Emmanuel Okoro (aka MrLift)

The peace is in Christ Jesus "Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity. Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen." (1Pet.5.14)  I greet you this New Year with the love of Jesus Christ our Lord. I decree and declare that this new year brings you all of God's best, that you will bask in the joy of His presence, and that  this very joy shall be your strength  As our text indicates, this peace is found in Christ Jesus. It says peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus. I say to you that the peace is in Christ Jesus. If you want to enjoy that peace, seek Jesus because the peace is in Christ Jesus.  The peace is in Christ Jesus, so also is the joy, the health, and all that heaven has got to offer. Jesus said I have come that you may have life and life abundantly. (see John.10.10) Enjoy the peace that is found in Christ Jesus this New Year.  Happy New Year Good day, Have a great day today,  EmmA (aka Mr. Lift)  @Liftemma

Called to eternal glory " But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you." (1Pet.5.10)  God has called us to eternal glory. It has always been God's intent to share His glory with us. Isaiah the prophet tells us that God has created us for His glory "Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him." (Isa.43.7)  Man must have been clothed with the very glory of God in the Garden of Eden but when man sinned, he fell short of the glory (see Rom.6.23) And man went astray and Isaiah here tells us that Israel should come back to God for He has created every one of them for His glory.  We are called to eternal, everlasting glory. Meaning we are called to exhibit the very essence of God. God's glory is what makes Him excellent, and glorious. radiant, exceptional, and outst...

Resist steadfast "Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world." (1Pet.5.9)  The enemy of your soul would do all that is within his power to get to you. Jesus did not teach us to pray asking the Father to stop us from getting into temptation but that we be delivered from it. That tells us one thing, and that is, the tempter will come.  And when he comes, he has just one agenda expressed in three ways: to steal, to kill, and destroy  (see John. 10.10) And our text says when he comes, not if, but when he comes, we should resist him steadfast in faith.  What does that mean?  To resist means to withstand him. And how does one do that? By being firm in faith, rooted, established, strong, immovable, and determined. Little wonder the Apostle Paul says to stand, having done all stand (see Eph. 6.13) "Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evi...

Seeking whom he may devour: "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour". (1Pet.5.8)  The Bible tells us in the book of Job that the devil - the adversary - goes to and fro. And our text tells us that he is going to and fro for one singular assignment and that is, seeking whom he may devour.  It is interesting to note that he has to seek whom he may devour. I would have thought that as an adversary, he would just pounce on one and devour such a one. But it is obvious that he could not devour everyone he chooses. I know this because, one, he has to seek out those he would devour, and, two, God had to point out Job to him.  The bibles says he that breaks the hedge the serpent will bite (see Eccl:10:8). God has a hedge around you (Job:1:10) and sin breaks that hedge and once that edge is broken, the devil finds an opportunity to devour.  Hence our text says to be sober, be vigilant. Be on the loo...

Cast your cares upon him *Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully. (1Pet.5.7 AMP) A very happy boxing day to you.  This is a good day to box all of your problems, anxieties, worries, and all of your concerns and cast them on the Lord.  Cast them all once and for on Him. And when you do, you no longer have to worry about them anymore. They are now His to cater for. When the devil reminds you of the need, tell him the Lord has them now. They are no longer with you. He will take care of them He is not only more than able to handle them but He wants to exchange them for His joy and peace. "For He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully." If He cares for you, you do not have to care for yourself anymore. Whatever the worries, leave them with the Lord. Do not think the year is almost over, God can still do exceedingly and ...

Humble yourself "Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:" (1Pet.5.6)  We cannot overemphasize the place of humility in the life of the believer. Jesus Christ our Master is humility personified and if we must attain his agenda for us we must obtain his humility.  Why should we be humble?  Our text says when we are, we bring ourselves under the mighty hand of God. When we are humble, we are under God's mighty hand, otherwise, we set ourselves against God. When we are humble, we place ourselves on the path of promotion. It may not look like it but give it time. It says "In due time" God will exalt us. Due time may take awhile but it is sure to come. I know this because when we are submitted under God we are bound to be exalted.  You do not want God to humble you - you hear people say things like "May God humble you." It is your responsibility to do that for yourself. God will not do for you what you can...

God resists the proud "Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble." (1Pet.5.5 NKJV) Submission is a hard thing. Everyone wants to lead, no one wants to be told what to do. But everyone cannot lead at the same time. When this is the case, that is, everyone trying to lead at the same time, there is bound to be confusion and God is not the author of confusion. Pride refuses to submit, and thinks s/he knows it all. When you think you know it all, you assume the position of God.  So God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.  The proud never thinks of himself or herself as proud. They used all sorts of garb to placate their pride and make it acceptable at least in their own eyes. But God sees through pride and resists it.  The Bible says the younger ones should submit to the elders, the follower to the leader. Leas...

Your quality will be tested  "Beloved, do not be amazed and bewildered at the fiery ordeal which is taking place to test your quality, as though something strange (unusual and alien to you and your position) were befalling you. (1Pet.4.12 AMP) If I were to ask what and what food you taste before buying, you would be amazed at the response we will get. We taste suya, we taste groundnut, we taste garri and the list goes on and on. What really are we tasting for? Quality.  Likewise, in life, God allows tests and trials to test what quality we are made of. Our text says do not be amazed or bewildered at the ordeal that takes place to test you. They take place to test our quality. You may ask is it that God does not know what we are made of? He knows but He sometimes wants to reveal us to us and other times, He wants to brag about us to the devil.  Case in point, He allowed the devil to tempt Job just so the devil knows there are certain storks you do not toil with. He brags, ...

You have a gift " As each of you has received a gift (a particular spiritual talent, a gracious divine endowment), employ it for one another as [befits] good trustees of God's many-sided grace [faithful stewards of the extremely diverse powers and gifts granted to Christians by unmerited favor]. (1Pet.4.10 AMP) Everyone that ever walked the face of this earth, that was born into this world was gifted by the Creator to solve a problem or to be solution here on earth. What is your gift? The gift was given to you to serve a purpose. With the gift, purpose-fulfillment becomes a possibility.  Some were gifted to sing and their songs have brought solace to others. Others were gifted to speak, to smile, to care, to comfort, to cook, etc.  Whatever your gift is, make sure you are using it to fulfill God's agenda for your life - to be a blessing to the world.  Jesus told the story of the talents and how those who used their gifts were received by the Master on the last day. If you...

Practice hospitality "Practice hospitality to one another (those of the household of faith). [Be hospitable, be a lover of strangers, with brotherly affection for the unknown guests, the foreigners, the poor, and all others who come your way who are of Christ's body.] And [in each instance] do it ungrudgingly (cordially and graciously, without complaining but as representing Him)." (1Pet.4.9 AMP) I would like us to look at The Message translation of this verse. It says "Be quick to give a meal to the hungry, a bed to the homeless--cheerfully. (1Pet.4.9 MSB) When I read this verse, the first thing that came to my mind was," What? Why does the Bible like tempting someone? God in this economy isn't this a temptation?  Then I saw how the Amplified Classic rendered that same verse, it says "Practice hospitality to one another". One will not be quick to share one's meal with the hungry nor give a bed to the homeless unless one practices it. With the ...

Love forgives sin "Above all things have intense and unfailing love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins [forgives and disregards the offenses of others]. (1Pet.4.8 AMP) If you are struggling to forgive, check your love-tank. If it is full forgiveness comes easily, if otherwise, you will struggle to forgive. That is why new couples find it easy to forgive because the "in love" phrase is still up and running. It is not yet broken.  The Bible says we should have intense and unfailing love for one another. One way we register this love is that it forgives and disregards offenses, in other words, it forgives. You can forgive without loving but you cannot love and not forgive.  Love covers a multitude of sins. Love disregards offenses. Paul in 1 Cor:13 says it this way: love "takes no account of the evil done to it, it pays no attention to a suffered wrong"  "It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and...

The end of all things is near "But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer." (1Pet.4.7)  Our devotion today is a simple but profound reminder that the end of all is at hand. The end is nearer today than it was yesterday. This is the not time for grudges, malice, and frivolity. It is time to be serious.  As a result, it says but sober. Another way of saying that is to take nothing for granted and be serious. We have seen and heard of, or even done it ourselves. We tell ourselves there is still time. So we indulge a little here and a little there. But no more, the end of all things is at hand.  Therefore be sober, take nothing for granted, be clear-minded, and be self-controlled. Be earnest and disciplined in your prayers.  If there is one area we ought to be disciplined in, it is our prayer life. We must observe it with a clockwise religiosity. Do not let anything or anyone take the place or the time of your prayers. Take it seri...

Arm yourselves with the same thought... "So, since Christ suffered in the flesh for us, for you, arm yourselves with the same thought and purpose [patiently to suffer rather than fail to please God]. For whoever has suffered in the flesh [having the mind of Christ] is done with [intentional] sin [has stopped pleasing himself and the world, and pleases God]" (1Pet.4.1 AMP) This passage paints the picture of Christ Jesus suffering and that through suffering he rescued and saved us. And then asked us to arm ourselves with the same thought...  The thought that we would rather suffer if need be, than fail to please God.  This brings up the picture of Isaiah 1.19 which speaks to the willingness and obedience of the believer.  "If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land" (Isa.1.19) Sometimes, the blessing is not in the obedience but in the willingness. God asked Abraham to sacrifice his son, Isaac, he was willing, and in the willingness was the blessi...

No sticking mud "Keep a clear conscience before God so that when people throw mud at you, none of it will stick. They'll end up realizing that they're the ones who need a bath. (1Pet.3.16 MSB) The best response to criticism is to keep doing what is right. Do not let the mudslingers get the better of you leaving mud stains all over you. It is their prerogative to sling mud but it is ours to not make it stick.  We live in a world where everything is made visible very easily. People speak of things they know little or nothing about. And in so doing sometimes assassinate the character of others. The Bible enjoined us to keep a clear conscience before God. When they judge and misjudge, act in such a way that God can bear you witness. Live in such a way that when the truth finally comes out, the mudslingers would end up realizing that they're the ones who need a bath. For you have been washed clean by the cleansing of the water by the word.  "That he might sanctify and ...

Settle Christ in your heart  "Through thick and thin, keep your hearts at attention, in adoration before Christ, your Master. Be ready to speak up and tell anyone who asks why you're living the way you are, and always with the utmost courtesy." (1Pet.3.15 MSB) Conviction is a missing ingredient in the belief system of most Christians today. But our text employs us to settle it in our hearts, through thick and thin to be at attention in adoration of Christ our Master.  Your heart mustn't waver but steadfast trusting the Lord. James tells us that the person who wavers will not receive anything from God.  "But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed." (Jas.1.6) You must stay true to your conviction and not allow situations and circumstances to deter you. The three Hebrew boys demonstrated conviction to us. Even when it was going to cost them their lives, they would not waver.  What a...

Do not fear what they fear  "But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened." (1Pet.3.14 KJV) What is it that gives rise to fear? Pain? Shame? Imagine if there was no fear, or no shame, or whatever it is that makes you fear. How differently will you live your life? People have been known to go through severe suffering knowing that they suffer for a just cause.  Verse 13 of First Peter 3 asks who is there to harm us because we follow that which is good. And in the next verse, it says even if we suffer for what is right, we are blessed.  The stories have been told of martyrs who die smiling. In some cases, their conviction and lack of fear have served as sources of inspiration to the conversion of those who martyr them.  Do not fear their fears. Stephen asked forgiveness for his murderers. Do not fear their fears. If you suffer for what is right, you are blessed, why fear then? "For their rock is not...

Who will harm you?  "And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?" (1Pet.3.13)  This is a pertinent question, Who is he that will harm you?  In one fell swoop,  one could jump to the conclusion that there is none out there who will want to harm us, especially if we are followers of that which is good. But experience, tells us otherwise.  Peter was a disciple of Jesus, he had just performed a miracle where he healed the lame man at the gate called Beautiful but a few chapters down the line, he was in prison waiting to be put to death. There are people out there who do share your faith and would want to reach out their hands to harm you.  "And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.) (Acts.12.3)  I believe that the Apostle Peter must have remembered his own prison experiences when he wrote this. In the previous verse, he tells us that God is keepi...