ICGC Testimony Temple

Celebrating 42 Years of Kingdom Faithfulness

*LIVING WORD DEVOTIONAL*
_By Pastor Mensa Otabil_

Saturday 31st January 2026

*GOD EXECUTES JUDGMENT*

*Scripture Reading:* Psalm 9

> _The nations have sunk down in the pit which they made; In the net which they hid, their own foot is caught. The Lord is known by the judgment He executes; The wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Meditation. Selah_ *Psalm 9:15–16*

God by His nature either extends mercy or executes righteous judgment. If God showed mercy to David, then his enemies would come under His judgment. In appealing to God for mercy, David also described the end of the formidable conspirators who had risen up against him.

It was nations that came after David. This was no single rival or little band of opposition seeking to destroy Him. The attack was international in scale and their intent was to take out Israel’s king. However, we see God’s judgment come to pass against David's enemies.

What are the characteristics of God’s judgment?

- *The Lord is known by the judgment He executes.* God is a righteous judge; His judgments are always right. In this passage, the psalmist focuses on God’s retributive justice; vengeance is the Lord’s. The same Lord who acts mercifully towards those whose hearts are right will punish those who act wickedly.

- *The wicked is snared in their devices.* This is why the Lord frequently tells His children not to fret about the works of the wicked. In the end, the righteous God will overrule the wicked. The Psalmist uses two images to describe the wicked devices and their outcomes.

- *They have sunk into the pit they made.*
- *They are caught in the net they hid.*

Eventually, the wicked fall prey to the traps they set for the righteous. God can deliver His people. He takes them out of harm’s way and sets them in a safe place.

We can rest and be at peace in the Lord, knowing that He is a God of justice. He will rule justly on your case. Trust Him to take care of whatever concerns you.

At the end of the statement on how God judges the wicked, the Psalm invites us to pause and meditate.

*Prayer:* _Heavenly Father, you are the righteous judge. Overturn every plan of wickedness against Your Children in Jesus’ name, Amen._

_Follow the Mensa Otabil channel on WhatsApp:_
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaDGaZYKgsNpjYeBVM2S

*LIVING WORD DEVOTIONAL*
_By Pastor Mensa Otabil_

Wednesday 7th January 2026

*PROFITABLE LIFE*

*Scripture Reading:* Isaiah 48

> _Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, The Holy One of Israel: "I am the LORD your God, Who teaches you to profit, Who leads you by the way you should go. *Isaiah 48:17*_

God wants each of us to live a profitable life. He wants our lives to yield an increase in all areas. One of the areas of our lives where we need to experience God’s increase is in our finances.

All of us use money as a medium of exchange to meet our needs. Without sufficient money, our lives on earth can be very miserable and unfulfilling.

The scriptures present God as both the source and the giver of true wealth and riches. In our reading today, the Lord offers to do two things for us in relation to wealth creation and management: first, He teaches us to profit and secondly, He leads us in the way we should go.

God can teach us how to make the most strategic and profitable use of the abilities and opportunities we have in life. He is also able to guide us with the wisdom to make the right choices and to manage the resources available to us.

Making and managing wealth profitably requires more than a good education or a fat salary. It requires a disciplined adherence to both spiritual and natural laws and processes.

Here are a few good rules to live by:

▪ Give your offerings to God consistently

▪ Work diligently

▪ Constantly upgrade your skills to increase your earning capacity

▪ Save and wisely invest at least ten per cent of your income regularly

▪ Practice the art of living well on less

▪ Understand and use the financial markets

▪ Develop and follow a long-term financial plan

▪ Pray for God’s favour

As we follow these principles with commitment and in faith, we can look to the Lord to increase us financially this year and always.

*Prayer:* _Heavenly Father, I ask for financial wisdom. Teach me how to use my talents and opportunities profitably. In Jesus’ name, *Amen.*_

_Follow the Mensa Otabil channel on WhatsApp:_
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaDGaZYKgsNpjYeBVM2S

Mensa Otabil Channel • 98K followers • Official WhatsApp Channel of Pastor Mensa Otabil. General Overseer of ICGC and Chancellor of Central University.

*LIVING WORD DEVOTIONAL*
_By Pastor Mensa Otabil_

Thursday 18th December 2025

*WHERE Christ was Born*

*Scripture Reading:* Micah 5

> _But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel, whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting. *Micah 5:2*_

This prophecy pointed to the place of Jesus’ birth. It shows us the place of His birth, the position that place occupied in Israel and the promise that the place carried.

1. *The place:* the town in which Jesus was born had two names:

- *Bethlehem:* Meant a house of bread or meat. The name of Bethlehem indicated that it was a place of supply. It was seen as a place where people would find food.

- *Ephrathah:* A place of fruitfulness. The literal word is ‘double fruit’. When you put the two names together, it presents Bethlehem as a place of abundance. The expectation, therefore, was that everything should be blossoming in Bethlehem, but Bethlehem was not a prosperous town at the time of Jesus’ birth.

The passage points to Bethlehem’s insignificance: Little among thousands. In comparison with the other towns in Judah, Bethlehem was a little town or village. It wasn’t prominent. Though Bethlehem’s name suggested that it was ‘fruitful and blossoming’, it was, in reality, an ordinary village.

2. *The promise.* Micah’s prophecy speaks about the promise of Bethlehem. It was small, but it had great promise. It had a great future. The promise of Bethlehem was the promise of rulership.

Bethlehem’s greatness was inside her. Outwardly, the town appeared inconsequential, yet inwardly, it carried the Messiah. Similarly, outwardly, you may be small, but on the inside, you are mighty through Christ.

Today as we reflect on this Christmas message, I want you to look beyond where you are and how you are perceived – look within. If you are a believer in Christ, the Holy Spirit lives within you. Within you sits a ruler. Within you sits greatness. Within you sits royalty.

*Prayer:* _Heavenly Father, you have shown that you can raise greatness from unexpected places. Let greatness come out of me. In Jesus’ name, *Amen.*_

_Follow the Mensa Otabil channel on WhatsApp:_
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaDGaZYKgsNpjYeBVM2S

Mensa Otabil Channel • 98K followers • Official WhatsApp Channel of Pastor Mensa Otabil. General Overseer of ICGC and Chancellor of Central University.