in the fire. Psalm 68:2, the wicked will finally be turned into hell (Psalms 9:17).    As you can see, there is no peace for the wicked. Any wicked person reading this article should quickly turn from their wickedness and receive Christ Jesus as Lord and personal Savior. The bible says in Acts 3:19 "Repent ye therefore, and ...

Luke 15:17-18 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, (Read Luke 15: 1-20) Devotion: We all have made mistakes at one time or the other, the problem is not the mistake but ability to recognize the mistake and take appropriate steps to correct it. Some people would continue in their mistake and not recognize it.   The young man in the passage above learnt in the hard way; he was relatively wealthy after taking his inheritance but he squandered it all. He suffered hunger, slept in the cold, had no clothes and ate with the Swine. Glory to God he took the right steps and returned to his father.    You too may be in the same shoes as this prodigal son, you left your wife/husband because of a little misunderstanding. It's time to return and make peace. Did you leave sc...

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Matthew 7:7‭-‬8 ESV Devotion: There are lots of people on the streets these days who just roam aimlessly and they whine a lot. They'd tell you they have no money, they need medical care, no house etc. The list is endless.    When you offer them a job they start telling you reasons they'll not work; all they demand from you is financial assistance. But it doesn't work that way. Some will even quote the passage above for you telling you to just give. But then I'd tell them it doesn't work that way because you asked me you'd been given - the fishing net aka job to go and earn your living. When you seek you'd be thought "how to" in a seminar, a school and vocational training centre. Then the door of wealth is opened for you.   This is the proper way to ...

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. Proverbs 1:7" Devotion : The fear of the LORD is the foundation of knowledge. What is this fear of the LORD? The fear of God is to hate evil: pride and arrogance, and the evil way, and the perverse mouth (Proverbs 8:13). It is just as we fear our parents and always try to please them by reading our books, getting good grades and abstaining from vices. Our parents love us in return and frequently give us gifts.   Hence, anyone who fears God is humble and gentle, walks in the way of righteousness, and speaks to edify others.  When humility, gentleness, righteousness, and seasoned words are part and parcel of your life, the Holy Spirit will give you wisdom and long life to work for Him. He also adds riches, wealth, good health and fame. Hallelujah! Choose to fear God today and be a partaker of these divine blessings.   Dear beloved, what did you learn from this gospel? Share your t...

Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. Proverbs 4:23 ESV Devotion: The person is made up of the heart , soul and mind. It is  sometimes used interchangeably but the heart here refers to the thinking faculty of a person. It is from there future activities are thought out, strategies mapped out and the body now carries out what is decided. If a person will be good he makes up his mind(heart) to be good, he does good acts. A thief also does the same. I observed that the natural person finds it easier to cut corners, lie. An example, a toddler takes what does not belong to him and you ask he denies and goes to hide it. Nobody teaches a toddler that.   But you and I have known Jesus and have learnt His ways; to remain on this path we must be vigilant always least we go back to the devilish past that is against the will of God.  This is only achievable by fellowship with other children of God, daily fellowship with God in bible study, prayers ...

 From the sunrise in the east to the sunset in the west, may the name of the Lord be praised. Psalm 113:3 NIRV Devotion: The psalmist urges to praise the name of the Lord from East to the West because having done his research on creation and circumstances around he found no other name to praise. I don't know about anyone else but as far as I'm concerned the only name to be praised is that of my Lord Jesus Christ. The name is above other names , the miracle working name, the name of Jesus breaks yokes, drives away devil, overcomes difficulties and brings comfort to the troubled. I will ever Praise the Lord.  I know that many will not praise God because they believe in their ability and physical power. Such people forget that all success was from God and that he can take it from them at any moment. Some will give praise to some wooden/earthen god in the corner of their rooms.     If the name has performed wonders in your life you need to praise Him. Don't hide wha...

"He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever. Psalms 103:9" Devotion : Jehovah has a character He wants us to emulate and let it become our lifestyle. The opening Scripture says God will not always reprove or rebuke us, nor will He keep His anger forever.    How nice for our Father to behave toward His children! He becomes angry when we disobey Him but He does not reject us; He rebukes us in love and patiently waits for us to learn to do the right thing.    In like manner He tells us to be angry but sin not; we should not allow our anger to linger in our heart to propel us to do wrong. In other words, we should quickly turn away from our anger (Ephesians 4:26-27). If you are quick tempered, it is time to work on it and become like our heavenly Father.  If you are a parent, don't rebuke your children in anger but reprove them in love and patiently wait for them to learn to do right. Hallelujah!     Share your comments here! ...

Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget not all his benefits: Psalm 103:2 KJV Devotion: The best a man can do while here on planet earth is to bless the Lord. It's the exact reason for our existence. The reason is that all the things we possess were given to us by God our creator.   The rivers of water on earth is the reason we are able to live here and it is not from any atheist scientist but from God. Take the water away and human life will perish.  Let me explain, man visited the moon but found no life as we know it. Probes are on Mars, flyby of many other planets did not see signs of life as we know it. So human existence here is a gift. That we till the soil, the scientific achievement are all gifts from our creator. He deposited the ability, the DNA into us and gave wisdom to do what we want successfully.    So all we can do for him is to "Bless the Lord" regularly and to not forget all the beautiful things - trees, rivers, food crops, mountains, cool breeze etc ...

2 Samuel 14:14 For we must needs die, and are as water spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again; neither doth God respect any person: yet doth he devise means, that his banished be not expelled from him. Devotion: I attended a service of songs for a friend's brother's burial last evening where the verse above was preached. It dawned on me that everyone must "NEEDS DIE" one day.  The man who was celebrated was a fine gentle man, kind, lovely, humble and worshiped God, even my elder brother who happened to know him gave the same testimony when I got back home. Therefore I can safely conclude by human criteria that a Saint was spilt. He was spilt and cannot be gathered up again. That is the destiny of mankind; all must be spilt at one time or the other, some very early a few hours to few years while some others may live long above hundred but all "needs die".  But think again what happens after you are spilt, we cannot gather you. You are banishe...

Psalms 3:8  Salvation belongeth unto the LORD: thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah.  Devotion: Salvation is deliverance from harm, ruin, loss, and sin, as well as their consequences. The sending of Jesus Christ into the world truly depicts that salvation belongs to God (John 3:16). When you become born again, the blessings of God are deposited in you by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:3). All you need to do is believe that the blessings of God are deposited in you in heavenly places and keep declaring to yourself that you are blessed.  While declaring you need to get the right certificate and connections as well.   Then all things will work together for good to the glory of God.   Beloved, never complain about anything; be faithful in your tithes and offerings. Keep giving to the needy, be fervent in prayer, and fellowship with the brethren, and you will wallow in the riches, peace, and divine health of God (Numbers 11:1; 14:1–16). Hallelujah! Be blessing-c...

Is anyone among you wise and understanding? That person should show it by living a good life. A wise person isn’t proud when they do good deeds. James 3:13 NIRV. Devotion: Wisdom is demonstrated by living upright, relating with others with good manners and humility. A wise person is humble and understanding he approaches issues with caution and makes sure to not offend anyone.   These attributes can only be found in Christ Jesus and it is only right that we as followers of Christ copy these attributes. Let us examine ourselves and see if we have same attributes, if not it is not too late to start. All that is needed is humility to return and let Holy Spirit guide us.   Dear reader, do you have concerns, deal with it in prayers on your knees and Holy Spirit will guide you. Kindly share your experience with us. Hallelujah! Amen. By JO.

“Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.” Psalms 2:1-4 (KJV) The moment you became born again, you are engaged in a battle with forces of darkness. The opening scripture gives you the picture of the kind of battle going on between the kingdom of light and the kingdom of darkness. There is always a conspiracy in the realm of the spirit to destroy the children of God (Colossians 2:15).   There's an allegation that they have gone a step further in Nigeria now by writing to churches to close for three months otherwise churches will be attacked. (the video confirmation by top security officer is online).  Christians must be aware of this so that they can always be prepared to engage th...

As you deal with one another, you should think and act as Jesus did. Philippians 2:5 NIRV Devotion: A good child emulates his or her parents in their good acts. This is the reason we as parents must behave properly all the time so that the children will copy the proper behavior from us.   But these days most parents don't have enough time to live with the children so the children hardly know their parents in a proper manner. We used to have a tenant who worked out of town and only comes home Saturday nights just in time to drive the family to church on Sunday. The little kids thought he was the family driver and referred to him as such. Our Lord Jesus is always present with us and always ready to assist us (ie read the Bible). We as good children should emulate him in Love, humility, kindness, dedication and in prayer. In other words let people see the Christ in you. Dear reader, do you have concerns share it with us and God will guide you. Hallelujah.  By JO.

Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Romans 12:10 ESV Devotion: The missing link in the world today is the four letter word -LOVE. Wherever there's no Love there's strife, vice in all forms and bitterness. Nations war against nations, brother against brother because there is no Love. The absence of love leads to pride, oppression, covetousness, separation and lack of empathy.  The Bible says God is Love (1 John 4:16b God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him) and we see the manifestation of that in that he sent His begotten Son (John 3:16) to die for our sin. The son Jesus Christ also tells us to Love our neighbours like ourselves (Mark 12:31), but what do we have today? Supposedly Christian nations come in the name of love only to oppress and covet natural resources of poorer and weaker nations. There's strife within the Christian family, between husband and wife, children because Love is absent.  ...

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. Isaiah 43:2 ESV Devotion: Good parents always protect their children such is our heavenly Father. He prorects us from all manners of dangers and perils.  He saved them from Hailstone in the land of Goshen (Egypt) Exodus 9:22. God was with Israel when passed through the Red Sea and non of them was lost. Exodus 14: 22. While they roam the wilderness he was with them. He saved them from hunger (manna, quails, sweet water from the rock). Exodus 16:15. He did not allow them to die of Snake bite. Number 28: 8-9.   The same God is alive today and He is ready to do more for you and me. All God demands of you and me is Faithfulness and total Obedience. God will do the rest.   Dear reader, did God save you from imminent danger? Please share your testimony with us. Hallelujah!   ...

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10 ESV Devotion: The elect of God ie those who have given their lives to Christ becomes recreated , a new person and the old things passed away. This new person has been given a special duty to carry out for the Kingdom of God.   Each is expected to discover this work through fervent prayers and do it conscientiously and with love. Some are given the duty of an evangelist, teacher of the word, Giver, Helper, Pastor, Counselor and Apostle. Dear reader, have you discovered that "which God prepared beforehand" for you? Are you doing it? Let's begin to do it and it will be well with us in Jesus name. Hallelujah. Do you have concerns or testimonies share them with us.   -JO.

God has breathed life into all Scripture. It is useful for teaching us what is true. It is useful for correcting our mistakes. It is useful for making our lives whole again. It is useful for training us to do what is right. By using Scripture, the servant of God can be completely prepared to do every good thing. 2 Timothy 3:16‭-‬17 NIRV https://bible.com/bible/110/2ti.3.16-17.NIRV Devotion: I love the the above scripture especially this New International Reader Version because it brings out the meaning of the word in easily understandable manner.   The Bible was written by men but truly through the inspiration of God that is the reason the scripture is new every morning. This is the difference between the Bible and newspapers which become useless after reading it once. Everytime you study the Bible you get new inspiration, new meaning and new blessings. When you apply the precepts to your life, family or business these assume new dimensions and you begin to enjoy God in a different...

"It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. Lamentations 3:22" Devotion : Mercy is a blessing that is an act of divine favor or compassion. Truly indeed it is the mercies of God that we are not consumed. God's mercies endure forever (Psalms 136:1).  The mercies of God sent Jesus Christ, who knew no sin, to die for the sin of mankind. Because of the mercies of God the murderer, thief, prostitute, drunkard, liar, etc. can be saved by Jesus Christ.  Dear beloved, wherever you are, whatever you have done, the mercies of God can extend to you, for His compassion fails not. Take advantage of God's mercies and be blessed. The mercies of God can pick you from poverty and place you among kings (2 Samuel 9:1-13). Jesus Christ was a man of compassion (Matthew 9:36). Hallelujah! Share your thoughts here! Prayer points:  Lord by your Mercy deliver me and my household from the terrorists killing the people. Lord create ambushements a...

"Do all things without murmurings and disputings: Philippians 2:14" Devotion : The Christian can be blameless and harmless as the light of the world. The way to become blameless and harmless is to do away with murmurings and disputing. Murmuring and disputing are signs of lack of faith and trust in the God we serve. Complaining does not get anything done.   Instead of murmuring, disputing, and complaining, we should worship and praise God, and make melodies in our heart;   Instead of murmuring should also ask God for His way and go ahead to do what He has destined for us to do because the bible says in Isaiah 55:6  "Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:"  We are the lights in our world so we have to show the world the way to go; the way to go is to shine goodness, hope and inspire confidence in people to trust our Lord Jesus Christ.    Dear beloved, do you murmur, dispute, and complain? What would you do to overcome them...

Devotion: The Lord God promises to save those who trust Him and come to Him. There was evil act in my hometown -Owo, Nigeria, yesterday with several lives lost. It was inside the church, some might say could God not protect them. Yes he could but His ways are mysterious as cannot be fathomable. The fact that some were saved is enough evidence that God is able. What happened cannot and will not diminish His Mightiness, therefore be rest assured that God will protect you from evil and pestilence.  Dear reader, read and pray with Psalm 91 regularly. Hallelujah. Psalm 91 Whoever rests in the shadow of the Most High God will be kept safe by the Mighty One. I will say about the Lord, “He is my place of safety. He is like a fort to me. He is my God. I trust in him.” He will certainly save you from hidden traps and from deadly sickness.   He will cover you with his wings. Under the feathers of his wings you will find safety. He is faithful. He will keep you safe like a shield or ...

Psalms 91:7, 10  A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. Devotion: We have a "Can Do" God, God who can do what is beyond human reasoning. He is the God that led Israel through the waters on dry land a distance of about 12 kilometers and the water became a wall on both sides while the river bed was dry land. Exodus 14:22. The same God saved the Hebrew children from the fiery furnace and the unbeliever king himself testified that he saw a fourth man in the fire with Meschah, Shadrach and Abednego. Daniel 3:22-26. Today the are wars in several places on the planet, COVID-19 pandemic is only reducing not gone yet but we have a God who will save us from all these. Perhaps he saved you from an accident before or from some terrible situation He will still do today.  Children of God all you need to do is believe in God and obey His commands...

The whole law is fulfilled by obeying this one command. “Love your neighbor as you love yourself.” (Leviticus 19:18) Galatians 5:14 NIRV. Devotion: LOVE, a four letter word that means different things to different people. To some people it's just a vague word that's meaningless because they don't count it seriously. To another people it is emotional and binding while some use it interchangeablely with 'like' and so used in relationship with inanimate objects.   To us children of God Love is the ultimate of all the commands, it's the social glue that unites us. Love of neighbours as self is the defining difference between children of God and children of the world.    If you love your neighbour you will not hurt him rather you will protect him and be ready to lay down your life for him. This type of love is the missing link in the world today that causes the upheaval everywhere. There are wars, banditry, terrorism and the like where there's no Love. We childre...

“After these things the word of the Lord came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.” Genesis 15:1 (KJV) Devotion: The kind of God you serve will determine the quality of help you will receive. When you serve the living God, you have the privilege to receive limitless help from Him (Philippians 4:19). The Word of God came to Abram in a vision to encourage him to continue to trust in the LORD. Abram was worried about who would inherit his wealth after his passing away (Genesis 15:2–3). God said He was Abram’s shield and exceeding great reward. A shield to protect him from fear and any enemy that would wage war with him; exceeding great reward to satisfy Abram with all the rewards that he could think of. Dear beloved, the same promise goes for you. As a child of God, you have God for your shield and exceeding great reward. Therefore, do not fear what the enemies are doing or the challenges you are going through. God i...

“After these things the word of the Lord came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.” Genesis 15:1 (KJV) Devotion: The kind of God you serve will determine the quality of help you will receive. When you serve the living God, you have the privilege to receive limitless help from Him (Philippians 4:19). The Word of God came to Abram in a vision to encourage him to continue to trust in the LORD. Abram was worried about who would inherit his wealth after his passing away (Genesis 15:2–3). God said He was Abram’s shield and exceeding great reward. A shield to protect him from fear and any enemy that would wage war with him; exceeding great reward to satisfy Abram with all the rewards that he could think of. Dear beloved, the same promise goes for you. As a child of God, you have God for your shield and exceeding great reward. Therefore, do not fear what the enemies are doing or the challenges you are going through. God i...

So be merciful (sympathetic, tender, responsive, and compassionate) even as your Father is [all these]. Luke 6:36 AMPC Devotion: Jesus taught His disciples to be merciful just as God is merciful. A true child resembles the parents either genetically or physically.    The attributes manifest from young age, that is why children are not taught to lie when they do, it is inborn. Neither are they taught to take a thing and conceal it but it comes naturally. This means sin is the natural way of humans, inherited from our fore-parents Adam and Eve.    Now we have a new father - God through His son Jesus Christ who is our Lord and Saviour. If God is truly our father we must of necessity inherit God's attributes of Mercy, Compassion, Love, Kindness and Goodness. Therefore we must be "merciful (sympathetic, tender, responsive, and compassionate) even as your Father is [all these]" Luke 6:36 AMPC.   Dear reader, do you have any concerns or testimonies, please share it wit...

Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Colossians 3:12 KJV Devotion: As children of God there are standards of life set by God and cannot be compromised. This is what Paul described to the brethren in Colosse. The same applies to you and me today as children; we are admonished to "Clothe ourselves therefore, as God's own chosen ones (His own picked representatives), [who are] purified and holy and well-beloved [by God Himself, by putting on behavior marked by] tenderhearted pity and mercy, kind feeling, a lowly opinion of yourselves, gentle ways, [and] patience [which is tireless and long-suffering, and has the power to endure whatever comes, with good temper]". Colossians 3:12 AMPC.    Let us remember that we were bought with a price by He who loved us and gave up His life so that we may be saved. We cannot afford to disappoint Him in our ways. May God help us in Jesus name.   Dea...