The Daily Fountain Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 11 April 2025 — Which Camp Do You Belong To?
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TOPIC: Which Camp Do You Belong To?
READ: John 11:45-57 (NKJV)
- Then many of the Jews who had come to Mary, and had seen the things Jesus did, believed in Him.
- But some of them went away to the Pharisees and told them the things Jesus did.
- Then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council and said, “What shall we do? For this Man works many signs.
- “If we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation.”
- And one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all,
- “nor do you consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish.”
- Now this he did not say on his own [authority;] but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation,
- and not for that nation only, but also that He would gather together in one the children of God who were scattered abroad.
- Then, from that day on, they plotted to put Him to death.
- Therefore Jesus no longer walked openly among the Jews, but went from there into the country near the wilderness, to a city called Ephraim, and there remained with His disciples.
- And the Passover of the Jews was near, and many went from the country up to Jerusalem before the Passover, to purify themselves.
- Then they sought Jesus, and spoke among themselves as they stood in the temple, “What do you think — that He will not come to the feast?”
- Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a command, that if anyone knew where He was, he should report [it,] that they might seize Him.
THE MESSAGE:
Raising Lazarus from the dead brought two different and opposite reactions from the people. The first group believed in Jesus and therefore fulfilled the main purpose of miracles, which is to draw our faith towards God. The second group, led by the high priest, the chief priests and the Pharisees, acknowledged the miracles, but plotted to kill Jesus (verses 47, 53). See verse 48 for their reasons. Jesus rebuked the people of Bethsaida, Chorazin and Capernaum who saw His mighty works but did not repent (Matthew 11:21-24).
Take time to reflect on the many divine interventions in your life and the lives of others and repent of every sin you know of. It is unfortunate that high-ranking religious leaders were the very ones leading the plot to kill Jesus. We see a similar occurrence in the Church today. Out of envy or strife, some leaders do everything possible to bring down other leaders or groups who appear to be making more impact than them. Do you belong to this camp? If yes, please repent. There is wisdom in the action of Jesus to withdraw to a safer location for a while. We should apply such wisdom in our secular and spiritual assignments.
PRAYER: O Lord, help me to recognise Your gifts in other people and not to hinder them from serving You, Amen!
PRAYER POINTS ON TODAY’S DAILY FOUNTAIN DEVOTIONAL
DATE: FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 2025
TOPIC: WHICH CAMP DO YOU BELONG TO?
- Father in the name of Jesus, thank You for the grace to see this new day, the one hundred and first day in the year 2025 in good health, sound mind and in joy
- Father, thank You for the special gift of life, many wished to see this month, but they couldn’t.
- Thank You Jesus for being there for us, Your children.
- Thank You Lord for Your plans for me this year. They are plans of good, not of evil, to give me a good and successful end.
- Father, please forgive me all my known and unknown sins, and let no sin reign over my life this year, in Jesus’ name
- Holy Spirit, draw me closer to God, in Jesus’ name.
- Anyone plotting to terminate my life, will end up killing himself, in Jesus’ name.
- Lord Jesus, let me experience Your mighty works in Jesus’ name.
- O Lord, help me to recognise Your gifts in other people and not to hinder them from serving You, in Jesus’ name.
- Holy Spirit, help me to have a deep, flourishing and an unbroken relationship with God, in Jesus name
- LORD, help me to get my life right this year, and let Your perfect will be enforced on me, in Jesus name
- LORD, help us to get it right in Nigeria, and let Your perfect will be enforced on us in Jesus’ name.
- Heavenly Father, let Your peace continue to reign in every part of this country,
- Whether the devil likes it or not, I will make heavend and receive my eternal rewards in Jesus’ Name.
- This is the day the Lord hath made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.
- Personal and family prayer requests.
- Confession: God bless the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), God bless the Universal Church, and bless our country Nigeria -1 Chronicles 17:27.
- Thank You Lord for answered prayers, in Jesus’ Mighty Name we pray. Amen.
