Prepare Your Heart For The Word · TUESDAY 30

But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty (Matthew 13:23).

In Acts 17:11, Luke, by the inspiration of the Spirit, compares the Jews who heard the Word in one city to those who heard the Word in another city. He wrote that those in Berea "...were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so." Those in Thessalonica had a different response to the same message of the Gospel, compared to those in Berea, whom the Spirit describes as "more noble."

Do you know what it is for the Spirit of God to tell us that certain people were nobler than others? What was the distinguishing factor? The answer lies in the same verse 11: "...They received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so." Those in Berea searched the scriptures; they studied to be sure that what they had been taught was really what the Word says. They received the Word with all readiness of mind. That means they prepared their hearts to receive the Word.

There’re people who go to church all around the world, without preparing their minds to receive the Word of God. Don’t be that way. It’s important to prepare your heart to seek the Lord (2 Chronicles 12:14, 2 Chronicles 30:19). Become voracious for the Word; let your heart go out for the Word. Let nothing distract you from receiving the Word. Those in Thessalonica received the Word with arguments; they argued in their minds against the Word; they weren’t ready for the Word.

Throughout the coming year, as you carefully study the Rhapsody of Realities devotional, and follow either the one-year or two-year Bible reading plan, receive all that the Lord has for you with readiness of mind. If you’d give the Word the right attention, you’d be amazed what God will do in your life, the revelations He’ll bring into your spirit to catapult you to higher realms of glory.

Prayer 

Dear Father, I thank you for showing me the benefits of preparing my heart to receive your engrafted Word into my Spirit. I have a voracious appetite for the Word, for it’s the only dependable material to build my spirit, through the power of the Holy Spirit. I’m therefore positioned for a life of absolute success and prosperity, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Further Study: Ephesians 4:11-14; 1 Corinthians 15:58

1 Year Bible Reading Plan : Malachi 1-2 revelation 21

2 Year Bible Reading Plan : Revelation 22:1-10 Malachi 1-2

Your Future Is History With God · MONDAY 29

(As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were (Romans 4:17).

Abraham was called the Father of Faith because of the extraordinary faith he demonstrated. At age seventy-five, God appeared to him and said, "I have made thee a father of many nations." Even though Abraham didn’t have a child at the time, and was called "Abram," meaning "assumed father," God could see that the man was already a father of many nations. He’s the God that quickens (gives life) to the dead, and calls things that didn’t exist as though they already existed. To God, Abraham’s future was history.

God’s Word to Abraham, that he (Abraham) would be the father of many nations already established Abraham’s future. God didn’t have to do anything more to change Abraham’s status from being childless. However, it was up to Abraham to take a hold of God’s Word and run with it.

One day, God brought him out in the night-time and told him to look up in the sky and count the stars (Genesis 15:5). Abraham tried but couldn’t number them, for they were uncountable. Then God said to him, "so shall thy seed be." At that point, Abraham believed, and it was accounted to him for righteousness (Romans 4:3).

As Christians, we’re the seed of Abraham, and it makes no difference what point you are in life; God has established a glorious future for you. He said, "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end" (Jeremiah 29:11). Your future is history with Him. Therefore, refuse to fret or worry over anything. By yourself, you can’t know the path of life that brings success, joy, victory and prosperity, but the Holy Spirit knows, and He’ll lead you in the path of greatness. Cheer up; your future is bright.

Prayer 

Dear Father, I thank you for who I am in Christ. I’m the seed of Abraham and the world belongs to me. I refuse to worry or fret over anything because all things are mine already. You’ve made my life pleasant and my future is bright; for these I praise you, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Further Study: Psalm 16:6 CEV; Isaiah 45:2; revelation 1:8

1 Year Bible Reading Plan : Zechariah 12-14 revelation 20

2 Year Bible Reading Plan : Revelation 21:13-27 Zechariah 13-14

Fast, Pray And Minister To The Lord! · SATURDAY 27

As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them (Acts 13:2).

When you take out time to fast and pray, and minister to the Lord, you discipline your flesh in submission to the Word. This makes your spirit more receptive to God’s Spirit, breaking down the resistance of your human senses, thus aiding your spirit to pray more correctly.

Fasting also positions you rightly for God’s Word to come to you. God may have been speaking to you, but you may not have picked His signals. But when you fast and pray, your spirit is conditioned to receive the guidance and direction He’s giving you about your job, finances, family, academics, the future, something that’s dear to you or that you’re interested in.

Learn to apply the principle in Acts 13; don’t stop at fasting and praying, also learn to minister to the Lord. In the church at Antioch, there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon Lucius, and Manaen, including Paul. The Bible says, "As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said…" (Acts 13:2). Notice that they didn’t have to cry, "Lord, speak to us; we want to hear your voice; speak!" No. They just ministered to Him and He spoke. It’s that simple.

This is God’s will and purpose: He desires to talk to you personally and to have you understand Him clearly. He wants to do that for you more than you want it. The truth is, He’s been doing it. But when your spirit is clouded with other matters, you can’t hear Him clearly. That’s the reason for fasting.

We don’t fast so God can hear our prayers, or so we can convince Him to do something for us. Fasting helps to position you where His Word can come to you, lift you, energize you, and position you to be in sync with His perfect will.

Prayer 

Dear Father, I thank you for the opportunity to fast, pray and minister to you and condition my spirit to receive visions of the glorious future you’ve prepared for me, visions of guidance, and visions of the Kingdom. I walk in absolute victory and dominion in the coming year, knowing you’ve already perfected all that concerns me, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Further Study: Acts 14:23; John 10:27; Acts 1:14

1 Year Bible Reading Plan : Zechariah 7-8 revelation 19:1-10

2 Year Bible Reading Plan : Revelation 20:1-15 Zechariah 9-10

THE POWER OF THE HOLY COMMUNION

What Is The Holy Communion?

The Holy Communion, known also as the Lord’s Supper, represents the greatest expression of God’s love for His people.

Two items are used in the Holy Communion—the bread which represents Jesus’ body that was scourged and broken before and during His crucifixion, and the cup which represents His shed blood.

When Jesus walked on earth, He was vibrant, and His body was full of life and health. He was never sick. But before Jesus went to the cross, He was badly scourged by the Roman soldiers, and His body was torn as He hung on the cross.

At the cross, God also took all our sicknesses and diseases and put them on Jesus’ originally perfect and healthy body, so that we can walk in divine health. That is why the Bible says by His stripes, we are healed (Isaiah 53:5, 1 Peter 2:24).

In Luke 22:20, Jesus tells us that the cup is the “new covenant in My blood”, and the apostle Paul tells us that the blood of Jesus brings forgiveness of sins (Colossians 1:14, Ephesians 1:7).

Why Do Believers Partake Of The Holy Communion?

Besides being born again in Christ, a healthy body and mind are the greatest blessings anyone can have. And the Holy Communion is God’s ordained channel of healing and wholeness.

On the night that He was betrayed, Jesus ate His last supper with His disciples. And knowing what He would accomplish through His sacrifice, He instituted the Holy Communion (Luke 22:19–20, 1 Corinthians 11:24–25).

His loving instruction is that we are to remember Him as we partake of the Holy Communion. Jesus wanted us conscious of how His body was broken for our wholeness, and His blood was shed for the forgiveness of our sins. And whenever we partake in this consciousness, we “proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes” (1 Corinthians 11:26).

Today, when we partake of the bread, we are declaring that Jesus’ health and divine life flows in our mortal bodies. And when we partake of the cup, we are declaring that we are forgiven and have been made righteous. Jesus’ blood gives us right standing before God, and we can go boldly into God’s presence (Hebrews 4:16). When we pray, we can be sure that God hears us!   

How Do I Partake Of The Holy Communion?

Before you partake, remember that the Holy Communion is not a ritual to be observed, but a blessing to be received.

Because it is not a ritual, there is no prescribed bread or special drink required. In the Last Supper, Jesus used whatever He had at the table—bread commonly eaten at supper, and whatever they were drinking.

To partake, first, hold the bread in your hand and say:

Thank You, Father, for the gift of Your Son. By the stripes that fell on His back, my body is healed from the crown of my head to the very soles of my feet. Every cell, every organ, every function of my body is healed, restored, and renewed. In Jesus’ name, I believe and I receive. [Eat the bread.]

Next, take the cup in your hand and say:

Lord Jesus, thank You for Your precious blood. Your sin-free, disease-free, poverty-free life is in Your blood. And Your shed blood has removed every sin from my life. Through Your blood, I am forgiven of all my sins—past, present and future—and made completely righteous. Today, I celebrate and partake of the inheritance of the righteous, which is preservation, healing, wholeness and provision. Thank You Lord Jesus, for loving me. Amen. [Drink the wine.]

Be Of Good Cheer! · FRIDAY 26

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world (John 16:33).

These words of the Master give us the assurance of a victorious life. It doesn’t matter what you faced in the outgoing year, rejoice in the Lord, and celebrate His victories in your life. This is important because as we journey in life, we must have times of reflection: moments when we look back and see what the Lord has done, and then project into the future, into the greater glory that He has in store for us.

The Bible says in Psalm 16:6 (CEV), "You make my life pleasant, and my future is bright." Blessed thought! God has a bright future for you, and He loves to let you know about the future He’s planned for you, and endows you with the speed and power of the Spirit into that glorious future. No matter what you experience along the path, it’ll always be for your good, and for your glory. Therefore, like the Apostle Paul, rejoice and say, "...None of these things move me" (Acts 20:24). Set your focus on the Lord and His Word, because there’ll always be distracting influences here and there, trying to pull you off the goal, but refuse to turn away; stay on the Word and you’d be sure to experience victory, success and triumph.

You might say, "2014 hasn’t really been for me a year of greatness, because of the enormous problems and challenges that I faced." It actually depends on what you are looking at. Remember, a man’s worth is measured, not by the number of his friends or by the good things that happen with him, but by the challenges that he faces, and the power of his enemies. In other words, the bigger the trouble, the greater you really are!

As you prepare for 2015, be grateful for the challenges and difficulties that came your way, because they were opportunities for God to manifest His greatness in your life. Halleluiah.

Prayer 

Dear Father, I thank you for the revelations of your Word that inspire faith in my spirit, and produce great testimonies in my life. I’m confident of the greater glory that lies ahead, for my path is as the shining light that shines more and more unto the perfect day. You perfect all that concerns me, and for this I’m exceedingly grateful, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Further Study: Romans 8:28; James 1:2; Acts 20:22-24

1 Year Bible Reading Plan : Zechariah 4-6 revelation 18

2 Year Bible Reading Plan : Revelation 19:11-21 Zechariah 7-8

The Glory Has Come! · THURSDAY 25

And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one (John 17:22).

In our opening verse, Jesus was talking to the Father in prayer about His disciples; He said, "The glory that you gave me, I have given to them." This is amazing! I want you to know that the prayer is for us too, because in the same scripture, He said, "Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word" (John 17:20). So Jesus prayed for us as well, and gave us the same glory that the Father gave Him.

This should get you thinking! If Jesus says the glory that the Father gave Him, He’s given to us, what would this mean? Notice He didn’t say, "I shall give them"; He said, "I have given them." The question is, "Have you received it?" You know, it’s one thing to be given something; it’s another thing to accept or receive it. The good news is, when you received Christ, you received the glory and became one with the Father.

The Bible says Jesus Christ is the effulgence of the Father’s glory (Hebrews 1:3); that’s exactly what He’s made us—the effulgence of His glory, because as He is, so are we in this world (1 John 4:17). This is what Christmas is to us. Christmas means that you’re in Christ now and that you have His life and nature in you. Christ is in you now, which means glory has come! Think on this as you celebrate today! As often as you can in the course of the day, say, "Father, I thank you; I’m your glory, and I express who I am today. Christ in me means glory in my life!"

Prayer 

Heavenly Father, I thank you for your great love which you expressed in sending Jesus to the world to make us one with you, even when we didn’t deserve it. Lord, I thank you for the glory and oneness I share with you; I pray that all around the world, this season, Christ will be exulted and magnified, resulting in a great harvest of souls, as your children spread the message of salvation, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Further Study: 2 Corinthians 3:18; Ephesians 1:11-12

1 Year Bible Reading Plan : Zechariah 1-3 revelation 17

2 Year Bible Reading Plan : Revelation 19:1-10 Zechariah 5-6

Celebrating Divine Life · TUESDAY 23

…I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly (John 10:10).

As we bask in the euphoria of the yuletide season, it’s important to understand who Jesus is, and what He actually came to do. Jesus is not a religious leader; He didn’t come to establish a religion. There’re many who think He came to show us how to do good things, and live the good life; that’s not what He came to do. He came to give us life. Therefore, Christmas is the celebration of the divine life—the Godkind of life that we have received in Christ Jesus.

God made us humans, but wanted us to have His life and nature. His plan was to make us associates of the God-kind, not just to live as mere men. That’s the reason He sent Jesus to the world, to live, die, and come back to life, and make it possible for men to receive the life of God: "And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life..." (1 John 5:11-12).

How can anyone receive this life and nature of God today? It’s through faith in what Christ has done. John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Anyone who believes, receives. Eternal life—the life and nature of God—is imparted to you the moment you make Jesus the Lord of your life. This life is one of righteousness, glory, victory, success and excellence.

Religion would have men believe they can only receive this life when they get to heaven, but eternal life is the present-hour possession of the one who believes in Jesus Christ. Man, in all his self-righteousness, is nothing before the Lord, until he receives this glorious life in him. If you haven’t been born again, you can do so even now, and become a partaker of this glorious, supernatural life, by asking Jesus to be the Lord of your life.

Confession 

The life and nature of God is at work in me, in every fibre of my being, in every cell of my blood and in every bone of my body. I’m thus an overcomer, victorious and triumphant over sickness, disease and circumstances. I’m superior to the devil and the negative system of this world. Halleluiah!

Further Study:  John 3:16; Romans 6:23

1 Year Bible Reading Plan : Revelation 15 Zephaniah 1-3

2 Year Bible Reading Plan : Revelation 18:1-12 Zechariah 1-2

Confession Brings Us The Blessings Of Salvation · MONDAY 22

For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation (Romans 10:10).

Our opening verse says you believe with your heart, and are made right with God; however, with the mouth, confession (Greek: homologeo) is made unto salvation. It is your confession that activates and causes the blessings of salvation to be actualized in your life, so don’t be quiet. Speak the Word always.

There’re those who say Christianity is of the heart, so you don’t have to say anything; just keep it in your heart, to yourself. Well, that’s not Christianity! You can’t know the Word of God and be quiet; more so, the Bible says, "with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." There’re tremendous blessings in salvation, and to enjoy them, you’ve got to be a talker; a Word-talker.

Salvation is a big word; it encapsulates all the beautiful results of the redemptive work of Christ: salvation, divine life, healing and health, freedom, liberty, preservation, deliverance, etc. These are all in the blessings of salvation; they all came in one package. If perhaps, you’ve been in a mess or have found yourself in some predicament, what you need to do is to confess the Word, and by your confessions, you catapult yourself to the glorious liberty of the sons of God.

It doesn’t matter how deep in the dungeon you find yourself; it doesn’t matter how overwhelming the problem is, confess the Word and you’ll come out victoriously. You might want to ask, "How do I confess the Word?" Confession is your response in agreement with the Word.

For example, you may feel headaches, but what do you say in such a situation? Someone may say, "O, my head is really aching"; that’s the wrong confession. You ought to say, "I have the life of God in me, therefore, every fibre of my being, from the crown of my head to the soles of my feet, is vitalized by the Spirit of God that lives in me! I’m healthy and strong."

You’re not an ordinary person; you’re born of God; you’re born of His Word, and must therefore live by the Word. We’re victorious by the Word on our lips—the words we speak in agreement with God’s Word.

Prayer 

Dear Father, I thank you for my glorious life and heritage of greatness in Christ; thank you for making me one with you, and granting me the grace to live victoriously every day, in health, prosperity, joy, liberty and safety. The power of your Word, and the Holy Spirit in me, puts me over in every situation, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Further Study: Proverbs 6:2; Mark 11:23

1 Year Bible Reading Plan : Revelation 13:11-14:1-20 habakkuk 1-3

2 Year Bible Reading Plan : Revelation 17:11-18 haggai 2

"Filled With All The Fullness Of God!" · SUNDAY 21

And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God (Ephesians 3:19).

From our opening verse, we understand that it’s the will of God that we’re filled with all the fullness of God. Could this be real? Is this truly possible? Emphatically yes! He tells us to be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18), and if you’re filled with the Spirit, you’re filled with God, for the Spirit is Himself God!

Imagine every member of the body of Christ being filled with God; not filled with doubt, unbelief or fear, but with God! What an extraordinary life of glory we would all be living! Then you’d understand Christianity as a life of "...joy unspeakable and full of glory" (1 Peter 1:8). Think about God’s people all around the world, going into Church for service, full of the Spirit: joyful, radiant, and exuberant with praise! That’s God’s plan; that’s His will for us—to be replete with His fullness—nothing is left out.

We have something in our day that the prophets and priests of the Old Testament didn’t have: we have the capacity to contain the fullness of God’s Spirit, and be filled with His "maximum load." The Greek word is "pleroma," and it means the total or complete content of a vessel in its maximum capacity and entirety. That means everything the Father is, and has, is in you, BECAUSE HE LIVES IN YOU.

Colossians 1:19 says it pleased the Father that in Jesus should all fullness ("pleroma") dwell. When you saw Jesus, you saw the totality of Deity. No wonder He could say, "...He that hath seen me, hath seen the Father" (John 14:9). Now, the beauty of it all is that you’re in Him, and He’s in you. Colossians 2:10 says, "And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power." That means there’s nothing of God that’s supposed to be in you that’s not already in you. Your humanity has been supplanted by the life and nature of God. Blessed be God!

Prayer 

Dear heavenly Father, I thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit. I live every day conscious that I’m filled with the totality of Deity. Lord, I thank you for my life is continually characterized by victory, success, abundance, and the supernatural, because divinity is at work in me, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Further Study: 1 Corinthians 12:13; John 14:17

1 Year Bible Reading Plan : Revelation 13:1-10 Nahum 1-3

2 Year Bible Reading Plan : Revelation 17:1-10 haggai 1