Topic: A Clear Conscience – Your Ticket to Eternity with God [Tuesday July 4, 2017]

Scripture: And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men. Acts 24:16

Thought For The Day: A clear conscience is crucial for readiness for eternity.

Sometime ago, a young man testified in our church of a night vision he had about rapture. He said that he saw how rapture took place and people were being lifted off the ground but he was not. Then he began to cry, ‘Jesus would you leave me after all these years of going to church? Will I miss the rapture?’

As if God wanted to show him why he was not raptured, God allowed him to be taken up but while he was in the air, he said a negative thought that was on his mind before he slept surfaced in his heart and he became too heavy to fly. Immediately, he fell to the ground. He said he fell with so much force that the ground got cracked by the impact of his weight. He also saw people running in different directions.

The young man said he realised from the vision that sin weighs heavier than any weight imaginable.

Beloved, a clear conscience is crucial for readiness for eternity.

A young woman who is still a virgin but has a heart infested with grief and bitterness is playing with hellfire. What would be the gain of a man who abandons night club, tobacco smoking and other sinful acts in order to be dedicated in church if he still nurses bitterness? He will end in the same hellfire with killers and other terrible sinners.
Whatever makes you have a heart filled with offence towards man and God is jeopardising your destiny on earth and eternity in heaven.

Remember this: A clear conscience is crucial for readiness for eternity.

Assignment (s)

1. Forgive everyone who hurt you in time past, those who hurt you now, and in advance (by God’s help), even those who will hurt you tomorrow.

2. Ask God for the grace to maintain a clear conscience.

3. Live a life that is void of sin.

FOR FURTHER UNDERSTANDING, GET THIS MESSAGE: THE POWER OF A CLEAR CONSCIENCE.

Prayer: O LORD, I ask for the grace to always have a conscience that is void of offence towards You and towards men, LORD, in Jesus’ Name.

Quote: When a person carries the nature or image of the devil in the likeness of bitterness, satan can lay claim on the life of such an individual. Culled from AM I BITTER? by Dr Becky Enenche.

Daily Reading: 2 Kings 23:31 to 25:30, Acts 22:17 to 23:10, Psalm 2:1 to 12, Proverbs 18:13

Amazing Fact: Chocolate can kill dogs; it directly affects their heart and nervous system.

Today In History: 04/07/1827 – Slavery was abolished in New York State.

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: God Is Healing Our Land [Tuesday July 4, 2017]

Shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? God forbid. – Romans 3:3-4

Faith-filled words. That’s what changes things. They’ll move mountains into the sea. They’ll turn sickness into health. They’ll turn a sinner into a saint.

They’ll also take a sin-ridden nation and turn it into God’s own country. That’s right. Then, if we believers would back up the prayers we’ve been praying for this nation with words of faith instead of doubt and discouragement, we’d soon begin to see spiritual resurrection in the United States.

God promised us that if we, His people, would humble ourselves and pray and seek His face and turn from our wicked ways, He would heal our land. And let me tell you, there are prayer warriors all over this country (I hope you’re one of them) who are doing what that promise requires.

But, even so, you don’t hear many people saying, “This is great! God is healing the land.” You don’t hear people speaking out by faith the promise of God. Instead, you hear them saying, “Oh my, oh my, did you hear what those terrorists are doing?” or some other destructive thing they’ve seen on television.

Listen, we need to stop preaching what the terrorists are doing and start telling what God is doing! God said He is healing this land.

We must start speaking about this country by faith instead of going around spouting bad news all the time. Of course, that will sound odd to most people. Some of them may even think we’ve slipped a few cogs. But that’s nothing new.

Let me tell you something: One handful of believers who are listening to, trusting in, and speaking out the good news of God are more powerful than all the devils on earth. One handful of believers is more powerful than a whole army of unbelieving doomsayers. The unbelief of the doomsayers will not make the faith of God of no effect!

That’s why over the last 25 years, Gloria and I have learned to turn a deaf ear to the bad news and just start praising and thanking God for His deliverance. Every word of praise we speak releases faith in our heart.

Get determined with Gloria and me right now. Take a firm stand with us that things are changing in this country. Settle it in your heart as you pray. Speak it out. Call it forth. God is healing the land!

Scripture Reading: Nehemiah 6:1-16

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: Requirements for Holiness [Tuesday July 4, 2017]

Text: Leviticus 19:33-37

Key Verse: “Therefore shall ye observe all my statutes, and all my judgments, and do them: I am the LORD” (Leviticus 19:37).

In all ages and dispensations, God expects total obedience from His people. In today’s text, the Lord itemised a list of dos and don’ts which ranged from spiritual concerns to social and moral matters. The children of Israel were to recognise the benevolence of the Lord in making their land fruitful. They were to acknowledge and worship Him with the fruit of the land so they could both praise the Lord as their provider and understand that their prosperity was not the product of their power and might (Leviticus 19:23-26).

The Lord was careful to give them the details of the proper way to eat things that had blood (Leviticus 19:26). Socio-cultural matters, including physical appearance, relationships, decency, respect for the elderly and cordial treatment of strangers are included without underestimating the sins of idolatry, familiar-spirit and ritual cuttings or marking of the flesh (evident today in tattooing) (Leviticus 19:27-34). Unrighteousness in legal and economic matters are also intolerable in His presence. The Lord wanted Israel to know that they were a peculiar people overseen and cared for by the God of heaven and they were to be different from their idolatrous neighbours.

The dealing of the LORD with Israel is a shadow of a more excellent relationship with the Christian in the New Testament. Washed, bought and saved by the precious blood of Jesus, the Christian has been “quickened” from the nature of trespasses and sins (Ephesians 2:1). The Lord pleads with you “by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service” (Romans 12:1). The Bible also counsels: “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life” (Proverbs 4:23).

Thought for the day: Holy living is the key into the heart of God.

Bible Reading in one Year: Genesis 11-13

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: Celebrate Freedom [Tuesday July 4, 2017]

Read: Romans 6:15–23, Bible in a Year: Job 28–29; Acts 13:1–25

The law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. Romans 8:2

After being kidnapped, held hostage for thirteen days, and released, New Zealand news cameraman Olaf Wiig, with a broad smile on his face, announced, “I feel more alive now than I have in my entire life.”

For reasons difficult to understand, being freed is more exhilarating than being free.

The law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. Romans 8:2

For those who enjoy freedom every day, Olaf’s joy was a good reminder of how easily we forget how blessed we are. This is also true spiritually. Those of us who have been Christians for a long time often forget what it’s like to be held hostage by sin. We can become complacent and even ungrateful. But then God sends a reminder in the form of a new believer who gives an exuberant testimony of what God has done in his or her life, and once again we see the joy that is ours when we are “free from the law of sin and death” (Rom. 8:2).

If freedom has become boring to you, or if you tend to focus on what you can’t do, consider this: Not only are you no longer a slave to sin, but you are freed to be holy and to enjoy eternal life with Christ Jesus! (6:22).

Celebrate your freedom in Christ by taking the time to thank God for the things you are able and free to do as His servant.

Living for Christ brings true freedom.

Insight:

Some of the spiritual giants of the church were profoundly changed by Paul’s Spirit-inspired words in Romans. One of those was Martin Luther (1483–1546), a German theologian, writer, and reformer of the church. As a monk, Luther struggled with the impossible task of trying to be righteous on his own merits or works. The words of Romans 1:17, “The righteous will live by faith,” led Luther to realize that justification (being made holy) is through faith by God’s grace alone. God through His Word lifts the burden of sin and sets us free.

This message was written By Julie Ackerman [Our Daily Bread Ministries.]

Topic: Having a Servant Spirit [Tuesday 4, July 2017]

Memorise: For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth. – Luke 22:27

Read: Luke 22:24-27 (KJV)

24 And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest.

25 And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors.

26 But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.

27 For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth.

Bible in One Year: 1 Samuel 14, Lamentation 4:19-5:22, Hymn: Sing hymn 14

MESSAGE:
[July 4 2017, Tuesday]
Signs and wonders easily flow in an atmosphere where authority is respected. The moment a person becomes rebellious or refuses to submit to the authority of leaders, God withdraws and so do His signs and wonders. If you want God to use you in the miraculous, learn to remain submissive to the authority of those set over you by God. Moreover, another attribute of the fellow God will use to perform signs and wonders is the possession of a servant spirit. If you take a critical look at the person of Philip as recorded in the book of Acts, chapters 6 and 8, you will see a man who happily obeyed when he was sent to serve food as an usher, even though he was full of faith, power and the Holy Spirit. If some people had such credentials as these, they would suddenly become very choosy in the nature of assignments they are willing to carry out. If a pastor asks some workers to clean the toilet today, they may give the pastor a look that says, “Don’t you know who I am? Is it because I am a worker in your church? In my place of work, I am a Managing director” Nobody is contesting with you. The truth remains that in God’s kingdom, a worker is a servant. When you get to your office, you can be the boss there, but when you are in God’s house, you must be prepared to serve. Do you know that anyone who is unwilling to serve can never reach the top in God’s house? Open Heavens 4 July 2017: Tuesday daily devotional by Pastor Adeboye – Having a Servant Spirit

“But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.”

Not only did He instruct us to serve, He himself did exactly that. He came as one who serves (Luke 22:27). Do you remember He washed the feet of his disciples (John 13:5)? This is why I teach my students at the School of disciples that the hands that cannot do manual labour cannot heal the sick. Some people have abandoned house chores to their domestic workers and other helpers. If you really want God to use your hands to perform signs and wonders, then you must engage them in manual labour. By virtue of my position as the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, people try to keep me from doing chores. However, do you know that even with all the help and assistants at my disposal, when I realized they are not around, I quickly iron some of my wife’s clothes or go to the kitchen sink to wash some plates? I know what I am doing. Are you a servant or a lord that everyone must obey?

Prayer Point: Father, give me the servant spirit of Jesus Christ, so that I may serve others just as He did.

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.

Topic: The 90/10 Principle: Practical Application

(James 1:12-20; Ephesians 4:26-27).

Please refer to yesterday’s devotional encounter. Heaven will drop a few practical hints to turn you from pressure to pleasure! If someone says something negative about you, do not be a sponge. Let the attack roll off like water on glass. You do not have to let the negative comment affect you. React properly and it will not ruin your day. A wrong action could result in losing a friend, being fired, getting stressed up, etc. Proverbs 15:1a says: “a soft answer turns away wrath.”

How do you react if someone annoys you in a traffic jam or stress crops up in a bus? Lose your temper? Pound the steering wheel? Curse? Shout up? Reply to every statement? Does your blood pressure shoot up? Have you forgotten that you have just one life and that it’s better you are late to work or home than become the Late? Do you know that just one driver in a traffic jam sent by satan can destroy your joy?Do you know that satn can use one of your colleagues in your office to steal your joy? Please always remember the 90/10 principle! If you have no job or you just lost a relative or you lost a relationship (courtship or even marriage), what do you do?

Lose your sleep! Go on drugs? Go on alcohol? Pity yourself? Get irritated or shout at everyone around? Get depressed? No! No! No! Use the time spent on worrying to look for another job. Get a prayer partner in crisis! Call us –ODM lines! If one relationship breaks, God can raise a million others. Spend time staying around positive people! You can decie to serve God the more by it. Whatever happens, avoid worrying and stress! Laugh often and be positive! Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% of your reaction.

You will not fail God or your generation! I see you ending this year with a great testimony as an EVIDENCE that your God is not a liar even as you prepare for the 14-day fasting program starting from July 9th-22nd, 2017. Peace!

Give out this 3rd qurater ODM copy to souls! Remember EVANGELISM is God’s hearbeat! I SEE NEW GRACE on you for every copy given out! Start today!

Prayer Points: Take any song of worship as led.

1. Thank God for the Word. Pray about it as led now.
2. Release forgiveness to anyone now.
3. I refuse to be chained by this individual (mention names). I release forgiveness to him/her now. Lord, help me indeed!
4. Father, forgive me and bestow Your mercy upon me in Jesus Christ name. Pray for Israel today!
5. Pray in Tongues now and pray any other prayers as led.
FOR ODM VIEWING CENTERS FOR JULY ANOINTING SERVICE, SEE PAGE 52 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: Remain Committed [Monday July 3, 2017]

Whatsoever your hand find to do, do it with all your might.

Only those who are truly committed to doing small things will be elevated to do great things. Those who seek to do big things never get anything done.

You will never miss your place at the top if you get busy serving below where nobody could see you.

Topic: His Peace, My Responsibility [Monday July 3, 2017]

Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. [Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.] — John 14:27

Perhaps you have never thought about how important it is to manage your emotions. I imagine we all think, I can’t help how I act when I am having a hard time. That is a normal human reaction, but with God on your side helping you, you don’t have to behave the way a “normal” person would.

It is obvious from Jesus’ words in John 14:27 that He desires for you to have wonderful peace, but please notice He is also giving you a responsibility. He wants you to choose to control the negative emotions that can steal your peace. You cannot always control your circumstances, but you can control yourself with God’s help.

Power Thought: God has given me His peace, and I will walk in it.

The Bible, both Old and New Testaments, contains various passages regarding the importance of honesty. One of the most simple passages is contained in Ephesians 4:25, which states, “Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.” The passage is powerful because it reveals that it is important to be honest, not only because it frees our soul of the burden of deceit, but also because lies drive wedges between people. They enslave the person who utters them but also the one who is deceived, and the pain caused by the discovery of a lie can be so deep that a relationship is severed forever. As noted in Luke 16:10-12, “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not been faithful in that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own?”

There are many reasons why people lie, but what all these reasons have in common, is fear. Some lies are small and told with the intent sparing someone hurt – for instance, we may not feel in the mood to attend a social occasion so we may say we have another event on at the same time, even if this is not true. These ‘white lies’ are often not too damaging, yet in good relationships, why make room for them? Being honest is sometimes hard, and takes courage, yet the sensation of telling our friends and family how we truly feel, is greatly rewarding, for ourselves, as well as for them.

White lies can be harmless, but if they become a habit, they can end up creating distance between ourselves and others. This is the case with habitual liars, who tell untruths about a variety of issues – some small, others deeply meaningful. To combat habitual lying, the first step is to accept God’s grace and mercy. Our faith can give us the strength we need to face the consequences of being honest. Lying can seem easier, but we achieve little when we are not fully honest. When we admit that we have a problem, we can then rely on God and prayer at the times when anxiety hits hardest and we are tempted to lie.

We should also learn to depend on others – our best friend, therapist or a family member we trust. We should start off by committing to complete honesty with one person. Slowly but surely, we can grow our circle of trust until we feel more comfortable really revealing who we are to a larger group.

Sometimes, making headway in a relationship involves admitting lies and committing to newfound openness in the future. Be prepared for those you have hurt to take their time to believe in you once again. Don’t let the fear of their rejection drive you back into the cycle of lies. Think of the hardest times as a necessary basis to rebuild important relationships.

Keeping a journal can also help. The journal should not merely list down your day’s activities; use it to also write down the reasons why you lied and to consider another way of dealing with a difficult situation – one which does not involve lying.

It is also vital to create meaning in your life by setting small, achievable goals every day. As you achieve these goals, your self-confidence grows and you feel less tempted to give your ego a boost with lies. If ever you do relapse into lying, remember that your worst actions do not define the person that you are. You can always start with a clean slate. Use your setbacks to enlighten you on how you can do things differently next time. An honest life involves hard work and small setbacks will not stop you from being the sincere person you have always wanted to be. Finally, when you feel most tempted to indulge in self-destructive behaviour, open the Bible, find inspiration in verses on honesty, and pray. Your faith will enable you to move mountains and knock down fear and other barriers to a beautiful and honest life.

This is an article sent in by Sally Painthorpe

Topic: The Highest Law [Monday July 3, 2017]

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable . . . — 2 Timothy 3:16

The men who framed our Constitution knew they were writing the basic document for a government of free men; they recognized that men could live as free and independent beings only if each one knew and understood the law.

They were to know their rights, their privileges, and their limitations. They were to stand as equals before the court of law, and few judges could be unfair; for the judge, too, was bound by the same law and required to try each case accordingly. . . . As the Constitution is the highest law of the land, so the Bible is the highest law of God. For it is in the Bible that God sets forth His spiritual laws. It is in the Bible that God makes His enduring promises. It is in the Bible that God reveals the plan of redemption for the human race.

Do you have questions about the Bible? Find answers.

Prayer for the day: Almighty God, each day our nation and we, the people, face so many crises. May each one of us seek wisdom through Your Word, the Bible.

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.