ojaysjoel blog

. "And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.  Isaiah 35:8" Devotion : The almighty God wants us to think like Him. He is a Holy God and calls His way a highway: this is the sure way of prosperity, health, and sound mind that God wants for us and the only way to heaven.    Holiness is equated to the highway of God: it has to do with abstaining from anything which is ungodly. The sure way to live a holy life is to do the things that Jesus Christ did whilst on earth; He was the express image of God.   It pays to live a holy life; it is the sure way to see/experience God, Matthew 5:8. Don't be a fool(sinner) because fools will always err and miss the kingdom of heaven. Be wise to enjoy God and our Lord Jesus Christ.  Praise the Lord! Share your thoughts here! From KJV bible app daily devotional app. Edited...

Please read this story and be confident of your tomorrow. Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. Mark 9:23 Devotion: AMAZING GOD 🙌🙌 One year ago today, I was told by Shands Hospital "I'm sorry Mr. Chris Allen there's nothing else we can do for you. I think it's time to call your family and have them come up and say goodbyes we're giving you at least 72 hours". Hearing that news... everything Flashed before my eyes👀. I knew it was the end. I believe in God but I also believed in God's will. As my family and friends came, I watched them cry, I cried, and they said goodbyes. I wanted to ask God why, I thought I had a purpose. But I knew deep down that He wasn't done with me yet I was so confused. Every day felt a closer day to death away. But I stand here today to tell you God will sit you down to get you right. No matter how painful oh how hard it is He will put you in a place of Correction to perfec...

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31 ESV Devotion: Each time I read this passage I have indescribable joy, why? It's because I know none can be against me. No matter how they try they will meet with frustration and defeat all the time.   How can I achieve this? All I need to do is stay on the side of God ie give my life to Christ and become His disciple. I fellowship with him daily, talk to him in prayers and do His will in all my ways. Since I started doing this Satan has been defeated. Dearly beloved, put this into practice today and your testimony will be fantastic. Do have a good day. Share your thoughts with us. Hallelujah.  By Joel Olanrewaju. https://ojaysjoel.blogspot.com/2022/09/title-god-is-for-me.html?m=1#more

2 Chronicles 7:14  If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. Devotion: Pride goes before destruction. Anyone who disobeys God is a sinner and a proud person is most likely to sin. Pharaoh was proud, he did not allow the children of Israel to leave Egypt, Exodus 10:13. He perished in the Red Sea, Exodus 14:28.  But if you humble yourself before God as he promised in today's passage, God will forgive you your sin 1King 21:29; 2King 22:19. If you humble yourself God will exhalt you and vice versa Luke 14:11.   Therefore dearly beloved I urge you to "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up" James 4:10. It is a small matter for the humble, just confess your sins and be converted. Make a decision not to sin again, then accept Christ as your Lord and Saviour. Your joy will have no l...

whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. 1 John 2:6 ESV Devotion: We have a saying in my dialect - the baby elephant will not resemble buffalo, a baby elephant will only resemble elephant"  Most people these days will tell you they are born again Christian, in fact churches celebrate them and boast about their faith in Christ Jesus. But a mere look at the congregants will tell a different story of them. From the mode of dressing to the worship and even the bible teaching one can easily say these are not born again Christian. ( I'm not judging anyone this is just a statement of fact). They do not walk the talk.   A born again Christian, a true disciple is not difficult to know when you see one. The speech edifies God, the dressing says it all as body parts are not exposed, Their conduct in the place of work, home or college gives good testimony of them. They Walk the Talk.   Dearly beloved, pause to check it. Are you in the right circ...

Romans 12:10  Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; Devotion: The bible teaches love because God is Love. But the question is what type of love? The one I have for my wife or for my car or yet still the love I have for my children. In the three situations above the same word is used but certainly it has different meaning and level of affection.    My love for my wife is initially based on affection, but it can grow to selfless love whereby I can donate my kidney for her or chose to die for her. This is both affection and Agape. Ditto the love for my children. But the love of my car is neither affection nor Agape, the word love is used in place of deep likeness and nothing more.   Jesus died on the cross for you and me because he loves us, now that is selfless love, a love for a sinner, for a wicked person just to save him/her from eternal damnation. It is the " the fatherly love of God for humans, as well as the h...

“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. Matthew 7:13‭-‬14 ESV (Deut 30:19 & Jer 21:8) Devotion: Jesus speaks to you and me today in the verses above. Many of us may have read these verses several times but failed to attach serious meaning to it.    An illustration will suffice, on Saturday instead of Sunday school preparation class most men will be in the stadium or viewing centers watching Premier league or la Liga. They know all the players by name and position they play, yet they can't recollect the bible verse used by the preacher few minutes after.    People prefer the now that will not last beyond 120 years to eternity, many be that think it is still way off and they will have chance to change but alas on the way to stadium or club house, to meet strange woman in the hotel or...

Devotion: I don't know your situation tonight or what you went through today but I want you to know that His grace is sufficient for you. Only do not relent in faithfulness and prayers.   I lost my job in 2017 without notice and again in 2020. I did not relent I kept on praying even as I was not given job thrice in 2021, yet my faith was firm. The person who rejected me last year joyfully gave me job this year. Hallelujah.    That is why I'm able to sing this song. It was my song when I lost my job in 2020. I invite you to sing along with me. You will soon have testimonies in Jesus name. From Christ Apostolic Church Gospel Hymn Book. Hymn 831 - They that trust in the Lord are secure 9.9.9.8. & Ref.  My grace is sufficient for thee. 11Cor. 12:9.  1 They that trust in the Lord are secure,  Tho' the storm rages dark o'er the sea;  For this anchor of promise is sure  "My grace is sufficient for thee,"  My grace is sufficient ...

And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour. Matthew 8:13  Devotion : Jesus Christ made a profound statement when the centurion came to Him for help. Apparently, he needed healing for his servant. Jesus Christ said, "as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee". In other words, if you come to God with a need, you must believe that He will do it and what you receive will be commensurate with your faith.  In other words, you will receive little things if your faith is little, and you will receive great things if your faith is great. Some people want great things but their faith is too little to receive them. What they need to do is to grow their faith; they should practice the faith in getting the little things, then move from that level to strong/great faith to receive great things from God. For example, it is better to believe God for a better job than to believe God for ...

When I view and consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained and established, What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of [earthborn] man that You care for him? Psalm 8:3‭-‬4 AMPC Devotion: Whenever I read about newly discovered stars its distance from earth I am overwhelmed. There billions or even trillions of such stars created by the omnipotent God.     There are also other living creatures too numerous to list on earth yet God is mindful of you and I. He, God takes special interest in us, provides for our needs, makes sure we do not perish.    We eat the other living creatures - animals, birds, some eat reptiles and fishes but humans God made provision for our salvation. He sent his only begotten son Jesus Christ (John 3:16), to save us from eaternal damnation. What a loving father God, He is (1John 4:8b).  Should we not love Him in return? He deserves your love, my love everybody's love. H...

Many plans are in a man's mind, but it is the Lord's purpose for him that will stand. [Job 23:13; Ps. 33:10, 11; Isa. 14:26, 27; 46:10; Acts 5:39; Heb. 6:17.] Proverbs 19:21 AMPC Devotion: A man proposes but God disposes. I wanted to either be an Architect or an Engineer, I struggled and struggled but I ended up a Family Physician. Such is life, I have touched more lives positively than I would have if I was an engineer or an architect.   Therefore before you do anything, commit it to God and wait for him. He will definitely give you a sign of what He wants you to do. Failure to follow God's plan leads to struggle, you will not be contented. Struggle will not be your portion in Jesus name. Dear reader, what is it that you wish to do Proverb 16:3, pray about it, pray for it and let God have a final say. Don't force your plan on Him ie pray on what you have determined to be or do. Allow the Holy Spirit to guide you.  Beloved, what's your thought on this? Do you want u...

The Lord your God is with you. He is the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you. In his love he will no longer punish you. Instead, he will sing for joy because of you.” Zephaniah 3:17 NIRV  Devotion: Every true believer have reason to rejoice because their God is with them and will always keep them safe. When you do His will in all situation and please God, He will be pleased with you and the joy will be double. God will rejoice and you too will rejoice.  What then do you expect from God towards children of perfidy? He will not be happy with them and will not be in their midst. When God is not in the midst of a people there will be problem. When God was not in the midst of Israel they were taken captive by their neighbours.   Dearly beloved, do you want God to be with you and rejoice over you? Come to Him today, you and your household and begin to do God's will. May grace abound with you. Hallelujah.  By Joel Olanrewaju.

Wait on the LORD: Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD. Psalm 27:14 KJV Devotion: Christianity is a journey of life and it is a test of endurance, perseverance and resilience. It is both a physical and spiritual journey because one needs to be strong in both areas to succeed in the journey.    The spirit maybe willing to follow the path of Christ but the body may not, then the person may stumble several times. He will come to Christ be active and in another moment backslide. Such a person will find living a life of total obedience difficult. When you meet such a christian their song is - I don't want to wait in vein, I have been waiting all my life, la la la..... (Jimmy Cliff)    Such Christian will not be contented with their physical station in life. They are the ones involved in spiritism, occultism and many underhand activities to become financially successful, to succeed in ministry (they use diabolical means to do th...

"For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things. 2 Corinthians 2:9" Devotion : Apostle Paul is one of the greatest leaders ever to have existed in the kingdom of God. He was concerned about the conduct of his converts in Corinth. He wanted to know whether hitherto they had been walking in obedience; not just one time obedience or obedience in some things, but obedience in all things.   Apostle Paul came to a point of maturity that he could discern that the Holy Scriptures were true; therefore, they must be obeyed entirely. This should also be our attitude towards the Holy Bible; we should not choose what scripture to obey and what not to obey.    Let us also be wise enough to judge the words/conducts we hear/see from our church leaders with the Holy Scriptures so that we are not deceived.  Dearly beloved, which leader/pastor are you following? Follow the one who can help you obey the true gospel in all thing...

Is anyone among you afflicted (ill-treated, suffering evil)? He should pray. Is anyone glad at heart? He should sing praise [to God]. James 5:13 AMPC Devotion: This is one of the verses I like reading in the bible because it awakens me when I am low on the inside and outside. It also tells me to appreciate God.  In life are many situations some of which are pleasant and some not. Sometimes we meet people who treats is badly both in the physical and spiritual and we wonder what to do in such situation. The bible says through Apostle in James 5:13, that we should pray, that's what I do frequently and I get delivered. Peter was afflicted, kept in prison but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him. Acts 12:5 and he was miraculously released.   At the top of the mountains I sing praise and worship songs, sometimes all day and I have inner joy that cannot be described. Most importantly is, be close to God always by reading your Bible, fellowship with brea...

Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people, Thou hast covered all their sin. Selah. Psalm 85:2 KJV Devotion: Selah! What means this word? It is common place to see it written in front of verses especially in the book of Psalms. Let us examine the verse above "Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people, Thou hast covered all their sin". Selah. Thou here refers to God, the Almighty, the omnipotent, Alpha and Omega, the Everlasting God. He is the only one who can forgive Sin, not just one but all Sin.   If God forgives you your sin is it not then worth it to Pause, Calm down and think about it? To watch it and not return to sin again? If yes that's the meaning of the Hebrew word - SELAH.   Dear reader, think about it, it is worth it to come to God through his only begotten son Jesus Christ, John 3:16, and let God forgive you your sin. When that is done pause (selah) and think over the life you used to live. Then make sure not to backslide into your old self. May God bl...

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28" Devotion : The Apostle Paul uses the subject pronoun "we"; who was he referring to? He was referring to God, the Apostles, and all who are mature in Christ Jesus. Those who are mature in Christ come to this conclusion that all things have worked together for their good.  If you want to be part of the "we" as a child of God, what you must do is to love God, find the purpose for which He has called you, and execute it. Faith without works is dead, James 2:17. Hence any child of God who says he/she loves God but is not doing the works of God or fulfilling the purpose of God is missing out. Such people will not have all things working together for their good. Before the year runs out, it is not too late to become part of the "we" so that the heavens, the earth, and the things therein will work together for your ...

For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. – Romans 8:24-25   According to Romans, hope is actually looking at something you can’t see. How do you do that? You do it by looking at the promises of God in the Word until with your inner eyes—the eyes of your spirit—a picture is formed.   For example, one of the hardest things I ever had to do was face the fact that the inner image I had of myself physically was fat. It didn’t matter how hard I tried to change, it wouldn’t go away. I was always on a diet. I must have lost (and regained) hundreds of pounds over the years.  I finally had to admit that as long as my inner image of myself was fat, my outer self was going to match it. Remember, it’s faith that changes things, and without the inner image of hope, faith cannot work.   So I decided to fast for seven days. I searched my Bible...

and whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. Colossians 3:23‭-‬24 KJV Devotion: Good morning, another working week starts this morning. You are ready for work or probably getting ready. That is a good thing to do. Can I ask a question? How do you work - diligently or idly?   I work for govt and as a senior officer I still work like a junior officer seeing all that present before me, while many people talk idly through out the day, some will just come to show their face and off they go.   I live in a predominantly "Christian" area so most of us workers are Christians but do we really potray Christ in good light with our attitude to work? The bible says we should work as if to God and not to man. Are we doing that? Dearly beloved, it is time to have a rethink and do our work as if we work for God. It could be to private individuals, private compa...

He heals those who have broken hearts. He takes care of their wounds. Psalm 147:3 NIRV Devotion: This life is full of ups and downs, sometimes you are on the mountain top, while at other times you are in very deep valley. The psalmist probably had similar experience and he had his wounds taken care of by the Almighty God.  The children of Israel was by the sea and Pharaoh and his warrior was behind. There was panick, fear and anger in the camp of Israel but God saved all of them. Israel escaped without losing a single soul.   Dearly beloved, I don't know your situation right now, if you're on the mountain top now, enter His court with praise and thanksgiving. Rejoice in His presence. Psalm 100:1- end.     If you are experiencing difficult situation in your family, your children may be having problem in their academics, doing drugs or job related issues don't worry, just come to Jesus. He said come to me all you who are heavy laden I will give you rest. Matt 11:28. Yo...

After this I looked, and there in front of me was a huge crowd of people. They stood in front of the throne and in front of the Lamb. There were so many that no one could count them. They came from every nation, tribe and people. That’s true no matter what language they spoke. They were wearing white robes. In their hands they were holding palm branches. They cried out in a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne. Salvation also belongs to the Lamb.” Revelation 7:9‭-‬10 NIRV Devotion: No matter who you are and from where in so far you are human being, the only way to salvation is through God and His lamb - Jesus Christ. There is no other name given man but the name of Jesus, Acts 4: 10-12. This is the meaning of the quoted passage above.   Once you have accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour you are free to ask God for anything in Jesus name John 14:14, and it will be given you. I am therefore surprised to see people go to some shrine, priests etc to se...

I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things which thou knowest not. — Jeremiah 33:3 Devotion: There are different translations of these words. One version renders it, “I will shew thee great and fortified things.” Another, “Great and reserved things.” Now, there are reserved and special things in Christian experience: all the developments of spiritual life are not alike easy of attainment. There are the common frames and feelings of repentance, and faith, and joy, and hope, which are enjoyed by the entire family; but there is an upper realm of rapture, of communion, and conscious union with Christ, which is far from being the common dwelling-place of believers.  We have not all the high privilege of John, to lean upon Jesus’ bosom; nor of Paul, to be caught up into the third heaven. There are heights in experimental knowledge of the things of God which the eagle’s eye of acumen and philosophic thought hath never seen: God alone can bear us there; but the chariot in wh...

THEREFORE BE imitators of God [copy Him and follow His example], as well-beloved children [imitate their father]. Ephesians 5:1 AMPC Devotion: There's a Yoruba saying that " the offspring of an elephant will always resemble the elephant, it cannot resemble buffalo". In real life condition that is how it is "like father like son" but does it have to be so? Yes and No.  In the sinful nature of man the children take after their parents in sinful life and sin is perpetuated. But God sent His son Jesus Christ to change all that, John 3:16, because God loves you and me. We don't have to have same sinful life like our earthly parents because we have a new father in God.   When we give our lives to Christ we become adopted children of God and it behooves on us to live like our dearly beloved father -God and not like earthly father anymore. So YES, we must imitate our father God and NO, we must not imitate our earthly sinful father.   Dearly beloved, who do you imita...

I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. Psalm 119:11 ESV Devotion: In life we all have different ways of saving what we would have to remember in the future. Some students  memorise by heart even whole textbook. Some try to understand by reading and making notes. Some others record audio and listen to it several times until it becomes part of them.  The psalmist stored the word of God in his heart ie he memorized the word because before the throne of judgement there's no excuse/alibi that oh I am not aware. In Matt 28 vs 19, Jesus commands you and I to preach the word to the ends of the world. That means every living human must hear about Jesus so that none will say I did not hear about him.   There are still regions, towns and cities where Jesus has not been preached that is why Jesus tarries. Therefore you who have heard of Jesus should read the word of God and know it in and out because there will be no room for I don't know or I'...

 John 12:31 ‘Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.’ The only reason Satan ever had any right to become a prince or rule over us was because we yielded ourselves to him through sin (Rom. 6:16). Since Jesus ‘bore our sins in His own body on the tree’ (1 Pet. 2:24), Satan no longer has power or authority over those who accept Jesus’ gift of salvation. Satan has been ‘cast out’ — stripped of any power he had. Now he can only deceive, and if we fall for his lies, we stop God’s blessings from flowing in our lives. The reason why a believer must live a holy life, is to avoid Satan’s bondage. When we obey sin, we yield ourselves to Satan, the author of that sin.Yielding to sin is yielding to a person, Satan. God doesn’t impute the sin to us but the devil does. Our actions either release the power of Satan or the power of God in us. Although God is not imputing our sins unto us, we cannot afford the luxury of sin because it allows Satan to have a...

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Matthew 11:28‭-‬29 ESV Devotion: Nothing can ever be better than to rest after doing tedious job, when translated to spiritual life we understand the significance better.  Let me try to explain thus: when you give your life to Christ, all the past habits are done with. Habits like smoking (calculate how much you spend on 20 sticks daily which you will not have to spend again, the cost of treatment for smoking related diseases), alcohol, gambling, womanizing and how much time you spend gossiping. Let's not talk of money spend on fetish objects to fortify yourself against enemies.   From above it is obvious that so much resources, money and time is saved when you give your life. To remember that you're saved from going to hell is another joy of turning to Christ.    Dearly belo...

Worship the Lord with gladness. Come to him with songs of joy. Psalm 100:2 NIRV Devotion: Today is the day the Lord has made, the day of the Lord, a Sunday, it is and should be a day of joy and gladness. Some people worship God with solemnity so much their worship looks like a funeral, it does not have to be so, not a sin please. I am aware that we should reverently worship God but there should be joy before God, it is a sign of appreciation for what God has done and will do. So when we sing worship songs it should have life, when we sing praises it should be full of joy and happiness. We're children of God, we are the happiest people on earth and these must be seen in us to put devil to shame.   Remember that when the children of Israel crossed the red sea Miriam led the choir and sang a joyful song unto the Lord. In Exodus 15 vs 1, Moses sang unto the Lord, in vs 21-22 Miriam played the timbrel and sang. So we have an example to follow, singing and dancing before God gives Him Jo...

Make sure that no one pays back one wrong act with another. Instead, always try to do what is good for each other and for everyone else. 1 Thessalonians 5:15 NIRV Devotion: Paul here reinforced the teaching of Christ that says we should repay evil with good. In Matthew 5:44, Jesus says "But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you"   We have a saying in my language roughly translated as follows: he who repays evil with evil sustains evil. In other words the other person will retaliate and on and on.  But we are children of God and we should be good example to the world, being conscious of the fact that people no longer read the Bible but keep monitoring us who confess Christ as Lord and Saviour. A little derailment from the ways of Christ and the people around us will notice it and deride us. So we must be circumspect in everything we do among the breathren and ...

"The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat. Proverbs 13:4" Devotion : In the opening scripture above, the sluggard and the diligent man are contrasted. Sluggards are people who are habitually lazy; in fact, they are so lazy that they make excuses not to work and do not sow during seed time. Therefore, at harvest time, they have nothing to harvest. Such people will desire but have no means to satisfy their desire because they are poor.  The diligent, on the other hand, are people characterized by steady, earnest, and energetic effort; indeed, they are busy working and sowing during seed time. Hence, in the harvest they are busy harvesting their crops and saving some against a rainy day. Such people desire and are able to meet their desires because they are financially sound enough to afford anything. God gives more grace to the diligent to continually enjoy success so they can be a channel of blessings to others.  The s...

“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. Matthew 7:12 ESV Devotion: The teaching of disciples continues, a perfect human relationship is established when we do unto others what we expect them to do unto us. I will not harm you or talk ill of you so I don't expect you to harm me. If the human race can live by this principle then there will be peace on earth.  Unfortunately, the mighty to lords it over the weak, there's exploitation of the weak even within the family. The bigger nations exploits the weak, an example is Democratic Republic of Congo, where war is allegedly deliberately sustained so that government does not have control over its natural resources. I saw on TV how little children as young as 4 years were made to work in the mines under very harsh condition and she's paid next to nothing.  If there was love, and the principle established by God is sustained such will never have happened. Who are the ...