ICGC Testimony Temple

31/01/2026

Celebrating 42 Years of Kingdom Faithfulness

31/01/2026

*LIVING WORD DEVOTIONAL*
_By Pastor Mensa Otabil_

Saturday 31st January 2026

*GOD EXECUTES JUDGMENT*

*Scripture Reading:* Psalm 9

> _The nations have sunk down in the pit which they made; In the net which they hid, their own foot is caught. The Lord is known by the judgment He executes; The wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Meditation. Selah_ *Psalm 9:15–16*

God by His nature either extends mercy or executes righteous judgment. If God showed mercy to David, then his enemies would come under His judgment. In appealing to God for mercy, David also described the end of the formidable conspirators who had risen up against him.

It was nations that came after David. This was no single rival or little band of opposition seeking to destroy Him. The attack was international in scale and their intent was to take out Israel’s king. However, we see God’s judgment come to pass against David's enemies.

What are the characteristics of God’s judgment?

- *The Lord is known by the judgment He executes.* God is a righteous judge; His judgments are always right. In this passage, the psalmist focuses on God’s retributive justice; vengeance is the Lord’s. The same Lord who acts mercifully towards those whose hearts are right will punish those who act wickedly.

- *The wicked is snared in their devices.* This is why the Lord frequently tells His children not to fret about the works of the wicked. In the end, the righteous God will overrule the wicked. The Psalmist uses two images to describe the wicked devices and their outcomes.

- *They have sunk into the pit they made.*
- *They are caught in the net they hid.*

Eventually, the wicked fall prey to the traps they set for the righteous. God can deliver His people. He takes them out of harm’s way and sets them in a safe place.

We can rest and be at peace in the Lord, knowing that He is a God of justice. He will rule justly on your case. Trust Him to take care of whatever concerns you.

At the end of the statement on how God judges the wicked, the Psalm invites us to pause and meditate.

*Prayer:* _Heavenly Father, you are the righteous judge. Overturn every plan of wickedness against Your Children in Jesus’ name, Amen._

_Follow the Mensa Otabil channel on WhatsApp:_
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaDGaZYKgsNpjYeBVM2S

07/01/2026

*LIVING WORD DEVOTIONAL*
_By Pastor Mensa Otabil_

Wednesday 7th January 2026

*PROFITABLE LIFE*

*Scripture Reading:* Isaiah 48

> _Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, The Holy One of Israel: "I am the LORD your God, Who teaches you to profit, Who leads you by the way you should go. *Isaiah 48:17*_

God wants each of us to live a profitable life. He wants our lives to yield an increase in all areas. One of the areas of our lives where we need to experience God’s increase is in our finances.

All of us use money as a medium of exchange to meet our needs. Without sufficient money, our lives on earth can be very miserable and unfulfilling.

The scriptures present God as both the source and the giver of true wealth and riches. In our reading today, the Lord offers to do two things for us in relation to wealth creation and management: first, He teaches us to profit and secondly, He leads us in the way we should go.

God can teach us how to make the most strategic and profitable use of the abilities and opportunities we have in life. He is also able to guide us with the wisdom to make the right choices and to manage the resources available to us.

Making and managing wealth profitably requires more than a good education or a fat salary. It requires a disciplined adherence to both spiritual and natural laws and processes.

Here are a few good rules to live by:

▪ Give your offerings to God consistently

▪ Work diligently

▪ Constantly upgrade your skills to increase your earning capacity

▪ Save and wisely invest at least ten per cent of your income regularly

▪ Practice the art of living well on less

▪ Understand and use the financial markets

▪ Develop and follow a long-term financial plan

▪ Pray for God’s favour

As we follow these principles with commitment and in faith, we can look to the Lord to increase us financially this year and always.

*Prayer:* _Heavenly Father, I ask for financial wisdom. Teach me how to use my talents and opportunities profitably. In Jesus’ name, *Amen.*_

_Follow the Mensa Otabil channel on WhatsApp:_
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaDGaZYKgsNpjYeBVM2S

Channel • 98K followers • Official WhatsApp Channel of Pastor Mensa Otabil. General Overseer of ICGC and Chancellor of Central University.

30/12/2025

You can't afford to miss our crossover service with Pastor Anthony Agbenyega. It's going to be a spirit filled service. Come and let's Worship,praise and pray as we cross over into 2026.

23/12/2025

*LIVING WORD DEVOTIONAL*
_By Pastor Mensa Otabil_

Tuesday 23rd December 2025

*THE BIRTHPLACE OF CHRIST*

*Scripture Reading:* Matthew 2

_And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: *Matthew 2:4-5*_

King Herod was apparently familiar with star symbolism in prophecies about the Messiah. He did not doubt nor challenge the assertion of the wise men. Herod was troubled by the mission of the men who came to his palace to look for the newborn king. The reason why the king was troubled was because most Jews did not accept him as a legitimate king – he was not of the lineage of David.

Thus, it is written. The religious leaders of Israel knew where the Messiah was to be born. He had to be born in Bethlehem. The prophet Micah had prophesied the birthplace of Jesus, hundreds of years earlier.

The Chief Priests did not quote their opinion or preference for where the Messiah was to be born. They simply quoted what was written in the word of God. These days there are Christians who teach that the written word of God is not enough to guide them.

• *God’s written word reveals God’s mind.* Anytime we read the Bible, we encounter God’s mind. In the word, we learn about God’s logic and thoughts; in it, we find His position on the manifold matters of life. If you have a question as to what God thinks about a situation you are confronted with, the Bible is your best resource for an answer.

The message of the Bible is current. Although written several years ago, it continues to be relevant across several generations. Micah’s prophecy found fulfillment many years after he had spoken it. The Bible still speaks to us in all the present-day issues of life; it is important to highlight the fact that God’s word is current.

• *God is committed to His written word.* Time does not diminish what is written in the Bible. After so long a time, the Lord fulfilled His word in an unusual way. Jesus was born exactly where Micah prophesied, He would be.

God’s word never dies. The people who declared it and recorded it are no longer alive. But God still lives and so does His word. Whichever commitment He has made that you have come across in the Bible, you can be sure He is prepared to honour it. Promises concerning His love, mercy and forgiveness are true today as it was when He first spoke to them. He still loves, shows mercy and forgives.

God’s word spoken in times past is still relevant in our time today.

_*Prayer*: Heavenly Father, I trust your written word. I commit myself to study, believe and live my life according to your word. In Jesus’ name, Amen._

20/12/2025

*LIVING WORD DEVOTIONAL*
_By Pastor Mensa Otabil_

Saturday 20th December 2025

*GOD LEADS JOSEPH*

*Scripture Reading:* Matthew 1

> _But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. *Matthew 1:20*_

Joseph was disturbed by what had happened to Mary, but his heart was right towards God. He was open to God’s leading. Joseph had a dream in which God revealed to him the divine perspective on the difficult situation he was facing. He became aware that Mary’s pregnancy and the events that were to follow had greater implications than he had previously known
The angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph for four reasons:

- *To reveal God’s plans to Joseph.* God made Joseph aware of the destiny of the child that Mary was pregnant with. He had to fully come to terms with the fact that it was God’s hand at work in the events of his life and that of his wife. He was only part of an eternal plan that predated his own life. The unfolding story of his life was therefore heavenly and spiritual in nature. God wants to make us aware of what He is doing.

- *To include Joseph in God's plans.* The angel called Joseph, son of David. He identified Joseph with the Messianic line of Israel. Though Joseph was a simple carpenter, he had royalty in his ancestry. Every Jewish student of prophecy knew that God had promised a Messiah to Israel who would be from the lineage of David. By linking Joseph to David, the Lord wanted Joseph to know that he was a chosen person. God wants to include each one of us in His plans.

- *To explain God’s plans to Joseph.* The Lord understood how Joseph felt. He knew his predicament. Joseph needed to know that Mary was not at fault. She had neither been unfaithful nor acted unrighteously. What had happened, had happened because the Holy Spirit had overshadowed Mary and brought about a supernatural conception. God wants to help us understand what we don’t understand.

* *To show Joseph what to do.* If the Lord had not pointed Joseph in the right direction, he would have acted wrongly. God showed him the right line of action because his heart was right. He was to take Mary as his wife and not divorce her. We learn that when our hearts aree right with the Lord, He orders our steps in the right direction. God wants to show us the best way to deal with what we face.

*Prayer:* _Heavenly Father, thank you for including me in your plans. Help me to see things as you see them. In Jesus’ name, *Amen.*_

_Follow the Mensa Otabil channel on WhatsApp:_
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaDGaZYKgsNpjYeBVM2S

Channel • 98K followers • Official WhatsApp Channel of Pastor Mensa Otabil. General Overseer of ICGC and Chancellor of Central University.

18/12/2025

*LIVING WORD DEVOTIONAL*
_By Pastor Mensa Otabil_

Thursday 18th December 2025

*WHERE Christ was Born*

*Scripture Reading:* Micah 5

> _But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel, whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting. *Micah 5:2*_

This prophecy pointed to the place of Jesus’ birth. It shows us the place of His birth, the position that place occupied in Israel and the promise that the place carried.

1. *The place:* the town in which Jesus was born had two names:

- *Bethlehem:* Meant a house of bread or meat. The name of Bethlehem indicated that it was a place of supply. It was seen as a place where people would find food.

- *Ephrathah:* A place of fruitfulness. The literal word is ‘double fruit’. When you put the two names together, it presents Bethlehem as a place of abundance. The expectation, therefore, was that everything should be blossoming in Bethlehem, but Bethlehem was not a prosperous town at the time of Jesus’ birth.

The passage points to Bethlehem’s insignificance: Little among thousands. In comparison with the other towns in Judah, Bethlehem was a little town or village. It wasn’t prominent. Though Bethlehem’s name suggested that it was ‘fruitful and blossoming’, it was, in reality, an ordinary village.

2. *The promise.* Micah’s prophecy speaks about the promise of Bethlehem. It was small, but it had great promise. It had a great future. The promise of Bethlehem was the promise of rulership.

Bethlehem’s greatness was inside her. Outwardly, the town appeared inconsequential, yet inwardly, it carried the Messiah. Similarly, outwardly, you may be small, but on the inside, you are mighty through Christ.

Today as we reflect on this Christmas message, I want you to look beyond where you are and how you are perceived – look within. If you are a believer in Christ, the Holy Spirit lives within you. Within you sits a ruler. Within you sits greatness. Within you sits royalty.

*Prayer:* _Heavenly Father, you have shown that you can raise greatness from unexpected places. Let greatness come out of me. In Jesus’ name, *Amen.*_

_Follow the Mensa Otabil channel on WhatsApp:_
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaDGaZYKgsNpjYeBVM2S

Channel • 98K followers • Official WhatsApp Channel of Pastor Mensa Otabil. General Overseer of ICGC and Chancellor of Central University.

17/12/2025

*LIVING WORD DEVOTIONAL*
_By Pastor Mensa Otabil_

Wednesday 17th December 2025

*JESUS’ GENEALOGY*

*Scripture Reading:* Matthew 1

> _Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse, and Jesse begot David the king. David, the king, begot Solomon by her who had been the wife of Uriah. *Matthew 1:5-6*_

In ancient times, biographies commonly began with a genealogy. A man’s ancestry was a vital part of his credentials. Matthew begins his Gospel account by tracingJesus' bloodline back to King David. He did that to show that Jesus had a claim to the throne of Israel. But the Gospel writer’s list of ancestors includes some names you wouldn’t expect to see in a typical Jewish genealogy.

First-century Jewish society was exclusively patriarchal; a person’s genealogy was typically traced through the male bloodline alone.

In spite of this, Matthew included women – Gentile women – in his list. What’s more, some of them were women with an unsavoury past. The list included Rahab, the pr******te of Jericho; Tamar, who dressed as a pr******te and seduced her father-in-law; Ruth, who, though she was a godly woman, was a Moabite, a despised race among the Jews; and the wife of Uriah, Bathsheba, who committed adultery with King David.

If the aim of the Gospel writers was to paint a whitewashed picture of Jesus, they would not have included these women in his bloodline. These were included in Matthew’s genealogy to underline a simple truth: Jesus is the Messiah for all people: Jews and Gentiles, men and women, rich and poor.

We have a new covenant with God and in His kingdom, there are no second-class citizens. The people in the ancestry of Jesus show us that God will not judge us based on the sins of our ancestors. Neither will the Lord keep us bound to the spiritual heritage of our bloodline. When we come to Christ, He sanctifies us from our past and makes us fit for His kingdom.

In His kingdom He takes the sinful and washes them; He takes the old and makes them new; He takes the rejected and finds places for them. He takes the despised and gives them honour and dignity.

*Prayer:* _Heavenly Father, you own my past, present and future. Use my history to work out your purposes in my life. In Jesus’ name, *Amen.*_

_Follow the Mensa Otabil channel on WhatsApp:_
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaDGaZYKgsNpjYeBVM2S

Channel • 98K followers • Official WhatsApp Channel of Pastor Mensa Otabil. General Overseer of ICGC and Chancellor of Central University.

16/12/2025

*LIVING WORD DEVOTIONAL*
_By Pastor Mensa Otabil_

Tuesday 16th December 2025

*GOD GAVE HIS SON*

*Scripture Reading:* Isaiah 9

> _For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given: And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. *Isaiah 9:6*_

When we think of Christmas, we think of the arrival of Jesus. The arrival of Jesus was also a departure. For us, a Child was born. But for God the Father, a Son was given. God gave up what He had so that we could have what He had. His loss was our gain.

Jesus literally went from the throne of heaven to a humble manger in Bethlehem. He went from the presence of angels to a stable of animals. He who was larger than the universe became a tiny embryo in the womb of a young woman. He left the dwelling place of perfection and holiness to dwell among imperfection and sin. The giving of the Son was a big sacrifice on the part of the Father.

Every ‘receiving’ must be based on a ‘giving.’ When Jesus left the Father’s abode, He came into our abode. When He left the Father’s hands, He came into our hands. That is the way God works.

When God releases what He has in His hand, it comes into our hand; and when we release what is in our hands, it goes into God’s hands.

This prophecy also shows us that when we receive Christ, we receive God’s wisdom, power and peace into our lives.

• *Jesus is our Wonderful Counselor*. He is the source of all wisdom; our ‘Expert Advisor’. Jesus has the credentials to be our advisor because He is wholly trustworthy and wise. His words teach us how to handle all the pressures of life.

• *Jesus is our Mighty God*. Jesus demonstrated supernatural power through His life and ministry. In His resurrection, He triumphed over death. If you want real power, go to Jesus.

• *Jesus is our Prince of Peace*. He calmed the boisterous sea and quietened the mind of a raging lunatic. He brings peace to our troubled world and our tortured souls.

_*Prayer*: Heavenly Father, I thank you for giving your Son to me. I receive Him in all His wisdom and power. In Jesus’ name, Amen._

11/12/2025

*LIVING WORD DEVOTIONAL*
_By Pastor Mensa Otabil_

Thursday 11th December 2025

*THE TENT OF THE UPRIGHT*

*Scripture Reading:* Proverbs 14

> _The house of the wicked will be overthrown, but the tent of the upright will flourish. *Proverbs 14:11*_

This proverb focuses on the distinction between the wicked and the upright. Both the wicked and the upright are building. In the proverb, the wicked builds a house whilst the upright person builds a tent. Consider the differences between a house and a tent.

A house is more stable than a tent. Generally speaking, a house can withstand storms, whereas a tent can be easily blown away. A house is a permanent dwelling; a tent is a temporary dwelling. A house is a more valuable or expensive dwelling than a tent.

Considering the apparent differences between the house and the tent, we may be tempted to think that the wicked has an advantage over the upright. However, the proverb implies the opposite.

* *The house of the wicked is overthrown.* What the wicked builds may appear strong and sound outwardly, but it doesn’t have the inner strength to stand against the storms of life. The wicked build through lies, cheating and destruction. For a season, they may appear to be doing well with their lives. However, what they build cannot stand God’s scrutiny.

* *The tent of the upright flourishes.* On the outside, what the upright builds may not seem like much. It looks like a simple tent. However, it is a tent with God’s presence. The presence of the Lord is the difference for the upright. When we build with the Lord and in His way, we enjoy His blessing and favour.

Whatever God blesses is blessed. It is not so much about what we try to do by ourselves. It is more about doing things in God’s way, for when we build our lives in God’s way, we attract His blessings.

*Prayer:* _Heavenly Father, what you bless is blessed. Help me build things that attract your blessing. In Jesus’ name, *Amen.*_

_Follow the Mensa Otabil channel on WhatsApp:_
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaDGaZYKgsNpjYeBVM2S

Channel • 98K followers • Official WhatsApp Channel of Pastor Mensa Otabil. General Overseer of ICGC and Chancellor of Central University.

10/12/2025

*LIVING WORD DEVOTIONAL*
_By Pastor Mensa Otabil_

Wednesday 10th December 2025

*SEEK UNDERSTANDING*

*Scripture Reading:* Proverbs 14

> _A scoffer seeks wisdom and does not find it, but knowledge is easy to him who understands. *Proverbs 14:6*_

This proverb focuses on two kinds of seekers. One of the seekers is a ‘scoffer’, the other is ‘him who understands’. Both are seeking wisdom. The scoffer does not find the wisdom he’s seeking, but the person of understanding easily finds it.

There are times when scoffers - those who deny God and mock His Word - seek help from Him, but they find none. God is the source of all wisdom. And since scorners do not fear God nor want a relationship with Him, their seeking is in vain.

What can we learn from this wise saying of the bible?

- *You cannot find something if you despise it.* A scoffer is a person who mocks others. They have no respect for things of value and do all they can to denigrate noble efforts. Because of that, scoffers do not achieve much in life.

Scoffers spend their lives seeking and never finding. They make efforts which do not amount to much. You cannot attain heights in life if you spend all your time making a mockery of those who have attained great heights.

- *You will find things that you take time to understand.* A person of understanding seeks understanding. When they encounter something unfamiliar, they seek to understand it rather than mock it.

Those who seek understanding find success in life. They respect the efforts that others have made in life and learn best practices from them. That is the way of achievers.

*Prayer:* _Heavenly Father, help me not mock and despise others. I choose to be a person of understanding.*Amen*_

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