Ogies Phola Church Of Christ

05/09/2026

18/03/2026

*MORNING DEVOTION: WED, ¹⁸ MA ²⁰²⁶:*

📖 ⁵"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; ⁶in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. ⁷Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. ⁸This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones." (Proverbs 3:5-8)

LESSON:

I. Proverbs 3:5-8 teaches that true wisdom and peace come from relying entirely on God rather than human logic, fearing Him, and avoiding evil.

• It promises that acknowledging God in all decisions brings divine guidance for life's path, along with emotional and physical renewal (health and refreshment).

II. Key lessons from Proverbs 3:5-8 include:

a. Trust Completely, Not Partially:
• The passage commands trusting God with "all your heart," implying that total reliance on His character, sovereignty, and goodness is required, rather than partial or conditional trust.

b. Avoid Self-Reliance:
• We are warned against relying on our own understanding or limited perspective, as "what seems right" to humans can lead to destruction.

c. Acknowledge God Daily:
• Acknowledging God in "all your ways" means including Him in daily decisions—both small and large—rather than just crises, aligning actions with His will.

d. The Promise of Direction:
• When we trust and acknowledge Him, the promise is that He will "make paths straight," providing clarity, guidance, and success.

e. Humility and Fearing the Lord:
• Fearing the Lord means respecting His authority and turning away from evil, which protects against the dangers of being "wise in your own eyes."

f. Health and Refreshment:
• Obedience to these principles is linked to physical and emotional well-being, described as "healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones."

III. This passage ultimately encourages a life of humility, surrendering the need for control and relying on God's strength rather than our own. (Google.2026. Key Lessons from Proverbs 3:5-8)

Good morning!🙏🏿

A. "The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; pride and arrogance and the evil way and the perverse mouth I hate." (Proverbs 8:13)

B. "It is better to trust in the LORD Than to put confidence in man." (Psalm 118:8)

C. "Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!" (Isaiah 5:21)

D. "Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers." (3 John 1:2)

HAVE A LOVELY DAY!

Let us choose to submit ourselves to God's authority knowing that all the spiritual blessings are found in Christ Jesus. Keep the faith. Salvation is only found in Jesus Christ. Trust and obey. God is in control!

28/12/2025

*SUNDAY MORNING DEVOTION: ²⁸ DEC ²⁰²⁵:*

📖 ¹"What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? ²Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?

³Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?

⁴Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." (Romans 6:1-4)

LESSON:

I. Romans 6:1-4 teaches that believers, having died to sin through union with Christ in baptism, cannot continue living in sin.

• Grace is not a license to sin, but a call to walk in "newness of life," effectively burying the old self and embracing resurrection life with Christ.

II. Key lessons from this passage include:

a. Grace is Not a License to Sin:
• Paul strongly rejects the idea that Christians should continue sinning to "increase" God's grace.

b. Identification with Christ's Death:
• Through faith and baptism, believers are united with Jesus in his death, meaning they are dead to the power and mastery of sin.

c. Burial of the Old Self:
• Baptism symbolizes the burial of the old, sinful nature.

d. Resurrection to New Life:
• Just as Christ was raised from the dead, believers are empowered to live a new life, free from the enslavement of sin.

e. A Shift in Ownership:
• Believers are no longer slaves to sin but are to live as people alive to God, presenting themselves as instruments of righteousness.

f. Practical Transformation:
• The,daily,reality for a Christian is to stop acting on sinful desires, as they are no longer defined by their past mistakes. (Google.2025. Key Lessons from Romans 6:1-4)

Good morning!🙏🏿

• "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17)

HAVE A BLESSED FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK!

Let us be strong in the Lord, knowing that we have been freed from the slavery of sin brethren. Let us not forsake the assembly and let us encourage one another.

Keep the faith. Forgiveness of our sins is only found in Jesus Christ. God allows a U-turn. Trust and obey. What a privilege to be in Jesus Christ. Backward never, forward ever!

In the service of Christ!

21/12/2025

*SUNDAY MORNING DEVOTION: ²¹ DEC ²⁰²⁵:*

📖 ³⁴Then Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I do not know a man?" ³⁵And the angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God." (Luke 1:34-35)

LESSON:

I. Luke 1:35 highlights the miraculous virgin conception of Jesus by the Holy Spirit, affirming His identity as the sinless Son of God and fully divine Messiah.

• It teaches that God initiates salvation, uses humble, willing vessels (like Mary), and that His power enables the impossible, bringing about the fulfillment of prophecy through the Incarnation.

II. Key lessons from Luke 1:35 include:

a. The Divinity and Humanity of Christ:
• Jesus is identified as both "holy" and the "Son of God," affirming His divinity, while being born of a woman, which makes Him fully human.

b. The Miraculous Conception:
• The birth is a supernatural act, not of human origin, as the Holy Spirit "overshadows" Mary to conceive the Savior, ensuring He is without sin.

c. God's Power Overcomes the Impossible:
• The verse demonstrates that nothing is impossible with God, as He brings about the fulfillment of prophecy (like Isaiah 9) through a miraculous, supernatural event.

d. The Role of Submission and Humility:
• Mary, chosen as a humble vessel, models faith by receiving a difficult, incomprehensible promise, showing that God uses willing servants to achieve His purposes.

e. The "Overshadowing" of the Holy Spirit:
1. This phrase indicates the presence and protection of God, similar to the cloud covering the Tabernacle in the Old Testament, representing God with us (Emmanuel).

2. This verse highlights that the Messiah is not just a prophet but the divine, sinless Son of God who came to earth, emphasizing God's direct intervention in human history (Deuteronomy 18:18; Acts 3:20-26). (Google.2025. Key Lessons from Luke 1:35)

Good morning!🙏🏿

A. "He (Jesus) was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification." (Romans 4:25)

B. "And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name." (Acts 22:16)

HAVE A BLESSED FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK!

Let us stand firm in the gospel my dear brethren knowing that salvation is only found in Jesus Christ. Keep the faith. Forgiveness of our sins is only found in Jesus Christ. God allows a U-turn. Trust and obey. Do not forsake the assembly. God is love!

In the service of Christ!

19/12/2025

*MORNING DEVOTION: FRI, ¹⁹ DEC ²⁰²⁵:*

📖 "And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." (Matthew 10:28)

• "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." (2 Timothy 1:7)

LESSON:

I. Matthew 10:28 and 2 Timothy 1:7 provide a foundation for overcoming fear through a shift in perspective.

a. They teach that God provides a spirit of power, love, and self-discipline rather than fear, instructing believers to prioritize reverence for God over fear of human persecution.

b. These scriptures encourage boldness in faith, knowing that ultimate safety lies in God.

II. Key Lessons from Matthew 10:28

a. Fear God, Not Man:
• Jesus instructs followers not to fear those who can only kill the body, but to fear Him (God) who has authority over both body and soul.

b. Eternal Perspective:
• The worst, men can do is end earthly life, but God holds the power of eternal life and judgment.

c. Proper "Fear" of God:
• This is not abject terror, but a holy reverence, respect, and awe for the Creator who holds eternity in His hands.

d. Security in God's Care:
• God is not just a judge but a loving father who cares for his servants, noting even the smallest details like hairs on a head.

III. Key Lessons from 2 Timothy 1:7

a. Fear is Not from God:
• God does not give a spirit of timidity or fear.

b. The Spirit of Power:
• God equips believers with spiritual power to withstand hardship and carry out their calling, even in difficult circumstances.

c. The Spirit of Love:
• This power is balanced by love, ensuring that actions and ministries are rooted in selfless care for others, not arrogance.

d. A Sound Mind (Self-Discipline):
• This refers to self-control, wisdom, and a balanced, calm mind, allowing believers to navigate crises without panicking.

IV. Combined Takeaways

a. Overcoming Fear with Truth:
• By trusting in God’s power and love, Christians can overcome the fear of rejection and persecution.

b. Active Faith:
• 2 Timothy 1:7 encourages "fanning into flame" the gifts God has given, overcoming timidity to serve boldly.

c. Foundation for Boldness:
• Both verses combined move a believer from a state of fear to a state of confident, faithful action. (Google.2025. Key Lessons from Matthew 10:28; 2 Timothy 1:7)

Good morning!🙏🏿

A. "The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion." (Proverbs 28:1)

B. "Cowards die many times before their deaths; The valiant never taste of death but once. Of all the wonders that I yet have heard, It seems to me most strange that men should fear; Seeing that death, a necessary end, Will come when it will come." ~ William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar (Act 2, Scene 2)

HAVE A NICE DAY AND A SOBER WEEKEND!

Let us be strong in the Lord and let us fear God and keep His commandments. Keep the faith. Eternal life is only found in Jesus Christ. Trust and obey. God is in control!

In the service of Christ!