Topic: He Hears!!! [Saturday July 29, 2017]

Text: Psalm 116:1-6

Key Verse: “I love the LORD, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications” (Psalm 116:1).

A popular children story named “The giving tree” speaks of the life of an apple tree and a boy with the uncanny capacity to communicate with each other. In the story, the boy only came to the giving tree always because of what he could get at any stage of his life and after which he would leave the tree to itself.

The tree gave her apples, branches and trunk until she had nothing to give. And lastly the boy, now old; came once more to the tree because he had need of some place to rest and the giving tree still gave her stump to him, because that was all she had left. Many so called Christians today love the Lord because of what He has done or what He is doing or what they can get from Him. This is further made worse when supposed gospel preachers tell their followers that God is a goody-goody kind of giving tree. Like the boy in the tree story, some people love the Lord and come to Him as long as He is hearing their prayers.

What if the Lord delays answers? The point God wants us to learn from this is that our love must be unconditional. He wants us to love Him for who He is, because He loved us that same way too. Many people find it hard to comprehend God’s love story, partly because they see His love from their point of view and not His. God’s love through Christ, is conveyed to us without limitations. If you can search and find a reason you love God other than the fact that He loves you and have saved you, then your love may not be a perfect one.

Remember how Satan accused Job thinking that Job’s love for God was because of the blessings and hedges God built around him. But he found out otherwise. Be sure that your love will always be tested to see what sort it is. We must grow in our walk with God to the point that we find every reason to love and appreciate Him for who He is.

Thought for the day: The measure of true love is in its commitment with no strings attached.

Bible Reading in one Year: Ephesians 1-3

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: Faith Pleases God [Saturday July 29, 2017]

You can never please God without faith, without depending on him. Anyone who wants to come to God must believe that there is a God and that he rewards those who sincerely look for him. — Hebrews 11:6 (TLB)

Faith pleases God more than anything else. The Christian life is dependent upon faith. We stand on faith; we live on faith. Faith is loved and honored by God more than any other single thing. The Bible teaches that faith is the only approach that we have to God. No man has sins forgiven, no man goes to heaven, no man has assurance of peace and happiness, until he has faith in Jesus Christ. You may be saying, “God, I believe you are a great person, but I do not believe your Word; I do not believe what you say.” In order to please God, you must believe Him. Perhaps your faith is small and weak. It does not matter how big your faith is, but rather, where your faith is. Is it in Christ, the Son of God, who died on the cross for your sins?

Prayer for the day: Lord Jesus, may my faith in You and Your abundant promises be ever increasing each day.

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: All The Wrong Reasons [Saturday July 29, 2017]

Luke 15:28 “And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and entreated him.”

LUKE 15:25-28

If this elder son had considered his brother, he would have rejoiced at his return even as his father did. Rather, he was totally self-centered (that’s pride) and became angry. This illustrates Proverbs 13:10; “only by pride cometh contention.”

How can we esteem others better than ourselves when in truth we really think we are better than others? Some people are better athletes than others. Some are better businessmen than others. Some are better speakers than others, and so forth. First, we need to recognize that our accomplishments don’t make us better than others. There is a difference between what we do and who we are.

Better performance does not make a better person. A person’s character can be severely wanting even though his performance is good. A classic example of this is found in the Pharisees of Jesus’ day. They did the right things for all the wrong reasons. Inside they were corrupt. So our evaluation of others needs to change. God judges by looking on the inside, not the outside (1 Sam. 16:7). We need to esteem others on a different basis than what most of us do.

Secondly, to esteem someone better than ourselves simply means to value them more than we value ourselves. To some that may seem impossible, but it isn’t.

It is exactly what Jesus did. If Jesus, who was God in the flesh (1 Tim. 3:16), could humble Himself and value our good above His own welfare, then we should certainly be able to do the same. It can happen when we die to self and live to 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: Help From Above [Saturday 29, July 2017]

Memorise: My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. – Psalm 121:2

Read: Psalm 121:1-4 (KJV)

1 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.

2 My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.

3 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.

4 Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.

Bible in One Year: 1 Kings 7; Ezekiel 16:59-17:10, Hymn: Sing hymn 4: Through the Love of God Our Saviour

MESSAGE:

The reason why many people pray without getting answers is because their prayers are actually directed to men instead of God. Today, many people seeking for jobs, contracts, spouses or admission into academic institutions prefer to ask for help from those they believe can assist them instead of going to the true source of help: God. The truth about receiving help from man is that men are most unreliable, limited in resources and ability and can be swayed by situations and circumstances. Where do you channel your requests to?

In 2 Kings 6:26, a woman in dire need cried to the king for help, and the king responded to her cry with these words:

“….If the LORD do not help thee, whence shall I help thee? Out of the barnfloor, or out of the winepress?” – 2 Kings 6:27

This king recognised that God is the true source of help we all need. No wonder David, in today’s Bible reading, said that he would look up to the source of his help: God. Who is your helper? To whom do you turn or run for help in time of need? God is the true Helper because He is the All-Sufficient God. He is the creator and owner of the earth and everything in it (Psalm 24:1). He has all the ability, knowledge and power, and so He can do anything, answer any question and solve all problems. Ecclesiastes 5:8 says He is higher than everyone and everything, and so He is above all. Psalm 91:1 calls Him the Most High. He is also the most influential, because the mention of His Name compels everything and everyone else to bow to Him (Philippians 2:9-11). He is so powerful that with just a simple statement, the toughest of requests is granted (Psalm 33:8-9). His word is final on any issue; hence, you do not need to accept any negative verdict from any other source (Lamentations 3:37). He stands as the Universal Judge who can upturn any judgement as He pleases in favour of those He loves. It is a great privilege to have access to this God, table requests before Him and receive answers to our requests. If you find it difficult to make your requests known to God, it is obvious that you do not know Him, or you are proud. From now on, make it a habit to praise and worship Him and thereafter make your requests known to the true Helper (Philippians 4:6). He will help you today.

Action Point: Spend an hour thanking God for how He has helped you thus far, and then ask for His help on every difficult situation you are confronted with.

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.

Today’s Scripture: “Knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” – (James 1:3-4, NKJV)

Topic: Lacking Nothing [Friday July 28, 2017]

God wants you to be perfect and complete, living in His abundance, and lacking nothing on this earth. That may seem like a stretch from where you are today. It may seem far off; but in an instant, things can turn around. God has set up a system of blessing for you, and it starts with His Word. The Bible says that God has given each of us a measure of faith. We all have faith, and it’s up to us to develop it. Romans 10:17 says that faith grows as we read and study His Word. Faith, in turn, produces patience, and when we allow patience to have its perfect work in us, we will lack no good thing.

Today, no matter where you are in the process, the key is to keep moving forward by reading and hearing His Word. His Word is alive. His Word will heal your heart and restore your soul. His Word will produce patience in your life so that you can move forward, being complete and lacking nothing all the days of your life!

A Prayer for Today: “Father God, thank You for Your Word which lights my path and directs my way. I choose to put You first place. I choose to meditate on Your Word, knowing that You are leading me in Your paths of life in Jesus’ name. Amen!”

A Promise For You From Bible Promises:

Topic: Christian Ambassador Pt One [28/07/2017]

Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. 2 Corinthians 5:20. Read: Dan 1:6-21

An ambassador is the highest-ranking person who represents his or her own government while living in another country. This means that a Christian ambassador is the highest-ranking person who represents his or her own government (heaven) while living in another country (earth). Heaven and earth are two different countries. Christians are sent from heaven to earth to defend the interest of their country. Christians as ambassadors are to make sure the will of their government (Godhead) is done on earth. They must make sure they do everything possible to establish and defend their fellow countrymen and their interest in the country assigned. Matt 6:10. They must not begin to follow the principles of their assigned country and disdain that of their country. They must follow the rules, regulations, procedures and order from their mother country – heaven.

Daniel and his three friends found themselves in a foreign land, yet, they purposed in their hearts never to defile themselves with the meal and the ungodly activities of the land and God blessed and promoted them beyond measure. When an ambassador plays by the rules of his or her mother nation, he or she will be provided for adequately, lacking nothing.

#BiblePromisesThought

* As a Christian ambassador to the earth, how are you representing your country (heaven) on earth?

Topic: He Owns All [Friday, 28th July 2017]

Ese Ehimare Dave

The earth is the LORD’s, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. Psalm 24:1

God is not just the Creator of all things here on earth, He owns them all. He not only owns them, He is Lord over everything. Whenever it pleases Him, especially when things are not aligning to His will, He, through a man, changes the course of event to align with His will. Every one of God’s creation were not just created to fill space, they were all created for a specific purpose. He designed it that, even the trees had to emit oxygen for man and animals, while man and animals have to emit carbon-dioxide for the plants.

Every dimension of God’s creation: size, weight, height, capacity, etc, where specifically designed by God, so that they can fulfill the said purpose God created them for. Every of God’s creation were tailor-made by God for the singular reason of fulfillment of His purpose. He owns all and determines how they are. He is supreme and cannot be questioned in that regard. Isaiah 45:9 says: “woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands?”

God’s ownership of our lives is not in doubt. But what is in doubt, is if we are ready to allow Him, through us fulfill His righteous purpose. This is very important. Because, it will determine whether we fulfill our potentials or not, as our potentials and capacity is tailor-made to fulfill God’s purpose. So God is asking us today, like He asked the Isrealites “…cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand…” (Jeremiah 18:6). I am sure your answer to Him would be: “Lord, yes You can.”

Keep winning daily.

Wise Action:

The best appreciate you can give to God for your life, is to allow Him fulfill His righteous purpose through you. Give the Lord Your life in all its entirety.

Topic: Make Time with God a Priority [Friday July 28, 2017]

Then Jesus, knowing that they meant to come and seize Him that they might make Him king, withdrew again to the hillside by Himself alone. — John 6:15

If the devil can’t convince you to be idle and passive, he will drive you to do too much. As soon as you are out of balance, he can devour you (see 1 Peter 5:8). The word disciple comes from the word discipline. To be a disciple of Jesus, you must discipline yourself to follow His ways.

Jesus spent a great deal of time going about doing good for people, but He balanced His time by getting alone to pray and commune with the Father. Time with God renews your strength to do good things that you want to do for others. Live a balanced life by spending time with Him.

Topic: Be Your Own Teacher [Friday July 28, 2017]

You are your No 1 teacher, you are your most intimate and trusted teacher.

You have yourself around with you perpetually. Others may teach you and leave you to yourself but you personally go into the sphere of practical action and experience to authenticate what you have learnt and make appropriate adjustment.

No one will ever get all of the time to sit down with you all of your life time, only you can do that.

Accept responsibility. Be your personal teacher

A wise man once said: “If your investors are limited to this earth, you are the world’s worst investor.”

Topic — The First Wife: Your Soul! [Friday 28 July, 2017]

(Mark 8:31-38; 3 John 2)

I got this from a brother and it’s greatly appreciated. Today’s devotional story is what I consider to be a “Metaphor” ( a story in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable) or “Hyperbole” ( amplified story or claim no meant to be taken literally) depending on which angle you view it from. Such a story will be used from time to time in our devotional stories just as our Master, the Lord Himself, used parables to teach:

There was a man with four wives. He loved his fourth wife the most and took great care of her and gave her the best. He also loved the third wife and always wanted to show her off to his friends. However, he always had a fear that she might run away with some other man. He loved his second wife too. Whenever he faced some problems, he always turned to his second wife and she would always help him out. He did not love his first wife though she loved him deeply, was very loyal to him and took great care of him. One day, the man fell very ill and knew that he was going to die soon. He told himself,”I have four wives. I will take one of them along with me when I die to keep me company in my death.”

Thus, he asked the fourth wife to die along with him and keep him company. “No way!” she replied and walked away without another word. He asked his third wife. She said “Life is so good over here. I’m going to remarry when you die.” He then asked his second wife. She said “I’m sorry. I can’t help you this time around. At most I can only accompany you to your grave.” By now his heart sank and he turned cold. Then a voice called out: I‘ll go with you. I ‘ll follow you no matter where you go.” The man looked up and there was his first wife. She was so skinny, almost like she suffered from malnutrition.

Greatly grieved, the man said, “I should have taken much better care of you while I could have!” Actually, we all have “four wives” in our lives. This is why I said it is a metaphor! See the four wives below:

A. The “fourth wife” is our body. No matter how much time and effort we lavish in making it look good, it will leave us when we die.

B. The “third wife” is our possessions, status and wealth. When we die, they go to others.

C. The “second wife” is our family and friends. No matter how close they were to us when we were alive, the furthest they can stay by us is up to the grave.

D. The “First wife” is our soul, neglected in our pursuit of material wealth and pleasure. It is actually the only thing that follows us wherever we go.

What will it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his own soul? A wie man once said: “If your investors are limited to this earth, you are the world’s worst investor.” Note the words, “even as thy soul prospereth” in today’s second scripture. It means: Pursue the prosperity of your soul first before you pursue any other kind of prosperity. Remember, despite all your achievements, you are leaving this earth with just one little box which shall be called your Coffin! Learn!

Prayer Points: Take your best worship song now.

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

2. Holy Ghost, flush out VANITY pursuit from my pathway on this planet. I receive a new grace to finish my Bible, a new prayer fire and a new zeal for holiness.

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.