GOOD MORNING SAINTS! RHAPSODY OF REALITIES DAILY DEVOTIONAL. BEING A TRUE MINISTER OF THE GOSPEL - PASTOR CHRIS OYAKHILOME PHD THURSDAY MAY 12TH 2016

Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you (Matthew5:11-12). When, as a Christian you’re effective in soul-winning, ministering faith, hope and love to others, you become an easy target for persecution. Not everyone will accept you. Nevertheless, remember, not everyone accepted Christ either. That’s why He said in Matthew 10:24-25, “The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord. It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?” You shouldn’t be surprised when, after you’ve acted in love and shown kindness to some people, they turn against you and do terrible things to hurt you. It’s not right to get angry and say in regret: “After all I’ve done for them?” Remember that you did what you did in the Name of the Lord. If you did it in His Name, why do you care? You might even think God would punish the other fellow for saying nasty things about you, but He won’t; He actually doesn’t want to punish him. The Bible says, “…it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish” (Matthew 18:14). Rather, He’s looking for someone that’ll intercede for him. Instead of thinking God will punish those who are unkind to you, pray for them; that’s being a true minister of the Gospel. Understand that the more committed you are to the things of God, the more His glory will be revealed in your life, and the more some people will hate and persecute you for it. When that happens, don’t respond angrily; rather, respond in love. 2 Timothy 3:12 says, “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” When you’re persecuted, always remember that you were sent, not in your own name, but in the Name of Jesus. Therefore, the Lord Himself shall be your defense, and reward. PRAYER Dear Father, I thank you for the comfort of the Scriptures. The Holy Spirit strengthens me with might in my inner man, to be effective in the ministry of the Gospel of Christ, irrespective of the tests, trials, and persecutions that I may face. The love of Christ compels and controls my actions, in Jesus’ Name. Amen. FURTHER STUDY: John 15:19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Matthew 10:22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. 1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: John 6:1-24 1Kings9:1-28 2-YEARBIBLE READING PLAN: 1 Corinthians 7:25-40 Proverbs 8 If you’re not yet born again, all you have to do is believe in Jesus Christ and confess him as Lord to receive eternal life into your spirit, and become a brand new creature in Christ, so that God’s beauty and power can be seen in you. All you have to do is click on this link http://goo.gl/VDbqoT to say the prayer of Salvation and mean it with all of your heart; and God will hear you. Then click to download your Special Gift. God bless you