Topic: The Earth under Pressure from Praise [Thursday July 6, 2017]

Scripture: Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee. Then shall the earth yield her increase; and God, even our own God, shall bless us. Psalm 67:5-6

Thought For The Day: The earth cannot withhold the supplies of the praiser.

Our anchor scripture establishes a clear connection between praise and supplies. Praise provokes the release of the blessing of God on the life of the praiser. Wherever what is yours is, praise reveals and releases it to you by putting the earth under pressure for its release. The earth cannot withhold the supplies of the one who praises God. So, to praise God is to be blessed.

Now, let us see how praise puts the earth under pressure for the release of supplies.

Psalm 67:5,6 says,… let all the people praise thee. Then shall the earth yield…

The earth here refers to three things:

a. The people of the earth
If you know how to praise God, no human being can keep what is yours in his/her possession.
Your praise would make your boss in the office lose his sleep until he releases your promotion.

b. Governmental systems, organisations or institutions
The Persian Empire was put under pressure because of Mordecai (Esther 6:1-11). When you know God and know how to praise Him, there is no system or government that can hold back what is yours.

c. The enemy, satan the devil and his agents
No witchcraft coven, occultic realm or water warehouse can withhold the consignment of a praiser.

I declare that today, individuals, governments, systems and the enemy shall release by force, what belongs to you, in Jesus’ Name.

Remember this: The earth cannot withhold the supplies of a praiser.

Assignment (s)

1. Ask God for mercy if you are fond of murmuring concerning what seems not to be working in your life.

2. Think about what God has blessed you with, what he has done for you and appreciate Him. The gift of life is the greatest and priceless blessing on earth; thank God for it.

3. Take out time today and heartily praise God like never before.

4. Get a copy of the book – 21 Uncommon Keys to Financial Overflow by Dr Paul Enenche.

FOR FURTHER UNDERSTANDING, GET THIS MESSAGE: YOUR PRAISE AND YOUR SUPPLIES.

Prayer: O LORD, I thank You for all You have done for me. I will praise You forever and as I praise You, cause individuals, systems, the devil and his agents to release everything that is mine in their possession, LORD, in Jesus’ Name.

Quote: It does not matter what you sow, where joy is absent, harvest is impossible; you reap only with joy. Culled from 21 UNCOMMON KEYS TO FINANCIAL OVERFLOW by Dr Paul Enenche.

Daily Reading: 1 Chronicles 2:18 to 4:4, Acts 24:1 to 27, Psalm 4:1 to 8, Proverbs 18:16 to18

Amazing Fact: Slugs have four noses.

Today In History: 06/07/1964 – Malawi declares its independence from the United Kingdom.

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: The Danger of Disobedience [Thursday July 6, 2017]

“For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father” 1 Kings 11:4

God said to Solomon, I have blessed you so mightily so that you can serve me. Don’t marry from the heathen because they will turn your heart from serving me. Solomon said: God you don’t understand. How can I see all these ladies and avoid them? It is not fair. Let me just taste a little and after I will come and repent. Some of us are saying in our hearts, with the kind of pretty ladies God is bringing out today, how can a whole able bodied man like me not look at them? God is saying don’t touch them because they will turn your heart. It was a clear cut instruction. But look at Solomon, he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines. And the inevitable happened, the wives turned away his heart.

Watch what happens when you walk in disobedience. Remember there is nothing the enemy brings that is capable of putting you down when you walk in the will of God.  In 1 Kings 11:14 the bible says, “And the LORD stirred up an adversary unto Solomon, Hadad the Edomite: he was of the king’s seed in Edom.” An enemy that has long been defeated now came back. That is what happens when you begin to leave in disobedience. Those things that you have long conquered will begin to come again.

God stirred up the heart of Hadad to go and become an enemy to Solomon because Solomon opened the door. God did not only stir up a past enemy, he stirred up a present and a future enemy which became adversaries to Israel all the days of Solomon. This is the chain reaction which followed Solomon’s disobedience. When you disobey God it is an access for the devil to come against you.

Further Reading: 1 Kings 11:1-13

Daily Bible Reading: Morning- Job 32-33; Evening- Acts 14

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: Going First [Thursday July 6, 2017]

Read: 1 John 4:7–21, Bible in a Year: Job 32–33; Acts 14

We love because he first loved us. 1 John 4:19

We worked patiently to help our son heal and adjust to his new life with our family. Trauma from his early days in an orphanage was fueling some negative behaviors. While I had enormous compassion for the hardships he experienced in his early days, I felt myself begin to withdraw from him emotionally because of those behaviors. Ashamed, I shared my struggle with his therapist. Her gentle reply hit home: “He needs you to go first . . . to show him he’s worthy of love before he’ll be able to act like it.”

John pushes the recipients of his letter to an incredible depth of love, citing God’s love as both the source and the reason for loving one another (1 John 4:7, 11). I admit I often fail to show such love to others, whether strangers, friends, or my own children. Yet John’s words spark in me renewed desire and ability to do so: God went first. He sent His Son to demonstrate the fullness of His love for each of us. I’m so thankful He doesn’t respond as we all are prone to do by withdrawing His heart from us.

God loved us first so we can love others.

Though our sinful actions don’t invite God’s love, He is unwavering in offering it to us (Rom. 5:8). His “go-first” love compels us to love one another in response to, and as a reflection of, that love.

Prayer: Thank You, Lord, for loving me in spite of my sin. Help me to “go first” in loving others.

God loved us first so we can love others.

Insight:

Have you found it’s easier to make up after an argument if the other person makes the first move? Maybe they don’t even apologize, but you see in their eyes and hear in their voice that they care about you. If Jesus went first and showed us His love, can we now make that first move and show love to someone else? Mart DeHaan

This message was written By Kirsten Holmberg [Our Daily Bread Ministries.]

Topic: For Sons and Strangers [Thursday July 6, 2017]

Text: Numbers 15:22-29

Key Verse: “Ye shall have one law for him that sinneth through ignorance, both for him that is born among the children of Israel, and for the stranger that sojourneth among them” (Numbers 15:29).

A discussion with an average Christian today about what grace means will leave you startled as to how modern Christianity has misrepresented the grace of God. Most people who profess religion believe God’s grace excludes them from the dos and don’ts of life. They take the grace of God as a license to continue a life of sin.

On the contrary, God, whether in the Old Testament or in the New, has never given any exception to righteous living. The standard He expected of sons, he also expected of strangers. Some self-styled believers live as if certain biblical principles and doctrines do not apply to them. There are others who think that if they do not believe in the existence of God, they may be exonerated from His judgments at the end of life. Ignorance, whether deliberate or sincere, is never an excuse to break any law. Bible truths are universal and apply to everyone, regardless of race, colour or creed. What commandments are good for sons were also good for strangers in Moses’ law. The same standard that is required of sons is likewise required of strangers.

This is because there is only one heaven and only one hell. One standard of holiness is required to enter into heaven, no matter the time or dispensation we are in. But who were the ‘strangers’ the law was referring to? They are the Gentiles who would later become partakers of God’s grace in the new covenant. Oh the faithfulness and the loving kindness of God! Do you feel like a stranger to salvation and the grace of God? He has provided a conversion process through which strangers are made sons. This began at Calvary, when Jesus died. Be wise and take advantage of God’s provision, and accept His prescription, in order to gain eternal life.

Thought for the day: God’s grace that begets salvation is available to all.

Bible Reading in one Year: Genesis 17-20

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: Choose Wisely [Thursday 6, July 2017]

Memorise: Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences. – 2 Corinthians 5:11

Read: Luke 23:39-43 (KJV)

39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.

40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?

41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.

42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.

43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

Bible in One Year: 1 Samuel 17, Ezekiel 1:22-2:7, Hymn: Sing hymn 11

MESSAGE:

Today’s Scripture: “The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.”  – (Proverbs 13:4, ESV)

Topic: The Reward of Diligence [Wednesday July 5 , 2017]

God longs to pour out His favor and blessing upon you, but you have to do your part. You have to be diligent. First of all, you have to be diligent in seeking His ways and following His commands. Then you also have to be diligent with what you have in your hand—your time and resources. In Matthew, Jesus tells a parable about three men whose employer entrusted them with some money called talents. Two of the men were diligent and invested the talents and received a great return. The third man was afraid and buried what he was given. The first two men were rewarded and praised for their diligence while the third man was basically fired.

Follow the example of the first two men and look for ways to be diligent with what you have in your hand. Whatever you do, do it with excellence. Be the best you can be and go the extra mile even when you think it goes unnoticed. Even when people don’t notice, God notices and promises to reward the appetite of the diligent. As you stay faithful in the little things, God will make you ruler over much, and you’ll live the abundant life He has prepared for you.

A Prayer for Today: “Heavenly Father, thank You for Your favor and blessing on my life. Today I choose to be diligent. I choose to live in excellence and do everything to the best of my ability. I give You all the glory in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

Topic: The wisdom of action (Part 2) [Wednesday July 5, 2017]

Also, in Mark chapter 2, there were four men who brought their friend that was sick of palsy to where Jesus was. But because there was no space at the door, they had to carry their friend up to the top of the house and let him down through the roof. And the Bible says, “When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the sick of the palsy, son thy sins be forgiven thee.” Nobody sees your faith without your action. It is the steps you take that prove to God that you believe His word. If for instance you are looking for a job, stop sitting down at home, get out to where jobs are. If you want promotion, work hard on your job. If you want financial blessing, practice giving. Things don’t just happen, they happen because somebody is working them.

Nothing works until you work it. No matter the opposition on your way, you can force your way out of poverty and stagnation by your action. The only thing that threatens the devil in the school of faith, is your action. When you start moving, satan will start clearing off your way. When you move, God also begins to move towards you. “Draw near unto the Lord and He will draw near unto you.”

Mediate on these: 1 Samuel 2:3, James 1:6-7

Topic: Focus Forward [Wednesday July 5, 2017]

Not that I have now attained [this ideal], or have already been made perfect, but I press on to lay hold of (grasp) and make my own, that for which Christ Jesus (the Messiah) has laid hold of me and made me His own. I do not consider, brethren, that I have captured and made it my own [yet]; but one thing I do [it is my one aspiration]: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the [supreme and heavenly] prize to which God in Christ Jesus is calling us upward.  — Philippians 3:12-14

If you have been miserable because of the things that have happened in your past, I encourage you to do as I did and set your focus in a new direction. Determine to be what God wants you to be, to have what God wants you to have, and to receive what Jesus died to give you.

When you feel discouraged, say, “I am not going to live in bondage anymore. I cannot do anything about what I have done in the past, but I can do something about my future. I am going to enjoy my life and have what Jesus died for me to have. I am going to let go of the past and go on pursuing God from this day forth!”

Topic: Focus On Jesus [Wednesday July 5, 2017]

Luke 10:20 – “Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.”

LUKE 10:20

We were never instructed to have a Ph.D. in demonology. However, some justify focusing on Satan and his activity to an inordinate degree. This will actually encourage demonic activity and become a device that Satan can use against us.

As Paul said, we should not be “ignorant” of Satan’s devices. We certainly need to know that the devil and demons exist, and we need to recognize when we are facing demonic activity. But we need to keep our focus on the Lord.

Some people who are excessive in “spiritual warfare” actually spend more time talking to the devil each day than they do talking to God. That’s not right.

The best defense against the devil is to be so “God-centered” that we give no place to Satan. People who are very sensitive to the devil’s presence usually do so at the expense of being sensitive to the Lord’s presence. David said, “If I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there” (Ps. 139:8). Any time Satan’s oppression is there, God’s presence is present too (Heb. 13:5)! It’s just a matter of which one we focus on. Focusing on the devil is a trick of the devil.

Our total ability in the Christian life is found in Christ. It is not our ability that makes us strong, but our availability to Christ that enables us.

Paul said, “For when I am weak, then am I strong” (2 Cor. 12:10). He was saying that when he recognized his inability and, therefore, relied on the Lord, then the Lord’s strength flowed through him. We can do all things THROUGH CHRIST.

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: A Clear Message [Wednesday July 5, 2017]

The law of the Lord is perfect . . . — Psalm 19:7

The Bible is the constitution of Christianity. Just as the United States Constitution is not of any private interpretation, neither is the Bible of any private interpretation. Just as the Constitution includes all who live under its stated domain, without exception, so the Bible includes all who live under its stated domain, without exception. God’s laws for the spiritual world are found in the Bible. Whatever else there may be that tells us of God, it is more clearly told in the Bible. Nature in her laws tells us of God, but the message is not too clear. It tells us nothing of the love and grace of God. Conscience, in our inmost being, does tell us of God, but the message is fragmentary. The only place we can find a clear, unmistakable message is in the Word of God, which we call the Bible.

The Bible is truth. Read this message from Billy Graham about some of the truths it contains.

Prayer for the day: How I pray that the world would live by Your law—which bears no discrimination but is perfect. Teach me as I read the Bible to follow Your commandments which are not impossible to obey because of Jesus Christ’s 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.