Topic — Deployment of Potentials: Key to Possibilities [Thursday November 16, 2017]

Scripture: A man’s gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men. Proverbs 18:16

Thought For The Day: You cannot hide your gift and gain a lift in life.

Potentials are latent abilities that when developed can lead to future usefulness and success. Simply put, potentials are unrealized abilities. They are the unique abilities a person is decked with by God to impact his/her generation.

It has been established that everyone on the face of the earth has been wired with one potential or the other. However, the possession of a potential or gift does not guarantee its impact; it is the conscious determination to both activate and deploy it that guarantees its manifestation and impact in time and eternity.

The truth is, there is an unbroken connection between potentials and possibilities. The deployment of potentials is the attainment of possibilities. To do what you know how to do is to reach where you are meant to reach in life.

You cannot hoard your potential and reach your destiny; you cannot hide your gift and gain a lift in life. The wisdom to deploy your potentials is the wisdom for stardom.

Beloved, determine never to shy away from responsibilities because those who dodge responsibilities die as liabilities. Inside the solution you proffer is your own solution too. Inside the answer you give is the answer to your own question too.

Beloved, your gift is a door opener to your destiny.

Remember This: You cannot hide your gift and gain a lift in life.

Assignment(s):

1. Prayerfully identify what your gifts are if you are yet to discover them.

2. Study or research more around your potentials or gifts to be able to master and fully deploy them.

Prayer: LORD, I receive the grace to identify and deploy my potentials to benefit both humanity and Divinity, Lord, in Jesus’ Name.

FOR FURTHER UNDERSTANDING, GET THIS MESSAGE: WISDOM FROM THE LIFE OF JOSEPH – PART 5B

Quote: You cannot hoard potentials and reach destiny. Culled from 365 WISDOM CAPSULES by Dr Paul Enenche

Daily Reading: Ezekiel 33:1 to 34:31, Hebrews 13:1 to 25, Psalm 115:1 to 18, Proverbs 27:21 to 22

Amazing Fact: A cockroach can live for a week without its head

Today In History: 16/11/1945, UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) was founded

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: Take A Stand For God — Thursday November 16, 2017.

“But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.” (Daniel 1:8 KJV)

Daniel said I won’t do it. Others may do it but I won’t do it. I know I am in a strange land and no one knows me here, but I won’t do it. I will not defile myself. He took a stand for God. And God honoured his faith. When you take a stand for God, He will never abandon you. He will never allow the enemies to have you in derision. He will make you have the last laugh.

In Daniel chapter 6, the king decreed that no one should pray to any God. The king had planned to promote Daniel because he was excellent in his assignment. He could be depended upon. He was a good steward, and the king purposed to promote him. And while he was planning, the devil and his agents were also planning to eliminate him. Those who wish you dead will only end up in the arena of their wish. Whatever they wish will never come to pass.

A spiritual conspiracy took place. The scripture was careful to state that they tried to get Daniel in the area of his job. They checked him out to find out whether he changed figures, but they couldn’t find anything. They checked him out to see whether he was unfaithful to his wife, they checked if he worshipped an idol in any way but they had nothing on him. The devil will check you out! That is why some of us are passing through some experiences. Jesus said, the prince of this world cometh but has found nothing in Me. In other words, the devil checked Jesus out. How dare you think that he will not check you out? The devil will check you out because he is looking for the material with which he can attack your life. But in the end, Daniel triumphed over every conspiracy because he took a stand for God. You also will triumph. No matter the gang-up of the wicked, you will come out strong. You will not see shame. The Hand of God upon your life will keep you above in Jesus’ name.

Further reading: Daniel 6:1-24, Lamentations 3:37

Daily Bible Reading: Morning- Ezekiel 3-4; Evening- Hebrews 11:20-40

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: In His Presence — Thursday November 16, 2017.

Read: Psalm 89:1–17, Bible in a Year: Ezekiel 3–4; Hebrews 11:20–40

Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, Lord. Psalm 89:15

The seventeenth-century monk Brother Lawrence, before a day’s work as cook in his community, would pray, “O my God . . . grant me your grace to stay in your presence. Help me in my labors. Possess all my affections.” As he worked, he kept talking to God, listening for His leading and dedicating his work to Him. Even when he was busiest, he would use intervals of relative calm to ask for His grace. No matter what was happening, he sought for and found a sense of his Maker’s love.

As Psalm 89 confesses, the fitting response to the Creator of all who rules the oceans and is worshiped by hosts of angels is to lift up our lives—our whole lives to Him. When we understand the beauty of who God is we “hear the joyful call to worship”—whenever and wherever we are, “all day long” (vv. 15–16 nlt).

Whether it’s standing in store or airport lines, or waiting on hold minute after minute, our lives are full of moments like these, times when we could get annoyed. Or these can be times when we catch our breath and see each of these pauses as an opportunity to learn to “walk in the light of [God’s] presence” (v. 15).

The “wasted” moments of our lives, when we wait or lay ill or wonder what to do next, are all possible pauses to consider our lives in the light of His presence.  guest writer

Adapted from a book of Brother Lawrence’s work by Harold Myra. See dhp.org/practice.

Every moment can be lived in God’s presence.

Insight:

This Messianic psalm reflects on the eternal covenant that will ultimately be realized through King David’s descendant, the Lord Jesus Christ. It develops themes of God’s love and protection for His covenant people, laying the foundation for worshiping God wherever we are.

What opportunities can you take today to praise God? Dennis Fisher

This message was written By Harold Myra [Our Daily Bread Ministries.]

Topic: Pick Up Your Sword [Thursday November 16, 2017]

But thou, O man of God….fight the good fight of faith. – 1 Timothy 6:11-12

When you’re up against the wall, don’t start begging God to break through it for you. That’s not the way He works. He’ll give you the plan. He’ll give you the power. And He’ll guarantee the victory. But your hand, not His own, is the instrument He’s going to use to get the job done. You’re going to have to stretch forth your hand by speaking and acting on the Word, even when circumstances are against you.

God gave me a striking revelation of that over 20 years ago through a vision He gave me in Beaumont, Texas. I was preparing to minister in a service there, spending some time in prayer, when suddenly I saw myself standing in the pulpit of the church. Looking up, I saw a dragon—a horrible, ugly thing—poke his head through the front door of the church.

As he came into the church, his body expanded like a balloon, filling the whole room. He was snorting fire and smoke. When, in the vision, he turned it on me, he almost burned my clothes!

As I fell back onto the floor, I saw Jesus standing nearby with a sword in His hand. Why doesn’t He do something about this? I thought. Can’t He see I’m hurting?

But He didn’t move. He just stood by with a frown on His face. I could tell He was really put out with me. The Bible says God was not pleased with those who were overthrown in the wilderness (1 Corinthians 10:5). And He wasn’t pleased with me either as I lay there on my back in defeat.

Then Jesus held out the sword to me and pointed at the dragon. The look on His face said, Get up!

I reached up to catch hold of the sword, and an instant before I touched it, Jesus turned it loose.

The sword stayed in midair of its own accord. I grabbed it and began to pull myself up. Not only did it hold firm, but it began to lift me!

I stood and touched the dragon’s chin with my sword and it split him from one end to the other. It laid him open right before my eyes. In amazement, I looked down at the sword. Why haven’t I used this before? I thought.

Don’t wait for God to slay the dragon in your life. You have the sword of the Spirit, the all-powerful Word of the living God, at your fingertips. Pick it up and use it today!

Scripture Reading: Joshua 11:5-23

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: Learn The Word By Doing It [Thursday November 16, 2017]

Matthew 26:55 “In that same hour said Jesus to the multitudes, Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and staves for to take me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold on me.”

The four gospels refer to Jesus teaching 43 times, preaching 19 times, and preaching and teaching in the same verse, six times. This indicates that Jesus spent twice as much time teaching as He did preaching. Teaching is the basic building block for making disciples. Jesus was making disciples, not just converts.

The Greek word for “disciple” literally means “a learner,” and indicates “learning by endeavor” or what we would call “on-the-job training.” Jesus said in John 8:31, “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed.” Anyone who meets this criterion is Jesus’ disciple.

“Jailhouse religion,” where a person is only sorry he got caught and is trying to get out of a bad situation, will not produce true discipleship. It takes a forsaking of all to be Jesus’ disciple. Jesus wants us to “count the cost.” It is definitely a commitment.

What the Lord has started in you, He will also continue and complete. That is not to say that your success will be automatic; we have to cooperate with what God is wanting to do in our lives. Our faithfulness may always be suspect, but God’s faithfulness is never in question. It is always God’s will to continue and complete the good work He began in us.

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: Real Security [Thursday November 16, 2017]

The foundation of God standeth sure . . . — 2 Timothy 2:19

On campus the quickest way to security is through the crowd. Precisely where students talk about being independent and on their own, you will find them practicing the most rigid conformity in dress, in speech, in moral attitudes, and in thinking. Sometimes they follow fashion at the expense of integrity. They dread to be alone. They do not want to stand out or be different. They want to conform.

After they graduate from college, many of these young people want nothing more than a good job with a big firm, and a home somewhere in suburbia. But they don’t find security then either. Only Jesus Christ can give you the security that you are looking for.

Prayer for the day: Long-sought-after security I found only in Your abiding love, my Savior, Jesus Christ.

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.