RHAPSODY OF REALITIES

SATURDAY 11 DECEMBER 2021

PASTOR CHRIS

*TOPIC:* SANCTIFICATION OF THE SPIRIT

KEY VERSE: …God hath from the beginning chosen

you to salvation through sanctification

of the Spirit and belief of the truth

(2 Thessalonians 2:13).

Sanctification is part of the ministry of the

Holy Spirit in our lives. Even though you’re

born again and your spirit is alive to God, your mind

still needs to be purified of all the garbage recorded

therein. It’s the reason for the renewal of the mind the

Bible talks about in Romans 12:2.

The more you study and receive God’s Word,

the more the wrong thoughts, ideas and relics of the

old nature in your mind are removed and replaced

with God’s holy thoughts, His holy words and the

manifestation of His kingdom. That’s why the Bible

says, _*“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly…”*_

(Colossians 3:16).

That desire to do the wrong things, to go in the

way of the world, to make the wrong choice, only the

Word of God can get rid of it. So, Romans 12:1 says,

_*“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies

of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice,

holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable

service.”*_ Notice that He’s addressing God’s people and

not the people of the world. Don’t yield your mind to

sin; don’t yield it as an instrument of unrighteousness.

You’re a sanctified person.

1 Corinthians 6:9-11 says, _*“Know ye not that the

unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God?

Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters,

nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of

themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous,

nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall

inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of

you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye

are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the

Spirit of our God.”*_

Notice our underlined portion! You’ve been

sanctified by the Spirit to serve the living God. He’s

purged your conscience of dead works through

the vicarious sacrifice of Jesus Christ in your behalf.

No wonder He says, _*“But of him are ye in Christ

Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and

righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption”*_

(1 Corinthians 1:30). Blessed be God!

*PRAYER*

*Blessed Lord, you’ve made me a vessel unto honour,

sanctified and fit for your use and prepared unto

every good work. I’m fully yielded to your Word to

mould my life and character. Thank you for granting

me the ability to lead a life of righteousness and true

holiness. Amen.*

*FURTHER STUDY:*

*1 Peter 1:1-2*

_1- Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,_

_2- elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied._

*2 Timothy 2:21*

_21- Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work._

*1 Corinthians 6:19-20*

_19- Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?_

_20- For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s._

*1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:*

Revelation 3:7-22 & Hosea 7-10

*2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:*

John 19:23-37 & 2 Chronicles 23-24

RHAPSODY OF REALITIES

*FRIDAY 10 DECEMBER 2021*

PASTOR CHRIS

*TOPIC:* *YOUR CONNECTION WITH DIVINITY*

*KEY VERSE:* _*A little one shall become a

thousand, and a small one a strong

nation: I the LORD will hasten it in

his time (Isaiah 60:22).*_

*MESSAGE*

What an inspiring scripture! Observe that the

prophet Isaiah didn’t say, _*“A little one is a

thousand”*_; rather, the Spirit so accurately puts it; He

says, “A little one shall become a thousand….” It

does spell growth, change, going from one level to

another. That means, when a little one is said to be

“little,” it’s talking about a thousand. Imagine how big

that is—proof positive that the Lord is ever interested

in our growth and prosperity.

How would you read this and still have doubts

about your greatness and prosperity being God’s idea

and desire? 3 John 1:2 says, _*“Beloved, I wish above

all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health,

even as thy soul prospereth.”*_ The Bible is replete with

information on the power and the glory of God, the

honour, the majesty, the splendour of our Heavenly

Father and His will to share what He’s got with His

children. This is the glorious life of prosperity we’ve

been called to and that’s the basis of our prosperity.

We aren’t running after or seeking prosperity,

because the truth is, we’re children of this true

God whose wealth is limitless, inestimable and

unquantifiable; we belong to Him. The difference

between Christians who believe in and walk in

prosperity and those who don’t is this: the former

believe in their true connection with God, knowing that since it’s real, they don’t need to seek prosperity;

it just works in them.

The latter group, however, don’t understand it;

hence, they keep seeking it, trying hard to get it. And

because it eludes them, they criticize it. There’s no

human being who doesn’t want to prosper. That’s a

fact! The reason many work and continually seek to

improve themselves is so they could have better means

to take care of themselves, their families and loved

ones, and help other people. Every human person

wants to be able to do something, not only for himself

but for others, and that’s prosperity.

Study the truths of God’s Word and accept its

simple message with faith in your heart. Read about

men and women described to us in the Bible who

were prosperous, influential, powerful, successful,

and served God in righteousness till their days were

over; they had a great life all the way. Accept growth

and prosperity and walk in it. It’s a function of our

connection with divinity.

*CONFESSION*

*I take advantage of my inextricable connection with

my heavenly Father; all that belongs to Him belongs

to me; my prosperity is of the Spirit and it’s limitless,

inestimable and unquantifiable. I’m established in

the Lord’s righteousness; therefore, I flourish like the

palm tree. I walk in wealth and abundance always.

Amen.*

*FURTHER STUDY:*

*Haggai 2:8-9*

_8- ‘The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,’ says the Lord of hosts._

_9- ‘The glory of this latter temple shall be greater than the former,’ says the Lord of hosts. ‘And in this place I will give peace,’ says the Lord of hosts.”_

*Deuteronomy 8:18*

_18- “And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day._

*2 Peter 1:3*

_3- as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,_

*1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:*

Revelation 2:18-3:1-6 & Hosea 3-6

*2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:*

John 19:13-22 & 2 Chronicles 21-22

RHAPSODY OF REALITIES

THURSDAY 09 DECEMBER 2021

PASTOR CHRIS

TOPIC: IMPACT OF THE WORD IN YOUR SPIRIT

KEY VERSE: 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 (Colossians 3:16).*_

*MESSAGE*

The Word of God has to be deeply rooted in

you for you to enjoy the life of endless victories

the Bible talks about. When you’re deeply rooted

in the Word, nothing shakes you; you’ll always win,

irrespective of the adversities you face. It’s not enough

to merely get excited when you hear or study the

Word; take some time to meditate.

When you get excited outwardly, let it be because

of the victory you’ve seen and obtained in your spirit,

and the impact the Word has made on your spirit.

The Word impacting your spirit is where the glory

is. Consider Moses: After spending forty days and

forty nights with God on Mount Sinai receiving the

Commandments, the skin of his face shone by reason

of the glory of the Word he received from God. To

Moses, the commandments weren’t just laws; they

were life.

When you deeply contemplate and meditate on

the Word, the Word will take a hold of your spirit and

impact your physical body, so much so that the glory

of God will literally beam from you. 2 Corinthians 3:18 says, “But we all, with open face beholding as

in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the

same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit

of the Lord.” As you receive the Word, the intensity

of the glory in your life is increased!

Read our theme verse again; it says, “Let the

word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom…” (Colossians 3:16). This is the way to keep yourself afire,

living in victory always, unshakeable and unmovable,

established in Him. Colossians 2:7 AMPC says,

“Have the roots [of your being] firmly and deeply

planted [in Him, fixed and founded in Him], being

continually built up in Him, becoming increasingly

more confirmed and established in the faith, just as

you were taught, and abounding and overflowing in

it with thanksgiving.”

FURTHER STUDY:

Colossians 2:7 NLT, Colossians 3:16 AMPC

_16- Let the word [spoken by] Christ (the Messiah) have its home [in your hearts and minds] and dwell in you in [all its] richness, as you teach and admonish and train one another in all insight and intelligence and wisdom [in spiritual things, and as you sing] psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, making melody to God with [His] grace in your hearts.

RHAPSODY OF REALITIES

WEDNESDAY 08 DECEMBER 2021

PASTOR CHRIS

TOPIC: BE A SUCCESS FOR GOD

KEY VERSE: If ye then be risen with Christ, seek

those things which are above, where

Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

Set your affection on things above, not

on things on the earth

(Colossians 3:1-2).

MESSAGE

Each one of us is ordained of God to be very

successful. But you can’t really be a success

until you know God’s plan for your life. You could be

a success for “you” or for those cheering you on; but

being a success for God is what counts. A success

for “you” means you’ve achieved your goals and

your dreams. A success for the world means you’ve

fulfilled the world’s dream and expectation of you. But

these aren’t true success. True success means you’ve

achieved God’s goals and dreams.

Success for life means your accomplishments on

the basis of God’s calling, His vision, dream, and plans.

And it always has to be done in God’s way, not man’s

way. You measure success at different points in your

life. In academics, for example, if you were in class one

and you were successful in your exams, that’s success

in that class, not class two or three. Someone else who

is in class two or three will be measured accordingly.

When you get to a higher class, you’ll again be rated

by the corresponding standards and requirements of

that class. So, success is relative.

Be determined that at different stages of your

life, you’ll be very successful in line with God’s plans

for your life. The most important thing to you should

always be: What does God want? What does He think? That’s the only way you can know whether or not

you’re successful. And remember, His will, plan and

purpose will always be consistent with His Word—the

Scriptures.

There’re many who don’t care to know what

God thinks. Some don’t even think that God has an

individual plan for their lives to care for them, but the

truth is, He does. The Bible says, “’For I know the plans

I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper

you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and

a future’” (Jeremiah 29:11 NIV). He not only cares,

He has a plan that’s not only communicable, but one

that can and must be actuated.

FURTHER STUDY:

1 John 2:15-16, Acts 26:16-18 & 2 Corinthians 5:14-15

RHAPSODY OF REALITIES

TUESDAY 07 DECEMBER 2021

PASTOR CHRIS

TOPIC: EVER-INCREASING GREATNESS

KEY VERSE: Thou shalt increase my greatness,

and comfort me on every side (Psalm 71:21).

MESSAGE

The Lord said to Abraham in Genesis 22:17-

18: “…in blessing I will bless thee, and in

multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of

heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore;

and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;

And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be

blessed....” Indeed, the Lord blessed Abraham and

made him great. You’ll observe the blessing through

several generations after him. Isaac, Jacob, David,

Solomon all walked in this reality.

David, who was a great king, took it to another

crescendo; he knew that in greatness there’re levels.

So, he prayed, “Thou shalt increase my greatness, and

comfort me on every side” (Psalm 71:21). There’re

three ways of becoming great: you’re either born

great or you have greatness bestowed on you, or you

achieve greatness.

But thanks be unto God! When you were born

again, you were born great; you were born into

this wonderful family of God, connected with God

Almighty and the Kingdom of God. You were born the very heir of all the riches and wealth of God’s Kingdom.

To walk in this reality, first, you have to live beyond

your senses. All you see isn’t all there is. There’s more

to life than what you see or feel. The Bible says, “For

we walk by faith, not by sight" (2 Corinthians 5:7).

Secondly, you must say the same thing in consent

with God as it pertains to your greatness. Just like the

psalmist, make confessions according to the Word and

speak of your greatness. Declare by faith that of your

increase, there’ll be no end. Henceforth, declare that

the Lord is increasing your greatness in a significant

way. It doesn’t matter what job you do, make it great,

because there’s greatness in you. You’re royalty.

Hallelujah!

FURTHER STUDY:

Psalm 112:1-3, Psalm 18:35,

Genesis 26:12-14 & Galatians 3:29

RHAPSODY OF REALITIES

MONDAY 06 DECEMBER 2021

PASTOR CHRIS

TOPIC: BE INSPIRED BY HIS HOPE

KEY VERSE: And hope maketh not ashamed; because

the love of God is shed abroad in our

hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given

unto us (Romans 5:5).

MESSAGE

The Bible shows us that “hope” is one of the

principles that’ll exist in the world to come.

Hope is the ability to expect and to project into the

future. Jesus demonstrated hope in His beautiful and

inspiring prayer in John 17, as He committed His

disciples into the Father’s hands. He said, “Neither

pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall

believe on me through their word” (John 17:20).

It’s amazing how Jesus trusted the Father with

His hopes for the future of His disciples and those

who would believe in Him through their witness. He

not only had faith, but hope as well. He looked to the

Father, with hope. What an inspiration!

There’s another instance where He demonstrated

such great hope. That was when He prayed with

great anguish and agony of soul in the Garden of

Gethsemane, such that sweat came out of His body

like great drops of blood. But I want you to notice

the content of His prayers. The Bible says He prayed,

“…O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass

from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt” (Matthew 26:39).

Jesus was a man of faith, but in this context, He

was hopeful. He endured the Cross because of the

outcome of His hope. He demonstrated hope while

He hung on the Cross; hope even in death! This is the Christ that Paul referred to when he announced,

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new

creature: old things are passed away; behold, all

things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Now, you’re in Him and can therefore be hopeful

in the Father as He was, even in the face of death.

Can you be hopeful in prayer that those who openly

oppose Christ can truly believe and turn their hearts to

Him like Saul of Tarsus, and receive salvation for their

souls by the power of the Holy Ghost?

Learn the value of hope. The Word declares that

“hope doesn’t disappoint, because of God’s love in our hearts” (Romans 5:5). Be inspired by His hope! That

hope, the Bible says, is an anchor for the soul: “That

by two immutable things, in which it was impossible

for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation,

who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope

set before us: Which hope we have as an anchor of

the soul, both sure and steadfast…” (Hebrews 6:18-

19). Hallelujah!

FURTHER STUDY:

Romans 4:18

Hebrews 6:19 AMPC & Psalm 71:14

RHAPSODY OF REALITIES

SUNDAY 05 DECEMBER 2021

PASTOR CHRIS

TOPIC: HIS UNFATHOMABLE LOVE KEY VERSE: For she said, If I may touch but

his clothes I shall be whole. And

straightway the fountain of her

blood was dried up; and she felt in

her body that she was healed of that plague (Mark 5:28-29).

Part of our theme scripture is the inspiring

story of the woman with the issue of blood

who pressed her way through an impossible crowd to

touch Jesus for a miracle. Jesus wasn’t rattled that the

“unclean” woman touched Him without His consent.

Remember, under the Law of Moses, it was

unlawful for such a woman to be seen in public, let

alone make contact with other people, because she

was haemorrhaging; making her unclean. But Jesus,

ever so loving and gracious, addressed the woman

with such endearment. He said, “…Daughter, be of

good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in

peace” (Luke 8:48).

Think about the Master’s gracious disposition to

this woman! His love is beyond human comprehension;

it’s unfeigned and divine. Also, consider how He healed

lepers in His day. Luke 5 records a beautiful story of

how He touched and healed a certain leper. The Bible

says, _*“And it came to pass… a man full of leprosy:

who seeing Jesus fell on his face, and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.

And he put forth his hand, and touched him, saying,

I will: be thou clean. And immediately the leprosy

departed from him”*_ (Luke 5:12-13).

The Master didn’t get infected from making

contact with the infected man; rather, He cured the

infection! That’s the kind of person you should emulate.

That’s the example to follow, not those who advise you

to hide from “viruses” and infections that Jesus gave

us the power to heal.

He said in Luke 10:19, “Behold, I give unto you

power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over

all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any

means hurt you.” I’m inspired by Jesus, and you should

be too. Be inspired by His love; be inspired by how

he affectionately touched the untouchables of broken

humanity in His day, as He still does today; howbeit,

through us! Hallelujah!

FURTHER STUDY: John 15:13 & 1 John 4:10-11

RHAPSODY OF REALITIES

SATURDAY 04 DECEMBER 2021

PASTOR CHRIS

TOPIC: BUILDING A STRONG DESIRE

KEY VERSE: Blessed are they which do hungerand thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled (Matthew 5:6).*_

*MESSAGE*

Sequel to our previous study, something else

that fasting does for you is that it helps you

build a strong desire. Fasting helps nurse your spiritual

hunger or desire for whatever you’re praying about.

Gradually, your desire moves from the soul realm to the spirit realm; it becomes a yearning of the spirit.

Perhaps, you’re a cell leader, fellowship coordinator

or church Pastor and you’re praying for growth in your

church or group; there has to be a strong desire for

the increase you’re expecting; otherwise, it may never

happen. A strong desire attracts to you whatever the

subject of that desire is. Fasting without a definite and

clear desire will achieve nothing. Because of your focus

in a time of fasting, you’re able to attract through the

Spirit, the finer signals, messages and visions of the

higher planes of the spiritual.

As your spirit is thus inspired, you’d be quick to

receive His Word and follow the guidance He gives

you. The Bible says: “The entrance of thy words giveth

light; it giveth understanding unto the simple” (Psalm 119:130). His Word will light up in your spirit and

illuminate your path. Suddenly, you just know what

to do, the steps to take that’ll bring about the results

you desire.

In the preceding verse of scripture, the word

“understanding” is translated from a Hebrew word that

means or connotes “the ability to apprehend.” When

God’s Word enters your heart, it gives you the ability

to understand diverse subjects and circumstances, such

that you’d know exactly what steps to take. Learn to

develop a strong desire through fasting, prayer, and an

unrelenting commitment to studying and meditating

on the Word of God.

FURTHER STUDY:*

Romans 12:11 AMPC & Nehemiah 1:4

RHAPSODY OF REALITIES

FRIDAY 03 DECEMBER 2021

PASTOR CHRIS

TOPIC: FASTING—A VITAL CONDITION FOR

EFFECTIVE PRAYING

KEY VERSE: And I set my face unto the Lord God, to

seek by prayer and supplications, with

fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes

(Daniel 9:3). MESSAGE

Fasting is a spiritual exercise, and it’s one of

the vital conditions necessary for effective

praying. Fasting isn’t the same as a hunger strike. It’s

not about avoiding meals. After all, there’re folks who

sometimes wouldn’t eat over a long period of time,

probably because they’re busy; that doesn’t mean

they’re fasting. Fasting means turning your attention

away from food, and turning it to God.

Some people turn away from the food only to

busy themselves with activities that don’t enhance

their human spirit or help them to focus on God. For

your fasting to be effective, you must set your heart

on the Lord, on His Word, throughout the duration of

the fast, and give quality time to praying in the Spirit.

Fasting, however, isn’t a way of persuading God

to do something in your behalf. Fasting doesn’t change

God; it changes you; it positions you spiritually so you

can receive from Him. For instance, the instruction

from the Lord to the apostles that Barnabas and Saul

(who later became Paul) should be consecrated to the

work of the ministry came as the apostles fasted and

prayed: “As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted,

the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul

for the work whereunto I have called them” (Acts

The apostles could hear the voice of the Holy Spirit

clearly, and they understood Him, because they were

praying and fasting. Fasting gets you attuned to God;

it’s a way of turning your spirit and mind away from the

carnal things of this world in order to focus them on the

Lord. That means you put away the secular magazines,

films, TV shows etc., and set your heart and your mind

on the Word in study, meditation and prayer.

As you do this, the flesh is subdued as your spirit

fellowships with God. Therefore, when you pray, you’re

able to utter words inspired of the Holy Spirit. Fasting

basically reconditions your human spirit and makes

you receptive to God’s guidance. He may have tried

to lead or guide you in a certain way, yet you failed

to decipher His signals. But when you fast and pray,

you’re repositioned, and your spiritual re-orientation

allows the Holy Spirit to minister to you in line with

His perfect will.

FURTHER STUDY:

Acts 13:2 TPT, Daniel 9:3 & Acts 14:23

RHAPSODY OF REALITIES

THURSDAY 02 DECEMBER 2021

PASTOR CHRIS

TOPIC: HE’LL MAKE IT HAPPEN FOR YOU

KEY VERSE: …Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full (John 16:23-24).

MESSAGE

The phrase “…he will give it you” in the verse above is “didoljmi” in Greek, and it means God will grant you what you require; He’ll make it happen for you. What Jesus said there gives us an open invitation to ask anything in His Name and expect to receive answers.

Sadly, some people aren’t putting this to work, yet they whine and gripe over their predicaments. He said, “…ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.” He doesn’t want you struggling through life, angry and miserable. He wants you joyful ALWAYS, and He knows one of the ways to make that happen is having your requests granted, you being in surplus and abundance.

Perhaps today, your business is failing or has failed, or your investments have gone down the drain; perhaps you’re facing serious challenges in any area of your life; the Lord is saying, “Ask what you will, and I’ll make it happen for you!” Whatever it is that you want, don’t cry; don’t beg; don’t gripe. Just act on His Word; ask and receive.

The Lord loves you. He’s more passionate and determined for your success than you could ever be. So, whatever troubles you, present it to Him as He has said. In Philippians 4:6-7, He said, “Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

He’s made more than enough provisions for you—to make you joyful and fulfilled in life. The Bible says He gives us all things freely to enjoy (1 Timothy 6:17); yours is to simply trust Him; ask in faith, in the Name of Jesus, and receive.

FURTHER STUDY:

John 16:23-24 TPT &

Matthew 7:7-8