Topic: Becoming A ‘Help Meet’ (3)

Dear Reader,

In previous series, I explained how both the man and woman have the responsibility of being a ‘help meet’ to each other. I also mentioned that if you have the knowledge of your position in the home, you will be able to carry out your role effectively as a ‘help meet’. There is a purpose why you are created for each other; knowing this will go a long way in making your home “heaven-on-earth”. You shall not fail in Jesus’ name!

To both the man and woman, let me ask you this question: Are you ‘Helping or Hurting’ your spouse? I am sure you have an answer. However, you are meant to be a help, meeting the needs of your spouse. Your spouse’s life should be better, as a result of his/her association with you.

There are some things you know about your spouse that nobody else knows. You are, however, not to use that against your partner. Do not use your spouse’s weaknesses to score a point, thereby disgracing them in public. Rather, as a ‘help meet’, you are to surround your spouse with the necessary assistance in those identified weak areas. God wants you to help your partner with all the spiritual, emotional and physical aid required.

Be a helper, not a destroyer, an asset, not a liability, a blessing, not a burden and a soothing balm, not a thorn in the flesh. You know what a thorn does? It makes life uncomfortable and unbearable. It causes pains. That is how some people are to their spouses – a grief of heart.  Instead of assisting, they surround their spouses with thorns and thistles. They have made marriage a bed of thorns, instead of roses.

There is a pathetic story of Isaac and Rebecca in the Bible.  Rebecca failed in her duty as Isaac’s ‘help meet’ and she played an unpleasant role in the incidence of Jacob stealing Esau’s blessing.  Isaac was old and so could not see because his eyes were dim.  Rebecca knew her husband’s weakness; rather than complement him by helping him, she exploited the situation by “assisting” her favourite son, Jacob, to steal Esau’s blessing.

It was Rebecca that initiated the idea of Jacob stealing Esau’s blessing.  Even when Jacob noted the loopholes in the plan, Rebecca still convinced him to go ahead.  Without her support, Jacob would not have been able to deceive Isaac to steal Esau’s blessing.

You have observed the downward trend in your spouse’s spiritual life; yet, you don’t care. Rather than take positive steps, you tongue-lash and pat yourself on the back for being more “spiritual”.  By so doing, you are treading on shaky ground, because very soon, you will realise that the body cannot move when any part of it has been knocked off!

Here is a testimony of a sister to this effect:

“I have been married for the past 10 years, and since then, there has been no peace in the home. For me, marriage wasn’t good. Things were just upside down. I had a child in 1993, and it died.  I also had a series of miscarriages.  I used to drive a car, but it was no more.  It was as if everything came to a halt!

My husband started coming to Winners’ Chapel in January 1997. He didn’t ask me to come with him, because I was already attending another Pentecostal church.  Yet, there was no peace in the home. The situation worsened; and in June 1997, the tension was so high that I said, ‘Lord, what will I do?’ I said to my husband, ‘If this is what marriage is all about, let us call it quit.’  Then, he replied, ‘Well, the door is wide open. You can go’.  It was then I had a rethink.

I came to Winners’ Chapel in June, and I began to hear the Bishop say, ‘I have been married for many years now, and there hasn’t been any concern or problem in my home.’ I said to myself, ‘Is it on this earth or on another planet?’

But somehow, God has done it for me, too! Now I know I had been the problem, not my husband. My husband is a perfect gentleman! The Bishop’s wife says that if there was anything as another life, she would still choose to marry her husband.  I, too, can joyfully say the same thing today!” – Neburabo, R.

It takes salvation to experience a new beginning. If you desire to experience this new beginning in your family this year, you need to surrender your life to Jesus Christ and He will give you the power you need to give positive contributions to your spouse. If you are ready to make Jesus your Lord and personal Saviour, please say this prayer in faith: Dear Lord, I come to You today.  I am a sinner.  Forgive me of my sins.  Cleanse me with Your precious Blood.  I accept You as my Lord and Saviour.  Now I know I am born again!

Congratulations! You are now born again! All-round rest and peace are guaranteed you, in Jesus’ Name! Call or write, and share your testimonies with me through [email protected] or08141320204, 07026385437.

For more insight, these books authored by me are available at the Dominion Bookstores in all Living Faith Churches and other leading Christian bookstores: Marriage Covenant, Making Marriage Work, Building A Successful Home and Success in Marriage (Co-Authored).

Pastor Faith Oyedepo is the wife of Bishop David Oyedepo, the founder of the Living Faith Church Worldwide a.k.a. Winners’ Chapel, and Senior Pastor of Faith Tabernacle, Canaanland, Ota, Nigeria.

Topic: His Sins Disgraced Him! [Friday, December 22, 2017]

Tennessee man who faked his suicide years ago to avoid fraud and burglary charges was later found to be alive and well in California, U.S.A, by a law enforcement official, Mr. Blue! Mark Paisley, now 34, left a suicide note in her car parked in the Delaware River near Philadelphia after being sought for credit card fraud in Pennsylvania and burglary in Tennessee. Because nobody was ever found, Mr. Blues who worked for the US Marshals Service Fugitive Task force said he has always suspected the Paisley had not killed himself. As a result, he made periodic checks on the case over the last few years and found that Paisley’s brother, Joseph, was living in the Tennessee.

After suspecting that Joseph was the fugitive, Blue discovered Joseph Paisley living in San Francisco. The man turned out to be Mark Paisley using his brother’s names. He was promptly arrested! Heaven is strongly speaking to someone using today’s devotional that no matter what it takes, your sins (hidden or secret) will found you out but it will b so better later! It is a secret now, but someday, dead or alive, it will be made public!

Are you not reading of Mr. Paisley whom you have never met? May your life not be used by heaven as a sorry example for your generation! You can still clean up; quit that secret sin/bad habit before it re-writes your history! It was Phil Knight who said: “It’s all right to be Goliath, but always act like David.” Have a right standing/clear conscience before God and man and only then can Goliath (the world and your enemies) be delivered into your hands! Never forget also that sheep will always bleat and the oxen will always low, no matter how hard you try to hide them(Vs 14 of today’s scripture).

The pen of Arthur Wellington must grip you for good today! He wrote: “Wise people learn when they can: fools learn when they must.” As 2017 runs to an end , refuse to be a fool! Drop that sin, learn now or lament later! Avoid Mr. Paisley’s disgrace! Avoid Mr. Saul’s Waterloo! Pray now!

Prayer Points: Take any song of worship as led.

1. Pray about the Word and repent form any bad habit or secret sin.

2. Lord, deliver me from public shame and misery because of this sin (mention it again now)!

3. Satan, as 2017 runs to an end, carry your load (mention that habit and sin now) and loose me forever in Jesus name.

4. Any power using sin to plan my disgrace, receive frustration now in Jesus name. Pray about your life and ministry’s progress seriously today!

5. Pray about today and any other issue(s) affecting your peace!

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

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

Topic: Your Intercession And Your Preservation [Friday December 22, 2017]

Scripture: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. Isaiah 40:31

Thought For The Day: Those given to the lifestyle of prayer are never victims of disaster. If you won’t faint, you won’t fail.

Intercession in this context simply means the act of intervening at the place of prayer on behalf of oneself or other people.

There is a connection between intercession and preservation; there is a marriage between supplication and protection. The truth is, intercessors are never cheap preys to tragedy; those given to the lifestyle of prayer are never victims of disaster.

The prayerful are not easily consumed by the epidemics of generational wickedness and tragedy. The prayerful are not easily devour-able. If you are a prayerful person, your enemies may hate you but they cannot harm you. If you are connected to God through prayer, you cannot be a victim of any circumstance.

Beloved, your supplication and that of others for you is key to your stability in life. You are not permitted to exist as an easily waste-able or killable person for as long as you are connected to God in prayer.

It does not matter what confronts you, if you will not faint, you will not fail. Elijah was hated by Ahab and his wife Jezebel. His life was threatened by the duo, but the stand of Elijah at the place of prayer gave him immunity against their wicked plot.

Today, I decree your protection against any harm arranged in this season for you and for all those connected or related to you, in Jesus’ Name.

Remember This: Those given to the lifestyle of prayer are never victims of disaster. If you will not faint, you will not fail.

Assignments:

1. Engage in intercession as frequently as possible

2. Never faint at the place of prayer; push a little, your victory and defence is sure

Prayer: LORD, I make demands on Your strength at the place of prayer. I refuse to become a victim of tragedy, O LORD, in Jesus’ Name.

FOR FURTHER UNDERSTANDING, GET THIS MESSAGE: THE PRESERVATION POWER OF PRAYER

Quote: Those who pray to God are never preys for the devil. Culled from PRINCIPLE AND POWER OF PRAYER by Dr Paul Enenche

Don’t Forget To Attend: The Home Cell Fellowship tomorrow by 6:pm. Invite your neighbours, God bless you.

Daily Reading: Zechariah 2:1 to 3:10, Revelation 12:18 to 13:18, Psalm 141:1 to 10, Proverbs 30:18 to 20

Amazing Fact: Horses can sleep both lying down and standing up.

Today In History: 22/12/1783 – Following a triumphant journey from New York to Annapolis, Maryland, George Washington, victorious Commander-in-Chief of the American Revolutionary Army, appeared before Congress and voluntarily resigned his commission.

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: Silent Night of the Soul — Friday December 22, 2017.

Read: 2 Corinthians 5:14–21, Bible in a Year: Micah 6–7; Revelation 13

If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone; the new is here! 2 Corinthians 5:17

Long before Joseph Mohr and Franz Gruber created the familiar carol “Silent Night,” Angelus Silesius had written:

Lo! in the silent night a child to God is born,
And all is brought again that ere was lost or lorn.
Could but thy soul, O man, become a silent night
God would be born in thee and set all things aright.

Silesius, a Polish monk, published the poem in 1657 in The Cherubic Pilgrim. During our church’s annual Christmas Eve service, the choir sang a beautiful rendition of the song titled “Could but Thy Soul Become a Silent Night.”

The twofold mystery of Christmas is that God became one of us so that we might become one with Him. Jesus suffered everything that was wrong so that we could be made right. That’s why the apostle Paul could write, “If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone; the new is here! All this is from God who reconciled us to himself through Christ” (2 Cor. 5:17–18).

Whether our Christmas is filled with family and friends or empty of all we long for, we know that Jesus came to be born in us.

Ah, would thy heart but be a manger for the birth,
God would once more become a child on earth.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for being born into this dark world so that we might be born again into Your life and light.

God became one of us so that we might become one with Him.

Insight:

At the heart of the concept of becoming one with Christ is His work of reconciliation in us. In today’s passage, Paul weaves several themes together—life, love, new creation, and the ministry of reconciliation—all framed by a call to act with urgency. It is because of Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection that we can be reconciled to God. Those who accept Christ’s gift of reconciliation must “no longer live for themselves” (2 Cor. 5:15). Instead, we are compelled to view everyone differently (v. 16), as people in dire need of Christ’s reconciliation. And what is this reconciliation? God will no longer “[count] people’s sins against them” (v. 19). With urgency, Paul tells us that we are now Christ’s ambassadors of reconciliation and says, “We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God” (v. 20, emphasis added).

With whom can you share this offer of reconciliation today? Tim Gustaftson

This message was written By David C. McCasland [Our Daily Bread Ministries.]

Topic: Submission Is Not Weakness II — Friday December 22, 2017.

‘’And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the gentiles by his ministry’’ Acts 21:19.

The more I think of the word submission, the more I feel impressed in my spirit to lay a little more emphasis on it. Submission is a word that is fast disappearing from the church. I see a rise of an independent spirit today across all age groups. I think technology has made us feel “self-sufficient”. Today, rather than ask a friend a question, you are quick to turn to the internet to “google it”. In fact, some people have taken it to another dimension that when they feel certain symptoms in their bodies, rather than consult a doctor, they consult the internet. Man is gradually tending towards isolation. But beloved, it is a strategy of the devil to kill you. His age-long strategy has not changed – isolate and kill. Don’t fall for it.

The reason why God has planted people in your life is to help you. Like the words of the song “I need you, you need me, we are all parts of one body. So stand with me and agree with me ..” All of that sounds to me like a call to appreciate each other, submit to each other and help each other. Thank God for technology, but technology cannot replace the role of your brother, sister or Pastor in your life.

Can you imagine Apostle Paul that penned more than half of the New Testament going back to the Apostles to give a “Ministry report”? Today, everyone is going independent. Churches are springing up with jet speed. While I am not against churches springing up, the question is who is the authority figure over your life. Paul did not just jump off because he had an encounter with God. He stayed with the Apostles until God said to them “Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them” (Acts 13:2). No matter how strong you feel about a move, submit it to the authorities God has placed over you and you cannot miss it. Submission is not a sign of weakness.

Further Reading: Acts 21:15-26

Daily Bible Reading: Morning- Micah 6-7; Evening- Revelation 13

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: Don’t Just Sit There…Arise! [Friday December 22, 2017]

Now four men who were lepers were at the entrance of the city’s gate; and they said to one another, Why do we sit here until we die…. So they arose. – 2 Kings 7:3-5, The Amplified Bible

No matter how bad the problem is you may be facing today, no matter how far under the circumstances you may be, in 24 hours you can be back on top!

“Oh, Brother Copeland, that would be impossible!”

That’s what the Samaritans thought in 2 Kings 7. Their land was being ravaged by famine. Enemy troops had surrounded them and cut off all source of supply. Mothers were eating their own children just to survive.

But right in the middle of that, the Lord told the prophet Elisha that in 24 hours the whole situation would change. Flour and barley would sell for just a few pennies and there would be abundance for all.

What did God use to turn that situation around?

Four lepers! Four lepers who, instead of sitting around feeling sorry for themselves and waiting to die, decided to arise and take their chances in the enemy camp. When they got there, they found it abandoned. All the warriors had been frightened away by the angels of God, and they’d left enough food behind to feed all of Samaria!

Sometimes you and I are like the officials in that story. We get problem centered instead of Word-of-God centered. We let ourselves be so surrounded with the loud voice of the world that the vision of our victory is pushed out of sight.

When that happens, faith and power begin to subside and life caves in on us from every side.

If that’s happened to you, stop crying about it. Stop looking at your problem and feeling sorry for yourself. That won’t change anything!

Just like He did for Elisha, God’s given you a word. He’s promised you victory. He’s promised to make you an overcomer.

So don’t just sit there till you die. Don’t accept defeat. Rise up in faith. Stand up on God’s Word and fight for your life. Get mad at Satan. Cast him out. Get mad at that sickness. Get angry with poverty and start giving.

Rise up and receive the deliverance of the Lord!

Scripture Reading: 2 Kings 6:24-33, 7:1-20

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: The Effects Of Sin [Friday December 22, 2017]

John 20:23 “Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.”

The meaning of this verse has been hotly debated for centuries. One thing is certain, it does not mean we have the power to justify a person from his sins so he can be born again; only God can do that.

Many people have taught that Jesus is saying, that if we fail to witness to others, we are retaining their sins unto them, and if we do share His love with others, then we are remitting their sins. Although there is truth in this statement, it is not what this verse is teaching. Rather, this verse deals with the temporal effects that sin has on a person’s life. Not only is there a future death penalty for sin, but sin destroys us emotionally and physically in this life too. It is this present destruction that sin brings into a person’s life that Jesus gave us the power to remit.

Through intercession we can remit a person’s sins, so even though he has sown to the flesh and deserves to reap corruption (Gal. 6:8), he will not reap what he has sown. This is done for the purpose of loosing a person from the bondage that Satan desires to hold him in, until he sees the light and repents. This is only a temporary situation and must be continually repeated if the person we are praying for continues to live in sin.

On the other hand, there are times when it is not in the best interest of the individual to remit his sins. There are times when he needs to be made painfully aware of the consequences of his sins. In these cases, we have power to retain his sins; that is, we withdraw our intercession and he reaps what he sows in hope that this will cause him to turn back to God.

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: The Giver of the Gift [Friday December 22, 2017]

He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not . . . freely give us all things? — Romans 8:32

God is the Giver of the gift. The capability of the donor usually gauges the value of the gift. We don’t usually think of a person as a gift, but actually interpersonal relationships are the most valued and cherished gifts of all. But the Bible teaches that God gave a Person as a gift to every one of us, and that Person is Jesus Christ. One day a six-year-old boy in a southern town answered a knock at the door.

It was his father, just returned from Southeast Asia. He didn’t ask, “Daddy, what did you bring me?” He threw his arms around his father’s neck and said, “Oh, Daddy, this is the best Christmas present I’ve ever had!”

Prayer for the day: Your costly gift of Jesus, Father, fills all the longings and desires of my heart.

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.