DC Model Chapter Asokoro

*DOMINION MANDATE DAILY DEVOTIONAL*

*MONDAY, AUGUST 25, 2025*

*DISCERNING THE POWER OF AGREEMENT*

*AMOS 3:3; 2 CORINTHIANS 6:14-17; GENESIS 11:1-6*

*"Again, I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on Earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of My Father Which is in Heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My Name, there am I in the midst of them." Matthew 18:19-20(KJV)*

The phrase 'to agree' literally means *"to have the same opinion as, to accept a proposition or an idea and to be in alignment with."* It also means to be one with or to be the same as. Simply put, there can never be Unity without Agreement, and in the same vein, there can never be Power without Unity. The Power of Unity is the Greatest Power or Force in existence. There's nothing the Power of Unity cannot overcome and no insurmountable mountain it can't climb *(Gen. 11:1-5; Matt. 18:19-20).* The Primary Purpose of Agreement is to build up Synergy, Unity, and Power.

Agreement is an extremely important factor for any group of persons who desire to work together and achieve results. It's also very important to be mindful of the kind of people with whom you are agreeing. If you agree with people of similar Values and persuasions, you would inevitably get the reward of Greater Productivity. However, if you agree with unscrupulous persons of wayward and questionable character, you expose yourself to harm and untold consequences. The Holy Scriptures warn us against being unequally yoked with unbelievers and those things that pertain to the kingdom of darkness *(2 Cor. 6:14-17).*

While we avoid agreeing with and fraternising with the wrong people, we ought to also work hard to agree with the right people in our lives in order to fully maximize the benefits of Unity. Agreement is never merely a passive consent but rather an active and deliberate action geared towards oneness at several levels. We must learn to agree in spirit by sharing the same Values, agree in words by speaking the same language, agree in Vision by sharing the same Purpose and agree in action by working towards the same goals. Husbands and wives should always strive to be in agreement, likewise leaders, and the led should always strive to agree. Always remember that Unity is so powerful that its apparent threat to satan our common adversary was what prompted his first ever Scriptural appearance *(Gen. 2:24-25; 3:1).*

*PRAYER:*

Heavenly Father, we magnify You today. O Lord, please enlighten our eyes to the Power and Purpose of Agreement and help us to agree with those people You have sent into our lives so that we can have the Unity and Power to fulfill Your Purpose in our lives in Jesus' Mighty Name. Amen.

*DOMINION MANDATE DAILY DEVOTIONAL*

*WEDNESDAY, JULY 16, 2025*

*UNDERSTANDING THE ROLE OF THE PASTOR*

*MATTHEW 9:36; JOHN 10:11; ACTS 20:28; 1 PETER 5:1-4*

*"And He gave some Apostles, and some Prophets; and some Evangelists and some Pastors and Teachers; for the Perfecting of the saints for the Work of the Ministry, for the Edifying of the Body of Christ, till we all come in the Unity of the Faith, and of the Knowledge of the Son of God, unto a Perfect Man, unto the Measure of the Stature of the Fullness of Christ." Ephesians 4:11-13 (KJV)*

A Pastor could be aptly described as the Divinely Designated leader of a Christian Congregation or Local Church Assembly whose job includes giving advice and counsel to people from the community or congregation. He has been conferred by Jesus the Chief Shepherd with the Authority to lead religious services. Pastors act as Spiritual shepherds by providing care for the flock, and this care includes feeding them God's Undiluted Word *(Jer. 3:15).* When describing Pastors, the New Testament essentially uses the words "bishops" *(Acts 20:28)* and "presbyter" *(1Pet. 5:1)* to indicate the Ordained Leadership in the Early Church. The Holy Scriptures admonish these leaders to "act like shepherds" as they "oversee" the Flock of God *(1Pet. 5:2).* The qualifications of a Genuine Pastor are found in 1 Timothy 3:1-7.

The Major Job of a Pastor is to provide Spiritual Leadership to members of the Local Church under his care. The Fundamental Duties of a Pastor include (but aren't limited to) preparing weekly sermons, preaching, and conducting Worship Services. He also provides Pastoral Care and Counseling to Church members and supports them in their times of crisis. Additionally, working as a Pastor normally requires officiating Special Services like Baptisms, Weddings, and Funerals. It also includes attending social events at the Church and completing Church Administrative duties.

The Job of the Pastor is one of the toughest of all occupations because it basically involves Parenting, which requires a lot of Patience *(Heb. 13:17).* Those people called to the Office of the Pastor are gifted with the Capacity to love and care for people *(2Sam. 24:17).* They are also anointed with the Teaching Grace so as to be able to feed the Flock of God *(2Tim. 2:24).* Even though all of us might not be called to the Office of the Pastor, as Christian believers, we are required to also care for and nurture younger believers who are within our influence and reach. This is mostly done in Small Groups such as Cells and Believers' Circles. The Pastor or main shepherd can never effectively shepherd the Flock of God without the assistance and partnership of many under-shepherds and Small Group leaders helping him to shepherd and care for God's people. Let us all honour our Pastors because indeed, *"If a man wants to be a Pastor, he has a Good Ambition"* (1Tim. 3:1b The Living Bible).

*PRAYER:*

Heavenly Father, we magnify You today. Lord Jesus, we thank You for being the Chief Shepherd of our souls. O Lord, please help us to partner with You in shepherding the Flock for whom You died and purchased with Your Most Precious Blood in Jesus' Mighty Name. Amen.

*DOMINION MANDATE DAILY DEVOTIONAL*

*MONDAY, JULY 14, 2025*

*UNDERSTANDING THE ROLE OF THE PROPHET*

*BIBLE READING: DEUTERONOMY 18:15-22; MATTHEW 10:38-41; LUKE 2: 22-52*

*"Now in the Church (Assembly) at Antioch there were Prophets (Inspired Interpreters of the Will and Purposes of God) and Teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger [Black], Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a member of the court of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul." Acts 13:1(AMP)*

A Prophet by the simplest of definitions is *"one who speaks for God to man."* Simply put, he serves as God's Anointed Mouthpiece. He does not necessarily have to foretell the future even though that is a valid aspect of the Prophetic Ministry. He does forthtell a Word from God revealing His Plans for the Church. Through Prophets, God gives Direction and Correction to the Church according to 1 Corinthians 14:3(NKJV): *"But he who prophesies speaks EDIFICATION and EXHORTATION and COMFORT to men."* Prophecy is given to edify, exhort, and comfort the Church. In other words, Prophecy is meant to BUILD UP, STIR UP, and CHEER UP the Body of Christ. So-called "prophetic words" that tear down the Body and depress the people are not from God. Genuine Prophecy always encourages and strengthens the recipients. A hard message or a correction often comes forth, such as a Call to Repentance, but it would always result in building up instead of tearing down.

A Typical Example of a New Testament Prophet is Barnabas, a moniker given to Paul's first Missionary companion, which literally means “Son of consolation or exhortation” *(Acts 4:36).* As a result of Barnabas' Prophetic Ministry, the Holy Scriptures declare that *"He exhorted the Body to purposefully and steadfastly hold onto the Lord"* (Acts 11:23-24). Other New Testament Prophets such as John the Baptist *(Lk. 1:76)* and Agabus *(Acts 11:27-28; 21:10-13)* deserve an honourable mention. John the Baptist was deployed to speak as a Prophet via the Tender Mercies of God. Therefore, Genuine Prophecy would always be tempered with Mercy *(Lk. 1:78).* A Prophet is a man or woman who stands in the Counsel of God and represents His Interests before the people. They reveal His Heart to His people, giving guidance to individuals and the Body of Christ, giving Revelation as well as Interpretation, Application, and Timing.

We see several examples of the Prophetic Office in action throughout the Book of Acts. In Acts 21, Agabus is a good example of where Prophecy can be rightly interpreted, yet applied wrongly, as Paul was urged not to go to Jerusalem, escaping the Predictive Prophecy of his fate. In this case, we see Prophecy as Foretelling, yet it is also Forth-telling, which is often neglected by those who run after Prophetic Words. God has established Prophets in His Church. Therefore, the Church would not be complete if we reject their Ministry out of fear. However, somebody once said that *"Prophets often give a message of balance that may not necessarily be a balanced message."* This is why Prophets need to allow Spiritual Leadership, especially Teachers, to weigh their words and judge them as instructed by the Holy Scriptures *(1Cor. 14:29-32).*

*PRAYER:*

Heavenly Father, we honour You today. O Lord, we ask You for a Deeper Understanding of the Office of the Prophet and help us to align to them appropriately in Jesus' Mighty Name. Amen.

*DOMINION MANDATE DAILY DEVOTIONAL*

*THURSDAY, JULY 10, 2025*

*JESUS CHRIST IS THE WISDOM OF GOD*

*BIBLE READING: PROVERBS 8-9; JOB 12:13-25; PROVERBS 3:19; LUKE 2:40, 52; COLOSSIANS 2:3*

*"But it is from Him that you are in Christ Jesus, Who became to us Wisdom from God [revealing His Plan of Salvation], and Righteousness [making us acceptable to God], and Sanctification [making us Holy and setting us apart for God], and Redemption [providing our Ransom from the penalty for sin] so then, as it is written [in Scripture], “He who boasts and glories, let him boast and glory in the Lord.”1Corinthians 1:30 (Amplified Bible)*

Have you ever faced a crossroads in life, unsure which path to take? Or encountered a complex problem that seemed to have no solution? More than just knowing facts, True Wisdom is the Divine Insight into the Very Heart of Reality. It's not just understanding what things are, but knowing how to handle them with God's Perfect Guidance, discerning the right course of action in any situation. As Proverbs 4:7 declares, *"Wisdom is the Principal Thing; therefore get Wisdom: and with all thy getting, get Understanding."* This Divine Wisdom is a Gift from God Himself! James 1:5 assures us: *"If any of you lacks Wisdom, let him ask of God, Who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him."* This isn't a mere suggestion; it's an open Invitation to tap into the Mind of the Creator. Think of King Solomon, who, instead of riches or long life, humbly asked for an Understanding heart to govern God's people *(1Kgs. 3:9).* God granted his request, enabling him to make Wise Judgments like discerning the true mother of a child *(1Kgs. 3:16-28).* Or consider Joseph, whose God-given Wisdom allowed him to interpret Pharaoh’s dreams and prepare Egypt for a seven-year famine, saving countless lives *(Gen. 41:14-40).* This is the Power of God's Wisdom in action!

The New Testament authors powerfully reveal that the Lord Jesus Christ embodies the Very Essence of Old Testament Wisdom. The Apostle Paul explicitly identifies Christ Jesus as *"the Wisdom of God"* (1Cor. 1:24). This isn't just a Title; it emphasizes that the Fullness of Divine Understanding and Insight dwells within Jesus Himself *(Col. 2:3).* In Christ Jesus, Wisdom is perfectly personified, demonstrating God’s Infinite Knowledge and Perfect Judgment. This is beautifully seen in how Jesus navigated every challenge and question posed by His adversaries. For instance, when the Pharisees tried to trap Him with the question of paying taxes to Caesar, Jesus wisely responded: *"Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s"* (Matt. 22:21). This answer not only avoided their trap but also imparted a profound lesson on balancing civic responsibility with Ultimate Spiritual Devotion. Another Powerful example is when the religious leaders brought the woman caught in adultery to Him, seeking to condemn her. Jesus, full of Wisdom and Grace, simply said, *"Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her"* (Jn. 8:7). His Words disarmed her accusers and offered her a Path to New Life.

Because Jesus Christ is indeed the Personification of God’s Wisdom and because He lives within us through the Holy Spirit, we possess an Incredible Reservoir of Divine Knowledge about the past, present, and future *(1Cor. 1:30).* In our daily lives, we constantly face challenges and problems that demand solutions. The Wisdom residing in us through the Holy Spirit equips us to address these issues effectively. Beyond Daniel and Solomon, think of Nehemiah, who, through God's Wisdom, rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem amidst fierce opposition *(Neh. 2:17-20; 4:15-20).* Or consider the Apostles, filled with Wisdom to preach the Gospel boldly and resolve disputes within the church *(Acts 6:3, 4:13).* This Indwelling Wisdom empowers us to make Sound decisions by Creative Solutions that honour God. Proverbs 3:13-18 speaks profoundly to the Inestimable Value of Wisdom, stating, *"Blessed are those who find Wisdom, those who gain Understanding, for She is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with Her. Long life is in Her Right Hand; in Her Left Hand are Riches and Honour. Her Ways are Pleasant Ways, and all Her Paths are Peace. She is a Tree of Life to those who take hold of Her; those who hold Her fast will be blessed."* Wisdom is not merely an option; it is essential for living a life that truly honours God and fulfills His Divine Purposes. By continually seeking and diligently applying God’s Wisdom, we can navigate life’s complexities with Grace and Confidence, becoming a Powerful Beacon of Light in a world in desperate need of Godly Insight. Jesus, Who perfectly embodies the Wisdom of God, serves as our Ultimate Example. Through His life, His Teachings, and the indwelling Holy Spirit, we learn how to apply Divine Wisdom in all our daily lives.

*PRAYER:*

Heavenly Father, we thank You for the Incredible Treasure of Your Divine Wisdom deposited within us through Christ Jesus. We declare that because He Who is in us is Greater than he who is in the world, we possess all Knowledge. O Lord, we engage the Spirit of Wisdom now, receiving Divine Solutions to every challenge in our lives, our families, and our spheres of influence in Jesus’ Mighty Name. Amen.