Topic: Perseverance Gets Results [Friday September 1, 2017]

I tell you, although he will not get up and supply him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his shameless persistence and insistence he will get up and give him as much as he needs. – Luke 11:8, The Amplified Bible

If, as God tells us in 1 Timothy 2:4, it’s His will for all men to be saved, why aren’t we seeing more of the masses of lost people born again every day? Have you ever wondered that?

I have…and as I’ve sought the Lord about it, I’ve come to realize that, for the most part, it’s because those of us who are already saved don’t pray persistently for those who aren’t. Instead of persevering—staying before the Father, praying for them to receive the bread of salvation—like the man in Luke 11:8 did for his friend, when we don’t see immediate results, we simply give up and go home.

What we don’t realize is this: Perseverance is the key to success in intercession!

Why? It’s certainly not because you have to change God’s mind. He never changes. His mind’s made up. He wants all men saved. The reason you have to persevere in intercession is to put pressure on the demonic forces that are trying to keep God’s will from being accomplished. Those forces must be broken down through prayer so that strongholds are destroyed and spiritual blinders are removed from the spiritual eyes of the people you’re praying for.

You see, God will not go against the will of any person. But He will move through your intercession to reveal Himself to them. Through your persistent prayers, He will bring them to the knowledge of their need for Him. Then they’ll reach out for Him and spiritual rebirth can take place!

If you’re sitting around waiting on God to save Aunt Mary or Uncle Jim or your best friend…stop sitting around! Get busy interceding for them. Persevere in prayer. Pray the prayer in Ephesians 1:16-23 for them, refusing to give up until they’re safely inside God’s kingdom.

Jesus has already laid down His life so that they can be saved. The question is, will you?

Scripture Reading: Luke 11:1-10

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: The Grace of God is Sufficient — Friday September 1, 2017.

“For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.” (John 1:17 KJV)

The bible says grace and truth came by Jesus. Truth is on the side of grace. Outside grace, there is no truth. God has always desired to deal with us on the arena of grace. The law came by the side. The law sort of sneaked in. It was not part of the package. The assignment of the law is to show you that you can’t help yourself. The day you realize that you cannot help yourself, you will be able to receive all that Christ died for. The Bible tells us that the letter killeth and the law judges you. It tells you that you are not qualified. It tells you that you can’t get it. It tells you that you have not done enough; you have not prayed enough, you have not sung enough and you have not given enough. With the law, it is always never enough. But God says let me be your enough.

One of the things I have learnt is that believers have not learnt how to receive. We feel we must impress Jesus before we receive. Please don’t try to impress him because ever before you started trying to impress him, he already released his goodness. He is good because goodness is who he is. He is releasing his blessings because he is good. All that is required of you is to receive. So child of God stop being in a performance mode, just receive the healing, the victory, the breakthrough, the deliverance and the peace that the Father has already provided.

There are things that are just birthrights. In other words, when you are born into a family, whatever belongs to that family automatically becomes yours. And so, it is not about you qualifying for it. In the same manner, there are rights and privileges you have as a child of God. The Bible tells us that we have been delivered from the power of darkness and have been translated into the kingdom of his dear Son.

Further Reading: John 1:1-17, 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Daily Bible Reading: Morning- Psalms 135-136; Evening- 1 Corinthians 12

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: Reviewing The Year’s Prophetic Declaration [Friday September 1, 2017]

I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, that I am God. Isaiah 43:12

Thought For The Day: 2017 is our year of increased manifestation of the inexplicable, the incredible, the incredulous and the incomprehensible.

We want to appreciate God for the journey of the year 2017 so far. The Lord has been merciful to us as a Commission in many ways. We have seen all manner of incredible manifestations, miracles, signs and wonders.

Today, being the first day of the –ember months, it is very important to review the prophetic declarations for the year 2017. This is because repetition is key to retention.

As we review it, the LORD shall perfect the remaining prophetic decrees in your life in Jesus’ Name.

The year 2017 has been decreed as our YEAR OF DIVINE PROOFS.

Therefore, it is our year of:

1. Divine visitations, manifestations and demonstrations

2. Shift in gear in Divine operations. Not business as usual.

3. Increased manifestations of the inexplicable, the incredible, the incredulous and the incomprehensible.

4. Drastic manifestation of God’s sovereignty – His “agidigbaciousness”. He will prove to many that He is God and not man. He will prove Himself in our Nation, church, families and lives. He will overrule the rulings of men.

5. Awesome wonder, positive surprises, Divine results. It is a year of God at work.

6. God’s terrible things in righteousness. It is a year of frightening and awe-inspiring manifestations of God.

2017 is our year of increased manifestation of the inexplicable, the incredible, the incredulous and the incomprehensible.

Beloved, I implore you to connect to these decrees for the transformation of your life and destiny.

Remember this: 2017 is our year of increased manifestation of the inexplicable, the incredible, the incredulous and the incomprehensible.

Assignment(s):

1. Make demands on God for Divine visitations, manifestations and demonstrations.

2. Ask God for a shift in gear in Divine operations.

Prayer: I ask, O LORD, for increased manifestations of the inexplicable, the incredible, the incredulous and the incomprehensible in my life, in Jesus’ Name.

FOR FURTHER UNDERSTANDING, GET THIS MESSAGE: DIVINE PROOFS – THE SECRETS.

Daily Reading: Job 40:1 to 42:17, 2 Corinthians 5:11 to 21, Psalm 45:1 to 17, Proverbs 22:14.

Amazing Fact: The human eye is so sensitive that if the Earth were flat, you could spot a candle flickering at night from up to 30 miles away.

Today In History: 01/09/1884 – The Thomas A. Edison Construction Department and the Edison Company for Isolated Lighting merged.

Quote: There is no success without secrets; there is no possibility without responsibility. Culled from ’30 secrets to the Top’ by Dr Paul Enenche.

Dunamis International Gospel Centre (DIGC), is a powerfully anointed church, headquartered at Abuja, Nigeria, with Dr Paul and Dr 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: Arise and Come to Your Father — Friday September 1, 2017.

Text: Luke 15:18, 20, 22-23 (NKJV)
I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, *”And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. *”But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry.

Like the prodigal son, it is often tempting to allow negative traits in our lives to continue because of the short comings and failures of our past. But that is never the will of God for our lives. It is precisely because of our short comings and failures that Jesus suffered and died. As a result, we are not to suffer and die for them anymore. God wants us to come to Him and receive His mercy and grace and experience His power, glory and innumerable blessings for our lives. Jesus perfectly understands what you may be going through and He wants to save and restore you. He is sitting on His throne of grace waiting for you to come to receive His grace and complete restoration. Hebrews 4:16 instructs us to come boldly to the throne of grace to obtain mercy and find grace to help in our time of need. It has been paid for by Christ!

Did you ever notice that the prodigal father never once mentioned the sin of his son? This is precisely like what God’s word says in 2Corinthians 5:19 (NIV). The only thing the father referenced was the fact that his son who was once dead was now alive, who was once lost was now found and for these reasons, there was cause to be merry. Nothing brings joy to the heart of God the Father as much as your understanding of His great love for you. He covets your willingness to run to Him and to stay connected to His grace and love. Your connection to the great love God your Father has for you will reactivate a new dimension of God’s life and grace in you. A bountiful feast awaits you. Arise and come to your Father.

Prayer Focus: Receive the fullness of God’s grace and mercy right now. Pray for God’s grace and restoration in every area of your life.

Bible In A Year Reading Plan: Psalm 135-136; 1 Corinthians 12

Empowered to do exploits…

CGMI Above Only Daily Devotional, was written by Most Rev. M.E. Benson-Idahosa, Archbishop of Church of God Mission International, CGMI.

Topic: A Reputation for Truth — Friday September 1, 2017.

Text: Psalm 119:25-32

Key Verse: “Remove from me the way of lying: and grant me thy law graciously. I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments have I laid before me” (Psalms 119:29,30).

At a county fair, a distinctively dressed Quaker offered a horse for sale. A non-Quaker farmer asked its price, and since Quakers had a reputation for fair dealing, he bought the horse without hesitation. The farmer got the horse home, only to discover it was lazy and ill-tempered; so, he took it back to the fair the next day.

There he confronted the Quaker. “Thou hast no complaint against me,” said the Quaker. “Had thou asked me about the horse, I would have told thee truthfully the problems, but thou didst not ask.” “That’s okay,” replied the farmer, “I don’t want you to take the horse back. I want you to try to sell him to someone else. Heaven-bound believers are not allowed to be like the Quaker in the above story. Believers must have a reputation for telling the truth. Our Bible text portrays the believer as someone who abhors lying and chooses the way of truth deliberately.

There is no middle ground of neutrality between truth and falsehood; if you are not in the way of truth, then definitely you are in the way of error. Men do not just drop into the right way by chance; they must choose it and continue therein or else wander away from it. Also highlighted in the text is the fact that there is a practical way of holiness which we must diligently follow, in spite of the odds we might face.

As believers in Christ, we must live up to divine expectation. Interestingly, the Spirit of God in us will not lead us in the way of error and falsehood. So, we must be careful not learn sinful habits of joking with lies and deceit. The devil does not consider lies as jokes because he is a liar and the author of it. Choosing the way of truth begins with salvation experience and continues with abiding in Christ, His word and fellowship with fellow believers.

Thought for the day: A liar is a character assassinator of self.

Bible Reading in one Year: Leviticus 1-4

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.

“Have Patience. All things are difficult before they become easy.”

Topic: Sun Shines At Midnight: The Spiritual North Pole! [Thursday 31 August, 2017]

(1 Thessalonians 5:14:24).

Welcome to today’s devotional hour!Be reminded that the Northern Hemispher – North Poleof the earth, the sun shines at 12am (midnight) during summer! This strange phenomenon is caused by the fact that during summer, the North Pole is tipped towards the sun. Since the aert rotates on it axis once a day at the Arctic Circle (very cold regions of the earth) in one night a year (about June 21st), the sun does not set. Likewise, in one day a year, about December 21st, the sun does not rise! In which case, even at midnight(12am), the day looks as bright as 12 noon and eaqually as hot. One of the inhabitants said: “when it is still broad daylight even at 12am, I just don’t feel like going to bed, so I go out and cut the compound grass.” Is your God not wonderful? Oh! I wish I could one day visit the North Pole to experience sunshine at midnight!

However, the Holy Ghost just told me that I do not need to necessarily visit the North Pole to experience sunshine at midnight! He reminded me: There is a spiritual North Pole in me! Yes! Every believer who fixed to the DAY STAR (Jesus Christ) can experience daily SUNSHINE AT MIDNIGHT in the Northern city called Mount Zion! See Psalm 48:2: “Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.” Oh, sides of the North! Wow! The spiritual North Pole in you! Truly, there are seasons when thick darkness (stubborn problems) saturates your life but if you stay in the city of the great King, then BEAUTY WILL ALWAYS RISE OUT OF EVERY ASH/DARKNESS!

A poet describes such midnight seasons as a time when “the sun slums are incurable, the phosphate aren’t dissolve; the people are unforgivable; and life becomes intolerable.” It is a season when even the best walker can hit toes against a stone. Abraham waited for 25 years for one child( not twins). Joseph was falsely accused! David was a “vagabond” (homeless) years after his public anointing! Jeremiah was imprisoned; Jesus Christ was betrayed and crucified. Paul spent precious time in prison. What is your midnight experience? The good news is that you can experience sunshine if you trust the Sun of Righteousness (Malachi 4:2)! Is Paul not a celebrity today? Hear Saadi: “Have Patience. All things are difficult before they become easy.”

Believe God! THE SUN WILL SHINE IN YOUR MIDNIGHT BECAUSE GOD IS FAITHFUL! Amen!

THE U.S.A TELEPHONE ANOINTING SERVICE WITH DR CHRIS, IS SEPTEMBER 2ND, 2017. TEL NO: +1-712-432-0075 And Access Code is 374042. Time is 6am Central Time. Bring your OIL and prayer points!

Prayer Points: Take Song 1: Through the love of God…….

1. Pray about the Word seriously as led now.

2. Lord, turn my midnight to sunshine in Jesus Christ name.

3. I scatter every DEPRESSION ROOT now! Agree with me! Lay hands and pray with page 55 of “WAR AGAINST HAMAN -12” booklet.

That midnight shall be turned to sunshine as we agree! Pray before bedtime!

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

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

Topic: A Target of Forces? — Friday 1, September 2017.

Memorise: Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.  – Proverbs 6:2

Read: Genesis 35:16-19 (KJV)

16 And they journeyed from Bethel; and there was but a little way to come to Ephrath: and Rachel travailed, and she had hard labour.

17 And it came to pass, when she was in hard labour, that the midwife said unto her, Fear not; thou shalt have this son also.

18 And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin.

19 And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem.

Bible in One Year: 1 Chronicles 28-29, Ezekiel 33:30-34:10, Hymn: Sing hymn 6: Deeper, Deeper

MESSAGE:

Blessings and curses are two of the most powerful forces on earth, even though they function in opposite ways. When present in any life, either of them can seriously affect the destiny of their recipient. Psalm 37:22 says,

“For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off.”

What does this mean? It means that if God blesses you, there is nothing you desire that you cannot get. This is why I am amazed whenever I come across some of my children and they say to me, “Daddy, please pray for me”, and when I respond saying “God bless you”, they still ask me to further pray for them. I tell such people that I have already prayed the greatest prayer anyone can pray for them, because if God blesses someone, all his or her problems will be over. As a user of this devotional, I say to you, God bless you!

Proverbs 10:22 reveals the power of the blessings that God gives; it says,

“The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.”

If you are blessed of the Lord, you will definitely inherit the earth. You will have all you want. However, if you are cursed by God, you will find out that when God curses a person, that fellow will sooner or later become desolate. What is a curse? A curse is an invitation to all the forces in heaven, on earth and underneath the earth to combine forces and resources to work against a person, until he or she is completely destroyed. So when an individual is cursed, demons, men, animals and even the elements will work against that fellow. Let us consider the example of Rachael in Genesis 31:31-35. After Jacob served Laban, he finally left to return home. Then came Laban in hot pursuit after Jacob, and he caught up with him. Laban then said to him, “You have taken my two daughters and my cattle, and now you have equally stolen my idols.” Jacob denied stealing the idols and said whoever stole them should die. Unknown to him, his beloved wife Rachel had stolen these idols and sat on them. They checked everywhere but the idols were not found. Jacob thereafter left Laban in annoyance. Later on, in Genesis 35:16-19, shortly after delivering her next child, Rachel died. The curse her husband had pronounced eventually worked against her. May you not use your own mouth to undo yourself or members of your family in Jesus’ Name!

Key Point: A curse makes a person the target of negative forces.

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: God’s Radiant Beauty — Thursday August 31, 2017.

Read: Romans 1:18–25, Bible in a Year: Psalms 132–134; 1 Corinthians 11:17–34

For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made. Romans 1:20

Lord Howe Island is a small paradise of white sands and crystal waters off Australia’s east coast. When I visited some years ago, I was struck by its beauty. Here, one could swim with turtles and with fish like the shimmering trevally, while moon wrasses drifted nearby, flashing their neon colors like a billboard. In its lagoon I found coral reefs full of bright orange clownfish and yellow-striped butterfly fish that rushed to kiss my hand. Overwhelmed by such splendor, I couldn’t help but worship God.

The apostle Paul gives the reason for my response. Creation at its best reveals something of God’s nature (Rom. 1:20). The wonders of Lord Howe Island were giving me a glimpse of His own power and beauty.

Creation reflects God’s beauty the way a piece of art reflects its artist.

When the prophet Ezekiel encountered God, he was shown a radiant Being seated on a blue throne surrounded by glorious colors (Ezek. 1:25–28). The apostle John saw something similar: God sparkling like precious stones, encircled by an emerald rainbow (Rev. 4:2–3). When God reveals Himself, He is found to be not only good and powerful but beautiful too. Creation reflects this beauty the way a piece of art reflects its artist.

Nature often gets worshiped instead of God (Rom. 1:25). What a tragedy. Instead, may earth’s crystal waters and shimmering creatures point us to the One standing behind them who is more powerful and beautiful than anything in this world.

The beauty of creation reflects the beauty of our Creator.

Insight:

Romans 1:20 declares that the intricacies of our universe point to a Designer and are proofs for the existence of God. Another Scripture that describes how creation points to God is Psalm 19. Captivated and awed by the immensity and beauty of the skies, David simply declares that God exists: “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands” (v. 1). The majestic creation testifies to the presence and power of the even more majestic Creator God. David reflects on how God has revealed Himself to mankind so that we can know Him. God reveals Himself through His created works (vv. 1–6) and His spoken Word (vv. 7–11). In response, David prays for an obedient and faithful life (vv. 12–14).

This message was written By Sheridan Voysey [Our Daily Bread Ministries.]

Topic: Hope Beyond Death — Thursday August 31, 2017

The righteous hath hope in his death. — Proverbs 14:32

We don’t like to talk about death; it’s the forbidden subject of our generation. Yet it’s real for all of us. Sometimes on television I see motion pictures featuring actors who are no longer living. They seem very much alive in the picture, but they are dead. Some of them were my personal friends. Death is real, and when we die, that is a battle we have to fight all alone. Nobody can be with us in that hour, but David said he had found an answer that would take the fear of death away.

David said that there is an answer to death, there is a hope beyond death. That hope is centered in the risen Christ. Paul wrote that to be “absent from the body” is to be “present with the Lord.” So the fear of death is removed.

Prayer for the day: Lord Jesus, with complete trust I look toward that day when my soul will be with You for eternity.

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: Put Your Spirit in Charge [Thursday August 31, 2017]

So too the [Holy] Spirit comes to our aid and bears us up in our weakness; for we do not know what prayer to offer…but the Spirit Himself…pleads in our behalf with unspeakable yearnings and groanings too deep for utterance. – Romans 8:26, The Amplified Bible

As long as you live on this earth, you’re going to be saddled with a weakness. What is it? The flesh and blood body you live in. It’s a body that’s subject to death. A body that’s subject to the physical world around you.

Your reborn spirit doesn’t want to sin. It wants to be completely obedient to God. But the weakness of the flesh causes you to fall prey to the temptations around you.

Does that mean you’re doomed to a life of failure till Jesus comes and that flesh body is glorified?

No! It means you need to build your spirit up, to strengthen it, until it dominates your flesh. We are told to crucify the flesh. Your spirit man must dominate your body. Praying in the spirit by the Holy Spirit applies spirit to flesh. It causes your spirit to rise up and take charge. Just like using barbells strengthens your arms, praying in other tongues strengthens your spirit. You see, your spirit is more powerful than your flesh, and as you give it outflow, the flesh will simply have to yield to it. Most believers don’t understand that. They’ll be overwhelmed by some sin, and instead of conquering it by the things of God such as praying in the spirit, they’ll simply keep struggling to overcome in natural ways. So they end up failing again and again.

If you’re caught in that cycle, take heart! God hasn’t commanded you to be more spiritual than you can be. He knows your weakness and He’s given you a way to overcome it. He’s given you the ability to pray in tongues—and with your understanding to wield the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God. And no matter how badly you’re failing in everything else, you can do these things!

Be warned though, Satan will try to talk you out of it. He knows that once you learn how to bring the flesh in line, he’ll have no foothold left in your life. You’ll shut the door on him and he won’t be able to get in.

Renew your commitment to praying in the spirit today. Make a quality decision to follow the command God gives in Jude 20 and “build yourselves up…on your most holy faith [make progress, rise like an edifice higher and higher], praying in the Holy Spirit” (The Amplified Bible)!

Scripture Reading: Romans 8:14-32

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.