Arise & Shine Christian centre

22/01/2025

*RHAPSODY OF REALITIES DAILY DEVOTIONAL*

*THE FORMAL DECLARATION OF OUR INNOCENCE*

Thursday, January 23rd.

Pastor Chris

_*📖But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification (Romans 4:24-25).*_

In our previous study, we learnt that we're the proof of God's fairness and impartiality. That's what it means to be the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. Now the latter part of our opening scripture reveals something extraordinary; it's one of the most mind-blowing verses of the Bible. It says Jesus Christ was delivered for our offences and raised back to life, not for our forgiveness, but for our justification.

This staggers the understanding of the human mind; it's purely beyond belief. He was delivered to death for our offences and raised for our justification so that He (God) might be just and the justifier of the one who believes in Jesus Christ. How could an offender suddenly become justified?

The Greek word for justification is "Dikaiosis" and it means acquittal, a legal or formal declaration of innocence. It means God looked at you and said, "You're innocent; you're not guilty of any sin." He should have said you've been forgiven of all sins, but He said, "You're innocent." Now it should have been that you paid in Christ and are not a debtor anymore; you should have been described as a free man who has been forgiven. But that's not what we have here. God is saying you have been acquitted; the records were checked and it wasn't found where you sinned; therefore, you were formally declared innocent, not guilty. He's saying you never sinned; how could that happen?

That's what makes it Gospel—Good News. Some people hear it and don't understand it. How is it that I never sinned? It's the result of Christ's redemptive work. Romans 5:1 says, _*"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."*_ We've been declared righteous by faith; do you know why? Because you're born again, you're a new creature. The Bible says, _*"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). The new creation never sinned because he's a brand-new species that never existed before. Blessed be God!

*CONFESSION*

*The resurrection of Jesus Christ has made me a new creature, the very righteousness of God in Christ, justified and sin-free. I walk in the light of this truth, manifesting the glory of God and spreading the good news of His overflowing grace to others, in Jesus' Name. Amen.*

*FURTHER STUDY📖=>* *||* *Romans 5:17 AMPC* For if because of one man's trespass (lapse, offense) death reigned through that one, much more surely will those who receive [God's] overflowing grace (unmerited favor) and the free gift of righteousness [putting them into right standing with Himself] reign as kings in life through the one Man Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One). *||*

*||* *Romans 3:26 AMPC* It was to demonstrate and prove at the present time (in the now season) that He Himself is righteous and that He justifies and accepts as righteous him who has [true] faith in Jesus. *||*

*||* *2 Corinthians 5:21* For he hath made him [to be] sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. *||*

IF YOU ARE NOT YET BORN AGAIN, KINDLY SAY THIS PRAYER TO RECEIVE SALVATION NOW!🤲=> https://bit.ly/3XlaiwZ

Register for the March Edition of the Healing Streams Live Healing Services with Pastor Chris @ https://herald.healingstreams.tv/LIVE

TO READ DAILY ARTICLES & DOWNLOAD RHAPSODY APP=> https://bit.ly/4gkYO4K

Follow the 𝐁𝐄𝐘𝐎𝐍𝐃 𝐖𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐓𝐄𝐍 𝐏𝐀𝐆𝐄𝐒 channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaIkJw3EawdvBJduPO21

*📖DAILY SCRIPTURE READING📖*

*1-Year Bible Reading Plan📖=>* Matthew 15:29-16:1-12 & Exodus 3-5

*2-Year Bible Reading Plan📖=>* Matthew 9:1-13 & Genesis 23

EXCERPT FROM=> Rhapsody Of Realities Daily Devotional

Rhapsody of Realities is the world's most distributed and translated daily devotional. Giving your day a lift

18/12/2024

👣

01/11/2024

Psalm 87

1. His foundation is in the holy mountains.
2 The Lord loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.
3 Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God. Selah.
4 I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to them that know me: behold Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia; this man was born there.
5 And of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was born in her: and the highest himself shall establish her.
6 The Lord shall count, when he writeth up the people, that this man was born there. Selah.
7 As well the singers as the players on instruments shall be there: all my springs are in thee.

31/10/2024

Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?
2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his anointed, saying,
3 Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.
4 He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.
5 Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.
6 Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.
7 I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.
8 Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.
9 Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.
10 Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth.
11 Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.

28/10/2024

1John 2. 15-17
15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

28/10/2024

Stay with God!
Take heart. Don’t quit.
I’ll say it again:
Stay with God.

Psalm 27. 14 The Message Translation.

03/10/2024

Strife, anger, rage, selfish-ambition, competition, lies, backstabbing, backbiting, witchcraft, sorcery, murder, theft, corruption, adulteries, fornication, sexual perversion, immorality, uncleanness, hatred, lack of brotherly affection, violence, threatenings, manaces; and the like; all are not from God. These are activities of demons and satan and dark, damned powers. Do not associate with them, do not partner with them, or else the same judgment which is upon them will come upon you. Repent now, and accept the Lord Jesus and lay down the devil's tools and ask for grace to do right, be filled with the Holy Spirit. Politics is not a justification for any of these before God Almoghty. Cleanse yourself and save your soul, to show that you love yourself. Let God furnish your life with his goodness, it is not worthy to be compared in glory to anything that the satanic kingdom can give you. It is a blessed reward, eternal in this life and that which is to come. Media should not spew venom on the nations, but must give light and hope to the nations, otherwise it is a wicked tool. Yes they must bring to light the hidden works of darkness, but the goal must be to build nations not to destroy. To build people, not to destroy them. Not merely for gain in this world, but also in that which is to come. In the end, love should rule. Be sensitive to the harm that others suffer because of our words. Let God"s mercy work in the lives of men, because, there is no righteousness outside Jesus Christ. Botswana we are crying for you. Please, glorify God. All men shall come before the judgment of God. Now is the time to repent and turn away from evil.

01/10/2024

ROMANS 1. 16-17 TLB
FOR I AM NOT ASHAMED OF THIS GOOD NEWS ABOUT CHRIST. IT IS THE POWER OF GOD AT WORK, SAVING EVERYONE WHO BELIEVES- THE JEW FIRST AND ALSO THE GENTILE. 17. THIS GOOD NEWS TELLS US HOW GOD MAKES US RIGHT IN HIS SIGHT. THIS IS ACCOMPLISHED FROM START TO FINISH BY FAITH. AS THE SCRIPTURES SAY, 'IT IS THROUGH FAITH THAT A RIGHTEOUS PERSON HAS LIFE'.

12/09/2024

Proverbs 11. 24 There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.

02/08/2024

Glorious things are spoken of you, oh city of Zion!!!

26/07/2024

James 1. 2-4 Amplified Classic

2 Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations.
3 Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience.
4 But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be [people] perfectly and fully developed [with no defects], lacking in nothing.