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.]

Topic: The Essence Of Spiritual Cover [Seeds of Destiny Sunday January 28th, 2018]

Scripture: And by a prophet the Lord brought Israel out of Egypt, and by a prophet was he preserved. Hosea 12:13.

Thought For The Day: Your spiritual father is your ladder with which you attain your height in life and destiny.

God is a God of order and protocol. One of the orders established by God is the order of spiritual authority, order and protocol in order to push destinies into fulfilment. This is the essence of spiritual cover – to push someone into his or her destiny. We can see this spiritual order and protocol also at work in the life of Jesus Christ. As anointed as Jesus was, he did not function in Ministry until he submitted to the Ministry and spiritual cover of John the Baptist. John the Baptist was the known prophet in town but Jesus Christ was an unknown prophet who was coming up at the time. You know, it takes a known prophet to reveal the voice of an unknown prophet.

When Jesus submitted to the prophetic cover of John to be baptised, the Bible says, ‘But John forbad Jesus, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?’ (Mathew 3:14). John seemed to have said, ‘I am the one who should be baptised by you.’(Paraphrased). But Jesus insisted and said, ‘Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness.’ Mathew 3:15.

That was spiritual order and protocol. A spiritual father is a spiritual ladder. Your spiritual father is your ladder with which you attain your height in life and destiny. Your spiritual father is your spiritual feather with which you fly. Your spiritual father gives you the allocation of the feather you need to take off from where you are to where you need to go.

Remember This: Your spiritual father is your ladder with which you attain your height in life and destiny.

Assignments:

1. Never take your spiritual cover for granted.

2. Avoid the temptation of talking against your spiritual cover.

Prayer: O LORD, I ask that You help me to connect to my spiritual cover appropriately, in Jesus’ Name.

FOR FURTHER UNDERSTANDING, GET THIS MESSAGE: WISDOM FROM THE LIFE OF JOSEPH (PART 1)

Amazing Fact: Your skeleton keeps renewing itself every ten years which means that every ten years you get a new skeleton.

Today In History: 28/01/1999 – Ford Motor Company announced the purchase of Sweden’s Volvo AB for $6.45 billion.

Daily Reading: Exodus 5:22 to 7:25, Matthew 18:21 to 19:12, Psalm 23:1 to 6, Proverbs 5:22 to 23.

Quote: You cannot receive from a spiritual cover you have no value for. Culled from EIGHTEEN WISDOM KEYS FROM THE LIFE OF JOSEPH by Dr Paul Enenche.

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

Today’s devotional was written by Pastor Paul Enenche of the Dunamis International Gospel Centre (DIGC), headquartered at Abuja, Nigeria, with Pastor Paul and Becky Enenche, as the Senior Pastors. It is a power-packed arena where God’s Presence, Principles and Power are at work for the salvation, healing and restoration of human destinies and dignities.

Topic: Lending To The Lord [DCLM Daily Manna Sunday January 28th, 2018]

Text: Luke 5:1-11 (KJV)

1 And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret,

2 And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets.

3 And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon’s, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.

4 Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.

5 And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.

6 And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.

7 And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.

8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.

9 For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken:

10 And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.

11 And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.

Key Verse: “And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon’s, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.” (Luke 5:3)

John Mason, preacher and bestselling author, was right when he observed that “the big problem is not the haves and have nots; it’s the give nots. The Lord loves a cheerful giver – and so does everyone.” Unfortunately, many people strive to get as much as possible and give little or nothing away. That way, they continue to miss the ample blessings attached to giving.

The experience of Simon Peter in the Bible reference for meditation bears testimony to the blessedness of giving to the Lord. Peter gladly released his boat to Christ to minister to people who had come to hear God’s word. After ministering to the multitude, Christ turned to Peter and instructed him to launch out into the deep and let down his nets for a catch. He did and the catch was so huge that his boat almost sank!

Simon Peter lent to the Lord and got much more than his professional skill and experience could ever fetch him – something way beyond his imagination. The secret of getting is giving. We deprive ourselves of blessings when we begrudge the Lord the use of our “boat”. Again, those who rely on self-management and others who thrust themselves into ministry without God’s approval should remember how Peter and his colleagues toiled all night and caught nothing. True success comes when we act on God’s word.

What is it that you are keeping from the Lord? Does the Lord have access to your heart? Can He use your time and property freely? Is your talent at His disposal? How much are you “lending” to the Lord? The Lord requires that you lay your all on the altar today for only then are you assured of constant divine flow.

Thought For The Day: A closed heart and clenched fist shut out God’s manifold blessings.

Bible Reading in a Year: Genesis 46-47.

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.