Topic: Showing Grace — Saturday August 5, 2017

Read: Colossians 4:2–6, Bible in a Year: Psalms 68–69; Romans 8:1–21

Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. Colossians 4:6

The US Masters Golf Tournament began in 1934, and since then only three players have won it two years in a row. On April 10, 2016, it appeared that twenty-two-year-old Jordan Spieth would become the fourth. But he faltered on the last nine holes and finished in a tie for second. Despite his disappointing loss, Spieth was gracious toward tournament champion Danny Willett, congratulating him on his victory and on the birth of his first child, something “more important than golf.”

Writing in The New York Times, Karen Krouse said, “It takes grace to see the big picture so soon after having to sit through a trophy ceremony and watch someone else have his photograph taken.” Krouse continued, “Spieth’s ball-striking was off all week, but his character emerged unscathed.”

Paul urged the followers of Jesus in Colossae to “be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone” (Col. 4:5–6).

As those who have freely received God’s grace, it is our privilege and calling to demonstrate it in every situation of life—win or lose.

Prayer: Dear Lord, help me by Your Spirit to be gracious and kind to others and to represent You well.

Gracious words are always the right words.

Insight:

The grace we have received in Jesus is part of His mission. John’s gospel declares, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. . . . We have all received grace in place of grace already given. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ” (John 1:14, 16–17). He came “full of grace and truth” to bring us “grace in place of grace already given.” This emphasis on grace in the coming of Jesus was in direct contrast to the law of Moses that had become a heavy burden to the people of Israel. By fulfilling that law, Jesus provided us not only with the grace of salvation, but He also gave us what we need to live every day in Him.

How does knowing we have freely received God’s grace challenge us to show grace to others?

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

Today’s Scripture: “Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done…” – (Isaiah 46:10, NKJV)

Topic: He Knows How It Ends [Friday August 4, 2017]

Sometimes I will record a football game and watch it when I get home later. Most times, I already know how the game ends. I’ve talked to friends or watched the news. I know my team wins. While I’m watching, I don’t get discouraged if my team falls behind. I don’t get uptight if it’s halftime and we still haven’t scored. I’m totally at peace. Why? I already know the outcome. The truth is that the further behind we fall, the more excited I am because that means a big comeback is on its way. I can’t wait to see what’s going to happen.

As believers, God has promised us victory. You may go through disappointments. At times, it seems like you’re far behind. But you’ve got to remind yourself, “God holds my future in the palm of His hand. He already knows the outcome. God never ends in defeat!” I’m going to come out of this better and stronger than ever before! Remember, He knows how it ends, and it ends in peace, joy and victory in every area of your life!

A Prayer for Today: “Father God, how awesome You are! Thank You for declaring victory over my life. I choose to trust Your Word, even when I don’t understand. I trust that You are good and that my end shall be in victory in Jesus’ name! Amen.”

A Promise For You From Bible Promises:

Topic: In This Times of Ignorant [04/08/2017]

And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent. Acts 17:30. Read: 1 Tim 1:12-17

From the Old Testament of the Bible to the New Testament, the bible teaches that, the time of ignorance is over. Being that God knows and understands, He always makes adequate preparation for such people that would fall victim. The Bible tells us there are sins we commit ignorantly. God told Moses to set out three cities for persons who ignorantly kill his neighbour. When he enters one of those three cities, the avenger of blood won’t be able to kill him. And this is the case of the slayer, which shall flee thither, that he may live: Whoso killeth his neighbour ignorantly, whom he hated not in time past. Deut 19:4. This is the dispensation of law.

In the dispensation of grace (new testament), when apostle Paul discovered in Athens the ignorance of men who were worshipping what they didn’t know, he said, “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”. He further told them they have been ignorant of this thing, God is not angry at them, And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent. Ac 17:30. So, God is not angry at you for doing what you did or doing now, He knows you do not know, what He requires from you is to run to Him now that you know the truth so that you can be set free. Even if you know yet, you kept doing what you are doing, God said, “Even the lawful captive shall be delivered”.

#BiblePromisesThought

* God is not interested in your destruction but safe landing in heaven. Run to Him for your salvation

Topic: Meet God 2 [Friday, 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

Having established that there is need to know God, Whom we serve, I think it is expedient we share why this knowledge is importance. Let us see some reasons why Paul made that statement in Philippians 3:8. Firstly, God desires an intimate relationship with us, that is why He reconciled us to Himself in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20). Now imagine you wanted someone for a spouse, or you’ve already gotten someone for a spouse, it is only natural for both of you get to know yourselves; your likes, dislikes, capabilities, shortcomings, visions, etc. Otherwise they’d be a lot of conflicts, miscommunication and hitches, and you’d wonder why they are there when they love themselves. Same it is with God. Except now He knows everything about us (Jeremiah 1:5), and we are now to learn about Him and His ways, otherwise we’d come across too many hitches that we won’t understand.

The second reason is that we can only trust someone to the extent to which we know them. This is simple and basic. We wouldn’t trust a man in an area we haven’t seen them manifest. It is true that God is not a man, but if we can’t trust man that we see, how would we trust God that we don’t see, just like we can’t claim to love God that we can’t see but hate man that we can see. The only reason David could boldly declare that the Lord is merciful, slow to anger and plenteous in mercy in Psalms 103:8 was because he had personally learnt that part of God, and he knew for a truth that that is the nature of God. Psalms 34:8 says: “O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.” Until you taste (learn) God, you won’t be able to trust Him.

The third reason is that knowing God is equal to knowing ourselves. It is trite knowledge that we died with Christ and are resurrected in Him (Romans 6:4), and the life that we live is not ours, but Christ’s, and this life is the Iife of God (1 John 5:11). It is only logical that to know this new us we need to know the source. Philippians 3:9-10 says: “and be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death.”

There’s so much benefit in knowing God; these are only but a few. You learn these benefits as you learn Him.

Keep winning daily.

Prayer:

Dear Father, thank You that You know me, and wish for me to know You. Help me, therefore, to daily learn about You. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

By Esun Tekeme

Topic — Just One: Never Under Estimate You! [Friday 4 August, 2017]

(Ezekiel 22:20-31).

The ageless poem below has caused a revolution In my life over the years. Titled, Just One,” it is being used by God today to remind you that you are extremely important:

– One song can spark a movement.
– One flower can wake the dream.
– One tree can start a forest.
– One smile can begin a friendship.
– One star can guide a ship at sea.
– One vote can change a nation.
– One candle can wipe out darkness.
– One laugh can cancel gloom.
– One step starts a journey.
– One touch can show you care.
– One voice can speak with wisdom.
– One life is all that God needs to make a difference in a generation and that one life can be yours!

You are important! Resist self-pity or depression! Fight inferiority complex. If Satan cannot stop your victory or kill you, he will try to stop your party! DID JESUS CHRIST NOT DIE FOR YOU? Oh, it means you are so important that you were worth dying for! Oh, amazing grace!

In this second half of 2017, always remember that there are more “selves” within you that lie unused. God is not looking for men! He is looking for a man (Today’s scripture Vs. 30)! As you trust Him, never forget what Enerson told his son: “What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lie within us.” Resist inferiority complex! You can make a difference in your generation! Never underestimate yourself! Pray now!

THE 2017 UK ANOINTING SERVICE IS AUGUST 5TH!

Theme: THIS DELAY MUST DIE! Venue:City Temple Conference Center Holborn Viaduct, London ECIA 2DE. For booking details, call : +447818555808. Date: Saturday ( August 5th 2017). Time: 3pm. BUSES NO: 242, 25 & 8. I SHALL LAY HANDS ON EVERYONE PRESENT AS DIRECTED BY MY “THREE FRIENDS” – THE TRINITY!

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

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

2. Pray the Morning and evening devotional prayers today and daily. See page 7 now.

3. What is that problem? Agree with me. Lay your hands on pages 55-56 of the booklet: “War Against Haman -12” booklet and pray it 3 times today.

Check Page 72 (Gems For Success) And Page 88 (Business Secrets) Today!

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

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

Topic: Put God First [Friday August 4, 2017]

Put God first and you will never end as last.

Put God first to guarantee your place in the front.

Carry God on your head and you will never end as tail.

Those who display God can never be displaced by men.

Topic: Joy Stealers [Friday August 4, 2017]

For my sighing comes before my food, and my groanings are poured out like water. For the thing which I greatly fear comes upon me, and that of which I am afraid befalls me. I was not or am not at ease, nor had I or have I rest, nor was I or am I quiet, yet trouble came and still comes [upon me].  – Job 3:24-26

People dread many things, and most don’t even realize what dread does to them. It sucks the joy right out of the present moment. The life God has provided for us through Jesus Christ is a precious gift, and we should enjoy every moment of it.

Dread is insidious and can insert itself into even the most innocuous of circumstances. For example, once I was getting a facial and enjoying it extremely. I glanced at the door and saw my clothes hanging on the hook and thought, Oh, I dread getting up and putting on my clothes and driving all the way home. Then I realized I was letting dread do its dirty work again. It was stealing the joy of the present moment.

Pray and ask God to show you every time you begin to dread any task or something lurking in your future that you’re not quite sure of. Merely eliminating dread from your life will release more of your God-given confidence and help you experience more joy.

Lord, make me aware of what I dread. It’s such a part of my life that it’s easy to not even notice. Help me to retain my joy and walk in all the confidence You’ve given me. Amen.

Topic: Good Neighbourliness [Saturday 5, August 2017]

Memorise: Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:  – Hebrews 12:14

Read: 2 Kings 4:1-7 (KJV)

1 Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the LORD: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen.

2 And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee? tell me, what hast thou in the house? And she said, Thine handmaid hath not any thing in the house, save a pot of oil.

3 Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours, even empty vessels; borrow not a few.

4 And when thou art come in, thou shalt shut the door upon thee and upon thy sons, and shalt pour out into all those vessels, and thou shalt set aside that which is full.

5 So she went from him, and shut the door upon her and upon her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured out.

6 And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said unto her son, Bring me yet a vessel. And he said unto her, There is not a vessel more. And the oil stayed.

7 Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, and live thou and thy children of the rest.

Bible in One Year: 1 Kings 18-19; Ezekiel 20:27-38, Hymn: Sing hymn 9: On The Hill Far Away

Open Heavens 5th August 2017 Message:

Being the God who knows the end from the beginning and the beginning from the end, when the Lord gives us a commandment, it’s because He had already considered the beginning, the present and the end. This consideration applies to the Lord’s commandment in today’s memory verse, instructing us to follow peace with all men. This commandment is for our good, both now and in the hereafter. You need to practise good neighbourliness for the sake of the gospel and to bring glory to your Father in Heaven. The story of the widow in today’s Bible reading demonstrates the blessings that come through good neighbourliness. This widow cried to Elisha because her husband owed a debt he could not pay before he died, and her two sons were to be sold into slavery to settle the debt. The prophet asked her what she had that God could work with, and she mentioned a pot of oil. That was more than enough for the God who brought out something as great as the universe from nothing. So, Elisha asked the widow to go to her neighbours and borrow as many vessels as were available, after which she should lock herself up with her sons for the business of miracle oil-bottling. They did this and the oil began to flow until there were no more empty vessels left. The widow eventually became an oil merchant because the prophet directed her to sell the oil, pay the creditors and use the rest of the money to meet the needs of her family.

There are many lessons we can learn from this story. First, we must value what we have because it is what we have that God will use to meet our needs. Secondly, no matter how much we may have in our possession, it is always more than enough for God to perform His miracles in our lives with. This truth was also demonstrated when Jesus used five loaves and two fishes to feed more than five thousand people (Matthew 14:17-21). Thirdly, without the assistance of the widow’s neighbours, the effect of the miracle would have been limited. We would always need our neighbours and our neighbours would always need us. The absence of good neighbourliness would have denied this widow the use of her neighbours’ vessels. She would not have had the courage to go to her neighbours if she had been fighting them. Beloved, as taught by our Lord Jesus Christ, let us add good neighbourliness to our Christian virtue. Matthew 5:16 says,  

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

Good neighbourliness produces both spiritual and physical blessings. Therefore, in the Church of God and in our community, let us be agents of peace, unity and friendless. Through this, unbelievers will see our good works and be drawn to our Heavenly Father.

Action Point: Determine in your heart to do good to at least one person a day, and pray for grace to do it.

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: Damnable Sin [Friday August 4, 2017]

Text: Leviticus 20:1-9

Key Verse: “Again, thou shalt say to the children of Israel, Whosoever he be of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn in Israel, that giveth any of his seed unto Molech; he shall surely be put to death: the people of the land shall stone him with stones.” (Leviticus 20:2).

There is a story about a custom of the natives in New Guinea. At certain times, they would lapse into rituals, songs and dance. They would work themselves up into a frenzy and the ritual would culminate in what is called the murder songs, in which they would shout before their gods the names of the people they would wish to kill for ritual.

This was similar to the situation in Canaan. But in the passage today, God prescribed a penalty for worshippers of Molech. It was a heinous crime and God commanded that those involved in such an act must all be cut off from their brethren. God equally instructed that foreigners who lived in Israel must obey the rules of God. He maintained that He would continue to set His face against any person that delighted in heathen practices. He also commanded the Israelites to be holy because He is holy.

Today, people still set God aside, worshipping idols of money and power. Some kill for ritualistic purposes. Children, for their part, disrespect their parents and constituted authority, a trend that has almost been elevated to a norm in the society. Although God’s prescription to stone the rebellious to death was only in the Old Testament dispensation, He has reserved judgment for the day when the works of men would be tried. God will judge the young and old, male and female, for any rebellious activity. All violent demonstrations that jeopardise the lives of other citizens will also be punished.

Therefore, Christian parents should educate their children on the dangers of getting involved in such unrests. God will hold everyone accountable for any rebellion in the church and against the leaders. As we go about our businesses today, may the Almighty God deliver us from any form of rebellion in Jesus’ Name.

Thought for the day: Sin is a deadly virus that pays the wages of death.

Bible Reading in one Year: Jeremiah 1-2

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: Guard against Greed [Friday August 4, 2017]

You cannot serve two masters: God and money. — Matthew 6:24 (TLB)

Tell me what you think about money, and I will tell you what you think about God, for these two are closely related. A man’s heart is closer to his wallet than anything else. It is a staggering fact that for the past few years people have spent ten times as much for luxuries and non-essentials as they have for all charitable and religious purposes. This is a commentary on our shallow and superficial religious faith.

While the Bible warns us against greed and selfishness, it does encourage frugality and thrift. Even Jesus said to His disciples after He fed the multitude, “Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.” Although our Lord had the power to create, He Himself lived frugally and without luxury. John Wesley had a threefold philosophy about money. He said, “Make all you can; keep all you can; and give all you can.” Most of us get all we can, spend all we can; borrow all we can; and give meagerly to God.

Audio: Billy Graham on the love of money and eternal consequences

Prayer for the day: Lord, give me a generous heart so that others may know Your love and compassion.

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.