COUNTERFEIT GOSPEL Poem Devotional

Posted on October 11, 2014 by ilmaarts

October 11 The Power of God’s Word
You are following a different way that pretends to be the Good News, but is not the Good News at all. You are being fooled by those who deliberately twist the truth concerning Christ. – Galatians 1:6-7(NLT)
COUNTERFEIT GOSPEL
A poem and essay by ILMA
Does your belief about Christ focus on self seeking goals?
Does your life anchor on getting pleasures for the body and soul?
If you claim you are a believer and living a superficial life
Be careful, this is not the gospel that brings light.
There are many false teachings and preachers that twists the truth
Seek God and His ways and your life will get deeper roots
The only way to know counterfeit gospel is to know God’s word
It guides you to be able to discern the ways of this world.
How does one recognize a counterfeit from the real thing? One must be able to inspect and really study the genuine thing. The bible tells us that there are many false teachers propagating a gospel that is not from Christ. They try to add or subtract from the Good News and somehow make it appealing to unbelievers and believers alike. Satan wants us to be blind and stay unclear about God’s truth. This is how he can deceive people from following God’s ways. We are cautioned to take responsibility to know the truth because it protects us from being fooled.
PRAYER
Lord, guide me.
REFLECTION
Why is seeking the word important?
For more testimonials about God’s word, please go to YouTube and type ILMA’s Poem Devotionals, or go to www.ilmaarts.com or to receive emails of the poem devotionals, email me at ILMA.ARTS.STUDIO@gmail.com

DIRECT REVELATION Poem Devotional

Posted on October 10, 2014 by ilmaarts

October 10 The Power of God’s Word
I received my message from no human source, and no one taught me. Instead, I received it by direct revelation from Jesus Christ. – Galatians 1:12 (NLT)
DIRECT REVELATION
A poem and essay by ILMA
No human wisdom can make you understand things
Only God can make you discern something
When you have a close relationship with Christ
He will fill you with courage and grant you insight.
I received my message from no human source
All the things I know is from the Lord
I get direct revelation from the one I truly love
He prepares me to join him later in heaven up above.
Do you hear God saying things to you? Many people freak out when I tell them God talks to me. I started conversing with God at an early age of seven. I wanted to ask questions and no one really listened to a little child then. So, I started asking him first and later on tell him how I feel. I didn’t hear human voice directly but somehow, something inside me would tell me what I needed to know. When I studied the bible in my twenties, I was astounded to know that all I knew from my chats with God was written in the bible.
The bible says that we can receive direct revelation from God. Do you have a close relationship with Christ to actually hear him?
PRAYER
Lord, keep me close to you.
REFLECTION
Do you get direct revelations from God?
For more testimonials about God’s word, please go to YouTube and type ILMA’s Poem Devotionals, or go to www.ilmaarts.com or to receive emails of the poem devotionals, email me at ILMA.ARTS.STUDIO@gmail.com

FULL & COMPLETE BY CHRIST Poem Devotional

Posted on October 9, 2014 by ilmaarts

October 9 The Power of God’s Word
And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself. – Ephesians 1:23 (NLT)
FULL & COMPLETE BY CHRIST
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you feel empty and incomplete in your life?
Have you accepted and committed to Christ?
If you believe that Christ came to save you
You will be part of his church which renews.
You will have a new life and die to your old self
You will give up self-effort and seek God for help
You will be made full and complete by Christ
He will fill you with his Spirit and you’ll gain insight.
For many years of my life, I chased dreams, ambitions and approval from others. I felt incomplete and empty despite all these efforts. When I gave up rebellion, disobedience and self effort, Christ revealed to me the toxic gospels that I believed in before. The word of God changed my view and led me to the truth that only Christ can make us complete. I stopped relying on myself. Instead, I focused on Christ’s mercy and grace.
When we believe in Christ, we become part of his body. He fills us with his spirit that makes us full and complete. We stop performing and start following and living in love. We become dependent on him.
PRAYER
Lord, help me to focus on you always.
REFLECTION
What things and dreams keep you from focusing on Christ?

For more testimonials about God’s word, please go to YouTube and type ILMA’s Poem Devotionals, or to receive emails of the poem devotionals, email me at ILMA.ARTS.STUDIO@gmail.com

CONVENIENCE VERSUS TRUTH Poem Devotional

Posted on October 8, 2014 by ilmaarts

October 8 The Power of God’s Word
For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths. – 2 Timothy 4:3-4(NLT)
CONVENIENCE VERSUS TRUTH
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you listen only to what you want to hear?
Are you allowing the Spirit to speak to you clear?
Do you go by your own convenience or God’s truth?
Are you giving in to your whims or does the word take root?
The truth will put off your sinful nature and let you walk in love
It will let you avoid the word’s system and focus to Him above
It will stop you from chasing myths and false teachings
The truth will set you free and allow you to keep on loving.
“Convenience” is mostly the choice of many as they go through life. Who doesn’t want to have a convenient life? We are mostly bombarded with advertisements targeting for us to have an easy life.
The bible tells us that there’ll come a time when people will choose to follow their own desires and choose convenience instead of God’s truth. They will reject the truth and believe in myths more. Are you choosing convenience more than God’s truth?
PRAYER
Lord, help me to walk in truth.
REFLECTION
What conveniences have you been embracing that defies God’s truth?

For more testimonials about God’s word, please go to YouTube and type ILMA’s Poem Devotionals, or to receive emails of the poem devotionals, email me at ILMA.ARTS.STUDIO@gmail.com

UNSHAKEN Poem Devotional

Posted on October 7, 2014 by ilmaarts

October 7 The Power of God’s Word
I see that the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me. – Acts 2:25 (NLT)
UNSHAKEN
A poem and essay by ILMA
Those who trust the Lord will never be shaken
He is there when challenged and are burdened
Whether there is hail or storm or disaster
God protects them in all calamities and encounters.
The Lord is faithful to those who love him
He is always living inside to protect them
He promised his Spirit to dwell in their hearts
If you are faithful to seek Him, He will never depart.
Have you ever been loved so faithfully by someone? Devotion and faithfulness are key factors that make a relationship thrive. Most marriages that end in divorce usually lack these ingredients. Therefore, their marriages didn’t last long. Most successful relationships are anchored on faithfulness and trust. When unfaithfulness lures one partner, it usually ends the relationship eventually.
The bible tells us how faithful God is to his people. Even when Christ died, he left the Holy Spirit to dwell in the hearts of believers. King David acknowledges the presence of the Lord with him always in Acts 2:25. That is why is never shaken because he knows that God is always beside him. All believers must remember that He lives in us.
PRAYER
Lord, thank you for your faithfulness.
REFLECTION
How faithful are you to a God who constantly wants to be with you?

TAKE REFUGE IN THE LORD Poem Devotional

Posted on October 6, 2014 by ilmaarts

October 6 The Power of God’s Word
It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in people.
– Psalm 118:18 (NLT)
TAKE REFUGE IN THE LORD
A poem and essay by ILMA
Are you tired, challenged or questioned by others?
Were you betrayed by one of your sisters or brothers?
It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in men
God deeply cares for us than any other human.
If you trust people, they may not live up to your expectations
Take refuge in the Lord and bring your supplications
The Lord is faithful to respond and grant you your needs
If you ask in his name, he is faithful to provide and give.
Have you ever experienced betrayal? It hurts to be let down by people especially if they are someone you love or very close to you. Most people take a long time to get over betrayals. Expectations play a vital role in relationships. When we have certain expectations of someone that we keep to ourselves and do not reveal it, we are opening the door for trouble. If that someone fails to live up to such expectations, we can feel betrayed. There are others who really purposely deceive others. The bible tells us to only take refuge in the Lord rather than to trust in people.
PRAYER
Lord, remind me to run only to you always.
REFLECTION
When was the last time you were betrayed by someone you love deeply?

CAN DO NOTHING WITHOUT GOD

Posted on October 4, 2014 by ilmaarts

October 4 The Power of God’s Word
I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does.
– John 5:19 (NLT)
CAN DO NOTHING WITHOUT GOD
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you think that you are what you are because of your own doing?
Do you honestly believe that without God, you are something?
Jesus Christ himself didn’t do anything without the Father
He did what he’s told and also did it to his sisters and brothers.
Whenever you do something outside of God’s Spirit
You bear the consequences of such lawless habits
You will never be anything without God’s grace and mercy
Run to him and you will reap a harvest of peace and bounty.
The world has propagated the idea of self-will. Humans take pride in doing things their own way. However, dependence on God is crucial to reap the promises he gave his believers. . After I got a revelation from God about my self-reliance, I had to let go of it and give up my pride.
The bible says that even Jesus did nothing by himself but only did what his Father did. If Jesus himself obeyed and relied on God, who are we to think we can be independent of God.
PRAYER
Lord, help me to obey and depend on you always.
REFLECTION
Why is it required for Christians to obey and depend on God?

SPIRIT WITHOUT LIMIT Poem Devotional

Posted on October 3, 2014 by ilmaarts

October 3 The Power of God’s Word
He is sent by God. He speaks God’s words, for God gives him the spirit without limit. – John 3:34 (NLT)
SPIRIT WITHOUT LIMIT
A poem and essay by ILMA
When Jesus was with us, he spoke only of God’s word
That is how Christ won and conquered the world
He was sent by God to save mankind from sin
He sacrificed his one and only Son for us to be redeemed.
God grants us his spirit without limit if we allow it
If we cooperate with Him, we will enjoy all his gifts
As we speak God’s word, we allow the Spirit to thrive
The hungrier we are for his word, the more we will enjoy life.
Have you ever experienced an encounter with God’s spirit? I used to have a very soft voice at once point in my life. I was supposed to sing for a mass and didn’t have to use a microphone. I had to fill the church with my voice. I prayed that I will be filled by the Holy Spirit and be used to let the congregation hear my voice.
To my amazement and to others who knew me, my voice filled the church.
The bible says that when we speak of God’s word, God will give us the spirit without limit. The spirit will use us to glorify God.
PRAYER
Lord, help me to welcome your spirit always.
REFLECTION
Why is speaking God’s word essential to Christians?

THE ULTIMATE GIVER Poem Devotional

Posted on October 2, 2014 by ilmaarts

October 2 The Power of God’s Word
No one can receive anything unless God gives it from heaven. – John 3:27 (NLT)
THE ULTIMATE GIVER
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you believe that without God’s grace you cannot have anything?
Do you think that you have a job because you are worth something?
Are you boastful of those talents, skills and wealth that you possess?
Are you thankful for all that you own or do you continually obsess?
No one can receive anything unless God gives it from heaven
All things come from the Father who loves all his children
Be thankful because all things you have comes from Him
He wants you to enjoy all his creation and be free from sin.
Do you enjoy God’s creation? Are you thankful for each little or major things that you have in life? The world does not want to recognize the ultimate giver, the Lord God Almighty. We have a lack of gratitude for the things we receive from him. Some people claim it was their own doing that made them have such things. God is the source of all things.
No one can receive anything unless God gives it from heaven. So, why can’t we be thankful for everything we have because the bible says that we won’t receive anything, unless God gives it to us?
PRAYER
Lord, help me to remember that everything comes from you.
REFLECTION
Why is an attitude of gratitude essential to receive more blessings?

COME TO THE LIGHT Poem Devotional

Posted on October 1, 2014 by ilmaarts

October 1 The Power of God’s Word
All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants. – John 3:20-21(NLT)
COME TO THE LIGHT
A poem and essay by ILMA
Are you in the midst of adversity and trials?
Are you boldly embracing God’s will or in total denial?
All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it
They do not want to change and faithfully commit.
Those who are righteous are equipped to win the fight
They want others to see what God does in their lives
If you want victory over sin, then come to the light
You will reap the harvest that God promised in your life.
I lived in total darkness a good number of my life. It was an awful time of hopelessness and desperation. I hated myself and had a hard time accepting others. I lived in total harmony with the world’s system. Self-glorification was the motivation for doing almost everything. It was a life full of misery and conflict.
The bible says that those who do evil, do not want to come near the light for fear of being exposed but those who are righteous, come to the light so others can glorify God.
PRAYER
Lord, enlighten my life always.
REFLECTION
How has God shown light in your life?

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Monthly Archives: October 2014