Topic: You Have Been Graced to Reign [Wednesday July 19, 2017]

“For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:17(KJV)

Beloved, you have received so much grace that nothing is powerful enough to pluck you out of His Hands. It also means that you have been wired to rule and reign here on earth in-spite of the prevailing challenges. It means that there is nothing you can do to fall out of God’s favor. You are secured in His hands, without guilt or condemnation. In addition, when He looks at you, He sees you in Christ. He does not see your own obedience but sees you through the obedience of Christ. What a privilege! That should make you come boldly daily to the throne room of grace that you may obtain mercy and find grace to help in the time of need. Stop struggling, stop fretting and just lean on the grace of God.

Let me remind you that Grace is God giving to you what you did not deserve, nor qualify for. Just like your salvation which was not your idea. The finished work on the cross by Christ released grace to reign unto us. That is why God gives you preferential treatment, puts you in places you don’t deserve, takes you from the backline and puts you in the frontline.

Remember also that it was He who knew no sin that became sin that you may become the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. It was His decision to die, and while we all were yet sinners, Christ died for the ungodly. Consequently, the grace of God reached out to you when you did not deserve it. Your labor, self -efforts, struggles couldn’t get it and yet He just made up His mind and said I am coming after you. In other words God took a decision to save you and love you unconditionally. Your assignment therefore is to believe and receive the grace that has been freely given to you.

Further Reading: Hebrew 4:16, Romans 5:1-17

Daily Bible Reading: Morning- Psalms 23-25; Evening- Acts 21:18-40

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: Avoid Strife [Wednesday July 19, 2017]

Luke 12:58 “When thou goest with thine adversary to the magistrate, as thou art in the way, give diligence that thou mayest be delivered from him; lest he hale thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and the officer cast thee into prison.”

LUKE 12:56-59

Jesus had just spoken about relationships before He gave this parable of delivering ourselves from the judge. The warning is clear that we should do everything within our power to avoid strife (Rom. 12:18). However, the consequences of failing to settle the differences are more than just physical prison or punishment.

Strife can produce spiritual and emotional prisons. James 3:16 says, “where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.” Depressions, fears, loneliness, bitterness, sicknesses, financial problems, and many other things can become prisons from which we will not be delivered until we reconcile.

The dictionary states that to reconcile means “to re-establish friendship between; to settle or resolve, as a dispute” (American Heritage). The key to reconciliation is effectively dealing with the enmity, ill will, hatred, or hostility that has caused the dispute. There are several approaches to reconciliation that may be applied. For instance, If we’ve offended someone by an unkind word that we’ve spoken, we can apologize. If we owe money to someone, we can pay the debt. If we’ve done something to someone we can make the necessary restitution. But in every case, reconciliation lies in dealing effectively with the root cause of the enmity.

The enmity between man and God was sin. God took the initiative to remove this barrier through the means and agency of Jesus Christ, thus leaving Him and man as friends once again. Thank God for His great love!

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: Words to Count On [Wednesday July 19, 2017]

Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of Hosts . . .  — Zechariah 4:6 (TLB)

After the crucifixion the beleaguered disciples despaired and said, “We had hoped that He was the one to redeem Israel” (Luke 24:21, RSV). There was anguish, despair, and tragedy in their midst. Life had lost its meaning and purpose. But when the resurrection became apparent, life took on a new meaning. It had purpose and reason.

David Livingstone once addressed a group of students at Glasgow University. When he rose to speak, he bore on his body the marks of his African struggles. Several illnesses on nearly 30 occasions had left him gaunt and haggard. His left arm, crushed by a lion, hung limp by his side. After describing his trials and tribulations, he said, “Would you like to have me tell you what supported me through all the years of exile among people whose language I could not understand, and whose attitude toward me was always uncertain and often hostile? It was this, ‘Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.’ On these words I staked everything, and they never failed.”

Prayer for the day: I am never alone because of Your love. Thank You, my Lord and Savior.

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: A New Management [Wednesday 19, July 2017]

Memorise: Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? – Romans 6:16

Read: Romans 6:13-20 (KJV)

13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.

16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.

18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.

20 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.

Bible in One Year: 2 Samuel 14; Ezekiel 11:14-12:6, Hymn: Sing hymn 11

MESSAGE:

Topic: Why the Storms? [Tuesday July 18, 2017]

Why are you cast down, O my inner self? And why should you moan over me and be disquieted within me? Hope in God and wait expectantly for Him, for I shall yet praise Him, my Help and my God. — Psalm 42:5

O God, why do You cast us off forever? Why does Your anger burn and smoke against the sheep of Your pasture? – Psalm 74:1

As I think about the storms we all face in life, I can understand why people sometimes ask, “Why the storms? Why do we have so many problems and struggles in life? Why do God’s people have to deal with so much suffering?”

As I considered these questions, I began to see that Satan plants these questions in our minds. It is his attempt to keep us focused on our problems instead of focusing on the goodness of God. If we persist in asking these questions, we’re implying that God may be to blame. I don’t think it’s wrong to ask God why things happen. The writers of the psalms certainly didn’t hesitate to ask.

I think of the story of Jesus when He visited the home of Mary and Martha after their brother, Lazarus, died. Jesus waited until Lazarus had been dead for four days before He visited. When He arrived, Martha said to Jesus, Master, if You had been here, my brother would not have died (John 11:21). She went on to say, And even now I know that whatever You ask from God, He will grant it to You (v. 22).

Did she really believe those words? I wonder, because Jesus said to her, Your brother shall rise again. Martha replied, I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day (vs. 23-24). She didn’t get what Jesus was saying.

I don’t want to be unkind to Martha, but she missed it. When Jesus came, she didn’t ask, “Why didn’t You do something?” Instead she said, “If You had been here—if You had been on the job—he’d be alive.”

When Jesus assured her that Lazarus would rise again, she didn’t understand that it was going to happen right then. She could focus only on the resurrection. By looking at an event that was still in the future, she missed the real meaning of Jesus’ words for the present.

But aren’t many of us like Martha? We want our lives to run smoothly, and when they don’t, we ask why? But we really mean, “God, if You truly loved and cared for me, this wouldn’t have happened.”

Let’s think a little more about the “why” question. For example, when someone dies in an accident, one of the first questions family members ask is why? “Why her? Why now? Why this accident?”

For one moment, let’s say God explained the reason. Would that change anything? Probably not. The loved one is still gone, and the pain is just as severe as it was before. What, then, did you learn from the explanation?

In recent years, I’ve begun to think that why isn’t what Christians are really asking God. Is it possible that we’re asking, “God, do You love me? Will You take care of me in my sorrow and pain? You won’t leave me alone in my pain, will You?” Is it possible that, because we’re afraid that God doesn’t truly care about us, we ask for explanations?

Instead, we must learn to say, “Lord God, I believe. I don’t understand, and I could probably never grasp all the reasons why bad things happen, but I can know for certain that You love me and You are with me—always.”

Heavenly Father, instead of asking for answers to the why questions, help me to focus on Your great love for me. When Satan tries to fill my mind with troublesome questions, help me to feel the protection of Your loving, caring arms around me. Help me always to show my gratitude and devotion for all that You do for me. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Yes, it took some years of pain, agony and shame, but God turned her pain to gain, her agony to glory and her shame to fame. That shall be your story and experience in this fasting programme and beyond.

Topic: Who Has The Final Say? [Tuesday 18 July, 2017]

(LAMENTATIONS 3:31-37; ISAIAH 10:1-2)

Welcome! The story was told by a man of God, of a sister from a polygamous family who broke the demonic law of limitation by being the first and only one to receive a University education out of 17 children from that family. She also broke the rule by being the first and the only one to get married in that family. Other children were unmarried, failures, “area boys/girls,” robbers, and had disgraceful lifestyles in their communities.

On her wedding day, the senior witch and first wife of her father danced to her side and whispered in her ears that their coven only permitted her to go thus far, and from then on, she would never get pregnant! The witch danced away and nobody knew what she said except the bride. From that day and for the next two years, her menstruation ceased completely until serious prayers by a man of God brought forth her turning point. Wow! Great God! Note that the witch told her, she would never get pregnant! That was a satanic judgement and sentence against her marital destiny because she broke a demonic law that nobody would amount to anything in her family bloodline.

But who has the final say? Vs. 37 of today’s scripture sounds like a bomb, “Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not?” God is a specialist in upturning and overturning demonic sentences, satanic decrees, witchcraft judgements and captivity to the favor of His children (Psalm 126: 1)! Yes, it took some years of pain, agony and shame, but God turned her pain to gain, her agony to glory and her shame to fame. That shall be your story and experience in this fasting programme and beyond.

Recall that in the story above,the witch declared to the sister that “She would never get pregnant.” That was a statement of LIMITATION! It is an evil verdict of a wicked ACHAN (DELAY AGENT)! That was a DEMONIC ROADBLOCK and a TESTIMONY BLOCKER! But the GOD OF TURNING POINT turned it all round and that shall be your story in this fasting programme and beyond. Be at the last-day anointing service at Manna Mountaing 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 OE PAGE 44 OF “WAR AGAINST HAMAN -12” booklet and get your ANTI-DELAY PSALM which you will pray for 3 weeks. Only YOUR GOD has the FINAL SAY! Hold on and hold out!

Today is DAY 10 of the 14-day fasting programme. PRAY THE GENERAL PRAYERS ON PAGE 93 AND PRAYERS ON PAGE 62 OF THE “WAR AGAINST HAMAN -12 booklet.

Prayer Points: Take song 2: Stand up for Jesus………

1. Satan, you are a liar! Jehovah God has the final say in my life and ministry.

2. PRAY FOR ME DR. CHRIS TODAY! SEE THE CRITICAL NOTICE ON THE INNER COVER OF PAGE & PAGE 53 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: Maintain a Sanitised Environment [Tuesday July 18, 2017]

Your environment influences everything about you the people you allow around you will either take you up or keep you down.

Nehemiah was an environmental sanitizer.

Neh 13:23-30

There are people that must never be allowed to exist around you.

Be non compromising and protective of the grace and virtue that you carry.

Don’t sell out like the way Solomon did from loving God to loving strange women.

Neh 13:26

Topic: Satisfaction of Soul [Tuesday July 18, 2017]

Thou shalt rejoice in every good thing which the Lord thy God hath given unto thee . . . — Deuteronomy 26:11

Often the Church has banged away negatively at evils without reminding us that God is tremendously interested in our finding a satisfying way of life here and now. We Christians have talked so much of the negative side of Christian experience that we have forgotten to emphasize the positive, joyous, thrilling, and victorious experience of daily fellowship with Christ. God declared that things will not satisfy. God satisfies! This is the secret of soul-satisfaction: Let your soul delight itself in fatness.

Remove the obstructions, tear down the barriers, and let your soul find the fulfillment of its deepest longings in fellowship with God.

Prayer for the day: There are no words to describe my gratitude to You, my Lord and Savior, for Your loving kindness. Accept my praise and love.

Written by Billy Graham, Founder of Billy Graham Evangelistic Association(BGEA). BGEA exists to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ by every effective means and to equip the church and others to do the same.

Topic: The Single Life (3)

Dear Reader,

Are you due for marriage? God’s Word in Isaiah 34:16 says: Seek you out of the book of the LORD, and read: no one of these shall fail, none shall want her mate: for my mouth it has commanded, and his spirit it has gathered them. Please be aware that God has not forgotten you! God cannot mismanage your life. Stop searching for a marriage partner at all cost. Make Jesus your Lord, your Boss and be deeply committed to Him. This is the excellent foundation for your future.

In this teaching, I will be looking at “Godly Character.” I would like us to look at the life of Joseph who exhibited a godly character, even in the midst of negative circumstances.

Joseph’s life provides us with a beautiful example of a person who was totally committed to living a godly life, regardless of the circumstances he encountered. Joseph exhibited the character of God through his faithfulness, integrity, purity and mercy, even while he was forced to endure intense pressure and difficulty (Genesis 37 & 39). The whole life of Joseph teaches us something about Godly character.

The Bible tells us that Joseph was hated by his brothers, who were jealous of him.  He was only a teenager when they decided to kill him and cruelly threw him into a pit. Think of the problem from Potiphar’s wife. Joseph could have, as well, used loneliness, bitterness or self-pity as an excuse for giving in to this woman. And since he was totally alone in a foreign land, no one would ever have known but Joseph had only few seconds to decide if he would maintain his integrity, righteousness and purity or trade them for a few moments of pleasure. Joseph’s choice in this moment of test and temptation would affect his future and the future of Israel forever; so, he decided to flee. To be single is to be whole, outstanding, unique, separate and positively different!

Godly character earned Joseph favour in the sight of God and He was with Joseph. God did not leave him alone in that dungeon. God’s Word says: But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and He gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison……. (Genesis 39:21-23). Also, as a slave, Joseph rose from the dungeon to the second highest position in the massive Egyptian empire, where he had enormous power and riches. He was second only to Pharaoh as God rewarded him generously for his righteousness. But he paid the price for the reward. He was abused, hated, betrayed, enslaved, tempted, tested, lied upon, unjustly imprisoned and forgotten (not by God) in a dungeon for many years. But he refused to do evil; rather, he walked in holiness, waited patiently, and maintained a soft and grateful heart before God.

Do you feel imprisoned by circumstances that seem to be beyond your control? Don’t be anxious. Do not panic. Don’t lose hope. “Why?” You know what? I can assure you that it will work out for your good, not against you. This word of assurance in Romans 8:28 is for you. Receive it today. It says: And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. You don’t know what God has in store for you – no matter your age! You know what? God is still in the business of divine connections!

That you are single now does not mean that you are a sub-standard or incomplete being. No, never entertain such feelings or thoughts! In fact, let me state categorically here that being single is not a curse neither is it a disease. It is a blessing, a plus, not a minus, an addition, not a subtraction. It is not weird to be single and is certainly not an evil thing. It is simply a phase of life that holds undeniable benefits for those who utilize it.

God is not an unrighteous God and He certainly is no respecter of persons (Romans 2:11). What He does for one, He is willing, ready, and able to do for another. He is not more righteous to one as to favour him than He is to another. He is rich unto those that call upon His name and that include you! He knows every phase of your life and He has not forgotten you. Don’t live your single years wondering if God has forgotten you or you are under a curse. No! Never! God is too faithful to fail, He is dependable, and He is more than enough – I am a living proof!

Life, as you know, is in phases and singleness is a phase that everyone must of necessity pass through in the journey of life: whether as a married person, a eunuch, a celibate, a career person or whosoever you are. Every stage or phase in life has its inherent benefits, which should be harnessed and singleness is no exception. May you enjoy the added benefit inherent in the single years!

Singleness is a phase of life that you must pass through and the faster you are able to maximize the season and pass the examinations of that phase of life, the faster you move on to the next phase of your life.

When I was single, some of my colleagues only focus on marriage. Nothing else had meaning to them except marital issues. Most of them don’t have much to show for it even now! This is obviously misplaced priority. Life is much more than that. It is very important that you get your bearing in life, now that you are still single.

Godly character brought Joseph in favour with God. Until you exhibit godly character, you can never matter in life. Surrendering your life to Christ is the foundation for godly character. You surrender by confessing your sins and accepting Jesus as your Lord and personal Saviour. If you are ready for this new birth experience, please say this simple 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.”

Congratulations! You are now born again! If you prayed this simple prayer of faith with me, 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).