WE LIVE IN HIS PRESENCE

Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you (John 14:17).

In Christianity, we don’t go in and out of God’s presence. His presence is our home; we were born therein. When you study Psalm 87:4, you’d observe the prophetic reference: “I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to them that know me: behold Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia; this man was born there.” “This man” refers to the new creation. “There” refers to our place in Christ—our place in God’s presence. 

This is the reason it’s an absurdity when a Christian says, “Father, I come to you today”; or “Let’s get into the presence of God through worship.” I often wonder: if they’re about to get into the presence of God, where then have they been? God’s children must understand that we live in His presence. 

There’s no such thing in the New Testament as us “getting into” the presence of God. In Him we live and move and have our being. His presence is in us and with us. When you come into a place, you come with His presence. If you’re born again, nobody can take you into the presence of God, because you were born right into His presence, and you live in His presence, both legally and vitally. Hallelujah!

CONFESSION

I’m the temple of the living God; He dwells in me by the Holy Spirit. Christ has taken up His abode in me and I’m forever in Him. I live in His presence and I carry that divine presence everywhere to impact my world, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

FURTHER STUDY:

Acts 17:28 

For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. 

1 Corinthians 3:16 

Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and [that] the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 

 Colossians 1:26-27 [Even] the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: 27 To whom God would make known what [is] the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: 

DAILY SCRIPTURE READING

1-Year Bible Reading Plan John 9:1-41 & 2 Kings 4-5

2-Year Bible Reading Plan

 1 Corinthians 11:1-11 & Proverbs 16

PRAYING FOR OUR EVANGELICAL WORK

In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them (2 Corinthians 4:4).

The Lord Jesus said in Matthew 9:37, “…The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few.” The harvest He’s referring to is the souls of men, the world of sinners. The labourers are those who are reaching out with the Gospel to win these lost souls to Christ. That’s why we have to pray and intercede for the harvest field, for the souls of men that we intend to reach within and beyond our catchments, because the harvest is ripe. 

Prayer is our number one requirement in our evangelical work. As we intercede for them, we’re to prophesy by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Our prophetic prayer is how we pour out righteousness and salvation on the nations. Set times for prayer, either as an individual, family, group or as a Church. Plan and map out definite prayer times for your evangelical work. 

If we would pray correctly and effectively as He has asked us to, our preaching will be effective. In some cases, you wouldn’t even have to preach much or preach at all before sinners start crying out to the Lord for salvation. 

Through prayer—particularly praying in the Spirit—you pour forth gushers of living water (John 7:38). Your words become so effective just like Paul said in 1 Corinthians 2:4: “And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.” Then you find that through you, the heavens constantly rain down righteousness, and salvation is springing up everywhere. Hallelujah!

🔊PRAYER

Dear Father, your love, grace and goodness fill the nations, and the light of your glorious Gospel shines brightly, liberating men, women, boys and girls from darkness, bondage and corruption into the glorious liberty of the sons of God, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

📖FURTHER STUDY:

1 Timothy 2:1-4; Isaiah 45:8 NASB

HIS ETERNAL GLORY IN US

For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 4:6)

The opening verse is an extraordinary description of something scientifically impossible. Notice the verse isn’t saying that God commanded the light to shine into the darkness; that would have been wonderful because the question then would be, “Where did the light come from?” Then we’d say, “It came from God; He shone into the darkness.”

But this time, God didn’t shine the light into the darkness; rather, He commanded the light to shine forth from it. So, the light came out of darkness! This is the same God that has shined in our hearts—to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Remember, there was the glory of God in the old tabernacle, in the days of Moses. That glory, the Bible says, faded away. But the one from Jesus Christ is eternal glory, excellent glory. That’s the glory that resides in you today: “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels. That the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us” (2 Corinthians 4:7).

Every day, declare that you’re a carrier of God’s divine presence, a bearer of His glory. Your life isn’t empty; there’s a treasure of power, love, light and divine perfection in you. The excellence of His power permeates through you, causing everything you do to prosper. Glory to God!

CONFESSION

The glory of God that’s within me beams forth from my spirit with overwhelming intensity. My life is the expression of God’s grace, strength, perfection, beauty and righteousness. The excellence and virtues of divinity are manifested in and through me in ever increasing splendour! I’m continually transfigured from glory to glory, by the Spirit, as I study and meditate on the Word. Hallelujah

FURTHER STUDY:

2 Corinthians 3:7-11 But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: 8 How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? 9 For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. 10 For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth. 11 For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious.

2 Corinthians 3:18 NIV And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate[a] the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

1 Year Bible Reading Plan : John 10:22-42 & 2 Kings 8-9

2 Year Bible Reading Plan : 1 Corinthians 11:20-29 & Proverbs 18

A MORE EXCELLENT WAY TO GIVE PRAISE

And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod (2 Samuel 6:14)

There’re those who thought that in the verse above David was merely dancing in the flesh. So, oftentimes they’d say they want to dance like David danced, and they start gyrating with all their might. No! David was a man of the Spirit. When the Ark of God was being brought into the city of David, our theme verse says “...David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.”

Notice the underlined part. In those days, dressing with a linen ephod represented the office of the priest. Whenever the priest was in that regalia, he functioned in his spiritual office. David was girded with a linen ephod; being also a prophet, evidently instructed by the Spirit, his dance as described in the Hebrew text was very different from the fleshly dance of normal celebrations.

When the Bible says he danced before the Lord, the Hebrew word for dance is ”kârar”, and it doesn’t refer to the kind of whirling and gyrating that most people think. “Kârar” means to skip and jump and spin, turning around about your own axis, like a child. 

David’s dance is similar to what Jesus did in Luke 10:21; the Bible says, “In that hour Jesus rejoiced (Greek: agalliao) in spirit….” He was skipping and jumping like a child. So, that David danced with all “his might” doesn’t refer to exerting himself physically on the dance floor, like most people do today. The term is “oze, oze” in Hebrew, meaning that he danced with all his glory, all his majesty; he danced with all of God’s regalia on him. Glory to God! 

The best description for it in the New Testament is the Greek word “agalliao”; it’s a dance from the inside. ̄Dancing in the flesh distracts your spirit from true reverence and worship; it dissipates spiritual power, and many don’t realize this. 

In these last days, the Spirit of God is showing us a more excellent way to give God true praise and worship. The days of fleshly dance in Christian congregations are over. When we worship the Lord, it must and should always be in the spirit: “For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh” (Philippians 3:3). Also, John 4:23-24 says, “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”

PRAYER

Dear Lord, thank you for the privilege of worship and for guiding me on the way of true praise and worship that’s acceptable to you. Thank you for granting me the ability to condition my mind and senses to offer you true worship from my heart that transmits your glory to impart my world, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

FURTHER STUDY:

John 4:23-24 NIV  Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”

Philippians 3:3 NIV For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh—

1 Year Bible Reading Plan : John 11:1-16 & 2 Kings 10-12

2 Year Bible Reading Plan : 1 Corinthians 11:30-34 & Proverbs 19

RHAPSODY OF REALITIES 

HAVE NO FEAR OF MAN 

Pastor Chris Oyakhilome;

…Be not ye afraid of them: remember the Lord, which is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses (Nehemiah 4:14).        

Many years ago, while I was in the university, the government of the day, a military government, banned all religious activities on campus. Some of the members of our fellowship came to convince me to comply, but I had heard from God; He told me to remain on campus.  

Some of them weren’t ready to stand with me, perhaps, because they were afraid. But if God had told me to continue, why should I stop because of what someone said? Always, God’s Word or counsel to you is what counts. He made the Vice-Chancellor, Governor, President, Prime Minister, etc.  

The Bible says the powers that be are ordained of Him; He put them in office. If they go rogue against Him by coming up with laws and policies that don’t favour His righteous cause, you’re not obliged to comply. No authority supersedes God’s authority. So, I went ahead with the programme I had scheduled on campus, because I’d rather obey God; and it was a remarkable success.  

Subsequently, we were never stopped from holding services on campus till I graduated. Was I defying the government? No! I was only obeying the orders of a higher government. It was the same with the apostles. Peter and the other apostles confronted the authorities in their day. Once, they said, “...You yourselves judge which is right in God’s sight---to obey you or to obey God” (Acts 4:19 GNB). As a man or woman of God, as a Christian, as one who walks with God, have no fear of men! Have no fear of their laws or decrees; have no fear of anything. The Bible says there’s no wisdom against the Lord (Proverbs 21:30). 

Human beings can never come together and come up with enough wisdom or strategy against God. It’s impossible. When you’re walking in sync with His plan and purpose for your life, it makes no difference what anyone thinks or does; it doesn’t matter the threats; you’ll win. The opposition may come from your family, your city, country, or government; have no fear, “...because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4). 

CONFESSION 

I’m confident in the power of God’s Word to put me over always, irrespective of the circumstances or opposition. I stand in faith against any law, decree, government or individuals who have set themselves against the Church of Jesus Christ, and I declare that their defence is gone from them! Glory to God! 

KINDLY DOWNLOAD THE RHAPSODY OF REALITIES CHRISTIAN MOBILE APP

FURTHER STUDY 

Psalm 27:1-3; Acts 5:25-29; 1 John 4:4 

1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Mark 10:1-31 & Numbers 11-13 

2 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Matthew 19:23-30 & Exodus 12 

EXCERPT FROM: Rhapsody of Realities Daily Devotional  

RHAPSODY OF REALITIES DAILY DEVOTIONAL (DOWNLOAD THE NEW RHAPSODY APP)

CHRIST IN YOU. 

Sunday, February 28th.

Pastor Chris 

But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace, To reveal his Son in me… (Galatians 1:15-16).  

The Apostle Paul, in our opening text, testified that God was pleased to reveal His Son, Jesus Christ in him. This isn’t just for the Apostle Paul; it’s the calling of every Christian. Christ revealed or expressed in your daily walk is the essence of Christianity. The Bible says, “To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27). 

Can you see Christ in you? Can you see His life manifested in and through you? If Christ is revealed in you, there’ll be no place for defeat or weakness. There’ll be no room for sickness in your body. The hope that you’ll forever be victorious, is Christ in you. You may have been diagnosed with a terminal disease; if you can contemplate Christ in you, that’ll be the end of that infirmity. The Bible says, “But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness” (Romans 8:10 NIV). 

It doesn’t matter how large the tumour is, Christ in you will cause it to dematerialize. Peter was going through the quarters, visiting the brethren. Then he met Aeneas, who had been paralysed, bedridden for eight long years. In that condition, he received the Gospel. All that Peter said to him was, “Aeneas, Christ makes you well!” (Acts 9:34). 

If you’ve been experiencing symptoms of disease or infirmity in your body, Christ makes you well. Become conscious of the indwelling Christ; He’s your strength; therefore, if you couldn’t walk, rise up and walk. In Him, and through Him, you can do all things! You’re victorious forever. He’s your riddance, your wisdom, and your righteousness. Blessed be God!

March Edition Rhapsody of Realities Now Available Exclusive to the New Rhapsody Mobile App to access Yours Now!

Be a blessing by sharing this link with everyone. 

               CONFESSION 

Christ is my life and my all! In Him I live, and move and have my being. In Him I’m victorious forever; I’m more than a conqueror. Christ is my riddance, my wisdom, my righteousness and justification. Blessed be His Name forever.

FURTHER STUDY: || Romans 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. || 

RHAPSODY OF REALITIES DAILY DEVOTIONAL (DOWNLOAD THE NEW RHAPSODY APP )

SPEAK WORDS FROM THE FATHER. 

Monday, March 1st.

Pastor Chris 

For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak (John 12:49).  

Have you ever wondered why some of the words you speak produce the wrong results? Perhaps you’re not speaking words from the Father. Jesus spoke the Father’s words. He knew exactly the right words to say in every situation, to everyone, and concerning everything. The secret is what He told us in our theme verse. 

Imagine what transpired in Luke 7:11-17. He was on a journey to the city of Nain, and as He arrived at the gate of the city, He saw a funeral procession of a young man who was the only son of a widow. Moved with compassion, He touched the casket and said, “…Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother” (Luke 7:14-15). He raised the lifeless body of that young man back to life with words! 

Over a raging tempest, the Bible says, “…he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm” (Mark 4:39). It made no difference how turbulent the weather was, Jesus hushed them with words. The words He spoke came from the Father. He said in John 12:50, “…whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.” 

We’re to have His kind of results, because the Father has given us words to speak. Don’t speak words that you learnt from the world; speak the Word of God. Get your language from the Word of God. That’s why you have to keep studying the Scriptures (2 Timothy 2:15). Think and talk like Jesus, and you’ll have His extraordinary results.

Get the new March Edition of Rhapsody of Realities, and several other downloadable materials. 

📚 Get All Free in one Link: 

• Rhapsody of Realities

• TeeVo (Teenagers ROR)

• Early Readers (ROR)

• Kiddies (ROR)

               CONFESSION 

Blessed be God! My words are divine, infused with power to change circumstances. The Father’s words dwell in me richly, and I speak them forth in wisdom. Hallelujah!

FURTHER STUDY: || Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. || 

|| John 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, [they] are spirit, and [they] are life. || 

When you become financially involved in sponsoring free distribution of Rhapsody Of Realities, you partner in bringing solution, hope and salvation to millions of lives around the world. Click To sponsor at least One copy today: 

BECOME A RHAPSODY INFLUENCER

DAILY SCRIPTURE READING 

1-Year Bible Reading Plan=> Mark 9:14-32 & Numbers 7-8

2-Year Bible Reading Plan=> Matthew 19:1-12 & Exodus 10

EXCERPT FROM: Rhapsody Of Realities Daily Devotional

RHAPSODY OF REALITIES DAILY DEVOTIONAL ;

YOU HAVE EVERYTHING YOU NEED.

Tuesday, October 6th.

Pastor Chris

After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I AM THY SHIELD, AND THY EXCEEDING GREAT REWARD (Genesis 15:1).

The underlined words spoken by God to Abraham in our opening verse reminds of what He said later to Aaron in Numbers 18:20: “…I am thy part and thine inheritance among the children of Israel.” We understand from the Scriptures that the Lord apportioned inheritance to the different tribes of Israel except the Levites, to whom He said, “I am your inheritance.”

How rich can you get when the Lord is your inheritance? How glorious would your life be? Psalm 24:1 says, “The earth is the LORD’S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.” Since this is true, then the earth and everything in it belongs to you because you’re His heir. Paul understood this and said, “…all things are yours” (1 Corinthians 3:21).

Now you can understand why your prayer times shouldn’t be spent asking God for things for yourself. What do you want to ask of one who’s already given you everything, including Himself? You have Christ, and Christ is everything. This truth should change your mentality and life forever.

Is it strength you require? The Bible says He’s your strength! Therefore, testify like the Psalmist, “…the LORD is the strength of my life…” (Psalm 27:1). Is it wisdom you think you need? The Bible says Christ is your wisdom (1 Corinthians 1:30).

You’ve been granted all that you require for life and godliness; you’ve been launched into a life of glory, excellence and superabundance. No wonder the Psalmist exclaimed, “The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage” (Psalm 16:6). All things are yours!

Exciting Benefits of Prayer,

When you pray in tongues, you’re in fellowship with the Father; you’re communicating with Him through the Spirit in a heavenly language. What a blessing that is!

Praying in tongues will keep you more “fit” spiritually, and responsive to the guidance and promptings of the Spirit. The more time you spend in fellowship with the Lord, praying in the Holy Ghost, the more His character and personality are revealed in, and manifested through you. Some are only compelled to pray when they face crises in life, and that’s not right. We’re called into fellowship with our heavenly Father; that’s what prayer, and praying, is primarily for: fellowship!

No matter how many earthly languages exist, there’re not enough words in the human vocabulary with which to adequately and accurately express yourself to God. Our human earthly vocabulary isn’t pure enough to commune with the holy God that our heavenly Father is.

THE PRAYER OF FAITH;

“ 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” (Mark 11:23).

The prayer of faith is one of the different kinds of prayer and it has its peculiar rules and requirements. This prayer involves making a request to God and speaking to circumstances without having any doubt in your heart. When Jesus said here, “Have faith in God” (Mark 11:22), some marginal references show us that it actually reads “Have the faith of God.” In other words, Jesus said, “Have the God-kind of faith; the supernatural faith that God applies.”

The word ‘believe’ in opening scripture is a verb formed from two Anglo- Saxon words. The first part means, ‘to accept that something is or exists’ and the second part means, ‘to act like it is.’ Bringing them together gives the meaning ‘to accept that something is or exists and to act like it,’ thus making the word ‘believe’ an action word that brings about possession. The ‘believer’ therefore is ‘a haver,’ ‘a possessor,’ not one living only in the realm of hope.

Note also that in Mark 11:23, it’s not God, but whosoever that says unto the mountain. This means anything is possible by your declaration of faith. As you issue commands in faith without doubting, you can have whatsoever you say, praise God!