Topic: Knowing God’s Plan [Andrew Wommack’s Daily Sunday January 28th, 2018]

John 1:23, “He said, I [am] the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.”

Text: John 1:19-36

John knew who he was and what he was called to do. This was one of the keys to his success.

Unlike most of us, John did not have an identity crisis growing up. He knew God’s plan and purpose for his life from the beginning and he spent his entire life preparing for it.

God has a plan for your life just as surely as he did for John the Baptist. To succeed in life, you must find God’s plan for your life and then devote yourself to fulfilling that plan.

It is not enough to simply “do your own thing” and then ask God’s blessing upon it. Once you know you are doing God’s will, you never have to ask for God’s blessing. God’s will is already blessed.

The Lord created you with a purpose in mind. Your talents and abilities were given you to fulfill His purpose. Although you may find limited success using these talents for your own uses, you will never find your true potential until they are directed by and for the Lord.

The good news is that God wants to reveal His perfect plan for your life to you more than you want to know it. You can rest assured that if you ask for knowledge of His plan for your life, you will receive (Mt. 7:7). He will show you His good, acceptable and perfect will (Rom. 12:1-2).

This message was written by The Association of Related Ministries International (ARMI) is an extension of Andrew Wommack Ministries (AWM). ARMI is a unique partnership committed to providing resources to help like-minded ministers succeed in a spirit of excellence and to draw from the experience and expertise of both the AWM and Charis Bible College staff. (www.awmi.net).

Topic: Jesus Is Our Comforter [Billy Graham’s Daily Sunday January 28th, 2018]

. . . our Lord Jesus Christ . . . which hath loved us . . . comfort your hearts . . . — 2 Thessalonians 2:16,17

Christ is the answer to sorrow. When Harry Lauder, the great Scottish comedian, received word that his son had been killed in France, he said, “In a time like this, there are three courses open to man: He may give way to despair and become bitter. He may endeavor to drown his sorrow in drink or in a life of wickedness. Or he may turn to God.” In your sorrow, turn to God. There are thousands of people who have turned to God, but you may be still carrying your burdens. God begs of you, “Cast all your cares on me, for I care for you” (1 Peter 5:7). You who must go through the valley of the shadow of death, you who must say goodbye to those whom you have loved, you who suffer privation and misery, you who are unjustly persecuted for righteousness’ sake-take heart, take courage. Our Christ is more than adequate for sorrow.

Prayer for the day: In sorrow, Jesus, Your comfort will take all the bitterness and longing away and give me courage to face the heartache. Your grace will console me and Your arms will support me. Thank You, dear Lord.

Written by Billy Graham, Founder of Billy Graham Evangelistic Association(BGEA). BGEA exists to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ by every effective means and to equip the church and others to do the same.

Topic: Don’t Be Stony Ground [Kenneth and Gloria Copeland, Sunday January 28th, 2018]

And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; and have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended. – Mark 4:16-17

There seems to be an abundance of “stony ground” Christians these days. Initially, they get excited about the Word of God. They’ll hear a message on prosperity, for instance, and they’ll go home saying, “Hallelujah! I’m going to prosper in the Name of Jesus!” But then, somehow, things don’t work out like they thought they should.

Their bank balance doesn’t double overnight. They go through some disappointments. They suffer some criticism. Then, before you know it, their faith has withered away.

If you don’t want that to happen to you, make up your mind right now that you’re not going to let the rough times defeat you. Decide now that you’re going to hang onto the Word even when the persecutions and afflictions come—because, I can guarantee you, they will come.

When you decide to walk by faith, you don’t get rid of trials. You learn to overcome them.

When you let the Word of God get down into your heart, you’re going to learn more about the devil than you ever wanted to know because he’s going to do his best to see to it that the Word is unfruitful in you. He’s going to be trying to mess you up every time you turn around. You’ll have problems, but the difference is now you have the answer—the Word of God.

Thank God, however, through Christ Jesus you have the power to defeat Satan. When he brings problems and disappointments your way, you don’t have to lie down and let them steam roll over you. Just keep fighting the good fight of faith until you win.

Sure you’ll get knocked down sometimes. But when you do, get back up and say, “Look here, Devil, I’m not going to let you steal the Word out of my heart. It’s in there and I’m meditating on it. I’m saying it with my mouth, and I’m acting on it until God’s blessings overtake me. If you don’t believe me, just hide and watch!”

If you’ll take that attitude, no matter what that devil does, he’ll never make a “stony ground” Christian out of you!

Scripture Reading: 2 Corinthians 4:6-18

This message was written by Kenneth and Gloria Copeland, the leader of the Kenneth Copeland Ministries (www.KCM.org) that specializes in teaching principles of bible faith – prayer, healing, salvation and other biblical topics.

Topic: You Have Been Accepted In The Beloved [TREM’s Daily Sunday January 28th, 2018]

“To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.” Ephesians 1:6 (KJV)

As a believer that has received Jesus as Lord and Saviour, you are now in Christ. Not only are you in Christ, you have been accepted in the beloved. When you are accepted in the beloved, it means that you have entered the league of the favoured ones. You have entered the league of those who God treats with preferential treatment. You have entered the league of those who have been received. You now have access! You are not shut out! The same way Jesus was accepted before the Father is the way you were accepted. The same quality of acceptance!  No difference! God sees us whenever we come into His presence the same way He sees Jesus.

What the devil wants you to do is to focus on your condition or your circumstance instead of your positioning. The devil specializes in trying to make you look at your circumstances instead of your positioning in other for you to feel bad. Your condition could be health related, it could be financial, mental, marital, business or career challenge. All the devil wants is for you to focus on your challenge and forget your positioning. No! Your positioning is more powerful than your challenge and it is constant.

Your positioning must be constant for you to partake of the goodness of God that grace has made available. You don’t change your positioning because of your mood swing. Your mood cannot be trusted. The circumstances you are facing cannot be trusted. You can’t stand based on your circumstances.  Rather, you take your stand based on the word of God. And because you are taking a right standing, your circumstance will submit to it. That is how it works in God’s economy. But often we want our circumstance to change before we stand. No! God already spoke and His word is final.

Further Reading: Ephesians 1:1-7

Daily Bible Reading: Morning- Exodus 19-20 / Evening- Matthew 18:21-35

Written by Dr. Mike Okonkwo; Is the Presiding Bishop of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM); a versatile man of God with over 30 years of dedicated service unto the Lord.

Topic: Joy [Our Daily Bread 28th Sunday January, 2018]

Read: Psalm 92, Bible in a Year: Exodus 19–20; Matthew 18:21–35

I sing for joy at what your hands have done. Psalm 92:4

I’m fast approaching a new season—the “winter” of old age—but I’m not there yet. Even though the years are galloping by and sometimes I’d like to slow them down, I have joy that sustains me. Each day is a new day given me by the Lord. With the psalmist, I can say, “It is good to praise the Lord . . . proclaiming your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night”! (Psalm 92:1–2).

Even though my life has its struggles and the pain and difficulties of others sometimes overwhelm me, God enables me to join the psalmist in “[singing] for joy at what [His] hands have done” (v. 4). Joy for blessings given: family, friends, and satisfying work. Joy because of God’s wondrous creation and His inspired Word. Joy because Jesus loved us so much He died for our sins. And joy because He gave us the Spirit, the source of true joy (Romans 15:13). Because of the Lord, believers in Him can “flourish like a palm tree . . . [and] still bear fruit in old age” (Psalm 92:12–14).

What fruit is that? No matter our circumstances or season of life, we can be examples of His love through the life we lead and the words we say. There is joy in knowing and living for the Lord and telling others about Him.

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for the joy that is ours through the Spirit.

God is the giver of joy.

Insight:

The psalmist proclaims that the righteous—the faithful—will flourish like a palm tree and grow like the cedars of Lebanon (Psalm 92:12). The palm tree was associated with value—both ornamental and economic—and palm fronds were already being used in worship (Leviticus 23:40). The cedars of Lebanon are almost always used in Scripture to illustrate strength, stability, and majesty. When this psalm was written, magnificent evergreen (cedar) forests graced the mountains of Lebanon. With low branches and expansive canopies, these trees can reach up to 100 feet. The psalmist prays for the righteous to increase like the cedar and blossom like the palm tree; this fruitfulness can then spill over into the lives of others. Dennis Moles

This message was written By Alyson Kieda [Our Daily Bread Ministries.]