Good-life Daily Devotional

By Rev. Michael Benson Ajayi 1 Cor 5:7 KJV ” Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us”      The Passover lamb was an offering dedicated to God as a memorial of the night the Israelites were delivered from the angel of death while in the land of their captivity (Exodus 12:1-20) The lord prescribed  that on the night of their exit from Egypt ,each family should kill a lamb for an atonement sacrifice. They had four days to prepare the lamb and that afternoon they were to kill it as a sacrifice not upon an altar, but as a religious ceremony, acknowledging God's mercy in delivering them from the plagues inflicted upon the oppressive Egyptians.         The lamb so slain was to be to eaten, roasted with unleavened bread and bitter herbs, and eaten in a haste and there were not to be any leftovers; for God would have them depend on him for their daily bread and not to take thought for

 By Rev.Michael Benson Ajayi            “But when Peter came to Antioch, I had to oppose him publicly, speaking strongly against what he was doing, for it was very wrong.  When he first arrived, he ate with the Gentile Christians, who don’t bother with circumcision. But afterward, when some Jewish friends of James came, Peter wouldn’t eat with the Gentiles anymore because he was afraid of what these legalists would say” Galatians 2: 11-12 TLB            Peter was invited to a party hosted by Gentiles, which  involved participating in religiously unclean foods (by the old testament) including pork , and lots of alcohol , and as soon as some religious legalist and so-called ‘super Christians’ appeared, he was thrown in to self condemnation and withdrawal . Satan often attacks God’s precious people with guilt and self condemnation resulting in withdrawal and isolation .You cannot give your best under such conditions.Christ will never take sides with the accuser to condemn yo

 By Rev.Michael Benson Ajayi Psalm 32:2 "Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile."       The word 'imputeth'  used in this scripture is the Hebrew word 'Chashab ' and it means; to plait or interpenetrate ,to weave or fabricate, to make account of,esteem, count,conceive.  These words explains the process through which a person is made right with God outside the dictate of the laws of Moses or any other religious laws and status.          The scriptures speaks of Abraham who is credited to be the spiritual father of the three main religions in the world namely Islam,Christianity and Judaism, it says in Genesis 15:6 "And he believed in the Lord; and he  counted it to him for righteousness." These religions acknowledge Abraham as  being righteous before God, Jesus also spoke of him in a parable about heaven and hell in Luke 16:22-28,  an acknowledgement of Abraham's piety and

 By Rev.Michael Benson Ajayi       Isaiah 64:6 KJV " But we are  all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses  are as filthy  rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind,  have taken us away."      Attempting to achieve righteousness through self effort does more harm than good : it requires denying the need for God's saving power which works through  love . Self righteousness is the driving force behind the hatred, intolerance in society and religious extremism through terrorism the world over , it promotes selfishness .The scriptures compares self righteousness to filthy rags. The word filthy is the Hebrew word 'ed' which means 'menstrual flux' and the word 'rag' is the word 'beged' which means :a covering, i.e. clothing; very (treacherously), a wardrobe, self -righteousness makes a person appear as having menstrual flux with a wardrobe malfunction.     Religious bigotry destroys nations ; c

Rev.Michael Benson Ajayi Psalms 51:5 NLT "For I was born a sinner— yes, from the moment my mother conceived me."  This scripture teaches that human sperm cell : the seed that grows into a human being in the womb of a woman is tainted  with the sin virus. This virus creates an inclination to rebel against God's laws . Humanity got infected by the virus when our first parents (Adam and Eve ) ate the forbidden fruit (symbol of God's authority) paving way for animism : the first religion.        Ever since that unfortunate incidence, the human gene pool became corrupted. Nobody learns to sin, we sin by default. The first lie we ever told as children and the selfish tendencies are the effects of the sin nature. It is for this reason that the scriptures says in Ecclesiastes 7:20 NLT "Not a single person on earth is always good and never sins." The so-called "holy master", prophet or prophetess, oracle,mystic  is much of a sin

Rev Michael Benson Ajayi John 6:37 AMP "All whom My Father gives (entrusts) to Me will come to Me; and the one who comes to Me I will most certainly not cast out [I will never, no never, reject one of them who comes to Me]."       The price for the salvation of mankind was paid through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross and all that is needed now to be saved from the eternal damnation of the sinner is that we receive the free of gift of salvation through  faith.        The lord will never turn a sinner seeking for salvation away, the scriptures says in Romans 10:13 AMP "For everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord [invoking Him as Lord] will be saved. [Joel 2:32.]" Therefore,  today, if you hear His voice,  don't harden your heart against Him. He speaks to us everyday through the media,  dreams, .visions and our subconscious . The Holy Spirit always speaks to the sinner, the scriptures says in Hebrews 3:7-9 AMP "Therefore

 By Rev Michael Benson Ajayi 1corinthians 11:1" Be ye followers of me, even as I also  am of Christ."      The Christian influence is the impression we create in the minds of those who do not have a personal relationship with Christ. We epitomize the Christ-like nature and are the embodiment ; a proof of the functionality of the scriptures. We also influence heaven through our worship of the almighty Father.            The scriptures describes the church as the light of the world ; illuminating the minds and hearts of men  to be more conscious of the consequences of human actions .This aids in making right choices in life. The church is also described as salt of the earth (Mathew 5:13-14). We give flavour to the dreams and aspirations of men. Salt is a food seasoning that harmonizes the various tastes, preserves food and eliminates nausea.This is a summary of our impact in the lives of men. We are peacemakers and help people reconcile with God through the proc

   Rev.Michael Benson Ajayi Titus 2:11-12 " 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;"     The greatest tragedy of the modern church is the misconception of the doctrine of grace and the perfect law of liberty : it is Satan's strategy to destroy God's people and discredit the church . Any doctrine that gives no room for independent verification of data is counter-productive and exposes followers to exploitation .That's.why developed nations do not permit the practice of the type of Christianity found in underdeveloped nations. Once logic is expunged from the doctrine of faith, it becomes a time- bomb waiting to go off leaving carnage it its path .Faith is logical and reasonable.Christianity outside logical reasoning is not of God. Freedom without reasonable boundaries is slaver

Rev. Michael Benson Ajayi Matt 4:19 "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." NIV     Followers of Christ have been given the assignment of inviting those who have not  made a commitment to live for Christ into God’s kingdom. It is for this sole purpose that we receive answers to our prayers.  Jesus gave “the Great Commission” to all believers in Jesus Christ:      The scriptures says in Mark 16:15-16 “ He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation” .   NIV   , we also have a responsibility to tell them about the power of the   Holy Ghost: needed for a victorious Christian life , Acts 1:8 says   “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”   KJV ,            There are no exemptions to the preaching of the gospel , Je

By. Rev Michael Benson Ajayi Ephesians 3:20 " Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,"       The word 'according' as used in this context  is the Greek word 'Kata' which means: beyond measure,far more exceeding, natural,mightily . Therefore, what this means is that the child of God has unlimited power within him or her to bring about the manifestation of a miracle beyond expectations. Our true strength is immeasurable and mighty through God.  The power of God doesn't exist in measures, therefore, we are fully loaded with unlimited power for a victorious life.       The doctrine that says some persons are more powerful contradicts John 3:34" For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him." The anointing doesn’t exist in sizes ; you are either anointed or not.all Spirit-filled born again Chri

Rev. Michael Benson Ajayi        “That each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable”.   1Thes. 4:4.   Sex is a gift from God for pleasure and procreation ; the abuse of sex brings about dishonour in our relationships and the distortion of God's plan for our lives.   Scriptural terms used for unacceptable sexual acts describing the intensity of its evil include the following:       Defraud (GK pleonekteo) which means to deny another of the moral chastity and purity by arousing sexual desires   which cannot be righteously fulfilled in order to satisfy one’s own self-centered sexual desires.   (1Thus. 4:6; Eph. 4:19).        Fornication   (GK porneia).   It’s any intimate sexual activity outside marriage, involving      touching of the erogenous parts of the body or viewing the nakedness of another person .1 Cor. 6:18, Lev. 20:11, 12-21. 1Thes. 4:3,      Lust (GK epithumia) is having an immoral sexual craving for so

By Rev. Michael Benson Ajayi Proverbs 27:7" The full soul loatheth an honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.".       The scriptures describes the sexual experience as being sweet as an honeycomb (SS4:11)It is best when pursued as an adventure .The absence of adventure in the sexual relations between married folks opens the door to infidelity. Marital adventure should be all encompassing ,it is spiritual, emotional and physical. At the inception of a relationship ,married persons are usually more adventurous in their sexual relationship but progressively  their hearts become overwhelmed with the demands of life thus destroying the fire of adventure and as a result sex becomes a monotonous  assignment and painful liability. We are admonished to be free of anxiety and to develop healthy prayer lives (Phil.4:6). We need great faith in God's word for a great sexual experience with our spouses.           The enemy recognizes the need for

Rev.Michael Benson Ajayi      Ecclesiastes 11:9 "Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let  thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of  thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all  these things God will bring thee into judgment. Therefore remove  sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood  and youth are vanity."         God wants every young person to live a happy life with fulfilled expectations. Young people are full of adventures and it is God's will that they enjoy all that He has created .Youthful vigor should be harnessed for creative and productive ventures. It is against this backdrop that young people are admonished to trust God for knowledge and acknowledged Him in all their ways (Prov.3:1-4) . This means, no major project should be embarked upon without first seeking God's will. These projects include what type of education should one acquire, choice of a

By Rev.Michael Benson Ajayi       Proverbs 29:15" The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame."        The blessings of God is from generation to generation and the importance of raising children to fit into God’s purpose cannot be overemphasized.  Children determine whether we would have a happy or miserable future.  It is for this reason that sufficient resources and time should be devoted to the training of children: neglecting this will bring shame to families and communities .        God’s commitment to a person to a large extent is influenced by his or her willingness to sustain the propagation of the gospel through the family . It was God's desire for a family that led to the creation of man.  His choice for Abraham as the father of our faith was informed by the latter's commitment to sustaining the family unit.  The scriptures says in Gen. 18:19 "For I know him, that he will command his children

By Rev. Michael Benson Ajayi Gen. 2:18. “The Lord God Said, It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a help meet for him”         This scripture explains the purpose of marriage; it is all about finding help in the fulfillment of God’s purpose for our lives. The complexities of life requires that we develop a virile support system in order to withstand life's challenges.            There are three major support systems needed for a fulfilled life which marriage provides, they are :   (1) a spiritual or faith-based support system .There are situations we face that only faith in God can guarantee victory. Most persons believe that money solves all problems but that is far from the truth. If money could solve all problems it should be expected that those with material wealth should be the happiest people on earth but the opposite is the reality . The scriptures say in     Eccl 5:10-11 “Those who love money will never have enough. How meaningless to think tha

By Rev.Michael Benson Ajayi " The Lord gave the word, great was the company of those women that published it". Psalm 68:11      The origin of the word 'company' is translated from the Hebrew word ‘tsaba', It is feminine in gender and means "a mass of women organized for warfare (an army ) Women played very important roles in Jesus' earthly ministry and He always  protected the rights of women. In one  instance a woman was caught in adultery and she was judged by the elders and sentenced to death.No mention was made of the man she had the affair with (John8:3-11) he was apparently exonerated by the male dominated judiciary. Jesus declared the woman free from the condemnation and she was saved from certain death by stoning  according to the law of Moses.This was one of the reasons why many women followed Jesus Christ              It was a woman who first made contact with the Messiah after His resurrection , and this further reinforces the importance o

Rev.Michael Benson Ajayi  Prov. 18:22 “Whosoever finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favour of the Lord”          Marriage is God's plan for a godly family .  The Christian family is a microcosm of God's family with the husband representing the heavenly Father and the wife ,Christ :the children being the body of believers.  God places so much premium on the family because that's how nations are formed. Stability in a nation starts with stable families: the result of a godly man being married to a godly woman. Sad families produce bitter citizens and an unstable country therefore, nation building and stability begins at the family level.            A godly woman is gracious and honorable (Prov. 11:16)  honours elders ,this is usually the first thing you'll notice about a godly woman (Luke 1:41) she recognizes the blessing in greeting.       She makes her husband proud ,. Proverbs 12:4 NLT says "A worthy wife is a crown for her husband, but a

Rev.Michael Benson Ajayi  Gal 3:28 "There is neither Jew or Greek, there is neither bond nor  free, there is neither male nor female, For ye are all one in Christ Jesus.'       The theology that says that women are inferior to men is illogical and not scriptural given that we came from the womb of a woman. These teachers often misrepresent the scriptures in 1 Tim 2:11-13 which says “ Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach , nor to usurp authority over the man , but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve”.KJV . this scripture is not saying it is a sin for a women to teach a man , if that was the case then female doctors and nurses should not instruct   male patients on drug usage and mothers should not instruct their grown sons on life’s issues, and female police traffic wardens should not instruct men on traffic patrols also female bankers should not instruct men on banking procedures, the teaching that women ar

By Rev Michael Benson Ajayi Ephesians 4:15 "But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:"          The spiritually growth of the born again christian is not a reference to an aging process of the spirit but an acquaintance with the workings and dynamics of the spirit -world.The born again spirit is an offshoot of the Holy Ghost. It was not when we became born again that our spirits began. Just as the wind did not come  into existence when you felt it for the first time on your face. We have been in existence in the heart of God before the world was formed. The scriptures says in Ephesians 1:4 "According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:" Our physical manifestation as sons of God began the day we gave our lives to Christ.              Like growing children, we are expected to grow in the grace and knowledge

Rev Michael Benson Ajayi 2Thess 3:7 -10"For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for  we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you; Neither did we eat  any man’s bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night  and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you: Not  because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto  you to follow us.  For even when we were with you, this we  commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat".        The word 'work ' is the Greek word 'ergazomai' which means; to toil (as a task, occupation, etc.), effect, be engaged in ,commit, do, labour for, minister about, trade . It is the cure to gossip and other social ills in the church and the surest part to nation building and advancement. Hard-work is not a curse but an attribute of godliness.        It isn't a crime for preachers to be solely dependent on parishioners for provisions but the demerits of that pos