Topic: How To Access New Level [Saturday November 4, 2017]

In our life endeavours we are expected to keep climbing to new levels.

But this is practically impossible without facing new challenges.

On the way to any new level are new devils.

On the way to your future is an Esau.

Before Jesus could assume the level of global fame he was led by the spirit to the wilderness where he was tempted by the devil alongside with wild beasts therein. Mark.1

His initial level of publicity was at His baptism in Jordan.

He was immediately led into the wilderness to be approved for the new level.

Temptation is not abandonment but a stretch to spread.

Temptation advances destiny.

When you’re stretched you don’t return to previous state. Luke 4:1-14, Mark1:9-13,

Topic: Why Praise Him? — Sunday 5, November 2017.

Memorise: Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s. – Psalm 103:5

Read: Psalm 103:1-8 (KJV)

1 Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.

2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:

3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;

4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;

5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

6 The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.

7 He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.

8 The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.

Bible in One Year: 1 John 5; 2 John, 3 John; Jude, Hosea 13, Hymn: Sing Hymn 2 – What A Friend We Have In Jesus

MESSAGE:

Anytime you find it difficult to worship God, just know that pride might be creeping into your heart. If pride finds a place in your heart, God will begin to resist you from that moment (James 4:6). May God not resist you! Some people have become too big to dance for the King of kings in public. Be warned! 1 Peter 2:9 says we were created, chosen and called to praise God, and so, anything that tries to hinder you from praising God must be avoided like a plague. However, why should you be grateful to this God? Why should you thank and praise Him? Our Bible reading gives some reasons. The first reason is for the salvation of your soul (Revelation 1:5-6). When the blood of goats and that of other animals could not wash away our sins, God had to send His Son Jesus Christ to shed His Blood for that purpose (Hebrews 10:4). How much did you pay for the Blood of Jesus to wash away your sins? How much have you also paid to receive cleansing by the same Blood, whenever you fall into sin? If Christ had not offered His Blood, there would not have been one soul saved in all of the earth! So what do you do about this? Be thankful for the Blood of Jesus!

Coming up next: Open Heavens 6 November 2017: Monday daily devotional by Pastor Adeboye – He Responds To Love

Similarly, you ought to be grateful for your deliverance. Concerning this, Hebrew 2:14-15 says,

“14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.”

Revelations 12:11 also says that the Blood of Jesus Christ makes it possible for you to overcome your worst enemy: Satan. The Blood protects you from harm’s way. What about your translation from the kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, made possible by the light of the glorious gospel of Christ (Colossians 1:13)? Have you ever paid for this? How about the healing stripes? 1 Peter 2:24 says because of the lashes that Jesus received, you and I can now access divine healing for every category of sickness. What about His love? Can you pay for His incomparable love with which He has loved you, even while you were deep in sin? But for this love, where would you be by now? Yes, you ought to equally praise Him for His tender mercies that keep you alive on a daily basis (Lamentations 3:22-23). Even when you go to sleep, do you realise it is not by your power that you wake up? Psalm 3:5 says it is God who does this daily, and this is just another reason to praise and worship Him. Are you ready to give Him the thanks and praise due to His holy Name?

Action Point: Today, use every opportunity you have to just praise, thank, adore and worship the Lord.

Sing Hymn 2: What A Friend We Have In Jesus

Verse 1:
What a Friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer!

Verse 2:
Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged,
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness,
Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Verse 3:
Are we weak and heavy-laden,
Cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge,
Take it to the Lord in prayer;
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer;
In His arms He’ll take and shield thee,
Thou wilt find a solace there.

Open Heavens Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer’s Ministries.

iOpenHeavens is the electronic version of the Hard Copy. The Open Heavens devotional application is available across all mobile platforms and operating systems: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows Mobile and PC.

Topic: Only The Best — Saturday November 4, 2017.

Text: Numbers 18:20-32

Key Verse: “Out of all your gifts ye shall offer every heave offering of the LORD, of all the best thereof, even the hallowed part thereof out of it” (Numbers 18:29).

A story is told of a thirteen-year-old girl who listened intently to her pastor’s sermon about God’s love in giving the best gift of His Son to die for everyone. He spoke about the love of Jesus who willingly offered His life on the Cross for our sins.

The girl’s heart was deeply touched by what she heard. She had no money, so it seemed as though she had nothing to give to the Lord. Then, she thought of a gift that would please God very much. When the usher passed the offering plate, she whispered to him, “Please lower the offering plate.” He lowered it. She kept requesting the plate to be lowered until it reached the floor. Then, she stepped into the offering plate and stood in it. She was giving the Lord the very best gift she could ever afford. She was giving herself to the Lord! Like the Levites in today’s text, believers are to give their best as hallowed gifts to the Lord (1 Peter 2:9).

As a song writer, Howard Benjamin Grose captured it in a hymn, “Give of your best to the Master; Give of the strength of your youth; Throw your soul’s fresh, glowing ardour; Into the battle for truth.” Believers are to offer their best unto the Lord. Jesus proved His love by giving us the best – His life. We must give Him our all – heart, life, time, talents and treasures.

This can be done through total obedience to His words; we must preach the gospel, share his love, be devoted and consecrated, teach, model and mentor the old and young until Christ is formed in them. Then, you will experience more of His transforming and satisfying love.

Thought for the day: True happiness consists in giving to and serving the Lord.

Bible Reading in one Year: Isaiah 13-17

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: Hold On To The Gospel Of Grace — Saturday November 4, 2017.

“I marvel that you are so removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:” (Galatians 1:6 KJV)

The church in Galatia received Christ in the Spirit but some people wanted to pervert the simplicity of the gospel. They were telling them that their salvation was not complete until they began to do certain things. They were told they needed to be circumcised and to keep the laws and ordinances instituted on Mount Sinai. These false ministers were saying in effect: ‘You cannot just say that you are a child of God by simply receiving Jesus. It cannot be so.’ So Apostle Paul had to address the issue in a very strong manner. Any message that is contrary to God’s grace on his people is another gospel. Any gospel that tries to add laws to your salvation is another gospel. That is not the gospel that Apostle Paul preached.

Child of God, if you remove grace from the church, we have nothing left. Apostle Paul declares “But by the grace of God, I am what I am:…”(1Corinthians 15:10 KJV) If grace is taken away from the church, we will become completely naked.

There are people going about today, perverting the gospel of grace. Don’t give heed to them. They are preaching another gospel. They want to put you in bondage. But the scriptures say: “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” (Galatians 5:1 KJV) Any gospel that brings the people of God into bondage must be rejected. It is not a gospel of grace. Any gospel that will deprive you of your joy and not allow you to enjoy your Christianity must never be embraced. Child of God, hold on to the gospel of grace. His grace is sufficient. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:” (Ephesians 2:8 KJV) Continue in grace!

Further Reading: Galatians 1:6-9, 3:6-14, 5:1-6

Daily Bible Reading: Morning- Jeremiah 32-33; Evening- Hebrews 1

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: What Sound Is Your Life Producing? [Saturday November 4, 2017]

Scripture: He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness… John 1:23

Thought For The Day: The content of your character is heavier than the statements of your mouth.

The word, ‘sound’, connotes a particular auditory effect produced by a given cause. A sound could be a vibration, a noise or a statement.

From our anchor scripture, we can deduce that a voice or a sound is not just an auditory effect but a personality. This is the point where a person has not said anything with his mouth but his looks, appearance, character or nature has made a statement.

The truth is that everyone’s life has a voice; everyone’s life is making a distinct sound. The voice or sound of your life is discernable or perceivable by the world around you.

When you pass, people hear something, when they see you, they hear something. The content of your character is heavier than the statements of your mouth.

Now, the question is, what kind of sound is your life producing?

Is it the sound of holiness or the sound of wickedness? Is it the sound of integrity or the sound of iniquity? Is it the sound of corruption or the sound of purification? Is it a sound of seduction or the sound of decency?

Beloved, the sound of your life determines the direction of your life, both in time and in eternity.

Remember This: The content of your character is heavier than the statements of your mouth.

Assignment(S):

1. Determine to be a person of quality character

2. Your life should be a message to people, especially the unbelievers.

Prayer: LORD, I am sorry for any way I have been an example that is contrary to Your precepts. I receive the grace to become a mobile Epistle to the people around me, Lord in Jesus’ Name.

FOR FURTHER UNDERSTANDING, GET THIS MESSAGE: WHAT SOUND IS YOUR LIFE PRODUCING?

Quote: What people think, feel and know you to be affects your future. Culled from WHO ARE YOU? by Dr Paul Enenche

Daily Reading: Ezekiel 10:1 to 11:25, Hebrews 6:1 to 20, Psalm 105:16:36, Proverbs 27:1 to 2

Amazing Fact: Mice have facial expressions which communicate their mood to others.

Today In History: 04/11/2008: Barack Obama became the first person of biracial or African-American descent to be elected President of the United States.

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: It Only Takes a Few [Saturday November 4, 2017]

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. – 2 Chronicles 7:14

You may be thinking, Can a few people like us actually change the whole nation?

Let me ask you this: Can one demonic person change a nation for the worse? Definitely. Hitler did it in Germany, didn’t he?

Then if the devil’s power resting on a man can change a nation for the worse, you can be sure that a group of men and women with God’s power resting on them can change a nation for the better.

No nation is so far gone that God can’t change it. Israel proved that. Why, even when it didn’t exist, the devil couldn’t destroy it. God raised it back up before his very eyes.

I want you to notice something in that scripture. It says, “If my people, which are called by my name….” God didn’t say it would take everyone in the nation to get things turned around. He said, “If my people….”

Notice also that He didn’t say, “If My people will get out there and sign petitions and drum up a majority vote….” He said, “Pray.” In other words, we’re going to have to quit trying to work this thing out by ourselves. God Himself will do the healing in this land. Our job is to pray, to believe and to seek His face. Seek Him today.

Scripture Reading: 2 Chronicles 7:1-16

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.