Topic: What Heaven Will Be Like — Monday August 21, 2017

And there shall be no more curse; but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him. — Revelation 22:3

The Bible indicates that Heaven will be a place of great understanding and knowledge of things that we never learned down here. Sir Isaac Newton, when an old man, said to one who praised his wisdom, “I am as a child on the seashore picking up a pebble here and a shell there, but the great ocean of truth still lies before me.” And Thomas Edison once said, “I do not know one millionth part of one percent about anything.” Many of the mysteries of God-the heartaches, trials, disappointments, tragedies, and the silence of God in the midst of suffering-will be revealed in Heaven.

Prayer for the day: All the questions will be answered, loving Father, when I take my place in heaven to praise You.

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: Hell Can’t Put Out the Light — Monday August 21, 2017.

In Him was Life, and the Life was the Light of men. And the Light shines on in the darkness, for the darkness has never overpowered it…. – John 1:4-5, The Amplified Bible

Whenever things around you get dark and you feel the devil is about to overpower you, remember this: You have the Light of the world in you, and try as they may, all the forces of hell can’t put it out!

Even when you’re at your weakest, even when you feel like the light within you is small, the devil’s darkness is no match for you.

Let me show you what I mean. Imagine for a moment that you’re in a large auditorium that has no windows or doors to let in outside light. The place is so black you can’t see anything, not even your hand in front of your face. There’s nothing around you but complete darkness!

Now, imagine one little lightning bug flying around that auditorium. Every eye in there would turn toward it. As small as that little light is in comparison to the great darkness around it, you would still be able to see it. That massive blackness wouldn’t be able to do a thing to shut off that bug. Everywhere he flew, the darkness would just have to yield. It would always be dispelled by his light.

When the circumstances around you begin to get black and you’re tempted to despair, think about that lightning bug. Meditate on the fact that Jesus Christ, the Light of the world, is in you. When the revelation of that hits you, you’ll never again let the darkness back you into a corner. You’ll start chasing it down—overcoming it with your light!

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 5:8-16

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: Trust In Jesus As Your Savior – Monday August 21, 2017.

Matthew 19:16 “And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?”

MATTHEW 19:12-20

On the surface, it appears that this rich young ruler was “right on” in the way he approached Jesus and sought salvation. He ran, kneeled down to Jesus, and openly professed Him as a Good Master. What could be wrong with that?

First, he acknowledged Jesus as good but not as God. This is a pivotal point.

Every major religion of the world acknowledges that Jesus lived and will even admit that He definitely was a good man, but they won’t recognize Him as God. If Jesus was only a good man, He couldn’t save anybody. Jesus didn’t just come to show us the way to God. He was the way, the only way unto the Father.

No man could come unto the Father, but by Him (Jn. 14:6). Jesus had made this point publicly many times before. This is the reason that Jesus responded to this young man’s question the way He did. Jesus was saying, “God is the only one who is good. You must accept me as God or not at all.” Jesus was either who He claimed to be or He was the biggest fraud that ever lived. He has to be one or the other. He cannot be both.

Second, he asked what he could do to produce salvation. He trusted in himself and believed he could accomplish whatever good work Jesus might request. This is completely opposed to the plan of salvation that Jesus came to bring.

Jesus obtained salvation for us through His substitution and He offers it to us as a free gift. All we must do is believe and receive. This rich young ruler wasn’t looking for a Savior. He was trying to be his own savior. This is the reason Jesus referred him back to the commandments. He either needed to keep all of the law perfectly or he needed a Savior. Jesus desired to turn this man from trusting in himself by showing him God’s perfect standard, which no one could keep, so that then he would trust in a Savior.

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: Be Still — Monday August 21, 2017.

Read: Psalm 46:1–11, Bible in a Year: Psalms 107–109; 1 Corinthians 4

The Lord Almighty is with us, the God of Jacob is our fortress. Psalm 46:11

“We’ve created more information in the last five years than in all of human history before it, and it’s coming at us all the time” (Daniel Levitin, author of The Organized Mind: Thinking Straight in the Age of Information Overload).  “In a sense,” Levitin says, “we become addicted to the hyperstimulation.” The constant barrage of news and knowledge can dominate our minds. In today’s environment of media bombardment, it becomes increasingly difficult to find time to be quiet, to think, and to pray.

Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still, and know that I am God,” reminding us of the necessity to take time to focus on the Lord. Many people find that a “quiet time” is an essential part of each day—a time to read the Bible, pray, and consider the goodness and greatness of God.

Each day we need to be still and listen to the Lord.

When we, like the writer of Psalm 46, experience the reality that “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble” (v. 1), it drives our fear away (v. 2), shifts our focus from the world’s turmoil to God’s peace, and creates a quiet confidence that our Lord is in control (v. 10).

No matter how chaotic the world may become around us, we can find quietness and strength in our heavenly Father’s love and power.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, we bring our noisy lives and our cluttered minds to You so that we can learn to be still and know that You are God.

Each day we need to be still and listen to the Lord.

Insight:

Getting away to a quiet place can be a way to settle our thoughts. But sometimes the thought of being alone with our thoughts is uncomfortable. Psalm 46 speaks to us about being quiet in the presence of “the God of Jacob,” who is our fortress. Jacob (later named Israel) was a rascal, a liar, and a fugitive from his family.

Jacob struggled with God and God determined Jacob would know Him (see Gen. 32:22–32). It is through Jacob’s line centuries later that Jesus was born to offer us peace and forgiveness.

What could it mean to be still before God, who desired to lovingly father people like Jacob and who desires to be in intimate relationship with each of us? Mart DeHaan

This message was written By David C. McCasland [Our Daily Bread Ministries.]

Topic: You Will Escape! [Sunday 20 August, 2017]

(Psalm 71:1-12).

A while ago, remember the popular story of a teenager in Kaduna Nigeria, who poissoned two of his half sisters with “OTAPIAPIA” (rat killer) and squeezed them into a deep freezer. The man (names withheld), a 21 year-old drop-out, however said that the “Otapiapia” he had put in the food and watr was meant to kill his father. According to him, “I opened the door to my father’s house with an old key before my sisters came back from school and I hid somewhere while observing the process. The food was not meant for them. I tried to come out of my hiding place but was afraid that I may be discovered. After they ate the food, it was as they were watching television that they slumped and died.”

Before continuing with this write-up, please pray the prayers below with holy fire:

1. O Lord, I refuse to carry the evil load of another person in Jesus Christ name ( Pray each point below with holy anger).

2. O Lord, return to sender every evil arrow of the wicked in Jesus Christ name.

3. O Lord, my life shall not be used as a sacrifice for others to live in Jesus Christ name.

4. O Lord, in this second half of 2017, deliver my family and I from all satanic and evil plans in Jesus Christ name.

5. In this second half of 2017, Lord, deliver me from untimely death and let evil coffins burn now in Jesus Christ name( Pray it very well).

6. O Lord, turn the celebration of my enemies to lamentation in Jesus name. Lord, turn their laughter to tears.

7. Lay hands on your head or chest and pray in Tongues for as long as you are led now.

Remember also that a Pastor was dragged out of a plane 2 minutes to take-off, by his old classmate who was a pilot with another airline. The plane from which he was dragged out crashed a few minutes after take-off. You too will escape! The Lord is using today’s devotional to inform you that you shall be delivered from strange arrows and from evil men. Read the Basic Scripture again and believe God that you and your family too will escape in Jesus Christ name!

THE LAGOS (OGUDU) MOUNTAIN AUGUST ANOINTING SERVICE is Sunday August 27th. TIME: 7:00am. THEME: GOD OF FAVOR, REMEMBER ME. (Bring your oil of favor; label it “Oil of Favor.” I shall lay hands on you and your oil).

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

1. Pray the prayer points above again. Pray the Basic Scripture!

2. Pray any other prayer(s) as led.

3. Pray for me Dr. Chris against a blackmailing syndicate that is determined to pull down this vision if don’t give them money and a house.

The battle is the Lord’s! Use the “FAITH BOOSTERS” Page 34 daily!

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

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

Topic: Good Intention, Wrong Approach [Sunday August 20, 2017]

The reason many fail isn’t always because of evil intention but because of poor approach.

There must be a balance. Good intention demand good approach to obtain good result.

Approach is about How, process and procedure for getting things done.

To obtain better results you must improve on your approach.

It is approach that improves the grade of result.

Intention is the aim, picture of what you want done but approach is about how to arrive at the desired result with least noise, preserved energy, short time and excellence.

From the moment you catch a picture of what to do busy yourself thinking of the approach to it.

If you want your result to change then improve in your approach.

Topic: God’s Love For You Is Unconditional And Unending — Sunday August 20, 2017.

“The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.” Jeremiah 31:3 (KJV)

Child of God, it bears repetition that the Father loves you dearly. I can say this over and over again without getting tired because I need it to sink into you. It does not matter the extent of filth that you carry, He still loves you, and is watching out for you. Beloved, God does not love, God is love. He very nature is love, so He cannot do anything but love. However, for a very long period, religion painted a picture of a God who is looking out to strike you down when you fall. But that is not the case. He loves you dearly, irrespective of you. He knows you. He knows your shortcomings. He knows your weaknesses. He knows your antecedents, even more than you do, and yet He extends His unconditional love to you. Apostle Paul writes in Romans 8:35, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Nothing! And no one!”

Even in sin, God’s love for you has not and cannot change. Yes, you may have made a mistake, but He loves you regardless. And His love reaches out to you. He said that He has loved you with an everlasting love. In other words, a love that will never run out or dry up. The Father’s love for you is forever, unending, and eternal.

When Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, they hid from God. But like it is typical of God, He knew they had made a mistake, but still went in search of them, and slaughtered an animal to cover their nakedness. Okay, let me ask you: What do you think made God drive them out of the Garden? It was love! He loved Man so much that He did not want Man to eat of the tree of life after sin had been introduced, which would have condemned all of Mankind to eternal death. So the best thing was to send Man out of the Garden. Every action of God is orchestrated by love.

Further Reading: Romans 5:8-9, Genesis 3:7-9, 21-24

Daily Bible Reading: Morning- Psalms 105-106; Evening- 1 Corinthians 3

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 Temple Of The Holy Spirit — Monday 21, August 2017.

Memorise: For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s. – 1 Corinthians 6:20

Read: 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 (KJV)

16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

Bible in One Year: 2 Kings 24-25; Ezekiel 28:11-24, Hymn: Sing hymn 6: Deeper, Deeper

Open Heavens 21st Monday, August 2017 Message:

The response of the Lord Jesus Christ to the question of a Samaritan woman on God’s approved location of acceptable worship, in John 4:20, put an end to the era where God could only be worshipped in specific places. John 4:21& 23 says,

“22 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. 23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.”

Jesus taught her that the time has come when true worshippers of God are not required to visit any physical temple or be present in any particular location in order to worship God acceptably. True worshipper can now worship the Father in spirit and in truth.

Building on this teaching, Apostle Paul expounded that the dwelling of God is no longer in temples made by human hands (Acts 17:24). He further revealed that God, in the person of the Holy Spirit, now dwells in the body of those who have yielded to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. In 1 Corinthians 6:19 He wrote this:

“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?”

If you are indeed a Christian, your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. Out of love for you, God gave you a unique body; and He wants you to reciprocate His love by making good use of it. The question is, are you conscious of the fact that God’s Holy Spirit dwells in you? Are you aware that you are not your own, and that you are bought with a price? Are you aware that you are to glorify God in your body (1 Corinthians 6:20)? As a child of God, God has taken ownership of your body. You therefore have no preferences in matters concerning your body. A Christian cannot therefore make choices about sexual orientation or engage in behaviours on the basis of personal preference. Without any ambiguity, God has made clear the purpose of our body; therefore, any notion about freedom of choice regarding sexuality and sexual acts is essentially incompatible with God’s word. God also warns that He will destroy those who defile His temple, which is our body. Take note of this and be wise!

Prayer Point: Father, please abide in me; make my body Your dwelling place, and give me the grace to resist any temptation to misuse my body, in Jesus’ Name.

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: Your Impact On Others And Your Success In Life [Sunday August 20, 2017]

Scripture: As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged everyone of you, as a father doth his children, That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory. 1 Thessalonians 2:11-12

Thought For The Day: You are at your best when there are people who can trace their success to your life.

Sometime ago, someone walked up to me and said that I gave him money to buy remedial form for his degree course. Although I could not remember when I did it, I was glad to know that the person is now a graduate. I have experienced many cases like that: some of them say, ‘If not for you, I would not have graduated from the University. If not for you, my son would have dropped out of school.’

There are some young men that God brought my way in Ministry and gave me the privilege of impacting them as a Spiritual Father. When I look at their ministries and the impact on their lives and destinies, I say, ‘Thank You LORD for the privilege of affecting lives positively.’

The truth is, you are at your best when you bring out the best in others. You are at your best when your life is concentrated in adding value to people’s lives. You are at your best when there are people who can trace their success to your life. When you help others to realise their visions then you are at your best.

Daniel decided that Shadrach Meshach and Abednego should be upgraded when he was upgraded, therefore, he could not end small in life (Daniel 2:49; 6:2-3).

Beloved, release the best in others; start from where you are and you can never end small in life.

Remember this: You are at your best when there are people who can trace their success to your life.

Assignment(s):

1. Assist someone reach where they are struggling to reach.

2. Do not ignore the less privileged; do something that will make them smile.

3. Encourage someone who has given up in life; call someone you have not seen for a while in church and know how they are faring spiritually and physically.

FOR FURTHER UNDERSTANDING, GET THIS MESSAGE: LIVING AT YOUR BEST

Prayer: LORD, give me the grace to make a difference in someone’s life. Make a way for someone who needs a way out of any ugly situation, in Jesus’ Name.

Quote: The degree to which you train people is the degree to which you will reign in life. Culled from 30 SECRETS TO THE TOP by Dr Paul Enenche.

Daily Reading: Esther 8:1 to 10:3, 1 Corinthians 12:27 to 13:13, Psalm 37:1 to 11, Proverbs 21:23 to 24

Amazing Fact: Your teeth start growing 6 months before you are born.

Today In History: 20/8/1977 – Voyager program: NASA launched the Voyager 2 spacecraft.

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: Three Kinds of Pleasure — Sunday August 20, 2017

The disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost. — Acts 13:52

The Bible speaks of three kinds of pleasure. There is lustful pleasure, the lust of the flesh, and Scripture says it is sinful and wrong. There is legitimate pleasure, which is not wrong, but we are not to become so preoccupied with its activities that it takes the place of God. Then there is a third kind of pleasure, lasting pleasure. Do you have that kind? It does not depend on circumstances or feelings. It is the pleasure that runs deep and comes from the Spirit of God.

Prayer for the day: Almighty God, may my pleasure always come from being filled with the joy of Your Holy Spirit.

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.