Today’s Scripture: “It is an honour for a man to cease from strife…” – (Proverbs 20:3, KJV)

Topic: Know When to Turn Away [Wednesday July 19, 2017]

In life, many of the challenges we face are simply distractions from the enemy to keep us from pursuing our destiny. Maybe someone in the office isn’t as friendly to you as you’d like. Maybe you have a neighbor who always parks in front of your house and blocks your mailbox. Those things may be frustrating, but they have little significance when you look at the big picture of eternity. You can’t allow the little things to cause strife in your life.

In scripture, just before David fought the giant Goliath, his brother Iliab tried to confront him. But David knew that arguing with Iliab wasn’t even worth his time and strength. He knew his real battle was with Goliath, and he didn’t want to be distracted. He simply “turned away” from Iliab and kept his focus on what he was called to do.

Let’s follow the example of David and keep our eyes on what’s most important in life. Instead of being led away by frustrations, let’s focus on the big picture. Know when to turn away from strife and receive the mark of honor the Lord has for you!

A Prayer for Today: “Father God, thank You for Your hand of victory in my life. Give me the wisdom and courage I need to walk away from strife so I can focus on the destiny You have prepared for me. I love You and bless You today and always in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

Topic: Quick to Forgive [Wednesday July 19, 2017]

Be gentle and forbearing with one another and, if one has a difference (a grievance or complaint) against another, readily pardoning each other; even as the Lord has [freely] forgiven you, so must you also [forgive]. —1 Colossians 3:13

The world is filled with pain and hurting people; and my experience has been that hurting people hurt others. The devil works overtime among God’s people to bring offense, strife, and disharmony, but we can be thankful that God gives us a tool to disappoint and defeat the devil: We can be quick to forgive.

Forgiveness closes the door to Satan’s attack so that he cannot gain a foothold that might eventually become a stronghold. It can prevent or end strife in our relationships with others. No wonder Scripture tells us over and over that we are to forgive those who hurt or offend us. Jesus made forgiveness a lifestyle, and He taught us to do the same. This is essential to living a joy-filled life.

Prayer of Thanks Father, I am so thankful for the forgiveness You have given me through Jesus and for the grace to be able to forgive others. Regardless of what others have done to hurt or offend me, today I choose to forgive those who have caused me pain. Thank You for helping me to live out that forgiveness each new day.

Topic: You’ve Got The Keys [Wednesday, 19th July 2017]

And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.” Matthew 16:19

When we see scriptures like we have it in our lead text, we should be excited. Upon the revelation of Jesus as the Messiah of the world, Jesus told His disciples that He will give them the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven. Now, we must understand this fact. Man is the only spirit being that is in this material world physically. While we are seated with Christ in Heaven spiritually (Ephesians 2:6), we are here on earth to dominate, to determine what happens within our sphere of influence (Revelation 5:10).

While we bring the Kingdom of Heaven here on earth with our presence, causing God’s will to be done through us, we are the determinant factor of what heaven approves or disapproves here on earth, not God. The keys have been handed over to us since the day heaven came to us through the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-4). This was demonstrated in Acts 12, after James was killed because of inaction from the church, Peter was supernaturally freed for the jaws of death when the church disapproved of his death and took action.

The keys of Heaven are with you, and you got to use them to advance God’s righteousness will. We must understand this, and start using the keys to superimpose God’s intentions in our sphere of influence. If you don’t do anything, heaven will not. Your passivity might just pass for approval, as it was in the case of James in Acts 12. Use the keys. Unlock doors, shut doors, change lives, save lives, heal the sick, raise the dead, shut the mouth of the oppressors. Yeah, you can do these. You’ve Got the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Use them just like a king will use his power to advance his course. Use them to advance your course as a king of the Kingdom of Heaven here on earth.

Keep winning daily.

Prayer:

I decree and declared that everything within my sphere of influence that are not in alignment with the will of God give way for God’s will now. I decree life in place of death, righteousness in place of sin, light in place of darkness, health in place of sickness, progress in place of retrogression, abundance in place of lack, victory in place of defeat, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Topic: Think Deeper, Think Better [Wednesday July 19, 2017]

The deeper you think, the better you think,

Think better to live better

Think deeper to fly higher.

Think broader to spread wider

Destroy narrow thinking to destroy narrow living.

Think better to act better

Think better to behave better.

Think dry and run dry

Think full and become full

Think small and remain small,

Think great and end great.

Think up or thin out.

Start thinking deeper and you’ll stop sinking down.

“Child of God, when God delays, He is not sleeping; He is working! “All things work together for good, to them that love God.”

Topic: Delay Means He Is Working! [Wednesday 19 July, 2017]

(John 11:1-6;17,21)

Welcome! Isaiah 55:8-9 reveals: “For My Thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,” saith the LORD. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.” God is simply not poerating with our earthly calendar. The Bible says a thousand years is like a day and a day is like a thousand years in His sight! So what we call delay is simply, God operating according to His divine calendar which is different from ours.

“He makes all things beautiful in HIS OWN TIME.” AND DON’T FORGET THAT THE WORD SAYS THERE IS A SEASON AND A TIME FOR EVERYTHING UNDER THE SUN (HEAVENS)! EVERYTHING INCLUDES YOUR TESTIMONY!

And when HIS TIME does not tally with OUR TIME, we tend to say that He is slow, late and He delays. Whatever He allows, whether good or bad, positive or negative, is for your ultimate good AT LAST. Note: AT LAST! That means the delay may not make sense NOW but AT LAST, IN THE END, YOU WILL KNOW WHY! Some years ago, there was a young man who was travelling from Lagos to Ondo State of Nigeria. He was the first passenger to board the 504 Saloon-Wagon Car. Shortlybefore take-off from Lagos, the driver suddenly picked a quarrel with him, which forced him out of the vehicle. His programme to leave Lagos early was disrupted and he was angry. He had to board the next car. Shortly, after some kilometers, precisely at a city called Ijebu Ode, they encountered the wreckage of the car from which he was forced out. Everybody in the vehicle including the driver had died.

The question is: “What actually forced that young man out of the car?” Child of God, when God delays, He is not sleeping; He is working! “All things work together for good, to them that love God.” ALL THINGS –including this delay battle confronting you! And a song writer says: “It’s intentional.” God is an intentional God and His intentions are pure and faultless! See our anchor scripture Vs. 21: “Then said Martha unto Jesus, ‘Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.” Martha was saying in essence, “Jesus, You are very, very late!” And that is how millions think today!

But the Holy Ghost is saying to a user of today’s devotional that the delay of God is meant for your dancing and evidence and it will turn out for your good. That “LAZARUS” will rise again! Continue this fast and be at the last-day anointing service at Manna Mountain Ogudu-Orioke, Lagos Nigeria on Saturday July 22nd 7am. Come with faith, anointing oil, your written prayer points, any point of contact and expectation! I shall lay hands on everyone present! Don’t quit now! Sow your “ACHAN-MUST-DIE/ ANTI DELAY SEED” INTO ANY ACCOUNT ON PAGE 29 OF ODM OR PAGE 44 OF “WAR AGAINST HAMAN -12 booklet and get your ANTI-DEALY PSALM which you will pray for 3 weeks!

Today is DAY 11 of the 14-day fasting programme. PRAY THE GENERAL PRAYERS ON PAGE 93 AND PRAYERSON PAGE 68 OF THE “WAR AGAINST HAMAN -12” booklet.

Prayer Point: Take your bet worship song now.

1. Pray about today’s word generally as led now.

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

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

Topic: Fulfilling Your Dream Marriage (3)

Dear Reader,

It is a glorious Week! This week, I will be looking at the tool of “Wisdom” in fulfilling your dream marriage. A lot of times, people dream about the perfect home where joy, peace, abundance and fruitfulness abound. Such dreams are good if you determine to do what is required to realize them. Just as physically you cannot own a home by merely wishing, if you plan on having a glorious family, stop wishing and prepare to play your part. You must accept responsibility for the building of your family. God’s Word says: For every house is builded by some man… (Hebrews 3:4).

Houses don’t happen by chance, they are built – they are made to happen. Every house is built by some man… In the world, people say, “This is our family house”. A family house didn’t just appear on the earth. Likewise, marriage and family from the Word of God are types of houses. It takes applying conscious steps to see them built up before they can be enviable. Just as no physical house springs up suddenly on one particular day, similarly the family house requires planning, making available required materials and the actual building process before it’s built up.

The Lord has put into your hands all that you require to enjoy a most enviable and fulfilling family life. God has done His part, He has handed the baton over to you. God’s Word says: …. For all things are yours (I Corinthians 3:21).

How then can you create fulfillment and refreshing in your family? How do you build up your home? Through WISDOM is an house builded; and by understanding it is established (Proverbs 24:3).

I have noticed in the course of counselling that most of the problems encountered in homes are as a result of lack of wisdom. Wisdom is what makes a home sweet. With wisdom, you know what to do and what not to do at the appropriate time. As a husband, if you walk in wisdom, you will know how to relate with your wife and train up your children, not beating them up and posing to be a terror to your household. Wives who are full of wisdom find that they relate easily with their in-laws and other members of the family.

From the anchor text, you need to search for wisdom to operate in your home. Therefore, open up and receive the wisdom you require to handle those situations correctly so that peace and joy can fill your family life.

The opposite of wisdom is foolishness. It is a problem rooted in the realm of the spirit. It is what causes a woman to react negatively, speak abusive words (Proverbs 9:13) and misbehave. It is what causes a man to chase other women to the destruction of his soul (Proverbs 7:7-23). Foolishness is a destroyer of the peace and sweetness of the home. If you learn to walk in wisdom, you will enjoy fulfillment in your family life. God’s Word declares: Wisdom is the principal thing… (Proverbs 4:7).

The type of wisdom I am referring to here is not that which comes from education. So, don’t regret your level of education saying, “If I had gone to a higher institution I would be wiser than I am now.” The wisdom you require to shine in your family is from God. It is knowing what to do when confronted with an unpleasant situation and is based on your knowledge and application of the Word of God in your life. God’s Word says: Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock (Matthew 7:24).

Who then is a wise man? He is the one who hears and does the sayings of Jesus. These sayings are located in the Bible. As you hear the Word of God and apply them correctly by practising it in your life, then you are walking in wisdom. However, there are conditions you must fulfill before you can receive the wisdom of God.

Marriage can be likened to a house and every house has a foundation. If the foundation of a house is not well laid or laid on poor quality materials, that house has a faulty foundation and is sure to collapse (Psalm 11:3). Wisdom is a sure and quality material for building honour into your marriage and home. Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established (Proverbs 24:3).

Your marriage can be rock-steady i.e. it can be an example for others to follow. Like Billy Graham, Kenneth Hagin and a host of others, you can have cause to look back and smile during your sixtieth wedding anniversary. But the foundation of your family must be laid in wisdom. For instance, Solomon wanted to establish the Kingdom God had given him; so, when God appeared unto him and asked him what he needed to rule Israel, he asked for wisdom, and God gave it to him (I Kings 3:9, 12).

God has made provision for marriage to produce honour for you and I, but we have a responsibility to develop that plan. It is like the negative of a picture. The photographer must spend time in the darkroom developing the negative until he gets a beautiful and enviable picture.

However, if you are not born again, it will be difficult for you to operate in wisdom. The first step to take is to surrender your life to Jesus Christ. You surrender by confessing your sins and accepting Jesus as your Lord and personal Saviour. If you are set for this, 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: Mightier than All [Wednesday July 19, 2017]

Read: Psalm 93, Bible in a Year: Psalms 23–25; Acts 21:18–40

The Lord reigns, he is robed in majesty; the Lord is robed in majesty and armed with strength. Psalm 93:1

Iguazu Falls, on the border of Brazil and Argentina, is a spectacular waterfall system of 275 falls along 2.7 km (1.67 miles) of the Iguazu River. Etched on a wall on the Brazilian side of the Falls are the words of Psalm 93:4, “Mightier than the thunders of many waters, mightier than the waves of the sea, the Lord on high is mighty!” (rsv). Below it are these words, “God is always greater than all of our troubles.”

The writer of Psalm 93, who penned its words during the time that kings reigned, knew that God is the ultimate King over all. “The Lord reigns,” he wrote. “Your throne was established long ago; you are from all eternity” (vv. 1–2). No matter how high the floods or waves, the Lord remains greater than them all.

The roar of a waterfall is truly majestic, but it is quite a different matter to be in the water hurtling toward the falls. That may be the situation you are in today. Physical, financial, or relational problems loom ever larger and you feel like you are about to go over the falls. In such situations, the Christian has Someone to turn to. He is the Lord, “who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine” (Eph. 3:20) for He is greater than all our troubles.

Prayer: Lord, I know that You are powerful and greater than any trouble that might come my way. I trust You to carry me through.

Never measure God’s unlimited power by your limited expectations.

Insight:

Are there areas in your life that feel out of control? If so, you’re in good company. So many of the psalms were inspired by desperate feelings of fear and confusion. Yet they ended up as songs of hope in the God who has promised to never leave us or forsake us. But who is this God? The author of Psalm 93 identifies Him as the Lord (Yahweh). By contrast to legendary gods of war, fertility, weather, travel, or the hunt, He is the God who created the heavens and the earth (Gen. 2:4).

Consider the implications of such a Creator. Use the measure of modern astronomy. What kind of God speaks into existence billions of galaxies filled with trillions of suns far greater than our own? Yet even the cosmos is not the measure of His greatness. According to the New Testament (John 1:1–3, 14), the God of the Bible is the Lord who, in Jesus, showed that He is greater than our troubles by bearing our sins of indifference, neglect, and contempt. In the weakness of His crucifixion and by the power of His resurrection, He showed that even His love for us is greater than our sin. Mart DeHaan

This message was written By C. P. Hia [Our Daily Bread Ministries.]

Topic: No Hard Hearts [Wednesday July 19, 2017]

For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. – 2 Chronicles 16:9

The Pharisees had a heart condition that grieved Jesus. Their hearts were hard and insensitive. If you’ll look in Mark 3, you’ll see what I’m talking about.

God was right there in their midst, and they, of all people, should have realized it. They knew the Scriptures backward and forward, and Jesus fit every messianic prophecy written there. But the insensitivity of their hearts literally blinded them to who He was.

The hearts of the Pharisees were also hardened to the needs of the people around them.

That very same thing is still happening today.

Just think again about what those Pharisees were doing. They were:

1. Criticizing the minister of God.

2. Protecting their religious traditions instead of obeying the Word of God.

3. Worrying about their own welfare rather than that of those around them.

Have you ever known any believers who fit that description? Sure you have! In fact, every one of us has done those things at some time in our lives.

Every one of us, to one degree or another, has fallen prey to the same mistake the Pharisees did. We’ve gotten so caught up in doing and saying all the “right” things that we’ve let the tender warmth of God’s love inside us grow cold.

I know that’s true because if it weren’t, we’d be seeing tremendous moves of God among us. We’d be seeing revival on every corner.

That’s what God longs to do. God longs to pour out His Spirit in supernatural power and abundance through His Church. But we’ve developed a heart condition that’s holding Him back.

Today if you are desiring an outpouring of the Holy Spirit in your life and the manifestation of His power in your church, check the condition of your heart. If you find any hardness there, repent and ask God to change you. Ask Him to give you the kind of heart that will allow Him to show Himself strong on your behalf.

Scripture Reading: Mark 3:1-6

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: Judge of All [Wednesday July 19, 2017]

Text: Isaiah 26:12-21

Key Verse: “For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain” (Isaiah 26:21).

John Bunyan, the author of the Pilgrims’ Progress, stated: “This rushing world has a time to stand; which time when ended, judgment shall be issued out of hand upon all sorts of men. The Judge we find, in God’s record: the Son of man. For He by God’s appointment is made Lord and Judge of all that be. Before this Judge, no one shall shroud himself under pretence of knowledge, which hath made him proud, nor seeming penitence. No high profession here can stand, unless sincerity hath been therewith commixed and brought forth simplicity.

No mask nor visor here can hide the heart that rotten is, all clock now must be laid aside, no sinner must have bliss”. In the Bible, you will find that many people were judged and punished by God for their transgressions. The first man and woman were judged for their disobedience. Cain was judged for his wickedness. All those who refused to repent in the time of Noah were judged, so also the sinful people of Sodom and Gomorrah. Even the children of Israel were not spared judgement when they sinned in the wilderness.

The Scriptures describes God as the Almighty Creator, loving Father and merciful Redeemer; but He is also described as the all-knowing Judge. He watches our thoughts, words and actions (in secret and in the open) to see if they conform to His laid-down precepts of righteousness and holy living. And anyone who chooses to disregard His commandments will certainly be judged (Acts 17:30,31). Perhaps, the picture of your present life is not too different from that of Israel, who had forsaken the true God to follow after dead gods.

Remember that God is angry with the wicked (sinners) every day. Be wise. It is now that you can determine whether you will be judged unto condemnation by the Righteous Judge, or whether you will be eternally rewarded.

Thought for the day: God is merciful; but He is also a consuming fire.

Bible Reading in one Year: Exodus 8-11

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: The Blessing of the Anointing [Wednesday July 19, 2017]

Scripture: But my horn shalt thou exalt like the horn of an unicorn: I shall be anointed with fresh oil….The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Psalm 92:10-12

Thought For The Day: The Anointing processes a person into an enviable status in life.

Our anchor scripture has made it clear that to be anointed by God is to be blessed of God.

The anointed state is the blessed state of life; the Anointing processes a person into an enviable status in life.

Now, when I say, “Anointed by God”, I do not only refer to pastors or apostles but to any child of God that will press into God and connect the Anointing of God. You can walk in that anointing as a doctor, a lawyer, a civil servant, a tailor, etc.

We are going to look at the blessedness of the anointing in four dimensions.

1. The Anointing comes with its portion or allocation. There is no unction without a portion. The implication of this is that the anointing connects a person with supernatural supplies. (Psalm 92:10–14).

2. The Anointing comes with a crown (Leviticus 21:12). The anointing establishes a person in royalty.

3. The Anointing comes with honour and dignity. Anointed people are honourable people. When Samuel, an anointed prophet of God came to the house of Jesse, the Bible says the elders of the town trembled at his coming (1 Samuel 16:4). There is something anointed people carry that makes cities tremble.

4. The Anointing comes with favour and opportunity. Anointed people are favoured people. Things work for them easily (1 Samuel 10:1,4).

I declare the release of the fresh Oil that will shift you to the realm of unlimited supplies, favour, honour and dignity, in the Name of Jesus.

Remember this: The Anointing processes a person into an enviable status in life.

Assignment(s):

1. Make demands on the Anointing for your life.

2. Press into God’s Presence in prayer and worship.

3. Engage in covenant practices of tithing, giving to the poor and giving for the expansion of God’s kingdom, etc. it is a doorway to grace and unction (2 Cor. 9:6-8).

FOR FURTHER UNDERSTANDING, GET THIS MESSAGE: THE BLESSING OF THE ANOINTING.

Prayer: O LORD, I make demands on the Anointing that will shift me to the realm of unlimited supplies. Make me a channel of blessing in my generation, LORD, in Jesus’ Name.

Daily Reading: 1 Chronicles 28:1 to 29:30, Romans 5:6 to 21, Psalm 15:1 to 5, Proverbs 19:18 to 19

Quote: Nothing provokes the manifestation of the Almightiness of God like the helplessness of man. Culled from: 365 WISDOM CAPSULES by Dr Paul Enenche

Amazing Fact: Dolphins can look in different directions with each eye. They can sleep with one eye open.

Today In History: 19/07/1980 – The Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXII Olympiad, opened in Moscow, Soviet Union.

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.