Topic: The Beginning of Jesus [Thursday September 28, 2017]

Before Abraham was, I am. — John 8:58

Jesus did not begin in Bethlehem. The Bible says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Jesus said that He existed before the foundation of the world. He was there when the moon and stars were flung out into space from the Father’s flaming fingertips. He was there when God created this planet. He has always existed. He is “from everlasting to everlasting.”

Prayer for the day: You, Lord Jesus, who have always existed, came down from heaven in love and saved me from the depths of my sin. In humble adoration I praise You, my Savior and Lord.

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: Give Cheerfully, Not Out Of Fear – Thursday September 28, 2017.

Matthew 23:23 “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.”

Text: Matthew 23:23

Some have taught that Jesus did away with the tithe since it is not a specific part of the New Testament teaching. But in this instance, Jesus made reference to the scribes and Pharisees tithing and implied that they were right in doing so. The New Covenant did not do away with the tithe but it clarified what the motives for tithing should be.

Abram tithed over 430 years before the law was given. Jacob also tithed approximately 300 years before the time of the law. Therefore, tithing was a Biblical principle that didn’t begin or end with the law of Moses. However, the law of Moses did include tithing as part of its commandments and attached were stiff penalties for those who failed to comply. It was concerning these punishments for not tithing, that the New Testament differed from the Old Testament. Malachi 3:8-9 says that if a man doesn’t tithe, he has robbed God and is cursed with a curse. Therefore, people gave out of the motivation of debt and obligation. Jesus redeemed us from this and all the other curses of the law, so that God will not curse us for not tithing.

The apostle Paul also made it very clear that any type of giving motivated by anything less than God’s kind of love is useless. He went on to explain in 2 Corinthians 9:7, that God wants us to give, “not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.” The type of giving that God loves is cheerful, freewill giving. This does not mean that tithing is contrary to the New Testament. It is the “fear of punishment” motive, that the Old Testament law attached to tithing, that has been done away with. Giving and tithing are still very much a part of the New Testament doctrine, and if done with the New Testament attitude, are still acceptable to God. Be a giver.

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: A New Strategy — Thursday September 28, 2017.

Text: Joshua 8:1-10

Key Verse: “So Joshua arose, and all the people of war, to go up against Ai: and Joshua chose out thirty thousand mighty men of valour, and sent them away by night” (Joshua 8:3).

The Battle of Midway against the Japanese imperial army is widely regarded as the most important naval battle of the Pacific Campaign of World War II. Between 4 and 7 June 1942, only six months after Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor, and one month after the Battle of the Coral Sea, the United States Navy decisively defeated an Imperial Japanese Navy attack against Midway Atoll, inflicting irreparable damage on the Japanese fleet. Military historian, John Keegan has called it “the most stunning and decisive blow in the history of naval warfare.”

Joshua and all Israel suffered a shock defeat at the hands of tiny Ai in the previous chapter because Achan had taken the accursed thing from the previous invasion of Jericho. From the text today, the Lord comforted Joshua and Israel after the problem of sin had been settled. He gave them a complete new strategy for the military invasion of Ai. Under this new plan, Joshua was to lead the attack with all the men of war in Israel instead of just three thousand men used in the earlier failed attack.

An ambush was planned and the city was to be set on fire after their fighters were drawn away with a pretended retreat. There are many lessons we learn from a passage like this. The fear of failing again should not hinder a believer from making new trial. If we encounter failure in life, it calls for self-examination, confession of sin and cleansing; it also calls for a review of strategy like Israel did under God’s directives. Eventually, success will come when there is a new way of work and direction that will lead to the desired success, which can only be discovered when we think outside the box.

Your next attempt might just be the clincher you have been waiting for. With divine presence, you are more than a conqueror.

Thought for the day: Take your failures in life as stepping stones to your success.

Bible Reading in one Year: 2 Peter 1-3

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: God’s Method of Recruiting Men [Thursday September 28, 2017]

Scripture: Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men. Proverbs 22:29

Thought For The Day: You are not useful to God until you are diligent at work.

God’s agenda is for the earth to be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea. Habakkuk 2:14.

How does God intend to fulfil this purpose?

It is by recruiting men! Men are God’s method, machineries and missiles for the end time agenda and warfare against the forces of darkness.

It is important to know that one major requirement God uses to recruit men for His work is industry or hard work.

When Jesus Christ wanted to select His disciples; one of the criteria He used was industry or hard work. It will interest you to know that none of His disciples was picked because they were idle; rather, all of them were picked at their duty posts.

For example, Peter and Andrew were fishing when Jesus called them to be His disciples (Matthew 4:18). James and John were mending their nets with their father when Jesus also called them (Matthew 4:21). Mathew was sitting at his duty post as an internal revenue collector when Jesus called him (Matthew 9:9).

Beloved, it is very important to know that God does not have any business with idle people because He is not an idle God. You are not useful to God until you are diligent at work.

Remember this: You are not useful to God until you are diligent at work.

Assignment(s):

1. Draw a daily work plan or work schedule for your life.

2. Follow it diligently.

3. Do not allow idleness to occupy any area of your life.

Prayer: O LORD, I ask for an industrious spirit. Help me LORD, to stand out by the power of hard work, in Jesus’ Name.

Quote: Your work determines your worth. Culled from 30 SECRETS TO THE TOP by Dr Paul Enenche.

Daily Reading: Isaiah 54:1 to 57:14, Ephesians 6:1 to 24, Psalm 70:1 to 5, Proverbs 24:8.

Amazing Fact: The Boeing 747 is capable of flying upside-down if it weren’t for the fact that the wings would shear off when trying to roll it over.

Today In History: 28/09/1892 – The first night time football game in the U.S. took place under electric lights. The game was between the Mansfield State Normal School and the Wyoming Seminary

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: Live Without Prejudice — Thursday September 28, 2017.

“When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?” (John 8:10 KJV)

In the book of John 8:3-11, the Scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman that was caught in adultery. And they said we saw her in the very act, and the law says that such people, the man and the woman, should be stoned. But they wanted to stone only the woman. These people were blinded by prejudice against the woman. So blinded by prejudice, that all they cared about was that they caught her. But the question is: what about the man? Where was he? They forgot that!

At times, when you are blinded by prejudice; you act in a foolish manner. You do some things that are so foolish. As a matter of fact, you can even cut short your own life. What will be a blessing to you, you will say you don’t want it because you are blinded by prejudice.

The Scribes and the Pharisees did not see the man. Can you see how stupid they were? These people were supposed to be religious rulers. People who were custodians of the law. But because prejudice had blinded them, they didn’t even consider their position as people who are supposed to be keeping the law. And they came in a stupid manner to Jesus and began to question him about the very word that he wrote. And Jesus looked down and he began to write. I don’t know what he wrote, but I believe he would have written something like this: ‘If only this people can understand that I came to pick up the down trodden. If they can understand that the reason I came is not to condemn, but to lift up and to strengthen, they will not accuse this woman.’ He then said alright, whoever is without sin, let him cast the first stone. By the time Jesus lifted up his eyes, they were all gone. No accuser will stand before you. All the accusers of the brethren will never see your back in Jesus name. Therefore you approach the throne of grace with boldness, knowing that whatever you ask, will be granted because Jesus has dealt with your accuser and is now your advocate. Hallelujah!

Further reading: John 8:3-11, Galatians 3:28, Hebrews 4:14-16

Daily Bible Reading: Morning- Isaiah 5-6; Evening- Ephesians 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: The Day I Couldn’t Pray — Thursday September 28, 2017.

Read: Romans 8:22–26, Bible in a Year: Isaiah 5–6; Ephesians 1

The Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. Romans 8:26

In November 2015, I learned I needed open-heart surgery. Surprised and a little shaken, I was naturally drawn to think about the possibility of death. Were there relationships I needed to mend? Were there financial matters I needed to attend to for my family? Was there work that could be done ahead of time? And what about work that couldn’t wait; who should I hand that off to? It was a time to both act and pray.

Except I couldn’t do either.

My body was so weary and my mind so fatigued that even the simplest of tasks seemed beyond my strength. Perhaps most surprising, when I tried to pray, my thoughts would drift to the discomfort, or the shallow breathing caused by the damaged heart made me fall asleep. It was frustrating. I couldn’t work and I couldn’t even ask God to let me live so I could spend more time with my family!

The inability to pray troubled me most. But as with all other human needs, the Creator knew this was happening to me. I would eventually recall He made two preparations for such occurrences: the prayer of the Spirit for us when we can’t pray (Rom. 8:26), and the prayer of others on our behalf (James 5:16; Gal. 6:2).

What a comfort it was to know that the Holy Spirit was even then raising my concerns before the Father. What a gift also to hear from friends and family as they prayed for me. Then came another surprise: As my friends and family asked me what to pray for, it became clear that my answers to them were also being heard by God as prayers. What a gift it is in a time of uncertainty to be reminded God hears our heart even when we think we can’t call out to Him.

God never leaves the voices of His children unheard.

Insight:

Anyone who has traveled to a foreign country can understand the value of a good translator. Someone who is familiar with our language and that of the country we are visiting knows how to choose just the right words to communicate clearly.

Have you ever been in a situation so perplexing you didn’t know the right words to use when you prayed? Because of our limited perspective and the distraction of our sinful inclinations we can sometimes struggle with prayer. Yet God the Holy Spirit is our intercessor. He groans with our concerns as He Himself makes our prayers conform to the will of God. It’s a comfort that the Holy Spirit knows our own limitations and weaknesses and translates our requests to God in conformity with His will.

In what ways does understanding the intercession of the Holy Spirit comfort you when you find it hard to pray? Dennis Fisher

This message was written By Randy Kilgore [Our Daily Bread Ministries.]

Topic: Doer of The Word [Thursday, 28 September, 2017]

For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:  For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. James 1:23‭-‬24 ‬

It is well settled that the hearing of the word is vital to us. For by it that our faith is built (Romans 10:17). It is by the Word that our minds get transformed (Romans 12:2). However, the Word could remain head knowledge to us if we don’t do it or act upon it. It’s like someone transfers a million dollars into your account. If you don’t go to the bank and access it, it will be as good as you not having it at all.

Doing the Word is very vital for every believer. The Word of God reveals the nature of God to us, Whose nature we are. After knowing the nature of God, which is our very own nature, through the study of the Word, we must then live the life that the Word has shown to us, and that is doing and acting as the Word says. Through continuous practice of the Word of God, we begin to look more and more like God, because we manifest His characters that we’ve seen and know through the Word.

But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. (2 Corinthians 3:18). For if any be a hearer (or reader) of the Word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: for he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. (James 1:23‭-‬25). By studying and continuing in the Word of God, we are changed. James says when we do the Word, we’ll be blessed in our deeds. Do the Word you’ve learnt and you’ll indeed be blessed in your deeds.

Keep winning daily.

Prayer:

Dear Father, thank You for Your Word that changes me. Help me to continually do Your Word, that I may manifest You more, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

By Esun Tekeme

Topic: Heed This Invitation — Thursday 28, September 2017.

Memorise: In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. – John 7:37

Read: John 7:37-39 (KJV)

37 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.

38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

Bible in One Year: Esther 4-7, Ezekiel 48:8-20, Hymn: Sing Hymn 14 – Take My Life

MESSAGE:

“How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, except their Rock had sold them, and the LORD had shut them up?” – Deuteronomy 32:30

Although praying corporately is good, it should never be regarded as a substitute to a vibrant personal prayer life. Some people quote the above scripture to justify remaining at the level of corporate prayers, and as a result they consider efforts towards personal prayers to be a waste. It is not a wasted effort! God wants to relate with us individually and develop a personal relationship with us, just as much as He wants to relate with us as a group. For this reason, in Isaiah 51:2, He said this to us:

“Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah that bare you: for I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased him.”

Coming up next: Open Heavens 29 September 2017: Friday daily devotional by Pastor Adeboye – Delayed Provision

Even when we are in a group meeting, God still wants to maintain a personal link with each of us. God is a personal God. When two brothers came to give an offering to God, the Lord related with them individually (Genesis 4:3-10). How often do you spend time alone with God?

Moreover, there are great benefits that come from staying alone with God. If we look at the example of the widow of the prophet in 2 Kings 4:1-7, we can see some of the benefits of individual prayers. When she was asked to shut the door on herself, several things happened to her, one of which is that she went in empty but came out full. She took several empty vessels with her into the room, and all the vessels were filled up. Even today, as you personally separate yourself to access the Throne of Grace, your empty vessels will be made full. In today’s Bible reading, while attending the feast of the Jews, the Lord made a call. Although it was made publicly, it was a personal call. He said anyone who was thirsty could come to Him and be filled. If you can cultivate your personal relationship with God by creating regular time to be in His presence, you will always be filled, even when you enter His presence empty. Today, the Lord is sending you an invitation to come into His presence and He will fill you up. Your emptiness can be completely swallowed up as you spend personal time with Him. Are you ready to have your emptiness filled? How hungry are you? It is your level of hunger and thirst for Him that will determine how filled you will get, So, how hungry or thirsty are you today?

Action Point: Identify things that are working against your ability to spend time alone with God and prayerfully deal with them.

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 — He Korean Widow: Worry Provokes Stagnation [Wednesday, September 27, 2017]

(Romans 8:12-21; Joshua 1:8).

Welcome to today’s devotional! There was a Korean widow who was supported majorly by her two sons. The elder son sold umbrellas while the younger son sold sunglasses. The old woman worried every single day because when it was sunny, the older son had a bad market. If it rained, the younger son couldn’t sell sunglasses. So, no matter the weather, she worried! Then one day, an old man visited them and saw this woman looking so pale and skinny. He was forced to ask what the matter was. “Oh old man, I am just worried and I worry all the time. No matter the weather, one of my sons is always broke and that affects me badly.” The old man smiled and said: “Oh no, my friend: resist worrying because you are blessed. No matter the weather, you always win because one of your sons will always sell. There are many who do not have such blesses opportunities.” With that, the woman lifted her hands and began to dance because she suddenly discovered that truly, no matter what happens, there is always something to be thankful to for!

God wants to remind a user of today’s devotional that Romans 8:28 is still in the Bible! It says all things will work together for your good – if you are really serving God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. It does not make sense to say your present, bad situation will lead to good, but you must believe God foolishly! Yes, since God’s Word cannot be broken, you must continue to believe that by the time your trials and your testimonies (all things) are put together, your life will be a step forward and a plus.

Keep worry and anxiety out of your life by force. If you are emotionally disturbed and can’t read, then let someone just read the word of God to you while you listen. Have an easy going attitude! Don’t allow continuous stress! Something good is coming out of anything bad around your life and ministry. “There shall be rain and a river in that wilderness,” saith the Lord unto you! Amen and amen.

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Prayer Points: Take Song 2: Stand up for Jesus……..

1. Thank God for today’s Word and pray as you are led!

2. Declare that all things will always work out for your good.

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

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