Victory Daily Devotional

GRATITUDE  1 Thessalonians 5:16-22 “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (Vs. 18) NKJV      Any time we find it difficult to give thanks to God, it is because we are in a great confusion. The word of God said, God is not the author of confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33). Humanity often find themselves in confusion because we really do not know God or exercise patient enough to follow His ways.

STEADFASTNESS      Act 2:40-47 Devotional:-“And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers” (vs. 42) NKJV        Today, our decisions to follow the Lord is greatly challenged by temptations of different types. The devil has so much polluted the world that it is so easy to follow the way of sin and unrighteousness. That is why to be an ordinary Christian today is to be no Christian at all. 

FAITHFULNESS    1 Corinthians 4:1-5 Devotional:-“Moreover, it is required in stewards that one be found faithful”  (Vs. 2) NKJV      It is required of every disciple to be faithful. One of the most difficult attitudes for most people today is faithfulness. This is because of the temptation of greed and selfishness. When people have waited long for a prayer to be answered, it is possible to already be desperate and when this is not effectively managed it can result to unfaithfulness.

FELLOWSHIP       Hebrew 10:19-25 Devotional:- “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching” (v.25) NKJV      One of the characteristics of a true disciple of Jesus is willingness and love to fellowship with brethren. Fellowship is been together with people of the same purpose and focus. It is a company of people of the same interest of common needs. It is a composition of people of God and who are heavenly focused (Hebrews 12:22-24).

HUMILITY    Philippians 2:5-15 Devotional:-“And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross” (v.8) NKJV    A virtue that all disciples of Jesus must possess is the virtue of humility. No one can successfully work with God without been humble. As long as you have surrendered your life to Jesus and you have accepted Him as your Lord and Savior, He has the right to direct your life. Don't forget that a landlord is a controller of his house, so also Jesus is to us. To understand the real meaning of humility, we must learn from the life of Christ. 

RECOGNIZING THE HOLY SPIRIT John16:5-15 Devotional:-“However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come” (v.13) NKJV      Every citizen of the kingdom of God must grow in knowing and recognizing the activities of the Holy Spirit. This is a vital aspect of our growth as a child of God. Without the Spirit of God, we cannot have quality relationship with God.

RELATIONSHIP 1 John 3:10-20 Devotional:-“We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death” (v.14) NKJV      A major area that a child of God should grow and be mature in is the ability to handle relationship with other people. Our ability to relate maturely with others goes a long way to determine how much we are growing like Christ. The Bible says, “Jesus was growing in favour with God and man” (Luke 2:52). This is maturity in relationship. 

FAITH       2 Corinthians 10:12-18 Devotional:-“Not boasting of things beyond measure, that is, in other men's labors, but having hope, that as your faith is increased, we shall be greatly enlarged by you in our sphere” (v.15) NKJV      One of the assignments of a disciple of Jesus is to grow in faith. To grow in faith is to increase in the confidence we have in God through the knowledge of the word of God (Romans 10:17). A child of God that is not growing in faith will always face defeat and intimidation of the devil (1 John 5:4). 

UNDERSTANDING     Ephesians 1:15-22 Devotional:-“The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints” (v.18) NKJV    No one will be able to grow in God above his/her level of understanding. Our level of understanding determines how much we can yield or submit to God. It determines how much we can exercise in the power and the grace of God. No one can achieve in life more than his/her level of understanding. It is knowing and having an insight into how things are done. 

CAPACITY    1 Corinthians 14:1-5 Devotional:-“Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy” (v.1) NKJV    Our capacity in life is demonstrated by what we can do. It determines the result we can get by our ability in God. This is often the manifestation of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, talents and our special abilities. When we receive the Holy Spirit, this experience was accompanied with the gifts of the spirit. Talents are traits of ability that is connected to our family linage. Special abilities are virtues we have developed our skills in doing through practices.

PROCESS OF CHARACTER                                                                  Romans 5:1-5 Devotional:-“And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance” (Vs. 3) NKJV      As a disciple of Jesus, it is important we know that the greatest focus of Christ is that we are like Him. That is why we must be ready to go through the process of developing our character to be like Jesus. Please, remember that those who are Christ-like are called Christian. 

 CHARACTER OF CHRIST Ephesians 4:17-24  Devotional:-“And that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness” (v.24) NKJV    A disciple of Christ is known basically by their character. The word of God says, it was in Antioch that believers were first called Christian (Acts 4:24) A Christian is the one who is Christ-like in behaviour and attitude. That is why each of us should carefully observe the character of Jesus and emulate Him as our Lord.

AREAS OF A DISCIPLESHIP    2 Peter 3:14-18 Devotional:-“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen” (v.18) NKJV    As citizens of the kingdom of God, there are areas of life that we need to grow to be true disciples of Jesus. These areas encompass different dimension of our spiritual need for a balanced Christian life. Though, we should grow in Christ in every area of our lives, but let us group these areas to about five, for easy growth structure. 

POWER OF DISCIPLESHIP    Acts 4:5-13 Devotional:-“Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus” (v.13) NKJV     After Jesus had ascended to heaven, the disciples received the Holy Spirit and they were witnessing for Jesus everywhere. Because of a notable miracle; they were called to question by the rulers. There, they noticed their boldness and courage and observed they have been with Jesus.

QUIET PLACE    Matthew 6: 1-8 Devotional:-“But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly” (v.6) NKJV    For anyone to grow as a disciple of Jesus Christ, you need to create the right atmosphere for this. In our homes, we have the siting room, bedroom, kitchen, toilets or dining room. These rooms helps us to do the right thing at the right place. The same with spiritual things. Jesus also has a place He alone always withdrew to pray (Luke 22:39). 

LOVING GOD SUPREMELY Matthew 10: 34- 39 Devotional:-“He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me” (v.37) NKJV    Living in love demand that we take good care of people around us. But there is a new dimension to love that God introduces to us in the scripture we read today. This is by loving God above all other persons. 

  LOVING GOD      Matthew 22:34-40 Devotional:- “Jesus said to him, "'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind” (v.37) NKJV    True disciples of Christ must live in true and total love for God and for His fellow brethren. Since Jesus is love personified, our lives should also reflect the image of the son of God (1 John 4:8). It was love that brought Him to this world. It was love that took him to the cross. It was love that made Him to die in order to redeem us.

FOLLOWING HIS STEPS      1Peter 2:18-25 Devotional: -“For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps” (v.21) NKJV    Discipleship is following the master. If we are going to be the disciples of Jesus, we must be willing to follow the steps of Jesus. This is what we should do in every aspect of our lives.

CARRYING THE CROSS      Luke 9:23-27 Devotional:-“Then He said to them all, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me” (v.23) NKJV      Disciples of Jesus must know that, we must pass through pain to access our gain. It is not going to be easy to change from what we have grown up to be for several years. It will be painful experience to unlearn the wrong we have been so used to and adjust to the will of God. God’s word says, even Jesus suffer to learn obedience to God (Hebrew 5:8).

SELF DENIAL      Matthew 16:24-28 Devotional: -“Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me” (v.24) NKJV     An important factor in the process of discipleship is that, you must deny yourself to be able to follow Jesus. Self, is the major hindrance to our walking with God. By self, I mean the flesh, this is the human nature in us. This human nature has been cultured into sinful and selfish life. The flesh does not want to please God (Romans 8:5-8). So, those who are ruled by the desires of their flesh cannot please God. `If anyone want to be a disciple of Jesus, he/she must deny the flesh to satisfy God. Our body is made up to help us relate with the physical world, but we must put it under control, so that, it does not send us to hell (1 Corinthians 9:27). The flesh is the five senses that always give us information of the things of the world.  `Every attempt you m...

SURRENDER TO GOD Romans 6:1-14 Devotional:- “And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God” (v. 13) NKJV        The word surrender looks too foolish to the language in the world. The language of the word is the language of winning, succeed, don't give up or overcoming. But we can only be disciples of Jesus when we surrender to Him (Romans 12:1). We don't surrender to God with a sense of fear or duty but with heart of love (1 John4:9-10,19). 

QUIET TIME      Psalm 32:1-11 Devotional:- “For this cause everyone who is godly shall pray to You In a time when You may be found; Surely in a flood of great waters They shall not come near him” (v.6) NKJV      The word of God says, there is time for everything (Ecclesiastic 3: 1) That is why each of us who desire to be disciples of Jesus should create a time when we know we can seek God in an acceptable way. 

THIRST    Isaiah 55:1-13 Devotional:-"Ho! Everyone who thirsts, Come to the waters; And you who have no money, Come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk Without money and without price” (v.1) NKJV      As citizens of the kingdom of God, you must know that God does not waste His virtues. If you want the grace to grow and be a true disciple of Jesus, you must be thirsty for God (John 7:37-38). The reason many don’t grow in the church is because they are not thirsty for God. It is important we come to know that we are the one that need God. 

THE GREAT COMMISSION Matthew 28: 16-20 Devotional:-“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (v.19) NKJV      A primary assignment of every disciple is to fulfill the assignment of the master. That is why the goal of discipleship should be to make people fulfill the great commission. Those who don’t partake of the great commission are not disciple of Christ. This is because it is what concerns the master that should concern a true disciple

SACRIFICIAL LOVE       John 13: 31-35 Devotional:-“By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." (v.35) NKJV    Many Christians has grown so selfish because of the principles they have adopted. So, no matter the negative effect of their decision on others, as long as it profits them, they are okay. Today in the name of business strategies, we cut and wound each other. We don’t mind if others close down just for us to rise. 

FRUIT BEARING    John 15: 1-8 Devotional:- “By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples” (v.8) NKJV      We can identify a disciple by the fruit he bears (Matthew 7:20). A disciple of Jesus will live, talk and behave like Jesus. This is an evidence that he is following His master. Your life is a reflection of the person you are following. Your relationship determines your life and way of life. 

COMMITMENT TO THE MASTER 1John 3: 3-11 Devotional:-“Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him” (v.6) NKJV     For anyone to be a true disciple of Jesus, he/she must be committed to the master. Though, many goes to church today, but are not committed to Jesus. Many have accepted Him as Lord and saviour, yet they do not get committed to the master (Matt 7:20-21).

IN HIS WORD   John 8: 31-36 Devotional:- “Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed” (v.31) NKJV      A disciple of Jesus is not the one who come to just hear the word of God. They are rather those who abide or stay with the word of God (John 8:31). The desire of a disciple of Jesus is to be like Jesus. This is loving the way He lives. This is patterning our lives after the life of Jesus because of the great encounter we have with Him (Matthew 17:4). 

PROCESS OF DISCIPLESHIP   Mark 8: 34-38 Devotional:-“When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, "Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me” (v.34) NKJV     Just like any other process of production, to become a disciple of Jesus also demands that we are taking through a process. It is in the course of going through the process that we begin to look like Jesus. Everyone that come to Jesus are like raw materials, but we must not remain raw in our relationship with Christ. Some people have been in the Church for decades, yet they are the same as they came. 

PURPOSE OF DISCIPLESHIP       Luke 14: 25-27 Devotional:-"If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple” (v.26) NKJV       Discipleship is an important aspect of our Christian life, without which we cannot really call anyone a child of God. That is why, we need to understand the purpose of discipleship. Today, so many people who come to church can also be found in beer parlors and harlot houses. This is because they were not discipled for Christ. 

A DISCIPLE OF CHRIST      Luke 6: 39-42 Devotional:-“A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher” (v.40) NKJV Today, there are many people in the church that are not disciples of Jesus. The plan of God for the church is that we might make disciples of the people on the earth (Matt 28:19). The first task therefore is that, we should become disciples of Christ A disciple of Jesus is the one who have encounter Christ (Like 5:4-11). He has seen the power of God at work and not just what somebody said (1 John 1:1-3).