Your Refreshing Daily Devotional

The last chapter of Saul’s life was a total contrast to the first. When Samuel anointed him with oil, the Holy Spirit came into his life and he prophesied. So evident was the Spirit’s manifestation that the people questioned one another, “Is Saul also among the prophets?” How can we explain that a man who was full of the Spirit at a time lost it and ended up being tormented by an evil spirit? It would seem that he grieved the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 4:30 says, “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”  If we grieve the Holy Spirit until He gives way, the evil spirit will definitely take over.

If we grieve the Holy Spirit until He gives way, the evil spirit will definitely take over…When disobedience becomes a pattern, we consign the Holy Spirit to an ineffective position.

It is possible to grieve the Holy Spirit; otherwise the warning would not have been necessary. However, quenching the Holy Spirit is not an incidental event. The Spirit is hardly quenched through a lone incident; it is usually a final product of some gradual process that may be imperceptible. Anyone who finally quenches the Spirit must have been grieving Him for some time. When disobedience becomes a pattern, we consign the Holy Spirit to an ineffective position. A rebellious attitude is repulsive to the Lord, but a broken and contrite heart will remain a conducive environment for the ministry of the Holy Spirit.

While discussing the gifts of the Holy Spirit, Paul employed the analogy of the human body to drive home his point. He noted that though the body is one, there are many parts to it. To this extent, what happens to a part impacts the whole body. Flowing from this is the stark reality that how a believer lives and responds to God can affect someone else in the Body of Christ. Walking in obedience with God does not only affect you directly, but it can also affect other people in the community of saints.

Walking in obedience with God does not only affect you directly, but it can also affect other people in the community of saints…When you fail to obey the Lord fully and on time, the lifeline that God wants to give to others through you may be delayed.

The Lord met Saul of Tarsus on his way to Damascus where he was going to persecute the saints. In that noonday blistering encounter, he temporarily lost his vision. His restoration would not come until he had entered the city for further instruction. Meanwhile, God had told another disciple, Ananias, to go and minister to Saul. Initially, this disciple was jittery, having heard so many terrible stories about Saul. God had to bring assurances his way not to be afraid. That was when he went and prayed for Saul to receive his sight and got him baptized in water.  Imagine if Ananias did not obey the Lord as soon as possible!  Saul would have groped in darkness a little longer than God had intended. When you fail to obey the Lord fully and on time, the lifeline that God wants to give to others through you may be delayed.

Although I live in a tropical country, I mostly run warm water to have my bath, especially in the morning hours. You can now imagine my shock when I saw two young athletes having ice bath. They had plenty of ice in a bath and soaked themselves in it for several minutes. I saw their face grimace and their teeth gnashing. To satisfy my curiosity, I went to search for the benefit of ice bath for athletes. I understand that cold water helps to reduce inflammation and soreness of the muscles. When one comes out of the water, the body responds by increasing blood flow which in turn helps to remove waste products and allows nutrients to come in for recovery. With all the advantages, an average person will still require a lot of gut and psychological retuning to dip in ice. All this points to the tremendous sacrifices that professional athletes make to wear the crown.

There is no moving forward spiritually without the readiness to make sacrifices…If you want more of God, there is more of you that you must let go.

As it is in the physical so is it in the spiritual. There is no moving forward spiritually without the readiness to make sacrifices. Daniel and his colleagues found themselves in Babylon as captives. But they still strove to uphold the laws of God and be on the same page with Him. They purposed not to eat of the king’s meat. They requested for a meal of vegetables and water for 10 days as a test run. That eventually went on for three years on the same diet! Three years of what most of us will describe as dry meal devoid of meat and wine. That was some sacrifice there. No wonder God blessed Daniel with such an incredible revelation. If you want more of God, there is more of you that you must let go.

In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul made it clear how great a power is at work in those who believe. The power that believers have at their disposal is nothing less than the exact power which God employed to raise Jesus from the dead. The resurrection of Jesus witnessed a great demonstration of the power of God. Matthew gives us some insight into what transpired on the resurrection morning. Prior to this time, the Jews had met Pilate that Jesus promised to rise from the dead on the third day. They feared that His disciples would go and steal His body and pretend to the world that He had risen. Pilate gave them leave to secure the tomb. “So they went and made the tomb secure, sealing the stone and setting the guard.” Matthew 27:66 NKJV

The power that believers have at their disposal is nothing less than the exact power which God employed to raise Jesus from the dead…A revelation of the power and its availability in this time and age are major keys to walk in its reality.

However, the power of God on display on that resurrection morning made a mess of the large stone, the seal, and the soldiers. The angel of God descended and rolled away the stone. The soldiers were prostrate on the ground as they beheld the fearful atmosphere. It is interesting to note that God has not diminished in power, we are the ones who may have diminished in our knowledge of Him and in expectation of what we can get done through Him. A revelation of the power and its availability in this time and age are major keys to walk in its reality.

Mehdi Taremi is an Iranian soccer hero who plays for Olympiacos after a stint with Inter Milan. As the war against Iran kicked in on February 28, 2026, he informed the team’s management of his intention to return to Iran to pick up arms and defend his country. The Iranian Football Association is embarrassed by his move and advised him to stay put in Greece to continue his career and use it to promote national prestige, but their advise fell on deaf ears. In his words he said, “This is the moment my country needs me most”. He added, “The place where I should be is the field, not the stadium”.

There is something about patriotism that moves people beyond the dictates of comfort and personal safety…History makers are those who are willing to adventure their lives far beyond their immediate needs.

There is something about patriotism that moves people beyond the dictates of comfort and personal safety. Though Mehdi was making good money in Greece and far from all harms, his heart is drawn to defend his homeland. When Nehemiah stood before the king and looked sad, he had no personal reason to look that way. He had access to the same delicacies that the king was served. However, he had a mission that was larger than his personal space and comfort – the need to rebuild the place of his fathers’ sepulchers. Paul did not mind to be accursed if that would translate to the salvation of Israel. History makers are those who are willing to adventure their lives far beyond their immediate needs.

Our text is the record of one of the seven words of Jesus on the Cross. Specifically, it was the seventh and the final thing He said before He gave up the ghost. The verse points out several things. Firstly, it reveals the voluntary nature of Jesus’ death. He gave up His spirit, not that anyone took it by sheer force. He had earlier said this much Himself – “Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.” John 10:17-18 NKJV. While they were trying to arrest Him among the disciples, He presented Himself and the people fell backwards to the ground. Thus, He submitted Himself to the point of death and not because of any earthly power massed against Him.

Anyone who identifies with the death of Jesus by faith has no need for further actions for his or her sins to be forgiven. When Jesus invited people to His rest, it was meant to be based on His finished work.

Our text also reveals the comprehensive nature of Jesus’ work through His death. The word that is employed here is the Greek word tetelestai. It is a word that was usually put on official receipts to indicate debts which have been paid, or obligations which have been met. When Jesus made that declaration, it implied that all that was necessary for the atonement of sin of mankind has been fully discharged. Anyone who identifies with the death of Jesus by faith has no need for further actions for his or her sins to be forgiven. When Jesus invited people to His rest, it was meant to be based on His finished work.