Topic: Waiting for Godot… [Thursday, October 26, 2017]

Basic Scripture: Isaiah 12: 1-6; Philippians 3: 8-14

There is a drama write-up titled, “Waiting for Godot” written by Samuel Becket. In the drama, the Irish author portrayed a picture of a GLOOMY ATMOSPHERE in which the actors had an idea of what had to be done, but lacked the zeal to implement it because there was no sense of joy.

This play is described as a tragicomedy in which two characters, Vlandimir and Estragon, wait for the arrival of someone named Godot, WHO NEVER ARRIVES and while waiting, they encounter three other characters. Waiting for Godot is Becket’s translation of his own original French play, “En attendant Godot,” and is subtitled (in English only) “a tragicomedy in two acts.” The English Language version was premiered in London in 1955.

In a poll conducted be the British Royal National Theatre in 1990, it was voted the “most significant English language play of the 20th century.” Yet, it is a TRAGICOMEDY! Like this drama piece, millions similarly and most times, seem to know what they want from life and ministry, but they just cannot key in or arrive there, because some things are missing: Zeal and Joy. Zeal is like, “Andrews Liver Salt” in water. It is infectious and spreads.

Whatever you do without joy and zeal in your life is difficult to finish. Galatians 4:18 is great: “But it kids good to be zealously affected in a good thing.” Without zeal, nothing good can survive. If the devil can succeed in killing your joy, he has killed your destiny. Some are not able to work for God again in their churches because of problems. Refuse to shake! Only those who refuse to be shaken get things shaken. When you stop worrying, you start winning (Heb 12:1). Your life is a battle with a sure victory.

Be a man – (1 Kings 2:2)! Be tough! No gentle ever returns to from the war front! Mr. GODOT never arrived in this drama! The actors waited in vain! But for you and your family, something great is about to happen! You will not wait in vain! Your last bus-stop will not be a comedy mixed with tragedy – a tragicomedy! Refuse to cry or crawl! Disappoint your disappointments! The cheapest way up to forget the past, make the best of today and be excited about tomorrow. Anytime you hide in worry, your future becomes uncertain. You and all yours will make it in Jesus name!

THE LAGOS (LEKKI) MOUNTAIN INTERNATIONAL ANOINTING SERVICE is Saturday October 28th ; TIME: 8am-11.30am. VENUE: Manna Mountain Lekki (CHISCO B/STOP BEHIND OAMDO FILLING STATION) Theme: “AHITHOPHEL MUST DIE! HOUSEHOLD WICKEDNESS MUST DIE” Come with NAMES OF FAMILY MEMBERS and any point of contact. OCTOBER IS YOUR DAY!

Prayer Points: Take any song of worship as led.

1. In your own words, pray about today’s word as led now.

2. Pray for those in psychiatric hospitals today. You will not join them. Resist and reject present and future depression now. Your joy cannot be killed!

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

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

Topic: Position Yourself in the Strong Tower — Thursday October 26, 2017.

“The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.” – (Proverbs 18:10 KJV)

In the book of Judges chapter 9, the Bible tells us that after the death of Gideon, one of his sons, Abimelech felt that it was his turn to rule. He went to his maternal home town, plotted with his maternal relatives and murdered 70 of the sons of Gideon, his half brothers. But God who knows how to preserve his own, preserved one of the sons of Gideon.

Eventually, Abimelech began to rule over Israel. He brought his mother’s relatives and put them in positions of authority and by so doing, crushed every opposition from perceived enemies. But there is always a day of recompense for the wicked. Judges 9:50-55 tells us that when Abimelech came against the city called Thebez, God’s people ran to the tower in the middle of the city and climbed to the top. While they were inside, Abimelech was still attacking and was ready to burn down the gate so as to come in and slay God’s people. Then a woman cast a stone from the top of that tower. The stone hit Abimelech’s skull and he knew that he was going to die. Then he told his armour bearer to kill him so that it will not be said a woman killed him.

Now there is a principle I want to show you in order to break the lordship of Satan over your life. And that is whether you like it or not, you will always be confronted by difficulties. There will always be an Abimelech to contend with. But it is the way you position yourself that will determine whether you come out or not. Abimelech came against the people of God, but they positioned themselves in the strong tower and came out victorious. So also challenges of life will always come but the good thing is that we are on the side of victory. Take your position in the strong tower, and you shall be victorious over every challenge in life.

Further Reading: Judges 9:1-5, 50-55, 1 John 5:4-5

Daily Bible Reading: Morning- Jeremiah 9-11; Evening- 1 Timothy 6

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: Position Yourself in the Strong Tower — Thursday October 26, 2017.

“The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.” – (Proverbs 18:10 KJV)

In the book of Judges chapter 9, the Bible tells us that after the death of Gideon, one of his sons, Abimelech felt that it was his turn to rule. He went to his maternal home town, plotted with his maternal relatives and murdered 70 of the sons of Gideon, his half brothers. But God who knows how to preserve his own, preserved one of the sons of Gideon.

Eventually, Abimelech began to rule over Israel. He brought his mother’s relatives and put them in positions of authority and by so doing, crushed every opposition from perceived enemies. But there is always a day of recompense for the wicked. Judges 9:50-55 tells us that when Abimelech came against the city called Thebez, God’s people ran to the tower in the middle of the city and climbed to the top. While they were inside, Abimelech was still attacking and was ready to burn down the gate so as to come in and slay God’s people. Then a woman cast a stone from the top of that tower. The stone hit Abimelech’s skull and he knew that he was going to die. Then he told his armour bearer to kill him so that it will not be said a woman killed him.

Now there is a principle I want to show you in order to break the lordship of Satan over your life. And that is whether you like it or not, you will always be confronted by difficulties. There will always be an Abimelech to contend with. But it is the way you position yourself that will determine whether you come out or not. Abimelech came against the people of God, but they positioned themselves in the strong tower and came out victorious. So also challenges of life will always come but the good thing is that we are on the side of victory. Take your position in the strong tower, and you shall be victorious over every challenge in life.

Further Reading: Judges 9:1-5, 50-55, 1 John 5:4-5

Daily Bible Reading: Morning- Jeremiah 9-11; Evening- 1 Timothy 6

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: Take Your Place [Thursday October 26, 2017]

But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ…and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. – Ephesians 2:4-6

God has raised us up to sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus! That’s what the Word of God says. Very few of us have actually dared to believe this. We’ve uplifted Jesus. We’ve exalted Him—and rightly so! But at the same time, we’ve unwittingly belittled what He did by not allowing Him to bring us alongside Him.

That was God’s purpose at Calvary: to bring us alongside Jesus. To make us what He already was.

You see, Jesus didn’t need exalting. He was exalted before He ever came to this earth. He was already one with the Father. He didn’t need to get authority over the devil—He’d never lost it!

He put on a physical body so that He could come to earth as a man and gain authority over sin and sickness, demons, fear, poverty and all the other curses that came when the law of death moved into the earth—and He did it. He succeeded. He mastered everything in the world of the intellect, everything in the physical world.

Before He ascended, He said, “All authority is given unto Me both in heaven and in the earth.” Then He turned around and gave that authority to us by giving us His Name.

You and I are the reason Jesus came to earth and died and lived again. He didn’t do it for Himself. He did it so He could bring us alongside. So we could wear His Name and wield His authority on the earth. He did it so that we could stand before God and be everything to Him that Jesus is.

When you were born again, you were made the righteousness of God in Christ! So as a born-again believer, dare to receive this message, to meditate on it and to act on it. Go ahead—dare to take your place!

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 2:1-13

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: Bread of Life [Thursday October 26, 2017]

I am the living bread that came down from heaven . . . — John 6:51

In John 6:48 we read that Jesus said, “I am the bread of life.” Jesus had just fed 5,000 people with five loaves and two fishes. They were all excited and thrilled over the great miracle that had occurred, [but] Jesus was talking about something more important than social needs. Bread in the Scriptures is a symbol of spiritual life.

Man has an inborn hunger for God. He cannot be satisfied with anything less than God. God alone can supply the bread which satisfies the inner longing of your soul and the hunger of your heart. . . . The Bible says that He is the Bread of Life.

Prayer for the day: Lord Jesus, thank You for satisfying the yearnings deep down in my heart. Your presence fulfills the needs of my soul, and I rejoice.

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: Expect Persecution – Thursday October 26, 2017.

John 15:19 “If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.”

Text: John 15:19

We should not think it is strange to be persecuted. “All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (2 Tim. 3:12). We can actually rejoice because we are being persecuted for Jesus’ sake, and the Lord will be with us in the midst of the persecution. When we stand before Him, there will be more than ample reward.

Persecution is a token that those persecuting you are under conviction. They realize that they are not living what your words or actions are advocating and in self defense, they attack you, who they perceive is the source of their conviction. If you understand this, it makes persecution much easier to take. They aren’t just mad at you; they are convicted. When the gospel is presented in the power of the Holy Spirit, there will always be either revival or riot, but not indifference.

In the midst of persecution, Satan will try to convince us that the strife is all our fault. If he succeeds, then we back down and the pressure is off his followers. However, Jesus suffered continual rejection and persecution, yet we know that the problem was not with Him, but with those who rejected Him.

Jesus makes it clear that persecution is an inevitable part of living a godly life, so that we will not fall prey to introspection and self-condemnation when rejection comes. If our sinless Savior was rejected, then certainly we will be too. Don’t feel guilty or condemned when persecution comes. The Word strips people of the disguises they have been hiding their sins behind, and the result is persecution.

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: Exceedingly Better — Thursday October 26, 2017.

Read: 1 Chronicles 17:1–15, Bible in a Year: Jeremiah 9–11; 1 Timothy 6

He is the one who will build a house for me, and I will establish his throne forever. 1 Chronicles 17:12

My birthday is the day after my mother’s. As an adolescent, I would scramble to think of a gift that delighted my mom yet fit in my budget. She always received my purchases with appreciation, and on the following day, my birthday, she would present her gift to me. Without fail, her gift vastly outshone mine. Her intention wasn’t to diminish what I’d given her; she simply gave generously from her resources, which far exceeded my own.

My desire to give to my mother reminds me of David’s wish to build a home for God. Struck by the contrast between his palace and the tent where God revealed Himself, David longed to build God a temple. Instead of granting David’s wish to give, God responded by giving David an exceedingly better gift. God promised that not only would one of David’s children (Solomon) build the temple (1 Chron. 17:11), but that He would build David a house, a dynasty. That promise began with Solomon but found its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus, whose throne was indeed “established forever” (v. 12). David wanted to give from his finite resources, but God promised something infinite.

Like David, may we always be moved to give to God out of gratitude and love. And may we always see how much more abundantly He has given to us in Jesus.

Prayer: Father God, I thank You for Your astounding gift to me in Jesus Christ. Your love overwhelms me.

God’s gift to us in Jesus Christ exceeds all gifts.

This message was written By Kirsten Holmberg [Our Daily Bread Ministries.]

Topic: The Essence of Spiritual Office — Friday 27, October 2017.

Memorise: And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; – Ephesians 4:11

Read: Ephesians 4:8-14 (KJV)

8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?

10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)

11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

Bible in One Year: Hebrews 1-4, Hosea 2, Hymn: Sing Hymn 14 – Take My Life

MESSAGE:

When God calls a person into a spiritual office, it is because there are roles He wants such a person to play in the scheme of things as regard God’s agenda for man on earth. Spiritual offices are not just for the purpose of accumulating titles or occupying position. If you are called into a spiritual office, you are called to serve God, and to be a blessing to lives. God is the giver of all spiritual gifts through His Holy Spirit. However, it so obvious today that some people are not using the spiritual offices they occupy for God’s original purpose. If you have been called as a pastor, your responsibility is to raise a church and care for the spiritual needs of those God has placed in your trust as a pastor. Today, there are many sheep wandering away, because they are not being properly guided by the shepherds the Good Shepherd has set over them. There are members of the Body of Christ who cannot identify their left from their right, and for this reason the Holy Spirit in 2 Timothy 4:2, gave this mandate to those He has set over them as pastors:

“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.”

Coming up next: Open Heavens 28 October 2017: Saturday daily devotional by Pastor Adeboye – Poverty Or Riches?

Are you an evangelist? You are a preacher and messenger of the true gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. As an evangelist, you are to declare the entire counsel of God wherever you are. The word of the Lord should not be watered down because of the presence of certain people in your audience (Jeremiah 1:8). You are to constantly remind your hearers of the genuine word of God and avoid messages that will not bring people to the knowledge of Christ and His saving works. If you are a teacher of the word, you have been gifted by the Holy Spirit to explain God’s word in order to build and equip the church. You are to communicate biblical truths effectively to the understanding of your hearers. Are you occupying the office of a prophet? If you are, you have been authorised by God to speak on His behalf.

There are lots of problems in the Body of Christ today because people are not using these spiritual offices for the purpose for which they were given by the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace has been given to everyone according to the measure of the gift of Christ; hence, it is important that people disengage from causing divisions within the Body of Christ. The offices are meant to complement one another for the perfecting of the saints and to edify the Body of Christ. The offices are to be used together for the unity of the Church, so that God’s people can come into the full knowledge of Him.

Prayer Point: Father, may Your grace upon my life not be in vain.

HYMN 14: TAKE MY LIFE

Verse 1:
Take my life and let it be
consecrated, Lord, to thee.
Take my moments and my days;
Let them flow in endless praise.

Verse 2:
Take my hands and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love.
Take my feet and let them be
Swift and beautiful for thee.

Verse 3:
Take my voice and let me sing
Always, only, for my King.
Take my lips and let them be
Filled with messages from Thee.

Verse 4:
Take my silver and my gold;
Not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect and use
Every power as Thou shalt choose.

Verse 5:
Take my will and make it Thine;
It shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart, it is Thine own;
It shall be Thy royal throne.

Verse 6:
Take my love; my Lord, I pour
At Thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself, and I will be
Ever, only, all for Thee.

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.