Topic: Keep God’s Temple in Good Shape [Joyce Meyer’s Daily Thursday February 1st, 2018]

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not be terrified or dismayed (intimidated), for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” — Joshua 1:9

Until I turned sixty-four, I’d never exercised consistently or took it seriously. I had walked and done a few things to stay in decent shape, but I was not dedicated to exercise. I had reached into my excuse bag many times over the years and come up with all kinds of “reasons” I could not exercise. But the Lord spoke to my heart, encouraging me to begin a serious workout program so I could be strong for the last third of my journey through life.

I already had good eating habits, and when I obeyed the Lord and started going to the gym several times a week, I stepped into a new season of life. I looked better, felt better, and most importantly, I was honoring God by taking good care of the body He gave me.

If you have room for improvement in this area, pray and ask God what you should do to start living a healthier lifestyle. The Word says that our bodies are temples of God. And I want to make sure that God likes His temple! Today, make the choice to keep your temple in excellent shape for God.

Prayer Starter: Lord, I want to be more committed to a lifestyle of good physical health. Help me make good choices that will continually improve my health. My body is Your temple, and I want to keep it in excellent shape for You!

From Joyce Meyer’s Ministries.

Topic: Don’t Push The Blame [Teens’ Open Heavens Thursday 1st, February 2018]

Memorise: And the man said, the woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. – Genesis 3:12

Read: Genesis 3:12-17 (KJV)

12 And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.

13 And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.

14 And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:

15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

16 Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.

17 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;

Bible In One Year: Exodus 27-28, Matthew 21:23-46

MESSAGE:

In this world, there are blame pushers and responsibility takers. If you look through the Bible, you will discover that blame pushers do not usually end well. Adam tried to push the blame of eating the forbidden fruit on Eve and ended up with a curse. Saul pushed the blame of disobedience on the people and the throne was taken from him. 1 Samuel 15:15 says:

“And Saul said, They have brought them from the Amalekites: for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed.”

Did you notice how Saul used ‘they’ when referring to the bad done, and ‘we’ when referring to the good done? Blame pushers take credit for the good and push the blame for the bad. When you are given a responsibility, if by any means, there is a shortfall, you must take the blame for it as you were responsible for it.

Key Point: Blame pushers don’t go far in life because God cannot trust them with sensitive assignment.

Hymn 13:

1. Is your life a channel of blessing?
Is the love of God flowing through you?
Are you telling the lost of the Savior?
Are you ready His service to do?

Chorus:
Make me a channel of blessing today,
Make me a channel of blessing, I pray;
My life possessing, my service blessing,
Make me a channel of blessing today.

2. Is your life a channel of blessing?
Are you burdened for those that are lost?
Have you urged upon those who are straying
The Savior who does on the cross?

3. Is your life a channel of blessing?
Is it a daily telling for Him?
Have you spoken the Word of salvation
To those who are dying in sin?

4. We cannot be channels of blessing
If our lives are not free from sin;
We will barriers be and a hindrance
To those we are trying to win.

Daily Devotional for Teen’s guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer’s Ministries.

Topic: A Shining Light [DCLM Daily Manna Thursday February 1st, 2018]

Text: Proverbs 12:17-28 (KJV)

17 He that speaketh truth sheweth forth righteousness: but a false witness deceit.

18 There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.

19 The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment.

20 Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil: but to the counsellors of peace is joy.

21 There shall no evil happen to the just: but the wicked shall be filled with mischief.

22 Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight.

23 A prudent man concealeth knowledge: but the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness.

24 The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute.

25 Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad.

26 The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour: but the way of the wicked seduceth them.

27 The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting: but the substance of a diligent man is precious.

28 In the way of righteousness is life; and in the pathway thereof there is no death.

Key Verse: “Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad.” (Proverbs 12:25)

MESSAGE:

The writer in this passage addresses the character of some individuals – how their attitude to life promotes or diminishes their worth. He talks about a diligent person who will always find food and the man who runs after fantasies and lacks good judgment. Whereas righteous men work for their food, the wicked would rather steal from others than work for honest wages. The writer also points out that a man must reap whatever he sows.

Nowadays, many people are depressed on account of the challenges of life. A large number of people go into harmful practices while seeking solution to life’s challenges. Sadly, many seek solution the wrong way and from wrong sources. By so doing, they complicate their cases. The only sure refuge in time of trouble remains the Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Many lives have been destroyed by wrong use of words. In these perilous times, the love of many is waxing cold; people are lovers of themselves and have no affection or regard for others; interpersonal relationships are going down the drain. People freely employ caustic words against others. It is also sad to see that even within the Body of Christ, this insensitivity is manifest as so-called believers tear apart their brethren through uncharitable words.

These unchristian behaviours have destroyed the faith of many and have caused heaviness of heart to others. This is the reason some churches are becoming scanty and believers who were once vibrant are no longer showing interest in the things of God. It can be traced to the carefree attitude of some Christians who are detached from fellowship and see no reason to show the all-important christian love which soothes the wounded heart.

Let’s return to the cross for cleansing so that our first love for God and fellow men can be restored. Then, there will be revival!

Thought For The Day: A soothing word doeth good like medicine.

Bible Reading in a Year: Exodus 7-9.

Flatimes’ Notice Board: Please do not prolong your salvation if you have not repented. Many are going home daily and tomorrow maybe too late.

DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.

Topic: Declare His Promises [TREM’s Daily Thursday February 1, 2018]

“For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.” – 2 Corinthians 1:20 (KJV)

Each time you declare the promise of God over your life, you are taking your position, irrespective of what you are facing.  For instance, no weapon formed against me shall prosper. Every tongue that shall rise in judgment against me is condemned. I live under an open heaven. No sad news is permitted in my family. I will not die prematurely. Long life is my portion. Whatsoever I do shall prosper.  I am taking my portion in the land of the living and my destiny will not be aborted.
Whatever I bind on earth is bound in heaven. What I lose on earth is loosed in heaven. Hallelujah! When you take your position, your position will deal with your circumstance. That’s how it works.

His promises for you are guaranteed. God cannot break His word. And because His word cannot change, His promises likewise are unchangeable. Everything that goes into a life of pleasing God has been miraculously given to us through the intimate knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. You were also given precious and better promises which are your tickets to participation in the life of God after you turned your back on the world. So you must not stop talking about them. Every moment; in your car, when you are having your shower and everywhere, declare your position. Each time you stand and proclaim the promises of God on your behalf you are taking your position. Your position became your inheritance when you gave your heart to Christ.

When you are declaring your position, the environment may become more nasty and hostile, don’t ever allow the environment to be your focus.  Keep on saying to yourself: “God is for me.  If God is for me who can be against me”? That is how to manifest and experience what grace had made available in your life. I declare over your life that the things that hitherto stood against you will begin to bow to you. Where you have hitherto failed, you will succeed.

Further Reading: 2 Peter 1:4, Hebrew 6:17-19

Daily Bible Reading: Morning- Exodus 27-28; Evening- Matthew 21:1-22

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.