HORM Devotional

1 Corinthians 13:11 ‘When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things..’

DAILY READING; Matthew 11:20-30; Leviticus 13; Proverbs 25

King Oyo Nyimba Rukidi is the youngest ruling monarch in the world. He is king of Toro Kingdom, with a population of over 2 million, in southwestern Uganda.
Oyo was crowned king when he was only 3 years old in 1995, soon after his father’s death.
During his coronation ceremony, the 3 year old boy, was put on a miniature throne. However he refused to sit still and remained restless. At a point during the coronation, Oyo yanked off the lion-skin crown that was too heavy for his little head. He slid off the throne, ran away, and hid in his mother’s lap. His uncle who was his legal guardian had to bring in toys to engage the toddler’s attention. And so while the important and sober coronation ceremony was going on around him, the little king sat in the midst of it all, playing with his toys.
After his coronation, Oyo was returned back to England where he was schooling, while his mother and uncle ruled in his place. But as he grew older and became wiser, more responsibility was handed over to him. And today at the age of 28 years, though he is the youngest ruling monarch in the world, king Oyo is very much in charge of his kingdom. He oversees a cabinet and holds talks with presidents and is accorded full respect as the king.

Though he was made a king as a little boy, king Oyo could only begin to reign, when he grew to maturity and came to the realization of who he was.
In the same way spiritually, we must grow from boys to men and become fully aware of who we are in Christ before we can reign as sons of God upon the earth.

1 Corinthians 13:11 says ‘When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things..’

Though we are born again as spiritual babes, we cannot continue living in carnality as spiritual children. We must put away childish ways, and pass through the process of spiritual growth so as to fully reign in life.
Being born again does not give us automatic access to our kingdom inheritance. We have to grow into it through knowledge and spiritual exercises. As long as you refuse to grow, you will be unable to fully take charge and reign in life.
Unfortunately today, some believers through lack of spiritual knowledge and understanding, are suffering what unbelievers suffer. Due to ignorance, they are ruled by fear, diseases, poverty and lack. They are constantly harassed by forces of wickedness, because they lack knowledge of how to exercise the power to overcome..

Hosea 4:6 says ‘My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.’

Knowledge is indeed the master key for victory and dominion. The more you feed on God’s Word the more you will understand and realize who you are and know the power that belongs to you.
Indeed through coming of age spiritually, we will ascend the throne ordained for us, and begin to truly reign in dominion and power as sons of God upon the earth.

PRAYER; Father I thank You for the throne You have ordained for me in destiny. Please enable me to pay the required price to grow spiritually and begin to reign in victory in Jesus Name.
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For you to enjoy victory in the Kingdom of God, you need to develop a Kingdom mindset, that thinks in line with the Word of God. – WORDBITE 222.

2 Timothy 2:3-4  ‘Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier..

DAILY READING; Mathew 11: 1-19, Leviticus 11-12, Proverbs 24.

One of the world’s greatest heavyweight boxers was Jack Dempsey. He was so popular that he drew more million-dollar gates than any prizefighter in history.

Dempsey’s appeal lay in his punching ability: He was very fast in the ring, and often wielded a crushing punch.
However his success was tied to the hours he spent practising with sparring partners in preparation for his fights.
It was said that Jack Dempsey practiced as if he had to survive being put in a ring with a lion, just as the early Christians..
He practised so viciously that he often left his sparring partners limping, and they had to be constantly replaced.
Jack found that sparring partners provided him with hard sparring and tough competitive rounds that prepared him to eventually win his fights.

Indeed one of the best ways Professional boxers train is by fighting with a sparring partner.
Sparring sessions are just like the fight before the real fight.  And it is those boxers who are used to hard sparring, that can usually endure hard fights without getting knocked out.

2 Timothy 2:3-4 says ‘Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.’

When a boxer is being hit hard by a sparring partner, the boxer knows it is for his own good. And so he endures it, knowing that it is only preparing him to win in the real fight ahead.
Likewise, as believers we must understand that there is a training that precedes our reigning.  Preparation must precede our manifestation. Many of the things we pass through in life like sparring partners are only training us to reign. And as good soldiers of Christ we must endure, knowing we are being prepared for something better and greater.

Often times, the great and effectual door God opens for you also comes with many adversaries. And you have to be prepared beforehand to overcome.  

Therefore in times of trial and temptations, let us be patient, knowing that God is training us. God has a plan and He is preparing us for where He has preordained for us.
Let us therefore continue to fight relentlessly in the place of prayers, trusting God to give us the victory at last. ..

1 Timothy 6:12 says ‘Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, ‘

Let us be prepared to fight and win every fight of faith that comes our way. Each of these battles are training  us for reigning. Momentary afflictions are achieving for us a far more eternal weight of glory. 
In every situation, let us hold on to God’s Word, let us continue to rest upon His promises. Let us never grow weary in well doing, for surely in due season, we shall reap, if we faint not.

PRAYER: Lord, please help me to always submit to Your training for reigning. Grant me the grace to never be weary in well doing. I thank You because the due season has indeed come for the unveiling of Your glory in my life in Jesus name. .  

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God is preparing you for the season He prepared your breakthrough. – WORDBITE 222

Psalm 119:18 says “Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law”

DAILY READING; Matthew 10:26-42; Leviticus 9-10; Proverbs 23

In 2007, Time magazine stated that the Bible “has done more to shape literature, history, entertainment and culture than any book ever written”.
That indeed is the truth. The Bible is the most widely circulated book in the world and has been translated into more languages than any other book. The Bible is the world’s bestselling book, breaking all records known to man. An estimated 5 billion copies of the Bible have been distributed down the centuries. And in recent years over a 100 million copies are given away every year.
The influence of the Bible can be found in every department of human activity. Its contents have inspired the greatest poets, artists, musicians, scientists, philosophers, and affected every area of human endeavor. The Bible has been the mightiest factor of all in shaping the moral progress of the human race. Indeed the Bible’s influence on Western civilization has been monumental.
However, while most of the world tends to see only the cultural or moral influence of the Bible, the fact remains that the Bible is a book of power with the ability to change lives. .
Reading the Bible as a history book may add some historic knowledge to you, but reading it as God’s Word will bring transformation to your life.
God’s Word is the carrier of God’s power, because where the Word of the king is there is power. Once God’s Word gains entrance into you, it will bring about the manifestation of signs and wonders in your life.

Psalm 119:18 says “Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law”

Indeed God’s Word is what turns us into living wonders. When we engage the power in the Word, every issue of life begins to answer to us. Through the application of God’s Word we are healed, delivered and have good success in life.
We engage the power in the Word through meditating upon it, until it gains entrance into our heart. It is the entrance of the Word that gives light. And once that light begins to shine in us, it dispels every darkness and ignites faith in our hearts. And as we begin to declare the Word we have believed, we will begin to see miracles, signs and wonders around us.

PRAYER: Lord, please through Your Word, transform me daily more and more into the image of Christ.. As I study Your Word, let Your Power therein, bring about a definite positive change in my life in Jesus Name.

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Reading The Bible gives you over view, Studying it takes you to depths. – WORDBITE 222.

Nehemiah 8:10 ”Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength’ “.

DAILY READING; Matthew 10:1-25; Leviticus 7-8; Proverbs 22.

Recently the Christian Broadcasting Network,[CBN], featured the amazing story of Frank Icenhour, a 15 year old Christian boy who was rescued from the ocean.
At that time, Frank had been on a summer vacation in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina with his family. And on the last day of the vacation, he decided to take a final float on his raft around 7pm. But while in the water, Frank was suddenly caught in a monstrous rip tide. As he yelled for help, no one really heard him because at that time, most of the lifeguards and the other tourists had gone home.
Because he couldn’t swim, the waves continued to carry him and his raft, farther and farther out to sea. However, in this moment of danger, Scripture verses began to flood his young mind. He recalled God’s promise to never leave nor forsake him and believed God would somehow rescue him. Thinking on God’s Word, kept Frank calm, and rather than fear, he started praising God for his deliverance.
Frank kept praising God for many hours, even as it got darker and he drifted further. Frank refused to give in to fear, even when a shark began to circle him, eventually the shark left, without attacking him.
Meanwhile, Frank’s family had alerted the authorities. They continued to pray even as rescue planes scanned the sea looking for him. Miraculously, after 14 hours, he was finally located by a shipping boat. By that time, Frank had drifted about six miles away from where he had entered the water.

It is truly amazing that this 15 year old boy who couldn’t swim, was lost and alone in a shark infested ocean, for a whole night, yet through praising God, he survived it all.
After his rescue, Frank continued to bless God for giving him the faith not to have panicked, which had helped to keep him from drowning.

Indeed praising God will always keep us afloat and stop us from drowning in the troubled waters of life.
In Acts 16, Paul and Silas found themselves in deep trouble. They had been beaten and thrown into prison and their situation looked bleak and hopeless.
But rather than despair, at midnight, they arose and praised God. In the midst of their praise, there was a mighty earthquake, that broke the prison doors and delivered from the dungeon.
Because God inhabits the praises of His people, through praise, we create room for Him to come in and change negative situations for us.
As this year begins to round up, you may have one reason or the other to be worried, but rather that despair, switch to praise. Never forget that God crowns the year with good things and in these last months, He has concluded a definite plan of divine completion for you. All you have been believing God for this year can still come to pass. It is never too late.
Even if things seem bleak and dark, through praise, you can be raised out of every pit. Understand that God is greater than any situation that will ever confront you in this life. Therefore, rather than fret or worry, always maintain your praise.

Nehemiah 8:10 says ” ‘Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength’ “.

As long as you retain you joy, you will triumph in the end. If you refuse to be depressed, the enemy cannot oppress you.
Therefore in this season, let your heart be strong in God’s Word and keep your faith. As you bless the Lord at all times, God shall turn your mourning into dancing. He shall put off your sack cloth and gird you with gladness.

PRAYER: Lord , I thank You for the grace to keep praising You in every situation. I know that because You live, I can always face tomorrow. Thank You Lord for granting me divine speed and ease in this season in Jesus Name.

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The tests you are going through in life today is not for your destruction, it is for your testimony. – WORDBITE 222

Romans 8:28 says ‘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.’

DAILY READING; Matthew 9:18-38; Leviticus 5-6; Proverbs 21

John Graham Lake was a minister greatly used by God in the Pentecostal movement that began in the early 20th century. Before going into fulltime ministry, John G Lake had a successful career in real estate. At first, he tried to juggle his businesses with ministry, however a time came when he chose to obey God totally, to go into fulltime ministry. With this decision, he walked away from a $50,000 year salary and gave away everything he had. Relying only on faith in God, John and his wife then travelled to South Africa, to begin their ministry. On arrival to South Africa they had no money and needed at least $125 in order to clear customs. Inability to pay the fee would subject them to immediate deportation. However as they nervously waited for their turn in line to pay, John felt a tap on his shoulder. A man that was standing behind John told him “when I saw you and your family in line, the Lord told me to give you $200 cash”. And so the Lord provided just enough money for John and his family to enter the country. But their needs didn’t stop there. They had no contact in Johannesburg and had nowhere to sleep. But soon after they cleared customs, a woman approached them and said that the Lord had told her the night before to give her home to a family of 9 people who were coming from America to do God’s work. And the number of John’s family was nine.
During the course of their ministry in South Africa, God continued to miraculously show up for them. Through their ministry, multitudes were saved, healed and delivered. In the end John G. Lake gained far more than all he had given up to serve God. And today, he remains celebrated as one of God’s greatest generals.

Surely they that put their trust in God will never be ashamed. When we step out in obedience to God, we can trust that He will take care of us and cause all things to work together for our good.
No matter the contrary situations we may sometimes face, God is always too faithful to fail. Indeed in the course of obeying God, there could be times, it may seem as if your back is against the wall. In those times, when you may not know what else to do, always realize that you are serving the miracle working God.
He is the God who does the 11th hour miracles, He makes a way where there seems to be no way. Indeed God is able to deliver you from every form of financial embarassments, troubles, sickness, trials etc. He can do exceedingly abundantly above all you could ever ask or think.
As long as you are obeying God, you can always trust that He will perfect all that concerns you. Therefore no matter how the storm rages, stand, knowing that you serve the God who can calm every storm. He raises a standard against the flood and makes a path through the mighty waters. Learn to celebrate His faithfulness even in the face of troubles and Judge Him faithful even in the midst of trials.
Though you may not sometimes see the full picture, keep trusting God even when you cannot trace Him. Keep following Him even when you cannot fathom Him.
A fact that remains forever undisputable is that; God is always faithful. Indeed God is good all the time. Therefore let us continue to bless Him at all times and let His praise continually be on our lips.

PRAYER: Lord, Please help me to know that You are always there for me no matter what I may face in life. Thank You for giving me the victory in every situation and causing me to triumph always in Jesus Name. ….
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God is preparing you for the season He prepared your breakthrough. – WORDBITE 222

Revelation 12:11 ‘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”.

DAILY READING; Matthew 9:1-17; Leviticus 3-4; Proverbs 20

Charles F. Parham is known as the ‘father of the Pentecostal’ Movement. He was a key figure in the spread of Pentecostalism in the 20th century. Though he was greatly anointed and used mightily by God, yet in his lifetime he fought many battles.
It seemed he began fighting right from the womb. At six months of age, he was stricken with a fever that left him bedridden. And then for the next five years of his life, he was plagued with dramatic spasms. At the tender age of seven, his mother died and as if that was not enough, at nine years old he contracted inflammatory rheumatism. Some of the medications he had to take were so strong, that the lining of his stomach was destroyed and his growth became stunted for a while. However, Parham who was brought up in a Christian home, despite all his afflictions had an early awareness of God. At the tender age of nine years, Parham felt God call him to ministry and so he began to prepare himself by studying God’s Word and praying.

When he entered college at age sixteen, Parham had every intention of entering the ministry, but then he became discouraged through the influence of the secular world around him. As a result, Parham denied his calling and began to backslide.
However as he pursued a medical course in the college he soon contracted rheumatic fever. After suffering for months, a physician visited his bedside and pronounced Parham near death. In that dying moment Parham remembered his calling to preach the Gospel.
Unable to pray coherently because he was sedated with morphine, he simply began reciting The Lord’s Prayer. When he came to words “…thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven,” his mind suddenly cleared. As he accepted God’s Will for his life, he was instantly healed.
He then renewed his promise to serve God, and decided to quit college to enter full time ministry. Parham held his first evangelistic meeting at the age of eighteen. As Parham continued to follow God’s call, he began to experience extraordinary visitations of power in his ministry. The blind, lame, deaf and all manner of diseases were miraculously healed and multitude of souls were saved through his preaching.

Indeed great destinies often suffer great attacks. Anyone that has God’s call upon him, would often be targeted by the enemy. However, though the purpose of the attacks is to stop the manifestation of God’s plan, we must understand that in all things, we are more than conquerors, through Him that loved us.

The truth is that some of the trials that came against you were not random. They were calculated attempts by the enemy to stop the fulfiment oh God’s purpose in your life.
And just like, Charles Parham, there are some believers , who after passing through such fiery trials, at some point, decide to give up on following God’s call. However no matter the cost, nothing should ever discourage us from pursuing God’s Will for us.
Through the Blood of Jesus, God has given us the power to always overcome the attacks of the enemy.

Revelation 12:11 says ‘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.’

Jesus has paid the price through His Blood to pave the way to the fulfiment of our glorious destiny. Therefore anything trying to hinder your progress and fulfiment of God’s plan can always be stopped through engaging the power in the Blood.
Indeed nothing should be allowed to stop the fulfiment of God’s divine mandate in our lives.

With the events unfolding in our world today, we must realize that we can no longer afford to waste further time in answering God’s call. We must begin to get ready to be used mightily by God in reaping the endtime harvest of souls. Let us therefore prepare through studying the Word, fervent prayers fasting, praise and fellowship with the Holy Spirit. As we prepare adequately God will indeed anoint and equip us to fulfill His call and purpose in these last days.

PRAYER: Father I thank You for delivering me from everything hindering me from answering Your call upon my life. Through the Blood of Jesus I receive the power and grace to fulfill Your divine will for me in this season in Jesus Name.

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Nothing liberates like truth, the truth you know and act upon will make you free. – WORDBITE 222.

Luke 9:22 “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me”.

DAILY READING Matthew 8:14-34; Leviticus 1-2; Proverbs 19

On September 24, 1988, one of the greatest races in history took place at the Olympic Stadium of Seoul. This was the race between Carl Lewis of the United States and Ben Johnson of Canada. Both men had been in bitter rivalry, with each trying to be known as the fastest man in the world. At that time, Ben Johnson held the title and was unwilling to relinquish it.
After the starting pistol was fired, Ben Johnson flew down the track in a world-record 9.79 seconds, and won the race. Johnson received the gold medal, while his rival, Carl Lewis had to settle for the silver medal.
However, the race which was termed the world’s most famous race, two days later, became the world’s most infamous race because it was discovered that Johnson had cheated. A post-race urine test of all winners, revealed that Johnson had taken stanozolol, a forbidden anabolic steroid to enhance his performance. Within three days he was stripped of his medal and banned from competitive athletics for 3 years.
In 1991, his suspension ended and Johnson attempted a comeback and participated in a number of races. However, in 1993, after winning a race in France, he again tested positive to illegal drugs and as a result he was subsequently banned for life from competitive races.
Ben Johnson later admitted he had achieved his title of world’s fastest man through the illegal means of using drugs. Though he had initially succeeded, in the end, it all came crashing down because he had failed to follow the right way to his success.

Proverbs 14:12 ‘There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death’

Ben Johnson’s story tells us that there is no short-cut to greatness. In the race of life, only those that are willing to pay the price will get the prize. If you don’t pay the price for success, you’ll end up paying the price for failure. Indeed dreams will turn to nightmare, when the cost for achieving it is neglected.
Greatness doesn’t come at a discount, it has a high price tag, and only those who can pay, can possess it.
Every great accomplishment therefore is a product of a great price paid.. There cannot be a rise without a price. It is the sacrifice you make today that will determine where you will end up tomorrow. And the greater your vision, the more the cost required to achieve it.

Luke 12:48 says “To whom much is given, from him much will be required”.

Indeed there is a price behind every great success story we see today. Remember, no pain, no gain. We must therefore be willing to sacrifice pleasures for treasures.
Anyone who desires to do great exploits for God in this generation must be willing to pay the price of spiritual growth and maturity, which comes through self-denial.
Jesus said “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me” (Luke 9:22).

We must be willing to commit to a lifestyle of fasting, fervent prayers, diligent study of God’s Word and constant fellowship with the Spirit. We must be willing to sacrifice and not to compromise. If you play today, you will pay tomorrow. Let us not be deceived, God is not mocked, whatsoever a man sows that shall he also reap.
We must therefore avoid spiritual laziness and consciously pay the price of walking the strait and narrow path of spiritual growth and discipline.
Though the strait and narrow way may seem a hard, it is the road that leads to life. Indeed as we diligently follow the path God has laid out for us, in the end we will surely see the glorious manifestations of His promises in our lives.

PRAYER: Lord, please enable me to choose the path of discipline and sacrifice, so as to avoid the pain of regret in destiny. Thank You Lord for granting me the grace to overcome spiritual laxity so as to pay the required price for greatness in Jesus Name.

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There is something that God has placed within you that the world is eagerly awaiting to see. WORDBITE 222

1 Timothy 4:15 “Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.”

DAILY READING; Matthew 8:1-13; Exodus 39:1-40:38; Proverbs 18

William James Sidis is said to be the person who had the highest intelligence in the world. He had an IQ between 250 and 300 and was a human calculator and a linguistic genius. He was born in 1898 to Jewish-Russian parents who were very intelligent scientists. As an 18-months child, William James Sidis could already read The New York Times. At the age of eight he could speak fluent French, German, Russian, Turkish, Armenian, Latin, and his native language, English. At 9 years of age, he created a new language called “vendergood,” studied by linguists and declared to be complete, correct, and fascinating.
When he was only 9 years old, he was accepted into Harvard University. At the age of twelve, he gave his first lecture to the scientific community and the press.
After graduating cum laude and impressing academics, they took him to the University of Houston to give math classes and to start his law degree. However, in this academic and experimental world, he soon began to feel like a lab rat because he never had a normal childhood. At age 16, he began to rebel against his parents and the system. He refused to finish his law degree and stopped his education.
The press enjoyed defaming him with headlines such as “The child genius who never amounted to anything ..”, “the most intelligent man in the world has a miserable life”.
In an attempt to escape his parents and the press , William Sidis changed his name and began to live a low profile life, doing random jobs. After living a lonely and secluded life, he eventually died from stroke in a small apartment in Boston in 1944 when he was just 46 years old.

It is indeed unfortunate how William Sidis, said to be the most intelligent man, died with the great potentials, untapped, locked away within him. Who knows the amazing contributions he could have made to the world, if only he had continued to grow and fully explored his potentials.
The truth is that only a small percentage of the 7.8 billion people on our planet today, will achieve a significant portion of their true potential because only those few are willing to pay the price of growth.
As believers we all carry an enviable destiny within us. Through redemption we are destined to be the light of the world and Jesus said we shall do even greater works than He did.
However, to fully manifest this promised greatness, we must work out our salvation, through spiritual growth and development.
Though the land was promised to the children of Israel, they had to work to possess it (Deut. 11:24).
Therefore, the adventure of the believer does not just stop at redemption, our spirit man must continue to be renewed and developed day by day [2 Corinthians 4:16]
Indeed spiritual growth is a non-negotiable requirement for any believer who must fully manifest their God given potentials.
The Bible calls our potential a treasure in an earthen vessel (2 Cor. 4:7). This potential will lie dormant within us, until we assume responsibility to go through the process of growth and development. However disciplining ourselves to grow is worth the price, because the alternative is a redundant life of mediocrity.
Theodore Roosevelt once stated, “There has not yet been a person in our history who led a life of ease whose name is worth remembering.”
Therefore to live profitable lives, let us commit ourselves to developing and maximizing our full potentials. And one way we do this is by meditating upon God’s Word.

1 Timothy 4:15 says “Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.”

Indeed through meditating on God’s Word, we will receive the divine strength and power that will propel us forward to our God-ordained place in destiny.

PRAYER: Lord, I thank You for granting me the grace to continually feed in Your Word, so that I can receive the strength I need to grow spiritually and fully manifest the great potentials within me in Jesus Name.
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The battle you are faced with today is a good warfare because God has already foreordained victorious end for you. WORDBITE 222.

Galatians 4:1-7 [NLT] says ‘Think of it this way. If a father dies and leaves an inheritance for his young children, those children are not much better off than slaves until they grow up, even though they actually own everything their father had.

DAILY READING; – Matthew 7; Exodus 37:1-38:31; Proverbs 17

Bishop David Oyedepo is the founder and presiding Bishop of Living Faith Church Worldwide, also known as Winners’ Chapel. He once shared a story of an interesting experience he had at the beginning of his ministry.
In 1984, a woman came to him and told him a pathetic story of how she was being harassed and embarrassed by a swarm of insects. They had been following her about and hovering around her head everywhere she went. This had caused her utter grief and embarrassment. She had done what she could to stop them but to no avail and so in desperation she had decided to come to the Church to seek for help.
As she narrated this story to Bishop Oyedepo, he then asked her where the insects were. She told him that as she entered the church premises, she noticed that strangely, the insects did not follow her into the Church but had stayed outside.
He then asked her to get up and show him where the insects were. When Bishop Oyedepo came out of the Church premises, true enough he saw a swarm of praying mantis hovering outside the premises. However, Bishop noticed that as he and some members of his staff approached, the swarm began to move backwards.
They closer they came, the more the swarm of praying mantis moved back until they finally took off and flew away. And that was the end of their harassing and embarrassing the woman.

Psalm 18:44-45 says ‘As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me: the strangers shall submit themselves unto me. The strangers shall fade away, and be afraid out of their close places

During the time of Jesus Ministry on earth when the demons saw him they fell down on the ground and began to scream. Sometime even without speaking, His presence alone compelled the evil spirits to come out of their victims.
This was because they recognized His status as the Son of the living God. He had authority and power in Heaven and earth and had dominion and rule over the forces of darkness.
And just as Jesus greatly manifested His Sonship, we are to exercise dominion and rule over the forces of wickedness.
Now remember that Jesus is the pattern son. He is our perfect example. And as the Father has sent Him, so He sent us.
However being born again does not give us an automatic access to power. We have to grow into it through knowledge and spiritual exercises.
We have an inheritance of power because as many as receive Jesus, have been given power to become sons of God. But if we refuse to grow spiritually, and continue to operate as spiritual babes, we will not taste this vast inheritance of power given to us and will suffer like slaves on the earth.

Galatians 4:1-7 [NLT] says ‘Think of it this way. If a father dies and leaves an inheritance for his young children, those children are not much better off than slaves until they grow up, even though they actually own everything their father had.

Even though Jesus was born on earth as a child, He had to grow from boyhood to manhood. He waxed strong in spirit, He increased in wisdom and stature, until He assumed His full status as the Son of God.
In the same way, though we are born again as spiritual babes, we ought to grow spiritually until we come into full manifestations as sons of God on the earth.
When we receive Christ in our heart as our personal savior, we receive the potential to manifest His power. However it is when we take the responsibility to grow that we can come into actual manifestation of power.
Power manifestation is not for spiritual babes but for sons. The cardinal mark of sonship is the power to reign and exercise authority on earth.
When we come into our full status as sons of God, it will cause us to rule and dominate over the forces of darkness and cause every force in heaven and hell to obey our voice.
Especially in this season as we begin to take our place, through the manifestations of God’s power, we shall be experiencing amazing miracles, signs and wonders in our personal lives.
Today marks the first day of November. It is a month of new things. It doesn’t matter what past months may have looked like, today is bringing us into a season of seeing God’s power in a new dimension. In this eleventh month, through the Blood of Jesus, we shall be witnessing 11th hour miracles. The kind of favour, blessings and breakthroughs we have not seen since the year began shall suddenly begin to manifest in our lives. Let us therefore take the responsibility to prepare spiritually, so as not to miss the portion God has ordained for us in this new month in Jesus Name.

PRAYER: Lord, I thank You that by the Blood of Jesus I have come into my new season of inexplicable miracles in this eleventh month. Please give a fresh appetite for Your Word, prayers and praise so that I can access the victory You have ordained for me in Jesus Name.

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Illuminate your world, for you are a star destined to shine- – WORDBITE 222.

Exodus 14:14 ‘The LORD will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.”

DAILY READING Matthew 6:19-34; Exodus 35:1-36:38; Proverbs 16

In 1628, the Swedish warship, named ‘Vasa’ was the world’s most high-tech warship. It was heralded as the greatest warship of its time. Yet this ship sank within 20 minutes of its maiden voyage on 10 August 1628 after being hit by strong winds and flooding.
It was believed that one of the reasons why this ship sank so easily was because the Captain had allowed the gun ports to remain open when the ship set off.
Shortly after the ship had set sail, a strong gust of wind struck it. This wind pushed the ship so far over on its port side that water began to pour in through the open gunports. As the water rushed in through the holes, this very powerful ship became flooded and began to sink.
Though the captain ordered the gunports closed, it was too late because too much water had entered into the ship. And within minutes, and less than a mile into its journey, the ship had sunk to the sea bed at a depth of 32 metres.
The mistake of leaving the gun ports open had made the water to gain quick assess. If they had been closed, the water could not have poured in so rapidly and the ship might have remained afloat and survived.

Proverbs 4: 23 says ‘Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.’

We must keep our heart closed to the negative things that try to gain access to it. Indeed we must keep our heart diligently, because like a ship at sea, oftentimes it is what gains access to a man’s heart that brings him down.
It is a known fact that ships don’t sink because of the water around them; rather ships sink because of the water that gets into them. It has been said an entire sea of water can’t sink a ship unless it gets inside the ship. Similarly, the negativity of the world can’t weigh you down unless you allow it to get inside you.
Today being the last day of the month of October, you may be casting your mind back and looking at some things that had failed to work . Especially with the end of the year so close you may become weighed down because you have not achieved all your goals. But that should not be our attitude, rather we should keep judging God faithful and keep trusting Him for the miraculous.
Indeed God has been good to us, and we have been kept all through this remarkable year, only by His mercy and grace. So despite, the challenges that may seem to surround you, never allow the things happening on the outside to get on the inside of you and weigh you down. As long as you continue to keep your heart strong in God, you will eventually overcome them all. As long as your faith does not fail, you cannot fail.
In Mathew 14, though the storm raged around Peter, as long as he kept his focus on the master and his faith was strong, he could walk on water. It was only when he allowed fear to access his heart that he began to sink.
Indeed no matter what is going on externally we must ensure our heart remains strong in God, as we continually give Him all the glory. When your heart is full of faith, you will be filled with joy and gratitude. Indeed our ability to stand, despite the storms of life is a result of the state of our heart.
This is why we must constantly feed on God’s Word so as to be strengthened with might in our inner man. When your heart is strong in God, you will always be unshakeable and immovable in every situation.
Whatever may be coming against you today in your health, your career, your finances or relationships; like Paul in Acts 20:24, declare in faith ‘none of these things move me’. Keep your eyes on Jesus. Keep your heart strong in God’s Word. Remain in faith. And as Exodus 14:14 says ‘The LORD will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.”

PRAYER: Father please help me to always keep my heart filled with Your Word, so that I can remain strong in faith. I thank You that no matter what comes my way, through faith in You, I am an overcomer in every situation in Jesus Name.

Quote :
For you to enjoy victory in the Kingdom of God, you need to develop a Kingdom mindset, that thinks in line with the Word of God. – WORDBITE 222