For those whom He foreknew [of whom He was aware and loved beforehand], He also destined from the beginning [foreordaining them] to be molded into the image of His Son [and share inwardly His likeness], that He might become the firstborn among many brethren.
—Romans 8:29
The best goal a Christian can have is Christlikeness. Jesus is the express image of the Father, and we are called to follow in His footsteps. He came as the Pioneer of our faith to show us by example how we can live. We have the chance to behave with people the way Jesus did. Our goal is not to see how successful we can be in business or how famous we can be. It is not prosperity, popularity, or even building a big ministry, but to be transformed into the image of Jesus Christ.
Spiritual maturity or Christlikeness cannot be obtained without “dying to self.” That simply means saying yes to God and no to ourselves when our will and God’s are in opposition. Jesus told His disciples that if they wanted to follow Him, they would need to take up their cross daily.
To follow Christ and become like Him, we choose to forget about what we want—our plans, having our own way—and instead trust Him to show us what His will is for us. His will always leads to deep joy and satisfaction.
To the glory of God, New Zealand based song minister and key member of the RCCG music team in New Zealand, Busola Martins returns with her 5th single “My Case Is Different”.
The Holy Spirit breathed on His minstrel during a day-to-day conversation in December 2016 after Shiloh 2016 hosted by Winners Chapel, Nigeria. This is it!
Ready to be shared with the world. It is a song of all seasons, especially when the world is filled with uncertainties and heart rending news.
Verse 1:
Though the world may say casting down
Though the oceans and seas may roar
Though the fires may burn the world
This is what I know
Chorus:
My case is
Different (4x) oh oh
Different (2x) oh oh oh oh
Different (4x)
My case is different!
(Repeat)
Verse 2:
Daniel in the lion’s den
Shadrach Meshach Abednego
In the fiery furnace
But the fire did not burn on them
And when the world says casting down
I will say there is lifting up
Because my case is different
Chorus:
My case is
Different (4x) oh oh
Different (2x) oh oh oh oh
Different (4x)
My case is different!
(Repeat)
Verse 3:
As a great army (different)
I rise to take my place (different)
I have the victory (different)
Over the adversary (I am different)
And when the world says casting down
I say there is lifting up
Because my God is my light
Bridge:
No evil will touch me
No trouble around me
The works of my hands
Are exempted from ruins
(Repeat)
Chorus:
My case is
Different (4x) oh oh
Different (2x) oh oh oh oh
Different (4x)
My case is different!
(Repeat)
My case is different! (5x)
ABOUT BUSOLA MARTINS
Busola picked up the art of singing at a very young age. Songs from Don Moen, Jimmy Swaggart, Jim Reeves, Panam Percy Paul and a host of others were constant melodies in her home.
Since beginning her music ministry, she has released 4 songs – Our God Reigns, New Dawn, Arabaribiti and Let Us Adore Him. Busola has also hosted powerful praise & worship concerts in New Zealand, has been an award nominee and recently, was privileged to be part of the 75 hour Marathon Messiah’s Praise – (Australian Altar) hosted by The Redeemed Christian Church of God.
She has tertiary qualifications in Computer Science, Business and Arts Management and is married to Ayokunle.
This is to inform the general public that Celestial Church of Christ, being one of the leading indigenous churches in Africa is celebrating 70 years of existence (1947- 2017) this year, and the Greater Tomorrow Group and Bilewu Oshoffa Legacy Team (GTG-BOLT), being a vibrant youth arm of the church is using this medium in intimating the public of the catalogue of activities laid in stock for the Platinum Anniversary:
1. Praise Night (Heritage Night) holds at the Greater Tomorrow Group Ground, Celestial City, Imeko, Ogun State on Friday night of 10th March, 2017.
2. Foundation laying of the Greater Tomorrow Group facility on Saturday, 11th March, 2017 by 10am prompt at the Greater Tomorrow Group Ground, Celestial City, Imeko, Ogun State.
3. A visit to monumental places in the Republic of Benin. Such places are the first site of the church, the popular beach where Papa Oshoffa conducted Christmas convocation services and anointment, etc, on the 17th March, 2017.
4. A lecture/ symposium is scheduled to hold in the course of the Easter programme in the month of April, 2017 in Nigeria, (this is to hold on Saturday, a day to the Palm Sunday).
5. On the 27th May 2017, a bible quiz of the juvenile category is to come up before the Juvenile Harvest week. The juvenile category will cater for ages of 10 and 18 years.
6. There would be a Platinum Anniversary lecture in commemoration of this years’ Holy Mary’s Day on Saturday 1st July, 2017. However, it is not unlikely that the unveiling of a book would equally come up almost at this time, by His grace.
7. A day workshop will hold on Saturday 2nd September, 2017 in Nigeria.
8. A symposium is also slated for the 9th September, 2017.
Nota Bene: The lectures slated for September are complementary to the remembrance of our iconic father and founder, Rev. S.B.J Oshoffa, considering the fact that his auto accident was on the 1st of September, 1985. The exact dates might be difficult in choosing for those events because of the time of the week they fall into. That has thus necessitated the dates being shifted to 2nd and 9th September respectively, so as to represent our intention and motive for the occasions.
9. On the 28th / 29th Sept., 2017 there would be a night vigil at the Republic of Benin; since a recourse to the root of C.C.C (Benin Republic) is mandatorily compulsory if 70 years of the church is truly being celebrated. Apparently, our church in Nigeria and overseas is less than 70 years.
10. A get together party is to hold in Nigeria in celebrating the church at 70 years.
11. On the day of the 1st service in C.C.C (5th October) according to the history of the church, a watchnight service (aisun ipari osu) would be conducted in celebrating the church.
12. On Sunday which is the first Sunday in October 2017, the whole anniversary would be concluded with a thanksgiving service in grand style at the venue that would be communicated to us as events unfold.
GOODNEWS DEVOTIONAL
THURSDAY, MARCH 9, 2017
OVERCOMING “ACHIEVEMENT” MENTALITY
TEXT: Genesis 1:22
And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth (KJV).
We are not created to achieve but to be fruitful. We are not created to acquire but to inspire. In the beginning when God created man, he did not create man to go and take from the world, he created man to go and contribute to the world. This is why he said in today’s text “And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth (KJV). What God said was that we multiply the earth and not to acquire the earth, to subdue the earth not to subtract the earth. Achievement means successful accomplishment while fruitfulness means multiplication of yourself. The problem is when we ask people what they have achieved, we are simply asking them for what they have acquired. And this is the mentality that has made people to live very far from the plans and purpose of God for their lives. Those who live with the intention to achieve or acquire will always live below the purpose of God for their lives. Jesus said in Luke 12:15 “…Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth (KJV). Our values before God will never be measured by how many houses, cars, certificates, children and millions that we acquired (which are not bad), but by how many lives we have impacted. Achievement mentality makes us to keep on acquiring more and more without remembering that we are strangers here on earth. It is this acquisition mentality that makes someone to own a lot and he is not ready to part with some to others. This mentality also makes people to work for themselves without having time to serve or work for God. The scripture says, “What shall it profit a man, if he gains the whole world, and lose his own soul?” Mark 8:36. If you are alive only to achieve, you may enter into error, but if your drive is to impact and be a blessing to your world, you will not miss it. It is the “desire” to have” that is leading many to sin today. The book of 1 Timothy 6:10 says “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows (KJV). Jesus came, he did not acquire the world, but He transformed the world. Stop thinking of what to “achieve” for yourself in this world, but think about what you want to “achieve” for yourself in the world to come. Matthew 5:3 says “Blessed [are] the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven (KJV). In other words, those who are free from worldly achievement mentality are those who would have the kingdom of heaven.
CONFESSION
Father, thank you for your word today. I refuse to live for this world only, I live for your kingdom, in the name of Jesus.
Chubie & Xtremelife is a Nigerian gospel group with a vision of
reaching out to the world with the life and love of God. Founded in
December 2009 by Chubie Ujah, The ministry has been focused on drawing
people close to God through praise and worship.
Their brand new single titled “You Are Good”. was arranged by Chubie
Ujah and features Fredrick Akoh will lift your spirit high into the
God’s Presence. “You Are Good” is One song you want to have.
The Song leader, Fred Akoh is a fantastic singer that this generation
needs to watch out for.
“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18, NIV).
God’s message of love, grace, mercy, compassion, and eternal life will not make any sense to the world, because the world does not recognize or accept His Son. Only His children will respond to the good news the Gospel preaches.
He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
John 14:21
There’s a dimension of living you can only experience when you make a decision to please the Father in every activity of your life. In that dimension, Jesus becomes real to you and manifests Himself to you.
Just after the turn of the 20th century, God poured out His Spirit and started a revival on Azusa Street. It was an awesome time, a time when people’s entire lives were turned inside out. Everything else in their world seemed to lose importance. Supernatural things were happening. God was manifesting Himself in their presence.
The people involved in that revival soon began to be known to the world as “holiness” people. They got that title because they were so obviously different from everyone else. They would let go of anything they thought didn’t please God. They were so caught up in the power of the spiritual realm, they lost interest in natural things.
Few believers today even know what “holiness” means. Even fewer understand the outpouring of God that comes to those who dare to step into it.
Holiness simply means “separated to God.” It’s what you do with your life day by day. It’s ordering your conduct according to the Word of God and the promptings of the Spirit. Holiness is the habit of being one mind with God, of turning away from the ways of the world and living instead in agreement with Him. Holiness doesn’t happen to anyone by accident. It requires a decision of the will. Make that decision today.
Love God with all your heart by keeping His commandments. He’ll show His love to you by manifesting Himself to you in powerful new ways. He’ll pour Himself out on you just like He did on those believers at Azusa Street—and revival will truly begin in you.
09
Mar
Hebrews 8:12
For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.”
We are no longer under the old covenant. We are now under the new covenant. And in this new covenant, God says that He will do three things for us:
Lead us—“I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts.” (Hebrews 8:10) These are the laws of faith, love and liberty to guide you in everything you do. It is a spontaneous, dynamic, active and intimate way to be led by God.
Work miracles for us—“I will be their God, and they shall be My people.” (Hebrews 8:10) The phrase “I will be their God” denotes a miracle-working God. So if you are sick and God says, “I will be your God,” get ready for healing! If you are poor and God says, “I will be your God,” get ready for His supply!
Cause us to know Him effortlessly—“… all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them.” (Hebrews 8:11) The Greek word for “know” here is eido. It means to know intuitively without effort. This means that you will know God easily.
Do you want to experience all these blessings in your life today?
“Of course, Pastor Prince, I want to be led by God. I want Him to work miracles in my life. I want to know Him intimately without straining or striving.”
Then, you need to know the clause that makes it all happen: “For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” The words “no more” in the Greek carry a strong double-negative sense. So God is saying, “I will never, by no means, remember your sins!”
Beloved, the more you believe this in your heart, the more you will see those blessings fulfilled in your life. When you realize how much God has forgiven you and remembers your sins no more, you will know Him, His ways and His will for you intimately and intuitively without effort.
So believe in your heart today the clause on which all these blessings hinge, and get ready for miracles and hopes fulfilled in the days ahead!
Thought For The Day
When you realize that God remembers your sins no more, you will know Him, His ways and His will for you intimately and intuitively.
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