Good-life Daily Devotional

 By Rev. Michael Benson Ajayi     Luke 11:11 - "If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?"         The statistics of victims of parental abuse is on the increase .Most victims suffer verbal, physical , emotional and even sexual abuse and the worst of them all , spiritual abuse (parental curses ,exposure to mediums ,false prophets and other demonic activities) Abuse leaves a bitter, long- lasting  impressions on us and forms part of the building block of a human being from where character is formed. This results in  an overwhelming fear of the unknown and suspicions , consequently , we are most inclined to embrace doubt instead of godly faith and more tolerant to falsehood than truth; this is the reason behind so many failed relationships .    One of the consequences of  parental abuse is the inability to  trust God's ability to provide for us   ,we are quick t

By Rev.Michael Benson Ajayi          John 11:5 "Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus."John 11:5           No matter how dysfunctional a child may be, no loving parent would be glad to see their two-year old drown in a swimming pool ,instead, they would do everything necessary to rescue that child.Usually those at the forefront of our church activities are usually those we consider better behaved with good education and reputation in society .  Martha was the exact opposite of this  that’s why the scriptural reference of Jesus’ love for Martha is note worthy in Luke 10:38-42  Martha was caught up with serving instead of devotion time to Jesus and her priorities were misplaced.        In that event Jesus chastised Martha  for her own good. When the Lord points out our errors even when it hurts, it is ultimately for our own good and it eventually brings out the best in us   - We should  not consider it as an act of  punish

By Rev.Michael Benson Ajayi  Luke 15:20 "And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him."       Isa 54:9KJV.says".. I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee." this scriptures says God does not hate the sinner . Jesus Christ received on His person during His crucifixion all the punishment and anger meant   for all sinners including the unborn as a demonstration of God's love for the sinner. Sin kills by gradually drowning its victim .The world is in a state of chaos because of sin. Jesus Christ pities the sinner and seeks for ways to save and reconcile them back to God. Like the case of the prodigal , He longs to receive the sinner into His household of Grace. John 3:17NIV says "For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him."         The only authentic so

 By Rev. Michael Benson Ajayi . Luke 16:17 "And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail."          The laws of Moses were given as a code of conduct to the Jews , unfortunately , there are some religious folks engrossed in the attempt to achieve their righteousness by thinking, they could fulfill the law , but no one can . The law was not designed to be kept but to make us accountable to God , humble us and show us the need for a redeemer or saviour .  If you failed in  one , you failed all. James 2:10-11 10 NIV"For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it".   It is absolutely impossible for anyone to be right standing before God by observing the laws of Moses. Gal 2:16KJV  "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the

By Rev. Michael Benson Ajayi   1 Cor 14:4 AMP  " He who speaks in a [strange] tongue edifies and improves himself,..."     The disciples began speaking in other tongues (an unlearned, spirit- inspired language) after receiving the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:4)  Speaking in tongues while meditating on scriptures is the most effective source of self-improvement known to the church , parts of its benefits are as follows:  a)      It is a source of rest and refreshing : “for with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people to whom he said  this is the rest wherewith you may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing .” Isa.28:11. if we would spend a little time each day speaking in tongues, panic, stress, tear and fear will be a thing of the past in our lives.Whenever you are afraid speak in tongues and enter into rest.   b)     It  is an opportunity to give thanks to God in acceptable manner.   Sometimes we get overwhelmed with the feeling of

By Rev.Michael Benson Ajayi 1 Cor 12:30 NKJV ” … Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? ”       This scripture has been often misinterpreted  to mean the gift of tongues is not for all believers, but that is far from the truth. Scriptures are best understood when examined contextually and the context of 1 Corinthians chapter 12 is on the need for synergy among believers in spreading the good news of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.            The question posed by Apostle Paul was on the ability to speak in a Spirit-inspired and unlearned language that may not be understood by the speaker except he or she is given an interpretation by the Holy Spirit but could be understood by a targeted audience to whom the Holy Spirit wants to speak to. An example of this was the world conference on the day of Pentecost:, the scriptures says in Acts 2:4 that the disciples immediately began to speak with other tongues as the Holy Ghost gave them utte

By Rev. Michael Benson Ajayi Eph 4:30 NKJV “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”  Mark 3:28 " But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation: " KJV         The Holy Spirit possesses the characteristics of a personalit y; they include   Intellect (The ability to think and reason), Sensitivity (The ability to feel things) Will (The capacity of choice and decision)    He is not just a mere power or influence, only a person can have feelings , it is for that reason that we are exhorted not to ‘grieve’ the Holy Spirit (Eph. 4:30) just as  Ananias and Sapphira “lied against Him and paid dearly for it” (Acts 5:3,4). They challenged the authority of the Holy Spirit by  frustrating the servant of the lord through deceit and financial starvation. Impersonal power for example,  electricity  , is incapable of such feelings but a person can be grieved, l

By Rev.Michael Benson Ajayi.  John 20:22-23 NKJV  “ And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit.”   After His resurrection, Jesus instructed His disciples to wait in Jerusalem until they receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit  and be empowered for missionary work; this is contrary to the  theology which says all Christians already possess  the Holy Spirit in them (Acts1:4). It also dismisses the notion by religious groups who claim the Holy Spirit is a man with flesh and blood.  The Holy Spirit is the essence of all spiritual pursuits. One cannot be truly effective in his or her service to God without the Holy Spirit. It is for this reason that Jesus expressly instructed His disciples in Luke 24:49 NKJV “Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high." This means the Holy Spirit is the power of God that is meant to be received consequ

Rev. Michael Benson  Ajayi Acts 19:2. “He said unto them, have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, we have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.”       The Holy Spirit is the most prominent personality to believers in the church- age unlike in the Old Testament where the Father was the most prominent . God introduced the concept of  sonship through Jesus Christ as a reflection of His desire for a family for which reason the Church was created .The church is a living mystical organism empowered by the Holy Spirit.         He is the author of the scripture and the interpreter of God’s wisdom, the scriptures says in 1 Cor 2:9-10 NKJV But as it is written:".. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God” He was behind the writing of the holy scriptures through holy men and women (2 Pet.1:20-21) KJV says “ ... holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” . ,   He was invo

  By Rev.Michael Benson Ajayi              Acts 19:2. “ He said unto them, have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?  And they said unto him we have not so much as heard whether there be Holy Ghost.”    There are two kinds of Holy Spirits mentioned in scriptures : the regenerated (Born again) human spirit and the Spirit of God.  From the bible definition, the word holy (gk ‘hagiasmos”) means ‘separated for God’ and the word’ spirit’ (gk “pneuma”) as seen in Jn 3:8 and Rev. 11:11 means “the wind”, “the breath” and also “the immaterial, invisible part of man”. Very often when people say the spirit of God is speaking , they are actually the ones speaking and not the Holy Ghost. The apostle Paul was careful to make the distinction in his writing to the church at Corinth (1Co 7:12) The word of the lord is logical , emotional , volitional and intellectual , it makes common sense. .God is not obligated to fulfill a prophesy that did not emanate from the Holy Spirit. G

 Rev.Michael Benson Ajayi " Ecclesiastes 8:11 Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil."       The teaching of the message of grace which suggests that we shall be exempted from the consequences of our wrong doings is harmful and gives Satan the advantage over us . If that was the case, all prisoners should be released from prison and the police and military disbanded for working against God's grace. This is why some churches have become what Jesus describes as a 'den of thieves' where criminals find safety under the cover of well connected preachers who use them to build their religious empires .Thousands of lives are lost daily as a result of this evil through failed public infrastructure and increased crime rates.This type of doctrine is contrary to the scriptures in 1 Thess 4:4-7AMP "That each one of you should know how to possess (control, manage) hi

By Rev Michael Benson Ajayi   Matt 27:52-53 KJV “And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.”         The is one of the most extraordinary event that took place after the resurrection of Jesus Christ three days after His gruesome murder by the religious cartel of His time. The scriptures records that the curtain of the sacred temple was torn from top to bottom (Matt27:51) , something that would require so much strength to do , given the dimension of the veil ( 20 m high, 10 m wide and 10 cm thick ) as thick as the length of your pen. .         Nobody was authorized to look beyond the veil except the great high priest who only had access after much oblations were made on his behalf and the worshipers. This destruction of the veil  marked the beginning of a new dawn for humanity. The partition between God and man was removed through th

By Rev. Michael Benson Ajayi  John 2:19 kJV “Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up”.      The religious folks of Jesus’ time sought for a sign to justify His claim to divinity and His reply was "Destroy this temple , and in three days I will raise it up" . It was three days after His resurrection that His disciples realized the true meaning of this profound statement which forms the bedrock of the Christian faith.         The question Christians face in line with the claim of the divinity of Jesus Christ is: how can God die ? To answer this question , it is important we defined death within the parenthesis of its true meaning in scripture. Rom 5:6 KJV says “ For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.”       The word ‘died’ as used here is not just a state of limbo that is synonymous with animal death. It is a process of metamorphosis , necessary for the unveiling of

By Rev Michael Benson Ajayi Psalm 40:5-7 KJV “ Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:  In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. (Heb 10:5-7)    The  Council  of  Chalcedon  was a church  council  held from October 8 to November 1, AD  451  concluded that  , Christ is one person with two distinct natures, human and divine , in one person . The biblical doctrine of incarnation demands that the natures of God are not fragmented but treated as a whole in one person.This is best appreciated when we take an in-depth study of psalm 40:6-8 . The phrase  ‘thou prepared me’ is the Hebrew word  ‘Katartizo’ and it means: to complete thoroughly , repair , adjust . This word is derived from two words , the first ‘kata’ which means , ‘when they were’ and ‘artios’ which means co