Topic: When Does God Work? [Sunday June 4, 2017]

…When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him. – Isaiah 59:19

You don’t know who strong your God is until you are face with strong men.

God is strongest when the battle is toughest.

You don’t know how strong your God is until you are faced with strong men.

Whenever you are confronted by mighty men, remember the almighty God.

God steps into your matter only when you don’t know what next to do and where next to turn as human. IIChr.20:1-24.

You don’t know what God can do until you acknowledge that you don’t know what you can do.

He is described as the very present help in trouble, and that is when we think he is absent. Ps. 46:1.

The anointing became strongest on Samson when the Philistines shouted the loudest on him. Judges 15:14-17; 14.5-6.

God rises to scatter His enemies only when they have gathered. Ps.66:1. God does not engage in small fight.

God is too big to be invited into a small fight.

God rises only to challenge.

What it takes to move God against your opposition is faith that is demonstrated by the combination of rest, (calmness) and action.

Topic: A Wandering, Wondering Mind [Sunday June 4, 2017]

Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. — 1 Peter 1:13 KJV

In the days when Peter wrote these words, men wore long, flowing robes that hindered fast progress or strenuous action. They wore broad belts (or girdles) about their waists, and when they wanted to move into action, they “girded up their loins”—that is, they shortened their robes by pulling them up inside their belts. That term is similar to what we mean when we say, “Roll up your sleeves.” Peter’s words here are a serious call to action—a reminder that when we lose our focus, it is time for us to do some serious thinking.

I’ve already talked about how staying too busy can result in an abnormal mind as opposed to a normal mind. Now I want to point out that another way the devil attacks your normal mind is by causing your thoughts to wander. It’s a mental attack. If you do not discipline your mind to remain focused on what is important, the devil will cause it to wander aimlessly to other things.

When this inability to concentrate goes on for a while, you may begin to wonder if there is something wrong with your mind. What you often fail to realize is that when you’ve allowed your mind to wander for so long, you’re hardly aware that it’s taking place.

In some cases, there may be physical causes for not being able to concentrate, such as anemia or certain B-vitamin deficiencies. You may not be eating properly. Or you may have become excessively fatigued. It’s a good idea to consider all the potential causes as you search for a solution. I’ve learned that when I’m excessively tired, Satan tries to attack my mind because he knows it’s more difficult for me to resist him during those times.

Sometimes a lack of concentration creates a lack of comprehension. Perhaps as you are reading the Bible, you find yourself hurrying to get through so you can do something else. Out of a sense of duty, you are determined to finish reading a chapter—and you do. But when you are finished, you can’t recall anything you have read. Your eyes scanned the pages, but your mind was engaged somewhere else.

Perhaps you have even experienced this battle for your mind in church. You attend regularly—and the devil can’t always stop that—but he can cause your mind to start wandering during the sermon. Have you ever been fully engrossed in listening to a sermon, and then you suddenly realize that your mind has wandered and you have no idea what was said?

If the devil can rob you of the benefits of reading the Bible and hearing God’s Word at church, he has won some major skirmishes in the battle for your mind. This is why Peter tells us to “gird up the loins of our minds.” You must take action by confronting your wandering mind and disciplining it to focus on what’s important.

In conversation, I used to fake it when I realized my mind had wandered. Now I deal with it honestly by asking, “Would you please back up and repeat that? I let my mind wander off, and I didn’t hear a thing you said.” This kind of behavior not only interrupts the plan of the enemy but also brings victory over the problem.

It’s not easy to discipline your mind when it has been allowed to wander aimlessly, but you can do it. When you discover that your thoughts have wandered, you must exercise discipline and make the necessary corrections. The devil would like to convince you that you can’t help yourself, but when you consistently come against his bid for your mind, he is defeated, and you have won another battle.

Holy Spirit, I realize how quickly Satan distracts me and then capitalizes on my wandering mind. Forgive me for allowing him to lead me astray. I thank You for giving me a good, clear mind, and in the name of Jesus, I ask You to help me overcome every temptation to lose my focus. Amen.

Topic: Vulnerable? [Sunday 4, June 2017]

Memorise: If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small. – Proverbs 24:10

Read: 2 Samuel 17:1-3 (KJV)

1 Moreover Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Let me now choose out twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David this night:

2 And I will come upon him while he is weary and weak handed, and will make him afraid: and all the people that are with him shall flee; and I will smite the king only:

3 And I will bring back all the people unto thee: the man whom thou seekest is as if all returned: so all the people shall be in peace.

Bible in One Year: Joshua 1-2, Jeremiah 42:1-17, Hymn: Sing hymn 9

MESSAGE:

“And I will come upon him while he is weary and weak handed, and will make him afraid: and all the people that are with him shall flee; and I will smite the king only:” – 2 Samuel 17:2

The above scripture reveals one of the strategies that our adversary, the devil, uses to get at us: he seeks to attack and strike us when we are weary and weak. No matter how strong you are spiritually, you are still vulnerable, because every human being is limited and weak. Understanding your vulnerability and mitigating it is one of the keys to living a triumphant Christian life. When you feel weak and vulnerable, that is a good time to fast and pray. The truth is, when you are vulnerable, you are at your moment of least resistance to sin. In such moments, just a little pressure can make you fall in sin. However, being vulnerable reminds us that we were made from dust and reveals to us that we greatly need God’s help (2 Corinthians 12:9). Indeed, you are most vulnerable when you need help the most and help is nowhere near. It is during such moments that you need to go to God confessing your helplessness and asking for His help lest you fall.

How does one end up in a vulnerable state? Continuous exposure to temptations can gradually weaken your defence. This is why you must avoid every appearance of evil. For example, if alcohol used to be your lord before you were saved, after accepting Christ as your Lord and Saviour, you would be wise to keep away from parties and social outings where alcohol would be served. You would also need to avoid viewing media publications promoting alcohol and sever your links with drinking pals; otherwise, if you continuously frolic around these, you will soon become vulnerable. In addition, repeatedly avoiding or neglecting spiritual tools that can build up your spiritual muscles and defences will definitely make you vulnerable. If you cannot pray, fast, study the Bible, and attend Church services with the brethren on a regular basis, you will soon become vulnerable. Similarly, if you keep bad friends or advisers, or you are a lone ranger who fails to mix, you will definitely become vulnerable. It is difficult to bend and break a broom but very easy to break a single broomstick. Before striking, the devil will usually try to isolate an individual from those who can help him or her resist temptation. This is why you need God to choose true friends for you. Lastly, failure to develop your faith spiritually will leave you vulnerable. Fortify yourself today!

Action Point: Are events separating you from fellow believers as you tilt towards loneliness? Watch it! It could be another ploy of the devil to isolate and finish you off.

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.

A Promise For You From Bible Promises:

Topic: His Ever Protective Presence [04/06/2017]

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Psalms 23:4. Read: Ps 23:1-6

A story is told of a man who walked in a particular zone and began to hear invisible feet sound. He knew it was the Lord, he turned and said, “Lord, why are You following me”? Because this route is not safe for you to walk alone, the Lord replied him. The earth is a danger zone for an individual to walk freely because the devil has come with great wrath knowing that he has a short time to spend. Rev 12:12

The only solution is for one to go in and out continuously with the divine protective presence of the Lord. He has promised to be with us even to the point of death and to the end of the world. Jn 13:1. Moses knew this secret, hence, he said to the Lord, “And he said unto him, If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence. And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest”. Ex 33:14-15. David was so confident in the valley of the shadow of death because of the presence of God with him. You need Him to be successful here on earth.

#BiblePromisesQuote

* It is the protective presence of God that gives rest. Do you have it with you?

Topic: Strength Made Perfect [Sunday June 4, 2017]

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. – 2 Corinthians 12:9

When you run into an impossible situation, a situation you simply don’t have the strength or the ability to handle, are you often tempted to simply give up and accept defeat? Don’t! Instead shout, “Glory!” because the Word says God’s strength is about to be made perfect in you.

The word translated “strength” in this scripture is dunamis. It means “God’s miracle-working power.” Just think about that. When your human strength ends, God has promised that His miraculous power will bring you through!

If you’ll look in Acts 14, you can see that promise in action. The Apostle Paul was stoned by a group of Jews, taken out of the city and left for dead. Paul’s human strength had ended. He was absolutely powerless.

But the disciples gathered around him and prayed, the Lord raised him up, and he went on his way. In other words, when Paul didn’t have enough human strength to overcome, God’s miracle-working power was sufficient for him. It enabled him to be an overcomer in spite of his weakness!

So, if you are facing a crisis today—

If you’re sick and medicine has failed you—

If your finances are out of control—

If your family is falling apart—

If bad habits have you hopelessly bound—

If you’ve done absolutely all you know to do and you still haven’t gotten results—

Then rejoice! For when human strength ends, the power of God excels!

Only believe!

God’s grace is sufficient for you!

Scripture Reading: Acts 14:1-22

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: Harvest Of Foolishness [Sunday June 4, 2017]

Text: Proverbs 26:1-19

Key Verse: “As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool” (Proverbs 26:1).

One of the maladies that is most incurable is folly. Most men are indeed born like the wild ass’ colt, but some by the grace of God after an encounter with Christ, are changed for the better. We cannot trust a fool for anything. Wise sayings lose their significance in the mouth of a fool. This is because worthless is the advice of a fool.

A sinner or a fool is likened to a loathsome dog that returns to his vomit. The theme of today’s text is on foolishness and its manifestations. Foolishness brings dishonour, contempt and ignominy. Careless and wasteful sinners will never be ruled by reason or persuasion. Those with little sense but are proud of their condition are like those foolish believers who consider their spiritual state to be good enough, when really, it is very bad. A fool always comes short of his reckoning as he is known by seeming to look wise. Laziness is also stated to be an evidence of folly.

It brings poverty and misery. A lazy man is wise in his own conceit because of his folly. Sleep and indolence are not cousins of a good harvest. Similarly, when a man meddles in other people’s matters, he is merely demonstrating his folly. Every fool is a meddler. Why don’t you mind your own business? The greatest laziness is failure to take pains to feed one’s soul with the bread of life. It is not good to joke with sacred and spiritual matters. It is not wisdom to tell lies in jest. He who sins in jest must repent. The greatest fool is one who claims that there is no God.

It is a tragedy to be a fool without being aware of it. Therefore, walk with the wise and become wise. Jesus is the wisdom of God. Do you have a cordial relationship with Him? He who lacks wisdom needs to ask God.

Thought for the day: Folly and madness are like Siamese twin.

Bible Reading in one Year: John 10-12

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 Mountain-Moving Faith [Sunday June 4, 2017]

Scripture: And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain,

Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Matthew 17:20

Thought For The Day: It is not little faith that moves mountain but the mustard seed faith.

Yesterday, we identified faith as a mountain-moving weapon in life. Every mountain, no matter how threatening, can be moved by the weapon of faith. Mountains are not movable when faith is out of place.

Today, we want to look at the kind of faith that moves mountains.

According to Our LORD Jesus Christ in our anchor scripture, the mustard seed faith is the mountain-moving faith.

It is very important to know that mustard seeds have faith. This passage has been misconstrued by many to imply that Jesus said, ‘If you have faith as tiny as a grain of mustard seed…’ As if to say, ‘No matter your situation, if you have faith as tiny as a grain of mustard seed, it will move your mountain.’ No, that is not what Jesus meant. Rather, what Jesus said meant, ‘…if you have the mustard seed kind of faith…’ (Mathew 17:20 Paraphrased).

Going by the wrong interpretation earlier given, people thought that what they needed to move mountain was little faith but nobody has ever moved any mountain of life with little faith.

So, it is not little faith that moves mountain but the mustard seed faith. If you have faith as the grain of mustard seed, you can move any mountain.

Remember this: It is not little faith that moves mountain but the mustard seed faith

Assignment(s):

1. Ask God for the understanding of the mustard seed faith.

2. Deal with every spell of littleness in your life.

Prayer: O LORD, I ask for the impartation of the mustard seed faith. Break every spell of littleness in my life, LORD, in Jesus’ Name.

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

Daily Reading: 2 Samuel 22:1 to 23:23, Acts 2:1 to 47, Psalm 122:1 to 9, Proverbs 16:19 to 20.

Amazing Fact: A toddler can fit into a blue whale’s blowhole. The spray can reach up to 30 feet high.

Today In History: 4/6/1896 – Henry Ford completed the Ford Quadricycle, his first gasoline-powered automobile, and gave it a successful test run.

Prophetic Parental Blessing: I decree the escalation of divine proofs in your life in Jesus’ Name.

Quote: Those who trust in God cannot rust in life. Culled from 30 SECRETS TO THE TOP 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: Perfect Peace [Sunday June 4, 2017]

Read: John 14:25–31, Bible in a Year: 2 Chronicles 21–22; John 14

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. John 14:27

A friend shared with me that for years she searched for peace and contentment. She and her husband built up a successful business, so she was able to buy a big house, fancy clothes, and expensive jewelry. But these possessions didn’t satisfy her inner longings for peace, nor did her friendships with influential people. Then one day, when she was feeling low and desperate, a friend told her about the good news of Jesus. There she found the Prince of Peace, and her understanding of true peace and contentment was forever changed.

Jesus spoke words of such peace to His friends after their last supper together (John 14), when He prepared them for the events that would soon follow: His death, resurrection, and the coming of the Holy Spirit. Describing a peace—unlike anything the world can give—He wanted them to learn how to find a sense of well-being even in the midst of hardship.

Jesus came to usher peace into our lives and our world.

Later, when the resurrected Jesus appeared to the frightened disciples after His death, He greeted them, saying, “Peace be with you!” (John 20:19). Now He could give them, and us, a new understanding of resting in what He has done for us. As we do, we can find the awareness of a confidence far deeper than our ever-changing feelings.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are fixed on You. Help us to trust in You forever, for You are our Rock eternal.

Jesus came to usher peace into our lives and our world.

Insight:

Jesus repeatedly talks about peace in John 14, yet He would soon be arrested and His disciples would be hiding in fear. In verse 1 Jesus offered peace by encouraging them not to be troubled by the events that were coming on them. Instead, they were to look forward to reunion with Him and a home in the Father’s house. Then in today’s reading Jesus rooted this peace in the coming of the Holy Spirit—reminding us that, in part, the fruit of the Spirit is peace (Gal. 5:22–23). Jesus concluded His words to them with the promise of peace for everyday living: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). For now and forever, His great gift of peace carries us through all the seasons of life.

How do you see Jesus’s peace present in your life today?

This message was written By Amy Boucher Pye [Our Daily Bread Ministries.]

Topic: One Hundred Times Zero [Sunday June 4, 2017]

Matthew 17:27 “Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money; that take, and give unto them for me and thee.”

This was quite a miracle. Not only was the money supplied for their taxes, but it was the exact amount needed, and it was from the first fish that was caught.

Although this sets the precedent that God can supply our needs in a miraculous way, it’s important to remember that God doesn’t counterfeit money. He didn’t create money in the fish, but rather he had the fish miraculously find and swallow the exact Roman coin that Peter needed. It’s a mistake to just pray and then wait on God to rain the money down from heaven.

As Luke 6:38 says, God uses men (and sometimes fish) to give finances to us. He can do it in a very unexpected, supernatural way but it will involve people and existing currency. We need to believe the Lord hears and answers our prayers and then pray for the people He’s going to use to deliver the answer. This could be our employer, the person who buys our goods, or any number of people.

The Lord also blesses what we set our hands to do. When in need, we should seek God’s direction for something to set our hands to and then trust Him to bless it and multiply the results of our work. But one hundred times zero is zero. Many people have missed their miracle because they never took that first step of faith and used what they had. God can give you a creative idea today that will bless you and make you a blessing to others. Seek and you will find.

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)