Topic: How to Gain Wisdom [Wednesday August 2, 2017]

If you will turn (repent) and give heed to my reproof, behold, I [Wisdom] will pour out my spirit upon you, I will make my words known to you. – Proverbs 1:23

We need to pray and obey God’s leading when He speaks to us. Obedience is not to be an occasional event for us; it is to be our way of life. There’s a big difference between people who are willing to obey God daily and those who are only willing to obey to get out of trouble. God certainly shows people how to get out of trouble, but He bestows abundant blessings on those who decide to live wholeheartedly for Him and who make obedience to Him their lifestyle. The only pathway to true peace is obedience to God.

Many people obey God in the big issues, but they aren’t aware that obedience in the little things makes a difference in His plan for their lives. The Bible says plainly that if we are not faithful in the little things, we will never be made rulers over much (see Luke 16:10). There is no reason for God to trust us with a major responsibility if we are not going to be faithful to do the little things He has asked us to do. I strongly urge you to be obedient to God even in the smallest of things. A sixteenth-century monk called Brother Lawrence was well known for walking continually in the presence of God. He said that He was pleased to pick up a piece of trash from the ground in obedience to God and because He loved Him.

In the verse for today, God says He will make known His words to us if we listen to Him when He corrects us. If we follow His guidance and are pleased to do each little thing He asks of us then He will open His wisdom to us, and we will have more revelation than we could ever imagine.

Topic: Keep Dreaming To Keep Living [Wednesday August 2, 2017]

Dreaming is living,

Dreamers don’t die cheaply

Life is exciting and inviting to dreamers.

Dreamers don’t fear death,

Dreamers keep dreaming inspite of hatred and oppositions.

Dreamers live long to rule the opposers.

Dream more to live long!

The more you dream the longer you live.

Topic: Come Ye Apart I [Thursday 3, August 2017]

Memorise: On the first day shall be an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein. – Leviticus 23:35

Read: Mark 6:30-32 (KJV)

30 And the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught.

31 And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.

32 And they departed into a desert place by ship privately.

Bible in One Year: 1 Kings 14-15; Ezekiel 20, 1-13, Hymn: Sing hymn 6: Deeper, Deeper

Open Heavens 3rd August 2017 Message:

“Come ye apart” is a call for a holy convocation or a coming together of the saints in a solemn assembly. In the Bible, such a meeting was often called to enable the people of God separate themselves unto God. Such special days were devoted to spiritual activities such as praise, worship, celebration, Scripture reading, fasting, prayers and offering of sacrifices. In today’s Bible reading, the Lord Jesus Christ called for a holy convocation or solemn assembly with His disciples. The disciples had just returned from their very first missionary tour. Although they had many victories and testimonies of healing and casting out of demons, they were also very tired, confused (from seeing strangers casting out demons in the Name of Jesus), and full of several questions they wanted to ask the Master. On getting back to Jesus, they immediately bombarded Him with their reports, but Jesus would not engage them in the presence of the multitude. Instead, He called them apart for a solemn assembly. He said to them, “Come ye apart and rest a while”. Within the atmosphere of peace and quiet, the disciples were able to tell Jesus all about their labour, victories, challenges and ask their questions unhindered. The Lord Jesus in turn was able to properly instruct them, answer all their questions, clear their doubts and minister to them appropriately.

However, it should be noted that the call for a solemn assembly was intentionally made to exclude the multitude. It was strictly designed for the hardworking disciples, who were exhausted, to come away and rest for some time. A solemn assembly is therefore a time to recharge our spiritual battery, a time of deep reflection and a time to meditate on the word of God. It is meant to be a time of total rest from daily physical work in order to be in the presence of the Lord. It is a time of separation unto God for spiritual worship, fasting and prayers, with high expectations of divine visitation. It is a time of very serious business with God that leaves no room for pettiness, gossip, indiscipline or any form of carnality. That is why the solemn assembly in the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) is strictly meant for mature ministers and workers of the Church. “Come ye apart” is an open invitation by God to His favoured children as a means of setting them apart for divine blessings. It could be a call to an individual, as was the case with Moses in Exodus 34:2-3, or a call to a group of people, as was the case with Jacob and his family in Genesis 35:1-7. May you receive your own special invitation today in Jesus Name.

Prayer Point: Father, as I separate myself to You in consecration, please set me apart for Your special blessings 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: Is It Perfect? [Wednesday August 2, 2017]

Text: 2 Kings 14:1-7

Key Verse: ” And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, yet not like David his father: he did according to all things as Joash his father did” 2 Kings 14:3

David Livingstone, the great missionary to Africa, made an attempt to compare the efforts he put into the preaching of the gospel in Africa with the sacrifice Jesus made to redeem mankind from eternal damnation and concluded that there was no ground for comparison. In his words, “People thought of the sacrifice I have made in spending so much of my life in Africa.

Can that be called a sacrifice which simply paid back a small part of the great debt owed to our God, which we can never fully repay? Hence, one of the ways of paying back the debt owed to our God is rendering perfect service to Him” Amaziah did that which was right in the sight of the Lord but not like David. He acted well in some measure like Joash, his father. He began well but did not persevere. He kept his attendance to God’s altar and his attention to God’s word, yet not like David.

It is, therefore, not enough to do that which our pious predecessors did, merely to keep up the usage, but we must do it as sincerely as it ought to have been done. “Howbeit the high places were not taken away: as yet the people did sacrifice and burnt incense on the high places”. This was his great handicap! The scripture sternly warns: “Thou shalt have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3). Dear reader, have you taken away those ‘high places’ of idol in your heart (worldliness, evil association, forgery and the likes)? Whatever it is that you esteem above God in your heart is a ‘high place’; it is an idol! You cannot serve God and mammon. The modern day attitude that says it-doesn’t-matter in Christian living and services are to be avoided like plagues! Perfect service unto God is a forerunner to the believer’s daily victory and a guarantee of eternal bliss.

Thought for the day: The minutest stain on a white garment marks a blight that subtracts from its immaculate beauty.

Bible Reading in one Year: 2 Corinthians 5-9

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: Grow Up! [Wednesday August 2, 2017]

“Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all but is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.;” Galatians 4:1-2 (KJV)

As long as you remain a child, you cannot access your rightful position and take authority over situations that confront you. Many Christians today are too lazy. They are too lazy to read or study the scripture. They are too lazy to commit the scriptures to memory. Too lazy to wake up and pray in the night. Even when they pray, they can only go for a few minutes and they are tired. How do you access the spiritual blessings that have been made available for you if all you do is struggle with your spiritual growth? God has given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness. His intention is for you to walk and live in victory as sons according to His good pleasure. He does not intend for you to be a baby that will be spoon-fed all your life.

I encourage you to take advantage of that which God has made available for you. Rise up today and take your rightful place. Hear the Word! Listen to the Word, Speak the Word! Eat the word until it becomes a part of you. Use the Word of God like a carpenter uses his tools. A carpenter knows when to use his hammer or chisel. He has a mastery of his tools and the same applies to you if the Word is to produce results for you.

Build up your faith in God. Live your life according to his word and make the Word of God your watchtower. Soak yourself in it. Grow in your relationship and listen for His voice. God is still speaking today so don’t let the enemy occupy your mind with noise. If your life is empty of words, then don’t expect the manifestation of your desires to just fall in your lap like a bag of cherries. Let the Word of God continually be your mirror so that you can stand blameless before Him in love. Always remember that His Word concerning your life is settled. Believe it! It shall come to pass.

Further Reading: Hebrews 5:13-14. 1Peter 1:23-25, 2:1-2

Daily Bible Reading: Morning- Psalms 60-62; Evening- Romans 5

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: Fulfilling Your Dream Marriage (5)

Dear Reader,

You are most welcome to the last teaching of this month.  This week, I will be sharing with you on the “Perfect Tongue.”

God wanted to create a world that would be very good. His desire was implanted deep in His heart. The day He gave voice to His desire, our world was born. When He looked at all He had made, He put the final stamp of approval when He declared them to be “very good.” (Genesis 1:31). Even if the creation work was just good, as soon as God proclaimed that it was very good, the earth adjusted. There were no thorns, no thistles, no violence, no death – those were not part of the arrangement. It was disobedience that enthroned poverty in place of riches, sickness instead of health, death rather than life. God’s Word says: What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good? Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile (Psalm 34:12, 13).

Whatever good you desire to see enthroned in your family, you can speak it into being; you have spoken enough negative things. You have spoken out of the information your mind has stored up for years. But the same mouth that has spoken the facts of life can speak the truth of the Word. If your marriage is good, it can be better. If it is better, it can be the best; and if it is the best it can be excellent and then perfect! God’s Word declares: For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body (James 3:2).

What would constitute a perfect marriage? A perfect tongue! What is a perfect tongue? It is a tongue that selects what it says and one which speaks the truth of God’s Word rather than the facts of life. God has promised to grant the desires of your heart. As husband and wife, you owe it to yourselves and to God to verbalise your desire. You may desire life, but if you permit your tongue to speak death, you cannot have anything but death. Why? …He shall have whatsoever he saith (Mark 11:23).

Apostle Paul was aboard a ship. He had counselled the captain in charge to delay their trip. The Centurion did not. Nevertheless, a time came when a tempestuous wind rose against them. Later, Paul stood and declared that no life would be lost. An angel had disclosed this to him previously. Until he spoke, the angel had nothing to work with. Apostle Paul needed to establish it by verbalising the message (Acts 27:25). Paul was working on one principle: ….As truly as I live, saith the Lord, as ye have spoken in mine ears, so will I do to you (Numbers 14:28).

If Paul could by the confession of his mouth, save the lives of all on board the ship, you can save your marriage by the words of your mouth! Husbands can have the type of wives they desire by calling those things which be not as though they were (Romans 4:17). You want a submissive wife? Say, “Oh I thank God for my wife. She is so submissive, so caring. I appreciate you.” Soon, she will be meek and humble because her man has learnt to use his words correctly.

God had perfect control over His tongue and the use of His mouth. He always says what He means and means what He says, so He always had perfect results.

Esther had an unbelieving husband, but by the wise use of her tongue, she won his favour for the Jews (her people). Every man can be won by his wife, but her behaviour and speech will either hasten a turn-around or put it off (1 Peter 3:1). God is available to turn your situations around, but He won’t speak to those situations for you, you must do so by yourself.

God has turned several ‘captivities’ for you in times past. However, if you want Him to keep turning your “bitter” to “sweet” and your “shame” to “glory”, you must allow your mouth to be full of laughter and your tongue with singing. The tongue was designed as an instrument of praise and a weapon of war. When you adopt a lifestyle of praise, every hopeless situation bows. Your tongue was not designed for murmuring, complaining or uttering careless words; rather it was created for appreciating God.

Hezekiah received the news from prophet Isaiah that he would die (Isaiah 38:1, 19). He did not hesitate; he turned to the wall and cried out to God. One thing, out of several, which he said was: The living, the living he shall praise thee, as I do this day… For the right use of the tongue, Hezekiah had fifteen extra years added to him! Many years are subtracted from some people’s lives because they speak death instead of life. Many marriages crash landed after taking off, because of the wrong use of the tongue. No matter how bad your spouse is he/she can change, if you force your tongue to utter only positive words. Words can change the destiny of men.

Do you have a personal relationship with God? If not, you have to confess your sins and accept Jesus as your Lord and personal Saviour. If you are ready to be born again, please say this prayer of faith with me:  “Dear Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me my sins and cleanse me with Your Blood. Deliver me from sin and satan. I accept You as my Lord and Saviour. Make me a child of God today. Thank You for accepting me into Your Kingdom.”

If you prayed this simple prayer of faith with me, congratulations, you are born again! You are now a child of God. He loves you and will never leave you. Read your Bible daily, obey God’s Word and seek Christian fellowship (John 14:21).

With this, you are guaranteed all-round rest and peace in Jesus’ Name. Call or write to share your testimonies with me through [email protected], 07026385437 OR 08141320204.

For more insight, these books authored by me are available at the Dominion Bookstores in all Living Faith Churches and other leading Christian bookstores: Marriage Covenant, Making Marriage Work, Building a Successful Home and Success in Marriage (Co-Authored).

Topic: What Matters Most in Life – Spiritual Garment and Eternity Consciousness [Wednesday August 2, 2017]

Scripture: And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him… Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel. Zechariah 3:1-3

Thought For The Day: It is not the quality of the physical dress on your body but the purity of your spiritual garment that matters most in life.

Our anchor scripture tells us about Joshua, the High Priest; a minister who was spiritually clothed in filthy garments before the Angel but appeared clothed with a dignifying attire of a High Priest in the physical. So, there are people who are clothed in royal apparel in the physical like, King Solomon, but look like vultures in the spirit; wearing stinky, smelly garments stained with all manner of filth in the realm of the spirit.

Beloved, it is how we look in the spirit that matters most in life. The truth is: knowing and doing what matters most in life guarantees our escape from calamities both in time and in eternity.

So, in continuation of what matters most in life, today, we are looking at;

1. The purity of Spiritual Garment: It is not the quality of the physical dress on your body but the purity of your spiritual garment that matters in life.

2. Where you are going to spend eternity: It is not where you are going to spend your next holidays but where you are going to spend eternity that matters most. Some people are so desperate to spend their holidays abroad; they are saving money for a trip to Europe, Dubai, etc. That is alright but where you are going to spend eternity is what matters most in life.

3. The intensity of the right passion: It is not what you drive but what drives you that matters most in life. Your passion determines your portion in life and in eternity.

Beloved, if you do not want to end in regrets both in time and in eternity, be committed to what matters most in life.

Remember this: It is not the quality of the physical dress on your body but the purity of your spiritual garment that matters most in life.

Assignment(s):

1. Invest in your spiritual life; feed your spirit with the Word of God and do all you can to maintain the atmosphere of God’s Presence.

2. Live with the consciousness of eternity.

FOR FURTHER UNDERSTANDING, GET THIS MESSAGE: WHAT MATTERS MOST IN LIFE

Prayer: O LORD, I surrender all to You. Give me the grace to keep my spiritual garment holy, LORD, in Jesus’ Name.

Daily Reading: 2 Chronicles 32:1 to 33:13, Romans 15:23 to 16:9, Psalm 25:16 to 22, Proverbs 20:16 to 18

Quote: When you have chosen the life of sin, you have sacrificed the Presence of God. Culled from WHO ARE YOU? By Dr Paul Enenche.

Amazing Fact: A day on Venus is longer than a year

Today In History: 02/08/1790 – The first United States Census is conducted.

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: Our Debt Was Paid [Wednesday August 2, 2017]

Luke 16:17 “And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail.”

LUKE 16:17

The jot was not only one of the smallest letters of the Hebrew alphabet, but also one of the most insignificant, being sometimes deleted at the writer’s pleasure. The tittle was only a mark or a point on a line that helped distinguish one letter from another. The tittle corresponds to our period or apostrophe. The point that Jesus is making is that even the tiniest detail of the law would not pass away.

Christ fulfilled every jot and tittle of the law. The law was ordained to life, but no one could keep it. So, God Himself became flesh. He did what no sinful flesh had ever done. He kept the law thereby winning the life of God as the prize for keeping the law. This granted Him eternal life but before He could give it to us, we still had a debt that had to be paid. This is similar to someone receiving the death penalty for some hideous crime, then some billionaire leaves his whole estate to him. It would do the condemned man no good. But if that same billionaire could somehow take that man’s place and die for him, then he could go free and enjoy his new wealth. That’s what Jesus did for us. He took our sins and gave us His righteousness.

Jesus did much more than just obtain eternal life for us, He also paid all the wages of our sins (Rom. 6:23). God literally placed the condemnation, or judgment, that was against us upon His own Son. Jesus’ perfect flesh was condemned so our defiled flesh could go free. What a trade! Since Jesus bore our sentence (condemnation), we don’t have to bear it. The debt has already been paid.

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: Demands of the Soul [Wednesday August 2, 2017]

And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought . . .  — Isaiah 58:11

The soul demands as much attention as the body. It demands fellowship and communion with God. It demands worship, quietness, and meditation. Unless the soul is fed and exercised daily, it becomes weak and shriveled. It remains discontented, confused, restless.

Many people turn to alcohol to try to drown the cryings and longings of the soul. Some turn to a new sex experience. Others attempt to quiet the longings of their souls in other ways. Nothing but God ever completely satisfies, because the soul is made for God, and without God it is restless and in secret torment. The first step to God is a realization of your spiritual poverty. The poor in spirit do not measure the worth of life in earthly possessions, which fade away, but in terms of eternal realities, which endure forever. Wise is the man who openly confesses his lack of spiritual wealth and in humility of heart cries, “God, be merciful unto me, a sinner.”

Prayer for the day: As I look to You, my Lord and my Redeemer, the strivings of my soul will be satisfied. You alone bring lasting joy.

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: The Professor’s Confession [Wednesday August 2, 2017]

Read: 1 John 3:11–18, Bible in a Year: Psalms 60–62; Romans 5

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. 1 John 3:16

Horrified by his students’ poor writing habits, renowned author and college professor David Foster Wallace considered how he might improve their skills. That’s when a startling question confronted him. The professor had to ask himself why a student would listen to someone “as smug, narrow, self-righteous, [and] condescending” as he was. He knew he had a problem with pride.

That professor could and did change, but he could never become one of his students. Yet when Jesus came to Earth, He showed us what humility looks like by becoming one of us. Stepping across all kinds of boundaries, Jesus made Himself at home everywhere by serving, teaching, and doing the will of His Father.

Jesus loved us by serving.

Even as He was being crucified, Jesus prayed for forgiveness for His executioners (Luke 23:34). Straining for every anguished breath, He still granted eternal life to a criminal dying with Him (vv. 42–43).

Why would Jesus do that? Why would He serve people like us to the very end? The apostle John gets to the point. Out of love! He writes, “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.” Then he drives that point home. “And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters” (1 John 3:16).

Jesus showed us that His love eradicates our pride, our smugness, our condescension. And He did it in the most powerful way possible. He gave His life.

Prayer: Father, we are so prone to look down on each other. Please forgive us. Give us the heart of love Your Son showed to us.

Jesus loved us by serving.

Insight:

In today’s reading, John uses the word love six times. He begins his teaching on love by stating the disastrous consequences of not loving each other. It is interesting that John correlates death with hate. His argument seems to go like this: If you don’t love, you hate (and here John means continuing to hate, not just an angry response); if you hate, you’re a murderer; no murderers have eternal life; therefore, if you love, you have life.

What does love look like? Verse 16 says, “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.” But it’s the practical examples that drive the point home: If we don’t take care of those in need, love is not in us.

People around us have many needs—whether physical, emotional, or spiritual. How can you show Christ’s love by serving someone today?

This message was written By Tim Gustafson [Our Daily Bread Ministries.]