Topic: Loving One Another [Tuesday December 12, 2017]

And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men . . . — 1 Thessalonians 3:12

One of the growing psychological problems facing people today is loneliness. One of the greatest ministries that a person can have today is just being a good listener. Many people are longing not only to be loved but to have someone who will listen to them. When we love God with all our hearts, then we have the capacity to love our neighbor. The greatest need in the world today is not more science, not more social engineering, not more teaching, not more knowledge, not more power, not even more preaching—the greatest need we have today is for love. And the only way that love can be supplied is by a supernatural act of the Holy Spirit that transforms lives.

The love that God gives is not the ordinary love that we find in the world today. When we love our neighbors, it is not our loving with natural love, it is God loving through us. If you are willing to do this, God will give you His love.

Prayer for the day: I love You, Jesus. How often I take for granted Your immeasurable act of love for me upon the cross. Help me to keep my eyes fixed on You, that through Your supreme example I can reach out to my neighbor.

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: You Are Completely Saved — Tuesday December 12, 2017.

“Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.” Hebrews 7:25 (NKJV)

Today, we see many people who claim to be believers but go around with their heads bowed low in despair, discouragement and disappointment, especially when they consider their current realities. They parade themselves as believers, yet their utterances do not in any way suggest that they are. Their words do not align with what is expected of a believer. They complain about the challenges they face in our society and the consequent effects on their families, finances, health, academics, and all that as if God is in trouble. Are you in that category? The time to change your confession is now. Beloved, your God is still sitting. He is in control! He has everything in place for your victory, but you must align with Him with a knowing that your salvation is total. Jesus did not pay the price for you to go to heaven but live in sickness, disease etc here. No! The price for your salvation was fully paid.

Christ is able to save to the uttermost those that come to God through Him. What does that mean? The scripture is simply telling us that, as many, as go to God through Christ, are totally saved. Totally because the work of salvation that Christ performed at Calvary is perfectly perfect and completely complete. Nothing can be added to it neither can anything be subtracted from it. The Amplified version puts it this way; “Therefore He is able to save to the uttermost (completely, perfectly, finally, and for all time and eternity) those who come to God through Him…”

As believers, the finished work of Christ provides us with the assurance of salvation – total, complete, and perfect deliverance. This deliverance is all-encompassing – covering every area of your life: health, finances, education, business, career, relationship and family. Not only are we covered all-around, this deliverance does not have an expiry date. It lasts forever. We have a forever Priest after the order of Melchisedec, who constantly makes intercession for us. This is a basic truth which must be settled in your heart.

Further Reading: Hebrews 7:24-26, 8:1-6

Daily Bible Reading: Morning- Hosea 9-11; Evening- Revelation 3

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: Tune In [Tuesday December 12, 2017]

He that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries. – 1 Corinthians 14:2

Have you ever looked around at your own life or the life of the Church and wondered why it’s taking the Lord so long to get things in order?

If so, let me tell you something I learned a few years ago. He’s not the One who’s slow. We are!

It’s not God’s fault that the Church still has spots and wrinkles. It’s not His fault that we’re not living in total victory. He’s always ready. He’s the great “I AM.” We’re the ones who fall short.

Compare it to turning on a radio. If you don’t have it tuned to exactly the right frequency, you won’t be able to hear the station. It’s not the station’s fault. It’s sending out signals perfectly. The problem is, you haven’t tuned in to it.

That’s what’s happening with you and me. We haven’t fine tuned our spirits enough to pick up the voice of the Spirit. Oh, we pick up a few things now and then, but mostly we just fade in and out. We don’t stay on God’s wavelength all the time.

How do you adjust your spiritual tuner?

By praying in the spirit. Praying in other tongues is the fastest, most effective method I know of to tune in to God—because instead of praying your own thoughts and plans, you’re praying His!

The Bible says that when you pray in tongues, you’re speaking mysteries to God. In the spirit, you’re calling forth parts of God’s plan you don’t even understand with your natural mind. By the unction of the Holy Spirit, you’re praying the perfect will of God.

You see, God knows how to deliver His people. He knows how to turn us into the glorious Church without spot or wrinkle. He has a plan that will do it. And if we’ll tap in to that plan and start releasing it into the earth by praying in the spirit, praying according to His will and not our own, this age will draw to a close quickly. If we’ll all get our minds and hearts in tune with what God’s doing, there will be an explosion of the power of God that will turn this world around!

Start adjusting your spiritual tuner today. Spend an hour praying in other tongues. Set your spirit on God’s wavelength and just see how quickly the spots and wrinkles begin to disappear from you.

Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 14:1-19

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 Cure for Anxiety — Tuesday December 12, 2017.

Read: Philippians 4:1–9, Bible in a Year: Hosea 9–11; Revelation 3

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Philippians 4:6

We were excited about moving for my husband’s job. But the unknowns and challenges left me feeling anxious. Thoughts of sorting and packing up belongings. Looking for a place to live. My finding a new job too. Making my way around a new city, and getting settled. It was all . . . unsettling. As I thought about my “to-do” list, words written by the apostle Paul echoed in my mind: Don’t worry, but pray (Phil. 4:6–7).

If anyone could have been anxious about unknowns and challenges, it would have been Paul. He was shipwrecked. He was beaten. He was jailed. In his letter to the Philippian church, he encouraged his friends who also were facing unknowns, telling them, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” (v. 6).

Paul’s words encourage me. Life is not without uncertainties—whether they come in the form of a major life transition, family issues, health scares, or financial trouble. What I continue to learn is that God cares. He invites us to let go of our fears of the unknown by giving them to Him. When we do, He, who knows all things, promises that His peace, “which transcends all understanding, will guard” our heart and mind in Christ Jesus (v. 7).

Prayer: Dear God, what a blessing to know we do not have to be anxious about anything! Remind us that we can come to You and tell You about everything. Thank You for who You are and what You are doing in our lives.

God’s care for me eases my mind.

Insight:

Today’s reading from Philippians 4 speaks of the wonderful resource of prayer and how through prayer we can take our anxieties to the Lord and find His comfort and peace. But in the verses directly preceding Paul’s prayer reminders, he gives us additional reasons to replace anxiety with trust. He says, “Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near” (v. 5). We have the promise of God’s nearness to calm our fears. In every situation, our God calls us to face life in His presence and provision. Bill Crowder

This message was written By Karen Wolfe [Our Daily Bread Ministries.]

Topic: Fitness: Shine Your Inside! Dignify Your Outside! [Tuesday, December 12, 2017]

Some spend billions of money on beauty each year. Beauty product factories are getting richer, while people consume drugs worth 2 billion Naira ($5,476,760.00) annually just to keep fit! Yet, the principal element of glamour which is cheaper than a lipstick, more powerful than a blow dryer and as vital as our well-being as your next breath, is neglected daily.

This neglected beauty and health product given freely by nature to man is physical exercise! Carrying out regular exercises, not only increase energy muscle tone, bone strength, cardiovascular endurance, lung capacity, flexibility, circulation and metabolism, but it decreases body fat, blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol levels. Exercising and keeping fit can also reduce depression. New findings also indicate that exercise also increases creativity. So when you are sometimes dry and not inspired, het into exercise to resume the creative system. THAT MEANS EXERCISE CAN BRING THE GENIUS IN YOU! Also, regular exercises and physical activity have been confirmed to reverse the effects of aging and increase life expectancy.

For each hour you invest in exercise, you gain two or more in longevity. Just as physical activity can prevent early death, so regular  spiritual activities such as fasting, daily Bible reading, praise and worship, joining an evangelism (soul winning) club, visiting hospitals or orphanages, daily meditations exercises on the Word of God , learning to hear the God regularly, running from sin, etc, can prolong your level of grace anointing. There are even times trials and temptations are exercises allowed by God to train your spiritual muscles and tone (Heb.12:11). 1 Timothy 4:7 sums it all, that despite the great advantage of physical and mental exercise, “Exercise thyself rather to godliness.” That means, strive to keep fit spiritually!

Note: Take good care of your body! It is the only place you have to live in on this planet, then make sure the outside is a good reflection of the inside of you! As 2017 ends, shine your inside (spiritual exercise)! Dignify your outside (physical exercise)! Pray now!

Prayer Points: Take a song of worship as led…

1. Repent from any laxity or dryness.

2. Any arrow of spiritual death sent into my life and ministry, burn in Jesus name. Pray any other(s) now! Pray about today now!

Note: Do regular physical and spiritual exercises. Keep your life busy!

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

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