Evangelist Joshua Orekhie Ministries

EJOM DAILY DEVOTIONAL – June 18, 2026

Topic: Be a Doer, Not Just a Hearer

Opening Scripture

“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” James 1:22

Memory Verse

“If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.” John 13:17

Praise and Worship

Sing songs about obedience, surrender, holiness, and walking with God.

EJOM DAILY DEVOTIONAL: June 18, 2026 – Be a Doer, Not Just a Hearer

One of the easiest things in the world is to listen. One of the hardest things in the world is to consistently practice what you have heard. This is why many people know what is right but fail to do it. They have heard countless messages about prayer, holiness, faith, giving, humility, forgiveness, and obedience, yet they refuse to apply it to their daily life.

Hearing alone does not produce results but applying it. There are people who know every Bible verse about faith but still live in fear. There are people who know every Bible verse about forgiveness but still carry bitterness. There are people who know every Bible verse about prayer but rarely pray.

There are people who know every Bible verse about repentance but refuse to repent. There are people who have instruced to go for evangelism but never find the joy in sharing the gospel. The issue is not information but the problem is application of what they have read or heard.

There are many people who go to church every week to listen to sermons, but by the time they get home, they can barely remember what was preached. Some struggle to recall the topic of the message, while others cannot remember the key Scriptures that were shared.

This should cause us to examine ourselves. If our minds easily retain worldly information but struggle to retain God’s Word, then there is a spiritual issue that needs attention.

The Word of God is not meant to enter through one ear and leave through the other. It is meant to settle in our hearts, shape our thinking, and influence our actions. When a person values God’s Word, he meditates on it, reflects upon it, and allows it to take root in his spirit.

Being a doer of the Word is not simply a matter of reading the Bible, listening to sermons, memorizing Scriptures or attending church services. But applying them to your life. Many people do these things regularly, yet their lives still remain the same. No spiritual growth, and no fruit of the spirit.

True obedience begins when we put into practice what we have heard. The proof that God’s Word has entered your heart is seen in the way you live and behave to others. A believer who only listens to God’s Word without applying it may also struggle to receive deeper revelation from it.

God often reveals more truth to those who obey the truth they already know. When we act upon His instructions, our spiritual understanding grows. But when we continually ignore His Word, we hinder our own spiritual growth.

The goal of every sermon is not merely to inform or excite us but to transform us or convict us. Therefore, whenever you hear God’s Word, ask yourself, “How can I apply this to my life?” For it is not the hearers who are blessed, but the doers who put God’s Word into practice.

A believer’s life should be a reflection of God’s Word. The world is not impressed by how spiritual we are if our actions contradict our words. People are watching how we live. People are taking note how we behave. They want to see whether the message we preach or hear is truly working in our lives.

The reasons many people do not take the gospel seriously is because they see a contradiction between what some believers preach and how they live. Your life gives power to your message. When your conduct does not match your words, your message loses credibility in the ears and heart of people.

For example, you cannot go out to evangelize while dressed in a manner that contradicts the standard of modesty and godliness you are preaching. If you are warning people about the dangers of indecent dressing while your own appearance sends a different message, many people will not listen to what you have to say. Rather than receiving your message, they may mock you.

People are more likely to follow what they see than what they hear. You can’t say Jesus Christ loves you without first seeing the proof in your own life. This is why every believer must strive to practice what he preaches. Our lives should support our message, not contradict it.

The same principle applies to every area of the Christian life. If you preach forgiveness, you should be known as a forgiving person. If you preach prayer, you should be a person of prayer. If you preach honesty, your life should reflect integrity. If you preach holiness, your conduct should demonstrate holiness.

The enemy understands the danger of hypocrisy. One of his greatest weapons is to make believers speak one thing and practice another thing. When this happens, he gains an opportunity to accuse and mock.

This reminds us of the incident in Acts 19 where certain men attempted to cast out evil spirits using the name of Jesus. The evil spirit answered, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?” The problem was not merely the words they spoke. The problem was that they lacked the genuine spiritual authority and relationship that should have backed those words.

In the same way, God wants our lives to back up our message with evidence. He wants our character to support our confession. He wants our actions to confirm our faith. A believer should not be one person in public and another person in private. The same Christ we represent before people should be visible in our homes, our workplaces, our relationships, and our daily conduct.

God did not give us His Word merely to inform us; He gave it to transform us. Every sermon we hear, every Scripture we read, and every instruction God gives us carries a responsibility. The blessing is not in hearing alone but the blessing is in obedience to that message or instruction. The solution to our problem is hidden in carrying out the instruction.

When a prophet gave you an instruction just like Elisha, he wants you to do it. Because carrying out that instruction will bring healing to you. Unfortunately, many people know what is right but fail to do it. They know they should pray, but they postpone it. They know they should forgive, but they still hold grudges. They know they should obey God, but they make excuses.

Over time, they become hearers of the Word without becoming doers of the Word. Imagine a man looking into a mirror and seeing dirt on his face. If he walks away without washing it off, the mirror has done its job by letting him know, what happened is that, the has failed to take action. Many believers do the same thing spiritually. They hear messages over and over again yet they refuse to work on it because they never apply what they heard.

Noah did not merely hear God’s warning about the coming flood; he acted upon it. At a time when there was no visible sign of rain, Noah obeyed God’s instruction and built the ark. People may have mocked him. They may have questioned his actions. Yet Noah continued because he trusted God’s Word more than public opinion.

When the flood eventually came, those who ignored God’s warning perished, but Noah and his family were preserved because he acted upon what he heard. There are many people today who are waiting for God to do something new while they have not obeyed the last instruction He gave them. Some are praying for financial breakthroughs while ignoring God’s principles of diligence and faithfulness.

Some are praying for stronger relationships while refusing to forgive. Some are asking God for direction while neglecting the guidance He has already provided through His Word. Obedience is often the bridge between promise and manifestation. Some are asking God to give them something, while they refuse to be a giver. Some are asking God the way out, they refused to calm their spirit to listen.

Many miracles in the Bible happened after people obeyed. The servants at the wedding in Cana obeyed Jesus and saw water become wine. The widow obeyed Elisha and saw her oil multiplied. Naaman obeyed the prophet’s instruction and received healing. Their breakthroughs came after obedience.

God is still looking for men and women who will do more than listen. He is looking for people who will just obey. People who will practice His Word regularly when it is convenient and when it is not convenient. People who will trust Him enough to act on what He says. These are the people who experience the transforming power of God’s Word and they become living testimonies of His grace.

There is a danger in continually hearing God’s Word without responding to it. Over time, a person can become spiritually comfortable. He begins to enjoy sermons without allowing them to challenge him. He begins to get familiarize with the preacher’s teaching. He becomes use with the way the pastor’s preaches without being transformed by them. The heart becomes accustomed to hearing but not responding.

God did not save us to sit on the sidelines admiring truth. He saved us to live by the truth. What’s the true essence of being under a sermon for one hour but refusing to act on those things. Every day of our life presents opportunities to practice what we claim to believe.

When someone offends us, we have an opportunity to practice forgiveness. When challenges arise, we have an opportunity to practice faith. When we see people in need, we have an opportunity to practice compassion. When see someone who needs Christ, we have the opportunity to preach the gospel to them.

Many people are ashmaed of the gospel. Many cannot hold Bible in their hands for too long when on the road apart from Sunday. You cannot truly claim to love God while constantly rejecting His Word in your heart. You cannot claim to God while you are living a double standard.

Our love for God is not measured by how loud we sing in church, how many Bible verses we can quote, or how often we attend services. our genuine love for God should be demonstrated through obedience. Jesus said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” Love and obedience are inseparable.

Many believers say they love God, yet they resist every instruction that challenges their comfort. They want God’s blessings, but they do not want God’s correction. They want God’s promises, but they do not want God’s instructions. They enjoy listening to messages that encourage or entertain them, but they become uncomfortable when the Word or teaching confronts the areas of their lives that need change.

The purpose of preaching is not merely to entertain or inspire. The purpose of preaching is to convict, correct, instruct, and transform. Every time the Word of God is preached, it should challenge us to become more like Christ. However, when a person develops a stubborn heart, the Word loses its impact on that person. This is not because the Word of God lacks power, but because the heart has become resistant.

There are people who have spent years in church but they have refused to change. These are members. These are ushers, choirs, pastors, instrumentalist etc. They hear messages every week, yet their attitudes remain the same. Their old behavior remains the same. Their character remains the same. Their response to people remains the same. They are present physically, but their hearts are far from God.

Jesus spoke about such people when He said, “This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.” It is possible to be active in church and still be distant from God. It is possible to be busy with religious activities and still refuse to obey His Word. Some believers hear a powerful message on forgiveness but continue nurturing bitterness in their heart.

Others hear teachings on salvation but they refuse to be genuinely born again. Some hear messages on honesty but continue practicing deception. Others listen to sermons about love but refuse to show kindness because they are afraid that people may take advantage of them. The problem is not the preaching but the problem is the refusal to obey.

The Word of God cannot change a person who has already decided not to obey it. Many people approach God’s Word looking for information instead of transformation. They listen to sermons to increase their knowledge, but knowledge without obedience produces spiritual pride rather than spiritual growth.

God did not send His Word to fill or occupy our minds with Scriptures. But He sent His words to change our lives. A heart that is fully surrendered to God remains teachable and obedience. It allows the Holy Spirit to convict, correct, and direct them. Such a person may not be perfect, but whenever God’s Word exposes an area of their weakness, he is willing to repent and make adjustments faster.

On the other hand, a stubborn heart always finds excuses. It justifies disobedience. It explains away conviction. It hears God’s instruction but chooses personal preference instead. Such a person eventually becomes comfortable hearing the truth without practicing it. The danger of repeatedly ignoring God’s Word is that the conscience gradually becomes less sensitive.

What usually brings conviction to you no longer does. What has brought repentance to you no longer moves the heart anymore. This is why believers must respond quickly whenever God speaks and whenever there’s a need to make amendment. The Christian life is not about doing what pleases us. It is about doing what pleases God.

True discipleship begins when we stop asking, “What do I want?” and start asking, “What does God want?” The people who experience real spiritual growth are not necessarily those who hear the most sermons. They are the ones who apply what they hear. Every message becomes an opportunity for change. Every correction becomes an opportunity for growth. Every instruction becomes an opportunity for obedience.

If we truly love God, we must be willing to obey Him even when it is difficult. We must allow His Word to challenge our attitudes, our habits, our relationships, and our decisions. Only then can the Word take root in our hearts and produce the transformation God desires. A person who loves God does not merely admire His Word. He lives by it.

He allows it to guide his actions, shape his character, and direct his life. That is the difference between being a hearer and being a doer. Unfortunately, there are believers who have become professional listeners. They can tell you what the pastor preached last Sunday. They can quote the Scriptures that were used.

They can even explain the message to others. Yet when you look at their lives, there is little evidence that the message has changed them. A person can become very skilled at talking about spiritual things while failing to live by them. He can teach others what is right while secretly practicing what is wrong. He can become a source of information without becoming an example of transformation.

A person can preach about the importance of fasting and never see the danger of eating during fasting season. He can explain the benefits of fasting, quote Scriptures about fasting, and encourage others to fast, yet he has never personally experienced the spiritual discipline he is promoting.

A person can preach about midnight prayer and tell people how mdnight prayers have changed their life, but he never wakes up at night to pray. He’s using lie to make his words look real to you. He knows the testimonies connected to prayer, but he refuses to pay the price required to enjoy them.

A person can preach about humility while pride is growing in his heart. He can tell others to remain humble before God while he seeks recognition, praise, and attention for himself. He can speak against arrogance while secretly believing he is better than everyone around him.

A person can teach about the love of Christ while practicing deception behind closed doors. He can even encourage people to tell the truth while he manipulates facts whenever it benefits him. His words say one thing, but his lifestyle says something different. A person can preach about the dangers of adultery, sexual immorality, and secret sin, yet he’s practicing them secretly.

He can warn others about the consequences of sin while secretly engaging in the very things he condemns publicly. This is the kind of life Jesus warned about. He repeatedly challenged people whose outward appearance looked spiritual but whose hearts are disconnected from God. They knew the Scriptures.

They are believers. They occupied religious positions. Yet their lives lacked genuine obedience and repentance. The truth is that God is not looking for people who can merely explain His Word. He is looking for people who will live ny His Word. Knowledge without practice creates hypocrisy. Knowledge with obedience produces transformation.

They sit in church and think about who needs the message most instead of asking God how the message will be applied to them.The most powerful sermon is not always the one preached from a pulpit. But the most powerful sermon is the one that convict people to repentance. Some people wants to know how believers behave.

They are watching if the types of decent dress you wore in church conform with the one you wears outside. They want to know whether the God you preach has truly changed your life. A transformed life gives credibility to the message being preached. When people see honesty, humility, prayerfulness, faithfulness, kindness, and godly character in our lives, the Word becomes believable.

But when our lifestyle contradicts our message, people begin to question the reality of our faith.This is why every believer must regularly examine his heart.  God wants His children to become living examples of His Word. He wants our lives to reflect the truths we proclaim. He wants our character to support our confession. He wants our obedience to confirm our faith.

The Pharisees in the days of Jesus knew the Scriptures better than many people. They could quote the Law and teach others. Yet Jesus constantly rebuked them because their lives did not match what they taught. They honored God with their lips, but their hearts were far from Him. They loved religious appearances more than genuine obedience.

The same danger exists today. Some people are more interested in looking spiritual than being spiritual. They want people to see them in church. They want people to know how long they pray. They want people to admire their knowledge of the Bible. Yet when it comes to obeying God’s instructions, they struggle.

God is not impressed by religious activity without obedience. You may attend every church service and still miss heaven or God’s purpose if you refuse to obey Him. You may know many Scriptures and still remain spiritually stagnant if you refuse to apply them. True Christianity is not selecting the instructions that suit our preferences but true Christianity is submitting ourselves completely to God’s will.

The reason some believers remain in cycles of frustration is because they are expecting God to bless what He has instructed them to change. They want different results while continuing with the same disobedience. But God’s Word only produces fruit when it is obeyed. The question is not whether God is still speaking. God is speaking through His Word every day.

The real question is whether we are willing to obey what He is saying. One of the greatest testimonies a believer can have is not the ability to distract others with your spirituality, but it is the ability to live according to those Scriptures. The world is full of people who know the Bible but don’t have character. God is looking for people who will be the example of what they heard.

Always strive to be a doer of the Word of God. Do not merely listen to sermons and move on with your life unchallenged. Allow every message to examine your heart. Allow every correction to humble you. Allow every instruction from God to produce action in your life. The purpose of God’s Word is not simply to fill your head with knowledge but to transform your heart and your conduct.

Many people have developed what the Bible describes as a hard or stony heart. A stony heart resists correction. A stony heart hears God’s Word but refuses to submit to it. A stony heart is comfortable with disobedience. Even when the Word of God clearly says, “Forgive,” a hardened heart will continue holding grudges.

Even when God says, “Love your enemies,” a hardened heart will choose hatred. Even when God says, “Be humble,” a hardened heart will continue seeking pride and self-glory.

This is why every believer must pray for a tender heart. A tender heart that can be corrected. A heart that can repent. A heart that can respond whenever God speaks. When God’s Word enters a soft heart, transformation takes place immeditely. The person may not be perfect, but he is willing to change. He is willing to admit his faults. He is willing to adjust his ways. He is willing to obey even when obedience is uncomfortable.

One of the saddest things is when a person’s public life is completely different from his private life. Some people appear spiritual before others outside, but those who live with them know a different version of them. They are respected in public but dishonor in their house. They preach kindness but practice greediness. They preach patience but easily lose their temper. They preach love but fail to show love to their own family members.

A person should not be a saint in church and a different person at home. A person should not be a preacher on the altar and a tyrant in the house. A person should not speak about Christ publicly while living contrary to His teachings privately. The people who know us best should be able to testify that our faith is genuine.

Your spouse should see Christ in you. Your children should see Christ in you. Your family should see Christ in you. If the people closest to you cannot see evidence of God’s Word in your life, then something needs to change. The true test of Christianity is not how we behave when people are watching. The true test is how we behave when nobody is watching. Character is revealed in private. Integrity is revealed in private. Obedience is revealed in private.

God is not looking for actors. He is looking for disciples. He is looking for men and women whose lives reflect the message they preach. He is looking for believers who are willing to let His Word shape their thoughts, attitudes, decisions, and relationships. Never become so familiar with God’s Word that it no longer convicts you. Never become so comfortable in church that you stop responding to correction. Never become so focused on teaching others that you forget to examine yourself.

Ask God to remove every stony heart. Ask Him to break every resistance to His Word. Ask Him to give you a teachable spirit and a willing heart. Let His Word challenge you. Let His Word correct you. Let His Word transform you.

For the greatest sermon you will ever preach is not with your mouth but with your life. People may forget your words, but they will remember your character. They may forget your messages, but they will remember your conduct. Therefore, let your life become a reflection of the God you serve and the Word you proclaim.

Prophetic Declaration

I decree that you shall not be a hearer only but a doer of God’s Word. Every spirit of procrastination, disobedience, and spiritual laziness is broken over your life. May God give you the grace to obey His instructions promptly and completely. As you walk in obedience, doors of favor, wisdom, and breakthrough shall open before you. Your life shall become a testimony of the power of God’s Word, in Jesus’ mighty name.

Daily Reflection

Ask yourself honestly today:

• Am I applying the messages I hear from God’s Word?
• What instruction from God have I been delaying?
• Is there any area of my life where I know the truth but refuse to obey it?
• Do my actions reflect the Christian faith I profess?
• What practical step can I take today to obey God’s Word more fully?

Wisdom for Today

“The proof that you believe God’s Word is not what you say, but what you do.”

Personal Challenge

This week, identify one instruction from God’s Word that you have been neglecting and begin to practice it immediately.

Evangelism Challenge

Share one practical lesson from God’s Word with someone today and encourage them to put it into practice.

Bible in One Year
1 Kings 12–13
Acts 10:1–23
Psalm 133–134
Proverbs 17:7–8

Prayer Assignment (Morning)

1. O Lord, make me a doer of Your Word and not a hearer only, in Jesus’ name.

2. Every spirit of disobedience working against my spiritual growth, die by fire, in Jesus’ name.

3. Father, remove every stony heart from my life and give me a heart of flesh, in Jesus’ name.

4. O Lord, let Your Word find a permanent place in my heart, in Jesus’ name.

5. Every power assigned to make me forget God’s Word, be destroyed by fire, in Jesus’ name.

6. Father, give me the grace to practice what I learn from Your Word, in Jesus’ name.

7. O Lord, let my life reflect the message I preach, in Jesus’ name.

8. Every spirit of hypocrisy operating in my life, come out and die, in Jesus’ name.

9. Father, help me to obey You completely and promptly, in Jesus’ name.

10. O Lord, let Your Word transform my thoughts, attitudes, and behavior, in Jesus’ name.

11. Every resistance in my heart against divine correction, be broken by fire, in Jesus’ name.

12. Father, make me teachable and willing to learn from You, in Jesus’ name.

13. O Lord, let every sermon I hear produce lasting fruit in my life, in Jesus’ name.

14. Every spirit of selective message, die by fire, in Jesus’ name.

15. Father, help me to live according to Your instructions daily, in Jesus’ name.

16. O Lord, give me the grace to forgive whenever Your Word commands forgiveness, in Jesus’ name.

17. Every power making me hear the Word without practicing it, be destroyed, in Jesus’ name.

18. Father, let my private life agree with my public confession, in Jesus’ name.

19. O Lord, deliver me from every form of spiritual pride, in Jesus’ name.

20. Every root of stubbornness in my heart, be uprooted by fire, in Jesus’ name.

21. O Lord, help me to live according to Your Word both in public and in private, in Jesus’ name.

22. Father, let every area of compromise in my life be exposed and corrected, in Jesus’ name.

23. Every spirit of rebellion against God’s Word, die by fire, in Jesus’ name.

24. Every power making me hear the truth without responding to it, die by fire, in Jesus’ name.

25. Father, help me to obey You even when nobody is watching, in Jesus’ name.

26. O Lord, let my actions bring honor to the gospel of Christ, in Jesus’ name.

27. Every hardness of heart resisting God’s instructions, melt by fire, in Jesus’ name.

Prayer Assignment (Night)

1. Father, help me to respond positively whenever Your Word convicts me, in Jesus’ name.

2. O Lord, let my life become a testimony of obedience, in Jesus’ name.

3. Every force assigned to harden my heart against God’s Word, die by fire, in Jesus’ name.

4. Father, give me grace to practice love, humility, honesty, and holiness, in Jesus’ name.

5. O Lord, let my conduct bring glory to Your name, in Jesus’ name.

6. Every power making me comfortable in sin, be destroyed by fire, in Jesus’ name.

7. Father, help me to obey divine instructions even when they are difficult, in Jesus’ name.

8. O Lord, let the Holy Spirit continually guide me into obedience, in Jesus’ name.

9. Every barrier between me and complete obedience to God, be removed by fire, in Jesus’ name.

10. Father, let my life be a living example of Your Word and Your power, in Jesus’ name.

11. O Lord, help me to practice what I preach and preach what I practice, in Jesus’ name.

12. Every spirit of self-deception, die by fire, in Jesus’ name.

13. Father, make me a faithful representative of Christ everywhere I go, in Jesus’ name.

14. O Lord, let my heart remain soft and sensitive to Your voice, in Jesus’ name.

15. Every habit that contradicts God’s Word in my life, be broken by fire, in Jesus’ name.

16. Father, let Your Word continually renew my mind, in Jesus’ name.

17. O Lord, help me to live a life that backs up my confession of faith, in Jesus’ name.

18. Every power assigned to make me spiritually stagnant, die by fire, in Jesus’ name.

19. Father, let obedience become my lifestyle and not an occasional act, in Jesus’ name.

20. O Lord, deliver me from every form of empty Christianity, in Jesus’ name.

21. Every spirit that makes me enjoy preaching without practicing it, die by fire, in Jesus’ name.

22. Father, let my heart be fertile ground for Your Word, in Jesus’ name.

23. Every seed of disobedience planted in my life, be uprooted by fire, in Jesus’ name.

24. Every spirit of double standards operating in my life, die by fire, in Jesus’ name.

25. O Lord, make me a Christian not only by confession but also by conduct, in Jesus’ name.

26. Every power assigned to make me a hearer only, lose your hold over my life, in Jesus’ name.

27. O Lord, give me the grace to practice what I learn from every sermon and Bible study, in Jesus’ name.

Closing Reflection

God is not impressed merely by how many sermons we hear, books we read, or Bible verses we memorize. What touches God’s heart is obedience. Every instruction from God carries a blessing when it is obeyed. Today, make a decision not just to hear the truth but to live it. The Word of God was never meant to stay in your ears alone; it must find expression in your actions. When hearing and obedience work together, transformation becomes inevitable.

This devotional is brought to you by Evangelist Joshua Orekhie Ministries (EJOM)

— Dream it. Pray it. Win it.