Christnode’s Post

ROCK CHURCH DEVOTION Thursday, 17th October 2024 Ap. Samuel Obwoyojok Proverbs 14:20 The poor is hated even of his own neighbour: but the rich [hath] many friends.[KJV] POVERTY IS A DISEASE - HATE IT II There is no any rich man that faces rejections, no matter how they are. Some of them are even very rude, but you see many people around them. Poverty made the church to discover a spirit called the spirit of rejection. In fact there is no such a spirit called the spirit of rejection at all. Whenever any person says that is facing any rejection, just try to ask how his pocket is. You will discover that the person doesn't have any spirit of rejection, but the person is just poor. Our theme scripture reveals it all. In fact Good News Version brings it more clearly "No one likes the poor, not even their neighbors, but the rich have many friends." The bible says no one like the poor. Even those who tries to stay with them just forces themselves for Christ's sake. But, the rich doesn't lack people around them. Poverty stinks child of God. Some time a poor man spends the whole night awake, not that he is meditating on the word or praying, but he can't just sleep because poverty stinks. Therefore, if any man is facing rejections, tell him to make wealth. He won't look for people but people will look for him. Poverty is a disease - hate it child of God. Do everything possible by God to be healed of it. FURTHER STUDY: Proverbs 19:4, 2 Corinthians 8:9. GOLDEN NUGGET: Poverty made the church to discover a spirit called the spirit of rejection. In fact there is no such a spirit called the spirit of rejection at all. Whenever any person says that is facing any rejection, just try to ask how his pocket is. You will discover that the person doesn't have any spirit of rejection, but the person is just poor. PRAYER: Loving Father in the name of Jesus, thank you for this truth. Thank you for your word that says Jesus became poor for my sake that through his poverty I might be rich. I refuse to be poor in Jesus name, Amen.

Wealth makes many friends, but the poor is separated from his neighbor.” — Proverbs 19:4 Proverbs has much to say about practical living, including the advantages of wealth and the disadvantages of poverty. Saint Francis indeed might have taken poverty for his bride, but the wisdom of the book of Proverbs does not recommend it. For example, it says, “The rich man’s wealth is his strong city; the destruction of the poor is their poverty” (Proverbs 10:15). Like Francis, there have been those of a more mystical bent who have glorified poverty, and yet this is not what wisdom would have us see. As far as this book of the Bible is concerned, the destruction of the poor is their poverty. Indeed, poverty can be a devastating thing, and there are those in our cities today who know full well the truthfulness of this ancient wisdom. Proverbs tells us that the rich man gains many advantages through his power of giving gifts. It brings him before great men. It procures for him universal friendship, such as that friendship may be, and it enables him to pacify the anger of an adversary—for a gift given to an angry man pacifies anger, we are told. Not only does his wealth make for him many friends, but it also secures positions of influence and authority over those who are not wealthy. It enables him to rise to positions of prominence, to hold places in parliaments or obtain governorships or other such offices as this. Above all, the Bible says to trust in God and not in uncertain riches. Lord, You give us what we have. Help us to be content and at the same time improve our income when we are able. Your kingdom goes forth through funding, including that from the affluent. Help us to use what we have for Your honor and glory…

Scripture: Proverbs 14:23 (NASB) “In all labor there is profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.” Observation: The meeting seemed to last forever. There was a problem, and it needed to be fixed. As we sat at the meeting and talked and talked, nothing was getting accomplished. Sure we all shared this idea and that; discussed different ways of going about it, but when the meeting ended, the problem still existed. Today's verse states that in all labor there is profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty. The meeting could have been about anything that faces us in life. A problem existed, but there was no final solution only to agree to meet again and talk some more. The original problem was still there with no solution taking place. Sometimes in life, we need to make a decision and begin to act on it. Whether it's trying to save financially, dealing with a wayward child, neighborhood poverty, or even ways to share the Gospel, if we continue to merely talk about it, the problem will still exist. Not until we begin to act, to labor, to move in a forward direction, we will find ourselves being speakers and not actors. So let's be men of action, men who are not afraid to put our shoulder to the mill stone and labor for Christ. There is an eternal profit. Application: 1) Think about what you just read. 2) Ask the Holy Spirit for clarity and insight. 3) Share this with someone who would benefit from reading it. 4) Make sure others see Jesus in YOU today.

"NEVER ALLOW THE RIGHTEOUS TO SUFFER LACKS" PROVERBS 10 : 3 The LORD does not allow the righteous to suffer want and starvation, but He rejects the desires of the wicked. No one wants to live in poverty or be materially poor. However, you need to know that actually poverty is not a condition, fate or destiny, but rather speaks about a person's mentality in life. Poor or rich cannot only be measured by material things because basically humans always feel lacking, even though they already have a lot of money and wealth. "Whoever loves money will not be satisfied with money, and whoever loves wealth will not be satisfied with his income." Ecclesiastes 5:10 (5-9) Whoever loves money will not be satisfied with money, and whoever loves wealth will not be satisfied with his income. This is also in vain. There are people whose lives seem simple but they can live happily and feel self-sufficient. GOD'S WORD teaches: "Don't be a slave to money, be sufficient with what you have." Hebrews 13:5 Don't be a slave to money and be sufficient with what you have. Because God has said: "I will never leave you and I will never leave you." Solomon gives important tips so that we can escape poverty: namely, don't take illegal paths to get money or wealth, because Proverbs 10:2 "Wealth gained by wickedness is useless, but righteousness saves a person from death." In this day and age, which is becoming increasingly difficult day by day, people dare to take instant means and justify any means to obtain money or wealth: corruption, stealing, robbery, prostitution and so on. Maybe for a while they appear to be materially abundant, but they don't think about the consequences at all, because what they sow is what they will reap. It has been proven that quite a few corruptors who previously had luxurious lifestyles have now had their assets sold out, confiscated by the state and their lives have ended up behind bars. "Possessions quickly acquired at first are not ultimately blessed." Proverbs 20:21 Possessions acquired quickly at first are not ultimately blessed. Have a good activity and have a good work and don't forget...stay enthusiastic. JESUS BLESS YOU.

ROCK CHURCH DEVOTION Friday, 16th August 2024 Ap. Samuel Obwoyojok Proverbs 6:10-11 [Yet] a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.[KJV] WEALTH OF SINNER BEING LAID UP FOR THE JUST VII I am still battling to explain to the body of Christ why many Christians are battling with poverty, and can not gather wealth. We learned in the previous devotion that some Christians are poor not because they are struggling with any generational curse. But they are poor because they don't have any work they are doing. When the Lord comes down to bless them, He finds them with nothing to bless. Let me build on the previous devotion by using our today's theme scripture "Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man." This scripture reveals that there is always something wrong with folding hands. Folding hands leads you to poverty. God created Adam and put him in the garden of Eden to dress it. Genesis 2:15. This means that man should always work. Unfortunately, there are some people who doesn't want to work. While other people goes to work, they are busy sleeping and wasting time on things that doesn't count. Any little minute you waste without working and doing something productive for your life, you invites poverty to come and consume your life. Work child of God. Don't waste time doing nothing. Avoid people who makes you spend many minutes without doing anything. FURTHER STUDY: Genesis 2:15, Proverbs 26:15. GOLDEN NUGGET: Any little minute you waste without working and doing something productive for your life, you invites poverty to come and consume your life. PRAYER: Loving Father in the name of Jesus, thank you for this truth. I understand that I am a child of the kingdom with much responsibilities. I am so conscious of my life and I don't waste time, in Jesus name, Amen.

What is Paul telling Timothy (and us) to flee? Wealth? Riches? No. When we read carefully we see Paul is saying to flee the “desire to be rich” and “the love of money”. Sisters and brothers, neither poverty nor riches is inherently good…and neither is inherently bad. What we have or lack isn’t the determining factor in obedience to God. What matters is what we love and pursue. We cannot love God and love money. But we also cannot love God and despise those who have money just because they do. Paul doesn’t tell people not to be wealthy, he’s not calling people to a vow of poverty. In fact, a few verses later he tells the rich to be “rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share” in order to store up treasures and “take hold of that which is truly life”. Rich, poor, or anywhere in between, we are called to pursue these good things: righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, and gentleness. None of these requires earthly riches or earthly poverty. Again, it’s not what we have that determines our level of obedience, it’s what we love and what we pursue. Don’t be envious of those with more and don’t be haughty over those with less. Instead, pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, and gentleness. Then you will continue becoming the person God desires you to be. If you are so inclined, feel free to share this message. Also, in the comments is a link to our website with blogs where we answer difficult questions Jesus followers often ask.

THE POWER AND PRESERVATION OF THE PERSECUTED CHURCH, PART 2 PERSECUTION OF CHRIST FAITHFUL FOLLOWERS “I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life;" Revelation 2:9-10 (NKJV). You can know something by observation and information; but Jesus Christ is saying that He knew what the church of Smyrna was going through by participation. He knows what we are going through. There's nothing we are going through that He is not going through with us. There's no pain, suffering, persecution that He is not participating with you. That was why Jesus asked Saul, "Why are you persecuting me?" Acts 9:4-5 When Jesus said that He knew their persecution, He meant that He knew their pressure. In Roman Empire, when they want to kill someone, they will lay a large rock on his chest. The rock will slowly, gradually, systematically pressure the person to death. Jesus was talking about the pressure of a heavy load, heavy suffering. "I know your blasphemy" means reproach, piercing painful insult, the abuse that they were heaping upon the people. When people insult, abuse you, don't think that Jesus does not know. Jesus Christ was saying I know your intense pressure, poverty and persecution but you are rich. You are rich that Jesus said is a revelation of what the church in Smyrna were. "Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?" James 2:5 (NKJV). Maybe you don't have money, material things, health, people are looking at you that you are in abject poverty but you have faith. You are rich in faith. Once you have faith, you can have every other thing. Rich in faith: the possibilities and greatness of faith. When you join your faith with prayer, you will come out of that situation and come into the sunshine of all the provision of the Lord. “I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan," Revelation 2:9 (NKJV). In the Roman world at that time, in all the cities that were controlled by Caesar, the Roman Emperor, there was the worship of Caesar. In the worship of Caesar, they will say "Caesar is Lord." They go to the shrine, the temple dedicated to Caesar and they will worship and burn incense to him. The Jews did this because they want all the vast empires of the Roman emperor to be totally united. They want it to be united under a single figure 'Caesar.' The only way they thought they could do that is to exalt Caesar to the point of deity. PLEASE CONTINUE IN THE COMMENT.

Doing Good to All 6 Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restorethat person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3 If anyone thinks they are somethingwhen they are not, they deceive themselves. 4 Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, 5 for each one should carry their own load. 6 Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor. 7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. Hebrews 4:16 Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

2 Corinthians‬ ‭8‬:‭13‬-‭15‬ ‭“Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. The goal is equality, as it is written: “The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.”” 1 Peter 4:10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. ‭‭ Here are some other Bible verses about gifts: Romans 12:6-8: Discusses how to use gifts based on the grace given to us. James 1:17: States that every good thing in our lives comes from God. Matthew 6:1-4: States that God will reward those who give in secret. 2 Corinthians 9:7: States that God loves a cheerful giver. Deuteronomy 16:17: States that each person should bring a gift in proportion to how the Lord has blessed them. Luke 11:13: States that if people know how to give good gifts to their children, then God will give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him. 1 Corinthians 13:1-3: States that if someone has gifts but no love, they are nothing

Proverbs 19:13-22 Money is not everything: The book of Proverbs has a remarkably balanced understanding of wealth and poverty. Neither is seen as wholly good or wholly bad. They are understood as part of the wider fabric of life, and you are encouraged to use what you have wisely. ‘Houses and wealth are inherited from parents, but a prudent wife is from the Lord’ (v.14). There is nothing wrong with houses or wealth; but there are more important things in life. Finding the right marriage partner is far more important than having lots of money. For those tempted to work too hard in pursuit of money or any other goal, it is important to remember the sovereignty of God: ‘Many are the plans in a human heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails’ (v.21). Taking ‘Sabbath rest’ and holidays is a sign that you trust in God’s sovereignty. Wealth is not the most important thing in life; nor is poverty the worst thing that can happen to you: ‘What a person desires is unfailing love; better to be poor than a liar’ (v.22). We need love far more than we need riches. Integrity of character is far more important than money. On the other hand, this passage does not exalt poverty as a virtue. Sometimes poverty can be self-inflicted: ‘Laziness brings on deep sleep, and the shiftless go hungry’ (v.15). Whatever the reason may be for a person’s poverty, be kind to the poor: ‘Those who are kind to the poor lend to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done’ (v.17). This is an extraordinary and wonderful promise. God is no person’s debtor. Every time you do something kind for a poor person, you are lending to the Lord and he will repay with interest. Often, we see amazing blessings in the lives of those who spend their time ministering with the poor, the homeless and the prisoners. Prayer: Lord, I entrust you with my finances and my future. Help me to live a life of generosity to all – especially the poor.