Topic: Hope In God — Monday November 13, 2017.

Text: Ezekiel 17:11-24

Key Verse: “In the mountain of the height of Israel will I plant it: and it shall bring forth boughs, and bear fruit, and be a goodly cedar: and under it shall dwell all fowl of every wing; in the shadow of the branches thereof shall they dwell” (Ezekiel 17:23).

Bible scholars have identified two remarkable things in the ministry of Prophet Ezekiel. God allowed him to inject heavy symbolism into his messages to the children of Judah in order to drive home precious lessons. Besides, his message would begin with conditions that suggested despair but end with lively hope. We see all these dramatised in the vision of the valley of dry bones in Ezekiel 37. Skeletons that opened the chapter are progressively transformed by God’s power into a great lively army.

Ezekiel uses figurative language to call confederate kings against Nebuchadnezzar eagles to reflect their royal and powerful status, since the eagle is the king of all flying creatures. But the God of all creation is not moved by the military prowess of man, their “mighty army or great company.” God says these kings have “despised the oath by breaking the covenant” and judgment must come upon them. God’s standard of complete obedience to His lordship is not discriminatory. He demands it from the high and the low. He is no respecter of persons. God can subdue men and women of substance who violate His ordinances. Having announced the plan to deal with the rebellion, God now makes a solemn vow of hope for Israel and mankind in the distant future in verse 24.

He presents what Bible scholars have described as a beautiful messianic promise. God says He will visit Israel again and take away her dryness and barrenness (verse 23). The emerging “goodly cedar tree” would be a shelter to all those who run to it. Jesus Christ fulfilled that prophecy when He came into the world 594 years after Ezekiel’s ministry. Lost mankind must run to Him to be sheltered from all evils.

Thought for the day: Hope in Christ gives birth to joy.

Bible Reading in one Year: Isaiah 51-55

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: Refuse To Be Someone Else! [Monday, November 13, 2017]

Basic Scriptures: Psalm 139:1-18

Welcome to another time of devotional bliss with the God who is called the Cornerstone, the Rock of Offence, the Rock of Ages and the Governor among the nations! It is Virginia Satir who correctly wrote:

“I am me. In the entire world, there is   o one else exactly like me. There are persons who have parts like me, but no one adds up exactly like me. Therefore, everything that comes out of me is authentically mine, because I alone chose it.”The above thought agrees with the Psalmist when he declared in Psalm 139:14: “I will praise Thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” The Amplified Bible says, “I will confess and praise You for the awful wonder of my birth.” You can rejoice about the fact that you are unique and there none like you. You are the most handsome and beautiful specie of creation around, no matter your colour, the shape of your nose, les or body build. You are the best to come out of God’s store room of divine omniscience.

God cannot make a mistake and you are not a mistake! Heaven took time for your creation and existence! That means, all you will ever go through on this planet is known to the highest wisdom in the universe – Jehovah God before you were born, and your end product is a wonder and amazement! Look around and shout for joy! Stop pitying yourself! Stop insulting the God of your creation! Self – comparism is demonic. Accept your mistakes and miracles. Accept your failures and fortunes and then make your life.

Avoid following the crowd! Stand out in the world! Just as a fish cannot survive on dry land, you cannot excel in this planet until you discover who you are. Refuse to be someone else! You can only excel an original! Refuse to be a photocopy. Don’t envy anyone! Don’t compromise yourself; it is all you’ve got!

Prayer Points: Take any song of worship as led.

1. Thank God for the Word and thank Him for making you special. Thank God for where you are in life today.

2. Thank God for yourself! I effuse to compare my life or ministry to any other, so help me Lord (Pray it well).

3. I uproot discouragement as 2017 ends. I receive GRACE to begin 2018 with courage and to pray and fast in the 2018 upcoming January 21-day fasting programme again.

4. Pray in the morning, afternoon and evening of today’s devotional prayer points. (In the storms of life, ODM is LIFE’S PARACHUTE. Give a soul/family reasons to keep in touch with ODM this week).

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

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

Topic: The Devil Fears You [Monday November 13, 2017]

Scripture: …for the LORD your God shall lay the fear of you and the dread of you upon all the land … – Deuteronomy 11:25

Thought For The Day: The devil fears your future; and the bigger your future, the bigger your fight.

It is confirmed that the devil fears great futures. This was why he fought the birth and lives of our Master Jesus Christ, Moses, etc., even from infancy.

For someone like Joseph, the fight assumed a miserable and dangerous dimension – he was hated even by those related to him by blood; he was sold into slavery in Egypt and jailed for a crime he did not commit. What a fight!

Personally, when I was growing up as a child, I was very sickly – suffering recurrent bouts of convulsion and other kinds of sicknesses. My mother told me that if she went to the market to sell, they would send for her and tell her, ‘Your child (referring to me) is convulsing again o!’

The truth is, the enemy was fighting the future he feared and still fears, and eventually, that future he feared and still fears has befallen him. Millions of people around the world are being saved and brought to the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, destinies are being restored, the sick and the afflicted are being healed, delivered and empowered by the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ in our Ministry.

Beloved, the devil fears your future; and the bigger your future, the bigger your fight. But since he could not kill you in your mother’s womb, it is too late for him to do anything about your destiny. Hallelujah!

Remember This: The devil fears your future; and the bigger your future, the bigger your fight.

Assignment (S):

1. Never give up because of the current battles around your life.

2. Always realize that the fight came not to make you bitter but to make you better.

Prayer: LORD, I refuse to give up, give in or give way. I resist everything resisting Your purpose for my life, Lord, in Jesus’ Name.

FOR FURTHER UNDERSTANDING, GET THIS MESSAGE: WISDOM FROM THE LIFE OF JOSEPH- PART 3

Quote: When God reveals you to you, it will change everything and you would have no devil to fear. Culled from GO IN THIS THY MIGHT by Dr Paul Enenche

Daily Reading: Ezekiel 27:1 to 28:26, Hebrews 11:17 to 31, Psalm 111:1 to 10, Proverbs 27:15 to 16

Amazing Fact: A snail can sleep for 3 years

Today In History: 13/11/1864, The new Constitution of Greece was adopted.

Dunamis International Gospel Centre (DIGC), is a powerfully anointed church, headquartered at Abuja, Nigeria, with Dr 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: You Are Not Ordinary — Monday November 13, 2017.

“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people;…” (1 Peter 2:9 KJV)

When a child is born into A Royal Household, he is automatically a prince. It does not matter that the child is still messing up himself, he is in the line of royalty. He may not be able to do anything for himself immediately, but by reason of birth, he is a Royal Highness. He is addressed as the Prince. He is a prince because he was born that way.

Child of God, you are not ordinary. When you were born into the kingdom of God, you were born into royalty. No matter what satanic kingdom thinks, it does not change your status. Whatever your background is, it does not matter. The most important thing in the Spirit is that you are a prince or a princess. Just as it is done for an earthly prince, everything has already been put in place for you. The devil is lying to you that you are not who God says you are. Don’t accept it! You are not ordinary. You see, when you call yourself ordinary, you are insulting God. You are saying in effect that God is ordinary. Don’t you realize that our heavenly Father is the King of all kings and the Lord of all lords? He is the Monarch of the universe; how then can you be ordinary.

For too long the church has been a misrepresentation of our royalty and consequently, we find it difficult to function in authority. And so the devil is running roughshod over you because you have refused to behave like royalty.

When you truly understand what royalty is, then you will know that there are ways you ought to conduct yourself. There are books you cannot read. There is a way you ought to talk. Why? You are royalty. You are not common. You are going somewhere to explode in righteousness. See yourself as royalty. And you will get to the top. No power will be able to abort your destiny.

Further Reading: Joshua 1:1-8, Isaiah 60:1-5

Daily Bible Reading: Morning- Lamentations 1-2; Evening- Hebrews 10:1-18

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: Stake Your Claim [Monday November 13, 2017]

Praise ye the Lord. Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord, that delighteth greatly in his commandments…. Wealth and riches shall be in his house: and his righteousness endureth for ever. – Psalm 112:1, 3

I’ll never forget the time Gloria discovered that scripture. We didn’t have any money at the time, and the walls in our house were as bare as they could be. But she was ready to decorate. So she took that promise, “Wealth and riches shall be in his house” and laid claim to it by faith.

Suddenly, everywhere we went, someone was giving us a painting or some other little treasure for our house.

Unfortunately, most believers aren’t as quick to believe God for that kind of thing as Gloria was. Some even claim God doesn’t promise us New Testament believers physical prosperity, just spiritual. But the truth is, you can’t separate the two. That’s why Jesus says, “If you’ll seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, then all these [material] things will be added to you.” He knows the spiritual realm and the material realm are connected.

The physical world cannot operate independently from the spiritual world. What happens in one is simply a reflection of what happens in the other.

Obviously, your spiritual standing profoundly affects your financial standing. That’s why, when you get hold of the gospel and begin to prosper spiritually, you can begin to prosper physically and materially as well.

Don’t let anyone talk you out of God’s promises of prosperity. You don’t have to choose between financial and spiritual prosperity. Both belong to you. Lay claim to them by faith. As a born-again child of God, dare to reach out and receive the riches that belong to you!

Scripture Reading: Deuteronomy 7:8-13

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 “Old Man” Is Dead [Monday November 13, 2017]

Mark 14:41 “And he cometh the third time, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: it is enough, the hour is come; behold, the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.”

Text: Mark 14:41

It is not our individual acts of sin that make us a sinner. It is our sin nature that makes us commit individual acts of sin. Adam’s one sin produced a sin nature in all men that in turn, caused each person to commit individual acts of sin. Jesus not only dealt with the original sin that contaminated the human race, but He also dealt with each individual act of sin.

Anyone who is trying to obtain righteousness through their actions is totally missing the point. Believers are made righteous through faith in Christ, independent of their actions. It’s the same way that everyone was made a sinner: through Adam’s one sin, not through our individual sins.

At salvation, our old man (Rom. 6:6) or sin nature died, but the tendency to sin remains in the thoughts and emotions that the old man left behind. No longer does the Christian have a sin nature that compels him to sin, but he must simply deal with renewing his mind.

Sin ruled like a king through condemnation to bring death upon everyone.

Condemnation is like the general of sin that enforces its power. Likewise, God’s grace now rules like a king through righteousness to bring all who are in Christ into eternal life. Righteousness is the general of grace who defends us against all the wiles of the devil.

Remove guilt or condemnation and sin loses its strength to rule (1 Cor. 15:56). Remove the knowledge of righteousness by faith, and grace loses its power to release eternal life into our daily lives.

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: Multiplied Generosity — Monday November 13, 2017.

Read: 2 Corinthians 8:1–9, Bible in a Year: Lamentations 1–2; Hebrews 10:1–18

See that you also excel in this grace of giving. – 2 Corinthians 8:7

Cheryl was in for a surprise as she pulled up to deliver her next pizza. Expecting to arrive at a home, she instead found herself outside a church. Cheryl confusedly carried the pepperoni pizza inside, where she was met by the pastor.

“Is it fair to say life hasn’t been easy for you?” the pastor asked her. Cheryl agreed it hadn’t. With that, he brought out two offering plates that church members had filled with money. The pastor then poured over $750 into Cheryl’s delivery bag as a tip! Unbeknownst to Cheryl, the pastor had asked the pizza shop to send their most financially strapped driver over. Cheryl was stunned. She could now pay some bills.

When the first Christians in Jerusalem faced poverty, it was a church that rushed to their aid. Though in need themselves, the Macedonian Christians gave sacrificially, considering it a privilege to do so (2 Cor. 8:1–4). Paul cited their generosity as an example for the Corinthians, and us, to follow. When we use our plenty to supply another’s need, we reflect Jesus, who gave away His riches to meet our own spiritual poverty (v. 9).

Cheryl told all her customers about the church’s kindness that day, and, following its example, donated the rest of the day’s tips to others in need. An act of generosity multiplied. And Christ was glorified.

Prayer: Lord, You meet our needs in surprising ways sometimes. Use us to do that for others as well.

Our generosity meets needs and glorifies Jesus.

Insight:

The believers in Jerusalem were suffering because of a severe famine (see Acts 11:28–29), and the Macedonians—though needy themselves—responded with generous financial aid (2 Cor. 8:1–5). The Corinthians had enthusiastically offered help, but they were slack in carrying it out (8:10–11; 9:1–3). Paul reminded them that God had blessed them abundantly so that they could be generous and share that abundance (8:14–15; 9:8–11). He challenged them to honor their promise completely (8:6–12; 9:5) and quotes Psalm 112:9 to encourage their generous giving (2 Cor. 9:9).

How might God be leading you to show generosity today? Sim Kay Tee

This message was written By Sheridan Voysey [Our Daily Bread Ministries.]

Topic: Heart Trouble [Monday November 13, 2017]

I beg you to keep away from the evil pleasures of this world . . . — 1 Peter 2:11 (TLB)

We all know there is no such thing as absolute freedom. We cannot drive down the street at 100 miles an hour. You can’t swing your fist at me, because your freedom stops at the end of my nose. We can say that we want freedom to publish pornography, to push harmful drugs, to have unrestricted sex, to lie, to cheat; but if we continue with that kind of permissive freedom, we shall destroy ourselves.

Man can remain free only so long as he has the moral power to restrain his appetites. Basically, our problem is heart trouble. Our hearts need to be changed … peace will never come until we have changed human nature, until people begin loving each other instead of hating each other.

Prayer for the day: I need Your guidelines in my life, Lord. Loving You frees me from the bondage of my carnal appetite.

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.