October 20
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CALL TO SPIRITUAL GROWTH
A poem by ILMA
You have been believers for long and yet you are spiritually dull
You don’t seem to listen and ought to be teaching others now
Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basics of God’s word
You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food.
Those who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn’t know how to do what’s right
Solid food is for the mature, who through training recognize between truth and lies
So, let’s stop going over the basic teachings about Christ again and again
Instead, grow up and mature in your understanding.
Surely you don’t need to start again with the fundamental importance of repenting
You don’t need further instruction about the resurrection and eternal judgment
And so, God willing, we will move forward to further understanding
For it is impossible to bring back to repentance those who were once enlightened.
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MEMORY VERSE
You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food. – Hebrews 5:12
Read: Hebrews 5:11- 6:4
There are some believers who have been Christians for so long and yet got stuck in their growth. They are still where they were when they first were called to commit to Jesus. They rely on the body of Christ to grow themselves instead of building intimacy with Jesus and growing in knowing his word. They get satisfied with what they’re used to have and never take a deeper walk with the Lord.
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REFLECTION
• Why do some people stay spiritual babies?
• What is the role of the church in making Christians stay the way they are?
• What is the responsibility of a believer in making himself grow spiritually?
• How can reading God’s word be a big step in maturing?
Tag Archives: ILMA’s poem deovtional
PETER AND JOHN BEFORE THE COUNCIL Poem Devotional
May 23
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PETER AND JOHN BEFORE THE COUNCIL
A poem by ILMA
While Peter and John were speaking to the people
The priests, captain of the Temple guard and Sadducees confronted them
These leaders were very disturbed that Peter and John were teaching
They were disturbed that Jesus was able to resurrect a dead man.
The religious leaders arrested them and because it was evening
Both Peter and John were put in jail until morning
Many people who heard the disciples’ message believed it
So the number of believers now totaled about 5000 men.
The next day, the ruler, elders and religious law met in Jerusalem
Annas the high priest was there and other relatives of the high priest
They brought in the two disciples and they demanded
“By what power or in whose name have you done this?”
Then Peter asked the council “What was wrong with healing a crippled man?”
Peter exclaimed to them that he was healed by Jesus’ powerful name
Jesus, the man they all crucified and whom God raised from the dead
He was referred to in Scriptures the rejected stone that has become the cornerstone
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MEMORY VERSE
The stone that you builders rejected has now become the cornerstone. – Acts 4:11
Read: Acts 4
Even after Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection, the Holy Spirit continued to dwell in the disciples’ hearts and have been given all kinds of miraculous events. Yet, the council of the religious leaders continue to question even the miracles that they themselves witnessed.
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REFLECTION
• What stops the religious leaders from believing the Jesus was really the Son of God and can do the impossible?
GOD KNOWS AND DECIDES Powm Devotional
December 8________________________________________
Who makes a person’s mouth? Who decides whether people speak or do not speak, hear or do not hear, see or do not see? Is it not I, the LORD? Exodus 4:11(NLT)
GOD KNOWS AND DECIDES
A poem and essay by ILMA
Whatever you are struggling with today
Trust that the Lord will always have his way
You might think that it is you who makes decisions
He is behind every thought and all choices and actions.
Sometimes we boast and take credit for success or weakness
He allows things to work out for good in the bleakest times
God knows and decides what we are going to do or say
Why resist his power when we can go the right way?
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When Moses questions God’s command for him to go to the Pharaoh to deliver the Israelites from slavery from the Egyptians, he argued with God because he didn’t think he was capable of speaking and being heard by the powerful ruler of Egypt. We see a spirit of resistance and complaining in Moses. But aren’t we all like this too? Whenever God leads us to do something of our comfort zones, we resist and question what God wants us to do. Even though God shows Moses how to convince the Egyptians with the miraculous signs he showed him, he still questioned his abilities. God reminds us that he knows and decides all things, but he wants our obedience first.
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PRAYER
Lord, help me to never question your plans but follow instead.
REFLECTION
How can one overcome a habit of questioning God’s will and commands?
For more testimonials about God’s word, please go to YouTube and type ILMA’s poem devotional or go to www.ilmaarts.com posts. To receive emails of my poem devotionals, email me at ILMA.ARTS.STUDIO@gmail.com
TEACH THE RICH Poem Devotional
October 5________________________________________
Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. – 1 Timothy 6:17(NLT)
TEACH THE RICH
A poem and essay by ILMA
Teach the wealthy people not to idolize their riches
Since they are material, they can be stolen or disintegrate
Remind them to focus on the giver of their possessions
They are mere stewards of God’s wonderful creation.
God promised us all to provide our needs
No need to hoard and live with the spirit of greed
Trust only God who blesses us abundantly
Don’t focus on things especially on the love of money.
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I was quite surprised when I read this verse that instructs us to teach the rich not to trust their money which is so unreliable. I don’t have much friends who are wealthy but this poses questions in my mind how to approach a rich person and remind him or her that it shouldn’t be all about their possessions and money. I have yet to meet someone filthy rich and serving the Lord. I don’t think it goes together. The bible says that we can’t serve two masters. Either we serve God or we serve money. If we use it for our selfish motives, it is an idol. If we use it to serve God’s purpose, then we are good stewards.
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PRAYER
Lord, remind me never to love money.
REFLECTION
Why is it harder for the rich to focus on God?
For more testimonials about God’s word, please go to YouTube and type ILMA’s poem devotional or go to www.ilmaarts.com posts. To receive emails of my poem devotionals, email me at ILMA.ARTS.STUDIO@gmail.com
LIFE AND DEATH Poem Devotional
July 31
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For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the Lord. But those who miss me injure themselves. All who hate me love death.- Proverbs 8:35-36 (NLT)
LIFE AND DEATH
A poem and essay by ILMA
Whoever believes in Jesus Christ, finds life
They hear his wisdom and see his light
Those who continue to be faithful to Christ
They will receive much favor in their lives.
Those who live for themselves, finds death
Without Christ, they won’t have breath
All those who hate Jesus loves self and sin
They are unable to see the warfare that is within.
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In my twenties up until my early fifties, I lived my life to satisfy my own desires. I set out goals without consulting the Lord. I didn’t realize that without Jesus, my life will be empty. I chose to live in sin that time and it kept me from being able to discern what my calling was. I thought that all the natural gifts he gave me should be the focal point of my life. I aimed at being successful and competent in my talents and gifts. I didn’t care much about really pleasing the Lord, I only catered to satisfy my flesh. As a result, my life became such a mess and I was blinded and confused by the world’s demands. When I stopped resisting and committed back to Jesus, I received much favor and enjoyed a peaceful life.
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PRAYER
Lord, let me choose you and not this world.
REFLECTION
Relate an instance when you have injured yourself in the past by turning away from Jesus?
For more testimonials about God’s word, please go to YouTube and type ILMA’s poem devotional or go to www.ilmaarts.com posts. To receive emails of my poem devotionals, email me at ILMA.ARTS.STUDIO@gmail.com
SPIRITUAL CIRCUMCISION Poem Devotional
October 27
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When you came to Christ, you were circumcised, but not by a physical procedure. Christ performed a spiritual circumcision -the cutting away of your sinful nature.
Colossians 2:11(NLT)
SPIRITUAL CIRCUMCISION
A poem and essay by ILMA
When you came to Christ, you were given a new life
The sinful nature was cut away so you can live in the light
All forms of darkness have been removed and transformed
You were pulled out of bondage and a new person was formed.
You need not go back and forth to your old ways
God’s spirit will equip you and guide you each day
Remember to never look back but always press on
Keep your eyes on Jesus and you will be transformed.
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In the old testament, Abraham made a covenant with God in Genesis 17. God required Abraham, his descendants and all the male among his household to be circumcised as a mark of the covenant between him and the family. When Christ died, all these changed. In 1 Corinthians 7:17-19, we are all called to continue to live in whatever situation the Lord has placed us when God first called us. For instance, a man who was circumcised before he became a believer should not try to reverse it and the man who was uncircumcised should not be circumcised now. Spiritual circumcision means that Christ cut away your sinful nature the minute you committed to him.
PRAYER
Thank you Lord for transforming me when I believed in you.
REFLECTION
What has God cut away in your old life the minute you were saved?
For more testimonials about God’s word, please go to YouTube and type ILMA’s poem devotional or go to www.ilmaarts.com posts. To receive emails of my poem devotionals, email me at ILMA.ARTS.STUDIO@gmail.com