Topic: A Worthy Image [DCLM Daily Manna Friday January 12th, 2018]

Text: Leviticus 21:16-23

Key Verse: “No man that hath a blemish of the seed of Aaron the priest shall come nigh to offer the offerings of the LORD made by fire: he hath a blemish; he shall not come nigh to offer the bread of his God.” (Leviticus 21:21).

Secular kingdoms and kings are usually careful in selecting their ambassadors and worthy representatives. They ensure that their choice truly reflects and represents the image, wealth, strength, glory and splendor of their land. As such, no one who appears weak, feeble, fearful and incompetent with any form of impediment is chosen for that office.  They, therefore, expect their would-be representatives to be a true replica of those they represent.

In today’s passage, God specifies the physical qualifications of the priests who were to be His representatives and servants. They were to be whole and perfect without any form of physical deformity. Reasons for this are quite obvious. They were to be the true representatives of the Almighty who is in everything, complete and perfect.

The priest who stood between God and man was to rightly reflect the nature and image of God. It’s important to remember that the Old Testament priesthood and sacrificial order were pointers and foreshadows the perfect New Testament order. The priest was a type of Christ, the perfect and blameless High Priest. Though the issue of physical deformity does not disqualify one from the ministry, we must not lose sight of the symbolic relevance. God still demands perfection from His people today. No one with any form of deformity or blemish is fit for God’s service. And if such is not fit for His service, he is equally not fit for His holy abode.

Remember, Christ is coming for a glorious and perfect Church. So, pray for cleansing by His blood, live a righteous life and obey the word of God in all things to be fit for the Mater’s use here on earth and fit to dwell with Him in heaven. You must possess “holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14).

Thought For The Day: It’s only clean vessels that are fit for the Master’s use and honour.

Bible Reading in one Year: Job 32-34

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: Contemporary Examples Of Men Of Vision [Seeds of Destiny Friday January 12th, 2018]

Scripture: Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he. Proverbs 29:18.

Thought For The Day: If you follow God’s principles, you will get His products.

Vision is the lifter of men who conceive it. Men of vision are lifted by the vision they conceive and pursue. Vision is the secret of progress and greatness of the visionary.

In our study yesterday, we looked at practical examples of men of vision from the Bible.

Today, we shall look at men of vision in our contemporary world and how their vision brought them to relevance in life:

1. J. F Kennedy

On May 25, 1961, the President of America, John F. Kennedy announced before a special joint session of Congress the goal of sending an American safely to the Moon before the end of the decade.

Though he was assassinated two years after his declaration, on July 20th 1969, Neil Armstrong became the first man to step on the lunar surface. When he landed from the moon, he heroically said, ‘That was one small step for man and one giant leap for mankind.’ John Kennedy saw it in 1961 and it came to pass in 1969. What you do not see coming will never come to pass.

2. Martin Luther King Junior

On the 28th of August 1963, Martin Luther King Junior, on the steps of Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC said, ‘I have a dream; one day, this nation will rise up and live the true meaning of its creed. We hold this truth to be self-evident that all men are created equal. I have a dream that one day, on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood. I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the colour of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream…’

Thirty five years later, a black man by the name Barack Obama was nominated as the presidential candidate of a major political party in America and on January 20th 2009, he was sworn in as the 44th President of The United States of America. Some people thought that it was Barack Obama’s charisma that was solely responsible for his rise to power. No! Someone prophesied thirty five (35) years earlier that people would not be judged by their colour but by the content of their character.

Beloved, the dreams of today are the realities of tomorrow.

God is a God of principles; if you follow God’s principles, you will get His products. God is also a God of vision. Be a man and woman of vision as a child of God.

Remember This: If you follow God’s principles, you will get His products.

Assignments:

1. Endeavour to study the lives of other men of vision and what they achieved.

2. Follow their steps in order to be great in life.

Prayer: O Lord, I ask for grace to follow Your principles for my life in order to get Your products in Jesus’ Name.

FOR FURTHER UNDERSTANDING, GET THIS MESSAGE: THE LIFE OF VISION.

Amazing Fact: The human brain can read up to 1,000 words per minute.

Today In History: 12/01/1904 – Henry Ford set a new land speed record when he reached 91.37 miles per hour

Daily Reading: Genesis 26:17 to 27:46, Matthew 9:1 to 17, Psalm 10:16 to18, Proverbs 3:9 to 10.

Quote: At the place of prayer, man is enabled to see his life from the perspective of God. Culled from PRINCIPLES AND POWER OF PRAYER by Dr Paul Enenche.

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: Fitting In [Our Daily Bread 12th Friday January, 2018]

Read: Malachi 3:13–18, Bible in a Year: Genesis 29–30; Matthew 9:1–17

Then those who feared the Lord talked with each other, and the Lord listened and heard. Malachi 3:16

Lee is a diligent and reliable bank employee. Yet he often finds himself sticking out like a sore thumb for living out his faith. This reveals itself in practical ways, such as when he leaves the break room during an inappropriate conversation. At a Bible study, he shared with his friends, “I fear that I’m losing promotion opportunities for not fitting in.”

Believers during the prophet Malachi’s time faced a similar challenge. They had returned from exile and the temple had been rebuilt, but there was skepticism about God’s plan for their future. Some of the Israelites were saying, “It is futile to serve God. What do we gain by carrying out his requirements . . . ? But now we call the arrogant blessed. Certainly evildoers prosper, and even when they put God to the test, they get away with it” (Malachi 3:14–15).

How can we stand firm for God in a culture that tells us we will lose out if we don’t blend in? The faithful in Malachi’s time responded to that challenge by meeting with like-minded believers to encourage each other. Malachi shares this important detail with us: “The Lord listened and heard” (v. 16).

God notices and cares for all who fear and honor Him. He doesn’t call us to “fit in” but to draw closer to Him each day as we encourage each other. Let’s stay faithful!

Prayer: Lord, help us to keep on encouraging one another to stay faithful to You in this faithless world.

Our faith may be tested so that we may trust God’s faithfulness.

Insight:

Malachi’s prophecy is a fitting conclusion to the Old Testament. (Malachi may not have been his actual name since it means “My messenger,” which is more a title than a name.) The prophecy challenges Israel’s condition following their return from exile and anticipates their coming Messiah. Chapters 1–2 give a series of rebukes for the waywardness of God’s people, leading to the declaration, “You have wearied the Lord with your words” (2:17). In response to Israel’s spiritual drifting, God reaches out with a promise for their rescue. Malachi 3:1 says, “ ‘I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,’ says the Lord Almighty.” That messenger was John the Baptist who prepared the way for Jesus—Israel’s long-hoped-for Messiah (Matthew 11:10). Even when we are faithless, our God is faithful!

How does God’s faithfulness encourage you to be faithful? Bill Crowder

This message was written By Poh Fang Chia [Our Daily Bread Ministries.]

Topic: They Must Submit! [Our Daily Manna ODM Friday, January 12th, 2018]

Basic Scriptures: Psalm 18:44-45, 66:3, exodus 12:29-36.

When your ways please the lord this year, He will make all your enemies to be at peace with you BY force, prov.16:7! The open Bible in basic English (BBE) puts it this way : “when a man’s ways are pleasing to the lord, he makes even his haters to be at peace with him” Yes, YOUR HATERS will SUBMIT BY FORCE this year because they will see JEHOVAH AT WORK DECORATING YOU! Ah! I SEE A CHANGE OF GARMENT ANOINTING COMING UPON YOU THIS YEAR! That is why the lord (not man or friends) must be all that you desire to please daily this year!

Haman submitted to mordecai at last, Ahithophel submitted to David at last via suicide! Goliath submitted by force! The 5 kings submitted to Abraham! Jericho submitted to Joshua and Nebuchadnezzar submitted to God that has never lost a battle! Yes! Amalek was forced to submit to Moses! Mrs potiphar submitted to Joseph by force when JEHOVAH decorated him! That stubborn enemy of your destiny must submit this year! Barrenness submitted to Zachariah and Elizabeth! Shame marital connection submitted to Ruth! Jezebel and Ahab submitted to Elijah! Jordan submitted to Elisha at his change of garment ceremony at the river Bank. 2 kings 2!

The book of psalms chap 66:3 declares; say unto God, how terrible art thou in thy works! Through the greatness of thy power shall thine enemies submit themselves unto thee. As you sow your decoration change of garment seed and as you pray the decoration psalm you shall receive, what was called shame shall be called fame because the lord shall set your head to be far above your haters! In 2018, the lord will cause something terrible to happen in the camp and lives of your enemies for good that will compel your enemies to submit to you by force!

Pharaoh and Egypt witnessed the decoration of the Jews in Egypt and they had to fully submit to Moses! Oh determine to complete this fast and be at the world ANOINTING change of garment night! This is your year! With all fervency, begin to pray now. Also pray the DECORATION PSALM which will be sent to you after sowing! WHATSAPP AND E-MAIL ARE BETTER AND CONTAIN FULLER PRAYERS than just texts! This is your year!

TODAY IS DAY 7 OF THIS FASTING PROGRAM! Turn to WAR AGAINST HAMAN-13 and pray today’s prayers. Then be at the TBS Lagos on Friday January 26th 7pm for the change of garment world anointing decoration night! Bring a second dress you can afford to tear after prayers! It will be great!

Prayer Points: Take song 1: draw me nearer

1. Thank God for today’s word and pray as you are led

2. Decree that evil men and women must submit to you this year.

By Bishop (Dr) Chris E. Kwakpovwe (Cek)
Publisher/Writer Of ODM And

Rev (Mrs) Flora E. Kwakpovwe (Fek)
Co-Publisher/Writer Of ODM.

Topic: Strive For Excellence [TREM’s Daily Friday January 12th, 2018]

“Observe people who are good at their work –skilled workers are always in demand and admired; they don’t take a backseat to anyone.” – (Proverbs 22:29 (MSG)

Now is the time to position yourself to do things better and to take your place. When you take a cue from the story of creation, you would notice that God did not subscribe to the status-quo which was darkness. He took a decision to do something about the darkness{status-quo}and when He was done, He looked at what He had created and declared that it was good. In other words, He affirmed that He had put in His best. He found fulfilment in what He had done. He saw that His work was excellent.

Beloved, part of your goal should be to strive for excellence always. God’s intention is that you would do your work the way He would have worked if He were in your shoes. The scriptures record concerning Jesus that “He did all things well.” When you begin to display the excellence that is required from a child of God, you make it very easy for the gospel to penetrate your work environment because you are the ‘Jesus’ the people know and you are the ‘bible’ they read.

Let me remind you that everywhere you go, your assignment as a believer is to plant the kingdom. Just like the three Hebrew children we read in the book of Daniel, let people look at you and seek the God you serve whether at work or in church. Let your light so shine that men will see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

I encourage you to put to practice, from Monday to Saturday, what you learnt on Sunday. The word of God is practical and achievable. It is not a theory or a myth! So always dare to make the difference. The word will always produce without fail.

Today, I declare the knowledge of witty inventions over your life. No one will rob you of your innovation. It is your time to be recognized. In the midst of the seeming darkness in our nation, you will shine as light.

Further Reading: Genesis 1:31, Daniel 3:28-30, Mathew 5:16

Daily Bible Reading: Morning- Gen. 29, 30 / Evening- Matt: 9:1-17

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: Our Only Hope Is Jesus [Kenneth and Gloria Copeland, Friday January 12th, 2018]

Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope: Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. – Acts 2:26-27

More than 21 years ago, God said something to me that will mark my ministry forever. It was this: The only hope that any man has anywhere in the world is faith in Jesus Christ.

In light of what’s happening around us today, the truth of that statement is more painfully obvious than ever before. We are a generation with diseases no man can heal, with problems no man can solve. What fleeting successes we have are quickly overshadowed by new and greater crises.

All too often, that’s as true for believers as it is for unbelievers. It shouldn’t be. But it is. Believers are being killed by the same diseases that are devastating the rest of the world. They’re being plagued by the same problems. And many are walking around without hope—just like the rest of the world.

Why? Because the only hope that any man has is faith in Jesus Christ. And the majority of Christians don’t know how to live by faith.

Instead of being filled with the Word and with faith, they’ve been stuffed full of religious tradition and superstition. And they’re suffering. When the devil hits them with sickness and disease, with poverty or depression or divorce, they often stand by helplessly as it destroys them. They simply don’t know what else to do. The Bible says, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge…” (Hosea 4:6).

But you know. Your hope is in Jesus. Trust Him. And tell the world—their hope is in Him too.

Scripture Reading: Mark 4:35-41

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.