Topic: What Are You Supplying? [Thursday July 13, 2017]

“From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.” Ephesians 4:16.

Every believer is called to supply something in the church. What are you supplying for the edification of the body of Christ? We are building ourselves up together. Today’s ministry has gone beyond, repent or perish. Today’s ministry is about how to help your brother to succeed; Practical Christianity. Just as the people came to the disciples and said we want to see Jesus. You and I are the Jesus people they want to see. We are the Jesus that will heal the sick and feed the hungry.

God wants to take you to another level but there is something that you use to have which you dropped:  relationship. Go back to the place you dropped it and pick it up. You are expected to love people and to help them. Before you came to Jesus you know how bad you were. But someone kept at it, cleaning you up with the word until you became matured.

You may not be called to be a preacher but you are called to minister. You can minister with your talent, your gifts, your time, your smile, your money, etc, to the person next to you and lift him up. Examine yourself whether you are still ministering. Check if you have not degenerated to criticisms, accusations and condemnation and being judgmental. If Jesus were to condemn every person, how many will be saved? We must begin to recognize the blessings of God in relationships. You can’t do it alone. You need the other person. Of what good is a nut if there is no bolt? A bolt and a nut have to come together to fit. If you manufacture the bolt without the nut, it is useless.

Further Reading: 2 Corinthians 13:1 – 13, 2 Corinthians 4:1 – 5,

Daily Bible Reading: Morning- Psalms 7-9; Evening- Acts 18

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: Don’t Overlook the Blessings [Thursday July 13, 2017]

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. – 2 Corinthians 4:17

It’s easy to get your spiritual eyes fixed so firmly on the problems in your life, you overlook the blessings completely! As a result, you end up suffering through situations that should have you rejoicing.

Let me show you what I mean. Not long ago, this ministry was facing some great financial pressures. I stood in faith against them. I battled against them with the Word and in prayer.

What I didn’t realize was this: During that time when the problems seemed so great—the blessings were even greater. This ministry was growing faster, ministering to more people, writing more letters, printing more publications, sending out more teaching tapes than ever before! It was a breakthrough time…a time for rejoicing. But I didn’t know it because I was too busy thinking about the problems.

I was so “tunnel-visioned”, all I could see was the pressure, and I suffered through some hard times when I should have been shouting the victory.

But thank God, He woke me up before it was over. He woke me up to the blessings and reminded me that the problems are temporary, or subject to change, but God and His Word of victory are never subject to change!

If you’ve been suffering through some hard times lately, wake up to the blessings around you. You’ll be much more effective in battling the problems if you’re giving God the glory for the solutions He’s already provided. Take your eyes off the trouble and look around you. You’ll soon be shouting the victory!

Scripture Reading: Psalm 13

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: Intimate Details [Thursday July 13, 2017]

Read: Psalm 139:1–18, Bible in a Year: Psalms 7–9; Acts 18

You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. Psalm 139:2

The universe is astonishingly grand. Right now the moon is spinning around us at nearly 2,300 miles an hour. Our Earth is spinning around the sun at 66,000 miles an hour. Our sun is one of 200 billion other stars and trillions more planets in our galaxy, and that galaxy is just one of 100 billion others hurtling through space. Astounding!

In comparison to this vast cosmos, our little Earth is no bigger than a pebble, and our individual lives no greater than a grain of sand. Yet according to Scripture, the God of the galaxies attends to each microscopic one of us in intimate detail. He saw us before we existed (Ps. 139:13–16); He watches us as we go about our days and listens for our every thought (vv. 1–6).

You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. Psalm 139:2

It can be hard to believe this sometimes. This tiny “pebble” has big problems like war and famine, and we can question God’s care in times of personal suffering. But when King David wrote Psalm 139 he was in the midst of crisis himself (vv. 19–20). And when Jesus said God counts each hair on our heads (Matt. 10:30), He was living in an age of crucifixion. Biblical talk of God’s caring attention isn’t a naïve wish. It is real-world truth.

The One who keeps the galaxies spinning knows us intimately. That can help us get through the worst of times.

Prayer: Father God, Your eye is on me as much as it is on the stars in the sky. Thank You for Your love, Your care, Your attention.

The God of the cosmos cares for us intimately.

This message was written By Sheridan Voysey [Our Daily Bread Ministries.]

Topic: The Rewards of Waiting on the Lord [Thursday July 13, 2017]

Scripture: …And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the Lord; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation. Isaiah 25:7-9

Thought For The Day: Those who wait on God cannot waste in life.

From our anchor scripture, it can be established that waiting on the Lord cannot be in vain. When we wait on the Lord in prayer and fasting, He intervenes for us.

It is important, therefore, to understand the rewards of waiting on the Lord. This is because we do not get results by merely carrying out an action but by the revelation with which we carry out the action.

So, we are going to look at some of the rewards of waiting on the Lord according to Isaiah 25:7-9.
1. The destruction of the veil or cloud of evil (Isaiah 25:7).

2. The swallowing up of death in victory (Isaiah 25:8). It was in the season of waiting on the Lord that the death that was meant to come to Israel through Haman was destroyed and dissolved by the fasting of Esther and her maidens (Esther 4 to 7).

3. The wiping away of tears from all faces.

4. The taking away of the reproach of the people.

5. The release of gladness and celebration.

Beloved, those who wait on God cannot waste in life. So, wait on God and He will show up for you in the time of need.

Remember this: Those who wait on God cannot waste in life.

Assignment(s):

1. Have a schedule for a periodic fasting and prayer.

2. Study the Word of God and expect a revelation that will address your situation in the course of your fast.

FOR FURTHER UNDERSTANDING, GET THIS MESSAGE: WHAT IT TAKES TO WAIT ON THE LORD.

Prayer: O LORD, nothing can take the place of Your Presence in my life. In You I live, move and have my being. I receive the grace to wait on You, LORD, in Jesus’ Name.

Daily Reading: 1 Chronicles15:1 to 16:36, Romans 1:18 to 32, Psalm 10:1 to 15, Proverbs 19: 6 to 7

Quote: You must travail in the closet in order to prevail in public. Culled from PRINCIPLES AND POWER OF PRAYER by Dr Paul Enenche.

Amazing Fact: The arapaima is a gigantic carnivorous air-breathing fish that lives in the rivers and swamps of the Amazon Basin; it is so well equipped that even its tongue has teeth.

Today In History: 13/07/1930 – The 1st ever football (soccer) World Cup competition began in Uruguay.

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: Rejoicing In Persecution [Thursday July 13, 2017]

Text: Matthew 5:10-12

Key Verse: “Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you” (Matthew 5:12).

“The Lord compensates the faithful for every loss. That which is taken away from those who love the Lord will be returned unto them in His own way. While it may not come at the time we desire, we know that every tear today, will eventually be returned a hundredfold with tears of rejoicing and gratitude” (Joseph B. Wirthlin). This is the attitude of those who truly understand the inner nature of the Christian life.

They are able to rejoice in persecution, because they know that life exists beyond this world. The values and character expressed in the Beatitudes are so opposite to the world’s manner of thinking that to them, the only reception for these kinds of people is persecution. Our trials strengthen our witness and testimony, if we persevere through. We get the ability to comfort others, because we have been there. If people see us being strong in the midst of persecution and know that we rely on God for strength: it is a powerful witness.

Paul and Silas were examples of this in Acts 16:23-31. After being beaten and thrown into prison, they prayed and sang praises to God “and the prisoners heard them.” What a witness! Paul the apostle encountered much suffering in his work for the Lord, yet he rejoiced and persevered. As Christians, tribulation and persecution are to be expected. These trials help us become more like Christ. They help work patience in us.

They help us lean more on God and trust Him. We need to understand that God is in control and He promises to work all things for our good. The same God who neutralised Nebuchadnezzar’s furnace of fire for the three Hebrew children is still alive today. He has promised never to leave or forsake us. All we need do therefore when persecuted, is to trust in the Lord.

Thought for the day: The hotter the fire, the finer the gold.

Bible Reading in one Year: Genesis 38-40

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: Pray in the Spirit [Thursday 13, July 2017]

Memorise: Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. – Romans 8:26

Read: Romans 8:26-27 (KJV)

26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

Bible in One Year: 2 Samuel 1-2, Ezekiel 7:5-22, Hymn: Sing hymn 15

MESSAGE:

Prayer is very important for every Christian. Most times, we pray in the language that we speak and understand, but sometimes, we get into a fix, not knowing exactly how best to pray on a particular subject matter. This may be caused by our limited knowledge of the situation or of the people involved in it. There are also times in which we are so weighed down by the pressure of life that our understanding cannot string together the right words with which we ought to pray. Our Heavenly Father knew ahead of time that we would find ourselves in such situations, and so He made provision for the Holy Spirit to help us out at such times. This ministry of the Holy Spirit is revealed to us in Romans 8:26, which says,

“Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”

This passage of Scripture clearly tells us that we do not know how best to pray. In other words, no matter how good you are in crafting prayers, the Holy Spirit knows better what needs to be said in prayer at any given time, and He will help you if only you can pray about issues in the spirit. The Holy Spirit can cover grounds that we cannot cover. For example, I cannot be at the Redemption Camp in Nigeria and know what is going on in Australia, England and other parts of the world, but the Holy Spirit knows everything. Even when I am at the Redemption Camp, I may not know how many women are in the maternity centre, there calling on God to assist them in delivering safely, but the Holy Spirit knows this. So when I do not know how to pray anymore, I hand it over to the Holy Spirit. He knows who needs prayers the most in any part of the world, and He will pray through me for them according to their need, even though I do not realise exactly what I am praying about. This is why I find it quite disturbing to hear that even the Pentecostal circles; there are some churches where they hardly pray in tongues. The Bible says we do not know how to pray as we should. Since you don’t know how to pray, why don’t you let the Holy Spirit help you by praying through you? Pray regularly in tongues. Pray at least for one hour daily, speaking in tongues as the Holy Spirit gives you utterance.

Prayer Point: Spirit of Truth, knowing my limitations, please pray regularly through me with Your perfect knowledge of my situation.

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: “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” – (Psalm 90:12, NIV)

Topic: The Gift of Today [Wednesday July 12, 2017]

Sometimes, our days can be so full and busy that we forget how precious and fragile our time on earth really is. It can be so easy to allow little things to creep in and steal our peace and joy. Maybe something didn’t go your way, or someone said something upsetting. Even traffic can cause us to get our focus off if we let it. But, we have to remember that each day is a gift. If we choose to focus on what’s wrong, we’ll miss out on the beauty that each day has to offer.

I encourage you today; don’t let the precious moments of life pass you by. Don’t wait for holidays and birthdays to show people that you care. Remember, each day is unique and irreplaceable, a gift from heaven above. You have been given time that can be invested or wasted, hours that can be used or misused. That’s why the psalmist prayed to God, “Teach us to number our days.” He was saying, “Teach us to value every moment we’ve been given so we can live a life pleasing to You.”

A Prayer for Today: “Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of today. I choose to focus on the blessing of each moment instead of allowing the little things to steal my joy. Keep me close to You always as I submit every area of my heart and mind to You in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

Topic: Your Brain, Your Gains [Wednesday July 12, 2017]

Where no brain is at work there can’t be gain of worth.

Worthy gains are products of working brain.

Keep the brain working to keep the gains flowing.

The gains will not cease to flow for as long as the brain does not cease to work. Gains on ground is a sign of brain (s) at work.

Wake up the brain to download the gains.

When you suffer a loss or losses stir up the brain to reverse the order.

If you want to multiply your gains intensify the workings of your brain.

The only way to turn drain into gain is to put the brain to work.

With brain at work you no longer suffer drains.

Topic: Works That Work [Wednesday July 12, 2017]

For My people have committed two evils: they have forsaken Me, the Fountain of living waters, and they have hewn for themselves cisterns, broken cisterns which cannot hold water. — Jeremiah 2:13

I believe one of the biggest ways people waste time is by doing what the Bible calls “dead works.” I like to define a dead work as a “work” that doesn’t work! That means that you are trying to make something happen, but no matter what you do, it simply does not work. When that happens, the reason is that the work is yours and not God’s. When you stop planning and striving, and come to the end of yourself, then God will begin to move. That doesn’t mean you have no responsibility; it simply means your work needs to be inspired and empowered by the Holy Spirit, not conceived in your natural mind and fueled by your natural strength.

There are many different kinds of dead works. For example, anything we do with a wrong motive is a dead work. Another type of dead work would be the efforts we make without asking God to get involved. Take another look at today’s Scripture and imagine how frustrated you would be if you spent all day digging a well, thinking you would get water, and at the end of the day, tired and worn out, your only result was a big hole.

Things we do outside of God’s timing or His will are also dead works. Learn to discern when you are working on something that is not working and refuse to do anything that is not in God’s will and timing.

Love Yourself Today: What do you need to stop doing so you can use your time more wisely?