The curse of failures at the edge of breakthroughs is broken because of the anointing of God's favour upon you.
Good -Life Devotional: HE WHO HARDENS HIS NECK OFTEN
Bible Tests : Proverbs 29:1; Proverbs 13:18
“He that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.” — Proverbs 29:1 KJV
A person who continually rejects correction is travelling a dangerous road. To “harden the neck” means to become stubborn, resistant, and unwilling to listen, even after repeated warnings. God’s correction is not designed to destroy us but to turn us away from destructive paths.
Proverbs 13:18 declares, “Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured.” Refusing instruction can eventually produce consequences that could have been avoided through humility.
Scripture repeatedly calls us to listen. Proverbs 12:1 says, “Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish.” Hebrews 12:11 reminds us that correction may be painful at the moment, but it can produce “the peaceable fruit of righteousness” in those who are trained by it.
Even King David understood the value of correction: “Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness” (Psalm 141:5). A wise person does not automatically reject correction simply because it is uncomfortable.
God may correct us through His Word, the Holy Spirit, godly counsel, circumstances, or people He places around us. The question is not whether we will ever be corrected, but whether we will humble ourselves and respond.
REFLECT: Am I repeatedly resisting correction in any area of my life?
PRAYER: Heavenly Father forgive me of my sins against you I believe Jesus Christ died and was raised again for my salvation I receive Him as Lord and saviour and receive the Holy Spirit and power to affect positive changes in my life .
Lord, give me a humble and teachable heart. Deliver me from stubbornness and pride. Help me to receive correction, obey Your Word, and walk in righteousness. In Jesus Christ’s name, Amen.
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michael benson ajayi
Thursday, September 17, 2026
HE WHO HARDENS HIS NECK OFTEN
Wednesday, September 16, 2026
DO NOT DESPISE THE CHASTENING OF THE LORD
The yoke of the devourer shall be destroyed because of the anointing of God's favour upon you.
Good -Life Devotional: DO NOT DESPISE THE CHASTENING OF THE LORD
By Rev Michael Benson Ajayi
“My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, nor detest His correction.” — Proverbs 3:11 NKJV
God’s correction is an expression of His love, not a declaration of His rejection. The word “chastening” carries the idea of discipline, instruction, correction, and training. God does not correct us to destroy us; He corrects us to transform us.
Hebrews 12:5–6 reminds us: “My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD… For whom the LORD loves He chastens.” A loving father does not allow his child to continue walking toward danger without correction. In the same way, God sometimes uses His Word, the Holy Spirit, godly counsel, circumstances, or even the consequences of our wrong choices to bring us back to the right path.
To despise God's chastening is to resist correction, become bitter, ignore conviction, or justify our wrong actions. Some people want God's blessings but reject His discipline. They want comfort without correction and promotion without character. But spiritual maturity requires that we allow God to deal with what is wrong in us.
When God corrects you, do not harden your heart. Ask, “Lord, what are You teaching me? What must I change?” Proverbs 12:1 says, “Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid.”
Remember, God's discipline is designed to produce “the peaceable fruit of righteousness” (Hebrews 12:11).
PRACTICAL FAITH APPLICATION:
When corrected by Scripture or godly counsel, resist defensiveness. Pray, examine your heart, repent where necessary, and obey what God reveals.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father forgive me of my sins against you I believe Jesus Christ died and was raised again for my salvation I receive him as lord and saviour and receive the Holy Spirit and power to learn wisdom .
Father, give me a humble and teachable heart. Help me never to despise Your correction. When You discipline me, let me respond with repentance, obedience, and faith, so that my life may produce the fruit of righteousness. In Jesus Christ’s name, Amen.
+2348035536911 email michaelbensonajayi@gmail.com
Listen to Good-Life with Rev Michael on internet radio download Radio Nigeria app and search for Port Harcourt Garden city radio 89.9 FM by 5:45 pm 1+GMT on Tuesdays
Tuesday, September 15, 2026
LET THE RIGHTEOUS SMITE ME
The plan of the destroyer against your family shall fail because of the anointing of God's favour upon you.
Good -Life Devotional: LET THE RIGHTEOUS SMITE ME
By Rev Michael Benson Ajayi
“Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness: and let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil.” — Psalm 141:5 KJV
Correction is not always rejection; sometimes, it is love wearing a difficult face. David prayed that when a righteous person corrected him, he would receive it as kindness rather than an insult.
To “smite” in this context does not mean physical violence. It speaks of a loving rebuke, honest counsel, or sharp correction intended to turn someone away from error. A person who truly loves you will not always tell you what you want to hear. Sometimes, the greatest kindness is telling you the truth that you would rather avoid.
David compared such correction to “excellent oil.” In biblical times, oil was associated with honour, refreshment, healing, and hospitality. In the same way, godly correction may initially hurt our pride, but it can ultimately refresh our character, restore our direction, and protect our destiny.
Proverbs 27:6 says, “Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.” Flattery can make us comfortable while error destroys us, but faithful correction can save us from consequences we cannot yet see.
A humble heart does not despise correction. Proverbs 9:9 says, “Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser.” The wise person asks, “What can I learn from this?” rather than, “Who are you to correct me?”
REFLECT: Can you receive correction from a godly person without becoming defensive? Is there someone whose honest counsel you have rejected because it wounded your pride?
In our daily prayers we should seek a healthy appetite for God's word a humble heart that is open to correction.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father forgive me of my sins against you I believe Jesus Christ died and was raised again for my salvation I receive Him as Lord and saviour and receive the Holy Spirit and power to overcome destructive pride. Lord, give me a humble and teachable heart. Help me recognize godly correction as an expression of love. Deliver me from pride, defensiveness, and destructive flattery. Make me wiser through righteous counsel, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
+2348035536911 email michaelbensonajayi@gmail.com
Listen to Good-Life with Rev Michael on internet radio download Radio Nigeria app and search for Port Harcourt Garden city radio 89.9 FM by 5:45 pm 1+GMT on Tuesdays
Monday, September 14, 2026
LOVE FOR ALL BELIEVERS — EVIDENCE OF FAITH IN CHRIST
What was meant for your demotion shall become a platform for your promotion because of the anointing of God's favour upon you.
Good -Life Devotional:
LOVE FOR ALL BELIEVERS — EVIDENCE OF FAITH IN CHRIST
By Rev Michael Benson Ajayi
“For this reason I too, having heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people…” — Ephesians 1:15
Paul rejoiced that the Ephesians’ faith in Jesus Christ was accompanied by their love for all the saints. Likewise, Colossians 1:4 says, “Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love which you have for all the saints.” Their love was visible evidence that their faith was genuine.
We are saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8–9), but genuine faith does not remain alone. Faith expresses itself through love (Galatians 5:6). Therefore, love for Christ must produce love for His people. A person cannot genuinely claim to love the Head while deliberately hating His body, the Church. Jesus said, “By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35). They loved fellowship with the brethren . Sinners hate attending church meetings (Isaiah 26:10, 1John2:19)
John makes it even stronger: “The one who does not love his brother remains in spiritual death” (1 John 3:14). And 1 John 4:20 asks how someone can claim to love God while hating his brother.
Jude warns that “mockers” would arise among God’s people (Jude 17–19). The Greek word is ἐμπαῖκται (empaiktai), meaning mockers, scoffers, or those who ridicule sacred things, they have no respect for preachers , grumble and laugh at them . They are described as “worldly people”—Greek ψυχικοί (psychikoi), meaning soulish, natural, or governed by merely human desires rather than the Holy Spirit. Jude says they are “devoid of the Spirit.”
PRACTICAL FAITH APPLICATION
+Love believers intentionally: Forgive quickly, serve humbly, encourage the weak, and pray for the Church. Love does not save us instead of faith; rather, love demonstrates that our faith is alive (James 2:17–18).
PRAYER: Heavenly Father forgive me of my sins against you I believe Jesus Christ died and was raised again for my salvation I receive Him as Lord and saviour and receive the Holy Spirit and power to love those that hurt me. Lord Jesus, fill me with Your love for Your people. Let my faith be demonstrated by genuine love, forgiveness, service, and unity. Amen.
+2348035536911 email michaelbensonajayi@gmail.com
Listen to Good-Life with Rev Michael on internet radio download Radio Nigeria app and search for Port Harcourt Garden city radio 89.9 FM by 5:45 pm 1+GMT on Tuesdays
Sunday, September 13, 2026
CREATION IS NOT GOD’S MASTER, GOD IS MASTER OVER CREATION
The anointing of God's favour is giving you beauty for ashes for the losses you have suffered.
Good -Life Devotional: CREATION IS NOT GOD’S MASTER, GOD IS MASTER OVER CREATION
By Rev Michael Benson Ajayi
Scripture: “He rebuketh the sea, and maketh it dry, and drieth up all the rivers.” — Nahum 1:4
Creation is not God's master; God is Master over creation. The sea, rivers, mountains, winds and every force of nature are subject to the authority of their Creator. Nahum 1:4 declares that God can rebuke the sea and dry up the rivers. Isaiah 44:27 similarly records God's command to the deep: “Be dry.” This will occur in regions where the seas and rivers are worshipped.
But the New Testament reveals something even more profound: Jesus Christ exercises authority over creation. When Jesus was in the boat with His disciples, a great storm arose. He “rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm” (Mark 4:39). The disciples responded, “What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him!” (Mark 4:41).
Christ's authority over the sea reveals His divine authority as the Son of God. John 1:3 declares, “All things were made by him.” Colossians 1:16 likewise teaches that all things were created through Him and for Him. The One through whom creation came into existence is Lord over creation.
Jesus Christ dwells inside of you right now if you are born again ( 1 Corinthians 3:16 , Colossians 1:27 ) When your circumstances look as overwhelming as a raging sea, remember who Jesus is. The storm may be greater than your strength, but it is never greater than His authority.
PRACTICAL FAITH APPLICATIONS
1. Trust Christ in overwhelming circumstances.
When life feels like a raging storm, do not allow fear to become greater than your faith. Bring the situation to Jesus and remember that the storm is under His authority.
2. Pray with confidence in Christ's authority.
Prayer is not merely wishing for circumstances to change. We approach the One who has authority over what we cannot control. Pray boldly, while submitting to His will.
3. Stop worshipping what God created.
Do not allow money, possessions, nature, people, systems or circumstances to become the source of your security. Creation is a servant; Christ alone is Lord.
4. Obey Christ even when you cannot see the outcome.
The disciples had to trust Jesus while the storm was still raging. Faith means obeying His word even before circumstances become calm.
5. Speak faith instead of surrendering to fear.
Your words should agree with God's truth. Instead of declaring, “This situation is impossible,” declare, “Nothing is impossible with God” (Luke 1:37).
6. Remember that Christ has the final authority.
People may have authority, circumstances may have influence, and the world may appear chaotic, but Jesus Christ remains Lord. Therefore, your hope does not depend on circumstances being favorable; it depends on Christ being sovereign.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father forgive me of my sins against you I believe Jesus Christ died and was raised again for my salvation I receive Him as Lord and saviour and receive the Holy Spirit and power to overcome the evil one .
Lord Jesus, help me recognize Your authority over every storm and circumstance. Teach me to trust You when life becomes overwhelming. Give me faith to pray boldly, obey Your Word, reject fear, and rest in Your sovereignty. Let Your peace rule in my heart, and let Your authority bring order where there is confusion. Amen.
POWER POINT:
The sea obeys Christ; therefore, no storm in your life is beyond His authority.
+2348035536911 email michaelbensonajayi@gmail.com
Listen to Good-Life with Rev Michael on internet radio download Radio Nigeria app and search for Port Harcourt Garden city radio 89.9 FM by 5:45 pm 1+GMT on Tuesdays
SUNDAY SERMON: POWER A'S IN THE DAY OF OLD (3)
DATE: 13 September, 2026
TOPIC: THE POWER OF GOD AS IN THE DAYS OF OLD
[Mat 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? ]
-- Saith (says: continuously saying): The fact that you say Lord Jesus is your Lord. Demons recognize Jesus as God and Lord, yet it does not mean that. The essence of knowledge/relationship is in the treatment. The essence of christianity is a relationship with God. Just because you know someone as something, it does not mean you treat them that way. You should be able to say with full confidence that you know God.
-- Prophesy means to speak the mind of God. What is the mind of God? The bible. Thus, what it means to say “Shall I prophesy?”
-- You can cast out devils by appeasement; demons don’t like to be without human hosts. So the person “casting out the demon” usually kidnaps a person and the demon moves from the afflicted to them.
[2Co 5:7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) ]
-- So why is Mommy showing her son Tony? Why are parents showing their children CRIMINALS to emulate, just because they have a big car, big house, fine clothes, etc with no good answer as to where that money came from?
-- If you move around our churches, chances are, you’ll see some exotic cars, sharply-dressed men and women who go to church, and whenever the preacher speaks on something sensual with no spiritual backing, will be the first to drop money at the altar.
-- When we start having prominent men being hung at Eagle Square, this nonsense in Nigeria will stop. If someone argues that it is too harsh in the old testament, keep in mind Acts 5, where Ananias and Sapphira conspired to defraud the church. Now, in the Old Testament, you needed 2 or 3 witnesses to take you for a crime, but in the New Testament, all that is needed is the Holy Ghost. Ananias and Sapphira lied, and the Holy Spirit killed them immediately without trial. New Testament is harsher than the Old Testament.
AGAINST BEING LED BY FEELINGS
[Rom 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Rom 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
Rom 8:3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
Rom 8:4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. ]
- Jesus did not call us to be successful; you can be successful doing the wrong thing.
- Note that there is nothing like Prayerhouse or Prayer Ministry in the Word of God. What is there is that “My house shall be called a house of prayer”, and what is God’s house? His temple, which is you. He means that you should be filled with prayer.
- The observance of religious duty does not absolve you of sin. All those people bathing themselves with Fanta and saying that it absolves them of sin and brings them closer to God are lying to themselves and those who follow them. Not only is that false, whoever is involved opens themselves up to demons.
- If you walk based on feelings, the righteousness of God cannot be fulfilled in your life. You need discipline, which is mentioned in Hebrew 12 (The Holiness of God in you cannot be found without discipline, and due to that, demons will treat you like an unbeliever). I hope you know that any Nigerian soldier who is found drunk in a gutter can easily be beaten.
- Those governed by feelings are ruled by those things mentioned in 1 John. Those governed by the spirit are lead by the fruits of the spirit.
- To be led by your feelings is death. What is that main thing that is on your mind? There is a Nigerian christian with 3 or so N3M phones,, meanwhile there are communities in Bayelsa with no drinking water, that need water purifiers not even up to 2 million.
- To be spiritually minded is life and peace. Thus, if we want peace in Nigeria, we must be spiritually minded.
- One of the reason we have kidney failure is because Nigerians are not sleeping; they are busy with midnight prayers. The one thing a woman desires from a husband is love, and the one thing a man desires from a wife is respect. Is that hard? So why is it that instead of doing this, instead Nigerian Christians will rather stay awake fasting and praying late at night for these things, damaging their bodies?
- You need to google the effect of staying awake at 12-3AM; kidney and liver problems are a direct consequence.
- Jesus is not an owl that he only works at night.
- Psalm 127 literally says that “It is a vain thing to stay awake late at night, thinking that by so doing, you are bettering your life.”
A LIFE OF HARD THINGS
- God is the Rock of Ages, everything about him is hard.
- Nigeria is in trouble today because we are afraid of hard things, and only like soft things.
- Nigeria is full of schemers and fraudsters because their spiritual fathers and mothers are the same; it is what they are taught.
- That is why you are trying to vote in the best thief, so that they can steal from the country and give it to your community.
- How are politicians the richest people in your country? This means your country is in trouble because the richest people in your country are supposed to be businessmen!
BLESSINGS WITHOUT REPENTANCE IS WITCHCRAFT
- Any church you go to where your are promised blessings without repentance, is an avenue for witchcraft. Carry your bag and run away from that place, and tell any family member that goes there that you will neither give them money nor come to their aid when they get in trouble.
- Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. That is repentance from unrighteousness, right? So can you see that anyone that preaches otherwise is fulfilling Satan’s mission?
- These places tell you to switch off your mind, meanwhile God says that you should worship God with sense.
[Jas 5:14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
Jas 5:15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
Jas 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
Jas 5:17 Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.]
- When you are living in sin, someone has to pray over you, not for you because God does not answer the prayers of sinners, and angels fight sinners, including Christian sinners. The only prayer He will answer is that of repentance.
- What is the prayer of faith? It is the faith that came from hearing God’s word.
- Confess your faults, one to another: This is explaining why the person came for prayers, if there is no prayerhouse? They have faults, and need to confess those faults so the elders can pray over them to free them of them.
- For your prayers to be powerful, you HAVE to be righteous; God is very specific.
WHAT GOD WILL DO TO THOSE WHO DELIBERATELY OBSTUCT THE WORD?
Pro 13:13 Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.
- They will be destroyed.
- What is the proof that you have repented from a thing? Advocating against the thing vocally. If you keep quiet, then by law silence is acceptance, and that means you are doing it in your mind instead.
Saturday, September 12, 2026
HOW UNIVERSALISTS INTERPRET JESUS’ WORDS ON HELL (PART THREE:) GOD’S MERCY, HUMAN CHOICE, AND THE CALL TO REPENTANCE
You shall be able to solve complicated problems because of the anointing of God's favour upon you.
Good -Life Devotional: HOW UNIVERSALISTS INTERPRET JESUS’ WORDS ON HELL
(PART THREE:) GOD’S MERCY, HUMAN CHOICE, AND THE CALL TO REPENTANCE
TEXT: 2 Peter 3:9; John 3:16–18; Philippians 2:10–11
Christian Universalists ( who teach purgatory) rightly emphasize some wonderful biblical truths: God is loving, Christ is the Savior, God desires people to be saved, and Christ will ultimately triumph.
2 Peter 3:9 says that God is “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
1 Timothy 2:4 similarly says that God “wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.”
But God's universal offer of salvation does not necessarily mean universal acceptance of salvation. Scripture repeatedly calls individuals to repent and believe.
Jesus said in John 3:16–18 that whoever believes in Him has eternal life, while the one who does not believe “has been judged already.”
Philippians 2:10–11 says that every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Universalists see this as evidence of eventual universal salvation. Others understand it as the universal acknowledgment of Christ's Lordship, without necessarily teaching that every person receives salvation.
This distinction is important. Universal acknowledgment is not automatically identical to universal redemption.
Christians should therefore avoid two opposite errors. The first is becoming so focused on hell that God's mercy, love, and desire to save are forgotten. The second is becoming so confident in universal restoration that the biblical warnings about judgment, repentance, and faith are emptied of their force.
Our responsibility is clear: preach the gospel, call sinners to repentance, proclaim Christ, and live holy lives.
We do not need to know every mystery of the final judgment before obeying Jesus' command to make disciples.
PRAYER Heavenly Father forgive me of my sins against you I believe Jesus Christ died and was raised again for my salvation I receive Him as Lord and saviour and receive the Holy Spirit and power to declare the gospel .
Father, thank You for Your mercy revealed through Jesus Christ. Give me compassion for sinners and boldness to preach the gospel. Help me never to use Your grace as permission to continue in sin. Give me wisdom when discussing difficult doctrines and love for those who disagree with me. Keep my heart faithful until the end, and let my life point people to Jesus Christ. Amen.
FINAL REFLECTION
We should neither deny God's judgment nor limit His mercy. We should neither presume universal salvation nor despair of God's ability to save. Our sure foundation is Jesus Christ, His gospel, His death, His resurrection, and His call to repentance and faith.
“Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.” — Hebrews 3:15
POWER POINT
The safest response to the mystery of the final judgment is not speculation but obedience: repent, believe in Christ, live holy, and proclaim the gospel.
+2348035536911 email michaelbensonajayi@gmail.com
Listen to Good-Life with Rev Michael on internet radio download Radio Nigeria app and search for Port Harcourt Garden city radio 89.9 FM by 5:45 pm 1+GMT on Tuesdays







