Topic: Confess God’s Truth – Thursday August 10, 2017.

John 11:14 “Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.”

JOHN 11:14

Jesus spoke of Lazarus being asleep instead of dead because that is really a much better description. Death, to their carnal minds, would be final; whereas the word “sleep” would not. When the disciples misunderstood what He was saying, He clarified the situation by saying plainly, “Lazarus is dead.”

This looks like a contrary statement to what Jesus was going to do (raise Lazarus from the dead) and indeed it would have been if He had left it at that. But He went on to say in verse 15, “I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe.” This was referring to Lazarus being raised from the dead and it turned Jesus’ statement of a negative fact into a positive confession of faith.

Many people have been confused over this very issue. Many times people will refuse to speak of or acknowledge any situation that is contrary to a promise that God has given them. It is certainly desirable to avoid talking about our problems and there is scriptural precedent for this (2 Ki. 4:20, 26). In this very instance, Jesus avoided using a word to describe Lazarus’ situation that would have instilled fear into His disciples’ hearts. But when dealing with people who didn’t understand, He didn’t deny the natural facts.

A true, positive confession doesn’t deny natural truth. It just refuses to stop at the natural realm and speaks forth the greater spiritual truth. This is what Jesus did and we should follow His example. Therefore, it is not wrong to acknowledge a physical problem such as sickness just as long as we acknowledge to an equal or greater degree the spiritual truth, “by whose stripes ye were healed” (1 Pet. 2:24). Don’t deny that problems exist, just deny those problems the right to continue to exist in your life by confessing your faith in God.

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: The Glory Of The Son [Wednesday, 9th August 2017]

And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory. Romans 9:23

One of the many things a son whose father is wealthy and has a conglomerate that he is controlling looks forward to is the time his father will bequeath his position to him. The father also looks forward to the time when he will also give the control of his establishment to his son, so he can take a deserved rest. Our Father in heaven did the same thing with us. He has bequeathed His conglomerate – His Kingdom on earth – for us to control and expand, because every conglomerate seeks to expand its market share and income.

The glory of the Son is to meet the expectations of the Father, as regards the running and expansion of the conglomerate. This is key to us. Our glory is the expansion of the kingdom of God. And this expansion is in adding people to our kingdom. Paul said to the Thessalonica church: “for ye are our glory and joy” (1 Thessalonians 2:20). Again he said to the Corinthian church: “…death worketh in us, but life in you” (2 Corinthians 4:12). So, the son has to work his socks out to produce the goods and makes his father happy. That’s what Paul was telling them. “We are working hard, and dying physically so that the life of God will be produced in you.”

We have nothing to glory in if it it not about the expansion of the kingdom that has been given us. Our Father has schooled us for this sole purpose – to take over His kingdom here on earth and expand it. That’s why He gave us the gift of the Holy Spirit. That’s why He gave us skills and talents. And we must use these to expand the Lord’s business, make it more profitable while enhancing its quality. With these being done, our glory, which is the people that are added to our kingdom, will exceed expectation. Remember, “they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever” (Daniel 12:3).

Keep winning daily.

Prayer:

Dear Father, thank You for counting me worthy to be entrusted with Your conglomerate. Help me to expand it and make it more profitable by the working of Your Spirit in me, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Today’s Scripture:  “Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines…yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.” – (Habakkuk 3:17-18, NKJV)

Topic: Switch Over [Wednesday August 9, 2017]

We all face challenges and obstacles in this life. We all have dreams in our hearts, and at times, it looks like they’re not going to come to pass. During these difficult seasons, we have a choice. We can get negative and discouraged and talk about how things are not going to work out, or we can switch over into praise and thanksgiving which opens the door for God to move on our behalf.

A lot of times people think, “I’ll have a good attitude as soon as I get over this health issue.” “Joel, I’ll give God praise when I get through these tough times.” But that’s not how faith works. As long as we’re negative, discouraged and focused on our problems, it limits what God can do. You’ve got to give God praise first, and then the breakthrough will come. You’ve got to change your focus first, and then things will change in your favor. Praise always precedes the victory.

Today, if you’ve been dwelling on the wrong things and focusing in the wrong direction, switch over into praise and thanksgiving. Begin to declare that God is good. Declare that He is faithful. Declare His praises and open the door to victory in every area of your life!

A Prayer for Today: “Father God, today I humbly come before You, lifting You up and magnifying Your Holy Name. Thank You for Your goodness and faithfulness in my life. I bless You and honor You for Your goodness in Jesus’ name. Amen!”

Topic: Don’t Let the Devil Steal It [Wednesday August 9, 2017]

For it is like a man who was about to take a long journey, and he called his servants together and entrusted them with his property…. He who had received one talent also came forward, saying, Master, I knew you to be a harsh and hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you had not winnowed [the grain]. So I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is your own. – Matthew 25:14, 24-25

Jesus often gave people illustrations containing life lessons that could be applied to common situations in which most anyone can find themselves at any given time. The -Parable of the Talents is such an illustration. A talent was the type of currency used in Jesus’ day. One talent is said to have been worth more than a thousand dollars. This particular parable describes a man who gave certain amounts of money to three of his servants with the instruction to invest it.

I find two very interesting points in this story. First, the landowner distributed the money according to each person’s ability. He didn’t try to burden his workers with more than they were capable of handling. The two men to whom he gave the most money invested wisely and doubled their investments. Upon the landowner’s return, they were made full partners in the business. The second thing I realized is that the two with the most ability used it wisely and were richly rewarded. The third man—the one with the least ability—failed.

Think about this. God didn’t ask the third man to invest five talents or even three. He knew this man wasn’t capable of handling such a task. He gave the third servant the least amount of responsibility, and that man still failed. Worse, he tried to justify his failure by blaming the master! But he also said something else—and that’s the secret to understanding this story: I was afraid and hid your talent in the ground (see v. 25).

He didn’t lose the money, but he did nothing with it. And the master responded, You wicked and lazy and idle servant! (v. 26). The spirit of fear had caused the man to do nothing.

Let’s turn that around. The owner said, Then you should have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received what was my own with interest (v. 27). Suppose the man had gone to the bank and invested as the owner suggested. He would never have made as much profit as the other two. And that would have been all right, because all that the owner asked was for him to do what he could—what was reasonably expected of him.

That’s one way the devil snares us. He causes us to compare ourselves with others and see how much money or talents they have. Or he tells us other people are given more opportunities than we will ever have. But God doesn’t ask us to do what someone else does. He asks us to use the gifts and abilities that He has given to us.

I truly believe that God has a plan for each of our lives. A life lived in faith and obedience to God’s Word causes His plan to unfold before our eyes. Clutching what little we have in fear won’t allow us to fulfill God’s plan. In fact, this kind of mindset allows the devil to lie to us and cause us to give up on our dreams and God’s plan for our lives.

Fear only supplies the characteristics of the idle, lazy, and wicked servant. When we listen to the devil, we soon believe we can do nothing. He’ll convince us that everything we attempt will fail. If we listen to God, we will hear the words of the Lord: Well done, you upright (honorable, admirable) and faithful servant! You have been faithful and trustworthy over a little; I will put you in charge of much. Enter into and share the joy (the delight, the blessedness) which your master enjoys (v. 21). It is not how much we accomplish that is important, but it’s being faithful to the ability God has given us that makes the difference.

Loving and caring Father, I don’t know which of those three men I’m the most like in terms of my ability. But I pray that You will make me faithful to fulfill Your plan for my life. In the name of Your Son, Jesus, I thank You for helping me. Thank You, Lord, for helping me keep the enemy from stealing the little or the much You have given me. Amen.

Topic: Possess God’s Rest — Wednesday August 9, 2017

There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God…. Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. – Hebrews 4:9,11

God’s rest. Considering the hectic, busy lives you and I live that sounds like a pretty good thing to have, doesn’t it? But exactly what is that rest? And how do we enter it?

The third and fourth chapters of Hebrews compare God’s rest with the children of Israel taking possession of the Promised Land. That land was to be a place where their every need would be met, a place of freedom from their warring enemies, a place no one would ever drive them from again. All they had to do was go in and possess it. But something kept them from it: unbelief and disobedience.

As believers, we too, have the opportunity to enter a promised land of abundance and peace. A land where we can rest from our struggles and enjoy the victory of God. To enter it we must do what the children of Israel failed to do. We must simply trust God and obey His voice.

How do you come to that place of trust and obedience? By getting to know your Father. By spending time fellowshiping with Him in prayer and in the Word. That is the labor that will bring you into His rest!

I’ll never forget when I first discovered that. I had been learning the principles of faith, striving hard to do them. It seemed back then that keeping doubt and unbelief out of my heart was difficult. Then, one day, I began to labor to know the Father instead of just knowing about Him.

When I did that, He began to reveal Himself to me. He gave me glimpses of His heart, His nature and His love. As He revealed to me how much He wanted to do for His children, it changed my striving into peace, my doubt into trust, my fear into bold obedience. It enabled me to enter His rest.

Get to know your Father. Work at it. Make it your “labor.” He has a promised land of rest that is waiting for you!

Scripture Reading: Hebrews 4:1-11

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 Eternal Fact — Wednesday August 9, 2017

And all who trust him—God’s Son—to save them have eternal life . . . — John 3:36 (TLB)

Currently, Christianity is being compared with other religions as never before. Some so-called Christian leaders even advocate the working out of a system of morals, ethics, and religion that would bring together all the religions of the world. It cannot be done. Jesus Christ is unique.

Why insist on the uniqueness of Christ? What did Christ bring into the world that had not appeared before? The Christian answer is that He is the supreme manifestation of God. “God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself” (2 Corinthians 5:19). This is the eternal fact of our Christian faith.

Prayer for the day: Beliefs come and go, Lord Jesus, but You remain—unchanging—for You are the Son of God!

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: Our Resurrected Bodies – Wednesday August 9, 2017

John 11:13 “Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.”

JOHN 11:11-14

There are many scriptures where death is spoken of as sleep, however, the disciples thought Jesus was speaking of Lazarus simply resting. Jesus eventually clarifies their misunderstanding by using the word “death,” but that was not His first choice. This is because God’s perspective is different than ours. Death is final to natural man but not to God. There will be a resurrection.

In his second letter to the Corinthians Paul uses natural illustrations to explain the resurrection. He speaks of seeds that are buried in the ground and “die.” Then they are resurrected as a plant. The plant and the seed bear no resemblance but they are actually the same. The plant is just in a resurrected state. Likewise, our physical bodies will die but they will be resurrected just as surely as seeds produce plants.

In the same way that a seed is different than the plant that it produces, likewise our resurrected bodies will be different. Our glorified bodies will be very similar to our physical bodies in appearance. This can be said because of what the scriptures reveal about Jesus’ glorified body. He still looked human, He ate food, had the print of the nails in His hands and feet, and He said He had flesh and bones. Yet he could appear and disappear. Our resurrected bodies will be immortal (i.e. not subject to death). Our resurrected bodies will be like Jesus’ resurrected body.

In the same way that our present physical bodies are a miraculous creation, so our glorified resurrected bodies will have their own glory. We can rest assured that God never serves dessert first. If this physical body is wonderful, our resurrected body will be even better.

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: Refuse To Be Discouraged [Wednesday August 9, 2017]

Scripture: And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. Galatians 6:9

Thought For The Day: It does not matter what the devil has done against you, if he has not touched your prayer life, he has done nothing.

The devotional life of a Christian is key to his or her success and victory in time and in eternity. That is why the greatest conspiracy of the enemy is the conspiracy against a person’s devotional life – prayer life, the study of the word, praise and worship.

That was the conspiracy against Daniel. The conspiracy was to stop him from praying; a decree was made in that regard (Daniel 6:6-9).

Sometimes the devil would draw your attention to certain things that seem not to be working in order to discourage you from praying, worshipping or studying the Word. What he is trying to do is to tamper with your relationship with God so you can refuse to pray, worship and study the Bible; but he will not succeed.

Beloved, there is no wasted prayer or labour with God (2 Chronicles 15:7); your answer will come and your story will change. It does not matter what the devil has done against you, if he has not touched your prayer life, he has done nothing. But if the enemy succeeds in ruining your devotional life, then your destiny is at stake.

Also, note that any contact or job that reduces your devotional life and commitment in church or hardens your conscience is a satanic orchestration to decapitate your destiny. Do all you can to protect your prayer life.

Remember this: It does not matter what the devil has done against you, if he has not touched your prayer life, he has done nothing.

Assignment (s):

1. Determine to pray, worship and study the Word of God despite confrontations.

2. Determine to pray until something happens; do not give up.

3. Start your day with prayer and the study of the Word before any other thing.

FOR FURTHER UNDERSTANDING, GET THIS MESSAGE: FROM CONFRONTATION TO PROMOTION.

Prayer: O LORD, I have made up my mind to love, worship and serve You till the end of time. Let me experience Your wonders in my life, LORD, in Jesus’ Name.

Daily Reading: Ezra 8:21 to 9:15, 1 Corinthians 5:1 to 13, Psalm 31:1 to 8, Proverbs 21:1 to 2

Quote: Your life of today is a product of your prayer of yesterday and your life of tomorrow is being determined by your prayer today. Culled PRINCIPLES AND POWER OF PRAYER by Dr Paul Enenche.

Amazing Fact: The only part of the body that has no blood supply is the cornea of the eye. It receives oxygen directly from the air.

Today In History: 9/8/1892 – Thomas Edison received a patent for a two-way telegraph.

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: The Heart of Christ — Wednesday August 9, 2017

Read: Exodus 32:21–32, Bible in a Year: Psalms 77–78; Romans 10

Please forgive their sin—but if not, then blot me out of the book you have written.  Exodus 32:32

An Australian journalist who spent 400 days in an Egyptian jail expressed mixed emotions when he was released. While admitting his relief, he said he accepted his freedom with incredible concern for the friends he was leaving behind. He said he found it extremely hard to say goodbye to fellow reporters who had been arrested and jailed with him—not knowing how much longer they were going to be held.

Moses also expressed great anxiety at the thought of leaving friends behind. When faced with the thought of losing the brother, sister, and nation that had worshiped a golden calf while he was meeting with God on Mount Sinai (Ex. 32:11–14), he interceded for them. Showing how deeply he cared, he pled, “But now, please forgive their sin—but if not, then blot me out of the book you have written” (v. 32).

The apostle Paul later expressed a similar concern for family, friends, and nation. Grieving their unbelief in Jesus, Paul said he would be willing to give up his own relationship with Christ if by such love he could save his brothers and sisters (Rom. 9:3).

Looking back, we see that Moses and Paul both expressed the heart of Christ. Yet, the love they could only feel, and the sacrifice they could only offer, Jesus fulfilled—to be with us forever.

Prayer: Father in heaven, thank You for reminding us how much it is like You to be willing to live—and die—for those who have not yet seen how much You love them.

Caring for others honors Jesus’s love for us.

This message was written By Mart DeHaan [Our Daily Bread Ministries.]