Topic: One With God Is A Majority — Saturday 14, October 2017.

Memorise: And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. – 2 Kings 6:16

Read: 2 Kings 6:8-17 (KJV)

8 Then the king of Syria warred against Israel, and took counsel with his servants, saying, In such and such a place shall be my camp.

9 And the man of God sent unto the king of Israel, saying, Beware that thou pass not such a place; for thither the Syrians are come down.

10 And the king of Israel sent to the place which the man of God told him and warned him of, and saved himself there, not once nor twice.

11 Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was sore troubled for this thing; and he called his servants, and said unto them, Will ye not shew me which of us is for the king of Israel?

12 And one of his servants said, None, my lord, O king: but Elisha, the prophet that is in Israel, telleth the king of Israel the words that thou speakest in thy bedchamber.

13 And he said, Go and spy where he is, that I may send and fetch him. And it was told him, saying, Behold, he is in Dothan.

14 Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and compassed the city about.

15 And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?

16 And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.

17 And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.

Bible in One Year: 2 Corinthians 8-10, Daniel 7:1-12, Hymn: Sing Hymn 18 – Onward Christian Soldier

MESSAGE:

One fundamental reason why some people have turned their back against godly living is that the ungodly are more in number than those who are godly. It takes faith in God to live a godly life in this age of political correctness, the ascendancy of the philosophies of relativism and humanism and agitation for the “fundamental human rights” of people involved in acts that are despicable to God. The age-long saying that “One with God is a Majority” is no longer popular because no one wants to suffer humiliation and marginalisation by the ungodly majority. The story in our Bible reading demonstrates the truth that one with God is indeed a majority. While waging war against the king of Israel, the king of Syria discovered that all the tactical information he was discussing with his generals was somehow revealed to the king of Israel again and again. The king of Syria was so troubled by this, because he thought he had a mole among his men, divulging all his secrets to the king of Israel. My prayer for you today is that God will expose every plan of your enemies to you, and all their destructive schemes against you will fail in Jesus’ Name. When the king of Syria discovered that Elisha was the divine informant leaking his secrets, he ordered his arrest. On seeing the great host of the king of Syria that came by night to arrest his master, the servant of the prophet was so afraid and he cried out to Elisha, “Alas, my master! How shall we do?” The prophet, in 2 Kings 6:16, answered thus:

“…Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.”

Coming up next: Open Heavens 15 October 2017: Sunday daily devotional by Pastor Adeboye – Like The Sacrifice Of Cain?

After Elisha prayed that the Lord should open the eyes of his servant, the young prophet saw an angelic host with horses and chariots of fire around where they were. There and then, he believed that indeed there is a majority of hosts with the one who is on the Lord’s side.

The question is, are you on God’s side? You have no reason to fear if indeed you are with God. When we are in the minority from a physical perspective, our Lord Jesus Christ warns us against being discouraged, because with God on our side, we are always in the majority. After all, Jesus’ Name is Emmanuel, which means “God with us” (Matthew 1:23). 1 John 4:4 says,

“Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.”

I therefore encourage you to move on to the righteous side of God today. Moving on to the side of Jesus Christ is moving on to the side of victory, redemption and peaceful living.

Prayer Point: Father, I have learnt that one with You is a majority, l therefore come to declare anew my allegiance to You. Please receive me to Your side and fight my battles for me.

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: You Can’t Impose on God [Friday October 13, 2017]

…He has sent me…to proclaim liberty to the [physical and spiritual] captives and the opening of the prison and of the eyes to those who are bound. — Isaiah 61:1

Today, I want to remind you of something I consider to be important to your well-being: You are no surprise to God. He knew what He was getting when He chose you, just as He knew what He was getting when He chose me.

The Bible says God actually picked us out for Himself as His own! You didn’t just randomly show up one day. And God hasn’t decided to merely tolerate you.

You can’t bother God because He picked you…you can’t impose on Him! He’s not rolling His eyes when you have a problem. Instead, He’ll always remind you how far you have come, how well you are doing, how precious you are in His sight, and how much He loves you.

God already knew your weaknesses, every flaw you would have, every time you would fail, and He still said, “I want you.” Ephesians 1:5 declares He foreordained you to be adopted as His own. God is your daddy! With Him on your side, things are bound to work out all right in the end.

Prayer Starter: God, Your love amazes me. As my Father, You chose me before the world was ever created. No matter how flawed I may be, I know that You still want me. Thank You for Your goodness!

From Joyce Meyer’s Ministries

Topic: Accessing The Help Of God [Friday October 13, 2017]

Scripture: Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day…Acts 26:22

Thought For The Day: When God helps you, He takes you up.

We serve a God who has the capacity to help or hinder; assist or resist. He has the capacity to raise or ruin, help or hurt depending on what people deserve.

The Help of God is superior, durable, dependable and more reliable than either the help of man or the hurt of the devil. A man may promise to help today but change his mind tomorrow.

But when you are helped by God, you can literally go to sleep because the sustenance of that help is guaranteed.

What then are some of the dimensions of the Help of God?

1. The Help of God is the antidote or cure for the fears of life: it is the reason why your fears cannot consume you.

2. The Help of God is the secret of true joy and rest: when God helps a man, his joy is inevitable and rest becomes mandatory in his life. It delivers you from stress and depression.

3. The Help of God is the ladder for promotion When God helps you, He takes you up. The Help of God is the secret of exultation and elevation.

Beloved, in order to access the help of God, you need to look absolutely to God as your Source (Psalm 121:1) and not on your wisdom or personal abilities.

Remember This: When God helps you, He takes you up.

Assignments:

1. Depend on God wholly for His Help in all areas of your life.

2. Confirm your helplessness by making up your mind to ask for the help of God in prayer always.

Prayer: O LORD, I ask for Your Help every day of my life. Give me the grace to look unto You daily for help, LORD, in Jesus’ Name.

FOR FURTHER UNDERSTANDING, GET THIS MESSAGE: ACCESSING THE HELP OF GOD

Daily Reading: Jeremiah 23:21 to 25:38, 2 Thessalonians 2:1 to 17, Psalm 84:1 to 12, Proverbs 25:15.

Quote: It takes the Presence of God at work in your life to take you through the journey of life. Culled from ALABASTER BOX by Dr Becky Enenche

Amazing Fact: There is a Fruit Salad Tree that sprouts 3 to 7 different fruits at the same time.

Today In History: 13/10/1923 – Ankara replaces Istanbul as the capital of Turkey.

Don’t Forget To Attend: The Home Church meeting by 6:00pm tomorrow at a Home Church near you. Invite your friends and loved ones.

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: A New Name — Friday October 13, 2017.

Read: John 1:35–42, Bible in a Year: Isaiah 41–42; 1 Thessalonians 1

Jesus looked at him, and said, . . . “You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter). John 1:42

In the article “Leading by Naming,” Mark Labberton wrote about the power of a name. He said: “I can still feel the impact of a musical friend who one day called me ‘musical.’ No one had ever called me that. I didn’t really play an instrument. I was no soloist. Yet . . . I instantly felt known and loved. . . . [He] noticed, validated, and appreciated something deeply true about me.”

Perhaps this is what Simon felt when Jesus renamed him. After Andrew was convinced that Jesus was the Messiah, he immediately found his brother Simon and brought him to Jesus (John 1:41–42). Jesus peered into his soul and validated and appreciated something deeply true about Simon. Yes, Jesus saw the failure and impetuous nature that would get him into trouble. But more than that He saw the potential of Simon to become a leader in the church. Jesus named him Cephas—Aramaic for Peter—a rock (John 1:42; see Matt. 16:18).

And so it is with us. God sees our pride, anger, and lack of love for others, but He also knows who we are in Christ. He calls us justified and reconciled (Rom. 5:9–10); forgiven, holy, and beloved (Col. 2:13; 3:12); chosen and faithful (Rev. 17:14). Remember how God sees you and seek to let that define who you are.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for knowing me fully, yet loving me like no other. Help me to see others through Your eyes.

No one can steal your identity in Christ.

Insight:

Renaming people was common in the Scriptures, for a name described something about the person. In Genesis 17:5–15 Abram is renamed Abraham. Abram, which means “exalted father,” became Abraham, “father of multitudes.” Abraham’s grandson Jacob, whose name means “heel-grabber” and “schemer,” was renamed Israel, “prince of God.” The despondent Naomi asked her neighbors to no longer call her Naomi (delightful), but Mara (bitterness) because of the hard life she had experienced (Ruth 1:20). In the New Testament, a Christ-follower named Joseph was called Barnabas by the apostles (Acts 4:36). Barnabas means “son of encouragement,” which perfectly captured this man’s interactions with other believers and with the church.

What name would describe you as a follower of Christ? Bill Crowder

This message was written By Marvin Williams [Our Daily Bread Ministries.]

Topic: From Religion to Reality [Friday October 13, 2017]

For [God] hath made [Jesus] to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. – 2 Corinthians 5:21

When you were born again, you weren’t half-reborn, you weren’t made half-righteous or a quarter righteous. You were made the righteousness of God in Christ! You were made a “joint-heir with Him.” According to Strong’s Concordance that term joint heir refers to “a personal equality based on an equality of possession.”

Jesus went to the cross to give you what He already possessed. He rose again so you could be recreated in His image. You are the victory of Almighty God! You are more than a conqueror in Christ Jesus. You are everything to the Father that Jesus is. John 17:23 actually says that God loves you as much as He loves Jesus.

Once you dare to accept that fact, your life will be forever changed. You’ll no longer be satisfied to just sit around whining and wishing things were different. You’ll want to step up to the position of authority that Jesus has given you, to take your rightful place beside Him and learn to operate the way He does.

As His people, we are everything to God that Jesus is.

If you’ll receive that message, if you’ll dare to believe it, if you’ll dare to put it into action, it will radically alter your life. It will take you from religion to reality!

Scripture Reading: John 17:16-26

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.