Topic: A Just Verdict — Friday December 8, 2017.

Text: Ezekiel 18:19-32

Key Verse: “For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye” (Ezekiel 18:32).

It is a common experience in a political setting that when a new government emerges, those on the opposition often face harassments and litigations on accusations of unpatriotic conduct such as fraud, money laundering, embezzlement, mismanagement and lots more while shielding their party loyalists who might have been involved in the same or have even done worse.

In other instances, heinous crimes go unredressed because they are hidden from the ‘short sight’ of human law. This is not so with God. God is all-seeing and all-knowing. He is the impartial and righteous God who sees not only the actions but also the motives. He is the righteous God Who will by no means spare the unjust or punish the righteous. The erroneous conclusion that children shall be partakers of the punishment of their ancestors’ sins was corrected here by God in this passage. It is the soul that sins that will bear the consequences. If the son does not continue in the father’s errors and abominations, he cannot be punished for his father’s iniquities.

Genuine repentance and a righteous life deliver from the second death. The so-called inter-generational curse or inherited oppression and affliction are cancelled and destroyed at the point of genuine salvation according to this principle of God as found also in other similar passages of the Scriptures. Anyone in Christ is a new creature; old things must pass away and all things become new.

In the same vein, children born by righteous parents cannot inherit the righteousness of their parents just as the child of a medical doctor cannot inherit or practice with his father’s certificate. To be righteous, you must have a personal encounter with God. And the righteous is enjoined to hold on to the experience till the end to spend eternity with God in heaven.

Thought for the day: Righteousness is not transferable; obtain yours from God.

Bible Reading in one Year: Luke 13-16

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: Your Company And Your Safety [Friday December 8, 2017]

Scripture: A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern… He got up, rebuked the wind…Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. Mark 4:37-39 (NIV)

Thought For The Day: Who you follow determines what follows you; your association determines your protection.

Sometime ago, I had an amazing experience in the aircraft I boarded with my wife. In that aircraft, I saw a dog siting with its owner, not in the economy or business cabin but in the first-class cabin. The implication was that the dog’s flight ticket was fully paid for by the owner. The dog was also entitled to every in-flight service in the first-class cabin like everyone else. Incredible!

The truth is, there were human beings in the economy class which is the least seating category of the aircraft! The question is, was the dog richer than those human beings that sat in the economy class? NO! It was because of who it followed.

Beloved, who you follow determines what follows you. Your association determines your protection. A friend of a cultist, for instance, is prone to danger; a friend of an armed robber may not escape disaster. Your company guarantees your safety; your friends are instrumental to your preservation.

My counsel to you is: company with God permanently. Never come to the point where you are comfortable outside the Presence of God; it is a setup for disaster.

Today, I decree your deliverance from every acquaintance targeted at ruining your life and destiny. This December shall not destroy you, in Jesus’ Name.

Remember This: Who you follow determines what follows you; your association determines your protection.

Assignments:

1. Surrender your life to God totally.

2. Daily and consistently press into God in prayer, worship and the study of the Word of God.

FOR FURTHER UNDERSTANDING, GET THIS MESSAGE: HINDRANCES TO A LIFE OF PRAISE.

Prayer: O LORD, take me to the secret place of prayer and intimacy with You. Deliver me from any association that is set to ruin my life, Lord, in Jesus’ Name.

Quote: When you submit to high grace, you contact that grace. Culled from 10 PRINCIPAL SECRETS OF PRINCIPLE PEOPLE 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: Hosea 10:1 to 14:9, Jude 1 to 25, Psalm 127:1 to 5, Proverbs 29:15 to 17
Amazing Fact: Everyone has between 2 and 5 million sweat glands spread across the body.

Today In History: 08/12/1965: Pope Paul VI signed 2nd Vatican council

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: The 45 Year-Old Driver: Half Truth Is A Whole Lie! [Friday, December 8, 2017]

Basic Scripture: Numbers 17:1-10; Isaiah 27:8

Years ago, I remembered vividly: for a 45 year-old driver in the city of Aba, Nigeria, there was no better way to encounter a temptation than picking the sum of 450,000.00 Naira forgotten in a cab by a passenger, just as his landlord was threatening his with a quit notice. What would you do if your landlord gives you a quit notice and you pick up 450,000 Naira (about $1,300)? To many people, that would be the much-awaited “Promise Land.” Funny enough, the owner boarded the taxi and slipped the money under the carpet at a particular road junction because he saw policemen there.

When he got to the destination however, he just dropped ad forgot the money. Hear the unbelievably honest driver: “I want to live a decent life. The money was not my own and immediately my wife saw it, she became worried whether we would be able to trace the actual owner. We have also returned N17, 000 (about $50) which a female passenger also forgot months earlier.” The shocker of this devotional story is that the couple rejected the N50,000.00  (about 148 dollars) which the owner of the 450,000 gave them as an appreciation gift! Of course they were called “fools” by their family friends, but the words of Mahatma Ghandi  are instrumental here: “Truth alone will endure: all the rest will be swept away before the tide of time.” Edgar Mohn said: “a lie has speed, but truth has endurance.”

Today’s Scripture talks about doing things in all honesty! That is one secret of why this vision and my life by the grace of God has won victories over satanic lies form envious enemies, blackmailers and criminals from time to time! And I always admonish my children, pastors and indeed all: LET YOUR HANDS BE CLEAN ALWAYS! No wonder a Bosnian proverb also says: “He who lies for you will lie against you someday.” Close with this bombshell: “A lie may take care of the present, but has no future.”

A half truth is a whole truth! Avoid shortcuts! Avoid that dubious business, secret immorality, dark secret, etc. pursue truth, honesty; and mercy will pursue you as 2017 ends and 2018 begins because 2018 is carrying YOUR DECORATON! Amen!

TOMORROW is the last 2017 Lagos (Ogudu) Manna Mountain ANOINTING SERVICE is this Saturday December 9th ; TIME: 8am-11.30am. Theme: “THE BEST FOR THE LAST: ANOINTING FOR LAST-MINUTE MIRACLE” and Sunday December 10th is the ANNUAL ODM (INTERDENOMINATIONAL) THANKSGIVING SERVICE.

Prayer Points: Take your best worship song to God.

1. Repent from past dishonesty and secret lifestyle id sin. Dedicate your life and ask for grace daily for honesty!

2. Satan has plans to end you life and ministry in shame. Resist that plan as 2017 ends.

3. Lord, let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me and let Your mercy be my cover. Pray THE PRAYERS TO STILL SATANIC STORMS today!

4. Pray for those believing God for the fruit of the womb.

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

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

Topic: Get the Two Together [Friday December 8, 2017]

As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. – Colossians 2:6-7

Established in the faith and abounding with thanksgiving. These days it seems that’s a rare combination.

A lot of people have been taught faith over the last several years, and a lot of people have been taught to abound with thanksgiving. But it’s been hard to set the two together. Faith folks want to confess the Word all the time, but they don’t praise God very much. And those who like to praise God just want to jump and shout and dance and have a good time in the Lord. You can’t get them to get very serious about the Word.

Success comes from combining the two.

So, do it! Put them together in your life. When you run into a challenge, don’t just stand around grim-faced and white-knuckled holding on to your faith. Raise your hands high and praise. Start thanking God in the midst of what’s happening around you. Keep thanking Him for the answer until it comes.

Instead of just standing on the Word, let the joy of the Lord enable you to dance around on it a little. It will get you where you’re going a whole lot faster…and both you and God will have a much better time on the way.

Scripture Reading: Colossians 2:1-10

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: Abraham’s Bosom [Friday December 8, 2017]

Luke 23:43 “And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.”

The paradise that Jesus spoke of must have been the same place that Jesus called “Abraham’s bosom,” when He told the story of the rich man and Lazarus. Jesus descended into the lower parts of the earth after His death, and John 20:17 shows that it was some time after His resurrection before Jesus ascended back to His Father. Therefore, this paradise was “Abraham’s bosom” located in “sheol” in the lower parts of the earth.

The phrase “led captivity captive” from Ephesians 4:8, refers to Jesus liberating the Old Testament saints. When Old Testament saints died, they went to a place in the center of the earth which is called “sheol” in Hebrew. It is the Hebrew word “sheol” that is translated “hell” in Psalm 16:10, which prophesies Jesus saying, “For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption” (Acts 2:27-30).

The ungodly dead also went to “sheol” but the teaching of Jesus in Luke 16:19-31 shows that there was a great gulf fixed between the two, and those in torment (hell) envied those who were enjoying the blessings of the Lord in the part of “sheol” that was called Abraham’s bosom or Paradise.

Even though these Old Testament saints were blessed, they were not able to enter into the presence of the Lord because the atonement of Christ had not been completed. So, in that sense, they were captives. When Jesus died, He descended into “sheol” and took the captives captive. He took them to heaven, into the very presence of God and vacated that part of “sheol.” Now, all that’s left in “sheol” is hell. In the New Testament, the Greek word that is used to refer to this area is “hades” and it is only applied to the place of torment.

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 Throne of Grace [Friday December 8, 2017]

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace . . . — Hebrews 4:16

Praying is simply a two-way conversation between you and God. Thousands of people pray only when they are under great stress, or in danger, overcome by uncertainty. I have been in airplanes when an engine died; then people started praying. I have talked to soldiers who told me that they never prayed until they were in the midst of battle. There seems to be an instinct in man to pray in times of trouble. We know “there are no atheists in foxholes,” but the kind of Christianity that fails to reach into our everyday lives will never change the world. Develop the power of prayer. Man is more powerful when he is in prayer than when he is behind the most powerful guns. A nation is more powerful when it unites in earnest prayer to God than when its resources are channeled into defensive weapons. The answers to all our problems can be had through contact with almighty God.

Prayer for the day: My time spent in prayer with You, dear Lord, is the highlight of my day. To know You are waiting to have this communion humbles me. Yet You say I can come boldly—this I do now, knowing You hear me!

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: Unexpected Grace — Friday December 8, 2017.

Read: Acts 9:1–19, Bible in a Year: Daniel 8–10; 3 John

In a vision, he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight. Acts 9:12

It was an early Saturday morning in my sophomore year of high school, and I was eager to get to my job at the local bowling lanes. The evening before, I had stayed late to mop the muddy tile floors because the janitor called in sick. I hadn’t bothered to tell the boss about the janitor so I could surprise him. After all, What could go wrong? I thought.

Stepping in the door, I saw inches of standing water, with bowling pins, rolls of toilet paper, and boxes of paper scoresheets bobbing on top. Then I realized what I had done: While doing the floors, I had left a large faucet running overnight! Incredibly, my boss greeted me with a huge hug and a big smile—“for trying,” he said.

Saul was actively punishing and harassing Christians (Acts 9:1–2) when he came face to face with Jesus on the road to Damascus (vv. 3–4). Jesus confronted the soon-to-be-called apostle Paul with his sinful actions. Blinded by the experience, Saul/Paul would need a Christian—Ananias—to restore his sight to him in an act of courage and grace (v. 17).

Prayer: Both Saul and I received unexpected grace.

Most people know they’re messed up. Instead of lectures, they need a hope for redemption. Stern faces or sharp words can block their view of that hope. Like Ananias, or even my boss, followers of Jesus must become the face of grace in these life-changing encounters with others.

A Christian’s grace-filled actions can smooth someone’s path to the Savior’s presence.

This message was written By Randy Kilgore [Our Daily Bread Ministries.]