Topic: Pollutants And Irritants — Sunday December 3, 2017.

Text: Ezekiel 20:27-38

Key Verse: “For when ye offer your gifts, when ye make your sons to pass through the fire, ye pollute yourselves with all your idols, even unto this day: and shall I be enquired of by you, O house of Israel? As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I will not be enquired of by you.” (Ezekiel 20:31).

The WordWeb Dictionary defines pollution as “Undesirable state of the natural environment being contaminated with harmful substances as a consequence of human activities.” It is the process of making land, water, air or other parts of the environment dirty and unsafe or unsuitable to use.

This can be done through the introduction of a contaminant into a natural environment, but the contaminant does not need to be tangible. Things as simple as light, sound and temperature can be considered pollutants when introduced artificially into an environment. But just as pollution can take place in the real world so can it take place in the spiritual.

Spiritual pollution happens when undesirable things are brought into true worship of God. It is uncleanness or defilement of man’s spiritual nature. The children of Israel knew the truth about God, that He is worthy of worship. They read it in their holy book and their leaders taught them of the providence and protection of God for their forefathers. Yet, the truth that they knew was only in theory.

In practice, Israelites polluted their spiritual life with idolatry. By copying the ungodly practices of their many neighbours, they started setting up places of worship called “high place” or Bamah to replace God’s appointed place of sacrifice. Bamah then is a human creation whereby the true worship of God was replaced with human idea and creation. Like Israel of old, many churches and church-goers today have erred in their worship of God. Spiritual pollution has taken over. Churches are everywhere but they merely represent Bamah – human high places of sacrifice. Such spiritual pollution will not profit anyone; God should be worshipped in spirit, truth and the beauty of holiness.

Thought for the day: Those that forsake the true God will wander endlessly after false ones.

Bible Reading in one Year: Luke 3-4

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: The Preservation Power Of The Blessing Of God [Sunday December 3, 2017]

Scripture: The LORD bless thee, and keep thee. Numbers 6:24

Thought For The Day: God’s commitment to blessing you is also His commitment to keeping you; the Blesser is the Keeper

There is a connection between the blessing of God and the preservation of life. One of the most potent forces on earth is the force of the blessing of God.

The blessing has so much to offer. However, due to the ignorance of this understanding, the full dividends of the blessing of God are not being maximized by the children of God. Divine blessing goes beyond material or financial possessions or increase; the blessing is also imbedded with the power for preservation.

It is clear from our anchor scripture that, to be blessed by God is to be preserved by God. The Blesser is also the preserver; the Blesser is also the keeper.

God cannot bless you and leave you to be wasted; He cannot bless you and allow your destiny to be eaten up by a witch or a native doctor. God’s commitment to blessing you is also His commitment to keeping you.

So, to hurt a blessed person is to invite the wrath and hurt of God on your life.

TODAY, I prophesy to you: in this December, you will not be wasted, your destiny will not be eaten up by any devil. You are preserved in Jesus’ Name.

Remember This: God’s commitment to blessing you is also His commitment to keeping you; the Blesser is the keeper.

Assignment(S):

1. Above anything else, desire the blessing of God.

2. Look for Scriptural provisions of God’s promises for your preservation and appropriate them accordingly.

FOR FURTHER UNDERSTANDING, GET THIS MESSAGE: THE PRESERVATION POWER OF THE BLESSING PART 1.

Prayer: LORD, I make demands on Your Blessing for my life. Let the mystery of Divine preservation through the blessing be evident in my life, O Lord, in Jesus’ Name.

Quote: The Presence of God delivers from adversity. Culled from 15 KINGDOM STRATEGIES FOR SURVIVAL by Dr Paul Enenche.

Daily Reading: Daniel 11:2 to 35, 1 John 3:7 to 24, Psalm 122:1 to 9, Proverbs 29:1

Today In History: 03/12/1586: Sir Thomas Herriot introduced potatoes to England from Colombia

Amazing Fact: The sun is 4.6 Billion years old

PROPHETIC PARENTAL BLESSING: I prophesy to you, in this December, You shall escape every disaster organized for you by the enemy. You shall fulfil your days! You shall not be cut short before your time, in Jesus’ Name.

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: Talk Like God! [Sunday December 3, 2017]

Whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. – Mark 11:23

Jesus didn’t say, “Whosoever shall speak to God about this mountain.” He said we should speak directly to the mountain the desired end result.

From a worldly point of view, that sounds foolish. But 1 Corinthians 1:27 explains that God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise. It’s always going to sound foolish to the world when a Christian talks as if what God has promised is reality, especially when those promises seem to contradict the natural evidence around us. But if you want to keep the enemy defeated, that’s the kind of talking you’d better be doing.

The Bible says God Himself talks that way! In Romans 4:17, it says, “[He] calleth those things which be not as though they were.” God doesn’t wait for circumstances to line up before He speaks. He causes them to line up because He speaks. You can do the same thing if you’ll make your words agree with His and speak them out of your mouth by faith.

“But what if nothing happens right away?” you may ask. “What if the circumstances don’t immediately change?” When Jesus spoke to the fig tree in Mark 11:14, He didn’t go back and check to see if anything had happened to it. No, once He had spoken it, He considered it done.

Follow His example. Let your faith speak. Agree with God’s Word!

Scripture Reading: Mark 11:12-23

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: Nothing Is Too Hard For Him — Sunday December 3, 2017.

“Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: is there anything too hard for me?” Jeremiah 32:27 (KJV

When God said all flesh, He means all flesh; including birds, lions, people, Presidents, Prime Minister and Ambassadors. Whatever is flesh he is God over all of them. That means He can speak to a President on your behalf and force him to do what He wants. Remember that the bible says, the heart of a king is in His hands. He can direct it to anywhere He wishes. The living obeys the God of all flesh.

I don’t know who you desire should intervene in your affairs and instead is becoming an obstacle. I declare that God will step in for you and get you through that situation. He is the God of all flesh. And there is nothing too hard for Him. That is why He can prepare a table in front of your enemy and ask you to eat while they watch.

Beloved, why will God know that there is an enemy before you and yet He still prepares a table? It is because He is the God of all flesh. He will tell them to watch you. And they will be watching you because their assignment is to wash the plates. The number of years you have been in a situation does not intimidate God. Nothing is too hard for Him, He will bring you out.

The God of all flesh delivered and brought out Daniel unhurt from the den of hungry lions. God had already spoken to the lions before Daniel was thrown in. He said to them, somebody is coming, he is not your food. But when I am through, I will send the ones for your food. And so when Daniel was thrown in, the lions did not touch him because the God of all flesh had earlier spoken to them. If you can just sit down to meditate about this God, all your stress will stop and all your struggles will be over.

Further Reading: Proverbs 21:1, Daniel 6:16-28

Daily Bible Reading: Morning- Ezekiel 45-46; Evening- 1 John 2

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: One In Spirit [Sunday December 3, 2017]

Matthew 27:18 “For he knew that for envy they had delivered him.”

Many problems arise from envy. James said, “For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work” (Jas. 3:16). Envy and strife go hand in hand and open the door to the devil to do anything he desires, in our life. Some people would never give place to the devil through confessing the wrong things, yet through envy, they give the enemy freedom to do his worst. God’s kind of love is not envious or jealous because it doesn’t seek it’s own, but seeks the welfare of others. Envy is an indication of self-centeredness.

The Apostle Paul had some opponents who were just like many people who sow strife today. They are against everything and critical of the way those in authority handle things. They make big statements about what they would do if they were in authority, but it’s all talk. They haven’t proven themselves successful in managing even the smallest things, yet they want to be put in charge of big things, just based on their talk. This is not the system of advancement that Jesus advocates (Mt. 25:21; Lk. 16:11-12; 19:17).

The Lord has united every born-again Christian by baptizing us all into the body of Christ. This is already a reality. Like it or not, want it or not, every Christian is completely one in spirit with every other Christian.

Failure to function as one, in our relationships with other believers means someone is not flowing in the Spirit. Our flesh is the part of us that gets in strife with other believers. As we operate in the Spirit more and more, we will come more and more into unity with our brothers and sisters in Christ.

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: What About Love? [Sunday December 3, 2017]

Let love be your greatest aim . . . — 1 Corinthians 14:1 (TLB)

What about love? How can you be certain you’re in love? I suggest these simple measures that you can apply to yourself. Is your love patient? Is it considerate? Can it wait until marriage for physical fulfillment? Experience says that true love’s patience is inexhaustible. True love does not assert itself, claim rights, or demand privileges. It always thinks first of the other person. The biblical phrase is it “is not self-seeking.” True love never thinks evil of the beloved. It is never suspicious, but always supportive and inspiring. True love bears all things. Nothing weakens or undermines it. It is a rock, an anchor, a foundation for all the years to come.

These simple tests are a mirror that millions have used. Physiologists, psychiatrists, and marriage counselors attest their validity. They were first recommended almost two thousand years ago by a man named Paul, in 1 Corinthians, chapter 13. That chapter provides the finest definition of love the world has received.

Prayer for the day: Your limitless love causes me to see the narrowness of mine, Lord Jesus. Fill me with Your loving Spirit.

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: Waiting — Sunday December 3, 2017.

Read: Micah 5:2–4, Bible in a Year: Ezekiel 45–46; 1 John 2

Bethlehem . . . out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel. Micah 5:2

“How much longer until it’s Christmas?” When my children were little, they asked this question repeatedly. Although we used a daily Advent calendar to count down the days to Christmas, they still found the waiting excruciating.

We can easily recognize a child’s struggle with waiting, but we might underestimate the challenge it can involve for all of God’s people. Consider, for instance, those who received the message of the prophet Micah, who promised that out of Bethlehem would come a “ruler over Israel” (5:2) who would “stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord” (v. 4). The initial fulfillment of this prophecy came when Jesus was born in Bethlehem (Matt. 2:1) —after the people had waited some 700 years. But some of the prophecy’s fulfillment is yet to come. For we wait in hope for the return of Jesus, when all of God’s people will “live securely” and “his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth” (Mic. 5:4). Then we will rejoice greatly, for our long wait will be over.

Most of us don’t find waiting easy, but we can trust that God will honor His promises to be with us as we wait (Matt. 28:20). For when Jesus was born in little Bethlehem, He ushered in life in all its fullness (see John 10:10)—life without condemnation. We enjoy His presence with us today while we eagerly wait for His return.

Prayer: We wait, Father God, and we hope. We wait, dear Jesus, as we long for peace to break out. We wait, comforting Spirit, for all the world to experience Your love.

We wait for God’s promises, believing they will come true.

Insight:

Christ’s second coming is also the theme of several New Testament passages. As Christ ascended into heaven, the angels told His disciples that Christ “will come back in the same way” they saw Him go (Acts 1:11). Jesus said His return would be unannounced and could occur at any moment; therefore, we are to “Be on guard! Be alert!” (Mark 13:33–37). The early Christians believed that Jesus’s return was “almost here” (Rom. 13:11–14). The apostle James encouraged believers to “be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near” (James 5:8; see also Rev. 1:3). The anticipation that Jesus could come any moment led some Christians in Thessalonica to become idle, quitting their jobs and waiting for Him to return. But Paul told them to get back to work and live meaningful lives (2 Thess. 3:11–13).

“While we [patiently] wait for the blessed hope” (Titus 2:13)—that wonderful day of Jesus’s return—we can ask the Spirit to help us to live “holy and godly lives . . . spotless, blameless and at peace with him” (2 Peter 3:11, 14).

In what ways can you enjoy God’s presence today as you wait for Jesus’s return? Sim Kay Tee

This message was written By Amy Boucher Pye [Our Daily Bread Ministries.]