ojaysjoel blog

"Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Romans 3:24" Devotion : As a child of God, you have been delivered from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Hence, your life should be distinct from that of the world.     That is why you cannot dwell in sin, because the seed of God cannot sin, 1 John 3:9. If you claim you are born again and you are dwelling in any sin of any sort, it is time to call it off and appreciate the Justifier whose name is Jesus Christ of Nazareth. He has justified you, which means that the moment you accepted Him as Lord and Savior, you were declared not guilty of your past, present, and future sins.  Therefore, if you are still dwelling in sin, you are not living up to expectation and you are dragging the Holy Name of Christ Jesus into mockery just like the swine.   How can you run away from sinning? Join a Bible teaching Church or fellowship. Stop seeing you...

The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing. ‭Zephaniah 3:17 KJV Devotion: Prophet Zephaniah prophesized against sinful Israel and knew that they were disturbed. Therefore he comforted them with the words of the verse of today. The verse gave them assurance that at the end of their trouble God will save them and restore them to himself.   I dare prophecy to the people of Nigeria and elsewhere in the world who are passing through hardship because of war, terrorism, financial instability etc that God is with you and will see you through the hardship.  He will rejoice over you and give you grace to overcome whatever you're passing through now. All you need to do is stand fast in your faith, trust him and obey Him. There's bright light at the end of the tunnel for you.  If you know anyone passing through some difficulties give them this assurance and rise u...

"And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. Revelation 12:11" Devotion : The Holy Scriptures have given us weapons to fight and defend ourselves against external aggressors such as Satan and his cohorts of darkness. Amongst the weapons are the blood of Jesus Christ and the Word of our testimony.    If the angelic beings overcame satan and his cohorts of darkness with the blood of Jesus and the Word of their testimony, then the children of God on earth seriously need the blood of Jesus Christ. The life of an animal is in the blood; that is why God forbade the Old Testaments saints from eating the blood of animals. Therefore, there is supernatural power in the blood of Jesus to overcome every sickness, disease, and the power of the enemy.  Hence, don't forget to use the blood every day and at every moment of urgency when it is needed. You should also learn to be vocal with testimonies to...

 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. Devotion: Every now and then we are faced with difficult decisions which when made can affect our lives either permanently or in the short time. The 'brilliant' ones tend to rely on self intuition to decide while others may seek opinion of friends or relatives.    While both are good ways to decide on simple matters, these methods are not enough for life changing decisions. Life changing situations like going into marriage, relocation from home town or country, change of job or starting a new business are serious matters in which human reasoning may not be enough.    When a disciple of God takes decision on such matters outside of God, what's the difference between him and unbelievers. As followers of Christ, we must trust Him in all situations and seek the face of God in prayers and sometimes ...

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7 KJV‬ Devotion: Anxiety is an increasingly common experience in our world. Around the world there are rumors of war, or threats to safety and security. We experience high levels of conflict and change across cultures, and in our personal lives. We wonder about our safety, the security of our children, and what the future might look like.  And if we’re not careful, our thoughts can easily lead us into anxiety. We can be swept into the spiral of over-thinking and worry. God tells us something different. He tells us to submit everything to Him in prayer. To submit something to God in prayer is to recognize that He is the creator and director of history, and He alone has the power to protect us and direct our lives.  If we’re careful to guard our thoughts and submit them to God, God says that He will give us His peace. The peace of God surpasses all of our u...

 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. ‭Mark 9:23 KJV‬ Devotion: Life throws up different situations in which faith is tested and we often find ourselves in position of doubt or faith. It does not mean we are not children of God but somethings are just beyond human reasoning. In such situations all we need to do is hand everything to Jesus and stop using human reasoning. This was the situation the man in the story found himself. The boy’s father believed Jesus could drive out this spirit. But he didn't know it for sure. He brought him to Jesus, but he still doubted—after all, no one else had been able to heal his son.   Have you ever felt torn between that same belief and doubt? The boy’s father shares a struggle many of us have—the struggle to hold onto faith during life's trials.    Yet Jesus doesn’t shame this father. Instead, He responds in faith: "'If you can'? Everything is possible for one who believes....

 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. ‭Colossians 3:2 KJV‬ Devotion: Most people work and set targets for themselves at the beginning of the year. While some continue to pursue and achieve the target most get distracted and lose focus by April. What causes this among those who fail to meet target? Lost of focus internally or extraneous factors like diseases, accidents, the work close down or simply because they get better deal somewhere.   To those who set their eyes on things above the outcome is different because they never lose focus. The Bible says in Romans 8:28 "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." Those who love God set their eyes on things above, they become elect, all things work for their success. As a result they achieve more than worldly person. They are satisfied and filled with joy for their achievements though humanly speaking it may be littl...

"He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? Micah 6:8" Devotion : GOD is a renowned teacher, greater than all the teachers in heaven and earth. He is still in the teaching business and seeks to teach you, dear reader. What He teaches you He expects you to imbibe and teach others.  The opening scripture demonstrates the fact that the LORD is a teacher. He shows man what is good and requires/expects you to do likewise: to be just/fair, love mercy and show mercy to others, and walk humbly before Him.    Jesus Christ demonstrated all these virtues when He walked on earth: He was fair to others, He showed compassion, selfless love and service. He was humble/obedient even unto death on the cross.    To make disciples you have to emulate Jesus. It involves thoughtful teaching and instruction that points people toward a loving relationship with God. We can teach ...

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18  Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Giving thanks in all circumstances is one of those commands that, while simple, can feel daunting, or even impossible, at times. How do we feel gratitude when life isn’t fair, when pain tries to push out our joy, or when doubt clouds our vision?   The beauty of this command isn't about the absence of difficulty, but rather our response to it. When we express gratitude in all circumstances, it isn't a denial of challenges. It's a bold declaration of faith. It's choosing to recognize God's presence and power even during tough situations, not despite them. We don’t have to be thankful for our circumstances–but we can always choose to be thankful while we’re in them.   Recall God’s faithfulness, speak of His goodness, declare His character, and find strength in His promises when our own falter. Gratitude shifts our focus.   So, one...

"Bless ye the LORD, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure. Psalms 103:21" Devotion : The opening scripture has thrown light on two personalities who are dear to the Most High: Angels, and some men and women of God. When it comes to some men and women of God, put your name there if you are a true worshipper.   The elect angels, without any shadow of doubt, praise and worship God eternally. On the contrary, only some children of God praise and worship God; some live in disobedience and others live in the midst of complaining and showing ingratitude. The born again Christians who do the will/pleasure of the LORD are surely praising/worshipping God with their God-given duties/responsibilities; these are the ones the LORD is looking for.    Those who praise/worship God with their lips/mouth but are not doing His will/pleasure are "hypocrites" and need to do better than lip service. Dearly beloved, are you are a doer of GOD's will/pleasure or you...

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 is a full sentence, but it’s packed full of powerful commands: Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Today, let’s look at just the first two words: Rejoice always. Consider the significance of the author, Paul’s, exhortation to “rejoice always.” This wasn’t a casual command but a testament to the enduring joy found in Christ—a joy without regard for life's unpredictable seasons.    Choosing to rejoice isn’t about denying real suffering and pain. Choosing to rejoice is a deliberate decision to anchor our joy in the character and promises of our Heavenly Father and not life’s circumstances. To rejoice is a declaration of trust.   Today, you face our own trials and uncertainties, large and small, draw strength from Paul’s words: “Rejoice always.” God is at work, shaping and sculpting your journey with purpose. Even when the purpose isn’t immediately evident, trust that He o...

 I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.‭ Acts 20:35 KJV‬ Devotion: A Yoruba proverb crudely translated says "it is too little so I can give it out make you a micer." Some years back I gave ₦4000.00 to an old friend with apology that it was a small amount. After a few years he told me that the money was like 4 million naira to him on that day. This shows that no matter how little we should learn to share with others.  We should remember that whatever we own today was given us, a blessing from God. That's the way we should see our wealth, because the same job or business that fetch you money made someone poor. That you're rich does not mean you're perfect it only means God wants you to be a blessing to others. So do not be proud, share the blessing to the weak, needy and elderly who have no support system.   It can be just ...

Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. ‭Luke 6:36 KJV‬ Devotion: At some point in our lives we have wronged someone expect to receive mercy. Sometimes we receive it and many a time we don't we either move on with our lives or feel remorse and sad. We, all are sinners and have done evil before God, yet God forgives our sins and loves us to the extent that He sent His son Jesus to die for us.     Now that we have received forgiveness do we forgive those who wronged us? Some of us do but many do not forgive, they keep malice, plot to hurt those who wronged them etc. We cannot claim that we are Christ's disciples without following in His footsteps. Jesus loves you and me and when we do not deserve to be pardoned of our sins Jesus showed mercy and took the sin upon Himself and died in our place.   We must emulate Jesus if we are truly His disciples and be merciful to that colleague, neighbor, spouse or friend who did wrong to us. We can talk to hi...

"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Isaiah 26:3" Devotion : Our dear Lord Jesus said to His disciples, "Have faith in God", Mark 11:22. He was telling them to consistently trust God with their mind. When you control your mind with trust in His Word, you will enjoy perfect peace.   In the opening scripture, we see that we will surely enjoy the fruit of our mind when our mind is continually focused on the things of God. To enjoy the good products of the mind you need to consistently train your mind with the Holy Scriptures and fully hold unto the Word of God until you have received the blessings therein.  Dearly beloved, your mind is a powerful asset Jesus Christ has given you. Don't use it on worthless things, because it can destroy you. On the contrary, use it on godly things so that you can be blessed all the days of your life. Praise the Lord! Share your thoughts here!

 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. ‭1 John 4:4 KJV‬ Devotion: There’s a battle happening all around us—a battle for your heart, your mind, and your soul. A battle that’s not only physical, but also spiritual. A battle with literal enemies who impact the seen and unseen world. John wrote: “But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world.” ‭‭1 John‬ ‭4‬:‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬ Yes, we are in a real battle.  Yes, we have a real enemy. Yes, the kingdom of darkness is constantly fighting against the kingdom of light.   But for those who are trusting in the finished work of Christ, greater is the One living inside of us than the one who is living in this world.   We have a real Savior. This story isn’t close to over. The kingdom of darkness will never prevail against the...

"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 spiritual prosperity, health, and sound mind that God wants for us. Holiness is equated to the highway of God: it has to do with abstaining from anything which is ungodly ie sin.   ‭In Leviticus 20:26 KJV‬ God says "And ye shall be holy unto me: for I the LORD am holy, and have severed you from other people, that ye should be mine." As a disciple of Christ 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 His very person.  It pays to live a holy life and remain holy all our life on earth. There's no room for backsliding, if we are able to do this then we...

Making decisions is hard.  When we attempt to make the perfect decision, we can often find ourselves stuck in indecision. And while we should always prayerfully discern our next steps according to God’s Word and His ways, sometimes we overcomplicate things.   In his first letter to the Corinthians, the apostle Paul was addressing an issue about food, regarding what they should or shouldn’t eat. So Paul took some of the pressure off Christians by saying: “So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” ‭‭ 1 Corinthians‬ ‭10:31‬ ‭NLT‬‬    While this passage was originally about food, the principle can be applied to any area of life. Whatever choice you make, do it to glorify God. In this way, you will keep your conscience clear.    Whether you’re preparing a meal or making a business deal. Whether you’re playing sports or building houses. Whether you’re leading a team or raising kids. Whether you’re crunching numbers or carin...

... and he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.‭Malachi 4:6 KJV‬ Devotion: Good morning, there's a story I read on Facebook yesterday, it is apt for today's topic - Reconciliation. *THE FAMILY MEETING*  My mother did something astonishing and unexpected. She sent us a message for an urgent family meeting at the family house. Four of us gathered there, but surprisingly, Mama didn't welcome us with her usual warmth. Though she responded to our greetings, we could all sense the coldness in her voice.  Even my father was surprised to see all his sons, and he questioned Mama about the reason for the meeting. However, she told him to wait patiently and find out why.  Mama thanked us for leaving our busy schedules to respond to her call. "But I want you all to know that I am not a happy woman. You have all offended me. Anyone who offends my husband offends me."  ...

For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; ‭Titus 2:11-12 KJV‬ Devotion: God created man and woman and made them live a perfect life in the garden of Eden. But devil played trick on the woman thus making her and her husband to sin. Thereafter all other living persons became sinners(Romans 3:23). We lived as we liked before now, satisfying the lust of the flesh and eye. We lived in unhealthy relationship, drink, gossip and some people outrightly wicked.   But God is magnanimous He does not want to see His creation perish so He made a way of escape (2 Samuel 14:14) by giving us His begotten son Jesus Christ(John 3:16) that whosoever believe in Jesus as son of God should be saved and not perish. With this you and me have salvation free of charge without any sweat or money. It is by grace and not of works done.    Thank Go...

‭Ezekiel 36:26 KJV‬  A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.  Devotion: The Great surgeon's promise as revealed to Ezekiel should be enough hope for people of the world to trust God. When doctors make a diagnosis of heart failure the patient is devastated and all things will crop up in the mind of the patient and relatives. If they do not have money it means the person may soon die. If there's money it means someone else must die for the patient to live.  To get a new heart there must be capable surgeon, a physician and a donated heart. Thank God your physical heart, my physical heart is not failing today but God says "A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh." What does it mean to get a new heart from God?   A...

"For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars. Chronicles 16:9" Devotion : God is always looking for a man to empower and bless. Are you that man/woman He is looking for? It is easy to say, Yes, I am the one. The opening scripture gives you a clue as to whether your answer is correct or wrong. It says God is moving from one person to the next searching for a heart that is loyal/perfect.    If you are faithful/loyal in all your endeavors, then you are the one God is looking for and He will find you, empower you, bless you, and show you His secrets. Born again Christians are in the hands of the Holy Spirit but the Father lives in heaven and visits His children from time to time. When He visits you, will He find you still loyal in the things you are required to do?  Dearly beloved, if you choose...

... praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; ‭Ephesians 6:18 KJV‬ Devotion: Prayer is one of the most important habits we can develop. Not only does Scripture command us to pray often, but there are tremendous benefits to building a life of prayer.    Prayer connects us relationally to God. We can thank God for who He is and what He has done for us during our prayer time. We can ask Him for things that we need.    Even though we know we should pray, we often do not take the time to do it. Unless we set aside time to talk to God, it doesn’t always find a way into our daily schedules. But Paul, the writer of the letter to the Ephesians, urges Christians to build a life of prayer. He says that every occasion is a chance to talk to God.    All of our requests and needs should be given to God. However, our time praying should not only be asking God for things. We ...

Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp. — Hebrews 13:13 Jesus, bearing his cross, went forth to suffer without the gate. The Christian’s reason for leaving the camp of the world’s sin and religion is not because he loves to be singular, but because Jesus did so ; and the disciple must follow his Master. Christ was “not of the world:” his life and his testimony were a constant protest against conformity with the world. Never was such overflowing affection for men as you find in him; but still he was separate from sinners.  In like manner Christ’s people must “go forth unto him.” They must take their position “without the camp,” as witness-bearers for the truth. They must be prepared to tread the straight and narrow path. They must have bold, unflinching, lion-like hearts, loving Christ first, and his truth next, and Christ and his truth beyond all the world. Jesus would have his people “go forth without the camp” for their own sanctification .    You cannot ...

The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.  Matthew 8:8 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 your faith.  In Mark 1:40, the man with leprosy believed Jesus can heal him of his disease and said "If you are willing, you can make me clean.” Jesus answered “I am willing. Be clean” instantly the man was healed. The man was healed according to his level of faith in Christ. The same applies to you and me.  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 belief...

"And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Hebrews 10:24" Devotion : The world is becoming a complex place; there is a high unemployment rate in many countries. Living condition is very low especially in Africa where social security is minimal or non existent. Urbanization has eroded the traditional social fabric whereby siblings live and farm in close proximity thus rendering assistance when needed.  Therefore, there are many people, even countries, coming together to form unions or groups to help one another. The opening scripture supports this idea and even encourages Christians to come together to do good works. Imagine Christians creating companies to employ one another - the world would have been a better place, even to stand against the economic forces of the world.  In other to achieve this, Christians should consider one another; in other words, give people the chance or the benefit of the doubt to prove themselves, whether they can be t...

"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 : Daniel encountered the angel of God when he was in the midst of fasting and prayer. He became weak whist fasting and praying, but when the angel of God appeared to him and spoke to him, Daniel regained his strength.    The only way to make the Word of God work is when it is spoken; therefore, the Christian life is not a quiet life but a Word Talking Life, Hebrews 13:6. For the Word of God to work for you, you must release it with power. That is more reason to memorize the Holy Scriptures: speak them with authority in any ailing situation in our life, and we shall receive the solution we desire.   Dearly beloved, are you are quiet Christian or a Word Talking Christian? Share your comments here!

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. ‭Ephesians 6:12 KJV‬ Devotion: We daily encounter people who supposedly hate us, people who are openly against us and sometimes too we act that way. Does that mean we are evil? No, but the devil uses people to carry out his evil work.   The people devil likes to use are the children of God because he- devil is not happy seeing people live for Christ. So devil sees a good family and sows seed of discord in there, someone progressing he puts a stumbling block on his way in form of a boss who hates the person. When devil sees someone spreading the good news of Christ he entices him with money or fornication just to destroy him. In all these devil uses real people, people we know, love, colleagues etc. We see them as enemy but the enemy is devil.   So when we pray, it has to be against the Devil ...

 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. ‭Ephesians 6:11 KJV‬ Devotion: We have to remember that we are not the only inhabitants of the planet earth. There are unseen forces that contend against us. The forces of darkness and principalities who are agents of devil. Their chief aim is to disturb our walk with Jesus, destroy Carriers, happy families, progressive individuals etc. Therefore we must apply the teaching of Paul below to get ourselves ready to counter and destroy these evil forces.   Would a doctor begin an operation without surgical gear? Would a firefighter run into a burning building without a protective suit? Would a soldier head into a battle without armor? With the exclusion of extreme situations, of course they wouldn’t.   In fact, not only do they spend years preparing for such moments, but they also learn to protect themselves from harm. If they aren’t prepared, they cannot do their job.   Wr...