Topic: Reflecting God’s Love — Sunday August 6, 2017

Read: Exodus 34:29–35, Bible in a Year: Psalms 70–71; Romans 8:22–39

When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the covenant law in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lord. Exodus 34:29

I had the privilege of serving as my mom’s caregiver during her treatments at a live-in cancer care center. Even on her hardest days, she read Scripture and prayed for others before getting out of bed.

She spent time with Jesus daily, expressing her faith through her dependence on God, her kind deeds, and her desire to encourage and pray for others. Never realizing how much her smiling face glowed with the Lord’s loving grace, she shared God’s love with the people around her until the day He called her home to heaven.

As we spend time with God and surrender our lives to Him more and more each day, we can reflect His love.

After Moses spent forty days and forty nights communing with God (Ex. 34:28), he descended Mount Sinai. He had no idea his intimate connection with the Lord actually changed his appearance (v. 29). But the Israelites could tell Moses had spoken with the Lord (vv. 30–32). He continued meeting with God and influencing the lives of those around him (vv. 33–35).

We might not be able to see how our experiences with God change us over time, and our transformation will definitely not be as physically apparent as Moses’s beaming face. But as we spend time with God and surrender our lives to Him more and more each day, we can reflect His love. God can draw others closer to Him as the evidence of His presence shows in and through us.

Our intimate moments spent with God can change us and direct others to His love.

Insight:

In the apostle Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians, he compares two sources of “afterglow.” Moses met with God and reflected the fading glory of the law (3:7–11). Now, however, through faith in Christ we can meet with the same God and reflect His transforming Spirit. The difference is life-changing. As good as the law is, it condemns those who break it. As bad as we are, through the mercy and forgiveness of Christ we can have everlasting life.

The offer is to draw near to Jesus, who forgives our sin and transforms us by His Spirit as we draw close and spend time with Him. May others see the love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control of Jesus’s Spirit glowing through us.Mart DeHaan

This message was written By Xochitl Dixon [Our Daily Bread Ministries.]

Topic: Knowledge – The Guarantee of Stability [Sunday August 6, 2017]

Scripture: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; Ephesians 4:14

Thought For The Day: What you know determines your stability in life.

It is crucial to understand that one of the most powerful forces on earth is KNOWLEDGE. Both the right and the wrong kind of knowledge are powerful. The right knowledge has a transforming power but the wrong knowledge has a destructive power. When Adam and Eve got to know that they had eaten the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil, the fruit that God told them not to eat, they were instantly ruined. On the other hand, when the disciples of Jesus knew Jesus as Christ, the Saviour of the world, and also had the knowledge of His Word, they were transformed.

Now, let us see how powerful the right knowledge is.

The right knowledge is key to stability in life. Isaiah 33:6 says, And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times…. So, knowledge gives stability. As a child of God, a business person, civil servant, pastor, etc., what you know determines your stability in life.

The reason many Christians are tossed to and fro by different doctrines from the pit of hell is the lack of the knowledge of God’s Word.

If anyone tells me that he has seen Jesus a thousand times, I will not doubt him, but if he says that the “Jesus” he saw said something that is contrary to the scripture, I will discard his words no matter how spiritual he claims to be. God never breaks His Word or His principles.

Ignorance, therefore, facilitates instability. An ignorant person is an easily shakable and moveable person.

Remember this: What you know determines your stability in life.

Assignment (s):

1. Study the Bible carefully in order to avoid the wave of deception that is moving in our world today.

2. Crave to know God and His Purpose for your life.

3. Be knowledgeable in your career.

FOR FURTHER UNDERSTANDING, GET THIS MESSAGE: THE POWER OF KNOWLEDGE

Prayer: O LORD, open my mind to what I should know in Your Word for the fulfilment of my life on earth and the guarantee of my eternity with You in heaven, in Jesus’ Name.

Quote: Your sense of self confidence is enhanced by the possession of quality information. Learning enhances self-image. Culled from 21 FOOLISH THINGS PEOPLE DO by Dr Paul Enenche.

Daily Reading: Ezra 3:1 to 4:23, 1 Corinthians 2:6 to 3:4, Psalm 28:1 to 9, Proverbs 20:24 to 25

Amazing Fact: There is a diamond floating our galaxy that is bigger than Earth.

Today In History: 6/8/1861 – The United Kingdom annexed Lagos, Nigeria.

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.

A Promise For You From Bible Promises:

Topic: When Frustration Sets In. Pt One [05/08/2017]

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2. 1 Kings 19:1-14

The Bible (the manual of life) teaches that in life, there is time for everything under heaven, in fact, the teacher meticulously analysed the different times. Eccl 3:1-8. At one point in time, we all have experienced time of sorrow, fear and frustration. A time when we felt like our world had fallen apart and collapsed totally. A time when we felt nobody really cares for us in this world, a time when we go through all we’re going through alone. Many times (due to fear) many people actually contemplate suicide, they feel it is better to die than to live. In actual sense, frustration sets into our life when we drift our attention from God and allow fear to enter our hearts.

In our Bible reading, you discover that Elijah had just won a great conquest against the prophets of Baal at Mount Camel. A victory that made the Israelites turn to God in total repentance but the voice of Jezebel’s threat created fear in his heart wherefore he fled for his life. When frustration sets in our hearts, what do we need to do? The answer is find in our anchor scripture which says, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith. To overcome frustration is to fix your eyes on Jesus continually without drifting. Only then can frustration be defeated.

#BiblePromisesPrayer

* Jesus, help me to fix my eyes on you daily in my journey on earth. Amen

Topic: Meet God 3 [Saturday, 4th August 2017]

For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you. Acts 17:23

Now that we have reasonably grasped the importance of knowing the Lord, the question is, how do I get to know the Lord? You guessed right: the Word. God and His Word are one and the same. He gave us His Word, that is, He gave us Himself. So as we interface with the Word of God, we are interfacing with God Himself. Scriptures say Jesus is the revealed image or person of God (Hebrews 1:1-3), and He is also called the Word of God. When we look at the exploit of Jesus in scriptures, we are looking at the exploit of God. Remember, Jesus said “I and my Father are one” ( John 10:30).

The Word of God, as we know, has been given to us to build us to perfection, inclusive is the perfect knowledge of God. Continuous study of the word exposes us to the true and precise nature of God. We don’t need to walk by what we hear around or what we assume. We can know directly from His word. Christ said in John 5:39, “search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” All through scriptures the nature of God is expounded to us, and we can believe it because it was inspired by the Holy Spirit.

Job 37:23 says: “touching the Almighty, we cannot find Him out: He is excellent in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice: he will not afflict.” Psalms 116:5: says of Him: “gracious is the Lord, and righteous; yea, our God is merciful.” James 4:9 says: “for God is Love.” All these scriptures reveal something about God, and God would really be pleased when we will, through the scriptures, Get to know Him. When we diligently search through the scripture, God’s nature is revealed to us day after day, which enables us to trust Him even more.

Keep winning daily.

Prayer:

Dear Father, I believe in You, and that Your Word is provided that I may know You. Help me daily to search Your Word, and stay on Your Word so I can learn You more, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

By Esun Tekeme

Topic: Key to Posterity [Saturday August 5, 2017]

Integrity is the key to posterity.

Loss of integrity will result in destruction of posterity.

Integrity is foundation to posterity.

Toying with integrity is destroying posterity without knowing.

A walk in integrity is a walk into the future.

Only a man of integrity is entitled to posterity.

Topic: Be an Example [Saturday August 5, 2017]

But now I write to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of [Christian] brother if he is known to be guilty of immorality or greed, or is an idolater [whose soul is devoted to any object that usurps the place of God], or is a person with a foul tongue [railing, abusing, reviling, slandering], or is a drunkard or a swindler or a robber. [No] you must not so much as eat with such a person. – 1 Corinthians 5:11

The apostle Paul told the Corinthians not to associate with a believer who had a foul tongue, which included gossiping and criticizing. In order to be a good example to people who are sinning, you must be careful not to do the negative things they do or to say the hurtful things they say. You don’t want to give the impression that you think you are better than they are, but you must lovingly, humbly, and gently decline to be involved in conversation and in other behaviors you know are displeasing to God.

Don’t be passive and let other people infect you with their bad attitudes and evil conversation, but instead make a decision to be a good influence on them.

Power Thought: I will not gossip, criticize, or spread rumors about others.

Topic: Like Theophilus? — Sunday 6, August 2017.

Memorise: Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.  – Psalm 19:14

Read: Luke 1:1-4 (KJV)

1 Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us,

2 Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;

3 It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus,

4 That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.

Bible in One Year: 1 Kings 20-21; Ezekiel 20:39-49, Hymn: Sing hymn 1: My Faith Looks Up To Thee

Open Heavens 6th August 2017 Message:

The name which a person is identified is very significant. The Jews and a good number of African cultures attach great importance to the names they give to their children. It is amazing that God Almighty also recognises the influence of names on the lives of their bearers. For example, while entering into a covenant with Abram, God changed his name to Abraham, and He gave reasons for this (Genesis 17:5). Also, at Bethel, God changed Jacobs’s name to Israel (Genesis 32:28). The Lord Jesus and His apostles also gave people new names (Mark 3:16-17, Acts 4:36).

In our Bible reading today, we read about a man whose name was Theophilus. ‘Theophilus’ in Greek means “lover of God”. It is amazing that this man loved God so much that he earnestly sought to know about Him and His Christ. His curiosity about God produced two of the twenty-seven books of the New Testament: the gospel according to St. Luke and the Acts of the Apostles (Luke 1:1-3, Acts 1:1). When you love someone, you would seek to know more about that fellow. This was exactly the attitude of Theophilus towards God. His drive to know God more, led Luke to write his gospel on the life of Jesus. However, his continued thirst made him unsatisfied with just one book about Him, thereby necessitating the need for a second book to be written by Luke, which is now referred to as the Acts of the Apostles.

There are several lessons we can learn from the life and attitude of Theophilus, one of which is that in spite of his highly exalted position, Theophilus still sought to know the truth about Jesus Christ. The Bible says you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free (John 8:32). Wherever you are confronted with an idea, be it religious or philosophical, try and find out the truth embedded in it. Some people completely fall for some religious ideas without first finding out their authenticity; hence, they have been deceived to believe lies. Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, yearned to know more of Jesus (Philippians 3:10). If you love Jesus, you would want to know more of Him through regular Bible study and fellowshipping with genuine Christians. The benefits of loving God and His Christ are obvious from our memory verse. When you love God, he will deliver you from erring from the truth (John 10:1-14). He will also promote you because your personal relationship with Him will avail for you. Beloved, do you love God? To what extent do you love Him? Jesus Christ, in John 14:15, said:

“If ye love me, keep my commandments.”

By this benchmark, can you say you truly love Him?

Prayer Point: Father, help me to love You as I ought to: in deed and in truth.

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: Love One Another [Saturday August 5, 2017]

But if we are living in the light of God’s presence, just as Christ does, then we have wonderful fellowship and joy with each other, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from every sin. — 1 John 1:7 (TLB)

I received a letter from a man in Charlotte, North Carolina. He said that, until our Charlotte Crusade, he was filled with hatred, bitterness, and prejudice toward people of another race. He had joined one of the extremist organizations and was on the verge of engaging in violence. Out of curiosity he came to the meetings, and one night he was gloriously converted. He said, “All bitterness, hatred, malice, and prejudice immediately left me. I found myself in the counseling room sitting beside a person of another race. Through my tears I gripped the hand of this man, whom a few hours before I would have detested. My racial problem has been solved. I now find that I love all men regardless of the color of their skin.”

Only Christ can solve the complicated racial problem that is facing the world today. Until people of all races come to accept Christ as Savior, they do not have the ability to love each other. Christ can give supernatural love, which enables you to love even those whom you otherwise could not love.

Prayer for the day: Heavenly Father, fill me with that supernatural love of Jesus that enables me to reach out to the myriads of people who, in and of myself, would be impossible to love.

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: Forgiveness Demanded [Saturday August 5, 2017]

Text: Matthew 18:15-22

Key Verse: “Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven” (Matthew 18:21,22).

The world advertises hatred, anger and bitterness. Absence of a truly forgiving spirit in all spheres has severely compromised our divine origin, turning the world into a huge theatre of bloodletting and mindless massacre. Two ethnic groups had lived at peace with one another for centuries in Africa.

They had even inter-married. Yet, a minor offence by one against the other altered the balance. The other group took it to heart and resorted to war. By the time they realised their actions, about one million souls on both sides had perished! This is the scenario the Lord anticipated in the text while giving His counsel on conflict resolution between and amongst Christians. This was essentially to be the distinctive mark between believers and unbelievers.

Christ’s disciples must go the extra mile in resolving disputes and forgiving others. The limit of forgiveness must not be less than 490 times daily, an incomparably far cry from the three times that Rabbis of old prescribed. The unspoken import of Christ’s homily on forgiveness is this: give no room for offence and if it crops up, get it resolved in the Church and forgive. The Lord’s admonition is quite logical. Every believer is a product of Christ’s mercy and forgiveness.

Our sins and transgressions, before we met the Lord, ought to have attracted His dire indignation. Yet, instead of judgment, He offered us mercy; instead of eternal alienation, He granted us unflagging reconciliation. This should be sobering enough for so-called believers who still struggle with the challenge of forgiving offences and the readiness to resolve conflicts within the precincts of the Church.

Christians who rush to the law courts and unbelievers to resolve conflict merely make a mockery of their faith. Whatever the offence against us, the grace of God is sufficient to help us forgive others.

Thought for the day: To err is human; but to forgive is divine.

Bible Reading in one Year: Jeremiah 3-4

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.

Topic: Watch and Pray [Saturday August 5, 2017]

Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. – Matthew 26:41

Have you ever been frustrated with the weaknesses of your flesh? Have you ever resolved never more to yield to a particular sin, yet when the temptation came, you fell right back into it?

It’s happened to all of us—even the disciple Peter. He swore he would never deny Jesus…but he did it anyway, time and time and time again.

There is, however, something we can do to keep from falling prey to temptations like that. We can “watch and pray.” That’s what Jesus told Peter and the other disciples to do in the Garden of Gethsemane. He knew they were about to be tempted, and He knew that the weakness of their flesh would overcome them if they didn’t strengthen their spirits through prayer.

That’s true for you and me too. That’s why in Jude 20-21, God tells us much the same thing that Jesus told the disciples that night. He says, “But you, beloved, build yourselves up [founded] on your most holy faith…praying in the Holy Spirit; guard and keep yourselves in the love of God…” (The Amplified Bible).

God knows even better than we do that our flesh has been trained to flow with the world’s stream. He knows that even though our born-again spirits are reaching for God, our untrained flesh will always have a tendency to fall into sin.

So, He’s given us the ability to pray in other tongues, to strengthen our spirits and build ourselves up until our spirits take ascendancy over our flesh. As we pray in the spirit, Romans 8:26 tells us, the “[Holy] Spirit comes to our aid and bears us up in our weakness; for we do not know what prayer to offer nor how to offer it worthily as we ought, but the Spirit Himself goes to meet our supplication and pleads in our behalf…” (The Amplified Bible).

Is it any wonder the Apostle Paul said, “I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all” (1 Corinthians 14:18)! It is one of the most powerful tools God has given us.

So don’t neglect to use it. Follow the instruction in Ephesians 6:18 and pray “always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance.”

Don’t make the mistake that Peter made. When temptation comes to your door, don’t let it catch you sleeping. Be prepared. Make sure your spirit is strong enough to rise above it.

Scripture Reading: Matthew 26:30-44

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.