Topic: Thieves In The Sanctuary [Thursday 5, October 2017]

Memorise: “Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.” – Ephesians 4:28

Read: Malachi 3:8-9

8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.

9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.

Bible In One Year: Matthew 7-9. Hymn: Sing Hymn 14 – Onward Christian Soldiers

MESSAGE:

One sad thing going on among the children of God is that some are stealing from the sanctuary of God and the people concerned are doing it without fear. There are many ways a person can steal from the sanctuary of God. The most common way to almost every Bible reading Christian is when you deny God one-tenth of your income (Malachi 3:8). When someone spends all his income without giving back one out of it, the fellow is stealing from the sanctuary, because the tithe belongs to the sanctuary of God (Malachi 3:10). Another way of stealing from the sanctuary is by refusing to give your first-fruit to the Lord as He requested from His covenant people in Deuteronomy 26:2.

The first fruit is the property of the Almighty God. We must give it to Him through the custodians of the genuine sanctuary of God. I pray for someone using this devotional, the Holy Spirit will convince you of the truth about tithes, offerings and first fruits.

Prayer Point: Father, help me to abstain from stealing from Your sanctuary.

Open Heavens Daily Devotional for Teen’s 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.

Topic: Suffering as a Christian [Thursday October 5, 2017]

Blessed is the man whom [the Lord] chasteneth . . . — Psalm 94:12

God sometimes allows Christians to suffer, in order that they might learn the secret of obedience. The Psalmist said, “Before I was afflicted, I went astray; but now have I kept thy word” (Psalm 119:67). It was not until after great sorrow and much affliction that David learned obedience to God.

My dear Christian friend, if you are today suffering at the hand of God and you have asked a thousand times, “Why?” I beg of you to be patient and quiet before God, and listen to the still, small voice. Bow under His loving hand and recognize that above the clouds the sun is shining. God has a purpose and design for your life, and what is happening to you is for your good.

Prayer for the day: The human in me says, “Why, Lord?” whenever I have to bear suffering—but the Spirit-filled me that was born again says, “I trust You, Father.”

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: Get Ready For Jesus – Thursday October 5, 2017.

Matthew 24:38 “For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,”

Text: Matthew 24:38-39

Jesus is prophesying that just as in Noah’s day, people will be dominated with the temporary affairs of this life instead of eternal spiritual truths, when Jesus returns. Before our Lord’s second return, there will be plenty of signs to show that the time is drawing near, but few will heed them. Preoccupation with the affairs of this life can dull us to the spiritual realm.

The Lord kindly but seriously, points out the urgent need to be ready for His return. In the same way that a thief comes when people are the least prepared, so our Lord will return in a time when people are not looking for Him.

This is not because our Lord desires to surprise everyone and see how many He can catch unprepared. On the contrary, He is urging us to be watchful so that we will be prepared. Jesus gave us the signs of the end times to help us be prepared. He is simply prophesying that there will be a condition of apathy in the latter days that will tend to lull even the faithful to sleep if they don’t take heed to His words.

Believers will not be assembled on a mountaintop somewhere waiting for the Lord’s return. They will still be going about their daily routines. The Lord told us to “occupy till I come” (Lk. 19:13). We should be ready for the Lord to come back at any moment, yet work as if His return was still far off.

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: Hovering Over Us — Thursday October 5, 2017.

Read: Deuteronomy 32:7–12, Bible in a Year: Isaiah 23–25; Philippians 1

He shielded him and cared for him . . . like an eagle that . . . hovers over its young. Deuteronomy 32:10–11

Betty’s daughter arrived home from an overseas trip, feeling unwell. When her pain became unbearable, Betty and her husband took her to the emergency room. The doctors and nurses set to work, and after a few hours one of the nurses said to Betty, “She’s going to be okay! We’re going to take good care of her and get her healed up.” In that moment, Betty felt peace and love flood over her. She realized that while she hovered over her daughter anxiously, the Lord is the perfect parent who nurtures His children, comforting us in difficult times.

In the book of Deuteronomy, the Lord reminded His people how, when they were wandering in the desert, He cared for them as a loving parent who hovers over its young. He never left them, but was like an eagle “that spreads its wings” to catch its children and “carries them aloft” (32:11). He wanted them to remember that although they experienced hardship and strife in the desert, He didn’t abandon them.

We too may face challenges of many kinds, but we can take comfort and courage in this reminder that our God will never leave us. When we feel that we are falling, the Lord like an eagle will spread His wings to catch us (v. 11) as He brings us peace.

Prayer: Father God, Your love as a parent is greater than anything I can imagine. May my confidence rest in You, and may I share Your love with others.

Our God hovers over us with love.

Insight:

Deuteronomy comes from the Greek word deuteronomion (“second law”). Much of the content of the book of Deuteronomy is a retelling of the giving of the law to Israel recorded in the book of Exodus. This could be misleading, however, because Deuteronomy is more than just legal code. The first giving of the law marked Israel entering into a covenant relationship with God as His people, but this retelling prepared them for their entrance into the long-awaited land of promise. It reminded the Israelites of their covenant relationship with the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and was a reaffirmation of God’s covenant love for them—despite their repeated failures during the wilderness wanderings. God’s faithful, abiding love remained His response to His people. That same love continues today, and His perfect love never fails.

In your times of struggle, do you find it easy to question God’s love? How does God’s faithfulness to Israel encourage you to trust in His faithfulness to you?

This message was written By Amy Boucher Pye [Our Daily Bread Ministries.]

Topic: The Power of Declared Blessings [Thursday October 5, 2017]

Scripture: Speak unto Aaron and unto his sons, saying, On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel, saying unto them, The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. Numbers 6:23-26

Thought For The Day: The blessing of God is critical to the lifting of curses, limitations, embargoes and restrictions in life.

One of the greatest forces on the earth is the force of the blessing of God. The blessing of God is so powerful that it is practically irreversible except by the misdeeds of the blessed person.

The way light is the cure for darkness is the same way the blessing of God is the cure for curses.

The blessing of God is critical for the lifting of curses, limitations, embargoes or restrictions in life.

An instance in Scriptures of a man who received the declared blessing was Reuben. In Genesis 49:3-4, Reuben was cursed by his father, Jacob. Jacob told Reuben, Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel…

This meant that Reuben’s genealogy on earth would not continue; the Reubenites were not permitted to exist on earth.

However, in Deuteronomy 33:6, a blessed vessel with a heavier prophetic mantle, Moses, declared to Reuben and said, Let Reuben live, and not die; and let not his men be few.

One of the impacts of the declared blessing is that it eliminates the curse and guarantees empowerment for a new beginning. The declared blessing impacts the force that sparks up change.

Today, I prophesy to you: you shall prevail and you shall excel on the earth. Your destiny shall not be cut short in Jesus’ Name.

Remember This: The Blessing is critical for the lifting of curses, limitations, embargoes or restrictions in life.

Assignments:

1. Endeavour to connect to parental/spiritual goodwill and blessings.

2. Maintain a constant relationship with God in order to maintain the Blessing of God in your life.

Prayer: O LORD, I decree that I am blessed beyond curses. I am stepping into my next level, in Jesus’ Name.

FOR FURTHER UNDERSTANDING, GET THIS MESSAGE: THE POWER OF THE DECLARED BLESSINGS.

Daily Reading: Jeremiah 4:19 to 6:15, Colossians 1:18 to 2:7, Psalm 77:1 to 20, Proverbs 24:23 to 25.

Quote: Persistent pursuit guarantees profitable rewards. Culled from 8 UNBEATABLE PRINCIPLES OF DESPERATE PEOPLE FOR WINNING IN DESPERATE TIMES by Dr (Mrs) Becky Paul-Enenche.

Amazing Fact: There are more than 17,500 recorded butterfly species around the world, 750 of which can be found in the United States.

Today In History: 05/10/1947 – U.S.A. President Harry Truman delivered the first televised presidential address from the White House.

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 — Forgiveness: A Great Virtue — Thursday October 5, 2017.

Text: Matthew 18:23-35

Key Verse: “So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses” (Matthew 18:35).

Forgiveness is a divine attribute that the Lord has commanded us to grant those who offend or hurt us. From the text our Lord alludes to an ancient custom among the Hebrews, of selling a man and his family to mitigate a debt. This custom was also popular among the Greeks and Romans. In Bible times, serious consequences awaited those who could not pay their debts.

A lender could arrest the borrower and imprison him or sell his family into slavery until the debt is paid; otherwise, he might remain in prison for the rest of his life. The servant in our text fell down and worshiped the master. He got a reprieve by so doing. In like manner, a sinner should be in deep contrition of heart with fervent prayer to obtain the mercy of God.

A sinner may be said, according to the economy of grace, to pay all when he brings the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus to the throne of Justice, by faith, thus offering an equivalent of the pardon he seeks, and paying all he owes to divine justice, through the blood of the Lamb. The master in the text was moved with compassion or with tender mercy. This is the source of salvation to the lost world. As God has forgiven all sins of the penitent, so should no believer withhold forgiveness from others.

Realizing how Christ has forgiven us should produce the generous attitude of forgiveness toward others. When we do not forgive others, we are inadvertently placing ourselves outside the reach or influence of Christ’s law of love. The goodness or mercy of God towards us is the pattern we should follow in all our dealings with others.

Thought for the day: Forgiveness is a divine demand from believers in Christ.

Bible Reading in one Year: 1 Kings 9-10

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: He Inspires Excellence [Thursday, 5th October, 2017]

But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding. Job 32:8

There is one thing about the life of God in us, it does not accommodate mediocrity. God has never been mediocre in His dealings, and there is no iota of mediocrity in His nature. And it is this very nature that we have. It is not in our nature to even settle for average, we always demand the best. That’s because the Spirit in us always inspires excellence. Scriptures said in Isaiah 4:2 that “…the branch of the LORD shall be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent…” This is a wonderful testimony about us. The fruits that we will produced shall be excellent, because we are the branch of the Lord. Glory to God.

If you know how the connection between the vine of a tree and the branches works, you will know that it is the vine that gives the main nutrient to the branch to produce leaves and fruits. The vine inspires the process. And we know that Jesus is the Vine and we are the branches. The life of Jesus in us supplies the nutrient for our fruits, the tangible and intangible things that we produce, to be excellent. Every supply of Jesus only inspires excellence. It cannot go below that. This should inspire us to do the things we do. We’ve got the excellent Spirit of God in us.

One way God inspires excellence in us is through the availability of His wisdom. His wisdom profits us by guiding us on the path of excellence. His wisdom that isn’t of this world is at work in us and it’s fruits are evident in our lives. Never think below who God has made you to be. Your fruits are excellent. The Spirit of wisdom in you inspires excellence. You are a wonder to your world and so are the things you produce and do.

Keep winning daily.

Prayer:

The Spirit of God is at work in me. His wisdom inspires me to produce excellent things that blesses my sphere of influence. I do not settle for less than excellent. Mediocrity is abhorrent with me. I am am consistently excellent, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Topic: Occupy Till He Comes — Thursday 5, October 2017.

Memorise: Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. – John 15:2

Read: Luke 19:11-13 (KJV)

11 And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear.

12 He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.

13 And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.

Bible in One Year: Romans 14-16, Daniel 3:8-23, Hymn: Sing Hymn 13 – Wonderful Story Of Love

MESSAGE:

God’s expectation of you in these end times is that you would live for a cause that is greater than yourself – a cause that will serve the purpose of advancing His Kingdom on earth. What worthy cause in God’s Kingdom keeps you awake at night? What burden are you carrying in your heart? When Nehemiah heard that his people back home had been put to shame and that worship services in the temple of God had been halted, he was overwhelmed with a burden to “occupy” for God and his people (Nehemiah 1:4). He immediately wanted to effect the necessary changes that would restore the image of God’s people. Many Christians are not bothered about making it a duty to occupy in the place of prayer for those in authority. Many Christians are not even concerned about the rate at which many sinners are going to Hell. As long as they are comfortable, they care less about the situation of others. Some people are so self-centred that as long as their immediate family is saved, the salvation of their extended family members is far from their mind. It is our duty as believers to bring all people to the knowledge of God. We must occupy by directing the souls of men to God through prayers and by witnessing to them until they give their lives to God. Although Nehemiah was comfortable in a king’s palace, he was troubled by the discomfort of God’s people. We ought to share this same spirit.

Coming up next: Open Heavens 6 October 2017: Friday daily devotional by Pastor Adeboye – Living In Death?

The burden for revival in the hearts of men was what led to the outburst of many moves of God in the world since the days of the apostles. The burden for holiness has led many to occupy in the place of prayer for certain territories. Our burden for the business of God’s Kingdom should lead us into prayer and fasting, so that we can become fruitful in our missionary assignments. As a branch of the Vine, you must be ready to bear fruit if you don’t want the Vine to cast you off. The Vine is committed to supplying all you need for the assignment; there is therefore no excuse for you not to occupy till His return (Philippians 4:19). Also, everything that the Vine’s expects you to do as His branch is done through the strength supplied by the Vine (John 15:5). As long as the branch remains attached to the Vine, it will be able to fulfil all that is expected of it (Philippians 4:13). I remember when I was in the university and I was trusting God for His help in winning the soul of one of my professors. I would do a lot of rehearsals on how I would present the message to him, but each time I saw him, I would lose my confidence. However, God helped me and eventually succeeded in this assignment. It is only through God’s help that you can occupy till the very end.

Prayer Point: Father, may l not have to give excuses on the day of accountability.

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: Appreciate Honesty from Other People [Wednesday October 4, 2017]

Therefore encourage (admonish, exhort) one another and edify (strengthen and build up) one another, just as you are doing. — 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Everyone loves compliments, but very few know how to handle constructive criticism. No one likes to be wrong, which makes it hard when people need to tell us things we don’t want to hear.

But we need to be thankful for honesty in other people. I once heard someone say, “Only two people will tell you the truth about yourself: someone who is angry with you and someone who loves you very much.” God uses both types of people in our lives, but He especially uses the honesty of friends and loved ones.

When someone can, in love, honestly show you how you can improve, the results are so much more valuable than empty, ego-stroking compliments. It’s this kind of relationship that the Bible describes as “iron sharpening iron.”

I urge you to be thankful for people who tell you the truth about yourself, even if it’s not what you want to hear.

When you hear the truth—especially something you weren’t aware of—you can change. Ultimately, honesty will make you a better person.

Prayer Starter: Lord, thank You for placing truly honest people in my life. Their honesty may make me uncomfortable at times, but I know that when I listen to them, You can help me become a better person.

From Joyce Meyer’s Ministries

Topic: Endure Till The End [Wednesday 4, October 2017]

Memorise: “And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” – Mark 13:13

Read: Mark 13:3-13

3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives over against the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately,

4 Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled?

5 And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you:

6 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

7 And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet.

8 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.

9 But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them.

10 And the gospel must first be published among all nations.

11 But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.

12 Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death.

13 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

Bible In One Year: Matthew 5-6. Hymn: Sing Hymn 10 – When The Trumpet Of The Lord Shall Sound

MESSAGE:

The Christian race is not a short one, but a marathon; you know that there is a finish line, bit you can’t see it. To endure suggests that one would have to live with some things that are not compatible to with his nature. Our Lord Jesus Christ said that we should come and learn of Him. In the process of learning from Him, we must take His yoke upon us. The burden of our Lord Jesus Christ is justice, righteousness, love for God and acceptable service to humanity, particularly those in the household of faith.

Beloved, as we journey through the wilderness of this world towards our heavenly home, don’t let us forget that this road is a narrow one. It takes a lot of discipline and self-denial to scale through successfully. Let us forge ahead and the Lord will see us through to the heavenly Canaan in Jesus’ Name.

Prayer Point: Father, please see me through the journey of life and don’t let me perish with the world.

Open Heavens Daily Devotional for Teen’s 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.