Good-life Daily Devotional

By Rev Michael Benson Ajayi Hebrews 10:25 "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching."     The strength of the early church viz a viz its numerous achievements was hinged on the power of fellowship : networking   The scriptures says in acts 1:4 "And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me." the fulfillment of this divine promise was predicated on the disciples being together,  likewise there are certain aspects of God’s promises towards us individually and collectively that can only be fulfilled when we fellowship ,network together.  This is more visible in the area of marriages,  being an active member of a sound bible -based christian congregation is critical in building an enduring marital relationship : it

Rev.Michael Benson Ajayi Psalm 31:13-14 "For I have heard the slander of many: fear  was on every side: while they took counsel together against me, they  devised to take away my life. But I trusted in thee, O Lord: I said, Thou  art my God. "          The English dictionary defines fear as" an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat" Fear is a common occurrence but should not be allowed to dominate our lives.  There is a natural fear designed to keep us alive such as the sudden reaction to the sound of an explosion or the sight of an approaching vehicle that has lost control :this is a natural fright ,we are designed to respond to dangerous stimuli.  It  protects us from harm and improves character. For the fear of punishment a student could decide to do his or her homework and this would lead to discovering the benefits getting homework done on time.        However, there is the ev

Rev.Michael Benson Ajayi Matthew 12:15 "But when Jesus knew  it, he withdrew himself from  thence: and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all;"         This scriptures underscores the importance of healing as an integral part of God’s plan for humanity. Jesus did not discriminate in his healing ministry,  it cut across religious and racial divides. For as many that came to him received their healing at no cost.          As part of the package for our salvation, Jesus paid the price for our healing through the bruises on His body.  The scriptures says Isaiah 53: 5" But he  was wounded for our transgressions,  he  was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace  was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. ". Also  Matthew 8:16-17 says "... and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all  that were sick: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmiti

By Rev. Michael Benson Ajayi   Dan 9:2 “ in the first year of his reign I, Daniel, understood by the books the number of the years specified by the word of the Lord through Jeremiah the prophet, that He would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.” NKJV     Prophet Daniel was among Jews taken into captivity by the king of Babylon as a consequence of their rebellion against God’s word. This was in fulfillment of the prophecy in   Jer 25:8,11-13.  Three years had gone by after the expiration of the seventy years trial period, and yet the Jews were still in bondage just like a lot of Christians experience unnecessary delays in many areas of life. Did God lie about their deliverance or was prophet Jeremiah a false prophet? Does the holy scriptures contradict itself ? God forbid.                  The scripture says it is the lack of knowledge and understanding that leads to bondage (Isaiah5:13). To understand scriptures, we need to interpret contexts with o

By Rev Michael Benson Ajayi  Matthew 15:28 "Then Jesus answered and  said unto her, O woman, great  is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that  very hour."       This scripture underscores the extraordinary power to bring about positive change in a person with God's kind of faith.  This woman had a conviction based on a revelation of God's word about the divinity of Christ and that there were  no limitations to any person with God's kind of faith : this led to the healing of her daughter who was miles away from where she met Jesus.           Distance is no barrier in the realm of faith. Jesus described this woman's faith as great because of what she had to overcome to access the power of God  .  She overcame the doctrines that disqualified her from being a partaker of the blessings of God. God's love for her was far greater than any law that disqualified her (Col.1:12-13). She also overcame the curs

By Rev Michael Benson Ajayi Matthew 17:20 -21 "And Jesus said unto them,  Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have  faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and  nothing shall be impossible unto you. Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting."        The word 'unbelief' is the Greek word ' apaistia' and it means disobedience. The disciples were surprised at the outcome of their prayer.  They thought they had no role whatsoever to play in the outcome of a miracle like many Christians often assume .They thought prayer was an incantation which once made moved God to act on our behalf regardless of our commitment to the laws of faith .               They were sent on a mission trip and came back rejoicing at their success in casting  out demons .However,  the difference between this situation and the former was the absence of the word. Faith

Rev.Michael Benson Ajayi  Mark 11:23 "For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith".       The word 'doubt' is the Greek word ' diakrino' and it means : to separate thoroughly, to withdraw from, or oppose ; to discriminate ,hesitate ,contend ,stagger, waver. To better understand what doubt is,  imagine a woman with high fever admitted in a hospital but has a phobia for injections .Though she agrees to be treated but would not accept injections despite the doctors insistence to inject her for a quicker recovery : she hesitates, withdraws, opposes, contends with the doctor, wavers at the treatment plan and staggers away and separates herself from the doctor while complaining about the pains from the fever and her fear of needles . She eventua

Rev.Michael Benson Ajayi   Rev.13:16 -17"And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right  hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or  the number of his name."        The scriptures speaks of a time when the world's governments will unite to form a one-world government ( this is the idea behind digital money) , that shall be presided over by a maximum ruler , he shall be scary to behold (Dan.8:23) and supernaturally endowed by Satan with the ability to perform false miracles signs and wonders (Rev.13:4).  The scriptures says in 2Thess 2:9 "Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, " and he will claim to be Christ's incarnate and mislead many.              Leaders in the world's armed forces and paramilitary organizations and the chief executive officers of

Rev.Michael Benson Ajayi  Matt 24:40-41 KJV “ Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.”    The word  ‘taken’ is the Greek word  ‘paralambano’ it is a clause from two words ‘para ‘ which means to draw near and ‘lambano’  which means to seize or remove , it means  to receive near to assume an office . The scripture describes an event reminiscent of a Sci-Fi movie, where believers   would literarily be removed from the earth into heaven.  It is likened to the event of  Noah’s era .      The scriptures says  Matt 24:37-39  "When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah's day.  In those days before the flood, the people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat. People didn't realize what was going to happen until the flood came and swept them all away. That is the way it will be when t

Rev.Michael Benson Ajayi Mathew 24:21 -22"For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.  And except those days  should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened."                     The word tribulation, is the Greek word 'thlipsis' and it means 'to be put under extreme pressure ,to suffer affliction and be in anguish, burdened, trouble. Bible scholars have been studying the scriptures in other to have an understanding of the events of the end times,  the crisis in the middle east and the imminent threat of a world war have further reinforced their belief that we are in the end times. The church of Christ shall be at the center of the crisis bothering on the end of the ages. This period shall be characterized by a rebellion against biblical principles and ethics as witnessed in the world's media.       There is a

Rev.Michael Benson Ajayi Matthew 24:42 AMP "Watch therefore [give strict attention, be cautious and active], for you do not know in what kind of a day [whether a near or remote one] your Lord is coming."                Matthew 24:30-36 gives us a chronological order of the event popularly known as the "rapture" to most Christian marking the beginning of the period of the reign of the antichrist on earth. It is a period of an oppressive ,totalitarian rule of the earth by Satan through an ungodly leader.  The scriptures says "At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other...."           In John 14:1-3  Jesus spoke of going to the father that He may crea

 Rev. Michael Benson Ajayi  Zech 2:4 NIV  “and said to him: "Run, tell that young man, 'Jerusalem will be a city without walls because of the great number of men and livestock in it”       The prophet Zechariah’s prophesy spoke of the growth of Christ’s kingdom through a very unusual manner. The scriptures says “Jerusalem will be a city without walls “ the word Jerusalem refers to the church of Christ, Heb 12:22-24 NKJV says  “But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect,  to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel. “   it is described as a city (a place of excellence) and the phrase ‘without walls ‘ is the Hebrew word ‘perazah’ which means an open country , it’s from a

Rev.Michael Benson Ajayi John 4:36 "And he that  reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice  together."           This scripture underscores the purpose of the born again Christian on earth : we are expected to use our God-given skills, talents, experiences and resources  as instruments for winning of souls into God's kingdom. There are no exemptions to this divine call. The scriptures says in 1cor 7:17 "But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. ..."         Start from where you are , you must not wait until you have been to a bible school, though that is important in sharpening teaching skills. Paul started preaching immediately after his conversion experience  (Acts9:20) remember, it is God working through you,  Philippians 2:13 AMP says "[Not in your own strength] for it is God Who is all the while effectually at

By Rev. Michael Benson Ajayi Matthew 5:16 "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your  Father which is in heaven."          There is more than enough resources to cater for everybody's need and despite the enormous human and natural wealth, gross poverty has remained a reoccurring decimal in our world due to the inequitable distribution of  these resources . A 2018 report shows that some individuals in the US possess three times the amount of money in the nation's treasury (Arise TV business news).Its no surprise that so many are homeless and destitute in such a rich country, the same applies in NIgeria. There is a dearth of men and women of integrity and compassion  to whom resources will be given for distribution to those in need.        The primary purpose for the establishment of businesses is for the harnessing of the earth's resources for man's use and to build relationships that guarantees sustainable p