Topic: The Reason For Praise [Monday June 5, 2017]

I have discovered that all the complaints and frowning of man is centered around the material things that he feels he should have but does not have. So, he murmurs and complains about needs at the expense of appreciating the gift of life. Many people misplace their priorities; they value things more than life, so their praise is hindered.

The reason I praise God is not for things, I praise God for Him and for me. I am not dancing because things are good but because God is good. The things that are good today may turn otherwise tomorrow, but God will never change, He remains the good God and His mercies endure forever. Your good car today may become worn out tomorrow, when that happens will you still praise Him? Habakkuk 3:17-18 says, “Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.” No matter what has happened or not happened, I keep rejoicing in the Lord! My mood is not determined by things but by God, He is the centre of my joy!

Topic: Safe and Secure [Monday June 5, 2017]

So we take comfort and are encouraged and confidently and boldly say, The Lord is my Helper; I will not be seized with alarm [I will not fear or dread or be terrified]. What can man do to me? — Hebrews 13:6 AMPC

A confident person feels safe. He believes he is loved, valuable, cared for, and protected by God’s will for him. When we feel safe and secure, it’s easy to step out and try new things.

During the initial construction on the Golden Gate Bridge, no safety devices were used, and twenty-three men fell to their deaths. For the final part of the project, however, a large net was used as a safety precaution. Twenty-five percent more work was accomplished after the net was installed. Why? Because the men had the assurance of their safety, so they were free to wholeheartedly serve the project.

When people feel safe, they are free to take a chance on failing in order to try to succeed. As children of God, we are safe and secure, knowing God loves us and has a good plan for our lives. Therefore, we can live with thanksgiving and confidence as we step out boldly each and every day.

Prayer of Thanks: I thank You, God, that You are always there to catch me when I fall. Today, I choose to live with confidence because I know I am safe and secure in Your love. I know nothing will happen to me that I can’t handle because You are with me.

Topic: Desperate? [Monday 5, June 2017]

Memorise: And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. – Matthew 11:12

Read: Mark 2:1-5 (KJV)

1 And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house.

2 And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them.

3 And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four.

4 And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay.

5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.

Bible in One Year: Joshua 3-5, Jeremiah 42:18-43:7, Hymn: Sing hymn 4

MESSAGE:

While some people encounter God and ask Him for nothing, some others ask for crumbs while some few ask big. Also, while some people are ready to wait until their desires are granted, some others are desperate. Even though God has the ability to do all things, how fast your desires will be granted is often determined by your level of desperation. Desperate people do desperate things to get results, and so, the attitude of their prayer is usually different from that of those who can wait. In our Bible reading for today, when four men brought their friend who was paralysed and bedridden down to Jesus, they did not like what they saw: all the doors and windows were blocked and a big crowd surrounded the house. So what did they do? After studying the situation, these four friends observed that only the roof was free, and an idea struck their minds. They wiggled their way to the roof, tore it open, and lowered their friends into the place where Jesus was. The Lord Jesus Christ had to suspend everything else He was doing to attend to their friend. How desperate are you to receive your miracle? If you say you are desperate, where are the signs of your desperation? Desperate people break protocol! They refuse to wait where others would, and try out new measures that others may never think of.  Desperate people refuse to be limited by what limits others, and they will do everything possible to get the result they desire.

When God sees desperate faith in action, He is most unlikely to turn it down. In fact, God allows such. Hence, Matthew 11:12 says

“And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.”

If you are not desperate, you would be placed at the end of the line. If you are a bit violent, you can end up in the middle of the queue, but if you are truly desperate, you will be moved to the front, irrespective of how long others have waited to get there. Desperate people are persistent. They draw up the attention of other people in their bid to get what they desire. Although desperate people can really be a “nuisance”, they don’t care about who they inconvenience as long as they get what they want. How desperate are you for divine intervention over your situation? Cry out to God today and let Him hear the desperation in your voice and see it in your actions, and He will surely answer you.

Key Point: A desperate fellow persistently tables just one request before God and cannot wait to receive a positive response on it.

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: Mother of Nations!

Dear Reader,

I welcome you to this glorious month, the last month in the first half of the year of “My Case is Different”. This month, I see the God of heaven perfecting all that concerns you. This month, I shall be teaching on the theme: Mother of Nations.

This week, I shall be looking at the subject: You are a potential mother. I want you to know that God has designed you as a mother. Every woman created by God is a mother of nation. Your present situation or conditions notwithstanding, you are to be fruitful. Fruitfulness is a natural phenomenon to anyone that is rooted in God.

Many are been resisted by hell, that is why it seems as if the plan of fruitfulness in their life is not coming to pass. If you are in such category, you need an understanding of God’s provision for your fruitfulness in marriage, to combat the enemy. The Word of God says: And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion…every living thing that moveth upon the earth (Genesis 1:28).

Note: God did not admonish you to be fruitful, but He commanded your fruitfulness. Throughout creation, God did not say, “You may”, but He said, “Be..!” Everything God said when He was creating the world came to be. Therefore, it is impossible for what God has said concerning you to fail.  The Word of God says: The counsel of the Lord standeth forever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations (Psalms 33:11).

Why would God want you to be fruitful? So that He can replenish the earth.  Have you ever considered that if God wanted, He could have been creating more and more people to fill the whole earth, just the way He created Adam?  God is the all-powerful and the Omnipotent. He can do just anything; but He gave man the assignment of procreation. He is the all-wise God. He knows what He is doing. If He didn’t put the power to conceive and bring forth there, He won’t be asking you and I to do it. So, rejoice in that you are created to fulfill God’s mandate of fruitfulness.

God has said to you, “Be fruitful”. So, negative medical reports like blocked fallopian tubes, low sperm count, fibroid, or any such thing cannot stop that Word from coming to pass in your life. Therefore, for everyone married according to God’s injunction, you must ‘be fruitful’. If there is anything short of this, it is not God. He can never change His Word.  The Word of God says: I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be forever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him (Ecclesiastes 3:14).

There are some erroneous teachings that make people believe that barrenness is of God. Such teachers made their subjects to believe that they should see their situation as a lesson or punishment from God. God is a loving Father; He will never tempt you with evil. He said in His Word:  If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? (Matthew 7:11). Children are good gifts which your Father will not deny you of.

The will of your heavenly Father is that you are fruitful, and the Word of God says: For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly (Psalm 84:11). God will not ask you to come back tomorrow for this good thing, He will give it to you right away.  It is in His power to give you and He will surely give it to you NOW. This is your hour!

Fruitfulness is an inheritance that you have, if you are a child of God. Being born again is the gate-way to fruitfulness. If you are yet to surrender your life to Jesus Christ, you can do so now. By confessing your sin and accepting Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. If you would want to give your life to Christ, you can say this prayer of faith: “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 to serve the living God. 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, congratulations, 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, and share your testimonies with me through [email protected]; OR 07026385437 and 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, Success in Marriage (Co-Authored) and You Shall not be Barren – David Oyedepo

Topic: What Do We Want? [Monday June 5, 2017]

Read: Romans 8:1–11, Bible in a Year: 2 Chronicles 23–24; John 15

He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you. Romans 8:11

“I went from the horse-and-buggy to a man walking on the moon,” said the elderly man to his granddaughter, who shared this story with me recently. But then he mused, “I never thought it would be so short.”

Life is short, and many of us turn to Jesus because we want to live forever. That’s not bad, but we don’t comprehend what eternal life really is. We tend to crave the wrong things. We long for something better, and we think it’s just ahead. If only I were out of school. If only I had that job. If only I were married. If only I could retire. If only . . . And then one day we catch an echo of our grandfather’s voice as we wonder where the time has flown.

When we find our life in Jesus, we enjoy life with Him, both now and forever.
The truth is, we possess eternal life now. The apostle Paul wrote, “The law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death” (Rom. 8:2). Then he said, “Those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires” (v. 5). In other words, our desires change when we come to Christ. This naturally gives us what we most desire. “The mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace” (v. 6).

It’s one of life’s great lies that we need to be somewhere else, doing something else, with someone else before we start truly living. When we find our life in Jesus, we exchange regret over life’s brevity for the full enjoyment of life with Him, both now and forever.

Prayer: Lord, You said You came to give us life to the fullest, but so often we have our own agenda and the wrong goals in mind. Please forgive us, and help us desire what You want.

To live forever we must let Jesus live in us now.

Insight:

Read John 10:10 to see what Jesus said about eternal life. What hinders you from enjoying life on earth now?

This message was written By Tim Gustafson [Our Daily Bread Ministries.]

Topic: Humility Before Honor [Monday June 5, 2017]

Matthew 18:4 “Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

Matthew 18:1-5; Mark 9:30-37; Luke 9:46-48

It is interesting that Jesus used a little child to illustrate humility. Although it is true that little children have a purity and humility that is many times missing in adults, they certainly are not selfless. A child comes into the world totally self-centered, wanting what he wants when he wants it. Parents are to train children out of this self-centeredness.

One of humility’s dominant characteristics is a God-dependency and not a self-sufficiency. The truth of humility being the key to greatness or success was not new. Jesus gave this truth new meaning by walking in humility as no one ever had before.

This path of self-denial to greatness is exactly opposite to the world’s path of exalting self at everyone else’s expense. The path of humility could not possibly work if there was no God. We would simply be trampled underfoot.

Humility is a step of faith – faith that God is the judge and that promotion comes from Him (Ps. 75:6-7), and faith that God will resist the proud but give grace unto the humble (1 Pet. 5:5). Humility is trusting in God and not in ourselves. This is why it is easy to be humble when we’ve failed, and conversely, hard to be humble when we’ve achieved great success. This is precisely why Paul commanded Timothy not to put a novice into a position of leadership in the church. Pride is self-sufficiency and self-exaltation while humility is self-denial and dependence upon God.

God’s kingdom is founded upon this principle of humility before honor. God’s kind of love is selfless as can be seen by Jesus’ own actions. Pride is the only reason that strife comes (Prov. 13:10); so remember, humility is the key to walking in love with our brothers and sisters in the Lord.

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: When Silence Is Key! [Monday June 5, 2017]

Text: 2 Kings 18:26-37

Key Verse: “But the people held their peace, and answered him not a word: for the king’s commandment was, saying, Answer him not” (2 Kings 18:36).

Matters often escalate and get worse because many of the people concerned have not learnt the wisdom and power in being silent. In the attempt to answer back, defend a stand, oppose or counter a claim, most people talk needlessly.

The end result is that such arguments, debates, counter claims and defensive speeches make matters worse by causing a great fire capable of burning down a whole house. Check it up: most of the wars the world has experienced, the homes and marriages that have been destroyed, business organisations that have gone down the drain, can all trace their woes to the inability of the parties involved to control their speech, especially in the face of verbal provocations. The aim of Rabshakeh in our text was to cause disaffection among the common people in Israel and so bring about mutiny, unrest and rebellion. His words were meant to weaken the faith and trust of the people in God and in the ability of their king to defend them. But instead of joining issues with him and trying to prove or argue otherwise, the king commanded them to keep quiet.

Thus, they were able to hide their fear, leaving the enemy confused like a fool. Instead of answering back the enemy, they decided to take their complaints to the king who reported the matter to God. How we need to learn the wisdom displayed here. It is not every time that we must respond to the enemy whose aim is to rubbish and weaken our faith. It is even sad to see some Christians engage in very bitter arguments and debates with those they claim are attacking the Church. This is often what leads to many of the religious riots and unrest that have claimed so many lives.

Winning an argument or debate does the faith no good. We don’t need to defend God through provocations and argument with unbelievers. He is capable of handling those that try to defame Him. Our homes and other relationships will fare better if we learn the principle of silence in the face of provocation. It is not a mark of weakness or stupidity as some may think; rather, it is the most effective weapon to defeat the enemy.

Thought for the day: Silence is golden.

Bible Reading in one Year: John 13-15

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 Character of the Mustard Seed Faith [Monday June 5, 2017]

Scripture: And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. Hebrews 11:6 (NIV).

Thought For The Day: The mustard-seed faith is the faith that is pregnant with a vision that is bigger than your current reality.

Having identified the mustard seed faith as the faith that moves mountain, it is important to identify the unique character features of the mustard seed.

Now, what is the character of the mustard seed?

1. It is Alive and Active

The mustard seed carries life because it has the ability to germinate and grow. So, the mustard seed faith that moves mountain is the faith that is alive and active. The active and lively faith is the faith that stands on God’s Word (John 6:63).

2. It is Pregnant with Greatness

Though the mustard seed is barely visible to the eyes when fully grown, it is the biggest among the herbs (Matthew 13:31-32).

This means that the mustard-seed faith is the faith that is pregnant with a vision that is bigger than your current reality. For example, you may be sleeping in an uncompleted building today but the mustard seed faith in you makes you see yourself in estates in New York, USA or in Victoria Island in Lagos, Nigeria.

Beloved, never allow your situation to limit your vision. You must refuse to allow your surroundings to limit your expectation. You may appear small but you must be pregnant with greatness.

Remember this: The mustard-seed faith is the faith that is pregnant with a vision that is bigger than your current reality.

Assignment(s):

1. Ask God for a lively and active faith.

2. Refuse to allow your current situation limit your vision.

Prayer: O LORD, I ask for the grace to stay focused on my vision despite my current situation. Give me a lively and active faith, LORD, in Jesus’ Name.

FOR FURTHER UNDERSTANDING, GET THIS MESSAGE: THE MOUNTAIN-MOVING FAITH.

Amazing Fact: There is a water reservoir floating in space that is equivalent to 140 trillion times all the water in the world’s ocean.

Today In History: 5/6/1865 – Pastor Sabine Baring-Gould penned the hymn “Onward Christian Soldiers” as a marching song for some children he kept together as they walked between two villages during a Whit-Monday festival.

Daily Reading: 2 Samuel 23:24 to 24:25, Acts 3:1 to 26, Psalm 123:1 to 26, Proverbs 16:21 to 23.

Quote: Anyone who does not take the Bible serious cannot operate with faith. Culled from 15 KINGDOM STRATEGIES FOR SURVIVAL by Dr Paul Enenche.

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: Trust Him to Deliver You [Monday June 5, 2017]

A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee…. There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. – Psalm 91:7,10

Naturally speaking, this is a terrifying world we’re living in today. A world that staggers from one disaster to another. Almost daily we hear about wars, about the dangers of nuclear weapons and chemical warfare, about oil spills and earthquakes and floods, about diseases on the rise and crime sweeping through our cities.

But in the midst of it all, God is promising to be a refuge and a fortress to those who will trust and dwell in Him.

“But, Gloria,” you might say, “He made that promise thousands of years ago when things weren’t in as desperate shape as they are today!”

That may be so, but you know what? That promise is right up-to-date. It was made for our generation. Just think about it. Back when Psalm 91 was written, man hadn’t even invented weapons that could destroy 10,000 people at once. We’re the generation that did that. So when He said, “No evil will befall you,” He was including us.

No evil will befall you. My, what a statement! You need to catch hold of it and believe it today. Believe that God wants to be God in your life. He wants to be your protection. He wants to be your security. He wants to be the first Name you call when trouble comes your way. He wants to be the One you trust in and look to, to keep you safe. And if you’ll do that, He’ll never, never let you down.

He can handle all the dangers that surround you. I don’t care how bad they are, He can handle them! He proved that with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. They were bound and thrown into a fiery furnace that was so hot that the men who threw them in were killed by the heat. Now you can’t get in any more trouble than that. But God brought them through and when they came out, they didn’t even smell like smoke. Hallelujah!

So, no matter how terrifying things around you seem to get, trust God. He’ll always be faithful. He’ll never be out doing something else when you need help. He’ll be right there to deliver you from any problem, any catastrophe, any kind of devastation.

Let Him prove in your life what He proved in the lives of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego: No other can deliver like He can!

Scripture Reading: Daniel 3

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: Light and Shadow [Monday June 5, 2017]

Stand steady, and don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Bring others to Christ . . . — 2 Timothy 4:5 (TLB)

All the masterpieces of art contain both light and shadow. A happy life is one filled not only with sunshine, but one which uses both light and shadow to produce beauty. The greatest musicians, as a rule, are those who know how to bring song out of sadness. Fanny Crosby, her spirit aglow with faith in Christ, saw more with her sightless eyes than most of us do with normal vision. She has given us some of the great gospel songs which cheer our hearts and lives. In a rat-infested jail in Philippi, Paul and Silas sang their song of praise at midnight to the accompaniment of the jailer’s whip. But their patience in suffering and persecution led to the heathen warden’s conviction.

Prayer for the day: Let my heart learn to sing when everything around me seems so dark. Give me Your grace to praise You, Lord Jesus.

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.